On Writing

  • · · ·

    Write Your Own Cake essay set for Feb. 8 …

    On Feb. 8, I will be releasing Write Your Own Cake. This is a worldbuilding essay I wrote a few years ago as part of a subscription box.

    In the essay, I talk about writing and some of the things I thought about when I was creating Kill the Queen and my Crown of Shards epic fantasy world. So if you are interested in writing and worldbuilding, you might enjoy it. Also, please note that Write Your Own Cake will only be available as an ebook. Thanks!

    WRITE YOUR OWN CAKE EBOOK:

    Amazon Kindle Barnes & Noble Apple Books Google Play Kobo Smashwords

    WRITE YOUR OWN CAKE DESCRIPTION:

    When it comes to writing, worldbuilding is like making a cake. Why a cake? Because every author starts with the same general ingredients of characters, plot, and setting, but it’s how each author combines and adds to those ingredients that makes a book an author’s own unique creation.

    This essay offers a few tips and poses some questions for figuring out the things you enjoy and do best as an author, so that you can write your own cake, whether it’s a big, bold epic fantasy adventure, a subtle, nuanced mystery, an emotion-packed romance, or something else.

    Note: Write Your Own Cake is a 2,000-word essay about writing and worldbuilding. It first appeared as part of the Scribbler subscription box in November 2018.

  • · · ·

    Kill the Queen on sale for $1.99 …

    Kill the Queen, book #1 in my Crown of Shards epic fantasy series, is on sale for $1.99. Woot! 😎 

    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.

    GET THE EBOOK:

    Amazon Kindle B&N Nook Google Play Apple Books Kobo

    Many times, if you buy the ebook, then Amazon will let you get the audiobook for a few dollars more. Again, you might want to check and see if that sort of deal is available in your country:

    GET THE AUDIOBOOK:

    Amazon audiobook Audible audiobook Google Play Kobo LibroAmazon MP3 CD

    GET THE PRINT BOOK:

    Amazon print B&N print Books-A-Million IndieBoundWalmart

    Fun fact: Lauren Fortgang, who narrates the audiobooks for my Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series, is the narrator for Kill the Queen. You can listen to a clip of Lauren’s narration by clicking on the SoundCloud excerpt box below:

    KILL THE QUEEN 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.

  • · · ·

    Taking a holiday break …

    2 Comments

    I am taking a break from blogging for the holidays. I’ll be blogging again starting Monday, Jan. 3 (or maybe Monday, Jan. 10).

    In the meantime, A Sense of Danger, Section 47 stand-alone, is out now. Woot! This urban fantasy book is basically spies with magic. So if you like James Bond, Jason Bourne, Nikita, or Alias, then I think you will enjoy it.

    GET THE EBOOK:

    Amazon Barnes & Noble Apple Books Google Play Kobo  Smashwords

    GET THE PRINT BOOK:

    Amazon Barnes & Noble IndieBound

    Booksellers and librarians can order print copies through IngramSpark.

    GET THE AUDIOBOOK:

    Amazon audio AudibleAmazon CD

    A Sense of Danger is an Audible Originals book. It was originally released as an audiobook on Nov. 12, 2020, and I self-published the ebooks and the print books on Nov. 16, 2021.

    A SENSE OF DANGER DESCRIPTION:

    Bestselling author Jennifer Estep serves up a stand-alone urban fantasy adventure filled with secrets, lies, and super spies with amazing magical abilities. Perfect for fans of Alias, James Bond, Jason Bourne, Nikita, and Netflix’s Bodyguard.

    A SPY . . .

    My name is Charlotte Locke, and I’m an analyst for Section 47, a secret government agency that tracks terrorists, criminals, and other paramortal bad guys who want to unleash their abilities on an unsuspecting mortal world. I have a magical form of synesthesia that senses danger and uncovers lies—making me a stealthy operative.

    I’m trudging through another day when one of Section’s cleaners—assassins—takes an interest in me. I don’t need my synesthesia to realize that he is extremely dangerous and that he will do anything to achieve his goals—even if it means putting me in the line of fire.

    . . . AND AN ASSASSIN

    I’m Desmond Percy, one of Section 47’s most lethal cleaners. I’m also a man on a mission, and I need Charlotte Locke’s skills to help me keep a promise, settle a score, and kill some extremely bad people.

    Charlotte might not like me, but we’re stuck together until my mission is over. Still, the more time we spend together, the more I’m drawn to her. But at Section 47, you never know who you can trust—or who might want you dead.

    A Sense of Danger is told in first person from the viewpoints of both Charlotte Locke and Desmond Percy. Helen Laser is the narrator for Charlotte, while Rupert Channing is the narrator for Desmond.

    As of right now, A Sense of Danger is a stand-alone adventure, although if it does well, then I might write some more books in the Section 47 world. Thanks!

  • · · ·

    Read it now — A Sense of Danger released …

    A Sense of Danger, Section 47 stand-alone, has been released. Woot! This urban fantasy book is basically spies with magic. So if you like James Bond, Jason Bourne, Nikita, or Alias, then I think you will enjoy it.

    GET THE EBOOK:

    Amazon Barnes & Noble Apple Books Google Play Kobo  Smashwords

    GET THE PRINT BOOK:

    Amazon Barnes & Noble IndieBound

    Booksellers and librarians can order print copies through IngramSpark.

    ABOUT THE PRINT BOOK:

    A Sense of Danger is available as a print book. However, many authors/publishers have been experiencing delays when it comes to print books due to the pandemic, paper shortages, supply-chain issues, and more. So if you order the print book, just be aware that it might be several weeks before you receive it.

    So if you want to read A Sense of Danger right now, then you should probably order the ebook.

    You can also get the audiobook, which is available now:

    GET THE AUDIOBOOK:

    Amazon audio AudibleAmazon CD

    A Sense of Danger is an Audible Originals book. It was originally released as an audiobook on Nov. 12, 2020, and I have now self-published the ebooks and the print books.

    A SENSE OF DANGER DESCRIPTION:

    Bestselling author Jennifer Estep serves up a stand-alone urban fantasy adventure filled with secrets, lies, and super spies with amazing magical abilities. Perfect for fans of Alias, James Bond, Jason Bourne, Nikita, and Netflix’s Bodyguard.

    A SPY . . .

    My name is Charlotte Locke, and I’m an analyst for Section 47, a secret government agency that tracks terrorists, criminals, and other paramortal bad guys who want to unleash their abilities on an unsuspecting mortal world. I have a magical form of synesthesia that senses danger and uncovers lies—making me a stealthy operative.

    I’m trudging through another day when one of Section’s cleaners—assassins—takes an interest in me. I don’t need my synesthesia to realize that he is extremely dangerous and that he will do anything to achieve his goals—even if it means putting me in the line of fire.

    . . . AND AN ASSASSIN

    I’m Desmond Percy, one of Section 47’s most lethal cleaners. I’m also a man on a mission, and I need Charlotte Locke’s skills to help me keep a promise, settle a score, and kill some extremely bad people.

    Charlotte might not like me, but we’re stuck together until my mission is over. Still, the more time we spend together, the more I’m drawn to her. But at Section 47, you never know who you can trust—or who might want you dead.

    A Sense of Danger is told in first person from the viewpoints of both Charlotte Locke and Desmond Percy. Helen Laser is the narrator for Charlotte, while Rupert Channing is the narrator for Desmond.

    As of right now, A Sense of Danger is a stand-alone adventure, although if it does well, then I might write some more books in the Section 47 world. I hope everyone enjoys getting to know Charlotte and Desmond. Happy reading! 😎 

  • · · · ·

    Capture the Crown ebook on sale …

    Capture the Crown, Gargoyle Queen #1, is on sale for 2.99 through Tuesday, Nov. 30. Woot! Capture the Crown is set in my Crown of Shards epic fantasy world, and the heroine is Gemma Ripley.

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

    CAPTURE THE CROWN EBOOK:

    Amazon Kindle Barnes & Noble Apple Books Google Play Kobo

    You can also still get the audiobooks and the print books. Usually, when you buy the Kindle ebook at Amazon, you can add the audiobook for a few more dollars, so you might check and see if that deal is also available.

    CAPTURE THE CROWN AUDIOBOOK – Narrated by Lauren Fortgang:

    Amazon Audible Google Play Kobo Libro.fmAmazon audio CD

    CAPTURE THE CROWN PRINT BOOK:

    Amazon Barnes & Noble Books-A-Million IndieBound

    CAPTURE THE CROWN DESCRIPTION:

    Bestselling author Jennifer Estep returns to her Crown of Shards world with an all-new trilogy and a bold new heroine who protects her kingdom from magic, murder, and mayhem by moonlighting as a spy.

    Gemma Ripley has a reputation for being a pampered princess who is more interested in pretty gowns, sparkling jewelry, and other frivolous things than learning how to rule the kingdom of Andvari. But her carefully crafted persona is just an act to hide the fact that Gemma is a powerful mind magier – and a spy. 

    Gemma is undercover, trying to figure out who is stealing large amounts of tearstone from one of the Ripley royal mines when she encounters Prince Leonidas Morricone of Morta – her mortal enemy. Gemma tries to steer clear of the handsome prince, but when she finds herself behind enemy lines, she reluctantly joins forces with Leo. Also coming to Gemma’s aid is Grimley, her beloved gargoyle.

    Despite the fact that Andvari and Morta are old, bitter enemies, a dangerous attraction sparks between Gemma and Leo. Further complicating matters is Leo’s murderous family, especially Queen Maeven Morricone, the mastermind behind the infamous Seven Spire massacre.

    The closer Gemma gets to the stolen tearstone, the more deadly plots she uncovers. Everyone is trying to capture the crown, but only one queen can sit on the throne …

    Note: Gemma Ripley was first introduced in Kill the Queen, book #1 in my original Crown of Shards series. Gemma was 12 years old then; in the new series, she is 29 years old. Some of the characters from my original Crown of Shards will make cameo appearances in the new series, but this is very much Gemma’s story.

    I hope everyone enjoys the book. Happy reading! 😎