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Tag: novel

2016 Holiday Giveaway Extravaganza – Day 7

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E.D. Martin's 2016 Holiday Giveaway Extravaganza!

You’ll be doin’ all right, with your Christmas of white, but I’ll have a blue, blue blue blue Christmas if someone doesn’t win one of today’s THREE prizes!

Every day from now until Christmas, I’ll be giving away copies of my books (digital AND print), Amazon gift cards, and book-related stuff. A new chance to win, every day!

December 1st: ebook of “Not My Thing” short story
December 2nd: ebook of “Tim and Sara” short story
December 3rd: $5 Amazon gift card
December 4th: signed paperback copy of The Futility of Loving a Soldier (available exclusively through this contest!)
December 5th: prize carried over from the 4th because no one entered that day. C’mon people – it’s free stuff!
December 6th: paperback of Shadow on the Wall by P.K. Tyler
December 7th: three ebook copies of my novel, Yours to Keep or Throw Aside

After her husband’s infidelities are revealed, Kasey Sanford just wants to rediscover who she is. After an abusive childhood and years as a career soldier, Andrew Adams just wants someone to tell him that he’s doing the right thing with his life. When their paths cross, Kasey and Andrew embark on a tumultuous journey that demonstrates just what they’re willing to do to save the ones they love.

Plus, each entry in the daily contests will be carried over to a big prize at the end (I haven’t decided what that will be yet, but it’s definitely something you want to win – more details coming soon)!

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2016 Holiday Giveaway Extravaganza – Day 6

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E.D. Martin's 2016 Holiday Giveaway Extravaganza!

Said the writer to all her readers, Do you want what I give? A book, a book, desperate for a home, and that home could be yours!

Every day from now until Christmas, I’ll be giving away copies of my books (digital AND print), Amazon gift cards, and book-related stuff. A new chance to win, every day!

December 1st: ebook of “Not My Thing” short story
December 2nd: ebook of “Tim and Sara” short story
December 3rd: $5 Amazon gift card
December 4th: signed paperback copy of The Futility of Loving a Soldier (available exclusively through this contest!)
December 5th: prize carried over from the 4th because no one entered that day. C’mon people – it’s free stuff!
December 6th: paperback of Shadow on the Wall by P.K. Tyler

Forced to witness the cruelty of the Morality Police in his home city of Elih, Turkey, Recai is called upon by the power of the desert to be the vehicle of change. Does he have the strength to answer Allah’s call or will his dark past and self-doubt stand in his way?

Pulling on his faith in Allah, the friendship of a Jewish father-figure and a deeply held belief that his people deserve better, Recai Osman must become The SandStorm.

In the tradition of magical realism books by Margaret Atwood and Salman Rushdie, Shadow on the Wall tackles issues of religion, gender, corruption and the basic human condition wrapped in a beautiful and challenging page-turner not to be missed.

Plus, each entry in the daily contests will be carried over to a big prize at the end (I haven’t decided what that will be yet, but it’s definitely something you want to win – more details coming soon)!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

New book release and sale! (kind of)

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yourstokeeporthrowasideThis week I released a new title – Yours to Keep or Throw Aside. It’s about a housewife whose husband cheats on her, and she has to decide whether to fix her marriage or get into a relationship with a cop who has a lot of problems of his own.

What’s that? This sounds familiar?

Yes, actually, it is. We’ve retitled and re-released my 2013 debut novel, The Lone Wolf. The cover is different, but the content is still the same.

It’s on sale this week at Amazon for only $.99. Make sure you get a copy if you haven’t read it yet!

 

Weekend Writing Warrior 8/23/15 #8Sunday

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LW coverI got home from vacation last Sunday after a week wandering through the Southeast and was hit with chaos during the work week. Everyone asks me how I can stand to work with high school kids, but really it’s those elementary kids that wear you out! I think I need another vacation back to the mountains.

My women’s fiction novel The Lone Wolf is set in Asheville, NC, near where I was traveling, so I’m pulling from it all month.

When Kasey’s marriage falls apart, she turns to Andrew, a soldier she just met, for help. But their friendship pulls up a past he’d rather avoid. Can Kasey save Andrew from himself while saving her marriage too?

In this scene, Andrew’s girlfriend, Lauren, is trying to convince him to move to Asheville with her, where she’s headed for a new job.

* * * * * * * * * *

“And who knows, maybe this’ll be a great opportunity for you too,” she asked. “Don’t you wanna see the world?”

“I’ve seen the world, and quite frankly, North Carolina doesn’t really count when I’ve been
all over Europe and the Middle East.”

“We could get a little cabin in the mountains,” she said as she came over and wrapped her arms around my neck, pressing her body close to mine. “We’d be all alone, able to do whatever we want, whenever we want. Just the birds and the bees watching.”

Smiling in spite of myself, I leaned in and kissed her. Lauren had a way of defusing our fights, of winning me over to her opinion.

* * * * * * * * * *

Post a link to your eight sentences blog entry, or join the fun at the Weekend Writing Warriors website.

Then pick up a copy of The Lone Wolf at Amazon, or the audiobook at Amazon, Audible, or iTunes.

Weekend Writing Warrior 8/2/15 #8Sunday

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LW coverHappy August! This month I’ll be posting from my debut women’s fiction novel, The Lone Wolf, which is on sale at Amazon for just $.99 this week.

When Kasey’s marriage falls apart, she turns to Andrew, a soldier she just met, for help. But their friendship pulls up a past he’d rather avoid. Can Kasey save Andrew from himself while saving her marriage too?

In this scene, Andrew is describing the first time he saw Kasey. He was at a bookstore cafe and she was looking in the window from the sidewalk.

* * * * * * * * * *

“So I saw her in front of the window, looking at a robot display they’d built.” I paused, smiling at the image of her, then continued, “And I looked at her, just kind of taking her all in. She looked down real quick, like she’d been caught doing something she shouldn’t. And then she looked back at me, just as quick, as if saying, ‘Screw it, I’ll do what I want.’ I realized at that moment she was real strong. She had this inner core of steel, but she was so easy to bruise before you got there.” My voice caught in my throat. “I didn’t mean to bruise her.”

* * * * * * * * * *

Post a link to your eight sentences blog entry, or join the fun at the Weekend Writing Warriors website.

Then pick up a $.99 Kindle copy of The Lone Wolf at Amazon, or the audiobook at Amazon, Audible, or iTunes.

Steampunk lighthouses and roadtripping for research

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lavendarstavkirke

Stavkirke on Washington Island

To celebrate making it through another semester of grad school (and especially for passing Intermediate Statistics), I rewarded myself with a roadtrip to one of my favorite spots, Washington Island, Wisconsin. It’s part of Door County and therefore gets hit pretty hard during tourism season, so it was nice to make it there a week before the craziness hit.

The island is accessible only by ferry. It’s small – 35 square miles – but wonderful for hiking or just watching the waves on the beaches. And eating, especially if you like fish, which is caught in the morning and served fresh for dinner.

Driving back, I decided to detour along Lake Michigan. It was out of the way, but I needed to head along the shoreline to find the lighthouse that’ll feature prominently in an upcoming novel, On the Other Side (working title). Unfortunately it was solid fog and I was unable to see any of the five lighthouses on my list. But the trip wasn’t entirely wasted – I was able to stop by Popeye’s in Milwaukee for dinner (the nearest Popeye’s to where I live is about 2 1/2 hours away).

On the Other Side will be a bit of a change from my other stuff. It’s a political thriller featuring a Victorian steampunk heroine, a modern-day Chicago architect, and an inventor in the vein of Nikola Tesla.

And a lighthouse, if I can ever find the right one.

Friday Five: Samyann

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Yesterday coverThis week’s Friday Five focus is on Samyann, author of historical and romance novels.

Samyann is a Chicago native. A lifelong fascination with the rich history of her city, coupled with an abiding curiosity about the intersection of past, present, and future, have led to the creation of a speculative masterpiece, Yesterday.

In modern day Chicago, deja vu draws together a handsome mounted policeman and the beautiful young woman who saves his life. A tender love story pulls the reader back to previous lives and a time richly elegant. Yesterday is also a harrowing tale of escape through the American Civil War and The Great Chicago Fire of 1871. In this historical romance, Mark fights through Amanda’s rejection to prove that she will love again as she once loved – Yesterday.

* * * * * * * * * * *

1. What author has influenced your writing style/subject the most and why?

In that my focus is historical fiction with a romantic twist, there are a few. Jude Devereaux, Nora Roberts, Nicholas Sparks, Doris Kearns Goodwin, John Jakes, Ludlum, Michener … too many to list. These are a few that trigger the imagination. I like stories that are historically accurate tales built around fictitious characters. It has always been a way to vicariously live through the character life. For example, in Yesterday, which has an American Civil War history factor, a Great Chicago Fire factor, I was always asking myself “What would I have done?” These types of authors have obviously done the same.

2. Thinking about the stuff you’ve written, who’s your favorite character and why?

My favorite character is one from a current work in progress. Her name is Melanie Benson and she’s in her late 50s. There is a ‘been-there-done-that’ toughness about Melanie, a sage wisdom that she is likely to volunteer at any time … even in inappropriate moments, and it is usually laced with a bit of her humorous outlook on life in general. She’s a favorite of mine simply because she’s fun to write and I sometimes speak vicariously through her. :-)

3. What do you want your readers to take away from your works?

My dream is for readers to close the book after the last chapter, stare at nothing in particular, and ask themselves, “What if…..”. I’d like readers to remember the story and characters, long after finishing the book.

4. If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

I’d like to have a genie that would grant my wishes. I’d think first, unlike Zeke. :-)

[ED’s note: Zeke is the main character in my upcoming novel, A Handful of Wishes.]

5. How much of your published writing is based on personal experiences?

Not much beyond character idiosyncrasies, mine or those of someone I know. My stories are based on reincarnation. I’ve never been there and been reborn to a new life.

Yet.

That I know of….

* * * * * * * * * * *

Yesterday – A Novel of Reincarnation is available via Amazon.com in Kindle and paperback format and Audible.com in audiobook format read by Darlene Allen. It is also available via Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Audiobooks.com, and Downpour.com.

Become a Friday Five author.

Weekend Writing Warriors 3/1/15 #8sunday

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lwcover300x446New month, new story. Because I just finished outlining its sequel (although I don’t have any free time to write it!), I’m pulling from my novel, The Lone Wolf, published by Evolved Publishing in December 2013.

After her husband’s infidelities are revealed, Kasey Sanford just wants to rediscover who she is. After an abusive childhood and years as a career soldier, Andrew Adams just wants someone to tell him that he’s doing the right thing with his life. When their paths cross, Kasey and Andrew embark on a tumultuous journey that demonstrates just what they’re willing to do to save the ones they love.

In this snippet, Andrew is enjoying some downtime during a tour in Iraq. While checking in on his unit he notices a bunch of guys gathered around a clothes-covered cot.

* * * * * * * * * * *

I walked over to the cot, looked down, and saw that what I’d mistaken for clothes was a sleeping soldier—Butch, a short skinny guy who was anything but. “Is that…Where the hell did you find yourself Saran wrap in the middle of a desert?”

“My girl sent it to me,” Reyes giggled. “Isn’t this awesome?”

They’d securely attached Butch to his cot with plastic wrap, and judging by its opaqueness, there had to be at least a dozen layers.

“Watch this,” Reyes said as he grabbed a bottle of water and poured it over Butch’s face.

Butch jerked his body up but the plastic held, and I had to admit, they’d done a great job. Butch’s sputters quickly changed to a profanity-laced tirade against his fellow soldiers, their mothers, and the US military in general.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Post a link to your eight sentences blog entry, or join the fun at the Weekend Writing Warriors website.

You can get a copy of The Lone Wolf at Amazon and Barnes and Noble, or the audiobook at Amazon, Audible, or iTunes.

Weekend Writing Warriors 9/28/14 #8sunday

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lwcover300x446For September, I’m going to pull from my novel, The Lone Wolf, which was released last fall.

After her husband’s infidelities are revealed, Kasey Sanford just wants to rediscover who she is. After an abusive childhood and years as a career soldier, Andrew Adams just wants someone to tell him that he’s doing the right thing with his life. When their paths cross, Kasey and Andrew embark on a tumultuous journey that demonstrates just what they’re willing to do to save the ones they love.

In this scene from Kasey and Andrew’s first meeting, she’s just bumped into him at the local bookstore. Literally.

I tried to think of something witty to say, or quirky, something that would make him laugh, make him want to get to know me, while he regarded me with a mixture of polite boredom and expectation.

 

I gestured toward the section behind him and asked, “So, you like military history?”

 

“Yep.”

 

“I think it’s interesting, but I always get frustrated by the policy decisions because it seems we go in and do whatever we think is best for a country, without consideration for what they want, and so no wonder they hate us so much, if all we do is use violence to enforce our will.” I paused, realizing I might be ranting, and gave him an apologetic smile, then said, “My dad fought in Vietnam, so I grew up exposed to all this; I’m a pretty strong pacifist.”

 

“Career military,” he said, and all traces of the smirk, or smile, or whatever it had been, were gone.

 

“Oh,” I answered, sure my face was definitely on fire.

 

“If you’ll excuse me?”

Post a link to your eight sentences blog entry, or join the fun at the Weekend Writing Warriors website.

You can get a copy of The Lone Wolf at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords, or the audiobook at Amazon, Audible, or iTunes.

And make sure to get a copy of my latest short story, “Not My Thing,” free at Smashwords, Barnes and Noble, and Amazon.

Weekend Writing Warriors 9/21/14 #8sunday

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lwcover300x446For September, I’m going to pull from my novel, The Lone Wolf, which was released last fall.

After her husband’s infidelities are revealed, Kasey Sanford just wants to rediscover who she is. After an abusive childhood and years as a career soldier, Andrew Adams just wants someone to tell him that he’s doing the right thing with his life. When their paths cross, Kasey and Andrew embark on a tumultuous journey that demonstrates just what they’re willing to do to save the ones they love.

Last week, Kasey and Andrew shared a look across a bookstore. This excerpt is from a week after that first meeting.

While browsing McKay’s history section, walking backwards reading the titles, I bumped into the blue-eyed man, who was engrossed in the military history section.

 

He scowled at me for a brief moment, but as recognition dawned in his eyes his expression softened.

 

“I’m so sorry,” I said as heat rushed to my face. “I wasn’t paying attention; I didn’t mean to disturb you.”

 

“No harm, no foul.” The corners of his lips drew back into a smile, or perhaps a smirk. “You come here a lot, right? I’ve noticed you around.”

Post a link to your eight sentences blog entry, or join the fun at the Weekend Writing Warriors website.

You can get a copy of The Lone Wolf at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords, or the audiobook at Amazon, Audible, or iTunes.

And make sure to get a copy of my latest short story, “Not My Thing,” free at Smashwords, Barnes and Noble, and Amazon.

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