But first, I need to say something really important. Thank you. Two deceptively simple words that mean so much. Thank you loyal readers, the ones who read these newsletters, the ones who follow me online, and comment on my posts. The ones who pre-order my books without question. The readers who take the time to review my books. The ones who visit my website. The ones who message me with funny horse, dragon, or octopus memes. And of course, the readers who suggest my books to family and friends. I couldn't keep creating stories without you, and I want you to know that your efforts and your cheer-leading support isn't unnoticed. I read every comment online and every review. I answer every question sent by email, and I appreciate every single one.
That's it. Just thank you from the bottom of my heart. December is full of looking back posts, but when I look back, I only see you cheering me on. Here's to another year of stories and camaraderie!
BOOK NEWS
GET MECH AND MAGIC
So this happened. About 2 weeks ago, A Knack for Metal and Bone moved back into the #1 slot on Amazon's Steampunk Best Seller list, a whole year after its release. The next day, Mech and Magic launched and knocked it to the #2 slot!
So here comes those 2 little words again: thank you! You made this happen. Early reviewers, pre-order buyers and word-of-mouthers. This is all on you.
When I'm deep into writing book 3 in this series, and I think I'll never find my way through it, I'll look back at that picture to remind me how good it feels to see my books appreciated.
LAST CHANCE TO ENTER COGS & CROWNS CONTEST!
In the last newsletter, I told you about the Cogs & Crowns card game I invented to go along with Mech and Magic. I'm giving away 2 custom printed games along with signed paperbacks, but the deadline to enter is tonight!
ENTER THE COGS & CROWNS GIVE-AWAY
Once the give-away is done, I’m going to gauge interest in having a batch custom printed for resale.
I’m estimating that the price would be about $20 USD per game to print a batch of 15. I may be able to find a print-on-demand company for cards, but I suspect the price for that would be about the same or more. I will be looking into it, come the new year.
Shipping from Canada means I can offer a signed paperback too, but it will add a hefty shipping fee. I know that shipping a book to the US from here is about $18 USD, so I’m assuming the game would be about the same.
I would need at least 15 people interested in buying the game before I even consider doing it. Below that quantity, it’s much too expensive to print.
Soooooooo, if you’re interested in having a custom run of Cogs and Crowns done, please fill out the form below. Adding your name does not mean you are locked into ordering. At this point, I’m just seeing if there is enough interest. Once, I know that, I’ll contact everyone who’s interested before going further with this project, and let you know exact pricing.
I can say that I had some printed for the give-away and they came out really nice. My family loves playing the game, and the instructions come with 3 alternate versions of play.
Sign up here. Remember, this is not to actually order the game. I’m only gauging interest.
SIGN UP FOR A CUSTOM COGS & CROWNS GAME
“ASK ME ANYTHING” EVENT
I will be hosting a live “Ask Me Anything” event on the Facebook Inbetween group tomorrow December 19, from 8-9pm EST. Come and ask me anything about my writing journey, my book series, or just about life in general. Aspiring authors are welcome to pick my brain about publishing too. I'll also be announcing the winner of the custom card game and signed paperback contest.
Whether you can make the live event or not, feel free to respond to this email with your questions and I’ll address them during the event. It will be recorded, so you can check it out later, and I'll add the relevant questions to the Series FAQ page on my website.
Join the FB Inbetween Group below. It's a very laid back group of like-minded fiction readers. We share fun critter pics and quirky fantasy stuff.
JOIN THE FACEBOOK INBETWEEN GROUP
BOOK FAIRS
Short stories, new stories, epic stories. This week's book fairs have a little of everything. The best part of the holidays is finding that block of down time to eat chocolate, sip tea and read a good book. You're sure to find one here.
Also included this week is the annual Smashwords Sale. This one's huge! Get thousands of books and huge discounts. Several of my books are part of this sale, including the Hidden Coven Series, and The Fair Folk of Mullarkey Series. So don't miss out!
Finally, are you fed up with Amazon? Feed your fiction addiction with Kobo Plus and find a whole new selection of ebooks and audiobooks to feast on for a small monthly fee. They even have the first month free!
SPOTLIGHT BOOKS
Oh, Come All Ye Dragons
A Valkyrie Bestiary Holiday Tale
by Kim McDougall
The Inbetween is full of magic, monsters and marauders. It’s also full of booty, if you know where to look. Roden & Hogg Reclamation Services knows just where to find those resources that are so scarce and valuable in the post- Flood-War era.
But when dragons nest on a valuable copper reclamation site, who do they call? Kyra Greene. No pest too large or too small.
Now Kyra must leave home days before her baby’s first Christmas, for a weekend trek into the wilds. Can she convince a stubborn dragon queen to move her nest before R&H Reclamation brings in the guns?
Kyra Greene’s new adventure into the Inbetween turns into a rollicking girls’ weekend away and brings her face to face with some old friends even as she comes out of her comfort zone to make new ones.
Oh, Come All Ye Dragons, A Valkyrie Bestiary Christmas Tale takes place after the events of Book 6, Ghouls Don’t Scamper.
GET OH, COME ALL YE DRAGONS
Wyld Witch Weather
Wyld Lands Academy Book One
By Jana Ruth
I’m a wild child. Wilful, moody, destructive. You could say my reputation blows—literally.
Other teens skip class or experiment with drugs. I wreck classrooms.
Not on purpose. But when I cry, the wind answers. Loudly. Violently.
Now I’m down to my last chance: the Wyld Lands Academy.
It looks like some posh boarding school I’ve got no business setting foot in. But inside those ancient stone walls? There’s magic.
Fire, water, earth, air—the students here are attuned to their element. Like me. For once, I’m not the only freak in the room.
I can deal with bitchy roommates, demanding teachers, and the occasional elemental breakout. Especially with the handsome, talented, and impossibly kind headboy looking out for me. One thing’s for sure: I won’t let anything—not even terrorist witches—take this from me.
But there’s a storm inside me. And if I can’t learn to tame it soon, it won’t just get me expelled. It’ll get me killed. Or worse.
GET WILD WITCH WEATHER
Echoes of Silver
Legends of Gold and Silver Book 2
by Liz Delton
A silversword cannot live without his weapon.
And a king cannot rule without a throne.
After their disastrous trip to the Hollow Isles, Fig and Vaelor seek answers about fixing his broken sword that could get both of them killed.
A powerful dwarven relic has resurfaced, and the usurper king Rhivven has offered it as a prize in a tournament—drawing ire from the dwarves and interest from Dev, who thinks it might help him take back his throne.
Mairead vows to return home, but dark forces are in motion in Tytan, and the sisterhood that shunned her hasn’t forgotten about her.
An ancient cavern may hold all the answers… But if the truth gets out, it could threaten the very foundation of the continent.
Echoes of Silver is book two in Legends of Gold and Silver, an epic fantasy series full of hopeful determination featuring a ragtag cast of mages, dwarves, dragonets and dryads in a sprawling saga of twisty politics, magic, and myth.
