Calling all holiday-themed readers! It’s more than evergreens and twinkly lights at N. N. Light’s Book Heaven’s seventh annual Christmas in July Fête. 45 Christmas, Hanukkah and holiday-themed books featured plus a chance to win a $75 Amazon (US or Canada) gift card.
I’m thrilled to be a part of this event. My book, House of the Rising Son will be featured on July 28. Wait until you read what I love most about the holidays. You won’t want to miss it.
On sale until the end of June!
Warrior Priest
by Kate Hill
Science Fiction Romance
What happens when a warrior priest from a strict religion meets a free-spirited priestess from a new age commune?
Jade and Selena are as different as two people can be, but to facilitate an alliance between their worlds, they engage in a cultural exchange. With their galaxy in danger from a planet that wants to conquer or destroy all others, they realize the importance of their assignment, but it is difficult for a warrior priest and a nonviolent priestess to understand each other.
Selena is both attracted and appalled by his old school masculinity, and Jade is tempted to break his vow of celibacy until marriage due to his powerful desire for her. Will this unlikely pair not only find common ground, but unconditional love?
“I thought I saw my father.” Jade couldn’t believe he was confessing to her. “Back there at the waterfall. I heard him, and I saw him.”
Selena reached for his hand and squeezed it. “That’s what upset you? I dreamed about a bakery, and you dreamed about your dad.”
“I wasn’t dreaming. I didn’t fall asleep.”
Selena tilted her gaze up to his. “I’m not sure what to say. Have you ever seen a ghost before?”
“No, Selena! No, I’ve never seen a ghost, and I’m not crazy. I’m thinking that maybe this head wound is—”
“The scan was fine, Jade. Once we’re out of here, I can check again, but if the way you’re trekking through this cave is any indication, there’s nothing wrong with you physically.”
“You think I’m crazy, then?”
“No, I don’t think you’re crazy. I believe we might be able to communicate with spirits. My religion is based on a variety of beliefs that include the dead leaving imprints on the corporeal world. I also believe that sometimes ghosts aren’t about spirits reaching out from beyond, but about closure we need.”
“I never told him I loved him.” Jade’s stomached clenched. He felt more than a little embarrassed. There was no reason for him to tell her this. Still, he went on. “We didn’t talk much about feelings. Emotions are to be controlled. A lack of discipline can get you killed.”
“That’s true, I suppose. But pretending you don’t have emotions can kill you, too. Slowly. So you can’t ever be truly happy or even sad. It’s kind of like ignoring an injury. It won’t heal, or it’ll heal badly.”
Warrior Priest is on sale for $0.99 until June 30, 2022 at Smashwords and Amazon
Kate Hill is a vegetarian New Englander who started writing many years ago for pleasure.
When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading, watching horror and action movies, working out, and spending time with her family and pets.
Website: https://kate-hill.com/
Blog: https://kate-hill.com/blog/
Newsletter: https://kate-hill.com/index.php/newsletter/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Kate-Hill/e/B002BLS7OW
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kate-hill
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16157.Kate_Hill
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/katehillromancewritingandmore/_saved/
Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/katehillromancewritingandmore
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KateHillRomance
Enter now for your chance to win $500 at your choice Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card.!
The Rules are simple...Follow as many Authors you would like. The more points you get, the better your chances are of winning! Good Luck!
Enter Here: https://bit.ly/BookBubGiveaway- Rafflecopter before 11:59pm 12/15/21
Oh, look! A new release by the delightful Vicki Batman!
Temporarily out of Luck, a romantic comedy mystery
Tagline: Hattie Cooks scrambles to exonerate her sister when all fingers point to Tracey as the murderer of her ex-husband.
Story blurb: Great job. What man? And murder. Newly employed at Wedding Wonderland, Hattie Cooks is learning the industry from a woman she greatly admires. When her former brother-in-law is found dead in his luxury SUV, all fingers point to Hattie’s sister, who is planning her own I Dos.
Detective Allan Wellborn is caught between a rock and a hard place—Hattie’s family and investigating the murder of a well-connected Sommerville resident, the same loser who was once married to Hattie’s sister. Determining who’s the bad guy—or gal—isn’t going to be easy and sure to piss off someone.
Can Hattie beat the clock to find out who murdered Tracey’s ex before she is charged with the crime and her wedding is ruined?
Excerpt:
Sometimes, I felt like a small white mouse housed in a cage with lots of small white mice, whose playground activities involved eating, sleeping, and continually revolving on the exercise wheel. Just like one rodent friend—who I named Mr. Happy-Go-Lucky, having a field day back-flipping from the top of the spinning wheel—something happened. Unexpectedly, I found myself airborne.
Not hurt, a sense of disappointment overcame me, plus a bit of confusion, and a whole lot of colorful adjectives too numerous to list. I, mostly known as Hattie Cooks, shook off the pine shavings and joined the rat race. Sometimes, life sucked.
But wallowing? Not a good solution.
Being positive? A better one.
In most cases, a pitstop was a good idea, and I found comfort in my chocolate stockpile. And in most cases, I found empty shelves, for I had little dough to supply my habit due to the loss of my adored job as an assistant buyer at Sommerville’s top-class department store, Tucker’s, and the subsequent low-paying temporary ones I reluctantly took in the interim. Due to the expenses of rent, food, utilities, budgeting became my new compadré. However, for my recent birthday, Mom suggested friends and family provide me with treats. They were generous—gifting lots and lots of my favorite M&Ms in vast colors and flavors.
Mom’s idea totally rocked as the best birthday gift ever.
From outside my door, I heard Allan Wellborn smack the doorframe.
“You know how to find me.”
I roused from my ruminations and banged my forehead against the wall.
Author: Vicki Batman
Funny, sweet, and quirky, Vicki Batman’s stories are full of her hallmark humor, romance, and will delight all readers. She has sold many award-winning and bestselling romantic comedy works to magazines and most recently, three humorous romantic mysteries. An avid Jazzerciser. Handbag lover. Mahjong player. Yoga practitioner. Movie fan. Book devourer. Cat fancier. Best Mom ever. And adores Handsome Hubby.
Find Vicki Batman at:
Website: https://vickibatman.blogspot.com/p/more-about-me.html/
Blog: https://www.vickibatman.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Vicki-Batman-sassy-writer-of-sexy-and-funny-fiction-133506590074451/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/VickiBatman/
Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/vickibatman/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/vickibatman/
Email: vlmbatman@hotmail.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4814608.Vicki_Batman/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vickilbatman/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/vicki-batman
Find Temporarily out of Luck at:
E-book: https://www.amazon.com/Temporarily-Luck-Hattie-Cooks-Mystery-ebook/dp/B08T7YSSRJ/
Reviews:
-I loved it! It was a very entertaining and a fast read that kept me engaged throughout. The pacing was perfect. My only complaint is now I'm craving M&Ms and enchiladas. And donuts. And wedding cake.
-I laughed. I wondered. Then I laughed some more. Every page of Temporarily Out of Luck delivers a satisfying story and heartfelt humor. Don’t miss this great read!
-Between a new job at a bridal shop, serving as her sister Tracey’s maid of honor, and learning to tango with hot cop Allan Wellborn, Hattie Cooks has her hands full. But when Tracey becomes the primary suspect in her ex-husband’s murder, Hattie knows it’s up to her to ensure her sister a happily ever after. Temporarily Out of Luck is the perfect pairing of romantic romp and cozy mystery.
-Hattie Cooks has landed a great new job at Wedding Wonderland. With her sister Tracey poised to exchange nuptials, the timing couldn’t be better. And with sexy detective Allan Wellborn serving as the best man and Hattie as the maid of honor, the wedding promises to be an exciting event. Unfortunately, fate throws a monkey wrench in the happy couple’s plans when Tracey’s first husband, a cheater named Jonson Leggett the third, is found dead in the Super Saver parking lot. Can Hattie help clear her sister’s name in time for the big day? Readers will enjoy finding out in Temporarily Out of Luck.
-Temporarily Out of Luck is a light, funny mix of romance and suspense, set against the backdrop of a pending wedding. Say “I do!” to this delightful story!
-With charming characters, an intriguing murder plot, and lots of laughs, Vicki Batman’s latest book, Temporarily Out of Luck, is a total delight.
-A dead ex, a hot cop, and small-town secrets. Readers will enjoy spending time in Sommerville as Hattie Cooks attempts to prove her sister Tracey’s innocence—and learn the tango—before Tracey’s wedding day.
-A romantic romp coupled with a cozy mystery, Temporarily Out of Luck will warm your heart, exercise your brain, and tickle your funny bone. Vicki Batman delivers pure entertainment--once again!
-Hattie Cooks might get lucky with investigator Allan Wellborn--if only his darn phone would stop getting in the way! Temporarily Out of Luck is a seamless blend of light murder mystery and romantic comedy that is sure to please readers of both genres.
I think I can, I think I can, I think I can…
Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I have embarked on that nearly impossible task of writing 50K words in one month.
This means 30 days (now 26) of quick and easy food, minimal cleaning, barely any laundry, and sleepless nights. (Not sleeping is the only way I can do this, as my full-time gig won’t give me the month off to write. Go figure.) Moreover, Thanksgiving falls right at Nano crunch time. If I’m ahead, I can maybe take a minute to cook a real turkey dinner. If I’m behind…
It’s only turkey.
NaNoWriMo is a huge challenge I give myself. Part creative, part stress, it’s right up my alley. What tough challenges do you take on?
I’m a member of a writing group that has decided to publish an anthology of our short stories. Sounds good, right? Yes, and no.
On the positive side, anthologies offer readers an opportunity to sample new authors, usually at a bargain price. It also enables authors to reach new audiences, and sometimes. to try their hands at new genres.
On the other hand…
While I’ve written a few successful short stories, I don’t easily write “short”. I have a few stories, but they are closer to flash fiction in length. I don’t like to read long rambling tales so it stands to reason that I also don’t write them I do tend to write stories that involve the cast of characters who appear in my longer works.
Unfortunately, that creates the problem of how to explain who these people are without lots of backstory. There isn’t time or space to do that in a short work of fiction. I suppose I could identify it as a Living After Midnight story but what if the reader hasn’t read those books? How do I make this interesting enough that it might make someone new want to read more? Maybe I would be better off using new characters as long as it takes place in or around Unakite.
Decisions decisions.
If I’m being honest, I have to admit it doesn’t usually work for me to try to go outside my fictional world. My characters are so pushy they often manage to insert themselves into anything I write— if only for a cameo.
What do you think? Do you read short stories?
Mad respect to those talented people who have an artistic sensibility and a grasp of design concepts. It seems to be a complex amalgamation of concepts that leads to something visually appealing and effective.
Photo credit to Deposit Photos
I’ve recently thought about what I want the cover of my soon to be released books to look like. No matter who ultimately I ask to design them, I’m going to need to be able to tell them what I’m looking for.
Apparently, all genres have a specific set of expectations when it comes to covers. My books are all Urban Fantasies. Covers are expected to be dark and contain a representation of the protagonist.. The character should be somewhat front and center, and there should be mystical or magical elements. Many covers use the magical elements to frame the character’s image.
Some people argue that rules are meant to be broken. Operating outside of the status quo might get some attention. The other perspective, however, is that readers won’t even notice your book if they don’t recognize the genre.
What do you think?
I’m excited to be back into a project that has taken a back seat through much of last year. I have one novel, the sequel to House of the Rising Son, a book that has been neglected while I prepared the novella for Fire and Ice, and two short stories that were published in anthologies.
Thankfully, now I am able to concentrate on the project I call Slippery. I’m anxious to see what Cheyenne and Zander get into next. Ok, I’ll admit I plot my stories so I already know what they are going to get into, but that isn’t the same as being into the rhythm of writing their stories. I’ve missed them through the other projects but now I can give them the focus they deserve.
I’m also adding words to another story, so far titled Wolves, which I started awhile ago. It’s another urban fantasy in the same world as Chey and Zander’s story but with different characters.
I have so many responsibilities that take me away from my writing. I’m settling into a routine so I know I will have more to report as time goes by.
What takes you away from projects you really want to do, and how do you get back on track?
While you wait for Slippery and Wolves, here are a couple of promotions offering free short stories and novels, including my latest short story, Indigo Dreams. Take a look and enjoy!
A graphic promoting the Great Tales of Fantasy promotion.
Find great Urban Fantasy and Paranormal books here!
A graphic promoting a February UF Giveaway.
More books and short stories are available. Get them here while you can!
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