"A Ranger's Tale" now available at Amazon.com!!!!

Oh happy day! My debut novel is now at Amazon.com, available in both Kindle and print! I'm so uber-excited, and if you have been waiting for the Kindle version....

CLICK HERE TO ORDER!!!


If you've reviewed this book already (on Goodreads, etc.), would you mind heading over to Amazon to leave it there as well? I'll be eternally grateful and will shower you with heaps of virtual praise and cyber chocolates!

P.S.--Spread the word!

~Mysti

A Review of "Take One at Bedtime" by Jenny Twist

This past week, I've had the pleasure of reading Jenny Twist's Take One at Bedtime, an anthology of short tales ranging from romantic to horrific. You might remember my interview with Jenny HERE before the book was released. Luckily, it's available now, and I'd recommend it for anyone who loves easy-to-read short stories.

In fact, for many of the stories, I took Dr. Twist's advice and read one (sometimes two or three on a good night) while I rested in my bed. They're the perfect length for a quick tale before you turn out the light, or during your lunch break, or when you're in a waiting room, or riding on the bus...I think you get my drift.

Most of these stories are set in England or Spain, and Ms. Twist employs her knowledge of both locales very well. The settings and personalities  really come to life with her vivid language. Every story begins in a way that pulls the reader in and brings you to a conclusion you usually don't expect. Each tale is unique and paced nicely. I enjoyed them all and was sad when I reached the last page. I think you'll see what I mean when you buy your copy.

You can find Take One at Bedtime at Melange Books in e-book or print format. Click HERE to order!

Recap of my Tour Stops This Week

It's been a busy week with my virtual book tour for A Ranger's Tale. Here's a little recap of where I've been in case you missed it. Some of the stops have a giveaway along with it, so if you haven't read ART and would like to, comment on one of those posts for a chance to win. Click on the links below to be my groupie at this weeks' stops!

May 3: Interview with Jacqueline Paige

May 4: Guest Post "Are We There Yet", Giveaway, and a Review at The Scarf Princess blog

May 5: Interview at Adventures of the Cautionary Tale

May 6: Interview and Giveaway at Across the Border

All right, now people--don't be shy! Come show me the love, and spread the word! I'll keep you updated on next week's stops as well. The tour runs through May 18.

Have a great weekend, and curl up with a good book! Don't forget to peruse this blog to catch up on some other great authors I've had here recently.

~Mysti

Review of Oathen (Legend of the Shanallar, #2) by Jasmine Giacomo

Pick up your copy today! Click HERE!

Having read The Wicked Heroine, Book One of this duology by Jasmine Giacomo, I expected this one to be just as good. I am happy to report, however, that is was better than good. It was fantabulous!

The first book introduced us to the four-hundred year old Shanallar, the snarky, immortal heroine known in this story as Meena. She, along with a fairly large cast of characters, set off on a very long quest to find the Dire Tome, a book that may very well destroy all the world if an evil cult gets their hands on it first. In Oathen, the team finally reaches their destination, but the journey is still fraught with peril. Lives are lost, hearts are broken, new alliances are made, and secrets are unsheathed that kept me turning the pages.

Start the adventure with Book One!

While the first book's pace was a little slower than I'd like in some places, this one was pretty much non-stop action and intrigue. This was probably because it was a continuation leading up to the climax and conclusion. However, I thought the author did a superb job in tying all the loose ends together in this edition. The characters were incredibly unique and complex. I enjoyed spending time in each environment the quest passed through. And of course, I highly approved of the romantic elements throughout. The ending was both expected and unexpected--but I'll let you discover what I mean about that yourselves.

If you enjoy high fantasy, then add The Wicked Heroine and Oathen to your reading list. Go ahead and stick them right at the top of said list. You will not be disappointed.

Guest Post by Jacqueline Paige

On behalf of Bewitching book tours, please welcome author Jacqueline Paige as she discusses the writing  process of a busy mom of five (yes, you heard me right!). Ms. Paige has six books under her belt, in fact, so listen up all you moms (like me) who worry that you can't be a mom and writer too. Take it away, Jacqueline!

***One winner will be chosen from the comments on all of Jacqueline's tour stops and will win a copy of her newest release, Twice Cursed!***

Thanks so much for having me here today, Mysti.

I never know what topic to discuss or ramble about when it comes to guest blogging.  It’s so much easier if a topic is handed to me. J  

So today I thought I’d just answer a question that keeps coming up as I wander through the various streets of the writing realm.  Do I plot my stories out?  (Or simply put am I a plotter or a pantser?)

I have tried to sit down and plot the course for my characters and story lines — unfortunately my characters and imaginative muse don’t like to follow a script.  It doesn’t seem to matter how many details and fun things I plan for my chosen characters, they always change to plan — and quite often don’t inform me!

Twice Cursed is a perfect example of this happening.  When I began the storyline I had a twenty something Witch (Maddy) that had been cursed when she was a teen and her magic ability didn’t quite work out the way she planned things.  The first chapter went along according to my outline and ideas and I was quite happy with the direction it was heading.

Second chapter — enter lead male character (Colin), who was to be a large light-hearted Irishman who owned a local tavern and couldn’t get close to the object of his desire (Maddy), regardless of what he tried.  At the time of plotting he too was from the magical community.  Did Colin behave and follow the outline?  No and then some!  The Colin I selected apparently wasn’t available for this novel, so instead a tall, dark built-like-a-god Scottish character named Colin walked onto the page of my manuscript.  He was a normal non-magical male and strangely enough was a huge science geek.  I liked him right away because he didn’t fit into the “geek” stereotype.

I gave up trying to plan a single thing after the next chapter took my two main characters and placed them both at a museum where something that was so “one in a gazillion” chance of happening to them happened —from this point on I was completely thrilled when spirits, ancient ancestors, relics and the most entertaining events took place until the last page of the book.  The end result?  The story I plotted was tossed out and I haven’t tried plotting ever since then.

So, am I a plotter or a pantser?  Hmm, I’m going to have to say I’m a “Fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants-and-hang-on-tight” kind of writer.

I’m not sure if this answered the question adequately enough, but I’m sure ya’ll get my drift now.

Thanks once more for having me here!!

It was my pleasure, and Jacqueline, I must say that we have the exact same approach. Please come back again. I think we need another installment on how to manage time as a writer mom! 

Click HERE to buy your copy!

Now take a look at Jacqeline's latest release, Twice Cursed, published by Whiskey Creek Press. 

Will the curse's secrets be unraveled in time?

Maddy is the oldest witchling to ever attend the Hidden Cove Academy, having been cursed as a teen; she’s forced to have a solitary life outside of her own magical community.  With her magic so dangerously unpredictable, she rarely takes the chance on mixing with the general public.

From one harmless trip to a museum she finds herself spellbound yet again by an invisible boundary, caused by a three hundred year old curse, dictating that Maddy must stay close to the stunningly sexy Colin.

Being stuck with a tall, dark, incredibly lick-able stranger can’t be all that bad, right? Until they discover if they get too close the spirits bound with the curse will take over their bodies ... at the same time if they’re too far from one another the curse will kill them both.

Will the curse's secrets be unraveled in time or does certain death await them both? 

Jacqueline Paige is a world class multi-tasker. She is a mother to five adventurous and unpredictable children, a cafe manager and a colossal imagination that allows her to step outside of reality into a world of paranormal romance with just a touch of suspense.  Her first book was published in 2009 and since then has published six, with the most recent being the first in her Hidden

http://jacqpaige.webs.com/
http://jacqpaige.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/people/Jacqueline-Paige/1055083410
http://twitter.com/JacqPaige

Publishing Credits:

2009 – Paranormal Romantic Suspense series

Book I and II in the Magic Seasons series

Beltane Magic and Solstice Heat (soon to be re-released along with the release of Book III)

Halloween Paranormal Romance (Amira Press)

Behind the Mask

Christmas Paranormal Romance (Amira Press)

Part one of A Dream

In Our Dream

2010-

Valentine’s Paranormal Romance (Amira Press)

From A Dream

Book I in the Hidden Senses Trilogy  Paranormal Romantic Suspense

Mystic Perceptions  (Class Act Books)

Paranormal Romance

Salvation (Eternal Press)

2011-

Paranormal Romance

Twice Cursed (Whiskey Creek Press)

What are you waiting for? Visit Jacqueline's blog, friend her on Facebook, follow her on Twitter, and better yet, buy a copy of Twice Cursed today!

~ Mysti

What Does Home Mean To You?

Today, I posted on Rachel Horowitz's blog, Fantasy Unbound as part of my virtual book tour. Head over there and comment if you want a chance to win an e-copy of A Ranger's Tale. Click HERE! (*18 and over only at this site*)

Here is a snippet of that post, so head over to Rachel's blog if you wish to read the rest. Enjoy!

Home

      Such a simple word. Home conjures up different memories and emotions for everyone. We might look back on our childhood home with nostalgia and a smile. Perhaps you remember the smell of fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies when you arrived home from school. Mom and Dad read you bedtime stories and prayed at the dinner table. You remember potlucks and camping trips, tickle fests and lazy summers.

               

      To read more, click HERE.

Encouragement, Anyone?

Here's the guest post I wrote for the Noracast today. If you want a chance to win a free e-copy of A Ranger's Tale, head over there and comment. Click HERE!

Encouragement   

       

  In 2 Corinthians 13:11, St. Paul instructs us to “encourage one another”.  In fact, the Bible mentions encouragement several times. You probably hear the word often, but what does it mean, really?

Dictionary.com defines encourage as: to inspire with courage, spirit, or confidence.

In a world where the majority is constantly seeking to look out for “number one”, encouragement is sometimes hard to come by. There are people out there, sadly, whose greatest joy seems to be tearing down someone else for their own gain instead of building them up, let alone inspiring them with anything. It’s common in the writing business and everywhere else.

For more of this post, click HERE.