JOIN THE BOOKIE NOOKIE HOLIDAY PARTY BLOG TOUR
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Monday, October 28, 2013
RETRIBUTION by @CharlesRStubbs #Kindle #FREEBIE #Mystery #Thriller #Oct #ASMSG
What can happen when an ordinary member of the public’s mobile phone is hacked by the press?
by Charles R Stubbs
(2nd novel in the Travis #WebofDeceit mystery thriller series)
FREE NOW! 10/28/13 thru 11/01/13 [5 days]
Amazon US link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/
Amazon UK link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/
ADD to your Goodreads TBR: https://www.goodreads.com/
What can happen when an ordinary member of the public’s mobile phone is hacked?
A student has been murdered in North Wales and the press are hounding her landlord, Gareth Evans. Peter Gray, a reporter, sent up from London to cover the story, tries to protect his ex-colleague Gareth, but becomes embroiled in a murderous plot.
Craig Fletcher, a drugs runner, wants retribution. He plans to torture and kill James Ryan, the man he believes tried to have him killed six years ago and who is now running his former drugs empire in the north-east of England. Fletcher’s plot involves the abduction and murder of IT worker Travis Williams, whose disfigured body in a burnt out car will keep James Ryan’s men off the scent while Fletcher exacts his revenge.
But in its bid to be first with a ‘new angle’ on the murdered student case, a tabloid newspaper conflates the two stories and the result is confusion and chaos. As the body count rises and the journalists, the local police and Travis’s acquaintances, Nick Parker and Ann Butler, try to work out what is really happening, the race is on to find the location where innocent people are being held before more deaths are added to the list.
Their intense experience over three long days drives many involved to question some deeply held assumptions and re-examine their consciences. Ultimately, in various different ways, nearly everyone caught up in the media frenzy becomes a victim of press intrusion and phone hacking.
A student has been murdered in North Wales and the press are hounding her landlord, Gareth Evans. Peter Gray, a reporter, sent up from London to cover the story, tries to protect his ex-colleague Gareth, but becomes embroiled in a murderous plot.
Craig Fletcher, a drugs runner, wants retribution. He plans to torture and kill James Ryan, the man he believes tried to have him killed six years ago and who is now running his former drugs empire in the north-east of England. Fletcher’s plot involves the abduction and murder of IT worker Travis Williams, whose disfigured body in a burnt out car will keep James Ryan’s men off the scent while Fletcher exacts his revenge.
But in its bid to be first with a ‘new angle’ on the murdered student case, a tabloid newspaper conflates the two stories and the result is confusion and chaos. As the body count rises and the journalists, the local police and Travis’s acquaintances, Nick Parker and Ann Butler, try to work out what is really happening, the race is on to find the location where innocent people are being held before more deaths are added to the list.
Their intense experience over three long days drives many involved to question some deeply held assumptions and re-examine their consciences. Ultimately, in various different ways, nearly everyone caught up in the media frenzy becomes a victim of press intrusion and phone hacking.
Amazon US link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/
Amazon UK link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/
Current events:
On October 28th in the UK, a trial begins that will test whether senior newspaper people were aware of allegedly illegal activities that allegedly were carried out by members of their own staff and by private investigators (the so-called ‘dodgy PIs’). The alleged illegal activities include listening to other people’s mobile phone messages, using a technique that is now commonly referred to as ‘phone hacking’. The trial has come about as a result of an investigation by Lord Leveson, which found that the practice of phone hacking and other forms of press intrusion went far beyond celebrities, politicians and other people in the public eye. The most notorious instance was where a PI hacked into the mobile phone of a young schoolgirl, Milly Dowler, who was subsequently found murdered. The PI deleted some of the stored voicemail messages, which led the distraught parents to believe that their daughter was still alive.
Also, as a result of the Leveson enquiry, a new system of controlling the behaviour of the UK press is being instigated, which establishes a new oversight body under the terms of a ‘Royal Charter’. The press say (almost unanimously) that this politicises press regulation. The politicians (of all parties) say it is necessary, because previously when the press regulated itself this didn’t work, and innocent victims of press intrusion need protecting. There is an arcane ceremony taking place on October 30th, where members of the Privy Council stand before the Queen to kick off the establishment of this charter.
Author bio:
Charles R Stubbs has
earned his living by writing for more than 12 years. Previously a
senior executive in the UK telecommunications industry, since 2001 he
has crafted sales and marketing literature for major organisations -
some of them household names - enabling them to improve their business
performance.
Charles’s second book in the Travis #WebOfDeceit series involves the same group of characters five years later. In ‘Retribution’, the focus is on the activities of the UK press (some of them illegal) that came under the spotlight in the Leveson Inquiry. The novel shows how innocent people’s lives could be turned upside down by dubious media practices.
Charles R Stubbs’s blog at http://webofdeceit.org/blogs deals with issues relating to the media and their influence over our lives.
Charles lives in the UK in the Midlands. When not writing or working in his garden, he likes to go birdwatching. Charles has incorporated this hobby into his books. This does make the stories somewhat unique - along with the fact that the action takes place in North Wales!
You can follow Charles on Twitter: @charlesrstubbs, or search for hashtag: #webofdeceit.
Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Holiday Party Blog Tour ~ SIGN UP NOW! #Erotic #Romance #Giveaways #Tour #Oct #ASMSG
Become a Tour Host on the 2013 Holiday Blog Tour
The following authors are signed up for the tour. Each author will be featured on their assigned day and most will offer copies for review on a first come, first served basis. Bloggers will get a lot of exposure on this tour. The tour will be featured in 2 large goodreads groups with a combined membership of over 9,500 as well as Facebook, Twitter and the various author and blog websites - it is truly EPIC!
This Holiday Party Blog Tour will run in conjunction with the Annual Erotic Enchants Holiday Party Event, where we will be giving away over 1,500 books and prizes from over 125 different authors (this number continues to grow as we near our cutoff for new entries on 10/31/2013).
Participating in the tour will be super easy as I will provide the HTML code for all 18 posts, but you are welcome to edit the format of each post to suit your preferences. They DO NOT need to be top post!
Here are the "Rules":
- You must keep an active blog
- In addition to your blog, you must be active on at least 1 other social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads etc...
Here's the schedule:
| 11-Nov | Plausibility | by | Jettie Woodruff |
| 13-Nov | Everything Bared | by | Kristine Cayne |
| 15-Nov | This Love's Not for Sale | by | Ella Dominguez |
| 18-Nov | Blood Slave | by | Travis Luedke |
| 20-Nov | Holidays with the Walker Brothers | by | Nicole Edwards |
| 22-Nov | Riptide | by | Susan Hayes |
| 25-Nov | Temptation | by | K.M. Golland |
| 27-Nov | The Novice (Sexy as Hell, #1) | by | Harlem Dae |
| 29-Nov | Bishop's Angel | by | Tory Richards |
| 2-Dec | Claimed in Canada | by | Christine Edwards |
| 4-Dec | Falling From Disgrace | by | L, Maretta |
| 6-Dec | Layers Deep | by | Lacey Silks |
| 9-Dec | Hers To Cherish | by | Patricia A. Knight |
| 11-Dec | Switch | by | Janelle Stalder |
| 13-Dec | Siren Song | by | A.C.Warneke |
| 16-Dec | Stricken Desire | by | S.K Logsdon |
| 18-Dec | One Night Three Hearts | by | Adele Allaire |
| 20-Dec | Incidental contact | by | Eden Connor |
If you think you might be interested in participating, please fill out the information below and I will send you the sign up links:
Saturday, October 26, 2013
THE CLEARING ~ Classic Werewolf Horror #Paranormal #Baddassary #Oct #ASMSG
Tired of the same old werewolf-shifter slut-screws-the-wolf-pack cliche?
How about a refreshingly horrific take on the werewolf genre:
How about a refreshingly horrific take on the werewolf genre:
THE CLEARING
by THOMAS RYDDER
Genre: PARANORMAL THRILLER/URBAN FANTASY
Add to your Goodreads TBR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16280546-the-clearing
DESCRIPTION
After twenty years in the Marine Corps, Major Frank Cutlip comes home to
the quiet hills of his beloved Pennsylvania to take up a new life as
the sheriff of Allegheny County.
Professor Beth Lowe took up a post at Paxton University because she became enamored with western Pennsylvania’s charms, a more enduring love than she thought she would ever feel for a man.
When Beth’s dog is savaged by wolves, their peaceful lives are shattered, and their fates entwined. On the brink of death, the dog not only survives but grows larger… and more vicious. A thousand-year cycle of carnage is reaching its climax once more, and the peaceful wooded hills will soon be smeared with blood.
Sheriff Cutlip leads his community in a hunt for the hidden terror, but then his own brother is bitten, his blood corrupted by the ancient evil. The sheriff must confront terrible choices, and he can’t do so alone.
‘The Clearing’ — a novel of ordinary people thrown together in extraordinary circumstances.
REVIEW ★★★★★
Escaping his own personal tragedy of a divorce, Sheriff Cutlip has built an easy life in a sleepy Pennsylvania mountain county. He likes it that way, simple, uncomplicated, which is why he took the job.
All that changes in the span of a few weeks.
Beth Lowe lives out at the edge of the forest covered mountains, raising her niece as a daughter after the death of Beth's sister and husband. Beth's quiet existence is shattered by the presence of an ancient, monstrous evil.
Her dog has been attacked, and within hours, days, it begins to change into something large and vicious.
THE CLEARING harkens back to the good ole days of classic horror, where werewolves slaughter men who stand in their way. Something reminiscent of The Howling or American Werewolf in London.
You won't find any muscle-bound shifters dragging women off to the wolf pack gang-bang, but you will find a well written thriller with true-to-life characters facing horrific circumstances.
Professor Beth Lowe took up a post at Paxton University because she became enamored with western Pennsylvania’s charms, a more enduring love than she thought she would ever feel for a man.
When Beth’s dog is savaged by wolves, their peaceful lives are shattered, and their fates entwined. On the brink of death, the dog not only survives but grows larger… and more vicious. A thousand-year cycle of carnage is reaching its climax once more, and the peaceful wooded hills will soon be smeared with blood.
Sheriff Cutlip leads his community in a hunt for the hidden terror, but then his own brother is bitten, his blood corrupted by the ancient evil. The sheriff must confront terrible choices, and he can’t do so alone.
‘The Clearing’ — a novel of ordinary people thrown together in extraordinary circumstances.
REVIEW ★★★★★
Escaping his own personal tragedy of a divorce, Sheriff Cutlip has built an easy life in a sleepy Pennsylvania mountain county. He likes it that way, simple, uncomplicated, which is why he took the job.
All that changes in the span of a few weeks.
Beth Lowe lives out at the edge of the forest covered mountains, raising her niece as a daughter after the death of Beth's sister and husband. Beth's quiet existence is shattered by the presence of an ancient, monstrous evil.
Her dog has been attacked, and within hours, days, it begins to change into something large and vicious.
In the hunt for these elusive beasts in the forest, Sheriff Cutlip's brother is attacked, bitten severely.
What began as a simple threat to livestock, becomes an intensely personal battle for survival of their community.
THE CLEARING harkens back to the good ole days of classic horror, where werewolves slaughter men who stand in their way. Something reminiscent of The Howling or American Werewolf in London.
You won't find any muscle-bound shifters dragging women off to the wolf pack gang-bang, but you will find a well written thriller with true-to-life characters facing horrific circumstances.
ON SALE FOR $.99 RIGHT NOW
Thomas Rydder Bio
I
was born in 1957 in a small town in Western Pennsylvania that had - and
still has - one traffic light. There wasn't a whole lot to do there,
and we had few neighbors, so I learned to play quite a bit of
make-believe - soldiers, cowboys and Indians, that kind of thing. At the
same time, I loved to read and watch old movies. On Saturdays, my dad
played in a country western band, and I stayed up to wait for him. It
was during that stretch that I discovered the horror movie. You know the
ones I mean. Karloff, Chaney, Lee. The masters, right?
Fast forward 40 years. I'm now the project manager for a small civil engineering firm in picturesque Charleston, South Carolina with my lovely wife and four rescue pets, two dogs, two cats. Oh - and eight feral cats outside that put up with us because we give them two squares a day.
Anyway, since childhood, I've loved to create. I played trumpet, sang, even dabbled in genealogy. Nothing quite did it for me. Over the years, I'd composed quite a few term papers and theses (there are a few ex-teenagers in this world who owe their English grades to yours truly), and unfailingly earned an "A". My wife knew this, and one day just suggested that I try writing.
What the hey, I thought. So I sat down and found a writing site called Hubpages. Nice little site, and I started getting the basics of writing a little from some of the inhabitants. I wrote a short story, and everyone liked it. So, I wrote another one. Except it kept growing, and I kept getting more ideas, and it lengthened to 20 thousand words, then 30, then 40. By the time I sat back, I had the rough draft of my first novel, except back then it was called "Werewolves and Flapjacks". Somewhere along the way I decided to submit my work (now called "The Clearing) to three publishers. I was turned down twice, and miraculously was accepted by the gentleman who gently rules this site, Mr. Tim Taylor. And the rest, as they say, is history. By the way, you need to like Tim...he's a great guy, and I owe him much, which can never be repaid.
I now have a second book availabe - “Restless Souls: 3 dark fables” - an anthology (novella and two short stories) of ghost stories, and life is grand.
Even though I make wise cracks about all of it, this is all like living a dream - and I don't plan on waking up for a very long time.
Thomas Rydder - writer
Fast forward 40 years. I'm now the project manager for a small civil engineering firm in picturesque Charleston, South Carolina with my lovely wife and four rescue pets, two dogs, two cats. Oh - and eight feral cats outside that put up with us because we give them two squares a day.
Anyway, since childhood, I've loved to create. I played trumpet, sang, even dabbled in genealogy. Nothing quite did it for me. Over the years, I'd composed quite a few term papers and theses (there are a few ex-teenagers in this world who owe their English grades to yours truly), and unfailingly earned an "A". My wife knew this, and one day just suggested that I try writing.
What the hey, I thought. So I sat down and found a writing site called Hubpages. Nice little site, and I started getting the basics of writing a little from some of the inhabitants. I wrote a short story, and everyone liked it. So, I wrote another one. Except it kept growing, and I kept getting more ideas, and it lengthened to 20 thousand words, then 30, then 40. By the time I sat back, I had the rough draft of my first novel, except back then it was called "Werewolves and Flapjacks". Somewhere along the way I decided to submit my work (now called "The Clearing) to three publishers. I was turned down twice, and miraculously was accepted by the gentleman who gently rules this site, Mr. Tim Taylor. And the rest, as they say, is history. By the way, you need to like Tim...he's a great guy, and I owe him much, which can never be repaid.
I now have a second book availabe - “Restless Souls: 3 dark fables” - an anthology (novella and two short stories) of ghost stories, and life is grand.
Even though I make wise cracks about all of it, this is all like living a dream - and I don't plan on waking up for a very long time.
Thomas Rydder - writer
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/thomas.rydder
BLOG: http://thomasrydder.wordpress.com
GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6644323.Thomas_Rydder
PINTEREST: http://www.pinterest.com/thomasrydder/
TUMBLR: http://thomasrydder.tumblr.com/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/ThomasRydder
BLOG: http://thomasrydder.wordpress.com
GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6644323.Thomas_Rydder
PINTEREST: http://www.pinterest.com/thomasrydder/
TUMBLR: http://thomasrydder.tumblr.com/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/ThomasRydder
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
#Erotica #CensorshipSucks ~ BEWARE THE POWER OF THE LITERARY DARKNET ~ #Oct #ASMSG
Here's the latest headline in the world of disinformation, half truths, and sales pitches:
The Literary Darknet of Independent Publishing
What is a DARKNET? And what the hell does it have to do with erotica? Well, that's like asking "what is a separatist?"
Answer: Its a word used by those with an agenda, a dangerous sounding word to label things as BAD, EVIL, WICKED.
Now, the word of the day is DARKNET, reminiscent of wicked Darth Vader, who tells you he is your father, and you must join him in the literary DARKNET.
You don't know the power of the DARKNET!
Digital Book World, and the Book Genome Project, has likened-compared-associated self-published erotic/romantic fiction to the nasty underground DARKNET of illicit internet activity operating through highly secretive DARKNET websites that governments routinely hunt down, shut down and prosecute.
How does this have anything to do with self-published erotic/romantic fiction on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, or Kobo?
We are supposed to assume that somehow there's a connection.
Even though there is absolutely no evidence that self-published fiction has any connection with illicit DARKNET websites.
That is only the first of several misconceptions created by this editorial-sensational sales pitch.
The Book Genome Project (BGP) has purportedly analyzed gazillions of books across all genres in order to catalog content. Why? Because they want to sell their software-service to book retailers. The wake of the tabloid clickbait erotica scare, started by THE KERNEL in the UK, is the perfect platform for BGP to take the podium and sell the world their badly needed services.
Here's BGP's horrifying statistics of self-published erotica:
(This is a screen shot from the Digital Book World's blog post)
 |
| Beware the power of the piechart |
The problem with these jaw-dropping, shocking statistics, there are no sales numbers.
HERE'S THE DISCLAIMER found towards the bottom, hidden beneath all the neon-colored pie charts: (emphasis added by me)
"There are no sales numbers in this data. As with any long tail, it’s likely irrelevant how many books on a topic are available compared to how many people are reading them. After all, does it matter that there is really objectionable content in the long tail of the book market if no one ever sees or purchases it? As a percentage of sales volume, they could be virtually invisible."
"There are no sales numbers in this data. As with any long tail, it’s likely irrelevant how many books on a topic are available compared to how many people are reading them. After all, does it matter that there is really objectionable content in the long tail of the book market if no one ever sees or purchases it? As a percentage of sales volume, they could be virtually invisible."
 |
| THE DARKNET DOES NOT LIKE BEING INVISIBLE! |
So, all this data, all these bright neon charts, all the worldwide media scare, all this worldwide book banning and ridiculous posturing, is for books that could be virtually invisible. Books that no one ever sees or purchases.
Thanks to sensationalist clickbait tabloids filled with misdirection and derogatory lies, ALL SELF-PUBLISHED EROTICA is now suspect, and a target for removal worldwide. I guess the DARKNET will be relegated to Young Adult fiction in the near future....
Thanks to sensationalist clickbait tabloids filled with misdirection and derogatory lies, ALL SELF-PUBLISHED EROTICA is now suspect, and a target for removal worldwide. I guess the DARKNET will be relegated to Young Adult fiction in the near future....
Sunday, October 20, 2013
RESTLESS SOULS: 3 Dark Fables #New #Paranormal #Baddassary by @ThomasRydder #Oct #ASMSG
New Release by THOMAS RYDDER
Genre: URBAN FANTASY ANTHOLOGY
Add it to your Goodreads TBR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18691544-restless-souls
Add it to your Goodreads TBR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18691544-restless-souls
1. "Do Unto Others" (short story) - Jeremy is a street hood, lawless and unchained. When he is wronged by a local businessman, it becomes his mission to seek revenge. But his new enemy has friends - ones that don't take kindly to intruders.
2. "Colors" (short story) - Harrison Street. attorney, biker wannabe, coward. When he finds the bike of his dreams, it seems too good to be true. It is.
3. "Simona Says" (novella) - Simona has had it rough. Death, disenchantment, and disappointment are all part of her life. She wants to be happy for a change, and she's willing to do just about anything to find some. Anything.
-----------------------------------*-----------------------------------
by THOMAS RYDDER
Genre: PARANORMAL THRILLER/URBAN FANTASY
Add to your Goodreads TBR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16280546-the-clearing
After twenty years in the Marine Corps, Major Frank Cutlip comes home to
the quiet hills of his beloved Pennsylvania to take up a new life as
the sheriff of Allegheny County.
Professor Beth Lowe took up a post at Paxton University because she became enamored with western Pennsylvania’s charms, a more enduring love than she thought she would ever feel for a man.
When Beth’s dog is savaged by wolves, their peaceful lives are shattered, and their fates entwined. On the brink of death, the dog not only survives but grows larger… and more vicious. A thousand-year cycle of carnage is reaching its climax once more, and the peaceful wooded hills will soon be smeared with blood.
Sheriff Cutlip leads his community in a hunt for the hidden terror, but then his own brother is bitten, his blood corrupted by the ancient evil. The sheriff must confront terrible choices, and he can’t do so alone.
‘The Clearing’ — a novel of ordinary people thrown together in extraordinary circumstances.
Professor Beth Lowe took up a post at Paxton University because she became enamored with western Pennsylvania’s charms, a more enduring love than she thought she would ever feel for a man.
When Beth’s dog is savaged by wolves, their peaceful lives are shattered, and their fates entwined. On the brink of death, the dog not only survives but grows larger… and more vicious. A thousand-year cycle of carnage is reaching its climax once more, and the peaceful wooded hills will soon be smeared with blood.
Sheriff Cutlip leads his community in a hunt for the hidden terror, but then his own brother is bitten, his blood corrupted by the ancient evil. The sheriff must confront terrible choices, and he can’t do so alone.
‘The Clearing’ — a novel of ordinary people thrown together in extraordinary circumstances.
Bio
I was born in 1957 in a small town in Western Pennsylvania that had - and still has - one traffic light. There wasn't a whole lot to do there, and we had few neighbors, so I learned to play quite a bit of make-believe - soldiers, cowboys and Indians, that kind of thing. At the same time, I loved to read and watch old movies. On Saturdays, my dad played in a country western band, and I stayed up to wait for him. It was during that stretch that I discovered the horror movie. You know the ones I mean. Karloff, Chaney, Lee. The masters, right?
Fast forward 40 years. I'm now the project manager for a small civil engineering firm in picturesque Charleston, South Carolina with my lovely wife and four rescue pets, two dogs, two cats. Oh - and eight feral cats outside that put up with us because we give them two squares a day.
Anyway, since childhood, I've loved to create. I played trumpet, sang, even dabbled in genealogy. Nothing quite did it for me. Over the years, I'd composed quite a few term papers and theses (there are a few ex-teenagers in this world who owe their English grades to yours truly), and unfailingly earned an "A". My wife knew this, and one day just suggested that I try writing.
What the hey, I thought. So I sat down and found a writing site called Hubpages. Nice little site, and I started getting the basics of writing a little from some of the inhabitants. I wrote a short story, and everyone liked it. So, I wrote another one. Except it kept growing, and I kept getting more ideas, and it lengthened to 20 thousand words, then 30, then 40. By the time I sat back, I had the rough draft of my first novel, except back then it was called "Werewolves and Flapjacks". Somewhere along the way I decided to submit my work (now called "The Clearing) to three publishers. I was turned down twice, and miraculously was accepted by the gentleman who gently rules this site, Mr. Tim Taylor. And the rest, as they say, is history. By the way, you need to like Tim...he's a great guy, and I owe him much, which can never be repaid.
I now have a second book availabe - “Restless Souls: 3 dark fables” - an anthology (novella and two short stories) of ghost stories, and life is grand.
Even though I make wise cracks about all of it, this is all like living a dream - and I don't plan on waking up for a very long time.
Thomas Rydder - writer
Fast forward 40 years. I'm now the project manager for a small civil engineering firm in picturesque Charleston, South Carolina with my lovely wife and four rescue pets, two dogs, two cats. Oh - and eight feral cats outside that put up with us because we give them two squares a day.
Anyway, since childhood, I've loved to create. I played trumpet, sang, even dabbled in genealogy. Nothing quite did it for me. Over the years, I'd composed quite a few term papers and theses (there are a few ex-teenagers in this world who owe their English grades to yours truly), and unfailingly earned an "A". My wife knew this, and one day just suggested that I try writing.
What the hey, I thought. So I sat down and found a writing site called Hubpages. Nice little site, and I started getting the basics of writing a little from some of the inhabitants. I wrote a short story, and everyone liked it. So, I wrote another one. Except it kept growing, and I kept getting more ideas, and it lengthened to 20 thousand words, then 30, then 40. By the time I sat back, I had the rough draft of my first novel, except back then it was called "Werewolves and Flapjacks". Somewhere along the way I decided to submit my work (now called "The Clearing) to three publishers. I was turned down twice, and miraculously was accepted by the gentleman who gently rules this site, Mr. Tim Taylor. And the rest, as they say, is history. By the way, you need to like Tim...he's a great guy, and I owe him much, which can never be repaid.
I now have a second book availabe - “Restless Souls: 3 dark fables” - an anthology (novella and two short stories) of ghost stories, and life is grand.
Even though I make wise cracks about all of it, this is all like living a dream - and I don't plan on waking up for a very long time.
Thomas Rydder - writer
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/thomas.rydder
BLOG: http://thomasrydder.wordpress.com
GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6644323.Thomas_Rydder
PINTEREST: http://www.pinterest.com/thomasrydder/
TUMBLR: http://thomasrydder.tumblr.com/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/ThomasRydder
BLOG: http://thomasrydder.wordpress.com
GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6644323.Thomas_Rydder
PINTEREST: http://www.pinterest.com/thomasrydder/
TUMBLR: http://thomasrydder.tumblr.com/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/ThomasRydder
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Self-Published Erotica Removed! But 50 SHADES is Still There #Erotica #CensorshipSucks #Oct #ASMSG
So, while Joe Garde asserts that online booksellers are increasingly afraid of selling erotica, they are still doing a brisk trade in TRADITIONALLY PUBLISHED erotica, without all those pesky self-published titles mucking up the pages and stealing market share.
How very convenient for major publishers.
One might start to wonder what resources might lie behind this Machiavellian movement to scour the shelves of self-published erotica. Logically, to analyze a situation like this, you would look at who stands to benefit most from this act. Follow the money trail.
Though I may seem to imply people have a right to publish erotic content, that right doesn't exist. But can online booksellers legally ban one group of people from publishing erotic content, while allowing another group?
I am no lawyer, but my eyes see discrimination, widespread discrimination.
ALL SELF PUBLISHED EROTICA IS BEING REMOVED IN THE UK, AND IN SOME CASES, THE USA, BY AT LEAST TWO RETAILERS.
You can sit around and quote laws and whip out legal dictionaries and whatever. None of that changes the plain truth that self-published erotica is being discriminated against, and this is probably only the beginning. Will other retailers follow suit?
Is this a form of discrimination that can be sued for? Probably not.
But it should be.
Is this a form of discrimination against one’s rights? Not exactly, no.
But its still discrimination.
I see no debate over the fact this is a form of discrimination. The debate is, what the hell can and should be done about it, if anything?
Is it time for an Erotic Author-Publishers Union? Could Author-Publishers create a united front, and start amassing clout and leverage in the world of publishing and distribution?
I know quite a few erotic authors, and I can say from experience, organizing them is like trying to herd cats (sweet, lovable, affectionate cats – nothing derogatory here).
And though my own books are classified as paranormal romance and paranormal thriller, I can't help but wonder what is an Author-Publisher to do when their books are removed from retail sale, their livelihoods deleted from servers?
How very convenient for major publishers.
One might start to wonder what resources might lie behind this Machiavellian movement to scour the shelves of self-published erotica. Logically, to analyze a situation like this, you would look at who stands to benefit most from this act. Follow the money trail.
Though I may seem to imply people have a right to publish erotic content, that right doesn't exist. But can online booksellers legally ban one group of people from publishing erotic content, while allowing another group?
I am no lawyer, but my eyes see discrimination, widespread discrimination.
ALL SELF PUBLISHED EROTICA IS BEING REMOVED IN THE UK, AND IN SOME CASES, THE USA, BY AT LEAST TWO RETAILERS.
You can sit around and quote laws and whip out legal dictionaries and whatever. None of that changes the plain truth that self-published erotica is being discriminated against, and this is probably only the beginning. Will other retailers follow suit?
Is this a form of discrimination that can be sued for? Probably not.
But it should be.
Is this a form of discrimination against one’s rights? Not exactly, no.
But its still discrimination.
I see no debate over the fact this is a form of discrimination. The debate is, what the hell can and should be done about it, if anything?
Is it time for an Erotic Author-Publishers Union? Could Author-Publishers create a united front, and start amassing clout and leverage in the world of publishing and distribution?
I know quite a few erotic authors, and I can say from experience, organizing them is like trying to herd cats (sweet, lovable, affectionate cats – nothing derogatory here).
And though my own books are classified as paranormal romance and paranormal thriller, I can't help but wonder what is an Author-Publisher to do when their books are removed from retail sale, their livelihoods deleted from servers?
"Do not go gentle into that good night ... Rage, rage against the dying of the light." ~ Dylan Thomas
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
LOVE IS NEVER PAST TENSE by @NeverPastTense #Giveaway #Historic #Romance #Oct #ASMSG
by Janna Yeshanova
Second Edition Release & Giveaway
(Keep reading for giveaway details)
Second Edition Release & Giveaway
(Keep reading for giveaway details)
I am happy to announce the new edition of Love Is Never Past Tense with a new cover created by a very talented designer from Australia David Tonkin. The Kindle version is already available with other versions coming soon.
Add to your Goodreads TBR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18663929-love-is-never-past-tense
The Blurb
How could he possibly know that she, a complete stranger, would
inexplicably affect his life and be with him forever, whether she was at
his side or not? This epic story traces two lives across decades and
continents. Drawn together in Russia on a romantic Black Sea beach,
Serge and Janna fall headlong in love and rush into marriage.
Their divorce, months later, leads to years of "if only..." Pressured apart by family and fate, they repeatedly cross paths, never quite reconnecting, never quite letting go. Changes in the world and their careers cause them to surrender to external influences. Their destinies, shaped by post-Soviet political intrigue, collapse into a struggle for their very survival, and dreams of a better life.
He faces Soviet corruption and self doubt, his life falling toward disaster. She pushes out through Soviet bureaucracy, seeking America with $126 in her pocket, not knowing a soul.
Their distant memories of passionate love spawn emails and international calls, reviving an intimate, romantic connection to remind them—and us—that Love is Never Past Tense...
Their divorce, months later, leads to years of "if only..." Pressured apart by family and fate, they repeatedly cross paths, never quite reconnecting, never quite letting go. Changes in the world and their careers cause them to surrender to external influences. Their destinies, shaped by post-Soviet political intrigue, collapse into a struggle for their very survival, and dreams of a better life.
He faces Soviet corruption and self doubt, his life falling toward disaster. She pushes out through Soviet bureaucracy, seeking America with $126 in her pocket, not knowing a soul.
Their distant memories of passionate love spawn emails and international calls, reviving an intimate, romantic connection to remind them—and us—that Love is Never Past Tense...
See what fans have to say:
★★★★★ "Love, clashes of passion, crisis and joy leap out the pages of Janna Yeshanova's Russian romance."
★★★★★ "If serious romance, tense drama in exotic locations, and world events shifting individual destiny sound good to you, put this book on your list."
★★★★★ "Passion turns to love and a quick marriage is torn apart, first by family, then by political events and social pressures. This story is written on an international stage, leaving the lovers the challenge of reconnecting across both years and borders. A real page turner!"
I am also happy to announce that October 16 and 17 we are having an author's Q&A session on the Goodreads group Romance Readers Reading Challenges. Discussion: Ask An Author, Win A Book Corner.
I'll be giving away ebooks and answering questions for some of the groups 7,000+ members.
This is the way the group describes itself:
If you love to read romance novels, or just read, and you like reading challenges, come and join this group. If you look at your TBR list and don't know which book to start with, worry no more. We will give you a reason to. We have a variety of reading challenges, monthly book recommendations, buddy reads, book-and non-book-related discussions, author interviews/giveaways and plenty of fun and games to keep you entertain while hanging out with a bunch of people that love to read and talk about books. Happy Reading!
If this sounds like fun to you, the group will be happy to have you join. I'd love to see you visit while I am answering questions.
Please join us at https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1515034-ac-janna-yeshanova-of-love-is-never-past-tense-oct-16-17
Looking forward to talking with you soon! :)
Janna Yeshanova
About the Author
Originally from the former Soviet Union, Janna Yeshanova escaped to the United States when persecution became violent during the crumbling of the Soviet state. Arriving in the United States with her mother and daughter in tow, $126 in her pocket, and knowing not a soul, Janna’s talent and experiences have helped her become a high-end organizational training and development professional. Her exodus story is included in the book. Founder and principal of Life-Spark, LLC, Janna is a dynamic and powerful life coach, premier trainer and motivational speaker. She leverages her passion and engaging style to help others overcome adversity and spark the possibilities of their lives.
Web Page: http://www.loveisneverpasttense.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loveisneverpasttense
Twitter: @NeverPastTense
Goodreads (book): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18663929-love-is-never-past-tense
Goodreads (author): http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5872743.Janna_Yeshanova
Ask David: http://askdavid.com/reviews/book/historical-romance/5639
Blog: http://jannayeshanova.wordpress.com
Book trailer (old): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jkQ8zlkqNI
Book trailer: (new): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quPSNk7EnoA
Personal Social Media
Twitter: @jannayeshanova
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janna.yeshanova
RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
Monday, October 14, 2013
WAR OF THE WILDLANDS by LANA AXE #CoverReveal #Fantasy #HighFantasy #Elves #Oct #ASMSG
War of the Wildlands
by Lana Axe
Epic Fantasy
Add to your Goodreads TBR: https://www.goodreads.
Blurb:
Unrelenting war between humans and elves threatens to destroy the forest forever.
A tyrant king has declared war on the elves and will stop at nothing to see them annihilated. Despite fighting savagely to defend their homes, the elves are outmatched by vicious attacks from highly skilled battle mages. The elven clans must join forces to have any chance of survival against the ruthless king’s army.
Meanwhile, a young half-elf is forced from the human world he has always known and travels into the Wildlands to seek out his elven kin. Along the way, he learns to draw on the magic within himself to craft weapons of tremendous power. When war arrives on his doorstep, he must choose whether to stand with the family he has always known or the elves who share his blood.
War of the Wildlands, the second novel to be released in the Tales from Nol'Deron series, features cover art by Michael Gauss. War of the Wildlands will be available for purchase on November 18, 2013.
Unrelenting war between humans and elves threatens to destroy the forest forever.
A tyrant king has declared war on the elves and will stop at nothing to see them annihilated. Despite fighting savagely to defend their homes, the elves are outmatched by vicious attacks from highly skilled battle mages. The elven clans must join forces to have any chance of survival against the ruthless king’s army.
Meanwhile, a young half-elf is forced from the human world he has always known and travels into the Wildlands to seek out his elven kin. Along the way, he learns to draw on the magic within himself to craft weapons of tremendous power. When war arrives on his doorstep, he must choose whether to stand with the family he has always known or the elves who share his blood.
War of the Wildlands, the second novel to be released in the Tales from Nol'Deron series, features cover art by Michael Gauss. War of the Wildlands will be available for purchase on November 18, 2013.
About the Author:
Lana Axe lives in Missouri near the edge of the woods. She is inspired by her love of nature to write about elves, magic, and adventure. Growing up in Mark Twain's backyard inspired her love of fiction from an early age. She grew up an avid reader and went on to study literature in college.
After eight years of jotting notes and building a fantasy world, she has finally begun releasing novels in her Tales from Nōl'Deron series. They will feature many of the same characters, but each novel will stand alone.
After eight years of jotting notes and building a fantasy world, she has finally begun releasing novels in her Tales from Nōl'Deron series. They will feature many of the same characters, but each novel will stand alone.
Website: http://lana-axe.com/
Saturday, October 12, 2013
RELEASE PROMO ~$.99~ THE SHEPHERD by TW Luedke #YoungAdult #Paranormal #YA #Oct #ASMSG
★OFFICIAL RELEASE PROMO★
OCT. 12 - 19 $.99
by T W Luedke (Travis Luedke)
The Mustread YA Paranormal Thriller of 2013
˃˃˃ "I could not put this book down. All I keep thinking about is what could possibly happen next. I felt as if I was back in high school with them!"
Add The Shepherd to your Goodreads TBR: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6517376.Travis_Luedke
Skate punks, kleptomaniacs, clairvoyant visions and reincarnation...
...THE SHEPHERD is unlike any other Young Adult novel you have ever read.
Mike Evans here. Sixteen year old skate punk squatting in a white-trash trailer park with my loser drunk Dad. Seems I lost most of my friends when Dad lost our home in foreclosure. Only Anita stuck by me. Worse, I keep having strange clairvoyant visions of things that always come true.
Then I almost ran over Nadia in my Geo. A passing truck finished the job – left a crumpled heap of skin and bone on the road. I fixed her. Me.
Now this fourteen year old girl won’t leave me alone. I sorta let her sneak in my window when she needs a place to crash.
I have a double life: daytime at school, Anita, skating, and then my nights with Nadia. She's my secret friend, gives me money and listens to my problems when nobody else will.
My world is spinning out of control. Old friends have turned enemy, my grisly visions of death won’t quit, and Anita’s intentions make my head spin. Even with all that, I’ve got bigger stuff to worry about.
Nadia’s hiding something.
˃˃˃ "I could not put this book down. All I keep thinking about is what could possibly happen next. I felt as if I was back in high school with them!"
˃˃˃ "It's almost a love triangle of epic proportions or so you think....Travis blew me away with this book, I never saw what was coming."
˃˃˃ "Amazing, I loved Mike and Anita. The characters that I didn't feel could redeem themselves did in ways I never thought possible. I loved the ending and so not what I thought would happen. I love the element of surprise."
Sharp, witty, dark and gritty, The Shepherd is the must read YA paranormal thriller of 2013. Get your copy now!
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Vote ~ New Cover Art ~ NIGHTLIFE PARIS #Paranormal #Romance #Thriller #BDSM #Oct #ASMSG
Travis is back,
with another KICKASS cover art poll!
The Nightlife Paris needs a facelift.
Cast your vote!
Come join Michelle de Mornac on her wicked, pulse-pounding tale of survival in Paris during the WWII German occupation. You will never look at Paris the same way again.
“I was screaming at one point, crying, at another. It was an emotional roller coaster of a book.”
“This segment of Michelle and Aaron's tale is dark and graphic, but with mesmerizing descriptions and a morbidly compelling storyline, I felt this was the best of The Nightlife Series by far.”
“Decidedly darker and somewhat disturbing, THE NIGHTLIFE: PARIS takes the series for a turn towards the dark side and I loved every minute of it!”
Cast your vote!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amygdala Design was started in October 2012 by Norwegian Graphic
Designer Ida Jansson. The company specializes in Book Cover Design for
self-publishing authors (“indie authors”) and publishers. Amygdala
Design strive to offer the most professional designs and affordable
prices on the market. Pre-Made covers are available from $60, and
Custom-Made covers from $100. All book covers are available for ebooks
and printed books, and the technical specs can be fitted for
CreateSpace, Lulu etc.
If you'd like to hire Ida Janssen with http://www.amygdaladesign.net/ click here:
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Here's the sensationalized headline that rocked the UK and spawned a massive ban on self-published erotic ebooks:
Unless you've been hiding under a rock and have no clue about what's been taking place in the world of publishing, you have probably heard or seen news headlines like this:
Here's a somewhat slanted view of this highly editorialized-sensationalized media scare:
Now, it is interesting to look at the heated debates on The Digital Reader, mostly from Indies, Author-Publishers. And then take a look at Joe Garde's writeup, which raises all kinds of valid questions about the slippery slope of censorship, but completely misses the mark on other issues.
What isn't really clear is the fact that ALL SELF PUBLISHED EROTICA is now suspect, and a target for removal in the UK, and the US, regardless of whether or not it touches on taboo subject matter like incest or bestiality (that's what the scare was all about to begin with).
Well, if online booksellers are afraid of selling smut, and the issue is erotic content, which is what they targeted by removing ALL SELF-PUBLISHED erotic content, then why does WH Smith have all these books available from major publishers:
WH Smith still carries....
LOLITA
50 SHADES OF GREY
STORY OF O
An ENTIRE SECTION OF EROTICA
An ENTIRE SECTION OF EROTIC ROMANCE
There's not a single self-published title left in their website to compete with any of the hundreds of erotic fiction novels available from major publishing companies. That's quite a convenient boon to major publishers whose erotic fiction market was being steadily eroded away by a large number of popular self-published titles. I imagine they are very pleased to have all their competition removed, and just in time for the holiday internet book buying craze valued in HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
There's nothing remotely suspicious about that, is there?
According to The Guardian and Library Journal, major publishers are selling erotic fiction hand over fist, and scrambling to get long dead back-lists of erotica back into circulation.
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/aug/02/erotic-fiction-ebook-bestseller-chart-rowling
http://reviews.libraryjournal.com/2013/02/books/genre-fiction/erotica-full-frontal-shelving-genre-spotlight/
And Kobo claims, "We want to protect the reputation of self-publishing as a whole." The company moved lightning fast to accomodate WH Smith's demands for self-published erotica removal. ALL OF KOBO'S SELF-PUBLISHED EROTICA HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THEIR UK WEBSITE. It seems the only thing they have "protected" is their retail relationship with WH Smith.
But, Kobo UK still carries....
(Only people in the UK can see the Kobo UK site--so I have provided the screenshots)
50 SHADES OF GREY