Meet Chynna Laird

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The Making of Dark Water

Most of my stories combine real experiences with weird dreams I’ve had, and Dark Water is a perfect representation of this.


Last fall, I had a dream that I was swimming and was suddenly tugged under the water. My dreams can be quite vivid so I felt my lungs burning with the need for air, and everything was distorted and blurry—just like it would look if you were under water looking up at the surface. Just when I thought my number was up, a hand reached down to me and guided me up to the surface. It was an elderly Native man with the kindest face I’d ever seen. He didn’t speak, but sang and motioned for me to come forward. Then I jolted awake to see my son lying on my chest, which explained why I couldn’t breathe properly!


The next day, I researched Native legends about water and The Watcher was born. I essentially created him, then built the story around him and the water legend. I chose West Hawk Lake as the setting because my family had a cabin there, where I spent every summer of my childhood. It was a beautiful place, but I always felt it was surrounded with a bit of eerie mysteriousness too.


Dark Water, then, is my tribute to one of my favorite childhood places as well as to my deep respect for the Native culture and spirituality.

Under a Texas Star by Alison Bruce FREE August 13-15

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Under a Texas Star by Alison Bruce 

Disguised as a boy, Marly joins a handsome Texas Ranger in the hunt for a con man and they must bring the fugitive to justice before giving up the masquerade and giving in to their passion.
When Marly Landers is fooled by con man Charlie Meese, she's determined to bring him to justice―even if it means dressing up as a boy and setting off across the plains to find him.
Texas Ranger Jase Strachan is also after Meese, for crimes committed in Texas. He joins forces with the young boy in a journey that takes them to Fortuna, where a murder interrupts their mission. Jase is duty bound to find the killer, no matter the cost.
Marly carries out her own investigation and comes to the aid of Amabelle Egan, the sister of one of the suspects. But appearances are deceiving, and Marly is mistaken for Amabelle’s suitor, making her a target for the killer. Not to mention, Charlie Meese is still out there.
Under the Texas stars, Marly and Jase are drawn together by circumstances beyond their control, yet fate plots to tear them apart. Will Marly finally get her man? 
Book Details:
FREE Kindle edition - August 13-15
Editorial Reviews:
"A delightful Western tale that blends engaging adventure with spirited romance. Reminds me of Louis L'Amour novels...Bruce is a terrific story-teller...a complete joy to read. She immerses readers into a smoking Western that is also a spunky romance and reminiscent of the Texas Rangers television series." ―Christina Francine, Midwest Book Review
"Filled with realistic dialog and a good attention to period detail, Bruce manages to create a believable story that captures our imagination. Well written with a compelling plot, Under a Texas Star brings a delightfully new and strong heroine to the literary world. Highly recommended." ―Wendy Thomas, Allbook Reviews
"Alison Bruce's western tale of intrigue, murder, and love is a page-turning, action-packed, made-of-awesome read. UNDER A TEXAS STARbelongs on every reader's keeper shelf―it already has a place on mine! Love, love, loved it!" ―Michele Bardsley, national bestselling author ofNever Again
"Romance as sweeping as the Texas sky." ―Gwyn Cready, Rita award-winning author of Seducing Mr. Darcy
"This is a rollicking adventure and Marly Landers is a girl with True Grit." ―Phyllis Smallman, Arthur Ellis award-winning author of Champagne for Buzzards
"L'amour in the style of Louis L'Amour…Pin a silver star on this thrilling tale of love and justice in the old west." ―Lou Allin, author ofOn the Surface Die
"I loved the murder mystery…as well as the sense of humor which had me either chuckling or laughing out loud." ―Jacqueline Wilson, Deputy Sheriff for Publications of the Chicago Corral of the Westerners
Available at:

Blonde Demolition by Chris Redding FREE August 13-15

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You just can't hide from the past...
Mallory Sage lives in a small, idyllic town where nothing ever happens. Just the kind of life she has always wanted. No one, not even her fellow volunteer firefighters, knows about her past life as an agent for Homeland Security.
Former partner and lover, Trey McCrane, comes back into Mallory's life. He believes they made a great team once, and that they can do so again. Besides, they don't have much choice. Paul Stanley, a twisted killer and their old nemesis, is back.
Framed for a bombing and drawn together by necessity, Mallory and Trey go on the run and must learn to trust each other again―if they hope to survive. But Mallory has been hiding another secret, one that could destroy their relationship. And time is running out.

FREE Kindle edition - August 13-15
Editorial Reviews:
"An explosive thriller as taut as a tripwire."  —Scott Nicholson, author ofLiquid Fear
"Bombs, assassins, lovers and friends all mesh together around the heroine to create a tapestry of intrigue, love, and adventure. Redding has a devoted reader." —Bri Clark, author of Glazier
An old flame, a new danger, and just the right number of twists pull you thru to the end of this intense romantic suspense. Hunky firemen not withstanding, what else could anyone ask for? A great read!" —Linda J. Parisi, author of Noble Heart
Available at:

Meet Alison Bruce

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Deadly Beginnings 
It was a bright, sunny day. I sat under a beer umbrella in the square drinking Sleeman Cream Ale from a plastic cup. Guelph was celebrating it’s annual Multicultural Festival and I was celebrating the end of a long hot day. In no hurry to go anywhere, I pulled out my notebook and started writing...

It was a bright, sunny day. I sat under a beer umbrella in the square drinking Sleeman Cream Ale from a plastic cup. The beer was warm. I’d been nursing it for an hour, waiting for my client to leave his office.

So started my first draft of Deadly Legacy. When I decided to set the story in the near future, bright and sunny gave way to incessant rain as a nod to Blade Runner. It took a while before “the client” got a name, but his physical description was cemented that first day.

His pale face was a map of worry lines and a fixed frown. He wore one of those endurable overcoats and a matching hat, both advertised as 'guaranteed to protect your clothes from anything nature or environmental pollution throws at you.' It made the short, stocky man look like a walking tent.

The walking tent was really a man in his eighties. His coat probably fit him just fine when he bought it. Both hat and coat were almost certainly Endurables. Nothing else would have held up for so long. The short, stocky, worried man was wearing a business suit and had just walked out of a bank. The client was like Frankenstein’s monster, made from gathered parts. Not so the detectives.

Kate Garrett and Jake Carmedy came to me in a dream. From the start, they were real people in my mind. All I needed was the right story to bring them together.

http://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Carmedy-Garrett-Mystery-ebook/dp/B007TYPHYO

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Deadly-Carmedy-Garrett-Mystery-ebook/dp/B007TYPHYO

http://www.alisonbruce.ca

https://twitter.com/alisonebruce

Meet Kat Flannery

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“I write because I have to.”    - Adrian Meade.

For every writer their reasons for writing are different, but Adrian Meade and I have something in common. We write because we have to.

I write to fulfill a purpose.

I have an itch that never goes away, a yearning that fills my soul, and a passion for the words yet to come.  The moment I place fingers to keyboard, or pen to paper I feel released from the ties that bind me to a normal, everyday life. I relish in the ability to take myself to another world where love and evil exist, and I can decide that love conquers all.

I write because I have to.
I write to stop the constant whispers inside my head. To halt the flashes of scenes and dialogue that run across my mind. I write to stop the restlessness and agitation within my hands. I write so I can sleep at night.

I write to tell a story, to touch lives, and to take my readers on an emotional ride. One, I hope will leave them smiling in the end.
I write because it is a need, a constant thought, a push from behind. It is a part of who I am—it is in my bones, and my blood.
I write to live, because if I couldn’t I’d no longer breathe.

I write because I have to.

Soul and Shadow by Susan J. McLeod FREE August 11/12

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In ancient Egypt, a young priestess of the goddess Hathor is laid to rest in a beautiful tomb with everything she needs for her journey into the afterlife…
Three thousand years later, archaeologist Ursula Allingham discovers the mummy of Amisihathor and is confronted by a mystery. Is the man buried with the priestess really her husband? Or was she actually in love with a scribe called Kamenwati and separated from him in life as well as death?
To answer these questions, Dame Ursula turns to Egyptology student and artist Lily Evans, who reluctantly agrees to help. Lily learns that she is psychically linked to Amisihathor and  experiences a strange, unsettling phenomenon—the memories and emotions of the Egyptian woman. Luckily, Lily has her beloved pet Cleocatra and her irrepressible friend Katy to keep her grounded in reality. Or so she hopes.
Dealing with the challenges of falling in love with Ursula’s grandson Kent, the reappearance of her ex-fiance Stephen and the demands of her mother and her boss Professor Briggs, Lily soon realizes she has taken on much more than she bargained for.
FREE Kindle edition - August 11/12
Editorial Reviews:
"An enlightening, engaging tale with a pleasantly surprising twist...a literary treat for readers of all ages." —Apex Reviews
"Engaging…a double-storyline that weaves seamlessly back and forth between the present and the past through a clever plot." — Rai Aren, co-author of Secret of the Sands
"A deep and complex tale of deceit, danger and love." —Jenn L., Romance Junkies
"Writing good romance is like painting modern art. Most of it sucks but every once in awhile someone comes up with something brilliant." —Mark McGinty, author of The Cigar Maker
"Five stars and five golden tombs filled with priceless jewels." —Fran Lewis, author of My Name Is Bertha
Available at:

Meet Laurence St.John

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I write because I love writing. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be doing it. If I happen to make a living at writing, that will be just a plus. When I sit at my computer and write I become so excited on the content I lose track of time.
I am endlessly inspired by my three grand-kids Kendall, Eli and Sadie. I write for them as well as my wife Julie, my son Joe and his wife Cari, and my daughter Jan her husband Andrew. Lastly, I write for my audience, the readers.

When my first granddaughter, Kendall, “Papa’s Angel” was born, this was one of the most uplifting moments of my life. This was one of the few times I actually cried in my life that I can remember other than when my father passed away. As I held her in my arms, she stared back at me with her precious smile. It was at this time when my emotions were running wild; I became inspired as well as determined to write my penned-up thoughts on paper. I decided to follow my true bliss, as some say and to write my first book. I also wanted Kendall to be proud of me; her Papa.
 
I am very passionate about writing books targeted toward young people but believe people of all ages will love my writing.  I am a father and grandfather but I still feel, and sometimes think of myself as a kid.

            While growing up, I was inspired, enthralled, intrigued and fascinated when I read fantasy, science fiction, superhero, and action adventure books. This is why I love writing middle grade fiction/fantasy novels. It is my deepest aspiration that Metatron: The Angel Has Risen will carry you away and inspire you the way so many awesome books have inspired me.

Laurence

Meet Rosemary McCracken

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Money a great motive for murder

 Unlike Pat Tierney, the central character of Safe Harbor, I’m not a financial professional. So why did I build my mystery novel around a character who makes her living managing people’s money?

Well, I know something about the work Pat does. I’m a journalist, and I write about personal finance and the financial services industry. For my articles, I talk to financial advisors and investment managers. I attend their conferences. I know the issues they face and the concerns they have. Most of them are caring, committed people, and do wonderful things for their clients by helping them get their financial houses in order.

At one point, I considered becoming a financial advisor myself, but I dismissed that idea. I wouldn’t have the stamina. I’d have sleepless nights during down markets, and markets have been murder in recent years. But when I set out to write a mystery series and was looking for a central character, an investment advisor was the first thing that came to mind. Pat has traits of some of the people in the industry whom I most admire. She cares about her clients. She goes the extra mile to see that they’re well looked after. She’s a champion of small investors. She has sleepless nights during down markets.

And Pat’s profession gives her a great edge as an amateur sleuth. Financial advisors need know what’s going on in their clients’ lives to ensure they are in suitable investments. They know if they have health concerns. They know how much money they have – or don’t have. And money is a great motive for all kinds of crime, including murder.
 
There’s one type of crime that Pat is well positioned to spot – white collar crime. The world of finance revolves around money, and provides opportunities for people who are clever and greedy enough to challenge the system. Think fraud, embezzlement, money laundering. There will always be bad apples in circulation, some of them working in the industry. Committed professionals like Pat want to see tougher penalties for fraudsters, and believe the system in Canada is too soft on offenders. They want to protect their clients.

In Safe Harbor, red flags go up when a rookie advisor is given a large investment account to manage. When Pat looks more closely at that account, she sees a sizeable part of its assets in invested in slowpoke stocks. Things don’t add up. And when thing don’t add up for a financial professional, something is very wrong.

The Bridgeman by Catherine Astolfo FREE August 9/10

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Some secrets can come back to haunt you…
Principal Emily Taylor feels safe in the friendly little town of Burchill—until she finds a body in her school. The murder of caretaker Nathaniel Ryeburn brings back memories she'd rather forget and plunges Emily into a mystery that involves a secret diary, an illegal puppy mill and a murderer innocently disguised as an ordinary citizen.
As fear rips through the traumatized town, Emily's investigation inadvertently leads the police to her door, and to her husband Langford, who is hiding a secret of his own. It becomes clear to Emily that many of Burchill's residents are merely wearing masks. And it's time for those masks to be ripped away…and for a killer's identity to be revealed.
Book Details:
FREE Kindle edition - August 9/10
Editorial Reviews:
"Astolfo grabs small-town Ontario and shakes it until its ugly secrets pour out." —Lou Allin, author of She Felt No Pain
"A story rich in detail with unexpected twists and turns that keep you involved right through to the shocking end." —Meredith Henderson, actress, film producer, poet
"Love and depravity, rebirth and rot, veneer and the real wood underneath—Astolfo brings these opposing forces into play as she creates the complex community that is Burchill." —Garry Ryan, author of the Detective Lane Mysteries
Available at:

Rowena Through the Wall by Melodie Campbell FREE August 9/10

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When Rowena falls through her classroom wall and lands in an alternate world, she doesn’t count on being kidnapped―not once, but twice―and the stakes get higher as the men get hotter.
College instructor Rowena Revel has a magical gift with animals and a huge problem. Gorgeous tunic-clad men keep walking through the wall of her classroom. If that isn't enough, she's being haunted by sexy dreams in a rugged land. Curious, she checks out the wall and falls through a portal into the world of her dreams.
After years of war, women are scarce. Rowena finds herself in a heap of man-trouble when she 'accidentally' marries distant cousin Ivan. Enter Cedric, who dabbles in black magic and has an even blacker heart. Throw in a Viking, the local wolf-king, a band of brigands and a goth-clad student who follows her through the portal, and Rowena is off on a rollicking adventure.
Unwanted husbands keep piling up, but that doesn't stop her from falling for the wrong brother. Not only that, she has eighteen year old Kendra to look out for and a war to prevent. Good thing she has the ability to go back through the wall. Or does she?
*This new Expanded Edition comes with a brand new ending based on a sequel the author had planned but readers couldn't wait for.
FREE Kindle edition - August 9/10
Editorial Reviews:
"A hot, hilarious, romantic fantasy that enthralls you from the first line. If you enjoy Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series, you'll adore Rowena and her riotous romps in an alternate world…" ―Midwest Book Review, Betty Dravis, author of Dream Reachers
"Time-travel romance with a rollicking sense of humour...A new dimension of romance in a parallel universe." ―Lou Allin, author of She Felt No Pain
"Filled with brutal, sword-swinging danger, yet sexy and funny, you'll be rooting for Row as she uses her head to stay alive and her heart to find love." ―Kelsey Lewis, author of Hot and Bothered 
"Multi-published author, Melodie Campbell is a talented story teller. Her award-winning short stories pack a powerful punch and her alternate world fantasy novel, Rowena Through the Wall, is a rollicking, sexy romp through time." ―Dee Lloyd, award-winning author of Out of Her Dreams
"Rowena through the Wall is a wild ride of fantasy, with a lusty lady who male readers will wish had walked through a wall to them." ―Mark Alldis, former editor Distant Suns fantasy magazine
"Rowena is the most interesting, unique fictional character to come along since Lisbeth Salander.  She is smart, witty, raunchy and down-to-earth...I can't wait for Book Two!" ―Cathy Astolfo, author of Seventh Fire
Available at: