April News

Contents

1. Introduction, updates, and newsletter giveaway
2. Giveaways and promotions
3. Book recommendations
4. Closing remarks
5. My books

Hi ,

I'm struggling right now, so I'm sorry if I can't be bright and positive, the way I prefer to be. Since I announced that I was pregnant recently, I can't avoid mentioning my misfortune. I recently miscarried. I'm not up for sharing the extent of my grief in this email. Since Iris has a couple miscarriages, I'm working ahead in Once upon a Forbidden Door to pour my real grief into the pages. The first draft will be largely my experience, but I'll fix it in revision to better fit my character.

One other thing that I signed up for and started working on isn't entirely connected to books, but I felt compelled to sign up as a speaker since some of my life experiences fit the theme. I signed up before my miscarriage, otherwise, I'm not sure if I'd have been able to go through with it. Anyway, the event is called The Plot Twist Academy Quest and it's all about taking the twists life throws at you and reframing them to make positive changes. My presentation is in classroom 5: the relationship pivot and I titled it Ink and Ashes: Rising as the Author of Your Own Story. In it, I cover how my divorce a few years ago created chaos, but ultimately ended up as something that was better for me. I do need to send out two emails this month that are exclusively about this event since it's a requirement of participation. If this isn't something you want to hear about again, hit reply and I'll remove you from those emails. On the other hand, if the event already sounds like something you want to do, you can sign up here. It's free unless you want the VIP pass.

I'm also looking ahead to my birthday month of June. Since I started publishing in 2019, I've been proud to do a Hobbit Birthday of some sort. This time, I'm hosting a month long book funnel promotion. If you're an author and want to contribute a book to give away, you can sign up here. I wanted to have the graphics for the event finished by now, but between getting side tracked by signing up for the Plot Twist Academy Quest and my own personal crisis, I haven't gotten that far yet. Hopefully, it'll be done before the month is over.

The only other noteworthy thing I can think of is that I've decided not to participate in Kindle Unlimited at all. I was trying to keep one book in at a time because I hoped it would still help with attracting new readers, but there have been 0 pages read since September of last year, so it just doesn't seem worth keeping anything exclusive to Amazon. Once upon a Betrothal will be in KU until June 15th, then it will be going wide with the rest of my books.

Giveaways and Promotions

Book Recommendations

The Shard Born by Laurie Bowler

Some connections defy death itself. In a village carved from mist and secrets, an orphaned girl discovers that the most dangerous thing isn't grief—it's hope.

On the mist-shrouded edge of a rural English village, seventeen-year-old Kali Peterson is haunted by loss, thrust into a world of ancient secrets after the sudden death of her parents. Sent to live with her enigmatic aunt, Kali’s new home is a labyrinth of shadows—where every locked door hides a story, and every villager’s glance hints at tragedies long buried.

At Aelridge Academy, Kali is an outsider until she meets Atlas Sorenfell, a mysterious classmate who seems to know her better than she knows herself. When a series of violent deaths rocks the village, Kali uncovers a hidden realm of immortal guardians—the Shard Born—locked in a timeless battle against monstrous forces. As Kali discovers her own reincarnated past and the soul-deep connection she shares with Atlas, she must choose whether to embrace her destiny and risk everything for a love that has survived centuries of loss.

Will Kali break the cycle, or is she doomed to lose everything again?

This spellbinding Gothic Romance weaves grief, supernatural mystery, horror and forbidden desire into an unforgettable story. If you love atmospheric settings, tortured heroes, and love that transcends the boundaries of mortality, then you'll be consumed by this dark, beautiful novel.

Pick up your copy now and lose yourself in the fog-shrouded world of Aelridge.



The Night You Should Have Left by Elara Voss

A Blood on the Board Prelude

He thought he was the one watching.

Morris Hale has spent his career studying people — their weaknesses, their habits, the moments they don’t realize they’re exposed.

Driving for the Quinn estate is supposed to be simple.

Keep the schedule. Keep the silence. Don’t cross the line.

But Elara Quinn does not behave like other women.

She plays chess in underground rooms where men twice her age lose more than money.

She swims alone without looking over her shoulder.

She never raises her voice.

She never asks for protection.

And she never explains what she knows.

When Morris mistakes proximity for permission, he believes he’s taking control.

He doesn’t see the matte black car.

He doesn’t hear the warning until it’s too late.

He doesn’t understand that some silences are not invitations — they are measurements.

Because in this world, you are not removed for what you do.

You are removed for believing you could.

The Night You Should Have Left is a dark, psychological prelude to Blood on the Board — a story of entitlement, correction, and the moment a man realizes he was never the player.

Only the piece.

Closing Remarks

In case you need it, here is the link for the subscriber free content.

Best of wishes,

-Amber

My Books