What's Up for the Debut Author Challenge Authors? - Part 1

This is the first in a series of updates about formerly featured Debut Author Challenge authors and their 2015 works published since the last update and upcoming works for 2016. The year in parentheses after the author's name is the year she/he was featured in the Debut Author Challenge.

Ben Aaronovitch (2011)

The Hanging Tree
Rivers of London 6
DAW, June 14, 2015
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 336 pages

[no description available on US publisher's website yet]

Amazon : Barnes and Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million : IndieBound

Google Play : iBooks : Kobo

There is also a Rivers of London comic, Body Work. Read more about it here at Titan Comics.

Jo Anderton (2011)

Guardian
The Veiled Worlds 3
FableCroft Publishing, June 6, 2014
Trade Paperback and eBook, 368 pages

The grand city of Movoc-under-Keeper lies in ruins. The sinister puppet men have revealed their true nature, and their plan to tear down the veil between worlds. To have a chance of defeating them, Tanyana must do the impossible, and return to the world where they were created, on the other side of the veil. Her journey will force her into a terrible choice, and test just how much she is willing to sacrifice for the fate of two worlds.

Amazon : Barnes and Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million : IndieBound

Google Play : Kobo

Bradley P. Beaulieu (2011)

Twelve Kings in Sharakhai
Song of Shattered Sands 1
DAW, September 1, 2015
Hardcover and eBook, 592 pages
Mass Market Paperback, 656 pages (August 2, 2015)

Sharakhai, the great city of the desert, center of commerce and culture, has been ruled from time immemorial by twelve kings—cruel, ruthless, powerful, and immortal. With their army of Silver Spears, their elite company of Blade Maidens, and their holy defenders, the terrifying asirim, the Kings uphold their positions as undisputed, invincible lords of the desert. There is no hope of freedom for any under their rule.

Or so it seems, until Çeda, a brave young woman from the west end slums, defies the Kings’ laws by going outside on the holy night of Beht Zha’ir. What she learns that night sets her on a path that winds through both the terrible truths of the Kings’ mysterious history and the hidden riddles of her own heritage. Together, these secrets could finally break the iron grip of the Kings’ power…if the nigh-omnipotent Kings don’t find her first.

Amazon : Barnes and Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million : IndieBound

Google Play : iBooks : Kobo

Jenn Bennett (2011)

The Anatomical Shape of a Heart
Feiwel & Friends, November 3, 2015
Hardcover and eBook, 304 pages
(Night Owls in UK/AU/NZ)

Artist Beatrix Adams knows exactly how she's spending the summer before her senior year. Determined to follow in Da Vinci's footsteps, she's ready to tackle the one thing that will give her an advantage in a museum-sponsored scholarship contest: drawing actual cadavers. But when she tries to sneak her way into the hospital's Willed Body program and misses the last metro train home, she meets a boy who turns her summer plans upside down.

Jack is charming, wildly attractive . . . and possibly one of San Francisco's most notorious graffiti artists. On midnight buses and city rooftops, Beatrix begins to see who Jack really is-and tries to uncover what he's hiding that leaves him so wounded. But will these secrets come back to haunt him? Or will the skeletons in Beatrix's own family's closet tear them apart?

Amazon : Barnes and Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million : IndieBound

Google Play : iBooks : Kobo

Sabrina Benulis (2011)

Angelus
The Books of Raziel 3
Harper Voyager, February 9, 2016
Trade Paperback and eBook, 400 pages

The heart-pounding conclusion to the Books of Raziel trilogy, a gothic supernatural tale about a girl who discovers that she holds the keys to both Heaven and Hell—and that angels, demons, and all the creatures in between who will stop at nothing to possess her and control the power she holds.

The war begun by three powerful angel siblings—Raziel, Lucifel, and Israfel—has divided the kingdoms of both Heaven and Hell, and the destruction is spilling over into the human world.

The last hope for a crumbling world is the Archon—the human Angela Mathers who has the power to control the supernatural universe. Angela alone can successfully oppose Lucifel and open Raziel’s Book, to use its power for good. But to do so would mean murdering her best friend, a sacrifice Angela refuses to contemplate.

Angela sits on the throne of Hell, fulfilling a prophecy of ruin. But ruin does not always mean destruction—sometimes it means revolution. Time is running out for both Angela and the universe, and former enemies are eager to see her fail. As she enters the Angelus duel for the crown of Heaven, she can only pray that she’ll see her friends again.

Amazon : Barnes and Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million : IndieBound

Google Play : iBooks : Kobo

Amanda Bonilla (2011)

Shadows at Midnight
Shaede Assassin 5
NYLA, September 24, 2015
eBook, 208 pages

Has Darian’s past finally caught up with her?

The Rakshasa queen, Padma, has a score to settle—she wants those responsible for her son’s death to pay and to pay dearly. Darian, Tyler and Xander are all at risk—and Padma’s powers could force them to live the rest of their lives in the madness of the Realm of Illusions…

While Darian is taken and is the first to suffer, she’s soon rescued by Tyler, the one man to never disappoint. But what Darian doesn’t know is that her freedom comes at a steep price—Xander’s the King of Shaedes, imprisonment. Darian knows what horrors await in Padma’s dungeon. A rescue mission won’t be easy and she can’t do it alone.

Deep in the bowels of Goblin Valley, Darian, Tyler, and her small band of Shaede warriors fight their way through a dark labyrinth. In a realm where illusions rule, with danger at every turn, the odds are stacked against them. Time isn’t on their side, every second spent in Padma’s custody will be another step Xander takes toward madness. A kingdom can’t be ruled without its king and the wolves are at the door, waiting. If Darian can’t get to Xander before he succumbs to the illusions, an entire kingdom’s future is at stake…

Amazon : Barnes and Noble : Google Play : iBooks : Kobo

Against the Dawn by Amanda Bonilla - Excerpt and Giveaway - May 22, 2014

A new Shaede Assassin novel has been published - Against the Dawn! This is the 4th novel in the series by Amanda Bonilla. Check out the excerpt below and also enter to win a copy.

Thanks so much to Sally and The Qwillery for having me as a guest today! One of my favorite characters in the Shaede Assassin world is Asher. The mysterious half Shaede/half Sidhe is a mysterious, snarky pain in the butt who is the perfect pal for someone like Darian. He has a lot of screen time in AGAINST THE DAWN and I’m excited to share an Asher excerpt with you today!

    Asher stepped out the service elevator and I retrieved a second mug from the cupboard. He was carrying two boxes: one square and white cardboard, while the other was rectangular and made of rich mahogany. “You come bearing gifts?” I fixed him with a stern look as I filled the new fancy French press left in the cupboard with coffee grounds and put a kettle on to boil. “What did you do?”
    “It’s nothing I did,” Asher remarked as he placed both boxes on my kitchen island counter, “though I sort of take offense to the fact that you feel like I need to apologize for something. I’m nothing more than the delivery boy this morning. I think someone’s trying to impress you.”
    I narrowed my gaze and stared at the boxes, both curious as to their contents and worried to open them and see. I figured the white cardboard one would be the safest choice and I popped the lid to find three of the most beautiful chocolate éclairs I’d ever seen inside.
    “They’re from Bakery Nouveau,” Asher said with a shrug. “I’m not gonna lie, I ate one on the way over here and it was freaking delicious.”
    I laughed and grabbed two plates, placing one éclair on one and two on the other. I slid the single pastry over to Asher as the kettle whistled so I grabbed it off the stove and poured the boiling water into the coffee press. “Coffee?”
    “Sure,” he replied, settling onto one of the barstools. “So, are you going to open the other box or what?”
    I depressed the plunger and poured the brewed coffee into the mugs. Did I want to open the other box? Who knew what I’d find inside? “Cream?” I asked instead, sliding a container of half and half to Asher along with a bowl of sugar and a spoon.
    “Come on, Darian.” There were times that Asher totally reminded me of an errant teenager. “I’m dying to see what’s inside. Just open it.”
    “Who’s it from?” As though I had to ask.
    “Please,” Asher said with a snort.
    “What did he tell you this morning when he sent you over here?”
    “Not a damned thing. I was given two sets of addresses to make pickups at with the implicit instructions to hand both boxes to you personally.”
    I wondered if Xander found it tiring to throw his weight around the way he did. “And you had no trouble helping yourself to the éclairs but you didn’t even peek in the other box?”
    Asher smiled. “I tried. But it’s warded.”
    Well, that was interesting. Whatever was inside that box, Xander wanted locked up good and tight. “If you can’t get into it, what makes you think I can?” Asher gave me a look and I poured some cream into my coffee. “Okay, you’ve got a point. Slide it over here.”
    His smile rivaled that of a kid on Christmas morning. He couldn’t wait to see what was inside. I placed my hands on the rich polished wood and the magic protecting its contents warmed my palms. The minute my skin made contact with the box, I felt a burst of energy that traveled from the top of my head down my spine. My curiosity rivaled my suspicion; the magic used to protect the contents of the box was pretty damned specific. I not only wondered how he’d managed to have it done, but who did it. Magic like that would have required a personal belonging of mine to accomplish. It made me question Xander’s motives in remodeling my apartment. Did he have a plastic baggie with hair from one of my brushes somewhere? And…ew. I really, really hoped that wasn’t the case.
    I held my breath as I lifted the lid. I don’t know what I expected to find inside. With the wards Xander had placed on the box, it could have been just about anything. The breath I was holding left my lungs in rush as my jaw dropped. I had to give it Xander, he sure knew how to give a gift. My katana had been a present from Xander and it was one of my most prized possessions. And let me tell you, the contents of that mahogany box were going to give that damned sword a run for its money in the favorites department.
     A pair of daggers rested in a nest of black velvet. The blades were unlike anything I’d ever seen, and that was saying something. Neither metal nor stone as far as I could tell, the black blades gleamed almost blue in the morning sunlight that filtered into my kitchen. The grips were equally impressive, old worn wood wrapped in dark leather. I lifted one from its nest and held it in my palm. As though the dagger had been made for me, it weighed almost nothing, the balance was impeccable and the grip molded itself into my palm as though I’d worn the pattern of my hand into its surface from decades of use.
    “What is it?” I asked, my tone awestruck. Power surged from the dagger, infusing me with a sense of strength and confidence. As though I could scale tall buildings in a single bound or some shit. This was an old, potent magic. And despite the rush I felt from the dagger in my hand, I was wary of its power.
    “I have no idea,” Asher said, his own voice filled with wonder. “But I want one.”

Against the Dawn
Shaede Assassin 4
NYLA, May 20, 2014
eBook, 263 pages

Six months can feel like a just couple of weeks when you've been away in another realm. Literally.

Now that Darian is back in Seattle, she's ready to face the life - and the man - she left behind. But it's not going to be easy when a ghost from her past shows up looking to wreak havoc on Seattle's supernatural crime scene.

Darian isn't as careless as she used to be, though. She and Tyler, her sexy Jinn protector, have come a long way in the trust department. And it's a good thing too - because when Ty contracts her to assassinate a wickedly powerful supernatural who goes by the name of Mithras, it will take all her faith in Ty, and herself, to get the job done.

While Darian does whatever it takes to get to her mark, Xander, the Shaede King is busy making plans of his own. With Darian's attention divided between Lorik's secrets and her mission she might not be able to stop Xander from doing anything in his power to separate Darian from her sworn protector and in the process, destroy his own kingdom...

Amazon : Barnes and Noble : iTunes : Kobo

Previously in Shaede Assassin:

Crave the Darkness
Shaede Assassin 3
Signet, March 5, 2013
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 336 pages

Nothing comes easy for Darian. Her heightened powers make her indispensable to the Shaede Nation, but dangerous missions have driven her lover, Tyler, to his breaking point. Darian must salvage their bond, but a new assignment to protect Anya—a fellow Shaede and the first of their kind to become pregnant in centuries—stands in the way.

It doesn’t help that the two Shaedes are longtime rivals and share nothing besides mutual hatred. But when it becomes clear that someone—or something—is bent on destroying the expectant mother and her unborn child, Darian must put her feelings aside and track down Anya’s would-be assassin.

As she probes into Anya’s past, Darian digs up long-buried secrets—and a startling connection between Tyler and the mission that could destroy everything between them.…

Amazon : Barnes and Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million

IndieBound : iTunes : Kobo

Lost to the Gray
A Shaede Assassin Novella
Signet Eclipse, February 5, 2013
eNovella, 92 pages

Did he do the right thing?

No one loves Darian like Tyler does. Not her friends. Not her fellow Shaedes. Not the Shaede king who wants her for himself. Tyler is the only one who sees beyond the swagger and swordplay that make her the most fearsome Shaede assassin in the world—the only one who recognizes her loyal heart and vulnerability. But her evolving powers and compulsion to finish every job no matter the stakes fills him with fear. For he knows it's only a matter of time before he loses her.

When that moment nearly comes—and Tyler discovers a trail of deceit that prevented him from protecting Darian—he snaps. He breaks. And he leaves.

Now he must learn to live without her, even as they remain bound to one another. And when a friend of Darian’s faces an unknown threat, Tyler must find a way to enter the fray without crossing paths with Darian.

Amazon : Barnes and Noble : iTunes : Kobo

Blood Before Sunrise
Shaede Assassin 2
Signet, July 3, 2012
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 336 pages

“She needed a bargaining chip and this was it—Raif’s daughter’s life for hers. And he knew damned well I was right. Just as he’d assured me the night I’d killed Azriel, this was far from over. His daughter was alive; I knew it. And I was going to find her.”

For months Darian and her Shaede guardian Raif have searched for the Oracle who attempted to overthrow the Shaede Nation—and kill Darian in the bargain. But now that they’ve finally found the half-crazed Oracle, for their efforts they are granted a possibility too painful for Raif to imagine, and too enticing for Darian to ignore.

Darian is determined to reunite Raif and the daughter he thought was dead, but her mission quickly proves dangerous when her lover Tyler is almost killed. And when a brooding and mysterious Fae warrior offers his guidance—at an extraordinary price—Darian finds herself willing to risk everything. As her single-minded hunt turns into an obsession, and she and Tyler grow further apart, Darian finds herself caught between the man she loves like a brother, and the man whose love she can’t live without…

Amazon : Barnes and Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million
IndieBound : iTunes : Kobo

When Shadows Call
A Shaede Assassin Novella
Signet Eclipse, June 5, 2012
eNovella, 94 pages

An exciting prequel to Amanda Bonilla’s Shaede Assassin series.

The envy of 1900s society, Darian is the rich, beautiful wife of a prominent Californian doctor—but her life is far from perfect. For years, Darian has suffered at the hand of her cruel husband and yearned for an escape—one that she knows to be all but impossible.

But when an enigmatic stranger comes to call, Darian finds herself charmed by his seductive smile and the inexplicable connection she feels. And when he makes her a thrilling—yet frightening—proposition, Darian must decide if she’s strong enough to abandon the mortal world she knows and answer the shadow’s call…

Includes an excerpt from Shaedes of Gray, and a preview from Blood Before Sunrise, available July 2012.

Amazon : Barnes and Noble : iTunes : Kobo

Shaedes of Gray
Shaede Assassin 1
Signet, December 6, 2011
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 336 pages

In the shadows of the night, Darian has lived alone for almost a century. Made and abandoned by her former love, Darian is the last of her kind-an immortal Shaede who can slip into darkness as easily as breathing. With no one else to rely on, she has taught herself how to survive, using her unique skills to become a deadly assassin.

When Darian's next mark turns out to be Xander Peck, King of the Shaede Nation, her whole worldview is thrown into question. Darian begins to wonder if she's taken on more than her conscience will allow. But a good assassin never leaves a job unfinished...

Amazon : Barnes and Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million
IndieBound : iTunes : Kobo

About Amanda

Amanda Bonilla lives in rural Idaho. She’s a part-time pet wrangler, a full-time sun worshipper, and only goes out into the cold when coerced. She loves the outdoors, black clothes, pink appliances and thinks junk food should be a recognized food group. In the summer, she can be found sitting by the lake, enjoying the view from her dock.









Website :Twitter @amandabonilla : Facebook

The Giveaway

What:  One entrant will win a digital copy of Against the Dawn (Shaede Assassin 4) from Amanda.

How:  Log into and follow the directions in the Rafflecopter below.

Who and When:  The contest is open to all humans on the planet earth with a mailing address. Contest ends at 11:59PM US Eastern Time on May 30, 2014. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 years old or older to enter.

*Giveaway rules and duration are subject to change without any notice.*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The View From Monday - March 4, 2013

Happy first Monday in March.

Out this week from the 2013 Debut Author Challenge featured authors:

     A Conspiracy of Alchemists (The Chronicles of Light and Shadow 1) by Liesel Schwaz.


New this week from the 2012 Debut Author Challenge featured authors:

     Deep Down (Hallie Michaels 2) by Deborah Coates

     Payoff (eBook) (Mindspace Investigations Novella) by Alex Hughes


New this week from the 2011 Debut Author Challenge featured authors:

     Crave the Darkness (Shaede Assassin 3) by Amanda Bonilla

     Wicked Lies (eBook) (Dark Mission Novella) by Karina Cooper (print edition will be available on April 9th).


Update:  A printable PDF of this week's releases plus the March 1st releases may be found here.




March 4, 2013

TITLE	AUTHOR	SERIES
Prophecy (e)	Vivi Anna	FR - The League of Illusion 2

March 5, 2013

TITLE	AUTHOR	SERIES
Peach Pies and Alibis	Ellery Adams	PCM - Charmed Pie Shoppe Mystery 2
Agave Kiss	Ann Aguirre	UF - Corine Solomon
Real Vampires Know Hips Happen	Gerry Bartlett	PNR - Real Vampires 9
Bridge of Dreams (h2mm)	Anne Bishop	F - Ephemera 3
Written In Red	Anne Bishop	UF - Others 1
Crave the Darkness	Amanda Bonilla	UF - Shaede Assassin 3
Children of Kings	Marion Zimmer Bradley Deborah J. Ross	F - Darkover
Frost Burned	Patricia Briggs	UF - Mercy Thompson 7
The Shape Stealer	Lee Carroll	UF - Black Swan Rising 3
The Wolf's Surrender	Kendra Leigh Castle	PNR
The Heart of a Hero	Janet Chapman	PNR - Spellbound Falls 4
Intruder (h2mm)	C. J. Cherryh	SF - Foreigner 13
Deep Down	Deborah Coates	UF - Hallie Michaels 2
Garrett For Hire	Glen Cook	UF - Omnibus
Wicked Lies (e)	Karina Cooper	PNR - Dark Mission Novella
The Thief (h2mm)	Clive Cussler	Th/SF - Isaac Bell 5
A Turn of Light	Julie E. Czerneda	F
Undead and Underwater	MaryJanice Davidson	PNR - Collection
The Mapmaker's War: A Legend	Ronlyn Domingue	F
Hope Reborn	S.M. Stirling David Drake	SF - Raj Whitehall 1 and 2
The Dark Heroine: Dinner with a Vampire	Abigail Gibbs	UF
Dead Reckoning (ri)	Charlaine Harris	UF - Sookie Stakchouse / Southern Vampire 11
Empty Space	M. John Harrison	SF - Light 3
Redemption	Erica Hayes	PNR - Seven Signs 2
Doughnut	Tom Holt	SF
A Few Good Men	Sarah A. Hoyt	SF - Darkship 3
Payoff (e)	Alex Hughes	SF - Mindspace Investigations Novella
The Silent Ghost (e)	Sue Ann Jaffarian	PCM - Ghost of Granny Apples Novella
No Return (D)	Zachary Jernigan	F
Double Enchantment (ri)	Kathryne Kennedy	PNR - The Relics of Merlin
Gotrek & Felix : The Third Omnibus (ri)	William King	F - Warhammer
Unbound	Angela Knight Jennifer Ashley Jean Johnson Hanna Martine	PNR
The Funhouse (ri)	Dean Koontz	H
Keeper of the Moon	Harley Jane Kozak	PNR - The Keepers: L.A.
The Geek Girl and the Scandalous Earl	Gina Lamm	PNR
Beast Behaving Badly (tp2mm)	Shelly Laurenston	PNR - Pride 5
The Fall of Never	Ronald Malfi	H
Midnight Blue-Light Special	Seanan McGuire	UF - Incryptid 2
The Chosen	Theresa Meyers	SPR/WW - Legend Chonicles 3
Her Knight's Quest	Alexis Morgan	F - Warriors of the Mist 2
The Accursed	Joyce Carol Oates	H
Strange Fates (e)	Marlene Perez	UF - Nyx Fortuna 1
Liar's Blade	Tim Pratt	F - Pathfinder Tales
The Demonologist: A Novel	Andrew Pyper	H
The Books of Barakhai	Mickey Zucker Reichert	F/SF
Mating Instinct	Katie Reus	PNR - Moon Shifter 3
The Last Threshold	R. A. Salvatore	F - Dungeons & Dragons: Forgotten Realms: Neverwinter Saga 4
The Sound of Rebellion	John Scalzi	SF - The Human Division 8
A Conspiracy of Alchemists (D)	Liesel Schwarz	F - The Chronicles of Light and Shadow 1
Wild Invitation	Nalini Singh	PNR - Psy/Changling Anthology
The Late Night Horror Show	Bryan Smith	H
Hope Reborn	S.M. Stirling David Drake	SF - General Omnibus
The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year Volume Seven	Jonathan Strahan (ed)	SF/F - Anthology
Slashback	Rob Thurman	UF - Cal Leandros 8
Blood and Magick	James R. Tuck	UF- Deacon Chalk: Occult Bounty Hunter 3
The Last Grave	Debbie Viguie	P/Th - Witch Hunt 2
Rapture	J.R. Ward	PNR - Fallen Angels 4
Shadow of Freedom	David Weber	SF - Honor Farrington 14

March 6, 2013

TITLE	AUTHOR	SERIES
The Necromancer's Grimoire	Annmarie Banks	F - The Elysium Texts 2
A Wolf from the Outlands	Richard Taylor	F - The Wolf's Quest 1
Terrain (e)	Genevieve Valentine	SP/W

e - eBook
D - Debut
h2mm - Hardcover to Mass Market Paperback
h2tp - Hardcover to Trade Paperback
tp2mm - Trade to Mass Market Paperback
ri - reissue or reprint



F - Fantasy
FR - Fantasy Romance
H - Horror
P - Paranormal
PCM - Paranormal Cozy Mystery
PNR - Paranormal Romance
SF - Science Fiction
SP - Steampunk
SPR - Steampunk Romance
Th - Thriller
UF - Urban Fantasy
W - Western
WW - Weird Western

Winners x 13 - August 25, 2012

And the winners are...


Darkness Devours (Dark Angels 3 by Keri Arthur - Ended August 3, 2012 - See the post here.

Question:  Which of the 4 Dark Angels' covers is your favorite?

Barb P who said...

Most definitely Darkness Hunts! I love the awesome colors. +1 Comment, +1 Follower

Choice of an eBook of The Fallen Queen or The Midnight Court by Jane Kindred. [Note if you chose The Midnight Court you will not receive your eBook until on or after the August 30, 2012 publication date.] - Ended August 11, 2012 - Read the Guest Blog  here.

Question:  What is one of your favorite traditions?

Caitlin Rahm who said...

I have a clam bake every year in October with my family which I love. Thanks for the giveaway!

Kitty Steals the Show (Kitty Norville 10) by Carrie Vaughn - Ended August 11, 2012 - Read the post here.

Question:  If paranormal and/or supernatural being exist, should they reveal themselves to the world?

rissatoo who said...

Great question, Q! :)
I'm selfish: I'd want to know if the paranormal/supernatural creatures existed in the world, but I wouldn't want them to be "out". Too many people hate &/or fear the different as it is. We don't need to introduce more into the world.

West of Want (Hearts of the Anemoi 2) eBook by Laura Kaye and West of Want T-Shirt (L or XL) - Ended August 12, 2012 - Read the Guest Blog here.

Question: Can you get a feel for how this song reflects this story?
What does it make you feel? And, if you’ve read the book, I’d be really curious to know if you think they fit together!

Alison Rush who said...

Looking forward to reading the book... I think they together from reading the song and excerpts. Going to have to download the song ... Would love a e copy and shirt click to sleep in. .... Alison  Thankyou

Blooded (Jessica McClain 1) by Amanda Carlson - Ended August 13, 2012 - Read the Interview here.   Please note that the winner will not receive the novel until after it is released in September.

Question:  What is one of your favorite novels, movies, comic, etc. that features a werewolf ?

Lona who said...

Bowen from Wicked Deed's on a Winter's Night by Kresley cole. Book sounds fantastic, Love the cover.

Hearts of Darkness (Deadglass Trilogy 1) by Kira Brady - Ended August 14, 2012 - Read the interview here.

Question:  Have you ever been or felt you have been someplace haunted?

Linda who said...

My grandmother's old house was in a really old part of the town - this was years ago when I was a young kid & before she moved in with us. That house was creepy! It was really dark & had very few windows & all the floor boards creaked. You'd never have caught me upstairs alone.

Clean (Mindspace Investigations 1) by Alex Hughes - Ended August 15, 2012 - Read the Guest Blog here.  Please note that the winner will not receive the novel until after it is released in September.

Question:  Cross Genre novels - love them or leave them?

sonsofcorax who said...

Cross-genre usually makes for fun reading, and I like reading what I come across. Adam Christopher's Empire State is a great example - noir, superheroes, time travel, pocket dimensions.

A Wolf at the Door (Jesse James Dawson 3) by K.A. Stewart - Ended August 15, 2012 - Read the interview here.

Leave a comment.

Bethany C. who said...

I think it's great you do a lot of research; I don't think a book, no matter if it's fantasy, benefits from being 100% made-up.

Three commenters will each win an eBook from Covet (Entangled Publishing)!  One commenter will win Deceiving the Witch Next Door by Melissa Bourbon Ramirez.  One commenter will win Tall Dark and Divine (Bagging a Greek God 1) by Jenna Bennett.  One commenter will win Take it Like a Vamp by Candace Havens. - Ended August 18, 2012 - Read the character interview here.

Question:  From novels, TV, movies - which fictional character would you go out on a date with?

Deceiving the Witch Next Door by Melissa Bourbon Ramirez.

June M. who said...

I do love the bad boys too. I would love to go out with one of the guys for Larissa Ione's Demonica & Lords of Deliverance series. Especially either Wraith, Ares, or Than.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tall Dark and Divine (Bagging a Greek God 1) by Jenna Bennett.

Maria pronounced Mariah who said...

As much as I love all the paranormal bad boys I think I would have to pick Roark for an actual "date" that man knows how to take care of a woman!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Take it Like a Vamp by Candace Havens.

books4me who said...

I would want to go out with a bad boy...something new for me so I would choose Eric from True Blood or Wraith from Demonica series (Larissa Ione) or Gregory from Dark series (Christine Feehan).

The Corpse-Rat King (The Corpse-Rat King 1) by Lee Battersby - Ended August 21, 2012 - Read the Guest Blog here. Please note that the winner will not receive the novel until after the publication date.

Leave a comment.

booklover0226 who said...

The Corpse-Rat King sounds like an exciting read. I have added it to my must have list. I'm heading to Lee Battersby's site to learn more about him.

Magic Gone Wild (Bottled Magic 3) by Judi Fennell - Ended August 22, 2012 - Read the interview here. US/CANADA ONLY

Question:  Which real town/city/village should be the basis for setting in a Paranormal Romance novel?

June M. who said...

I think that large cities would be best for paranormal series generally, especially for vampires, demons, witches, etc. Cities like NY, LA, NOLA. This way they can blend in, not have too many people too interested in them like in smaller towns.

But for shifters, I would think that areas with less people, more open space would be best (Alaska, desert areas, places with lots of woodlands, etc) so that they can shift and hunt but not have a lot of witnesses.

The winners have been notified and have until 11:59PM US Eastern Time on Saturday, September 1, 2012 to respond or The Qwillery will very randomly choose a new winner or winners.

Thank you!

Amanda Bonilla - My Favorite Time Sucks

Please welcome Amanda Bonilla to The Qwillery. Amanda is the author of the Shaede Assassin series. Blood Before Sunrise (Shaede Assassin 2) was published on July 3, 2012.

My Favorite Time-Sucks

Thanks so much to Sally and The Qwillery for having me back as a guest! I love this blog!

Needless to say, I occasionally lose focus. In the summer, I try to work away from home, taking my lap top to a location with no internet, no pets that need attention, no phone ringing… no distraction. It’s a little harder in the winter, because my work refuge is only available to me from June to October. The rest of the year, I have to exercise a little self-control and stay on task. Not always easy. And since these same distractions have interfered with the blog posts I need to write, I thought I’d share with you my favorite time sucks.


The Internet

This includes: Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest. I can easily log on to Twitter with the sole purpose of taking a “quick look” at my Twitter stream. Two hours later, I’m still there, chatting it up. Facebook isn’t quite as bad, I can limit my activity there to 10 - 20 minutes a day. But the most evil of these social media sites is far and above Pinterest. I’ve been known to while entire weekends away as pin recipes, outfits I’ll never buy, and cool craft projects I will never do. 



Netflix 

I don’t know what it is about Netflix… I can ignore it completely until I’m under deadline and then I hear its siren song entreating me to log on. Have you ever seen the Netflix episode of Portlandia? Carrie and Fred start watching an episode of Battlestar Galactica. One episode turns to two, and three, and so on, and before they know it, they’re dirty, hungry, and jobless. By the way, you can watch entire seasons Portlandia on Netflix right now! *runs to open browser*



Bejeweled Blitz

I’ll play Bejeweled until my wrists go numb. I play it on Facebook and I have it loaded on my iPod. I’ll tell myself just one more game. And fifteen games later I’m repeating to myself, okay, this is the last game. My teen used to make fun of me for playing a stupid puzzle game, and then he succumbed to the seductive power of those glowing gems. I hate to admit that I can’t even come close to reaching his high score. I’d better start practicing. The kid is going down!



Reality TV

How I looooove reality TV. Dance Moms and Dance Moms: Miami are my current favs. Those moms are intense. And the instructors? Wow. Duck Dynasty is a reality show that I’ve actually got the hubs hooked on recently. If you’ve never watched it, you have to give it a try! That is one funny family. I’d totally hang out with them if I could! On the athletic front, I never miss an episode of So You Think You Can Dance and once in a while, I’ll watch Ninja Warrior and American Ninja Warrior. The contestants on those shows are amazing!



The beach

This is more of a seasonal time suck. We have a really short summer where I live and the months of June to August are strictly dedicated to the lake. My family has an old cabin on the lake and I spend every day I can sitting on the dock, soaking up the sun, and swimming. I’d swim all day if I could, and I’m hoping to find a used kayak this summer so I can paddle around too.

The actual view from my dock. I love the lake!

Reading

Of course, I’ve saved my very favorite time suck for last. I read in the morning, while I’m eating lunch. After dinner, and late at night in bed. I read at soccer games, in my car, while I’m waiting for an appointment. I read in the car while I’m waiting on the teen, and when I’m sitting at the beach. I could read my life away. Reading is the best time suck there is, hands down!



What are some of your favorite time sucks? Do you ever have to turn off your phone or disable your internet in order to get work done?



About Shaede Assassin

Blood Before Sunrise

Shaede Assassin 2
Signet, July 3, 2012
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 336 pages

“She needed a bargaining chip and this was it—Raif’s daughter’s life for hers. And he knew damned well I was right. Just as he’d assured me the night I’d killed Azriel, this was far from over. His daughter was alive; I knew it. And I was going to find her.”

For months Darian and her Shaede guardian Raif have searched for the Oracle who attempted to overthrow the Shaede Nation—and kill Darian in the bargain. But now that they’ve finally found the half-crazed Oracle, for their efforts they are granted a possibility too painful for Raif to imagine, and too enticing for Darian to ignore.

Darian is determined to reunite Raif and the daughter he thought was dead, but her mission quickly proves dangerous when her lover Tyler is almost killed. And when a brooding and mysterious Fae warrior offers his guidance—at an extraordinary price—Darian finds herself willing to risk everything. As her single-minded hunt turns into an obsession, and she and Tyler grow further apart, Darian finds herself caught between the man she loves like a brother, and the man whose love she can’t live without…

Amazon : Barnes and Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million : IndieBound

When Shadows Call

A Shaede Assassin Novella
An eSpecial from New American Library, June 5, 2012
eBook

An exciting prequel to Amanda Bonilla’s Shaede Assassin series.

The envy of 1900s society, Darian is the rich, beautiful wife of a prominent Californian doctor—but her life is far from perfect. For years, Darian has suffered at the hand of her cruel husband and yearned for an escape—one that she knows to be all but impossible.

But when an enigmatic stranger comes to call, Darian finds herself charmed by his seductive smile and the inexplicable connection she feels. And when he makes her a thrilling—yet frightening—proposition, Darian must decide if she’s strong enough to abandon the mortal world she knows and answer the shadow’s call…

Includes an excerpt from Shaedes of Gray, and a preview from Blood Before Sunrise, available July 2012.

Amazon : Barnes and Noble : Kobo : Sony

Shaedes of Gray

Shaede Assassin 1
Signet, December 6, 2011
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 336 pages

In the shadows of the night, Darian has lived alone for almost a century. Made and abandoned by her former love, Darian is the last of her kind-an immortal Shaede who can slip into darkness as easily as breathing. With no one else to rely on, she has taught herself how to survive, using her unique skills to become a deadly assassin.

When Darian's next mark turns out to be Xander Peck, King of the Shaede Nation, her whole worldview is thrown into question. Darian begins to wonder if she's taken on more than her conscience will allow. But a good assassin never leaves a job unfinished...

Amazon : Barnes and Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million : IndieBound

About Amanda

Amanda Bonilla lives in rural Idaho with her husband and two kids. She’s a part-time pet wrangler, a full-time sun worshipper, and only goes out into the cold when coerced. She loves the outdoors, black clothes, pink appliances and thinks junk food should be a recognized food group. In the summer, she can be found sitting by the lake, enjoying the view from her dock.

Website : Blog : Twitter : Facebook

The View From Monday - July 2, 2012

Happy first Monday in July. July is ParaCozyMystMo at The Qwillery celebrating those wonderful paranormal and magical cozy mysteries.

Monday -  2012 Debut Author Challenge Guest Blog byHanna Martine. Liquid Lies (The Elementals 1) will be published on July 3, 2012.

Tuesday -   ParaCozyMysMo with Ellery Adams. Pies and Prejudice (Charmed Pie Shop Mystery 1) will be published on July 3, 2012.

Wednesday -  Happy July 4th!

Thursday -  ParaCozyMysMo with Allison Kinglsey. A Sinister Sense (Raven's Nest Bookstore 2) will be published on July 3, 2012

Friday -  ParaCozyMysMo with Juliet Blackwell. Juliet write theWichcraft Mysteries and the Haunted Home Renovation Mysteries. In a Witch's Wardrobe (Witchcraft Mysteries 4) will be published on July 3, 2012.

Saturday - Guest Blog by Amanda Bonilla - My Favorite Time-Sucks. Blood Before Sunrise (Shaede Assassin 2) will be published on July 3, 2012.




There are many books out this week! Many!  You can find a printable PDF of this week's releases by clicking here. Take it shopping with you. :-)



July 1, 2012

TITLE	AUTHOR	SERIES
The Werewolf of Paris (ri)	Guy Endore	H/M
Aleron	Kane	H - Strigoi 1
Quiver (h2tp)	Holly Luhning	H/M
The Soul Consortium	Simon West-Bulford	SF

July 3, 2012

TITLE	AUTHOR	SERIES
Pies and Prejudice	Ellery Adams	PCM - Charmed Pie Shoppe Mystery 1
Other Worlds Than These	John Joseph Adams	SF - Anthology
The Portrait of Doreene Gray	Esri Allbritten	PCM - Chihuahua Mystery 2
Iron Gray Sea	Taylor Anderson	SF - Destroyermen 7
In a Witch's Wardrobe	Juliet Blackwell	PCM - Witchcraft Mystery 4
Cloaked in Malice	Annette Blair	PCM - Vintage Magic 5
Wake of the Bloody Angel	Alex Bledsoe	F/M - Eddie Lacrosse 4
Blood Before Sunrise	Amanda Bonilla	UF - Shaede Assassin 2
Orion and King Arthur	Ben Bova	SF/TT
A Million Heavens	John Brandon	G/O/S
The Hollow Earth: At the Earth's Core and Pellucidar	Edgar Rice Burroughs	SF/A
The Sleeping and the Dead	Jeff Crook	M w/PE - Jackie Lyons 1
A Hunger So Wild	Sylvia Day	PNR - Renegade Angels 2
The Year's Best Science Fiction: Twenty-Ninth Annual Collection	Gardner Dozois	SF - Anthology
The Asylum Interviews: Bronx (e)	Jocelynn Drake	UF - Asylum Tales Short Story
House of Sighs	Aaron Dries	H
Samurai Game	Christine Feehan	PNR - GhostWalkers 10
Night Seeker	Yasmine Galenorn	UF - Indigo Court 3
Heaven's War	David S. Goyer Michael Cassutt	SF - Heaven's Shadow 2
Alliance Forged	Kylie Griffin	FR - Light Blade 2
Stalking the Others	Jess Haines	UF - H&W Investigations 4
Assignment in Eternity (ri)	Robert A. Heinlein	SF
Citadels of the Lost (h2mm)	Tracy Hickman	F - Annals of Drakis 2
The Legend of Jig Dragonslayer	Jim C. Hines	F - Jig the Goblin Omnibus
Thieftaker	D. B. Jackson	F - Thieftaker Chronicles 1
This Dark Earth	John Hornor Jacobs	H
The Dragon Reborn (ri)	Robert Jordan	F - Wheel of Time 3
Goddess in the Middle	Stephanie Julian	PER - Forgotten Goddesses 3
Fire Kissed	Erin Kellison	PNR - Shadow Kissed 1
A Sinister Sense	Allison Kingsley	PCM - Raven's Nest Bookstore 2
Dragon Rule (tp2mm)	E.E. Knight	F - Age of Fire 5
The Unincorporated Woman (h2tp)	Dani Kollin Eytan Kollin	SF - Unincorporated 3
Lethal Outlook	Victoria Laurie	PCM - Psychic Eye 10
God Save the Queen	Kate Locke	UF - Immortal Empire 1
The Immorality Engine (h2tp)	George Mann	F/M/SP - Newbury & Hobbes Investigations 3
Liquid Lies (d)	Hanna Martine	PNR -  Elementals 1
Lord of Fire and Ice	Connie Mason w/ Mia Marlowe	HR w/ PE
Hedge End	Peter Mark May	H
Tin Swift	Devon Monk	SP - Age of Steam 2
Tainted Night, Tainted Blood	E.S. Moore	UF - Kat Redding 2
My Lady Mage	Alexis Morgan	FR - Warriors of the Mist 1
The Night Circus (h2tp)	Erin Morgenstern	F
Up Jumps the Devil (d)	Michael Poore	F
Grave Memory	Kalayna Price	UF - Alex Craft 3
Downpour (h2mm)	Kat Richardson	UF - Greywalker 6
Even White Trash Zombies Get the Blues	Diana Rowland	UF - White Trash Zombie 2
Neverwinter	R.A. Salvatore	F - D&D Forgotten Realms: Neverwinter Night Trilogy 2
Elfhome	Wen Spencer	F - Elfhome 3
Spin the Sky	Katy Stauber	SF
The Apocalypse Codex	Charles Stross	UF - Laundry Files 4
Voyage to Kazohinia	Sandor Szathmari	SF/Dystopia
Advent (d)	James Treadwell	F
War Maid's Choice Limited Signed Edition	David Weber	F - War God 4
War Maid's Choice	David Weber	F - War God 4
The Hollow City	Dan Wells	H/Su
Waking Hours (h2tp)	Lis Wiehl	M/PE - East Salem Trilogy 1
The Beginners (h2tp)	Rebecca Wolff	H

July 4, 2012

TITLE	AUTHOR	SERIES
The Year's Best Dark Fantasy & Horror 2012 Edition	Paula Guran (ed)	F/H - Anthology

d - Debut
e - eBook
h2mm - Hardcover to Mass Market Paperback
h2tp - Hardcover to Trade Paperback
ri - Reissue or Reprint
tp2mm - Trade Paperback to Mass Market Paperback

A - Adventure
F - Fantasy
FR - Fantasy Romance
H - Horror
HR - Historical Romance
G - Gothic
M - Mystery
O - Occult
PCM - Paranormal Cozy Mystery
PE - Paranormal Elements
PER - Paranormal Erotic Romance
PNR - Paranormal Romance
S - Supernatural
SF - Science Fiction
SP - Steampunk
Su - Suspense
TT - Time Travel
UF - Urban Fantasy