Writer’s Tips & Tricks Day 11 part b: Never give up by Erin Kellison

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Never Give Up by Erin Kellison

Never give up! Never surrender!

Writing, promoting, and publishing books is (crazy) time-intensive, and the highs and lows are a roller coaster ride that can leave a writer disoriented. And then there’s regular life beyond writing—kids, jobs, houses, car payments, etc. It’s easy to get overwhelmed. And somehow in there…you’re supposed to write a book. And usually at first, it’s not for a lot of money.

So how do you cope, stay sane, and still write?

My recommendation is to track word count. Everything else (writing related) doesn’t matter unless your word count for the day has gone higher.

I’m not really talking about goals here. I’m a big goal-setter/goal-forgetter. In fact, setting goals is one of my favorite time sucks because I get to plan out meticulously how I’m going to write x number of books in x time to invigorate algorithms and supercharge sales. Whee! But honestly, if I have not added word count to a story, I don’t have anything.

Word count can be a refuge. In the midst of all the publishing chatter and networking and promotion, good reviews and bad reviews, as well as general life joys and crises—word count is the thing that got all of us into writing in the first place. It’s the story. When you had that idea about the vampire or cowboy or family that runs an inn, I’m guessing you didn’t first imagine sending support messages to Facebook asking why they refused to boost your post. When the going gets tough (or tedious) and the To Do list gets long, the one thing to hit is your word count. That’s what saves me. (I also have chocolate on hand.)

It’s a common axiom that the best promotion is to write the next book. The rest (well, mostly) can be done in the commercial breaks while watching MasterChef.

What’s a good word count to get per day? It’s easy to be intimidated when you start to hear what some people can accomplish in a day. I know authors who can write 10k in a day. (Can you hear me laughing?) Good for them. Power to the fingers. Choose a word count that you can meet. Be honest with yourself about it. And hit that number every single day (unless something big happens, then no worries). But I’m serious. The magic secret to writing a book is Butt in Chair, Fingers on Keyboard.

For those just starting out, I recommend 250 words per day. That’s a page. Try dialogue if nothing is flowing. Get a conversation going and see how the characters feel to you.

If you’re already writing, don’t get intimidated by the huge numbers others do. You have no idea what their writing process is. I’ve heard about this strange animal called a Fast Draft. I’ve never been able to do it myself. Find your own process. It will be individual and suit your own quirks—and it may change over time. 1k per day will write you a full-length book in three months.

What about editing/revision? There’s nothing quite so painful as spending the day writing and achieving a negative word count. This will happen at some point in every project. Some writers revise along the way (me) while others get a full draft and then go back and rework with the whole in mind. On revision days, try setting a different benchmark, like revising ten pages.

A warning to the perfectionist fiddlers: If compelled to go back and spend two hours making that one sentence perfect with the era-appropriate language, research, etc., okay. Knock yourself out. BUT (maniacal cackle) still get the daily word count, even if it’s not perfect. If you have a ton of on-going research to do, consider lowering the daily word count so you don’t get so immersed in the time period/physics of space travel/criminal profiling that you don’t actually write the book.

The idea is to make forward progress. And in the noise and stress of the business and daily life, the story is where the passion is. Nurturing it helps with the rest. And the best part is…those words add up to pages really fast. It’s an awesome feeling to realize you’re a quarter…a half…holy crap, two thirds!…then finished with your book.

 

 

erin (3) (2)A little about Erin:

Erin Kellison is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of the Shadow series and Shadow Kissed series, which share the same world, where dark fantasy meets modern fairy tale. Delve into dreamscapes in her new Reveler series, releasing Summer 2014.

Learn  more about Erin and her books here: Facebook Twitter PinterestG+Goodreads

 

*****

Let’s take a look at Erin’s newest release

Bring Me a Dream

Reveler #5

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Amazon | B&N 

The madman and the nightmare…
Vincent Blackman is a little…unhinged. He recently fought a nightmare from the world Darkside and won. Now he fears nothing and wants revenge on the man who had his father brutally murdered. And how convenient to find an ally in Mirren Lambert, his enemy’s gorgeous and sexy daughter. Unfortunately, she’s made a few enemies of her own.

She might be a nightmare, but she’s also his ultimate fantasy.

Mirren was born half human, half nightmare. She was on the run from her ruthless father, but when he abducted her young son, she knew he had to be stopped once and for all. Dangerous Vincent is just who she needs to help her, though she has a perilous part to play as well, infiltrating her father’s circles to discover his secrets. They learn something dark is stirring in the dreamwaters, and it’s reaching toward the waking world. Vincent might be holding on to the last of his sanity, but that’s okay, as long as he holds on even tighter to her.

Bring Me A Dream is the fifth installment in the Reveler serial, a hot paranormal romance set in a world where shared dreaming is a new pop culture phenomenon that allows people to indulge their wildest fantasies. But there are also unknown dangers Darkside; nightmares are slowly infiltrating not only dreams, but the waking world as well. And behind them all is a shadowy entity called the Sandman.

Revel with me.

*****

Make sure to check out all of the other stops on this month long tour HERE and enter the grand prize giveaway.

All winner’s will be picked at the end of the month and announce the 1st week of October. 
 

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Erin Kellison’s Reveler Series Tour + Giveaway

REVELER

DREAM DANGEROUSLY… Fans of paranormal romance and bad boys, get ready for a dark, sexy plunge into fantasy and desire. Erin Kellison’s Reveler Series is set in a contemporary world in which people can indulge in Rêve, or shared dreaming—a pop culture phenomenon sweeping the world. Imagine being able to fall asleep at night, only to wake in a dream world, one in which you are lucid and in control—where you can be anything you want to be and do anything you like. But you must be careful…dreaming can be as dangerous as it is seductive.

 

*****

Darkness Falls

REVELER, Book 1

Darkness Falls Med

Print Length: 120 pages

Publisher: Fire Flower Publishing, LLC

ASIN: B00KAM07RY

JUST RELEASED: May 11, 2014

Amazon USAmazon UKAmazon Ca B&N | Kobo | GoodReads

Agent Malcolm Rook is hunting for people with the rarest of talents—the ability to master dreams. He finds the undeniably gifted Jordan Lane, but she’s wary of mysterious Rook and resists his pursuit as long as she can. Yet the dreamwaters they enter are too exhilarating to resist, and attraction soon ignites electric passions. Delving too deep stirs a nightmare, one they must defeat, or be forever lost to darkness.

Fans of paranormal romance and bad boys, get ready for a dark, sexy plunge into fantasy and desire. The Reveler Series is set in a contemporary world in which people can indulge in Rêve, or shared dreaming—a pop culture phenomenon sweeping the world. Imagine being able to fall asleep at night, only to wake in a dream world, one in which you are lucid and in control—where you can be anything you want to be and do anything you like. But you must be careful…dreaming can be as dangerous as it is seductive.

Make sure to check out Kelly’s review HERE

Darkness Falls Excerpt

“It’s not my first time, man.” Interview over, Rook shrugged into his trim black wool coat. “I know what to do if I spot a likely target.” It’d been a few years, but what to look for hadn’t changed.

Innocent, unsuspecting fools.

Yeah, he knew how to find them. And once down the rabbit hole, there was no coming back again. Just a screaming fall into a darkness as infinite and clutching as a nightmare. No waking up, either.

God, why couldn’t he just wake up?

“Only, it’s been a while since you went hunting,” Coll observed, that level gaze assessing, always measuring, but giving away nothing. “Why the sudden change?”

Rook kept his reasons for going to himself; he didn’t owe Coll explanations. Not anymore. What did he know, anyway? Coll had an easy life working behind a desk, occasionally flying out somewhere, and getting himself a swank room from which to monitor at a distance. It was hard not to stare at the wall-to-wall view of the San Diego Bay—and the ocean beyond, vast and calm, restful. Rook wasn’t one to give in to envy, but a little peace would go a long way right now.

“It’s a big step backward from the work you’ve been doing,” Coll pressed.

Rook exchanged his wallet for the one waiting on the tray that Coll had provided—time to become, let’s see, Michael Reese; at least they’d kept his initials—and slid it in the back pocket of his jeans.

Of course, he could’ve explained to Coll that he’d been on the inside too long. That he had to get a taste of the virgin experience again to keep his edge. Any Chimera could relate.

But he was too far gone for easy lies.

Darkness lurked at the edges of his vision, crackling and dense with reproach—not that he could make out anything right now, or ever—but when he turned to confront it, the blind spot shifted, too. It was as if he had a fringe space in the back of his mind, one in which an intruder could hide, its presence hounding him like a constant uncertainty.

Rook had to go out or he’d lose his mind. He had to go out or Coll would have to put him down like a mad dog.

The alternate phone on the tray was a sleek little silver thing, the latest to hit the market, whereas his personal mobile was at least a year behind. Both were unnecessary. He had other ways of keeping current—other, more intimate ways to track his marks.

“You could shave, at least. Make yourself pretty.” Coll’s idea of a joke.

Since he’d decided to back off, Rook offered a dry one of his own. “Girls like me rough. Guys, too, actually.”

***

“Okay, but what if I show up to the party completely naked?” Jordan Lane hissed ahead to Maisie as they navigated down the dock to the water taxi that would take them out to the Envoi, their destination for the evening.

The naked thing had been a nightmare since childhood, most recently the night before her big sales pitch to get the Medea account. Account secured. Promotion pending. But the fear was alive and well. Thriving.

Maisie cocked her head over her shoulder. “Can you at least try to have fun?”

Fun was not crossing a picket line of vehement protesters for a simple girls’ night out. The rhythmic shouts—“Wake up to the truth!”—were audible this far down the pier. The protesters stayed behind the pylons, but Jordan carried their message with her nevertheless: Danger. And, um, what the hell are you doing?

And then there was the opposing throng, who’d come down to the docks in hopes of buying a ticket secondhand for ten times its value. Holy hell, she could really use that kind of money right now and would easily give up one night of girl bonding to get it.

But this wasn’t any old GNO. First, the girlfriend was her little sis (all grown up), and second, the activity was insane, hence the protesters and their waggling signs. But Maisie-Maze had to try everything, had to leap with all her heart into every new game that came along. Irresponsible was what her teachers and bosses called her. But really it was more like irrepressible. There was no stopping her, no reasoning with enthusiasm—what could a big sis do but go with her and make sure she came home all right?

Not that Jordan had any objection to Rêve in theory. She just didn’t want either of them to be part of the practice.

A gust of bitter coastal wind whipped at Jordan’s hair and clothes, and she wrapped her mini tuxedo jacket across her waist, folding her arms over it to keep the cold air off her skin. Didn’t help much; the bluster still stole up the skirt of her little black dress as she waited with the group on the pier, everybody outfitted for a night out and buzzing with excitement. Ages ranged from Maze’s bouncy twenty-one to—Jordan glanced at a wrinkled and shrunken little woman—what had to be close to a hundred. The age spread aligned with the cross-cutting demographics that characterized the Rêve enthusiasm overtaking the world.

Just ahead, Maze accepted the hand of some guy already inside the boat to help her navigate the big, awkward step into the taxi. He reached for Jordan next, and with equal parts reluctance and gratitude, she took his hand—strong, steady—to make sure she didn’t pitch herself ass-up into the ocean. The heels had been a mistake, too.

Who needed to be dressed up only to go to sleep?

“Thanks,” she breathed to him. No going back now.

Petrol-tinged air replaced the slightly funky smell of the water, with its ocean stew of salt, fish, and subtle rot. Taking the big step, she caught a flash of the guy’s dark eyes, dark hair. Strong jaw with a two-day shadow. Once in the boat, she discovered he was tall and built, too. Damn it.

Maze’s eyes were shining with glee, as if saying, See?

Little sis wanted to hook her up. Very sweet, but not happening. Timothy Oliphant from Justified was just fine for her—even if she did have to watch him through her TV screen.

But this guy?

Okay, Jordan argued silently back at her, but there are cute guys lotsa places. She didn’t need to go to such lengths to get a date.

“Nothing to worry about,” he said, noting her nerves.

Of course he had a good, low voice. Didn’t mean he wasn’t crazy. Rêve attracted all sorts. Cults were forming around it. Biggest thing since the Internet. Global phenomenon. Major paradigm shift. And all that.

The wind gusted again and Jordan shivered violently, but she didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to ask questions. She had about a thousand of them. “You’ve done this before, then?”

She’d scoured message boards online for info, but the reactions varied from ecstatic testimonials of transcendent experiences to claims of migraines, sleeplessness, fatigue, and impotence, all basically leading to an inability to return to normal life. Then there were the posts—both academic and hysterical—that warned people not to make gods of themselves. Heh. Too late.

The bottom line? Studies demonstrated conclusively that Rêve itself was safe; whatever side effects did manifest reflected an individual’s psychology. Basically, if a person had issues, maybe they should pass.

At the moment, she had a lot of issues.

“I’ve done it a few times.” The guy glanced between her and her little sister. “Better than drugs. Not as good as sex.”

Hmm. “Anyone ever get hurt?”

“Not that I know of.” Damn if he didn’t seem to settle his interest on her baby sister, his gaze lingering, little wheels of thought turning in his eyes.

Umm…no. He was too…rough for Maze, so he’d just better step back.

Jordan poked his shoulder. Hard. “Did you have side effects?”

He shot her a quick, weird look to the effect of, Would I be back if I did?

“Right.” Jordan ducked her chin out of the wind and headed for Maze, who’d seated herself on the long bench on the far side of the boat. Maze had ironed her hair into a glossy straight sheet that looked like stretched fuchsia taffy. She was a junior at the U, but dressed like a cartoon character from when they’d been kids. She attracted friendly attention everywhere. Here, too.

Jordan joined her on the bench and cut a look back at the man. “Stay away from that one.”

Maze lit up and sang under her breath, “Ooooh?”

No. Jordan wasn’t interested in him, but she couldn’t bring herself to argue with Maze while the swaying of the boat was making her sick. She did manage to reiterate, “If I end up naked in public, I swear I’ll kill you.”

Maze took her hand. “You need this. You need this so bad.”

Her sister referred to the life Jordan spent in the office; what Maze didn’t seem to understand was that her big sis liked her job. Shocking, yes, but true. So this wasn’t about her. It was all Maisie, major still undeclared.

“People have gotten along just fine without Rêve thus far,” Jordan said. “All the way back to the dawn of man.”

Maze’s baby blues opened wide. “Beg to differ, Jor. Theories abound that it is not unique to our time.”

God, baby sis had been drinking the Rêve punch.

“Theories, not facts.” While Jordan had volunteered to go along for the ride, she wasn’t going to get conned into the hype. One of them had to stay grounded.

Her sister smiled and repeated by rote, as she had a thousand times today, “It’s safe. It’s legal.”

Jordan gave a derisive laugh. “Then why are we about to taxi twelve nautical miles into international waters to get on a Finnish ship in order to try it?”

 

*****

Lay Me Down

REVELER, Book 2

Lay Me Down Med

Print Length: 121 pages

Publisher: Fire Flower Publishing, LLC

ASIN: B00K9V6B94

JUST RELEASED: May 11, 2014

Amazon | Amazon UKAmazon CaB&N Kobo | GoodReads

Able to navigate sleep’s vast dreamwaters, wild child Maisie Lane makes easy money as a courier delivering packages from one dream to another. So what if her employers are on the shadier side of the law? Her sister thinks she’s living for the pleasure of the moment. Pleasure is involved—why shouldn’t it be?—but every step Maisie takes is part of a careful plan. That is, until she crosses into a dream so evil, she has no choice but to run.

Special Agent Steve Coll is tasked to recruit Maisie for Chimera, the organization that polices shared dreams. At first he’s taken with her funny and carefree spirit, then brought to his knees by her tough and passionate soul. Touching her is forbidden ecstasy, but Steve can’t resist breaking the rules with Maisie. A darkness is gathering, evil preparing to strike, and only Maisie stands between it and innocent lives. No matter what happens, Steve won’t let her stand alone—he’ll die before he leaves her side.

Fans of Paranormal romance and bad boys, get ready for a dark, sexy plunge into fantasy and desire. The Reveler Series is set in a contemporary world in which people can indulge in Rêve, or shared dreaming—a popculture phenomenon sweeping the world. Imagine being able to fall asleep at night, only to wake in a dream world, one in which you are lucid and in control—where you can be anything you want to be and do anything you like. But you must be careful…dreaming can be as dangerous as it is seductive.

Make sure to check out Kelly’s review HERE

Lay Me Down Excerpt:

Steve Coll hit his left-turn signal and checked for traffic, but most of his attention was focused on the woman half sitting, half kneeling on the passenger seat beside him. She hadn’t yet decided if she was going to cooperate (the least likely), stage a getaway (her usual way of coping), or try to kill him (on direct orders from her boss).

Her predicament was the most fun he’d had in a long time, especially since it was the woman herself who was gnawing her thumbnail in suspense. Even she didn’t know what she was going to do.

What a way to live.

Maisie Louise Lane wasn’t just another Reveler whom Chimera wanted to recruit. She was the ultimate recruit, the critical talent. And it was Steve’s job to secure her cooperation and loyalty.

Which meant she was probably going to try to kill him.

At least he’d get a kick out of watching her work up to it. She might just pull it off, too. Maisie could do anything; it was potentially deadly to think otherwise.

“If we’re going to Vegas,” she said, “I need to pick up some things from my place.”

Steve checked his rearview mirror. Still clear. “Not an option. It was ransacked after you left. Nothing much remains but the scum waiting to grab you.”

“Well, I’ve got some clothes at my sister’s and my laptop is there, too.”

“Your associates have that place covered as well, and since your sister had to drown one of them so that she could get to safety, it’s not an option, either.”

Maisie was standing on the only bridge she hadn’t burned, an empty gallon of gas in one hand, lit match in the other.

He flicked a gaze her way for a quick assessment. Her magenta-dyed hair was showing blond roots. The black makeup around her big gray eyes was smudged. And yeah, she was wearing the same outfit—tight, dark-green jeans with a slouchy black tank on top—that she’d been wearing when she’d escaped his companionship on the UCSD campus yesterday. The several narrow leather bands around her wrist hid scars from wounds she’d inflicted herself.

She had her sister to thank for keeping her alive this long, but the company Maisie kept was now more dangerous. Big sis had done as much as she could. Time for someone who didn’t love Maisie to take over.

“Well, I have to shower and change. I stink,” she said.

Strangely, he really didn’t mind the sharp edge to her usual feminine scent. And at the moment, he wouldn’t put it past her to crawl out a bathroom window, dripping and naked, to escape him. So she could just wait.

“When we get settled, you can have first dibs on the shower.”

Another glance in the rearview. A black car edged into their lane, some five car-lengths behind them.

“You mean in Vegas? That’s like an eight-hour drive.”

“Five,” he corrected. “And new clothes will be waiting there as well.”

“I choose my own clothes, thanks.”

“Your call.”

“This is torture,” she said.

“Agreed.”

The black car kept its distance, which Steve didn’t like. It should’ve pulled up a bit by now. Its front window reflected a bright glaring spot of the sun, whiting out the rest, so no driver was visible, even if Steve could make him out from this far away.

He debated letting the car continue its pursuit to find out for certain if it was deliberately tailing them. He’d been eluding her business associates for the past few days while attempting to win Maisie’s cooperation. That her sister Jordan had become a Chimera was helpful. That those same associates had gone after Jordan had forced a choice on Maisie: family, or wealth and power?

Family had won, which was how Maisie had come to be sitting next to him, regardless of her mood.

Steve cruised through a late yellow light; the black car ran the red that followed.

Damn. Better to lose them now than to chance an incident on the road before he and Maisie reached their destination.

He hated to do it while driving, but fine.

Steve let his vision blur slightly so that his darksight could sharpen, and he imposed a simple waking dream on the real world. He showed the occupants of the black car that his car was turning to the right, down an intersecting street, while in reality he continued straight ahead.

The black car turned down the street, following the dream.

Which meant that yes, the car had probably been following them, and the driver didn’t have the darksight to recognize a waking dream for the illusion it was.

Steve glanced at Maisie again, the other immediate threat to his life.

She was staring at him, unblinking and wary. “What was that?”

Maisie, however, did have darksight, though still undeveloped.

Chimera agents each had talents, most of which were awakened during lucid dreaming, the revolution taking over the world. Maisie, should she prove loyal enough to join them, could also cross between one dream and another effortlessly.

Steve gave her a friendly smile. It was the only answer she was going to get. He didn’t even share what he could do, what he really was, with people he trusted. They’d be afraid.

“Fine. Whatever.” She folded her arms and hunkered down in her seat. “Wake me when we get there.”

Steve had to stop himself from laughing out loud. The humor felt good, though, lodged in his throat and warm across his chest. As if he would let her escape him that way. Her associates could catch up to her Darkside, too.

No. Not happening. She had no idea whom she was dealing with.

Maisie Lane was about to be afflicted with an extreme case of insomnia.

He was keeping her high and dry until it suited him for her to sleep, yet another one of his abilities. She’d sleep when he did.

Beside him, she sighed and modulated her breathing so that it was deep and slow. Eyes closed, the tension dropped out of her. She went quiet, studiously so, as she sought refuge.

It was cute, really.

Steve banked onto the I-15 exit and climbed onto the freeway, heading north. Traffic mid-morning moved fast along the ten-lane stretch. If they made good time, maybe they could get there before rush hour.

A colorful billboard advertising a new Rêve—the term used for commercial shared dreams—rose above the graying buildings below. The billboard depicted a black door with a fanlight above and a knob in the middle. The number 221B gleamed in brass above a subtly ornate knocker. Doors led the way into Rêves, and this door led the dreamer to 221B Baker Street, Sherlock’s home. Stories and adventures were the rage, far exceeding the thrills a theme park could offer. Rêve was a fully immersive experience for which people would pay anything.

Of course, just as Rêves offered unlimited worlds to explore, they also offered innumerable ways to exploit and/or threaten dreamers. It was Chimera’s job to police Rêves and to venture (or track) beyond Rêve into the waters where natural dreaming occurred. A certain kind of talent was required, and it was Steve’s job to recruit the personnel who had it.

Like Maisie here, who’d been playing in illegal Rêves for at least a year now and had gotten in a little too deep with the criminal element.

The minutes ticked by. He changed to the far left lane and accelerated.

Any second now she’d realize she was trapped in the waking world.

She huffed a little. Squirmed.

He restrained a grin, but glanced her way to see if she’d figured it out yet.

He found her looking back at him, a bad mood wrinkling her forehead. Then her forehead smoothed as understanding dawned. A glimmer of horror darkened her eyes. She’s got it now. The realization finished with a steady glare of hate.

“You bastard.”

Steve looked at the road ahead. “Just as long as we understand each other.”

 

Erin KellisonA little about Erin: 

Erin Kellison is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of the Shadow series and Shadow Kissed series, which share the same world, where dark fantasy meets modern fairy tale. Delve into dreamscapes in her new Reveler series, releasing Summer 2014.

Follow Erin online at: Website / Mailing List / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest / Amazon Author Page / GoodReads

 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~

GIVEAWAY:

Erin is offering up a $50 Giftcard to either Amazon or B&N to 1 lucky winner at the end of the Tour.

Find the Rafflecopter for the Event here, follow the directions, take action, and mark as ‘Done’.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

To see the complete list of book blast tour stops so you can read some more reviews, check out the full Reveler Book Blast & Review Tour Schedule HERE.

 

Kelly reviews Lay Me Down by Erin Kellison

Lay Me DownTITLE: Lay Me Down
SERIES #: Reveler #2
CHARACTERS: Steve Coll & Maisie Lane
AUTHOR: Erin Kellison
PUBLICATION DATE: May 12, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Able to navigate sleep’s vast dreamwaters, wild child Maisie Lane makes easy money as a courier delivering packages from one dream to another. So what if her employers are on the shadier side of the law? Her sister thinks she’s living for the pleasure of the moment. Pleasure is involved—why shouldn’t it be?—but every step Maisie takes is part of a careful plan. That is, until she crosses into a dream so evil, she has no choice but to run.

Special Agent Steve Coll is tasked to recruit Maisie for Chimera, the organization that polices shared dreams. At first he’s taken with her funny and carefree spirit, then brought to his knees by her tough and passionate soul. Touching her is forbidden ecstasy, but Steve can’t resist breaking the rules with Maisie. A darkness is gathering, evil preparing to strike, and only Maisie stands between it and innocent lives. No matter what happens, Steve won’t let her stand alone—he’ll die before he leaves her side

REVIEW:
Lay Me Down was the 2nd novella in Erin Kellison’s new Reveler series was pretty good. I think that I enjoyed this one a little better than the first novella. I am still struggling a little with the world. There seems to be a lot going on in such a short period of time and everything was a little rushed.
But again I believe I will give book 3 a try and see if it is working for me.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley & Fire Flower Publishing, LLC in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

3hearts-68-77

Kelly reviews Darkness Falls by Erin Kellison

Darkness FallsTITLE: Darkness Falls
SERIES #: Reveler #1
CHARACTERS: Malcolm Rook & Jordan Lane
AUTHOR: Erin Kellison
PUBLICATION DATE: May 12, 2014
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Agent Malcolm Rook is hunting for people with the rarest of talents—the ability to master dreams. He finds the undeniably gifted Jordan Lane, but she’s wary of mysterious Rook and resists his pursuit as long as she can. Yet the dreamwaters they enter are too exhilarating to resist, and attraction soon ignites electric passions. Delving too deep stirs a nightmare, one they must defeat, or be forever lost to darkness.

Fans of paranormal romance and bad boys, get ready for a dark, sexy plunge into fantasy and desire. The Reveler Series is set in a contemporary world in which people can indulge in Rêve, or shared dreaming—a pop culture phenomenon sweeping the world. Imagine being able to fall asleep at night, only to wake in a dream world, one in which you are lucid and in control—where you can be anything you want to be and do anything you like. But you must be careful…dreaming can be as dangerous as it is seductive.

REVIEW:
This was a quick read Darkness Falls was a very interesting read and world for me. I have not really decided if I am in love with this world yet or not. This first novella in the Reveler series was a little hard for me to follow and understand. But seeing as this was the first book the world building is important . Therefore I do plan to read the next novella and see if this series is really for me.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley & Fire Flower Publishing, LLC in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

3hearts-68-77

Spotlight Feature of Dark & Deadly: Eight Bad Boys of Paranormal Romance

DARK AND DEADLY: Eight Bad Boys of Paranormal Romance
Jennifer Ashley, Alyssa Day, Felicity Heaton, Erin Kellison, Laurie London, Erin Quinn, Bonnie Vanak, Caris Roane
Eight hot paranormal romances by New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors. Alpha-male bad boys will fulfill your darkest, most deadliest desires in these stories about shifters, werewolves, vampires, magic, special powers and other realms. But only if you dare…

darkanddeadly

BODYGUARD by Jennifer Ashley

Elizabeth Chapman is saved from an armed attacker by a Kodiak bear who shifts into a tight-bodied, naked human male. Ronan takes Elizabeth to Shiftertown, becoming her 24/7 bodyguard. The mateless Ronan has adopted a houseful of orphaned Shifters–having grown up in foster care, Elizabeth is touched by his protectiveness. Ronan only wants to keep Elizabeth safe, but the sassy woman is triggering his long-buried need to mate.

ALEJANDRO’S SORCERESS by Alyssa Day

He’s a warrior, hardened by years of protecting his town from vampire attack. She’s a garden witch who sees the world in shades of sunshine and delight. Opposites don’t only attract, they go supernova in this sizzling tale of magic and mayhem.

BEWITCH by Felicity Heaton

A vampire with a bloodstained past and a soul tainted with darkness, Payne is perfect in his self-control, never surrendering to his darkest desires. Now a beautiful witch in the shadowy fae underworld reawakens long denied hungers and tempts him with pleasure. When one incredible night of fulfilling their fantasies leads to more than just keeping a promise and saving a friend, will they be able to overcome the barriers that stand between them and forever?

DARKNESS FALLS by Erin Kellison

Agent Malcolm Rook is hunting for people with the rarest of talents—the ability to master dreams. He finds the undeniably gifted Jordan Lane, but she’s wary of mysterious Rook and resists his pursuit as long as she can. Yet the dreamwaters they enter are too exhilarating to resist, and attraction soon ignites electric passions. Delving too deep stirs a nightmare, one they must defeat, or be forever lost to darkness.

ROGUE’S PASSION by Laurie London

Blaming himself for the death of a friend, Iron Guild warrior Asher Kane vows to bring those responsible to justice. After he’s hurt on a mission and nursed back to health by a beautiful yet mysterious woman, this dangerously sexy bad-boy finds himself falling for Olivia…even as he struggles to stay away. But stalking them on the streets of New Seattle is a cruel and vengeful evil—one that threatens to destroy them both…

THE FORBIDDEN LIFE OF ALEX MOORE by Erin Quinn

Alex’s mission: Kill the hellhounds that have invaded earth and return to his home in the Beyond. But from the start, things go horribly wrong. The hounds are cunning and a human female witnesses their attack—she intervenes and saves Alex’s life. Now he must keep the alluring Lilly alive while fighting his desire for her. When passion flares, Alex risks all to protect her and defend the forbidden life he craves.

THE MATING HEAT by Bonnie Vanak

Werewolf Kara Mitchell fled with her brother Aiden to Montana after their alpha father punished her for kissing sexy omega werewolf Ryder Carrington. Left scarred by her father’s cruelty, Kara believes no one can love her. After killing his alpha to save the pack, Ryder now rules, but needs a mate. His blood runs hot for Kara. Ryder will do anything to claim her, even risk an all-out pack war that could cost them everything…

TRAPPED by Caris Roane

Mastyr Vampire Zephyr, a one-man fighting force, struggles to save the life of a woman who despises his warrior ways. She’s been a thorn in his side, but he has one goal: to keep her safe. For Alesia, however, she just wishes he’d leave her alone since she can never approve of his profession. She broke up with him months ago and wants to start a new life. The trouble is, he’s still the one man who can curl her toes.

DARK AND DEADLY: Eight Bad Boys of Paranormal Romance is due for release in ebook at all major retailers on April 14th 2014 so mark your calendars for your date with these eight hot alpha bad boys and have your darkest desires fulfilled.

Add the book to your Goodreads shelf at: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21544659-dark-and-deadly

Be sure to join the Dark and Deadly authors during the first two weeks of release for fantastic giveaways, launch parties, and more.

Find out all the details for the events as they’re posted at the eight authors’ Facebook pages:

Jennifer Ashley: http://www.facebook.com/JenniferAshleyAllysonJamesAshleyGardner

Alyssa Day: http://www.facebook.com/authoralyssaday

Felicity Heaton: https://www.facebook.com/felicityheaton

Erin Kellison: http://www.facebook.com/erinkellisonauthor

Laurie London: http://www.facebook.com/LaurieLondonAuthor

Erin Quinn: http://www.facebook.com/ErinQuinnAuthor 

Bonnie Vanak: http://www.facebook.com/bonnievanakauthor

Caris Roane: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Caris-Roane/150858114985050

Dark + Dangerous = 6 Hot Paranormal Romances in one Bundle.

An Excerpt from Assassins Touch by Laurie London

The crimson tunic Rickert wore was simple and functional, yet elegant at the same time. Although it had none of the fancy embroidery or adornments that Lord Tierney’s or Rosamund’s garments sported, it fit his muscular torso perfectly, as if it had been hand-tailored. The hemline hit just below his natural waistline, right at the crisscrossed laces of the fine leather breeches—probably deerskin, if she were to guess—that stretched tightly over his—

Neyla coughed and attempted to put her mind into its former work mode: fabric, cut, and fit. When she’d tailored men’s clothing, she’d often kneel and hold her tape measure right at the crotch. She was used to examining and assessing various bodies simply as shapes, marking how much of the seam to take in or let out. Where to position a dart or tuck.

The leather clung to the curve of his thighs and butt with just the right amount of ease—neither too tight nor too loose. Whoever had made them was very skilled. Leather, particularly deerskin, could be tricky to work with.

Enough about the clothes, she told herself. God, she could get so distracted by pretty things.

She was sure of one thing, though. If she had any hope of getting back home, she needed to squelch her physical reaction to him and keep her wits about her.

Then she realized he now blocked her only escape, and she had nowhere to go but up. No wonder he was pleased. She’d made it easy for him. God, she could be such an idiot.

“And why should you care what happens to me?” she repeated.

He propped one boot casually on the step above him and rested a hand on the hilt of one of his swords, looking very much like the powerful medieval warrior he was. “I agree. It makes no sense.”

“Then why?”

He shrugged. “Perhaps I’ve been bespelled.”

She scoffed at him and yet her whole body went numb at the thought that he could be bespelled by her.

Before she could contemplate further, he said, “Keep going. It’s not far now.”

Soon, they stood in front of a wooden door with a large metal ring for a handle. After sliding back the bolt, Rickert leaned into it with his shoulder and pushed. The hinges creaked as the heavy door slowly opened. She wouldn’t be able to manage it easily on her own.

The first thing she spotted in the elaborately furnished room was the huge, curtained bed, piled high with quilts and pillows. An empty tub, half hidden by a curtain, stood in a far corner, and several large parchments—maps, maybe?—were scattered on a low table. The room was decidedly masculine. His bedchamber.

And now it all made perfect sense.

“Is this elaborate scheme of yours designed to get me into your bed?” She glanced around for some sort of weapon and spotted several glass paperweights in various colors holding the maps flat. Those could work. In college, she’d pitched on an intramural co-ed softball team and could throw a decent fastball.

“What are you talking about?” he asked.

She inched closer to the table. “Do you have an old-fashioned belief system over here that prevents you from shagging a woman you’re not engaged to?”

He closed the door with a bang that rattled her insides, and slid the bolt into place. Standing there like he had in the cave, taking up all the available space, he looked big and formidable. She was trapped. This was it. And she’d just provoked him.

 

*****

DARK AND DANGEROUS

Six-in-one hot paranormal romances.

Whether you like shifters, weres, vampires, fae, magic or secret portals, there’s a sexy story here that’s sure to tantalize your darkest, most dangerous desires.

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Buy now ($.99 – all 6 stories!) from  Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CAB&N |

 

*****

HARD MATED

by Jennifer Ashley

Hard Mated_Jennifer Ashley_Cover

USA Today bestselling book!

Spike, a wildcat Shifter and the champion fighter of Shiftertown, is stunned when Myka, the best friend of a dying human woman, announces that Spike has fathered a cub. What’s more, the mother is giving the boy to Spike to protect and raise.

Spike is torn between the cub and his duties as tracker to the Shiftertown leader, and begs sassy and sexy horse-training Myka, the only person who understands, to help him. When Spike’s job puts his cub and Myka in danger, Spike is forced to choose between those to whom he’s pledged his loyalty and his need to protect the woman and cub he’s come to love.

     *Buy this book individually from Amazon / B&N / Amazon UK / Amazon Ca / ARe / Kobo / iBooks

*****

THE MATING HUNT

by Bonnie Vanak

The Mating Hunt_Bonnie Vanak_Cover

After a childhood trauma left Arianna Sanders terrified of sex, the only man the pretty Lupine werewolf desires is her fiercely protective guardian. But the sexy, mysterious shifter harbors a dark secret, one he’s determined to hide from Arianna.

Kyle Morgan hungers for the voluptuous Arianna and dreams of consummating the passion smoldering between them. When he’s forced into mating with her to save her life, he must tame the savage, sexual beast inside him before taking the virgin he’s vowed to protect from those hungering to claim her, including himself…

     *Buy this book individually from Amazon / B&N / Amazon UK / Amazon Ca / ARe / Kobo / iBooks

*****

EMBRACE THE DARK

Book #1 of the Blood Rose Series, by Caris Roane

Embrace the Dark_Caris Roane_Cover

Will she fall to temptation and give herself to a vampire…

Abigail doesn’t mind doing business with the realm-world, until she discovers she’s a rare commodity called a blood rose, something designed to satisfy the deepest needs of a mastyr vampire. She wants nothing to do with that kind of power and servicing a vampire is just wrong.  But Mastyr Gerrod’s resistance to her gift, as well as his hot hunkiness in his Guardsman uniform, soon turns her head and she bends her neck to receive a sharp pair of fangs.  Mind-blowing sex, ecstasy, all good things follow.  But how can she give up her human world to serve as a blood rose the rest of her life?

     *Buy this book individually from Amazon / B&N / Amazon UK / Amazon Ca / Kobo / iBooks

*****

ASSASSIN’S TOUCH

Book #1 of the Iron Portal series, by Laurie London

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Two worlds. Two enemies. One fated touch.

Former fashion designer Neyla Trihorn had the perfect life until a deadly accident revealed her latent para-abilities—now she’s the army’s hottest asset in their fight against invaders. Rickert D’Angelus, the dangerously sexy assassin from Cascadia, leads a group of warriors into New Seattle with one goal—to stop enemy soldiers from finding the Iron Portal into his world.

When he captures the beautiful Protection-Talent, a passionate vision appears and stirs something deep inside him. Rickert must decide if it’s a Talent trick, designed to foil the enemy…or the answer to his deepest desires.

     *Buy this book individually from Amazon / B&N / Amazon UK /Amazon Ca / Kobo / iBooks

*****

SHADOW BOUND

Book #1 of the Shadow Series, by Erin Kellison

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Dark fantasy meets modern fairy tale…

Adam Thorne founded the Segue Institute to study and destroy his monster of a brother, but the key to its success is held in the pale, slender hand of a woman on the run. There is something hauntingly different about Talia O’Brien, her unknowing sensuality, her uncanny way of slipping into Shadow. Twilight is the place between life and what comes after—a dark forest of fantasy, filled with beauty, peril, mystery. And Talia is about to open the door.

     *Buy this book individually from Amazon / B&N / Amazon UK /Amazon Ca / ARe / Kobo / iBooks

*****

SEDUCE

by Felicity Heaton

Seduce_Felicity Heaton_Cover

Enter the dark, sinful and seductive world of the vampire owners of London’s premier vampire theatre, Vampirerotique, and discover how these powerful men are brought to their knees by the women who claim their hearts.

Bloodlust runs in Antoine’s veins, a dark master waiting for the day it will reign over him. Now a woman with a pure soul and wicked intentions has him in her sights and is determined to crack the ice around his heart, and she might save or damn him. But when Sera discovers the shocking truth about his past and the darkness that lurks within him, will she be strong enough to seize his heart with both hands and win him forever or will she lose him to the ghosts that still haunt him?

     *Buy this book individually from Amazon / Amazon UK /Amazon Ca / B&N / Kobo / iBooks

 

About the Author’s

Jennifer Ashley PicJennifer Ashley

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Jennifer Ashley has lived and traveled all over the world, and now lives in the Southwest. She writes historical, paranormal, and contemporary romance as Jennifer Ashley; mysteries as Ashley Gardner; and paranormal romance and urban fantasy as Allyson James.

Jennifer’s/Allyson’s/Ashley’s more than fifty novels have won RWA’s RITA award, the Golden Quill, RT Reviewer’s Choice awards, and the Prism award, among others. Jennifer’s novels have been also been translated into French, German, Spanish, Dutch, Japanese, Norwegian, Hungarian, Italian, Thai, and other languages.

Jennifer enjoys writing and reading above all else, but her hobbies include cooking, hiking, playing flute and guitar, painting, and building miniature rooms and dollhouses.

Jennifer’s backlist includes the HIGHLAND PLEASURES, SHIFTERS UNBOUND, NVENGARIA,  and REGENCY PIRATES series.

Connect with Jennifer: Website, on Facebook, on Twitter, and on GoodReads.

Bonnie VanakOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Bonnie Vanak is a multi-published author of sexy paranormal and historical romance novels. After a career in journalism, she became a writer for an international charity, traveling to poor countries like Haiti to write about issues affecting the poor. When the strain of her job demanded a diversion, she turned to her childhood dream of writing books. Bonnie lives in Florida with her husband, Frank, and three rescue dogs.

Bonnie’s backlist includes the KHAMSIN EGYPTIAN, THE ANCIENTS, WEREWOLVES OF MONTANA, and PHOENIX FORCE  as well as numerous single titles.

You can keep up with Bonnie online at her Website, on Facebook, on Twitter, and on GoodReads.

Caris Roane PicCaris Roane

Best-selling author, Caris Roane, has published thirteen paranormal romance novels and has also recently released her first contemporary novel.  As Valerie King, she’s written over fifty Regency romance novels and in 2005, Romantic Times gave her a Career Achievement award in Regency Romance. Caris lives in Phoenix, Arizona, loves to write, really doesn’t like scorpions, and has two cats, Sebastien and Gizzy.

Caris’s backlist includes the GUARDIANS OF ASCENSION, DAWN OF ASCENSIONTHE BLOOD ROSE, MEN IN CHAINS and THE AMULET series.

Connect with Caris:  Website, on Facebook, on Twitter, and on GoodReads.

Laurie LondonLaurie London Pic

Laurie London is the award-winning author of the Sweetblood and Iron Portal series—dark, sexy paranormal romance, set primarily in the Pacific Northwest. Publisher’s Weekly calls her work “sexy” and “sizzling.”

She lives on a small farm outside of Seattle with her husband, two children and a variety of animals. Someday she hopes to qualify for the Quarter Horse World Show – that is, if her horse doesn’t get hurt again.

Laurie’s backlist includes the SWEETBLOOD and IRON PORTAL series.

Connect with Laurie: Website, on Facebook, on Twitter, and on GoodReads.

Erin Kellison PicErin Kellison

Erin Kellison is the award-winning author of the SHADOW series, the SHADOW TOUCH NOVELLA series, and the SHADOW KISSED series, all of which share the same world, where dark fantasy meets modern fairy tale. RT calls her latest, Soul Kissed, “a dark fairy tale with a twist, perfect for readers who love passion with their fantasy.”

Connect with Erin: Website, on Facebook, on Twitter, Pinterest and on GoodReads.

 

Felicity HeatonFelicity Heaton Pic

Felicity Heaton writes passionate paranormal romance books as Felicity Heaton and F E Heaton. In her books she creates detailed worlds, twisting plots, mind-blowing action, intense emotion and heart-stopping romances with leading men that vary from dark deadly vampires to sexy shape-shifters and wicked werewolves, to sinful angels and hot demons!

Felicity’s backlist includes the HER ANGEL, VAMPIRES REALM, VAMPIRE EROTIC THEATRE, SONS OF LYRA, DAUGHTERS OF LYRA, VAMPIRE VENATOR, and IN HEAT series, as well as the SHADOW AND LIGHT Trilogy.

Connect with Felicity: Website, Blog, on Facebook, on Twitter, Pinterest and on GoodReads.

Dark and Dangerous Release Week Promo Blitz Schedule:

DarkAndDangerous_Promo

10/15:  Romance Junkies – Spotlight and Excerpt from Jennifer Ashley’s Hard Mated

10/16:  Books-n-Kisses Spotlight and Excerpt from Laurie London’s Assassin’s Touch

10/17:  Mad Hatter Reads – Spotlight and Excerpt from Caris Roane’s Embrace the Dark

10/18Book Monster Reviews – Spotlight and Excerpt from Erin Kellison’s Shadow Bound

10/19Bookish Babbles  – Spotlight and Excerpt from Felicity Heaton’s Seduce

10/20Book Pages and Dripping Ink    – Spotlight and Excerpt from Bonnie Vanak’s The Mating Hunt

Contest Info:

The authors of Dark and Dangerous are offering up a $25 Giftcard to either Amazon or B&N at the end of the blitz.

To enter, find the Rafflecopter widget, follow the directions, take action, and mark as ‘Done’.

 Note:  The more tasks you complete, the more entries you will have.

Good luck!! 

 a Rafflecopter giveaway