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    Spinnenzeit, Elemental Assassin #10, has been published in German …

    A quick update for my German readers about some new and upcoming book releases by yours truly. 

    Spinnenzeit, book #10 in my Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series, has been released in German.

    This book is called The Spider in English. This book is a prequel story that shows how Gin Blanco became the assassin the Spider. It is set several years before the events of Spider’s Bite, the first book in the series.

    Here is a look at the cover art. I always think it’s so interesting how the U.S. covers differ from the German covers. Almost all of my German covers have a white background, while only one of my U.S. books — Widow’s Web, Elemental Assassin #7 — has a cover with a white background. I think the German covers are really cool. I like their minimalist look.

    Also, if you like superheroes, Karma Girl and a couple of the other books in my Bigtime superhero series have also been released in German.

    Hard Frost, book #2 in my Mythos Academy Colorado series, will be released on Oct. 2 in German. Like the first book, this one also follows the adventures of Rory Forseti, a Spartan warrior who attends the Colorado branch of Mythos Academy.

    As of right now, there will be three books in this series. I’m not sure when book #3 will be released in German.

    When I get a firm release date, I will try to share that on my Facebook and Twitter pages. You can also sign up for my email newsletter to stay up to date on all my book releases.

    Also, this book will be called Spartan Promise in English. I’m hoping to release Spartan Promise in English in January/February 2019, but it depends on my writing deadlines. We’ll see what happens.

    I hope that all my German readers enjoy the books. Happy reading!

  • Books to add to my TBR pile …

    5 Comments
    It’s time to check in with the old TBR pile. Here are some upcoming books that I’m looking forward to reading. Note that the descriptions are from Amazon.
     
     
    Out on Aug. 28
     
    A standalone epic fantasy adventure featuring a band of legendary mercenaries set in the world of Kings of the Wyld from author Nicholas Eames, who has been hailed as “the voice of modern fantasy” by Michael R. Fletcher.
     
    Live fast, die young.
     

    Tam Hashford is tired of working at her local pub, slinging drinks for world-famous mercenaries and listening to the bards sing of adventure and glory in the world beyond her sleepy hometown.

    When the biggest mercenary band of all rolls into town, led by the infamous Bloody Rose, Tam jumps at the chance to sign on as their bard. It’s adventure she wants – and adventure she gets as the crew embark on a quest that will end in one of two ways: glory or death.

    It’s time to take a walk on the wyld side.

    My thoughts: I’m going to buy this one for Wheezley, who loved Kings of the Wyld, the first book in the series.
     
    Toil & Trouble anthology by various authors
     
    Out on Aug. 28
     
    Scorn the witch. Fear the witch. Burn the witch.

    History is filled with stories of women accused of witchcraft, of fearsome girls with arcane knowledge. Toil & Trouble features fifteen stories of girls embracing their power, reclaiming their destinies and using their magic to create, to curse, to cure—and to kill.

    A young witch uses social media to connect with her astrology clients—and with a NASA-loving girl as cute as she is skeptical. A priestess of death investigates a ritualized murder. A bruja who cures lovesickness might need the remedy herself when she falls in love with an altar boy. A theater production is turned upside down by a visiting churel. In Reconstruction-era Texas, a water witch uses her magic to survive the soldiers who have invaded her desert oasis. And in the near future, a group of girls accused of witchcraft must find their collective power in order to destroy their captors.

    This collection reveals a universal truth: there’s nothing more powerful than a teenage girl who believes in herself.

     
    My thoughts: I like to read anthologies since they let me check out several different authors at once, and this one sounds really interesting.
     
     
    Out on Nov. 6
     
    A spy is dead. A legend is born. This is how it all began. The explosive prequel to Casino Royale, from bestselling author Anthony Horowitz. 

    Forever and a Day is the story of the birth of a legend, in the brutal underworld of the French Riviera, taking readers into the very beginning of James Bond’s illustrious career and the formation of his identity. 

    M laid down his pipe and stared at it tetchily. “We have no choice. We’re just going to bring forward this other chap you’ve been preparing. But you didn’t tell me his name.”

    “‘It’s Bond, sir,’” the Chief of Staff replied. “James Bond.”

    The sea keeps its secrets. But not this time. 

    One body. Three bullets. 007 floats in the waters of Marseille, killed by an unknown hand. 

    It’s time for a new agent to step up. Time for a new weapon in the war against organized crime. 

    It’s time for James Bond to earn his license to kill.

    My thoughts: I love the James Bond books and movies, so I’m looking forward to checking out this new Bond story.

    What about you guys? What books do you want to check out this summer/fall?

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    Enter to win an ARC of KILL THE QUEEN, Crown of Shards #1, Oct. 2 …

    135 Comments

    I have 5 print ARCs (advanced reading copies) to give away for Kill the Queen, which will be out on Oct. 2. Woot! 🙂

    To enter the giveaway, fill out the form at the bottom of this post.

    Kill the Queen is book #1 in my Crown of Shards epic fantasy series. As of right now, there will be three books in the series.

    PRE-ORDER LINKS

    Ebook: $10.99 at these sites:

    Amazon Kindle / Barnes & Noble Nook / Google Play / iBooks / Kobo

    Print book: $16.99 at these sites:

    Amazon print / Barnes & Noble print / Books-A-Million / IndieBound

    If you pre-order the print book, you can probably get it a little cheaper since retailers usually give customers the lowest price before release day.

    Audiobook: The audiobook will be available in digital and CD formats:

    Amazon audiobook / Audible audiobook / Amazon MP3 CD

    Book description: And here is the book description.

    The thrilling first novel of the Crown of Shards epic fantasy series combines magic, murder, and adventure when a member of the royal family becomes a contender in a clash for the crown… 

    In a realm where one’s magical power determines one’s worth, Lady Everleigh’s lack of obvious ability relegates her to the shadows of the royal court of Bellona, a kingdom steeped in gladiator tradition. Seventeenth in line for the throne, Evie is nothing more than a ceremonial fixture, overlooked and mostly forgotten.

    But dark forces are at work inside the palace. When her cousin Vasilia, the crown princess, assassinates her mother the queen and takes the throne by force, Evie is also attacked, along with the rest of the royal family. Luckily for Evie, her secret immunity to magic helps her escape the massacre.

    Forced into hiding to survive, she falls in with a gladiator troupe. Though they use their talents to entertain and amuse the masses, the gladiators are actually highly trained warriors skilled in the art of war, especially Lucas Sullivan, a powerful magier with secrets of his own. Uncertain of her future—or if she even has one—Evie begins training with the troupe until she can decide her next move.

    But as the bloodthirsty Vasilia exerts her power, pushing Bellona to the brink of war, Evie’s fate becomes clear: she must become a fearsome gladiator herself . . . and kill the queen.

    In other words: I’m pitching the book as Gladiator meets Game of Thrones with a kickass heroine.

    Read the first chapter: To read the first chapter, go here, scroll down, and click on the Read Excerpt tab.
     
    ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

    The giveaway is open to those 18 and older and U.S. addresses only, due to postage costs. Void where prohibited. To enter the giveaway, fill out the form below.

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

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    Book signing on Saturday, July 28 as part of Rob-Con …

    I will be signing books from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, July 28 as part of ROB-CON at the MeadowView Conference Resort & Convention Center in Kingsport, Tenn.

    I will have print copies of Venom in the Veins, Elemental Assassin #17, to sign, along with some (but not all!) of my other books.

    So if you are planning to attend the signing and want a specific book, please email me and let me know which book you want so I can have it on hand. Otherwise, I usually have the first and the most recent book in a series on hand to sign. I will also have free bookmarks and some other swag to hand out to readers.

    ROB-CON (which runs from July 27-29) will feature dozens of authors, comic book artists, vendors, and more, so if you love comic books/fantasy/etc., you might want to check it out. Note that I will only be at the con from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, July 28.

    As always, a big thanks to Robert Pilk for hosting me at the event.

    Hope to see you there! 🙂

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    Book signing at RWA conference in Denver …

    I will be attending the Romance Writers of America’s annual conference in Denver, Colo. The conference runs from July 18-21.

    I will be doing some of the publisher signings for conference attendees, and there will be a free, public book signing from 3-5 p.m., Saturday, July 21.

    For those of you attending the conference, I will be at the Gallery/Pocket book signing (Thursday morning); the Kensington signing (Thursday afternoon); and the Avon signing (Friday morning). My editor tells me that I should have some ARCs of Kill the Queen at the Avon signing, if you are interested in that book.

    I will also be at the indie book signing on Friday afternoon.

    Hope to see you there! 🙂