Sundial by Sandra Cox .99c #TimeTravel #RRBC

Posted on September 19, 2016 by Mae Clair

One of my bestest blogging buds has dropped by to share her latest release, SUNDIAL. Even better, you can currently snatch it up for a mere .99c. I invite you to check out Sandra Cox’s latest release, then skedaddle to Amazon to grab this time-travel romance during its sale period.

Blurb:
He came through time to find her.

As Sarah Miles drives down Eighteenth Street a stranger materializes in front of her car. She throws on her brakes, braces for impact and…drives straight through him. For a brief moment, his voice echoes in her head, “Saura.” Then he’s gone. Later that day, she discovers the SUNDIAL and her incredible journey through time begins.

Excerpt:
“Let go, dammit.”

She let go and fell, landing on her rump in the soggy marsh grass.

He looked down at her as he gathered his reins. “Next time, throw your leg all the way over and don’t kick the poor beast to death. I wish I could say it’s been a pleasure. What I can say, with certainty, is it’s been damn peculiar.” He tightened his knees. The stallion reared, making her scoot backwards on her bottom.

He gave her an elegant half-bow. “Ma’am.”

Heat flashed behind her eyes. “You always were an arrogant bastard.” Nerves pricked her skin. How would I know that?

“And you were always an imp of Satan,” he shot back. The words were no sooner out than a look of bewilderment settled over his handsome features.

For one frozen moment his gaze met hers. Time fell away. Recognition leaped between them.

Her heart jumped and her breath quickened.

He made a violent motion with his hand, rejection stamped on his face. He wheeled his horse and raced away.

Bio:
Sandra writes YA Fantasy, Paranormal and Historical Romance, and Metaphysical Nonfiction. She lives in sunny North Carolina with her husband, a brood of critters and an occasional foster cat. Although shopping is high on the list, her greatest pleasure is sitting on her screened in porch, listening to the birds, sipping coffee or a latte and enjoying a good book. She’s a vegetarian and a Muay Thai enthusiast.

~ooOOoo~

SUNDIAL
Now on sale for .99 September 19-25 at Amazon http://tinyurl.com/gardensundial

~ooOOoo~

Look for Sandra at the following haunts:

Follow on Amazon:
http://tinyurl.com/zj7pbgt
Blog
Facebook
Twitter @Sandra_Cox
Website

#FridayBookShare @ShelleyWilson72 – You’ll Miss Me When I’m Gone by @AuthorKevin

Posted on September 16, 2016 by Mae Clair

Welcome to another Friday Book Share! Anyone can join in. Just answer the following F.R.I.D.A.Y. questions based on the book you’re either currently reading or have just finished reading. Use the hashtag #FridayBookShare and remember to tag Shelley (@ShelleyWilson72)

First line of the book.

Recruit fans by adding the book blurb.

Introduce the main character using only three words.

Delightful design (add the cover image of the book).

Audience appeal (who would enjoy reading this book?)

Your favorite line/scene.

~ooOOoo~

I just finished reading YOU’LL MISS ME WHEN I’M GONE by Kevin O’Brien. Kevin is one of my all time favorite authors and I never miss one of his releases. I’d been saving this one to take to the beach with me the end of the month, but I finally caved and read it by the pool instead. I couldn’t resist any longer!

First Line of Book:

There was no backing out of it now.

Recruit fans by adding the book blurb:

NO FORGIVENESS
Andrea Boyle moved to Seattle to give her seventeen-year-old nephew, Spencer, a fresh start after the death of his parents. Andrea has found her own new beginning with Luke, a successful playwright and father of a teenage son, Damon. The boys appear to have little in common, but in truth they share a private torment…

NO REMORSE
When a tragedy befalls Damon, it’s just the beginning of a nightmare that unfolds. But the worst is yet to come once a dark secret from Spencer’s past is exposed. And when Luke is brutally attacked, both of their futures are at stake.

NO SECOND CHANCE
Now it’s up to Andrea to prove Spencer’s innocence to the police—and to herself. Because for reasons she has revealed to no one, even Andrea can’t help questioning the truth—and fearing that she may be next to pay the ultimate price…

Introduce the main character using only three words.

Andrea Boyle—Loyal, determined, brave

Delightful design (add the cover image of the book).

Audience appeal. Who would enjoy reading this book?

Anyone who enjoys suspense and/or psychological thrillers.

A favorite line/scene.

The camera panned from the front of the car to the back, where a thin, forty-something blonde was sprawled across the seat. A piece of duct tape covered her mouth. Squirming, she rolled over on her side. The camera zoomed in on her hands, tied in back of her. Then the unsteady camera panned up and moved in close to her face—until Spencer could see the terror in her eyes.

“I think some of you already know my mother,” Damon said.

Amazon purchase link

What do you think? Sound like a winner? I recently devoured it and gave it 5 stars. Kevin always tells an exceptional tale, IMHO.

Once upon a time…

Posted on September 14, 2016 by Mae Clair

There were five authors with a passion for writing and story-telling who decided to band together and create a blog where they could share their love of the written word with the world. They didn’t set out to create an empire, just a small pocket of the blogosphere where others with similar interests might gather.

But then they realized how powerful writing could be, and that there were SO MANY writers, authors, and readers who might enjoy coming together and visiting their humble abode that they envisioned an empire. A place where writers could go to talk craft. Where readers could discover books—not only from the five authors—but from works that had impacted the lives of those authors.

Thus Story Empire was born

I invite you to join me, Craig Boyack, Staci Troilo, Harmony Kent and Sandra Cox as we explore realms of fiction and more. We’ve got some fun stuff planned, including a few giveaways that will be coming up next month. For starters, you can find a post from me on the pros and cons about writing a series. Weigh in with your comments. We’d love to hear from you.

And don’t forget to click the “Follow” button while you’re there. You’ll get viewpoints from five different authors over time, view great content, discuss books, and network with many other wonderful writers.

Once upon a time…is now!

Join in the Fun! #RRBC 2016 Book and Blog Party with #Giveaways

Posted on August 2, 2016 by Mae Clair

173

Welcome to From the Pen of Mae Clair…a virtual extension of Hershey, Pennsylvania

Are you ready to celebrate? To have some fun along with multiple chances to pick up goodies and prizes, not to mention a great selection of books?

Join me, and a host of other talented authors for (drum roll, please):

Colorful banner with words Rave Reviews Book Club 2016 Book & Blog Party prominently displayed This is a club-wide event, with blog stops happening each day through August 31

No, I’m not giving away chocolate—although there is plenty of the virtual variety about, so help yourself (I’m kind of partial to the Hershey’s Extra Dark myself :D)

MY GIVEAWAY:
One lucky winner will receive a $15 gift card to Amazon or B&N
(winner’s choice)

All you have to do to be eligible to win is leave a comment on my blog with your email address (so I know where to find you). RRBC will randomly select a winner from the comments, so everyone has an opportunity to win.

While you’re here, I hope you will consider purchasing my most recent release, A THOUSAND YESTERYEARS, a mystery/suspense novel. New York Times bestselling author, Kevin O’Brien, called this book “Masterful bone-chilling fiction…one intense thriller.” Why not check it out for yourself?

My publisher currently has the book on sale for .99 cent through September 4
This is the perfect time to snatch up your copy!

A THOUSAND YESTERYEARS is the first novel in my Point Pleasant Series, but the story is complete (no cliff-hanger endings with the need to read further for closure). A blend of fact, fiction and creepy urban folklore, the novel plays off the legend of the Mothman and the true-life tragedy of the Silver Bridge collapse, a catastrophe that decimated the town of Point Pleasant, West Virginia.

You’ll discover the” TNT,” an abandoned WWII munitions site, now part of a wildlife management area. Densely forested with steep hills, wetlands, ponds and tunnels, it’s a virtual labyrinth of secluded hiding places idea for a terrifying creature—or killer—to hide. The characters are everyday people facing extraordinary circumstances, including secrets, betrayal and murder.

I hope the blurb will entice you:

Behind a legend lies the truth…

As a child, Eve Parrish lost her father and her best friend, Maggie Flynn, in a tragic bridge collapse. Fifteen years later, she returns to Point Pleasant to settle her deceased aunt’s estate. Though much has changed about the once thriving river community, the ghost of tragedy still weighs heavily on the town, as do rumors and sightings of the Mothman, a local legend. When Eve uncovers startling information about her aunt’s death, that legend is in danger of becoming all too real…

Caden Flynn is one of the few lucky survivors of the bridge collapse, but blames himself for coercing his younger sister out that night. He’s carried that guilt for fifteen years, unaware of darker currents haunting the town. It isn’t long before Eve’s arrival unravels an old secret—one that places her and Caden in the crosshairs of a deadly killer…

You can purchase your .99 cent ebook copy from:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
iTunes
Google Play
Kobo
Kensington Publishing

Don’t forget to leave your comment below for a chance to win my $15.00 Amazon or B&N gift card. And the fun is far from over! Every day during the Rave Reviews Book Club 2016 Book and Blog Party, there are chances for additional prizes, so continue to follow this fun event by visiting the other blog stops. You can find a full list here. If you’d like to find our more about this awesome club and the opportunities it offers authors, and even readers, be sure to see my earlier post Let’s Talk Book Clubs.

Thanks for visiting my part of the blogosphere, and I hope you’ll take advantage of my
.99 cent sale on A THOUSAND YESTERYEARS. Mystery—and the Mothman—await!

Before you leave, feel free to poke around and check out a few links, including:
My Newsletter Sign-Up • I average sending 4-6 a year
My Facebook Author Page • I would love some “likes” if you’re so inclined
My Books • Other titles I’ve written that may appeal to you

But remember:
All you have to do to be eligible for my giveaway is to drop me a comment,
so go ahead and get chatty!😀

Social Media Suicide? by Mae Clair

Posted on July 27, 2016 by Mae Clair

Yesterday, I was tinkering around on my Facebook author page and was nagged by the idea that it had been a small eternity since I posted on my—ugh!—profile page. It’s a persistent thought whenever I roam onto FB, like an overzealous gnat that won’t go away.

I knew when I signed up for Facebook in 2012 we weren’t a good match, but as an author, it was pretty much a requirement. I honestly enjoy posting on my author page. The problem is those #@&!* FB algorithms. My posts don’t display in newsfeeds unless a). I pay for them or b). Fans regularly interact with my page.

*grumble*

I find it hard to interact with all of the FB pages I’ve liked, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t enjoy seeing posts from them. I’ve been trying to visit those pages more regularly so they show up in my newsfeed, but there are so many. It would be so much easier if Facebook went back to the way it used to be.

Whining aside, I tackled my Facebook dilemma with drastic action.

When I first signed up for FB, the idea was to friend as many people as I could and gain friends in return with the hopes of connecting and building rapport. The problem? I had close to 600 friends on my profile page but only strong relationships with a couple dozen (outside of immediate family and friends). There was so much content filtering through it was overwhelming.

Now, I know in the world of FB, 600 friends is a mere drop in the bucket. But to this highly introverted I’d-rather-read-or-write-than-play-on-social-media-person, 600 friends was intimidating. I’ve never been good in crowds, but I love chatting in small groups. So yesterday I trimmed my number of friends to 90.

I’m not sure if I committed social media suicide or took the first step in making Facebook work for me. I figured it wasn’t doing any good sitting there growing stale, and since Zuckerberg’s brainchild wasn’t going away, I had to do something.

There are other platforms like Twitter (which I love) where I can connect with thousands of authors, but I want my Facebook experience to be built around authors I’m friendly with. That’s all of you who follow my blog, a few others, and my immediate circle of family and friends. With the number drastically pared down, I’m going to timidly venture back onto FB and begin to share and comment more. Look out, you’ve been warned!

I’ve been inspired by a friend and author who does a great job with her FB pages (she has several) and she is absolutely brilliant with them. I won’t out her, but er….well, Pittsburgh is involved.🙂

Anyway, I hope to see you on Facebook, now that I’ll be active on my profile again. And my author page isn’t going anywhere, so you can always find me there, too.

I’m hoping I did the right thing with that hatchet job (and haven’t ticked anyone off….I did make a post about it). What do you think? Smart move or social media suicide?

Fill your Kindle with this Christmas in July eBook Sale!

Posted on July 15, 2016 by Mae Clair

Snowman made of sand on a beach has red Christmas stocking cap and is wearing sunglasses; ocean in the background Summer has always been a prime reading time for me. Poolside, beach, or even just lounging around the house or under a shade tree, I love to escape into a good book. If you do too, you won’t want to miss this incredible Christmas in July ebook sale. With close to 90 books, all of them FREE OR PRICED AT .99 CENTS, you can’t go wrong.

Each book is themed around Christmas in some respect, providing plenty of holiday happenings and mistletoe magic right in the middle of your summer🙂

Author Stacy Claflin went above and beyond organizing this fun, festive event, and I’m delighted to be included. Use this link to browse the available titles listed on Staci’s website, and load up your Kindle during the sale period of July 15th thru July 17th.

As one of the participating authors, I’m offering my Christmas/holiday novella FOOD FOR POE as a free download during the event. Poe has paranormal elements woven within, even a slight splash of horror, but it’s mainly a warmhearted tale about love, family and miracles.

Blurb:
When a blizzard strands Quinn Easterly at a handsome stranger’s house on Christmas Eve, she doesn’t realize her newly adopted cat, Poe, is the catalyst responsible for bringing them together.

Breck Lansing gave up on relationships after his wife, unable to cope with their daughter’s illness, left him. But the pretty blonde he rescues from a snowstorm has him rethinking his stance—especially when Quinn’s arrival coincides with a dramatic change in Sophie’s health.

Unfortunately, that change also attracts something only whispered about in folklore. Together, Quinn and Breck must defeat a sinister creature intent on claiming the ultimate payment.

Warning: A clever black cat, Christmas magic and paranormal trouble

~ooOOoo~

Help spread the news!
Christmas in July eBook Sale • July 15—July 17
All books FREE or .99 Cents
Visit StacyClaflin.com/promo

And please do remember to grab your free copy of FOOD FOR POE from Amazon
Ho! Ho! Ho!
Merry Christmas in July!

Wooden chaise lounge viewed from back and facing ocean with woman in straw hat sitting on lounge, reading book

Summer Productivity by Mae Clair

Posted on July 5, 2016 by Mae Clair

I just came off a long weekend (happy belated Fourth of July to my U.S. readers) that wasn’t extremely productive. I spent a good portion of it goofing off, swimming, hanging with family and doing things around the house. Summer in general tends to be less productive for me when it comes to writing, though I do a lot spend a good portion of it reading, plotting and writing notes for my WIPS.

Case in point: I have notebooks I devote to each of my WIPS. They’ve been through the “war zone” of exposure to the sun and pool, constant handling and travel. The notebooks below are for A THOUSAND YESTERYEARS (pink, black and gold notebook) and A COLD TOMORROW (dark blue).

Two closed spiral notebooks, covers a bit battered

I have a weird system when I make notes that involves alternating pages of research (mostly right hand pages) and plot (left hand pages). I use different color ink and highlights to draw attention to various points I want to remember.

Two spiral notebooks open on spine with pages filled with writing and some passages highlighted

I started this system with the blue notebook and plan on maintaining it with the last book in my series, A DESOLATE HOUR. I’ve started making research notes while dreaming up plot points as I float around with foam noodles in the pool.

Open spiral notebook with blank left page and pen on top of page, right page filled with writing

As you can see, the left handed page for plot points is still blank. I know where I want to start but I’m still fleshing out the characters who will factor into the prologue which is set in 1777. Book three ties the curse of Shawnee Indian Chief Cornstalk to the legend of the Mothman and Point Pleasant.

In addition to plotting, I spend a good deal of my summer reading. As a habit, I read every night for an hour or two before I go to bed, but during the summer, I also like to read on my deck in between dips in the pool.

One of my favorite summer reads is THE TERROR by Dan Simmons.

Book cover for THE TERROR by Dan Simmons which shows an old clipper ship without sails surrounded by ice and glaciers

Although a massive book (my paperback copy is 955 pages) this is a story I want to read again, and I can’t imagine reading it during any season other than summer. The book is set in the artic, and fictionalizes the tale of Sir John Franklin’s lost expedition to discover the Northwest Passage in the mid-1800s. Although I originally read it two years ago, it remains one of the best books I’ve ever read, a bizarre and spectacular combination of history, horror, lyrical writing and myth. I’ve never encountered anything to equal it, and each time summer rolls around I think of reading it again.

My current read, however, is a bit different. I’m presently immersed in the WITCH OF LIME STREET, a nonfiction account of Harry Houdini’s battle to unmask medium Margarey Crandon as a fraud. Here’s the cover: Book cover for the Witch of Lime Street by David Jaher is black with lime green border and cameo photos of Harry Houdini and Margery Crandon

Imagine my surprise, when the first night after reading, I switched off the light and realized the cover was glowing. All that lime green you see to the right lights up as neon-glow-in-the-dark with the lights off. I tried to capture a photo of it with my cell phone, but unfortunately it didn’t take.

That aside, I’ve always loved things that glow in the dark—as far back as to when I was a kid and played with a “Dark Shadows” game that had glowing skeletons—so I’m thoroughly besotted with this clever cover. And, in case you doubted, the book is darn good too, especially if you’re a Houdini or Sir Arthur Conan Doyle fan, or are interested in the spiritualist movement of the 1920s.

Next up?

download Kevin O’Brien has a new release, YOU’LL MISS ME WHEN I’M GONE that releases on July 26th. I’ve already pre-ordered my copy. Kevin is an am amazing author and on my automatic read list. If you like mystery, crime and suspense, you’re going to love Kevin.

In the meantime, I’ll content myself with this:

Book cover for DEVOUR by Kurt Anderson shows a cruise ship at night with lights and a huge monstrous mouth with teeth looming above it

I have a horrible weakness for creature/monster books (and movies) and have been saving this one for a while. DEVOUR is definitely a summer/beach read IMHO. Isn’t the cover grand? I can’t wait to discover what lurks within the pages.

So tell me…how productive are you during the summer? Do you plot, do you read? What’s on your TBR?

From the Pen of Mae Clair

Suspense/mystery author supporting other authors, and sharing folklore

Tag Archives: Mae Clair

Sundial by Sandra Cox .99c #TimeTravel #RRBC

Once upon a time…

Join in the Fun! #RRBC 2016 Book and Blog Party with #Giveaways

Fill your Kindle with this Christmas in July eBook Sale!

Summer Productivity by Mae Clair