February News

Contents

1. Introduction, updates, and newsletter giveaway
2. Sales, freebies, and/or new releases
3. Writing Snippet
4. Giveaways and promotions
5. Book recommendations
6. Closing remarks
7. My books

Hi ,

I don't know about you, but for me, this year I've been more productive than I've managed in a long time. I have been working with an illustrator to get my Once upon a Story covers updated. Technically, I started the process in December last year, but the bulk of it has been this year. So far, she's completed my first 3 books and the Omnibus. I have several posts scheduled for the cover reveal on Facebook and Instagram, but I've already updated them at the bottom where my book links are at if you want to see Once upon a Rose and the collection early.

Although I've accomplished a lot, my actual writing has been low. Aside from catching up on the other side of my author business, my focus has been on looking through some old manuscripts and revising my drafts. The one I've decided will likely be my next release isn't connected to the Once upon a Story universe or the League of Supernatural Assassins universe. I've included a snippet of it below, but please be aware that it's still in rough stage. This one is currently untitled, my file name was simply NaNoProject2017 because that was what I wrote that year.

Assuming I can come up with a title and find/commission a cover I like soon, I should be able to get it ready for publishing within a couple months. Hopefully, by this time next month, I'll be asking for interest in ARCs.

After I finish that project, I plan to get back to Once upon a Betrothal. I know I left everyone hanging for too long on that one. But I feel like I should be ready to go back to it without the emotional turmoil I would have experience previously.

Later this year, I plan to buy into a couple more stories for the League of Supernatural Assassins world. Those projects are still in the planning stages and probably won't be published until late this year or sometime next year.

I've updated my author logo and banner as well as my story map for the Once upon a Story world. Other than that, I have a new website that I've been working hard on getting set up. In recent newsletters, I've mentioned that I needed to cut out the spending on my site. It hasn't worked out exactly the way I wanted it to. Between rule changes and a few other hoops, I have kept my domain name for email purposes and switched email newsletter providers. I've also started up a free website to replace the old one. There's still plenty of work to do, but it'll get there.

The winner of my last giveaway is Cindi at ms...aol dot com. The results of the survey is that monthly is the timing most people want to see. In the future, I'll probably segment my newsletter for those of you who want to hear from me more frequently.

To enter this month's giveaway to win $10 Amazon gift card, I want you to hit reply and tell me what's your favorite holiday and why.

Sales, Freebies, and/or New Releases

To celebrate the new covers, Once upon a Silent Song will be on sale for $0.99 from February 8-14. Once upon a Rose will go on sale for $0.99 after the cover reveal, from February 23-29.

The Fox Assassin now has a paperback version available on Amazon.

If you're a KU Reader, you might want to download Child of Fur and Feathers before it leaves KU on the 23rd.

Writing Snippet

“Guards!” he bellowed. Two guards swiftly entered, carefully expressionless, an emotional void. “Take her to the dungeon. A night in there may change her mind. No one is to speak with her or feed her. No visitation of any sort until I decide what to do with her.”

No amount of screaming, kicking, or struggling helped as they drug her forcefully down the three flights of stairs to the underground dungeon. Those she passed averted their eyes as she begged and pleaded for their help.

The guards wordlessly maintained their stoicism as they threw her into the cell and locked the door. The clanging of metal against metal seemed so final, as if it was singing her doom.

The sound of their retreating footsteps could barely be heard over the echo of the door being slammed. She sank to the cold, stone floor in despair and exhaustion, refusing to cry. She wouldn’t be weak now. Not now of all times. She was in the right here and he was wrong, so she refused to show more weakness than necessary.

Her father would regret his actions and beg for her forgiveness in the morning. She had to believe it. At that point she could determine if she wanted to give him a chance at forgiveness. Surely he would need to be groveling for weeks before she acquiesced and let him off the hook.

Giveaways and Promotions

Book Recommendations

Before the Glass Slipper by Michelle Deerwester-Dalrymple

Once upon a time, I lived the life of dreams . . . but stepmothers get a bad rap.

I know this first hand.

A different type of romantasy fairy tale. What happened before the Happily Ever After? A Cinderella fairy tale villain backstory like you've never read.

When I met Luc, I found my fantasy happily ever after -- and I deserved it. I tried my best to be a good mother to his daughter, Ella. Even my own girls reached out to her, trying to befriend her. He had given us this amazing new life -- caring dearly for his daughter was the very least I could do for him.

But I was young, and some people, even if they are children, have hard hearts. Ella wanted her father all to herself. No matter, I set that aside and tried to bet the best mother to all the girls so Luc and I could have the most wonderful, romantic life together.

To raise our family together.

To grow old together . . .

But things don’t always go according to plan.

Broken Crowns by M. J. Kaestli

A princess on the run. The rogue that captures her heart. Is love worth losing her kingdom?

Ophelia expects to be crowned queen. But when her supernatural ability fumbles, her stepmother seizes the throne and places a price on Ophelia’s head. Deceived and outmaneuvered, she flees, vowing to reclaim her crown.

Every day in hiding distances her further from her birthright, and brings her one step closer to the executioner. But a growing relationship with a captivating black-market dealer has her questioning whether duty and purpose outweigh her chance at true love.

Will Ophelia fight for her kingdom…or her heart?

Broken Crowns is the first novel in M. J. Kaestli’s enchanting young adult dystopian trilogy. If you enjoy love triangles, royal scandals, and deceptive female villains, then you’ll devour this Snow White retelling.

Grab your copy and prepare for treachery at every turn!

The Phoenix Assassin by Sheri Lyn

Kiran is a skilled assassin with a reputation for completing every mission with deadly efficiency. However, his latest task takes an unexpected turn when he is approached by Jericho, a demon who wants him for a rescue mission. Kiran must infiltrate his own realm of Icarus and escape with one of the kids there, but things become complicated when Jericho disappears after the job is done. With danger lurking around every corner, Kiran goes into hiding with the rescued child and receives letters from Jericho with money and assistance to keep them safe. Will Kiran and the kid be able to evade their enemies, find Jericho, and uncover the truth behind his disappearance?

Closing Remarks

I'm still working on it, but you can now find all of your newsletter exclusive content here. No password needed. It should work with your email. Since this is a new system, please let me know if you have any problems and we can troubleshoot together.

My Books