I recently mentioned in an interview how precious readers are.
I’m an avid reader, art lover, and writer who writes because of what I read that readers love. Hmmm. I’m not sure what that means, but maybe you get the idea. Art through storytelling is a powerful thing. So, I can relate to how writers feel about this from all these perspectives.
Feedback from readers is honestly what the reward side of things is all about. Most of us write because we want people to enjoy our stories as much as we enjoy telling them.
I truly wish more readers would leave feedback. Reviews inform authors and readers alike and are invaluable in helping authors deliver better stories. I’ve recently experienced 1-star ratings with no words to back up that interesting viewpoint. I welcome all critical opinions. Tell me why the book deserves the lowest rating. Believe it or not, it helps me grow.
I’ve watched many Kindle Unlimited readers speed through all three of my books in as many days, so to me, that’s got to mean they enjoyed them. However, few leave ratings.
As for taking the time to write a review, those are rare precious gems. I’m sharing one of those Goodreads treasures here.
This is the week for romance, and The Starlight Chronicles is a great place to get some. Tigris Vetus is one year old at the end of the month, and I’ll be posting an Instagram Bookaversary giveaway next week!
Everyone at the Starlight thanks all their amazing visitors, too.
As do those from places a little more exotic…
Want to solve the anti-hero enigma of the swoony, ancient alien prince known as Aviel Enair, his three moons, and his planet, Anurash? Tigris Vetus delivers… while keeping you down to Earth with the roll-up-her-sleeves, no-nonsense Selena Aires as she concludes her journey.
The tale of a revolution against a corrupt government, set in an immersive fantasy world…
I love it when a writing friend launches a new book. And who doesn’t love a good revolution?
Check out this cover reveal for Together We Rise by Richie Billing.
Together We Rise is a new fantasy novella by Richie Billing about a people’s revolution against a corrupt government. It features an original soundtrack integrated into the story. It comes out on 22nd March, and you can find out more here.
You can also read the first chapter on Richie’s Patreon.
Description:
In the crumbling city of Pietalos, where corruption and poverty reign, the fires of revolution burn hotter each day. An oppressive government has bled its people dry for the benefit of the elite, but the citizens have had enough. Eight lives—each scarred by loss, betrayal, and violence—intertwine as they fight for their futures and that of the city.
Dhijs, a weary healer, joins forces with Tillia, a woman seeking both liberation for the people and personal revenge against her abusive husband. Captain Vaso. Zia, a factory worker turned reluctant leader, ignites the workers’ rebellion, transforming protest into full-blown revolution. In the shadows, the cynical drug pusher King is forced to rethink his loyalties as riots consume the streets, while his rebellious young messenger Mal feeds critical information to the revolutionaries.
Meanwhile, Kishto, a guard disillusioned by the brutality of his comrades, defects to the cause after witnessing a brutal act of violence against a woman and child. General Leo, a former war hero haunted by guilt, secretly aids the rebellion. And Mydela, a scarred yet skilled assassin, takes on the city’s ultimate enemy—Canterbury, who hides a dark secret as a member of a malevolent race that seeks to subjugate the people.
As Pietalos teeters on the edge of a new era, these eight individuals must fight for justice, revenge, and redemption. But in a city where violence and betrayal lurk behind every corner, will their efforts be enough to topple the corrupt regime?
Together We Rise is a political fantasy story of revolution, vengeance, and hope, where the fate of a city rests on the courage of those willing to defy the odds and reclaim their future.
So many fun sales this week. Keep scrolling for ways to shop. 😀
Happy New Year and thanks for your support!
Bears are supposed to live in the woods. Just not one who sends you to the moon.
Selena Aires
I promised my friend on his deathbed that I would find the place I was destined for. Neither of us had a clue what that meant, but searching for it after he’s gone helps me cope with my grief, and I pack up my art supplies and hit the highway. When I stop for gas in Quincy, Thomas is waiting for me—in spirit. So, I stay—and find my dream cottage with a studio and hiking trails out the back door, and a quaint old tavern called the Starlight with a cozy booth in the corner. I set out my sketchbook and pencils and get busy drawing faces—my way of getting to know people while I enjoy a beer.
It works. I’m making friends and filling my journal with the kind of diverse characters typical of a crossroads pub. But diversity doesn’t explain why the people coming to life on my pages are the stuff of fairytales. The most fascinating is Andras Johns, and I’m wondering more often whether the towering man who sets me on fire with one look is the prince in the story or the beast lurking in the woods.
Andras Johns
I’ve been the alpha of the North Star Pack for a long time. My policy? Never mix it up with a human. I can’t stand the idea of exposing a vulnerable species to the hazards of my job, and the hazards recently ramped up. But there’s a new face in town. A beautiful, human face. The first time Selena Aires gives me her smile, I smile back. It’s a mistake—and I know I’m done for, which is a problem because an alpha can’t break his own rules.
Meet a giant, smoking-hot cinnamon roll hero and a diminutive lovable kickass heroine in this paranormal romance with heart, medium spice, and a little bit of danger. *This is not a standalone.* The hazards and thrills ramp up in Book Two, Drago Incendium.
And there’s more. All five books by D. L. Lewellyn are $1.99 on Google Audio.Listen to this amazing example of Les Romances Des Trois.
Ursus Borealis and Les Romances des Trois are part of the #RomanceBookBlast on January 28!
Browse a 1000 romance books now and have a blast stuffing your eReaders.
For Apple Book Lovers, Click below for your free copy of Les Romances des Trois.
Three Novellas… Three enchanting settings and adventures… Three unlikely lovers finding each other along the way…
Experience sailing the Caribbean Ocean with a pirate captain and his mythical lovers in The Salty Pearl’s Reluctant Commander. How will Bastien Verdon deal with his superstitious crew and a vengeful god who wants what’s his? Next is Captured By the Hunted, a vampire hunter story that asks who is the hunted? Gedeon Kadar, a Scythian warrior turned vampire or a pair of mated dhampirs hunting vampires for the Oltalom Order?
Fate Sent Her Two immerses you in a contemporary farmhouse setting in coastal California. Maggie McConklin, a widow and well-known figurative painter, launches an ad for housemates to save her home. Adam and Greg answer the ad. Sparks fly the moment the gorgeous men step out of their classic Charger to find Maggie and her Blue Heeler, Sorcha, waiting on the porch.
As a bonus to this diverse collection of sweeping, deeply romantic ménage à trois fantasy stories, enjoy Pinpricks: An Adult Fairy Tale. In its anthology appearance in Magick & Mystery by Dragon Soul Press, one reviewer said: “Superfast start. Very interesting premise. An unexpected joy.” Find out where a prince and three witches end up in a tale about choices, discovery, and questionable happy-ever-afters.
Enjoy A 500-Word Micro Fiction – Environmental Drama – Writing Battle Challenge
The contest is over, awesome feedback received and analyzed. A few spots adjusted based on it. Here you go… I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it. 😊
A Noble Wind
Salty, moist air blanketed Libby’s face, teasing out hesitant tears as she stood on deck, clutching a familiar tattered backpack to her chest. A beam of sunlight pierced the fog and shined on the letter trembling in her hand as if encouraging her to read it again.
Dear Ms. Warner. We regret to inform you your father was lost with his party during a confrontation in the North Sea…
An image she carried around like a treasured childhood book bloomed along with her sorrow.
She was a little girl, snuggled under her pop’s arm as he crammed himself onto her tiny bed and read aloud tales of the great behemoths that once ruled the seas. By the time she was eight, her pop had gone through Moby Dick three times.
“Are you okay, Libby?” She blinked and focused on her new shipmate.
“I just need to sit a minute.”
“There’s a bench by the bulkhead,” he said as he gestured to the spot. She stared at it, still gripping the bag to her chest, and managed to get her legs moving. He followed her.
Libby sat and looked up to find the features of his face obscured by dewy sunlight. She tried to remember his name and thought it was Joe. His voice was kind. “This seems like a private moment, but I’ll be around welcoming our crew and can hop right back here if you need me.” Libby nodded her appreciation, and he scooted away.
She eyed the pack, brought it to her face, and breathed in her father’s scent before settling it on her lap. The canvas was embedded with soil from every continent, stained, and smooth from use, its edges frayed.
Libby wondered what it might tell her about her pop, but she was afraid to look inside.
She was on this ship getting ready to embark on her first mission to the Faroe Islands in part to learn about her pop’s life aboard vessels just like this. She’d followed eagerly in his footsteps, becoming an eco-warrior dedicated to Earth’s oceans and the life contained in them, which meant she understood her father’s dedication.
What she didn’t understand was why he stopped coming home two years ago, or if he had any idea what his disappearance had done to her.
Joining this crew had given her a vague hope she might cross his path on a campaign though she’d lost track of him years ago and knew her chances were slim. But the courier rushing to deliver the news and her pop’s effects before they sailed had dashed her dreams and any likelihood of getting answers.
She twisted the fastener and pried open the main compartment. Her breath hitched. Libby stared at a familiar object. Questions flooded her mind. With a trembling hand, she pulled out the plushy white whale she’d gripped to her chest every story, and through every word of Moby Dick.
It crinkled… and she froze. Could it be? She ran her thumb along a seam on its belly. It split to reveal a piece of paper, just like the ones her pop hid for her in those days before a mission. Libby didn’t notice the toy falling off her lap as she read her message through tears she could no longer hold back.
Were I the wind, I’d blow no more on such a wicked and miserable world… Yet tis a noble and heroic thing, the wind!
You, my feisty shadow, are nobler. I’m proud of you for answering the call. But take care or you will find yourself with a target on your back. That’s why I stayed away, though I’ve been watching… and waiting for our time.
I’m sorry it took so long, and that I had to resort to such a cruel trick to sneak back to you.
A big, calloused hand laid the whale in her lap, and a beloved voice spoke above her head. “Hello, little shadow. Only my daughter treasures that line from Melville as much as her wayward father.”
If you would like to support an independent author who loves to share her stories, this story along with an eclectic anthology of more fun tales is available for $1.99 at your favorite bookstore. Thank you!
You are getting the first official announcement of my new wraparound covers for The Starlight Chronicles, paranormal romance adventure!! Scroll to see how beautiful they will be on a bookshelf! Thank you for celebrating with me.
I am super excited to bring these pretty babies into the world. To celebrate all my eBOOKS and AUDIO books will be FREE or ON SALE this week, including Google Play Audio.
So many clever, eye-catching Insta posts sail through my fingers on any given day. I try to support as many bookish accounts as I can, especially for fellow indie authors. I’ve met some amazing writers this way and even interviewed a few of them. I’ve also enjoyed engaging with readers whose sincere joy is sharing a good book, a newly discovered author, or old favorites.
I never know when a completely new and unique opportunity might present itself and am always delighted when it happens.
Granted, I might have to carefully weed my way through the accounts trying to lure authors into paying for scam services, but it is worth it to find those who are truly dedicated to helping others enjoy a bookish experience. I recently collaborated with such a person, a fellow writer and avid reader residing in Belgium.
Chantal is opening a bookshop and has invited indie authors around the globe to supply it with books. She is also working with indie craft creators to provide bookish delights like stickers, bookmarks, candles, and anything else her customers will enjoy during a visit. But it’s more than just shopping. Chantal is offering indie book tour experiences.
That’s the lovely, unique idea that drew my interest. Check out her online shop and discover ways to relax in a magical forest of books in a little shop in Belgium. It struck my fancy to have my books end up there. Maybe one day, I’ll get to visit in person.
The weeklong sale is over and I can’t thank everyone enough for shining some love on my short story collection. You helped Priss Starwillow rise to No. 4 on the Amazon Best Sellers list in Short Stories and Anthologies, and it stayed in that spot all week!
The price is back to $1.99 (there are a few hours left if you hurry), but it’s also available on Kindle Unlimited, and other than the two feature stories, the rest are available right here should you wish to read them individually.
What you get all in one place… an eclectic bag of tales that offer sweet romance, a variety of fantasy and contemporary worlds, a dragon story involving a toddler guardian, an eternally tortured, bored Greek god, a cannibal comedy, finding your way to a lost world on a giant pineapple, a honeybee whodunit, a little historical fiction (you get the idea).
The birthday kid, Ursus Borealis, also made it to the No. 4 slot in magic romance ebooks, No. 12 in romance fantasy, and No. 25 in paranormal shifter romance! Drago Incendium was right behind it. While Tigris Vetus’s downloads didn’t rise to the same levels because it was discounted rather than free, it reached its best sales ever, and I was thrilled. Thanks to all of you who downloaded the entire series!
And a big thanks goes to our host Jessica Foerschler and all the participants in this quarter’s #RomanceBookBlast. Jessica even connected with Apple and BookBub and they featured the event in their marketplaces! BookBub also included it in their newsletter and posted it on TikTok. I was super thrilled and impressed. Thousands of new members joined the website to stay posted on upcoming events.
If you want to participate as an author in October’s blast, reach out to Jessica on Facebook by scanning the Facebook group QR code.
Read Ursus Borealis for free on Kindle Unlimited to begin your Starlight Chronicles paranormal romance adventure.
Bears are supposed to live in the woods. Just not one who sends you to the moon.
Selena Aires
I promised my friend on his deathbed that I would find the place I was destined for. Neither of us had a clue what that meant, but searching for it after he’s gone helps me cope with my grief, and I pack up my art supplies and hit the highway. When I stop for gas in Quincy, Thomas is waiting for me—in spirit. So, I stay—and find my dream cottage with a studio and hiking trails out the back door, and a quaint old tavern called the Starlight with a cozy booth in the corner. I set out my sketchbook and pencils and get busy drawing faces—my way of getting to know people while I enjoy a beer.
It works. I’m making friends and filling my journal with the kind of diverse characters typical of a crossroads pub. But diversity doesn’t explain why the people coming to life on my pages are the stuff of fairytales. The most fascinating is Andras Johns, and I’m wondering more often whether the towering man who sets me on fire with one look is the prince in the story or the beast lurking in the woods.
Andras Johns
I’ve been the alpha of the North Star Pack for a long time. My policy? Never mix it up with a human. I can’t stand the idea of exposing a vulnerable species to the hazards of my job, and the hazards recently ramped up. But there’s a new face in town. A beautiful, human face. The first time Selena Aires gives me her smile, I smile back. It’s a mistake—and I know I’m done for, which is a problem because an alpha can’t break his own rules.
Meet a giant, smoking-hot cinnamon roll hero and a diminutive lovable kickass heroine in this paranormal romance with heart, spice, and a nice bit of danger. *This is not a standalone.* The hazards and thrills ramp up in Book Two, Drago Incendium.
Bears really do live in the woods near my home… and in the neighborhoods… sometimes even our backyards.
By D. L. Lewellyn 