Eight unscrupulous guests have been invited to the centuries old Blackstone Resorts. Each patron has his or her own reason for needing an escape from unpleasant circumstances. Tensions mount quickly as, one-by-one, they come to face their worst nightmare. Will they repent their evil ways or remain in Blackstone for the rest of their lives?
Kathy Finfrock is the author of the horror thriller House of Redemption and host of a podcast series Spooky Tales where you can find her short stories. An avid supporter of other writers, she is the organizer of a local writer’s group and has published The Ten-Minute Writing Prompt (Volume 1). She is currently working on a paranormal ghost novel.
Who is your favorite character in House of Redemption?
I would say my favorite is Louis simply because he makes me smile. He is quite charismatic and enjoys the ladies. All the ladies. It doesn’t matter if they are young or old, tall or short, fat or thin. He loves them all and they love him.
Are the characters based on real people you know?
I would say inspired by and the answer is not all of them, but a few. Louis is based on a former boss I had. That man would flirt up anyone in a skirt. Married or single, he would take your breath away and leave you feeling warm and tingly and then off he would go. He was such fun. Unlike Louis, he sincerely loved and appreciated women. He was not a player as far as I know. I still smile when I think of him many years later. I also had a little pity for him as his wife did not appreciate his flirtatious ways. He might have been a bit scared of her.
Sounds like you really liked him. Why would you invite him to Blackstone?
Because everyone has a dark side and appearances are deceiving. Some people are better at hiding their true face than others and this is true of Louis.
Did you participate in last week’s #WritingWednesday post? It was about Clothing. If you haven’t posted your response, click HEREso you can do that now. Then, make sure you check in here ~ every Wednesday ~ for the latest #WritingWednesday writing prompt! Now, back to today’s regularly scheduled post…
Remember, #WritingWednesday is an EASY, STRESS-FREE, weekly writing challenge.
Read the writing prompt below,
Spend 5 minutes writing (in your own voice or the voice of a character you’re writing) whatever comes to mind,
DON’T EDIT what you write! IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE PERFECT!
The goal is 5 minutes of creativity.
In honor of Mother’s Day, which was this past Sunday, I’m writing in my own voice today.
Today’s writing prompt:
What is/was your mom like?
My mother is courageous. She takes risks and lives life to the fullest.
She is independent and strong, but also knows how to lean on other when she needs help, and she raised me to be the same. She is supportive and encouraging. She is giving and helpful, sometimes to a fault.
She has a stubborn streak that runs in my family. Oh boy, is she ever stubborn. If she is upset, she holds a grudge and sometimes has a hard time admitting she was wrong.
She is one of the smartest women I know. She loves learning new things and is a lifelong student.
Before retiring, she was a nurse. She is still a nurse at heart. I don’t think you ever loose that. If someone is hurt or in need, she has to help.
She gives the very best of herself, no matter who she is with.
My mother is love.
She was my first teacher, as all mothers are. She taught me right from wrong, good from bad, and how to stand up for myself, my loved ones, and what I believe.
Alright, now it’s your turn. I’d love to see what today’s writing prompt [What is/was your mom like?] inspires in you. So, if you are willing, go to the comment section below and start typing. Take 5 minutes and let’s see what you come up with!
Looking for daily writing inspiration? Check out my latest publication: #WRITINGPROMPTS
Who Can Benefit from Using #WritingPrompts? Everyone! Whether you’re an avid writer or just someone who is interested in the creative and/or therapeutic art of writing, #WritingPrompts is for you. Studies show that maintaining a daily handwritten journal, or creative writing notebook, can: 1. improve memory, 2. enhance creative expression, 3. lower stress, 4. build self-discipline, 5. eliminate writer’s block, and so much more! Writer’s Block Got You Down? Eliminate It, One Day at a Time! When it comes to writer’s block, the struggle is real! If you’ve ever sat at your computer, typewriter, or with pen in hand, but couldn’t get a single word on paper, then you know what writer’s block feels like. #WritingPrompts is the solution you’ve been looking for! Within the pages of #WritingPrompts, you will find over 700 writing prompts that you can use in order or at random, the choice is yours. Jump-Start Your Creativity with over 700 Unique Writing Prompts! Good writing takes time, practice, and unique ideas. Why not jump-start your imagination with these unique writing prompts and watch as you find your voice and become a more confident writer in just one year.
What books have you added to your May 2020 reading list? Comment below and let me know!
Original Sin (The Order of the Vampires Book 1) by Lydia Michaels
Original Sin (The Order of the Vampires Book 1) by Lydia Michaels
Original Sin (The Order of the Vampires Book 1) by Lydia Michaels Genre: Paranormal Romance
Adam Hartzler has always been an honorable immortal, but the fine line between right and wrong begins to blur when he is called to his true mate. If he does not find and claim her soon, he will lose his soul and humanity, transforming into a vile predator controlled by insatiable bloodlust, sentenced to a demonic and tortured eternity as a vampire.
Adam sets out on a quest to hunt his mate and claim her before it is too late. His salvation relies on his destined mate’s surrender, but when she refuses to cooperate, Adam must set aside his morals and do what is needed to survive. Time’s slipping away with his control, and his territorial instincts refuse to let her go.
Annalise Snow awakens on a primitive farm removed from modern civilization and in fear of her life. Her captor is determined to keep her prisoner and believes he is somehow entitled to her future. But she will not surrender easily. When Adam asks for the ultimate sacrifice, she must decide if he lives or dies.
Passion and emotion collide in an explosive meeting of destined souls, but love is never a guarantee, especially when eternity begins with betrayal.
Original Sin (The Order of the Vampires Book 1) by Lydia Michaels
Would you like a chance to win a $20 Amazon gift card or a signed copy of Original Sin?Follow the tour HERE for special content and two giveaways!
Lydia Michaels is the award winning author of over 35 romance novels. She is an iBooks Bestsellers and her work has been featured in USA Today. She is the two-time winner of the Author of the Year Award from Happenings Media [2018 & 2019]. In 2015 she won The Best Author Award from The Courier Times. She is a five time nominee for the prestigious RONE Award. Her books are intellectual, emotional, haunting, always centered around love.
Awakening (Queen of Spades Book 1) by EJ Dawson Genre: SciFi Action Romance
Ayla is a villain. With a gift that allows her to see when anyone will die, she’s remorseless in her profession as the perfect assassin. When she wakes up in a cryo-tank three thousand years in the future, and no idea how she came to be there, all that matters is survival.
Rescued by Leith and the crew of the Nuria, Ayla discovers a far evolved world of space ships and galactic colonization. But everything comes with a price, and though Ayla is no princess locked in an icy tower, she still has to pay for the rescue she didn’t know she needed.
Given over to Leith, a darkly handsome man who reads Ayla far easier than she’d like, they must work together if Ayla is to repay her debt. As the pair come to learn how dangerous one another are, so too grows a lustful bond that comes with rules of its own. Fighting to learn why she was frozen, Ayla’s dragged into Leith’s past with a criminal organization seeking to take over this sector of the galaxy. In order to survive, Leith will need Ayla’s help, but Ayla doesn’t know if she’s willing to pay what it will cost her…
Would you like a chance to win a $20 Amazon gift card? Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
EJ Dawson was born rather tardily (a fault that was to continue throughout life) in the picture perfect spring of 1983 in Canberra, Australia. Growing up on an abandoned mine next to a huge pine forest, time turned the once lovely weatherboard house and carefully kept grounds into creaky old home with rambling gardens. A wondrous place for a child to explore, accompanied by parents devoted to books and reading aloud.
From this her thirst for fiction was grown, nurtured, and has never ended.
Flitting between wanting to be a vet, biologist, meteorologist, archaeologist she settled into a double degree in history and archaeologist before moving into the working world. During school and university she never stopped writing, including taking creative writing courses and starting on her own novels, the first being finished when she was eighteen.
None of these seemed to be quite right, and so the writing never stopped.
Losing several novels over the years, in 2014 during a spontaneous moment a book involving airship chases and things that crept in the dark leapt to mind, and the first 50 thousand words written in the course of several weeks over a hot summer. Still reeling from the initial idea, the world she had created came into bloom, one novel idea at a time, until an intricate web had formed.
A steampunk flavoured suspenseful fantasy series has been likened to the Mummy crossed with Star Trek by reviewers.
EJ Dawson currently resides in rural Victoria with her loving husband, demanding felines, and very relaxed python. Still working full time, when she isn’t writing, she’s playing RPG games, computer games, and, of course, reading.
As an avid reader of fiction (and an author who one day hopes to make the list) I LOVE-LOVE-LOVE checking out the New York Times Best Seller list. So, here it is… The independently ranked top 10 Young Adult selections for May 2020!
If you’ve read any of the TOP 10 selections and recommend them, please comment below and let me know. If you see something you like and plan to pick up a copy, you can do so by clicking on the cover image, the title or the [BUY IT HERE] button.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
When you purchase a book using a link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission.All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc.
As an avid reader of fiction (and an author who one day hopes to make the list) I LOVE-LOVE-LOVE checking out the New York Times Best Seller list. So, here it is… The independently ranked top 10 Fiction selections for May 2020!
If you’ve read any of the TOP 10 selections and recommend them, please comment below and let me know. If you see something you like and plan to pick up a copy, you can do so by clicking on the cover image, the title or the [BUY IT HERE] button.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
When you purchase a book using a link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission.All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc.
ABRACADABRA by K. Stevens Genre: Paranormal Urban Fantasy
Magic and mayhem are his middle names. Figuratively. Not literally. He’s not sure he even has a middle name, let alone two.
Rod’s a trickster by trade, magician by hobby, and thief by night. But when an old friend hunts him down and asks a favor, he can’t refuse. Mostly because she’ll likely try to kill him before asking again. But also because it presents a very interesting puzzle: to hunt down what a half-elf, magic weapons, and a killer-led cult of shapeshifters have to do with each other.
Lucky for him, Rod has the ability to be in three places at once. The problem? Even he can’t always tell which him is the real him.
From an early age, K. Stevens devoured all things magical and mystical. To this day, she hesitantly struggles to keep one foot in reality while the rest of her remains firmly rooted in the fantastic and insane. In 2015, she finally worked up enough courage to share her stories with more than just her family, and was encouraged by the fact that she wasn’t eaten alive for it. She may be the crazy lady that talks to bugs and stares incessantly into the sky, but don’t mind her. She’s just thinking.
Would you like a chance to win some ABRACADABRA SWAG? Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
At the time of writing this, I have no idea what’s happening. I don’t know if we’ve flattened the curve, or if things have increased. I don’t know the nation is on lockdown or if we’re coming out of the fog. I just don’t know. Hopefully, things have come right and this post is recently outdated. A late call, if you will. I’m known for those, lol.
But a call for hope is never outdated, in my book. Hope, peace, and balance. While we can always see the things that are missing, the things that can rob us of the positive, it gets harder and harder to see the things that remain to give us stability; a roof that doesn’t leak, enough food for the day, and the thing that’s started to prevail the most right now: options.
At the time I write this, several businesses are down. Closed their doors. Several people are on lockdown, either self or forced isolation and practicing social distancing. What this has done, however, has provided the luxury of options; businesses that can’t close are finding ways to keep going through options; you can still have things delivered, can still do online transactions, can still find entertainment digitally. A local restaurant started selling bread, meat, and cheese alongside their sandwich delivery. Parents are giving kids options on how to continue learning with quarantine schedules, creative tasks, and at-home projects. And despite distancing, meet-up groups are flocking to digital platforms to keep in touch and are more intentional about following up with each other.
I suppose my encouragement, coming to you from the latter-half of March is this: there’s hope in options, and there are always options. Options on how to see something, options on how to respond, options on how to act. You can’t control the world, but you can control your world.
Seek out the options. Find the hope.
~K Stevens
You’d be surprised how many pirate ships can fit into a magical underground harbor. It was laughable how much Miles’ ship looked like a toy boat compared to the mechanical wonders surrounding it. The huge slats of wood on either side and bottom of his ship didn’t help the notion. It was considered “old-fashioned” to still have a wooden hull — not to mention dangerous if there wasn’t an ample amount of protection behind it. Apparently Miles happened to be an old-fashioned type of guy.
The wood was old, but had a bright sheen to it as if Miles had gone over it was some sort of gloss. One could only hope it was for protection and not decoration. It had a pointed nose and a narrow rudder, the sides bulging and creaking as it teetered in place. Large metallic fins stuck out from either side with a single larger fin protruding from the deck, and all three were pulled tight against the ship, resulting in the ship looking even smaller.
To be honest, it looked kind of like a giant fish.
As if its size and shape weren’t enough to make it stand out, two cannon noses poked out near the front like a pair of empty eyes while something akin to a huge sniper barrel rested on the deck.
Miles motioned to an old rope ladder clanking along the side. He flashed a mischievous smile to Olyvia, who was clearly uncomfortable with the whole affair and rethinking her deal.
“Ladies first,” he said.
I am excited to be one of many tour hosts sharing information about ABRACADABRA by K. Stevens.
Did you participate in last week’s #WritingWednesday post? It was about Glass Houses. If you haven’t posted your response, click HEREso you can do that now. Then, make sure you check in here ~ every Wednesday ~ for the latest #WritingWednesday writing prompt! Now, back to today’s regularly scheduled post…
Remember, #WritingWednesday is an EASY, STRESS-FREE, weekly writing challenge.
Read the writing prompt below,
Spend 5 minutes writing (in your own voice or the voice of a character you’re writing) whatever comes to mind,
DON’T EDIT what you write! IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE PERFECT!
The goal is 5 minutes of creativity.
Today I am writing in the voice of Sydney, a character in one of my current ‘WIP’ manuscripts.
Today’s writing prompt:
What do the clothes you are wearing right now say about you?
I’ve been in the hospital for a little over a month and its discharge day. It felt so good to toss that hospital gown on the floor and slip into my well-worn jeans. My handler at Operation Atlas had my clothes washed, he had to, they were covered in ash. To be honest, he wanted to throw them away but I wouldn’t let him. Every rip and every hole signify a job well done. I’ve earned those badges.
So to answer your question, what do the clothes I’m wearing say about me, that’s easy… They say I’m tough, courageous, and not someone you should mess with.
Alright, now it’s your turn. I’d love to see what today’s writing prompt [What do the clothes you are wearing right now say about you?] inspires in you. So, if you are willing, go to the comment section below and start typing. Take 5 minutes and let’s see what you come up with!
Looking for daily writing inspiration? Check out my latest publication: #WRITINGPROMPTS
Who Can Benefit from Using #WritingPrompts? Everyone! Whether you’re an avid writer or just someone who is interested in the creative and/or therapeutic art of writing, #WritingPrompts is for you. Studies show that maintaining a daily handwritten journal, or creative writing notebook, can: 1. improve memory, 2. enhance creative expression, 3. lower stress, 4. build self-discipline, 5. eliminate writer’s block, and so much more! Writer’s Block Got You Down? Eliminate It, One Day at a Time! When it comes to writer’s block, the struggle is real! If you’ve ever sat at your computer, typewriter, or with pen in hand, but couldn’t get a single word on paper, then you know what writer’s block feels like. #WritingPrompts is the solution you’ve been looking for! Within the pages of #WritingPrompts, you will find over 700 writing prompts that you can use in order or at random, the choice is yours. Jump-Start Your Creativity with over 700 Unique Writing Prompts! Good writing takes time, practice, and unique ideas. Why not jump-start your imagination with these unique writing prompts and watch as you find your voice and become a more confident writer in just one year.
What books have you added to your May 2020 reading list? Comment below and let me know!
L.E. Wilson writes Paranormal Romance starring intense alpha males and the women who are fearless enough to tame them—for the most part anyway. 😉 In her novels you’ll find smoking hot scenes, a touch of suspense, a bit of gore, and multifaceted characters, all working together to combine her lifelong obsession with the paranormal and her love of romance.
Her writing career came about the usual way: on a dare from her loving husband. Little did they know just one casual suggestion would open a box of worms (or words as the case may be) that would forever change their lives.
Lattes and music are a necessary part of her writing process, and sometimes you’ll find her typing away at her favorite Starbucks. She walks two miles to get there, to make up for all of those coffees.
A vampire needs his mate to survive, but can he protect her from the most dangerous threat of all? Himself.
Nikulas Kreek has been searching for his brother for seven long years. Now, with the first lead he’s had in a long time, he discovers a witch went missing a few weeks before it happened. Coincidence? No way. Even better, the witch has a sister who might have more information. And that sister is hot. Like model hot. Nikulas knows as soon as he sets eyes on her strawberry-blond head he should stay far away. But the moment he tastes her, he realizes it’s too late. She has bewitched him.
Emma Moss still has nightmares about the night her sister was kidnapped, but she refuses to give up hope. So, when a seductive stranger calls claiming to have a new lead, she doesn’t hesitate to meet him. He seems harmless enough with his teasing manner and Hollywood pretty-boy looks. However, she can sense something more—a predatory air of danger that should warn her away. But her sister’s life is at stake. And she has no other leads. So, she agrees to go with him.
Bound together by their shared cause, tormented by their fated attraction, they set out to hunt down their siblings
For seven long years, Master Vampire Luukas Kreek has vowed to take revenge on the raven-haired witch that has taken his power—and his sanity. The witch with the face of an angel. Emaciated and weak, he desperately tries to hold on long enough to get his revenge. But with one taste of her blood, a single word bursts through his fragile psyche…MINE.
A witch bound by love.
Keira Moss has spent the last seven years trying to figure out a way to get herself out of this hellhole—and to save the strong-willed vampire she’s grown to admire—and love—while she’s at it. But she’s afraid not even a witch as powerful as she will be able to get out of this one. For she knows that the vampire who holds her heart will kill her the moment he is free. And she won’t stop him.
Tortured and starved, Luukas’s hunger for Keira wars with his lust for vengeance. His shattered mind must choose: to kill the witch or to love the angel—making her HIS, forever.
Sacrifices had to be made for the greater, bloody good.
At least that’s what vampire Aiden Sinclair kept telling himself when he woke up in an unfamiliar city with no memory of how he’d gotten there, or why. When he happens upon a cheeky witch in distress who’s being hunted by beasts he is all too familiar with, Aiden must make a choice: Suppress his fears and be with the girl, or embrace the truth and save them all.
Destinies will be fulfilled.
Grace Moss may be a witch, but her magic totally sucks. Hence the reason she finds herself saying yes to an unexpected offer of aid from a dusty, yet yummy-smelling, vampire. With a sexy British accent and bright grey eyes that dance with mischief, his touch makes her blood sing. Yet, something about him makes her skin crawl, and it’s not just the fact he has fangs.
To survive, Aiden will have to trust that her love will be enough to save him, and Grace will have to accept him as he is – into her heart, and into her arms.
Vampire Christian Moore has spent his entire life, both human and immortal, fighting for the respect of his peers. He has codes he lives by. Strict moral codes, both in his personal life and his work. And he doesn’t break them. Ever. Until he finds himself at the carnal mercy of a woman with eyes like the midday sky and hair the colors of a summer sunset. His craving for her is unnatural, and watching her dance makes his blood burn like acid in his veins. But he can’t not watch her.
When she was fifteen, Ryan Moss lost her mind. Or, at least that’s what the voices in her head would have her believe. On the streets of Tijuana, she finds something that makes the voices go away. To get it, she’s ashamed to admit, she’ll do just about anything, even strip for a man she can’t see or hear. However, she can sense his raging need for her through the haze of her high, and her body responds with a voracious hunger of its own.
Christian can make the voices go away, and he wants Ryan to be his. But first, he will have to learn to trust her, and she him. Both of their lives depend on it.
WARNING: This novel contains content that may be a trigger for some, including, but not limited to, drug addiction and scenes of violence.
Her blood saves his life. Her embrace slays his soul.
Dante Gabor has survived many things since becoming a vampire, but jumping from a plane and crash landing in the desert without a parachute was pushing it, even for him. To survive the relentless sun, he buries his broken body in its own sandy grave. But healing is painfully slow, and he’s forced to rise and hunt for larger prey. Half mad with thirst, he’s brought to his knees by the seductive taste of a lone female whose sweet blood heals his body, but leaves him craving still more.
MINE.
Laney Moss loves the Mojave desert that surrounds her home and hikes the upper trails often, prepared for anything she might run across. But nothing prepared her for the monster that comes with the setting sun to stalk her. In the moments before he attacks, one word crashes through her terrified mind—Vampire. She manages to get away, but he tracks the call of her blood and ignites a passion in her that frightens her nearly as much as it thrills her.
Dante is left with no choice but to take her home to his secret lair. Now he just needs to convince her to stay.
Happy to be back in Seattle, Shea Bennet wants nothing more than to forget about the enigmatic warlock who saved her from a fate worse than death. But his topaz eyes haunt her, and his wicked scent makes her crave something she will never be able to have, something more than his blood — his touch. Though she feels his presence everywhere she goes, she is taken off guard when he suddenly appears to disrupt her hunt. Shea finds the tables have turned, and it is she who is the prey.
A warlock determined to break the curse.
Ever since he released her from his mountain home, Jesse Moss finds he’s possessed with the memory of a vampire he feels compelled to protect for reasons he can’t explain. Night after night, he lies wrapped in her scent, her whiskey voice invading his dreams, and for the first time in his solitary life, he feels alone in the dark. Restless and worried, he tracks her to her home and offers her a deal, if she will only agree to spend some time with him. A deal he has no intention of keeping.
Shea’s cursed past won’t let her have him. His future insists she must.
Would you like a chance to win a $20 Amazon gift card with an Exclusive Swag Box? Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
I’m excited to be one of many hosts sharing information about the Deathless Night Series by L. E. Wilson. If you’re interested in reading these books, you can order them HERE!
Nina Soden 