Action, Romance, and Feel-Good Family...

Are all recipes Whimsical Publications has cooked up to keep you warm and happy this fall. Check out these great new releases!


 

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Falling in love was the last thing on Marcie’s mind when she came to Milan from Philadelphia and got a great job in an international company—where a charming Italian named Roberto happens to be her closest coworker.

When Roberto tells her about his unhappy love affair with another woman, Marcie is deeply moved—and at the same time realizes that she has fallen in love with him. Roberto seems to be falling in love with her too. But how could he even think of starting a love affair right after ending another one? He is bound by ties he can’t escape—a wife he doesn’t love and a seriously ill daughter he cares very much about. She wasn’t sure she wanted any part of such an ill-fated affair.

Marcie falls into a restless sleep burdened with this realization. She awakens the next morning in Roberto’s body. This has to be a dream, she thinks, until she goes to her office and collides with the real Roberto—who has just had a dream of waking up in her body. As even stranger events follow, Marcie begins to wonder, suppose they were really in each other’s bodies? Can forbidden love be that strong?


 

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 Everything in thirteen-year-old Tim McGrew’s life stinks. It was bad enough his dad left, but even worse, he must move to his grandparent’s remote ranch on Nowhere Mountain, leave his friends and school behind, and give up playing baseball.

He loves his whacky grandma and enjoyed summer visits at the ranch backpacking and horseback riding with his
grandpa. But now Grandpa is dead. And Tim and his dog, Tiny, are the only males in a house full of women. To top off his problems, Grandma adopts a wild burro from the Bureau of Land Management and expects him to train it.

Tim hopes it’s true that Grandpa’s ghostly vibes still linger around the ranch because he needs help taming the long-eared donkey with a noisy bray, and even more important, needs advice on how to get his parents back together. 



 

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It is December 2012 and the world is on edge about the foretold end of humankind. 12 follows multiple characters
through the Mayan prediction of the end of the world. While battling for their lives, these individuals come up against natural disasters of every kind. Go on a thrill ride with Peyton, a teenaged babysitter who suddenly finds herself protecting her charge amidst devastating tornadoes. Join college student Lily Singh while she struggles to survive earthquakes in a foreign country. Follow scientist Kyle Phelps as he discovers the local volcano is about to erupt and there is nothing he can do but try to outrun it. There’s even the tale of an entire nation sinking to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, taking along its inhabitants and possibly the American news crew sent to broadcast the events. Will humanity be able to persevere as it always has? Or will they slip silently into the night, returning earth to its original owner, Mother Nature?  

Great New Titles from Purple Sword!

 

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Author: Daphne Monet and Anastasia Rabiyah
Genre: Fantasy Erotic Romance
Length: Novella, 23001 words. 65 Pages PDF
Heat Level: Erotic
Warnings: Violence

Shauna wanted some time to herself to regain her sanity after almost making the biggest mistake of her life. Then she found Ewan wounded in the forest near her secluded cabin. He was different than any other man she’d ever met, his outdated chivalry the first clue that he was definitely not from her world. Despite the undeniable passion between them, he has to go back to his world to fulfill his duties and stop the Kelden invasion of his village. Shauna has to face her own problems in her world. But given the chance, will either give up their lives to be together, and which world will they choose?

 

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Author: Crymsyn Hart
Genre: Paranormal Erotic Romance
Length: Novella, 30394 words, 86  Pages PDF
Heat Level: Erotic
Warnings: Violence
Valerie dreams of a man who ties her up and pleasures her all night long. When she wakes, his soft caresses follow her.  All she wants is to sink back into her dreams and become his slave. 
Her sister, Niki conjures an evil djinn into their world. James and Valerie must stop the genie before it brings others of its kind into their world.
When her dream master offers a solution to defeat the djinn, Valerie is hard pressed not to take his proposition. If she does, will she be releasing the lesser of two evils?


 

Interview with Tex Leiko

We have author Tex Leiko here this week talking about himself and his writing! Drop a comment below to be eligible to win a free signed copy of his novel, Crimson Rain.

WR: Tell us a little bit about yourself. What do you write? Why?

T: I write science fiction because I love technology. I love the idea of exploring the stars and what the future holds. However, I tend to write about dystopian societies because it doesn’t take a genius to look around at the world and see that things are wrong and only getting worse. Anyhow, I have much hope for the future, however I write the way I envision worst case.

I also write fantasy, it is yet to be published (though my first work, Crimson Rain, has elements that border fantasy) Anyway, I also write fantasy because as a kid growing up I did nothing but nerd out on both pen and paper rpgs as well as just about everything that came out on PC. I loved the classics like Lord Of The Rings and a lot of R.A. Salvatore’s works.

Last but not least, I like to dabble in steam-punk and western themes. Mostly because I hate westerns in general. The wild west was a fun and interesting time, however most tales that I see/read of that era are utterly and completely boring! I don’t care enough to write a true western however I do like throwing those elements in to a story which is why steam-punk interests me greatly.

WR: If you could be any one of your characters, who would you choose?

T: I don’t know how to break this to you all… But I am already two of my characters, and in all reality I am all of them and they are all me. I’m happy with that, I wouldn’t want to be any of them because I have to be all of them.

WR: What is your creative process like? Do you need music to write? Silence?

           

T: It is always different, it just depends on what kind of scene I am working on. Sometimes I’m drinkin’ scotch and blasting music, everything from heavy-metal, to 40’s-50’s jazz to hardcore ambient techno. Other times, total silence, and on occasion, while having a full on conversation with my fiancée. Anyhow, my creative process is just me living and doing my thing, if you’re looking for any tips on inspiration all I’ve got to say is go live life, and imagine.

WR: What is a guilty pleasure of yours?

T: Katy Perry in a blue wig, Rebecca Black’s song “Friday” cus it makes me giggle, those frickin’ chewy ginger candies and lighting things on fire to watch them burn!

WR: What inspires you?

T: Life and just really…taking it in.

WR: What is one of your worst pet peeves?

T: Being late, or slow with anything. Or being incompetent! I am currently an amateur author and though I can’t go into great detail, with my current job I am constantly forced into working with people who don’t know how to do their frickin’ job and it is really frickin’ important that they do, but they don’t! *End rant*

WR: Describe what a perfect day would be for you.

T: Wake up, get laid, go rock climb, get laid again, have some scotch while twirling it in a glass and overlooking a cityscape, ride my bike down to a cruddy hole in the wall Vietnamese restaurant and get a huge bowl of Pho and some fresh spring rolls, take the scenic route through the park to get home, get laid, do some writing, get laid then go to sleep.

WR: If you could bring any fictional character to life, yours or anyone else’s, who would you pick?

T: Ares…from the Korean manga, Ares. That character is radical, though he is fictional (I know) he lived a life of loss. Loss of family, later the loss of his master and a total jerk cutting out one of his eyes and left bleeding with his mortal enemy taunting him to come and take his revenge…at this point he is eight years old.

           

Joins a group of mercenaries at like age twelve, makes a best friend…best friend is the king of an enemy country and he betrays your friendship but taking everything he learned about you and your country and uses it to wage war against you! WTF!!! But still, Ares just moves ahead. He finds the silver lining and doesn’t stop, never gives up, and in the end has a heart large enough to forgive some who don’t deserve it. Also he is a total badass who is always taking on fights in which he is outnumbered and typically wins hands down.

WR: If you could shape-shift, what animal would you turn into and why?

T: An arctic wolf. Man they’re beautiful.

WR: Where can we find you and your work around the web?

T: Well I have my own site, www.whoistex.com. There you will find updates and whatever. I will post teaser chapters to upcoming works and works that are out, maybe the occasional short story or poem, we will see. I’m new to the whole posting interweb materials and whatnot.

Also I have a facebook page, an author one and a personal one. Be sure to go and “like” me, that is if you like me.

Last but not least my publisher’s website, www.worldcastlepublishing.com.

Great Books to Start Your Week Off Right!

 

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How can four stranded children survive and get back home after finding themselves transported to an alien planet in a distant part of the galaxy?

Following a family tragedy, the Seekers children find themselves transported to a strange, alien world named Zantura, where a powerful, evil being named Sarin has either murdered or enslaved nearly everyone. The siblings must face and survive a series of seven deadly trials on the journey to find a long-lost ancient relic, which has the power to save Zantura from Sarin, and to send the children home.


 

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All Tess Knight wanted was a loan to purchase a car but what she got was pulled into the middle of a bank robbery. She's able to shield herself and hide in the shadows until she is able to eliminate the robbers one by one. During the attack, she's injured and has lost a lot of blood. The only one that Bradley feels can save her is Aaron since he is the strongest one. As she is being transported, they notice she has a mark on her and Mel, the Queen of Magic has to be contacted.

Nathaniel Tremont is hot on the trail of Brian Manchester for a string of bank robberies. He's an FBI agent and has been following him for several weeks now. With Brian now dead, all he wants to do is return to his home, but that isn't going to be the case for him. He's been chosen to give Tess blood and now there is a tie between them. He knows this is his mate but he doesn't want to accept it. All he wants to do is go home.

Things aren't so wonderful for Nathaniel and Tess in the beginning because she knows he doesn't want to be tied down. Can Nathaniel change his mind about her? What will happen to Tess once Nathaniel finds out what she really is? Is it something he wants to accept? With Shamus, her army and The Kiss will they be able to convince Tess of her fate? There will be many surprises along the way.

 

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 Gustov Stoneheart is an unlikely hero, a dwarf who’s magically torn from friends and family, thrown into a world where magic collides with steampunk. A prophecy predicts that he will bring down the human federation, and they hunt him with a passion. Hiding from them isn’t easy in the federation’s police-state, and Gustov must rethink his deep seated bigotry as orcs, elves, and his own changed kind aid him to make the prophecy come true.

 

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What’s the world to do when gold starts disappearing and the agents assigned to the case are turned into life-size lawn ornaments?

Send in Double O Fang Agent Pierce De Vein, and Shifter Intelligence Agent (SIA) Kitty Katt to investigate. Unhappy with their forced alliance, each loner must learn to work with a partner and stop trying to outdo one another long enough to solve the case. When the evidence points to an evil gnome and his army of rogue leprechauns, the agents infiltrate the organization in the forms of a bat and a cat.

Will their plan work, or will they end up sleeping with the daisies as a pair of garden decorations?

Stave Away Summer Boredom with These Great Titles!

 

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The Elven Chronicles: Revelation is the first in a six part series about the awakening, adventures, and scarifying threats to life and limb of a boy who doesn't in the beginning know he's an elf and what it portends. The enormity of his task would be difficult for any adult to bear, but Kai must not only bear up, he's also forced to fight fierce fantasy beings to reach his fantastic destiny, an existence for which only he is suited.


 

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Resilient and practical, Kara Barton has continually strived to live a respectable life. She went to college, embarked on a promising career as an attorney, married a great guy, and always appeared to be the perfect wife and mother. But all is not what it seems, and the troubling past Kara has been running from her entire life is about to catch up with her. Urged on by her insecurities about growing older, and desperately wanting to feel one more night of passion, Kara agrees to share a tryst in a hotel room with a sexy business associate, Scott Ellsworth. But Scott wants more than one night together, and Kara quickly discovers it is impossible to resist him. Soon Kara finds herself transformed into the kind of woman she vowed never to become, and the secure world she has struggled all her life to build begins to fall apart. Kara Barton is about to find out how a one-night stand can change everything.


   

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Darkness Falls is a frame novel, a story within a story. Primarily, it tells the story of one man, Robert Hendricks. We first meet him in 2179 onboard an alien star ship approaching Earth. He is the lone human on the ship and it will be the first time he sees his planet in over 150 years.

He has been away so long, in fact, that Hendricks has very little in the way of actual memories of his home. The only thing he knows for sure is that his feelings about going back are far from positive. This is a problem for his extra-terrestrial hosts, the Gulran. The Gulran have a growing interest in this sector of the galaxy and Earth is vital to their plan. With Hendricks as an ambassador the Gulrani High Arbitor, Gorak, thinks the mission has a good chance of success. Without the human's help, he's not so sure. In order to ensure a positive outcome - but also to help his troubled friend - Gorak hypnotizes Hendricks and, through his recollections, travels back with him to the Earth of 2026.

For Hendricks, the end begins with a total blackout of North America. It doesn't take long for him to learn that the line between order and chaos is as thin as a stream of electrons flowing down a copper wire.

 

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 They do exist and they always have. They live, love, and work amongst us and they are part of us. But they are different too, they are stronger and they live longer. They are the topic of many books, movies and myths, but their existence remains a secret, not everyone would accept them. And like us, they have those that are simply evil. Keeping these evil ones under control is the price they must pay to continue the lives they love. They must protect their human brethren from the Dark Ones, those that would rather kill than preserve.

Century after century the good battled the Dark Ones, always prevailing and preserving the lives of their beloved humans. In the 17th century, two powerful Dark leaders emerged, they organized their forces and a bitter war ensued. It was a fight to the death and the good thought they?d won. Four warriors led the battle, four warriors whose strength was beyond anything they knew, four warriors whose legacy had to be protected?

The good formed a consortium and with the help of a powerful sorcerer, a spell was cast; a spell that would follow the warriors? lineage in case their power was needed again. The warriors are long dead, but their heirs are not, and now they must fight. The Dark Ones have re-emerged, they are more powerful, more resourceful and they want to control mankind and the world.

Book 1

Clare had an ideal life. She lived in the perfect little town, had a great family and four of the best friends in the world. She also had nightmares, nightmares that plagued her for almost a decade. But these are not ordinary nightmares; they are premonitions, warnings of what is to come and what she will become.

She discovers that she isn?t alone in these vile dreams; her friends are having them too. They are dreaming of their ancestors and their own future... The discovery of their destiny and the future they must embrace is shocking and terrifying.


 

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Just when Margaret thought it was safe to get back into the dating game, she meets Cole. Sexy as hell with a magnetism she can’t fight, Margaret gives in to temptation and spends the night with him. It’s when she wakes up that her whole world is turned upside down.When Kevin discovers his sister, Gail, has been harmed, he rushes to her aid and finds her friend, Margaret, has also suffered the same fate as his sister. His inner tiger yearns to claim Margaret as his own, but also to defend his sister from the man who marked her for a tiger. Cole is their combined enemy and soon the claws will come out and the fur will fly.


   

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 Tired of the politics as well as the bureaucracy of his job, Lieutenant Brad Schrader is contemplating early retirement  and pursuit of another career, that of a mystery writer. His endeavors prove useless when he’s called upon to  investigate the murder of Melody Anselmo, a Radio City Music Hall Rockette. While searching for the killer, Brad becomes personally involved with the twin sister of the victim.

The story is based on Lieutenant Brad Schrader’s notes while working the case with his partner, Sergeant Detective Phil Barrecca. During the investigation, the pair discover something neither ever expected, something best left unsaid. They agree to let matters rest and not expose the killer even though they know the consequences of their actions could be disastrous.

To this date, the murder of Melody Anselmo is still on the books as a cold case in New York City.
 

Interview with Jeff LaFerney

We have author Jeff LaFerney here with us at Writer's Rendezvous this week talking about himself and his writing. Drop a comment below and you could win a free ebook of one of his titles!

Tell us a little bit about yourself. What do you write? Why?

I am a married father of two who teaches junior high English full time.  I write a series of suspense/mysteries about my two heroes with parapsychological abilities.

If you could be any one of your characters, who would you choose?

I would be Clay Thomas.  He’s a morally good man who wisely controls the use of his gifts and unselfishly uses them to help other people.

What is your creative process like? Do you need music to write? Silence?

I can write in practically any environment, but at my desk is the most comfortable with distractions closed off and music down low.

What is a guilty pleasure of yours?

I like popcorn with lots of salt and butter and Mountain Dew to wash it down.

What inspires you?

Smiles from others and words of encouragement inspire me.  I like to know that I’ve made others smile, but I also appreciate it when others lift me up too.

What is one of your worst pet peeves?

I really don’t like certain grammar errors:  Examples are “I seen it…it don’t matter…I’ll read them books…I don’t have none.”

Describe what a perfect day would be for you.

My perfect day would have to be 24 hours long without rest necessary so I could accomplish more than usual.  I’d read, write, play, laugh, watch a great movie, spend time with my closest friends, and spend some quiet time alone.  I’d eat my favorite foods, watch my son score 30 points, talk for a while with my daughter, and…

If you could bring any fictional character to life, yours or anyone else’s, who would you pick?

My favorite character of all time is Edward Pierce from Michael Crichton’s The Great Train Robbery, but he was actually not fictional, so I’d say Spenser from Robert B. Parker’s series.

If you could shape-shift, what animal would you turn into and why?

My vision of Heaven includes large, wild cats as pets, like lions, tigers, panthers, etc.  I want one.  Of those, I think I’d want to be a cheetah because they’re so fast.  :)

Where can we find you and your work around the web?

Author page on facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jeff-LaFerney/139308736084156

Webpage with links to my books:  http://jefflaferney.com/

Amazon page:  http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Jeff+LaFerney

Publishers website with links to purchase my books:  http://www.worldcastlepublishing.com/home.html

Check these titles out!

 

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Gordon Force only had two weeks to go on his job. He was going to be working with his brother Dallas in keeping their alpha safe. But he had a favor to fulfill, a shop to visit and only a question or two to ask. He never expected four kids, two goofy aunts and his mate to walk into his life.

Alexis Dark was hiding. Her brother-in-law was a real piece of work and she knew he'd killed his wife, her sister. But no one wanted to believe that he had done it. The marks on the body were too consistent with that of an animal not a human they'd told her. Well she knew better.

When Gordon went to her house to speak to her again she met him at her door smelling like soap, shampoo and oh so lovely sex.

She closed her eyes to the almost purr of his voice. It was hypnotic and the most soothing thing she'd ever heard in her life. When she found herself pressed against him she looked up into his eyes suddenly very afraid and very needy.

"Don't," she said as he lowered his head to hers. "Please, don't."

"Too late." He brushed his mouth over hers once then pulled back to look at her again. "Christ, it's you." This time when he took her mouth, it was to devour her.



 

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 Sydney was nothing if not direct. She was a captain in the military and had been sent on another assignment. Being in the Army was her life. She was one of Cain's sisters. On a fateful mission, Sin was injured and left for dead but it wasn't how the stars were aligned for her life to end. She had been shot 5 times on her right side, once in the right shoulder, and in her belly. The outcome didn't look good for her. Once recovered as best as she could be, she went to stay at one of Cain's and Alyssa's homes to decide what was left of her life and what she should do.

Payton Cooperider was a detective and a good one at that but someone wanted him dead and would do anything to make that happen. He'd been shot in the gut and was now waiting for the lights to go out on his life when he made a phone call for someone to come to his rescue. While in the hospital, plans were made between him and his mother for him to go to Ohio to recuperate. His mom's cousin, Thomas Miller had made arrangements for him to stay at one of Cain's homes to get well while an investigation was going on for his attempted murder.

After out running late at night, Sin stopped an intruder and managed to hurt her knee again. Back at the hospital she has her first encounter with her new roommate, Coop. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

But someone is still out to get Coop and Sydney has a high price over her head. How are they going to be tied into each other's lives? Will Coop still want Sydney when he finds out that she can't give him what he wants?

Join us in the third installment of the Waite family.

 

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 Kathryn Broussard has managed her life with dignity and an I know you have feelings, but I'm coming through anyway attitude. She exudes confidence and control over the land much as a reigning queen rules her court. Her main focus-Grace, her daughter. Although grown, Grace depends on her mother's razor sharp decision-making ability for everything. All is well in the land of dysfunctional mother-daughterhood until the unthinkable happens. Kathryn dies. With her mother now gone, Grace is forced to manage her own life for the first time. And Kathryn must find a way to maintain control of her daughter, even though unusual circumstances from the "Other Side" present a fair share of obstacles to overcome.

A mother's love, however dysfunctional, is a force to be reckoned with.

 

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The choices that you make today are the ones you will live with forever. As I drive through many different cemeteries you will hear the voices of those behind these stones. Some are old and worn while others are just beginning to fade as the memories of those teens whose names are on the stones. Bad Choices are made when teens become despondent, feel all alone, do not fit in or even just want to become popular at any cost to themselves or others. The ground is flat and filled with mold and mildew on some of the plots and stones while others are covered with moss. The newer graves that have just been dug have no bushes or grass as the occupants have just arrived and their graves have yet to settle. Get in the back seat of the limo and join the driver and find out just why each of these teens wound up behind the many different stones in the many different cemeteries you will be visiting. Bad Choices: we all make them but some are more costly than others. Open the door the driver is waiting and maybe you won't wind up as a face behind the stones.