The Lurking Series

Hi, friends!  Happy Wednesday!

I’m so happy.  The sun is actually out.  It’s been so cloudy and rainy recently, which, as y’all may know, is very unusual for Texas.  I mean, yeah, we get thunderstorms and maybe even a few tornadoes every year, but it has never been THIS constantly rainy.  It’s like living in Florida or something.  It’s been great for lakes and plants (we’re not in a drought for the first time in YEARS) but you know me.  I like the sun!  I like being outside!  I need Vitamin D!!!

Anyway…

Today, I wanted to talk to y’all a little bit more about The Lurking Series, presented by Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing.  The first in this series, Lurking in the Deep, is already out.

I love being a part of this amazing group of hard-working, talented, and dedicated authors.  Jaidis Shaw, who headed up the project and edited the entire 200+ page book especially went above and beyond in pouring her heart and soul into making this book, and now this series, a reality.

Because I know so many of you are exceptionally talented writers and authors, I wanted to share this opportunity to be a part of the rest of the series!  There will be at least three more books, Lurking in the Woods, Lurking in the Mind, and Lurking in the Shadows.

These are all open submission and a fantastic opportunity for published and aspiring authors!  I’ve loved being a part of this series and I’m so proud of Lurking in the Deep.  It’s a wonderful collection of exceptional stories.

Lurking in the Deep: http://www.amazon.com/Lurking-Deep-Jaidis-Shaw-ebook/dp/B00X6MGZNU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1432145399&sr=8-1&keywords=lurking+in+the+deep

Jaidis Shaw: http://www.junipergrove.net

Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing: http://www.crushingheartsandblackbutterfly.com

Lurking in the Deep RELEASE

Lurking in the Deep, the newest anthology from Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing, is officially available on Kindle!  I wrote a short story, “The Water’s Edge,” for this anthology and I could not be more proud to be a part of such an amazing project (yes, I have read the whole thing. It’s AWESOME).  Go check it out!

Title: Lurking in the Deep

Edited By: Jaidis Shaw

Published: May 7th, 2015

Publisher: Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing

Now there’s a reason to fear the water.

Does the water beckon you? Your love, or fears, may become greater in this chilling anthology. From ordinary sea life to creatures of myth, our stories will make you think twice about the shadowy waters that beckon below. Follow our authors into the depths … if you dare.

Stories featured in this anthology include the following:

“Bloodslick” by Timothy Black

“Crescent’s Creature” by K.C. Finn

“Wrath” by Liz Butcher

“A Senseless Eating Machine” by Jef Rouner

“The Water’s Edge” by Jacqueline E. Smith

“The Reluctant Seamstress” by Jaidis Shaw

“Ribbons & Bones” by Kelly Matsuura

“Widow’s Cut” by Andrea L. Staum

“Rhine Maiden” by Isabelle Poldervaart

“The Broken Seashell” by E.M. MacCallum

“Lauren” by Terry Alexander

“Tide Flats” by Shelly Schulz

“Song of the Ocean” by Scott A. Butler

“Enticing Waters” by Gina A. Watson

“Tubular Hells” by Beth W. Patterson

“Dark Waters” by Michael Cross & Emma Michaels

Be sure to join the authors during the official Facebook launch party on May 7th starting at 6PM EST! Join the party for fun games and the chance to win several prizes including ebooks, gift cards, and more!

Link to Facebook party: https://www.facebook.com/events/1389989944654711/

Link to book on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25396970-lurking-in-the-deep

Purchase the book on Amazon: http://smarturl.it/LurkingintheDeep

Gathering Thoughts

Hi, friends.

It probably comes as no surprise that I find myself very scatterbrained at the moment.  I’m trying my best to concentrate on what needs to be done, but you know, there’s just so much that needs to be done that instead of concentrating on one thing, I end up trying to do three or four things at once, resulting in… nothing, really.  Just a lot of crazy.

As you probably know by now, when I find my brain muddled and cluttered, I sort everything out with a list.  I find it very therapeutic to literally separate my thoughts.  That way, the don’t get all mixed up, kind of the way they are now.  It really permits me to focus on one thing at a time.  So, here are the things rattling around in my huge head.

* NORTH TEXAS BOOK FESTIVAL THIS SATURDAY!  I need to get everything organized.  I need to make sure I have everything.  I need to set everything out that I need to take.  I need to figure out what I’m going to wear (this is a big one)!  Get organized, brain!  Get organized!

* Keep working on Cemetery Tours 3!  Since I’m doing a bit of early revising, I’m going to have to go back and work even harder than I would have had I stayed on track.  The good thing about being an independent author and publisher, however, is that I make my own deadlines.  And if, for some reason, I miss a deadline, I can choose not to fire myself.  Granted, it is very unprofessional to miss deadlines and all the official ones, I work like crazy to keep, but that’s another story.

* Don’t forget other events!  Not only my upcoming events, like Authorfest in Denison, but friends’ events!  For example, a couple of my friends are speaking at the Melissa Library.  My dear friend, Paula, has a couple of book signings coming up that I want to attend!  You can check out her blog and her new children’s book, Jack Learns to Grill, here: https://paulawalkerbaker.wordpress.com

* Boy Band is out in less than two weeks.  It’s okay.  Don’t panic.  Breathe.  Breathe.  You’re excited for this!  It’s an awesome book!  You love it!  Just make sure everything is okay for formatting for Nook and Kindle.

* Don’t forget about you GoodReads Giveaway!  You have to have FIVE copies to send to people!  https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/129034-boy-band

* BOOK SIGNING AT HALF PRICE!  Yay!  This is exciting!  If you’re in the DFW area, stop by and see me on June 24! https://www.facebook.com/events/1114004495292639/permalink/1114004941959261/

* I am WAY behind on blog posts!  I need to post some more Character Interviews as well as an interview featuring Steve Lund, author of Loving Grammar: Mr. Lund’s Guide to Professional Clamdigging. http://lovinggrammar.com

* Oh!  And I really need to step up my advertising for Lurking in the Deep!  This is a big deal and after everything that’s been going on, I’ve really been neglecting the new anthology.  It’s going to be AMAZING, y’all.

* This isn’t really something that I need to be doing or thinking about, but my sister totally got to meet Country Musician Wade Bowen this morning.  So jealous.

I think that’s about it.  I pray that all your brains be far less messy and cluttered than mine.

Lurking in the Deep Cover Reveal!

Here it is, y’all!  The cover of Lurking in the Deep, the new anthology featuring my short story, “The Water’s Edge!”

Title: Lurking in the Deep

Edited By: Jaidis Shaw

To Be Published: May 7th, 2015

Publisher: Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing

Does the water beckon you? Your love, or fears, may become greater in this chilling anthology. From ordinary sea life to creatures of myth, our stories will make you think twice about the shadowy waters that beckon below. Follow our authors into the depths … if you dare.

Stories featured in this anthology include the following:

“Lauren” by Terry Alexander

“Bloodslick” by Timothy Black

“Wrath” by Liz Butcher

“Song of the Ocean” by Scott A. Butler

“Dark Waters” by Michael Cross & Emma Michaels

“Crescent’s Creature” by K.C. Finn

“The Broken Seashell” by E.M. MacCallum

“Ribbons & Bones” by Kelly Matsuura

“Tubular Hells” by Beth W. Patterson

“Rhine Maiden” by Isabelle Poldervaart

“A Senseless Eating Machine” by Jef Rouner

“Tide Flats” by Shelly Schulz

“The Reluctant Seamstress” by Jaidis Shaw

“The Water’s Edge” by Jacqueline E. Smith

“Widow’s Cut” by Andrea L. Staum

“Enticing Waters” by Gina A. Watson

Be sure to join the authors during the official Facebook launch party on May 7th starting at 6PM EST! Join the party for fun games and the chance to win several prizes including ebooks, gift cards, and more!

Link to the party: https://www.facebook.com/events/1389989944654711/

Busy, Busy

Hi, friends!  After a fun-filled spring break with my sister, it is time to start focusing on upcoming events and impending publications!

I’m speaking at a writer’s club meeting at a library next Saturday, which I’m really looking forward to.  Since I’ve been on a bit of a graphic design kick lately, I decided to make some new bookmarks to give away.

I’m also busy trying to redesign Boy Band’s book cover and get the whole thing edited and revised so that it’s ready for it’s pre-release at the North Texas Book Festival.  I’m so excited!  It’s going to be amazing.

I’m also finally able to give a bit more information about Lurking in the Deep, the new anthology that my short story, The Water’s Edge, will be featured in.  The anthology is being published by Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing on May 7!  A lot of the authors being featured have been designing promo pictures.  I took a shot, but I’m not sure mine are as good as theirs.

Along with promotion, there will also be a bit of editing there too.

*Note* It also turns out I need to edit these pictures I made!  The anthology is coming out on May 7, not May 5!

I also have a few ideas for blog posts and pictures for Cemetery Tours that I need to start working on.  I guess the whole point of this is that if I complain about being bored at any point in the next two months, feel free to assume I’m lying.  There is always something that can be done.

I hope you all have a great weekend!

Fascinating New Thing

Okay, so this piece has nothing to do with the song (if you know the song, ten points to you).  But there are a lot of new and exciting things happening.

First of all, I found out last night that a short story I wrote has been selected for publication in a new Anthology coming out in May!  The Anthology is called Lurking in the Deep and it features a collection of stories centered around water-based fears, i.e. sea monsters, mermaids, ghosts of those lost at sea, etc…  As soon as I found out about it, I knew I had to submit something.  I love the ocean, as you all know, and I love scary stories, again, which you all know.

Just for the record, the ocean in my story is a lot more sinister than Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Another bit of exciting news that I’d like to share is that my dear friend Paula has just published her first children’s book!  It’s called Jack Learns to Grill and it is so, so, so cute.  It’s the first in a series about her dingo, Jack, in which he learns new skills and lessons about life.  It is beautifully illustrated by Tana Jacks.  If you have children in your life or if you’re an animal lover, I hope you check it out!  It’s a darling book!

Paula’s Blog: https://paulawalkerbaker.wordpress.com

Jack Learns to Grill: http://www.amazon.com/Learns-Grill-Paula-Walker-Baker/dp/1508579210/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426194297&sr=1-1&keywords=jack+learns+to+grill

Finally, I think I’ve come up with a new idea for a few blog posts, but I’m going to have to work on them a little bit to see if it’s actually going to be something worth pursuing.  I’ll let you know!

Also, thank you to all who’ve sent me pictures of Cemetery Tours!  Keep ’em coming!

Have a great weekend, y’all!