On Writing

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    The Spider, Elemental Assassin #10, is on sale for $1.99 …

    The Spider, book #10 in my Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series, is on sale for $1.99. Woot!

    The Spider cover art with woman wearing a jacket and holding two magical knives

    GET THE EBOOK:

    Amazon Kindle Barnes & Noble Apple Books Google Play Kobo

    I believe this deal is U.S./Canada only, but you can check with your favorite retailer to see if it’s available in your country.

    Also, if you buy the ebook, Amazon will sometimes let you add the audiobook for a few dollars more.

    Amazon audiobook Audible

    This is a prequel book that flashes back to one of GIn’s first missions as the Spider. So if you have been wanting to try the series, you might want to check out this book. Happy reading! 😎 

    THE SPIDER DESCRIPTION:

    For the first time, the full origin story of Gin Blanco’s transformation into the fearsome assassin known as the Spider—book ten in the red-hot Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series.

    How did I end up in a career where I always have blood on my hands? Well, let me tell you a story about an assassin who thought she could do no wrong. . . .

    Ten years ago. A blistering hot August night. I remember like it was yesterday. The night I, Gin Blanco, truly became the Spider. Killing people is what I do best, especially now that I’ve honed my Ice and Stone magic. But back then, I had yet to learn one very important rule: arrogance will get you, every single time.

    This particular job seemed simple: murder a crooked building contractor with ties to ruthless Fire elemental Mab Monroe. My mentor, Fletcher Lane, had some misgivings, but I was certain that I had the situation under control . . . right up until I exposed my weaknesses to a merciless opponent who exploited every single one of them. There’s a reason assassins aren’t supposed to feel anything. Luckily, a knife to the heart can fix that problem, especially when I’m the one wielding it. . . .

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    Spider and Frost set for Sept. 26 . . .

    Spider and Frost, an Elemental Assassin and Mythos Academy crossover novella, will be released Sept. 26. Woot!

    Spider and Frost is a 28,000-word crossover novella that features the first-person points of view of Gin Blanco and Gwen Frost. Readers have been asking me for crossover stories for years, and this was a lot of fun for me to write. 😎 

    Spider and Frost cover artGET THE EBOOK:

    Amazon Kindle Barnes & Noble Apple Books Google Play Kobo Smashwords

    ABOUT THE PRINT BOOK:

    There will not be an individual print book for Spider and Frost, given its short length. However, the novella will be included in the print books of Stings and Stones, the Elemental Assassin short story collection that will be out on Nov. 28:

    Stings and Stones cover art with woman holding knives standing in front of a Ferris wheelGET THE STINGS AND STONES PRINT BOOK:

    Amazon Barnes & Noble Bookshop.org

    Booksellers and librarians can order print copies through IngramSpark

    ABOUT THE AUDIOBOOKS:

    At this point, I do not think that Spider and Frost will be available as an audiobook, so if you want to read the novella as soon as it comes out, you will have to get the ebook. If an audiobook becomes available, I will let everyone know. Thanks for reading!

    SPIDER AND FROST DESCRIPTION:

    New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Estep delivers an epic team-up featuring beloved characters from her Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series and her Mythos Academy young adult series. This crossover novella, Spider and Frost, mixes magic and mythology in an action-packed adventure. Perfect for fans of Ilona Andrews, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and Rick Riordan.

    WHEN AN ASSASSIN . . .
    My name is Gin Blanco, and I’m on vacation. Sort of. As the assassin the Spider, it’s hard for me to completely relax, but I’m determined to enjoy a scenic train ride and a nice, quiet lunch before heading back home to Ashland.

    My plans change when Gwen Frost boards the train. The girl says she’s heading back to Mythos Academy, the fancy private boarding school, but I can’t shake the feeling that Gwen is hiding something—and is in far more trouble than she realizes.

    . . . MEETS A CHAMPION
    My name is Gwen Frost. I might have saved the world from Loki, the evil Norse god of chaos, but I’m still chasing down Reaper villains. It’s all part of being the Champion of Nike, the Greek goddess of victory.

    I’ve been assigned to protect some mythological artifacts that are being transported via train to Mythos Academy, but some Reapers are hot on my trail, and they’ll do anything to recover the artifacts—and kill me.

    Also on the train is Gin Blanco, who claims to be the owner of the Pork Pit barbecue restaurant. My psychometry magic keeps whispering that there’s more to her than meets the eye, although I can’t tell if Gin is a friend, an enemy, or something else entirely.

    Note: Spider and Frostis a 28,000-word crossover novella between the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series and the Mythos Academy young adult series. It is told from the points of view of Gin Blanco and Gwen Frost.

    Spider and Frost takes place after the events of Last Strand, book 19 in the Elemental Assassin series.
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    Stings and Stones Elemental Assassin short story collection set for Nov. 28 …

    I’m pleased to announce that I will be publishing Stings and Stones on Nov. 28. Woot!

    Here is the cover art by the awesome Tony Mauro. I love how kick-butt Gin looks, the colors, and especially the spider rune in the Ferris wheel lights. 😎 

    Stings and Stones is a 67,000-word collection of Elemental Assassin short stories. Some of the stories previously appeared here on my website, while others have been published in anthologies.

    I have a lot of pages on my website, and I feel like many folks just didn’t see/find/read the short stories when they were first posted on my website back in the early 2010s. (The stories are no longer available on my website due to a variety of reasons).

    Over the years, I’ve also gotten a lot of requests to bundle as many of the Elemental Assassin stories together as possible, so those are some of the reasons I am releasing the Stings and Stones short story collection. I hope everyone enjoys reading (or re-reading) the stories.

    GET THE EBOOK:

    Amazon Kindle Barnes & Noble Apple Books Google Play Kobo Smashwords

    GET THE PRINT BOOK:

    Amazon Barnes & Noble Bookshop.org

    Booksellers and librarians can order print copies through IngramSpark

    Note: The print books of Stings and Stones will include Spider and Frost, the Elemental Assassin and Mythos Academy crossover novella, for readers who want a print version of that story.

    ABOUT THE AUDIOBOOK:

    At this point, I don’t think that Stings and Stones will be available as an audiobook, so if you want to read it as soon as it comes out, you will have to order the ebook/print book. If/when Stings and Stones becomes available as an audiobook, I will share that info online. Thank you for reading.

    STINGS AND STONES DESCRIPTION:

    New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Estep serves up an Elemental Assassin short story collection featuring danger, magic, and a touch of romance. Perfect for fans of Ilona Andrews, Anne Bishop, Patricia Briggs, and Faith Hunter.

    Flash back to one of Gin Blanco’s many missions as the assassin the Spider. Learn more about Gin’s relationships with her mentor, Fletcher Lane, and her foster brother, Finnegan Lane, and see what trouble the other characters get themselves into when Gin’s not around. From a ghost’s lost love to a villain’s origin story, this action-packed collection has something for every urban fantasy and paranormal romance fan.

    The Stings and Stones collection features ten short stories told by various characters:

    “Spider’s Bargain” — Gin Blanco
    “Web of Death” — Gin Blanco
    “Web of Deceit” — Fletcher Lane
    “Poison” — Finnegan Lane
    “Wasted” — Finnegan Lane
    “Tangled Dreams” — Jo-Jo and Sophia Deveraux
    “Tangled Schemes” — Bria Coolidge
    “Spider’s Nemesis” — Mab Monroe
    “Haints and Hobwebs” — Gin Blanco
    “Parlor Tricks” — Gin Blanco

    Note: Stings and Stones is a 67,000-word collection of Elemental Assassin short stories. Some of the stories previously appeared on Jennifer Estep’s website, while others have been featured in anthologies.

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    How to read the Only Good Enemies bonus chapters . . .

    2 Comments

    WARNING – SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

    MONDAY MORNING MAILBAG

    Question: How do I read the bonus chapters for Only Good Enemies?

    Only Good Enemies 3D cover in a pink background with information about the book tropesAnswer: At the end of the Only Good Enemies ebooks, there is a link to sign up for my newsletter for folks who want to read two bonus chapters from Zane Zimmer’s point of view.

    In case you missed it, click here to go to the signup link. 

    After you sign up for my newsletter, you will get an email that will take you to the Zane bonus chapters. If you don’t get the email, please let me know.

    For the folks who got the audiobook, you can listen to the bonus chapters at the end of the Only Good Enemies audiobook.

    I had originally included Zane’s bonus chapters in Only Good Enemies, but then I thought it would be better to take them out and just have Zane reveal his true actions in the epilogue. But I enjoyed writing the chapters, and I thought they would be a fun extra for readers so I still wanted to share them.

    If enough folks like the bonus chapters, I might do them again for future books if I have any extra material. In the meantime, I hope that everyone is enjoying Vesper and Kyrion’s latest adventure. Thanks for reading!

    Only Good Enemies cover artGET THE EBOOK:

    Amazon Kindle Barnes & Noble Apple Books Google Play Kobo Smashwords

    GET THE AUDIOBOOK:

    Amazon audio Audible

    GET THE PRINT BOOK:

    Amazon Barnes & Noble Bookshop.org and IndieBound

    Booksellers and librarians can order through IngramSpark

    ONLY GOOD ENEMIES DESCRIPTION:

    New York Times best-selling author Jennifer Estep continues her Galactic Bonds series with a new, action-packed adventure that blends science fiction, fantasy, and historical romance. This rollicking space opera features a mix of magic and technology, along with a soul mates, slow burn, and enemies-to-lovers story. Perfect for fans of Star Wars, Bridgerton, and Pride and Prejudice.

    A WOMAN ON A MISSION . . .

    My name is Vesper Quill. I used to be a lowly lab rat, toiling away in obscurity developing brewmakers and other household appliances. But thanks to my seer magic and my own ingenuity, I’m now a Regal lady and the head of a successful corporation.

    My mission? To destroy the Techwave, the dangerous group that has stolen my designs and plans to weaponize them against the Imperium. But when my mission takes an unexpected turn, I’m once again surrounded by enemies and fighting for my life.

    Further complicating matters is Kyrion Caldaren, an arrogant Regal lord whose fate is bound to mine. Kyrion doesn’t realize the two of us still have an unwanted connection that puts us both in grave danger . . . or does he?

    A MAN SURROUNDED BY ENEMIES . . .

    My name is Kyrion Caldaren. As the leader of the Arrows, the Imperium’s elite fighting force, I’ve been tasked with tracking down and destroying the Techwave before they seize control of the Archipelago Galaxy.

    My other mission? Find a way to assassinate Lord Callus Holloway, the Imperium ruler who wants to take my psion power for his own. Holloway is also a threat to Vesper Quill, who haunts my thoughts, despite the broken bond and distance between us.

    When I realize Vesper is in danger, my priorities change, and I vow to use all my telepathic, telekinetic, and other abilities to help her. I will save Vesper from her enemies and mine—even if I have to burn down the whole bloody galaxy.

  • · · ·

    Only Hard Problems set for Feb. 20 …

    MONDAY MORNING MAILBAG
     
    Question: What is next for your Galactic Bonds series?
     
    Answer: Only Good Enemies, book #2, came out in July. Up next will be Only Hard Problems, which will be out on Feb. 20, 2024.
    WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD. If you haven’t read Only Good Enemies yet, you might want to skip reading this post for now.
     
    Only Hard Problems is a 47,000-word book from the point of view of Zane Zimmer. If you’ve read Only Good Enemies, you know that Zane got some pretty shocking news at the end of the book. 😉 
     
    In fact, Zane’s chapter/epilogue in Only Good Enemies was one of my favorite parts of the entire book to write. Why? I really liked the idea of having his character act like a villain through the whole book – and then letting the reader see what Zane was *really* doing the whole time. (insert evil author laughter here)
     
    When I was thinking about what I wanted to write next, I thought it would be interesting to dig into Zane’s character and get his thoughts on Vesper, Kyrion, Asterin Armas, Callus Holloway, and everything else that’s going on in my Galactic Bonds world.
     
    In the first two books, Zane comes across as arrogant and insufferable, and I wanted to show some of the reasoning behind his actions. Plus, it was really fun for me to write a character who is as confident and unapologetic as Zane. I wish I had his swagger in real life. LOL.
     
    I hope everyone enjoys the novella when it comes out.
     
    ABOUT THE PRINT/AUDIOBOOKS:
    There will be print and audiobooks for Only Hard Problems, and those links will go online later this year, after I finish the novella and get everything formatted.
     
    In the meantime, I hope everyone is enjoying Only Good Enemies. Thank you for reading. 
     

    Only Good Enemies cover artGET THE EBOOK:

    Amazon Kindle Barnes & Noble Apple Books Google Play Kobo Smashwords

    GET THE AUDIOBOOK:

    Amazon audio Audible

    GET THE PRINT BOOK:

    Amazon Barnes & Noble Bookshop.org and IndieBound

    Booksellers and librarians can order through IngramSpark

    ONLY GOOD ENEMIES DESCRIPTION:

    New York Times best-selling author Jennifer Estep continues her Galactic Bonds series with a new, action-packed adventure that blends science fiction, fantasy, and historical romance. This rollicking space opera features a mix of magic and technology, along with a soul mates, slow burn, and enemies-to-lovers story. Perfect for fans of Star Wars, Bridgerton, and Pride and Prejudice.

    A WOMAN ON A MISSION . . .

    My name is Vesper Quill. I used to be a lowly lab rat, toiling away in obscurity developing brewmakers and other household appliances. But thanks to my seer magic and my own ingenuity, I’m now a Regal lady and the head of a successful corporation.

    My mission? To destroy the Techwave, the dangerous group that has stolen my designs and plans to weaponize them against the Imperium. But when my mission takes an unexpected turn, I’m once again surrounded by enemies and fighting for my life.

    Further complicating matters is Kyrion Caldaren, an arrogant Regal lord whose fate is bound to mine. Kyrion doesn’t realize the two of us still have an unwanted connection that puts us both in grave danger . . . or does he?

    A MAN SURROUNDED BY ENEMIES . . .

    My name is Kyrion Caldaren. As the leader of the Arrows, the Imperium’s elite fighting force, I’ve been tasked with tracking down and destroying the Techwave before they seize control of the Archipelago Galaxy.

    My other mission? Find a way to assassinate Lord Callus Holloway, the Imperium ruler who wants to take my psion power for his own. Holloway is also a threat to Vesper Quill, who haunts my thoughts, despite the broken bond and distance between us.

    When I realize Vesper is in danger, my priorities change, and I vow to use all my telepathic, telekinetic, and other abilities to help her. I will save Vesper from her enemies and mine—even if I have to burn down the whole bloody galaxy.