Season Avatars Series--Releases and a Sale!

There's so much exciting publishing news for the fantasy Season Avatars series today that I feel I ought to do something special to celebrate. I had considered taking today off work (I still have weeks left of vacation), but since I was out Thursday afternoon and Friday with a cold, I need to catch up. As long as I get to do something with my family, that's celebration enough for me.

Anyway, time for all of the announcements:

Summon the Seasons officially went live this morning to conclude the series.

Kay might be the youngest, smallest, and least confident Season Avatar, but her weather magic makes her the most powerful of her group. Now that she also can contact the souls of dead Avatars, her quartet has a chance to end Chaos Season permanently. All Kay and her sister Avatars need are three more bones.

To obtain them, Kay’s quartet must travel across Challen, evading the King’s Watch and Selathens who want to protect their demigoddess, Salth, creator of Chaos Season. Kay’s deepest beliefs about her God and her longtime rival, Dorian, will be challenged during the trip. If she loses her faith and newfound courage, she will fail, and the rest of the Season Avatars with her.

I don't have an extensive blog tour planned, but I have a guest post up on Catherine Lundoff's blog about making a Victorian-like setting more feminist. An additional posts is pending for Alex J. Cavanaugh, but I missed the date for Pat Dilloway's post. Sorry again, Pat! That was completely my fault.

Young Seasons: A Season Avatars Short Story Collection is out of Kindle Select and headed for wide distribution. It's already live on Apple and Kobo and should be headed to Barnes and Noble very soon.

The country of Challen depends on its Season Avatars to tame a recurring storm that mixes up the seasons. A quartet of magic-users, each with a different type of magic, reincarnate with skills and memories from previous lives but face new challenges whenever they’re reborn. Now, a child faces a healing task that would daunt someone much older. A fourteen-year-old is pursued by enemies in her sleep. An animal lover must protect her kitten from her disapproving family. An impatient farm girl tries to get the attention of her true love, only to have the wrong person respond. Before Gwen, Kay, Ysabel, and Jenna can come together as Season Avatars, first they must survive independently as Young Seasons.

A short story collection set between Seasons' Beginnings and Scattered Seasons. Includes an excerpt from Scattered Seasons.

Speaking of Scattered Seasons, it's on sale through next Monday for $0.99. (It's on sale at other sellers besides Amazon, though it may take a couple of days for the price change to become effective.)

Lady Gwendolyn lo Havil is an Ava Spring, born to heal others and lead the Season Avatars of her generation. Season Avatars with divine magic must work in groups of four to save the country of Challen from Chaos Season, times when all of the seasons appear at once. When the current Ava Spring dies in a riding accident, Gwen must find the other three Season Avatars she will link with. But two of them are missing, and with Gwen's own magic crippled by a cursed pottery shard, she will have to use all of her skills to find the Avatars scattered across the country of Challen. During her journey, she meets a stranger who claims to know the shard's origin. Is he truly an ally of the Season Avatars, or is he trying to stop them from uniting?

 Part of the reason I chose today to release Summon the Seasons is that it's John Lennon's birthday. I consider John my "patron muse," and the Beatles inspired the "Fem Four" of the Season Avatars series. So there's only one way to go out, and that's with a Twist and Shout!

 

Blog Tour for Chaos Season

As part of the promotion for Chaos Season, I'm asking other bloggers to help me spread the word about my latest book. If you're interested, please visit this link to fill out the Google form. You can pick any date in June to post. Since this month is extremely busy for me (I have to plan for WisCon, my son's birthday party, my son's state book report, and Joliet Star Wars Day, among other things), I'm trying to keep this blog tour simple. I'll provide basic information (such as the book cover, blurb, author photo and bio, and social/buy links) to everyone. If you're willing to create a longer post, I can also send you a book excerpt or answer a few interview questions (please keep them short). You have the option to request an eARC of the book in your choice of formats. At the end of June, I'll randomly choose a blog host to win an Amazon gift card. The base value is $10, but if more than ten people participate in the blog tour, I'll increase that to $25.

Any questions? Any issues with the form? Please leave a comment below. Thanks, and have a good week!

BU Blog Tour: Moons and Months in the Country of Challen

Read on for my post:

My fantasy Season Avatars series is set in the quasi-Victorian country of Challen. Although Challen has locomotives and steamboats, it's still very much an agricultural country. Agriculture influences many parts of the Challen culture, from their names (some nobles take part of their family names from the most popular crop grown on their estate) to their calendar. The calendar starts with the spring equinox, which is considered the first day of the first moon, or month. Each moon has a different name. The list is below:

Spring: Changemoon, Rainmoon, and Flowermoon (corresponding to March, April, and May)

Summer: Rosemoon, Cornmoon, and Heatmoon  (June, July, and August)

Fall: Harvestmoon, Leafmoon, and Graymoon (September, October, and November)

Winter: Snowmoon, Coldmoon, and Lambmoon (December, January, and February)

Admittedly, the first day of each month would not always be a full moon. The night of the full moon, however, would still be an important time, since the moonlight would allow people in the rural areas to visit each other or perform other activities. I'm still debating whether or not there should be exactly twelve moons in the Challen year or if there should be a day or two of holidays at the end of each season.

To learn more about Challen and its Season Avatars, please check out the first two books in the series, Seasons' Beginnings and Scattered Seasons. Book Three, Chaos Season, is currently in developmental edit and won't be ready until 2016. I'm already writing Book Four, Fifth Season, but the series won't be complete until I finish Summon the Seasons.

You can win copies of Seasons' Beginnings and Scattered Seasons in the Rafflecopter below.


















a Rafflecopter giveaway

BU Blog Tour

Broad Universe will be hosting a blog tour to run over Halloween.We'll be discussing the full moon, giving away prizes, and much more. Check out this post for more information, then come back on the 25th to read our posts. See you then!

Interviews or Guest Posts, Anyone?

Just a reminder that this blog is open to host blog tours, interviews, and guest posts. If you write SF or fantasy and would like to promote your work, feel free to contact me, either through my e-mail (displayed on the right) or leave a comment below. Thanks!

Mini Blog Tour for Seasons' Beginnings

Unfortunately, we don't have an interview ready for the Blog Ring of Power this week. However, I wrote some guest blogs as part of a mini blog tour for Seasons' Beginnings. Here's the list; I'll update the links when they become available.

Making Your Gods Unique, hosted by T.W. Fendley on The Writers' Lens

Telling Feminist Stories from a Male Point of View, hosted by Gail Z. Martin on Disquieting Visions

November 10, From Short Story to Novel, hosted by Vonnie Winslow Crist

November 11, What Type of Avatar Are You?, on Of Werewolves and Other Strangers

November 11, Adapting Ancient Settings, hosted by Kelly A. Harmon


Thanks to all my hosts, and I hope you like the posts! (Yes, that was meant to rhyme.)

An interview with Lashlor Leaflin from Vanessa Finaughty’s Wizard of Ends

Today I'm hosting a character interview with Lashlor Leafin from Vanessa Finaughty's Wizard of Ends. This is part of a month-long blog tour; you can find the link to the complete schedule at the end of the interview.

1. Please tell us a little about your adventures in Wizard of Ends, Book 1.

Without spoiling it for everyone, all I can say is that I do my best to protect Queen Narraki Dragonsbane from a powerful sorceress and her friends, and, in the process, we’re chased by creatures of dark magic.

2. What about in Book 2, Dark Creature?

I’m trapped in the Mountains of Eclador, which have been enchanted by an ancient sorcerer. Sadly, Rune Arcana is trapped with me! At times, her presence makes the situation even more stressful than it already is, especially at the end….

3. Do you think you and the sorceress Rune Arcana will ever be a couple again, and why?

[He snorts.] Absolutely not! She doesn’t seem to have grown up much since we last saw each other – I mean, she still uses magic on a whim. I can’t live with someone like that. It’s irritating.

4. What’s your greatest achievement and do you think you will achieve greater in the future? Why?

Most people would say my greatest achievement was King Lanaran Dragonsbane offering me the official title of Wizard of Ends. I doubt I will achieve greater, because I don’t really enjoy all the fuss – it usually means having to use magic unnecessarily, which everyone knows I’m loath to do.

5. What do you do for a living, and do you enjoy it?

[He looks embarrassed.] I’m not working at the moment. I’ve only moved to Ends recently, and am still collecting herbs so I can start selling my herbal cures again. It’s not really necessary in Ends – to earn money, I mean. The king ensures everyone has food, clothes and a place to sleep. Still, one never knows when one might want to move on, and the other kingdoms’ rulers aren’t nearly so generous.

6. What’s your biggest regret?

That nobody listened to me when I told them Undassan should not be trusted. It might have spared us from having to flee from the creatures of dark magic.

7. What quality/trait do you find vital in a friend?

Respect for others.

8. How do you decide if someone is trustworthy?

I don’t. Time reveals all.

9. What do you do for fun?

I enjoy mountain climbing, swimming and walking through the forest, and practising my archery skills is a fun pastime too.

10. Do you have any siblings, and, if so, do you get on with them?

[He scowls.] I have an older sister and no, we don’t get on. She’s rather… [He shakes his head.] No, I’d rather not get into that, sorry. She might read this, you know!

11. Where do you believe people go when we die?

The goddess accepts us into a pleasant afterlife if we please her while in possession of our human bodies. If she’s displeased, she either sends you back as something horrid, or puts you into an unpleasant situation when she sends you back. She might also send you back if you have yet to learn important life lessons. If she’s really displeased, you’ll be sent somewhere unimaginably terrible.

12. Who do you like better: King Lanaran Dragonsbane or Queen Narraki Dragonsbane, and why?

Queen Narraki. She gave me the benefit of the doubt when no one else, including the king, would. That said, I still like the king – most of the time.

13. You only moved to the Land of Ends shortly before your adventures began in Book 1. After everything you were dragged into, do you regret moving there?

There were moments when I did, yes. For the most part, though, I have no regrets. Ends is still the best land to live in.

14. Where can readers learn more about Wizard of Ends?

Readers can follow the virtual book tour here. Special discounts and freebies will be on offer throughout, and plenty of sneak peeks into the books and characters.

 

Wizard of Ends: A powerful sorceress wants the Queen of Ends dead, hoping her demise will render the king unable to defend his crown. Only the wizard Lashlor Leaflin is in a position to protect Queen Narraki Dragonsbane, but he avoids using magic – at almost any cost. With creatures of darkness hunting the queen, however, he may be left with little choice but to call on the power he holds within.

Wizard of Ends, Book 2: Dark Creature: 
The Queen of Ends has been cursed into a rabid creature of darkness. Only Lashlor’s old flame, Rune Arcana, might be able to remove the curse. Lashlor believes he can find Rune in the Mountains of Eclador. The only trouble is – Rune now despises him, and, in all of recorded history, no one has ever returned from these mountains.

Vanessa Finaughty is an author of many genres who now focuses on fantasy and science fiction. She’s published 15 books, of which 6 are fantasy. Vanessa grew up in Cape Town, South Africa, and still lives there with her husband of fifteen years, her baby daughter and plenty of furry, four-legged ‘children’.

Vanessa has always been passionate about books, and knew from a young age that she wanted to write them one day. She loves animals, coffee and the smell of wet grass, and hates liars, sweltering weather and long queues. Her interests include reading, photography, the supernatural, mythology, aliens and outer space, ancient history, life’s mysteries and martial arts, of which she has five years’ experience.

Links

Author website

Author blog

Goodreads

Twitter

Facebook

Smashwords

iBooks

Barnes & Noble

Publication dates

Wizard of Ends, Book 1: 9 October 2014

Wizard of Ends, Book 2: DarkCreature: 23 October 2014

 

 

Book Launches

This post was supposed to go live this morning, but accidentally got marked as a draft. I apologize for the delay.

I've ordered the proof copy of Seasons' Beginnings. Once that arrives, I can go through the book one final time, mark and correct any errors, and upload the corrected files to Createspace and KDP. Because of the ten-day delay for pre-orders, the eBook version won't be available right away. I may hold off on making the paper version available until October 21 (the official release date), though if there's interest, I might release it sooner.

With traditional publishing, books normally only get a big push around their release date, since if they don't sell through in six weeks, they're considered sunk. Luckily, as an indie, I can give the book time to find its audience--though it would be nice to have that happen sooner rather than later.

Since I have some breathing space, I'm mulling over potential marketing ideas for SB. Some possibilities include a Goodreads giveaway, seeking reviews through Story Cartel or Net Gallery, and/or a blog tour.  I haven't had much luck with these ideas with my previous books, though since SB is in a different genre, it might fare differently. I know giveaways are popular with readers, but they don't seem to do much for actual sales. (What I do need are reviews, ideally good ones, so I can promote SB in bargain book e-mails. Hopefully, eBookSoda will accept a new release even if it doesn't have a lot of reviews. Other sites may take longer to get into.) Whatever I decide on will be announced here.

Of course, the most important part of the book launch is the celebration. For me, this means taking my family out to dinner. If I develop a local fan base, some day I plan to throw a release party at a local chocolate lounge. Perhaps I'll reserve that for when I finish the Catalyst Chronicles or the Season Avatars series.

Readers, how do you learn about new books, and what makes you decide to try one? Writers, what are your favorite marketing methods? 

Meet the Character Blog Tour--Kron Evenhanded

Happy Labor Day, everyone, and thanks for spending part of it here. I'd like to thank Laurel Anne Hill for inviting me to join the Meet the Character Blog Tour. I'm featuring Kron Evenhanded, hero of my upcoming fantasy novel Seasons' Beginnings.

1.) What is the name of your character?

As stated above, his name is Kron Evenhanded. He received his last name because he's equi-manual (my term for being ambidextrous) and because he has a reputation for being fair.


2.) Is he/she fictional or a historic person?

Fictional. I don't think there were too many historical persons who could enchant objects.
 
3.) When and where is the story set?

The story is mostly set in the city-state of Vistichia, at a time equivalent to the Bronze Age.

4.) What should we know about him/her?

As I mentioned above, Kron is an artificer, able to enchant man-made objects to do whatever he wants. He came into his powers as a youth, but he received further training at the Magic Institute.

5.) What is the main conflict? What messes up his/her life?

Another magician named Salth and her young son, Sal-thaath. Their magic is more powerful and more generalized than Kron's, but they seek more power, even at the expense of ordinary people--like a pretty young woman named Bella.

6.) What is the personal goal of the character? 

As the story opens, Kron is traveling back to his native country of Delns. After falling in love with Bella, Kron must decide whether to stay in Vistichia and help defend it against Salth and Sal-thaath or find out what happened to his family back home.

7.) Is there a working title for this novel, and can we read more about it?  

It's called Seasons' Beginnings, and you can learn more about it on Goodreads or Amazon.

8.) When can we expect the book to be published or when was it published?

October 21, 2014. (It's already available for pre-order.) I'm currently waiting to hear back from my betas so I can finish editing the book and order the proof copy.

Next week, the Meet the Character Blog Tour continues with Briane Pagel.

Briane Pagel recently figured out that the secret is this: you eat a few of the black jellybeans first, and then some of the other colors, because that really makes the flavors pop.  This is the kind of genius (?) you'll find on display at his blog "Thinking The Lions," where he also posts pictures of his kids standing in front of art, talks about why he hates people (but probably not you!) and offers other random thoughts.  He also writes for Indie Writers Monthly blog and magazine, and will publish your stories and poems and pay you for them.

Thinking The Lions: http://www.thinkingthelions.com

Indie Writers Monthly: http://www.indiewritersmonthly.blogspot.com

lit, a place for stories: http://www.nonsportsman.com

An Interview with Kelly A. Harmon

I'm happy to be part of  Kelly A. Harmon's blog tour for her latest book, Stoned in Charmed City. Let's learn a little more about her:

Please tell us about yourself.

I play with words:  twisting them together to tell stories in a way which, I hope, entertains and amuses.

Please tell us about your latest work.

Assumpta Mary-Margaret O’Connor has a gift:  she can find things that people have lost.  Even though she needs the money badly, she turns down a gig to find some demons that archeologist Greg LaSpina released from a buried urn. When she finds herself demon-cursed, she’s got no choice but to help him. Then she’s offered a deal by the enemy: sleep with a very sexy demon and learn how to track the escaped evil—but the offer comes with a pretty steep price tag:  her immortal soul.

What drew you to writing urban fantasy?

I’m not certain. I usually write traditional fantasy or horror stories…but the character of Assumpta kept rolling around in my head.  Her story wanted to be told.  This novel took me to places I’ve never been before as a writer…using religion as a backdrop, for example—something I wouldn’t have done with my other stories—and writing sex scenes.   I’d never even tried to write one before, and hadn’t planned to include one in this story.  But one evening I was in a serious groove, typing scene after scene as the story unfolded in my mind, and suddenly the tale turned left:  just like that there was sex in the book.

How do you get the inspiration for your stories?

Inspiration comes from everything around me.  A lot of times it’s visual: I’ll see something unusual and it sparks an idea. More often, it’s dialogue.  I’ll hear a snippet of conversation and then off my brain wanders off to finish it up.  I can build an entire novel based on one conversation.

Of all the stories you’ve written, which one is your favorite and why?

I don’t have a favorite—that probably sounds ludicrous, but it’s true. I’ve liked each story very much as I was writing it, but once the telling is down, it’s over. I move on to the next project.

Do you write in any other genres? If so, which ones? If not, what would you like to try?

I write fantasy and horror as well as urban fantasy, but everything seems to lean toward the darker side. I think I’d like to try a historical romance at some point. I love reading them—they’re like decadent candy—but having to get the history right scares me a little:  I’d much rather make things up as I go along.

Who are your favorite authors and why do you admire them? 

There are so many to list! 

I like Dean Koontz a lot.  He’s one of those authors that could write down his grocery list and I’d read it. I’ve never read a book by him that I didn’t enjoy.  He tells a good story and has a flair for language, too. I like Carol Nelson Douglas’ early fantasy fiction.  When I was younger, I carried a dictionary around with me when I read her books. She never failed to teach me a new word. And, I can’t forget the king of the quest novels:  Terry Brooks.  He’s a master of intricately woven stories.


What other writing projects are you currently working on?

I’ve got a fantasy trilogy that’s begging to be completed.  I received a publication offer on the series in October, but the contract terms were so egregious I turned it down.  I think I’d like to indie publish the first book late this year or early next year. I’ve also got a dragon book waiting in the wings.  It’s nearly complete.

What’s one of the goals you hope to achieve with your writing?

I just want to entertain.  I initially tell myself the story, and if I’m pleased with it, I write it down.  I figure if I like it, someone else might, too.


What’s something people wouldn’t be able to guess about you just by looking at you?

I love heavy metal music—lots of my fight scenes are written while listening to Iron Maiden and Judas Priest.

Special Note: If you join Kelly's mailing list by filling out the form here, you'll be entered to win a free book each month until the end of the year!

Forty dollars. Two crisp twenties. All that stands between Assumpta Mary-Margaret O’Connor and homelessness.

For the price of forty dollars, she helps archeologist Greg LaSpina find something he's lost–and causes all Hell to break loose.

Literally.

With demons tormenting their every step, Assumpta and Greg become both hunted and hunter in their search for a way to send the demons back to Hell. But one careless mistake could cost them their lives.

Wrestling with her faith, Assumpta considers an offer made by one very sexy demon: sleep with him, and learn how to rid the world of the escaped evil.

But the offer comes with a steep price: her immortal soul.

Kelly A. Harmon used to write truthful, honest stories about authors and thespians, senators and statesmen, movie stars and murderers. Now she writes lies, which is infinitely more satisfying, but lacks the convenience of doorstep delivery, especially on rainy days.

Where to Buy:

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Stoned-Charm-City-Darkness-ebook/dp/B00KH3AIJ8/

Barnes and Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/stoned-in-charm-city-kelly-a-harmon/1119570995?ean=9781941559000

Kobo:

http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/stoned-in-charm-city-1

iTunes:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id880990242

Follow:

Blog:  http://kellyaharmon.com/

Twitter:  @kellyaharmon

FB:

The Indie Writers Monthly Blog Tour

If you missed the previous stops on the Indie Writers Monthly Blog Tour, you can find them here:

Part 1 appeared on Sizzling Hot YA Books, and told how reading IWM will teach you how to time travel.

Part 2 appeared on lit, a place for stories, and told how reading IWM will give you super powers.

Part 3 appeared on Laws Of Gravity, and showed how IWM brings your childhood friends to life.

Have a good weekend, everyone, and see you Monday!

Indie Writers Monthly--New Issue and Blog Tour

The Blog Ring of Power will resume next week, so today I have some time to tell you what's going on with Indie Writers Monthly. And do we have a lot going on in the next couple of months.

First, the June issue of Indie Writers Monthly (theme: June Bugs!) is out and should be free now through Friday. You can download it here. My contributions include a short story written especially for this issue and a review of Lindsay Buroker's blog. There are also two other short stories by Andrew and Briane, an article about bugs in science fiction by Pall Dilloway, and two articles on writing. Go check it out!

Speaking of our monthly issue, there's still time to submit a story to our annual special issue, which has a time travel theme. Up for grabs are two Amazon gift cards to the authors of the best stories, as picked by the writers of Indie Writers Monthly. For more details, click here.

Finally, Briane is conducting a blog tour on behalf of Indie Writers Monthly in June (although it actually started on Friday). He will be visiting a new blog every Friday. I don't have the links for the upcoming sites, but you can find Friday's guest post here. I'll add more information about the blog tour as it becomes available.

Children of the Shadows Blog Tour--Book Excerpt

Today I'm hosting Joleene Naylor as part of her Children of Shadows blog tour. Please see below for an excerpt, further information about the book, and a chance to enter a contest.


Katelina told herself she’d misheard Ume’s final question, and with that denial managed to slip into dreams of burning light and running blood. Eventually the screams faded into darkness.

The wind was chilly and Katelina saw that she was standing in front of a lake. Snow was sprinkled on the ground around her feet and ripples danced across the surface of the water. The world was cloaked in night, but she had a sense of nature; trees and plants rustled and whispered. She could see the outline of a building hiding in the dark. A siren wailed low and far away.

She turned to see someone standing near her in the snow. He gazed into the distance, staring at something she couldn’t see. His long black hair stirred in the breeze and she held herself back from touching it; from running her fingers through the silky strands.

“Does it please you?”

She wasn’t sure what the question referred to: his hair, their location, the warm soothing tranquility that spread through her, so she chose the second and said, “I’m tired of the cold.”

“The world is cold. Cold faces, cold words, and cold hearts. All war, fight, betray, and steal to take everything that they can—gold, land, lives—with the hope that these will keep them warm. But one cannot steal warmth from another. One must make their own warmth.”

The words felt like wisdom, but in the dream she couldn’t grasp their full meaning. “I don’t understand.”

“Of course you do, you need only acknowledge it. But be not troubled. You will come to see the truth when you are ready.”

When Katelina woke the next evening she felt she’d dreamt something important. She blinked against the gloomy darkness, to find snatches, like wisps of cloud. There was a feeling of peace, a distant siren, a lake, but she couldn’t remember the rest. The cold of the floor seeped through her layers, and he Christmas lights flickered. Many of the bulbs were burnt out and left the strand looking like a gap toothed grimace. In the false twilight she could see the other vampires standing, stretching, and leaving. She rolled over to find that Jorick was still asleep. She brushed his hair back from his face, and gently traced his cool lips. The blisters were gone, and he was perfect again.

Though extra sleep probably wouldn’t hurt him, she didn’t like the idea of him being helpless while the Black Vigil was awake. “Jorick,” she whispered and shook him gently. “Jorick.”

He stirred, and came to with a deep, gasping breath, like someone who just remembered they needed air; not that he did. He sat up quickly, his head darting from side to side. “What is it?”

“It’s all right. I wanted to tell you the others are waking.”

He followed the Black Vigil with his eyes and yawned. “Yes. They would rise earlier than me since they’re sun walkers.”

Katelina nodded. “Ume said something like that last night.”

Jorick’s confusion melted away as he pulled the memories from her mind. “How disappointing. I’d hoped she’d make the red-headed clown squirm more than that. Never mind. Come, we’ll see if they have any facilities for humans.”

Fethillen was in the room at the bottom of the stairs. She sat in a folding chair, wearing a pair of headphones, and tapping a strange metal contraption that clicked rhythmically. She stopped and listened. Katelina eyed Jorick curiously and he murmured, “Morse code.”

“You mean like they used on the Titanic?”

He nodded and Fethillen removed the headphones. “I didn’t think you’d wake until later.” She turned and gave Jorick and Katelina a once over. “The sun is already gone.” She motioned to the stairs. “You’re welcome to find what you can. I’m afraid we have no food for humans. We don’t keep them.”

Katelina gave Jorick a horrified look. Did she mean they’d have to hunt something and cook it like barbarians?

Joleene Naylor is the author of Amaranthine, a paranormal series where vampires live in the shadows and don’t sparkle. She grew up in southwest Iowa surrounded by soybeans, corn and very little entertainment – so she made her own. She has been writing and drawing since she was a small child, with a particular leaning towards fantasy, horror and paranormal. It is this love of all that goes bump in the night that led her to write the Amaranthine series. 
In her spare time she is a freelance artist, book cover designer and photographer. Joleene maintains blogs full of odd ramblings and hopes to win the lottery. Until she does, she and her husband live near Bolivar Missouri with their miniature zoo. However, unless she starts buying tickets she won’t win anything.

The sixth installment of the Amaranthine series pulsates with the dark blood of vampire lore.
The Children of Shadows, a vampire cult not seen for hundreds of years, resurfaces to wage war on the vampire guilds. Led by a familiar face, the cult wreaks havoc while Katelina and Jorick are trapped in Munich. Ume, a mysterious vampiress, claims to know Verchiel and offers the help of her secret organization. But can they trust her?
As mysteries are solved, new ones appear. Why have the Children of Shadows returned, and is it really a former ally that leads them, or a look-alike?
Legends rise and secrets are revealed in a world where vampires walk, drenched in blood and shadows.


Buy links:
Paperback -
Amazon Kindle- (I won’t have this until closer to release)
B&N NOOKbook -
Smashwords -
itunes -

My Links:
website-
author blog:
FB author page:
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good reads:
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