The moment has finally arrived to share the cover of my new (FREE) short story, Tooth & Claw…
What do you think?
The title comes from the Tennyson poem “In Memoriam A.H.H.”:
Who trusted God was love indeed
And love Creation’s final law
Tho’ Nature, red in tooth and claw,
With ravine, shriek’d against his creed
“Red in tooth and claw” indeed. I think both the cover image and title suit the story–I hope you’ll agree once you’ve read it. Tooth & Claw will be released on 7 September. Here’s a teaser:
Mara, Dominic, and their fellow vampires arrive in Marseille, France in 1909, only to find another predator already on the loose. As the city tries to cope with a killer stalking the streets, Mara struggles to separate memory from delusion. Can she find peace when the past is haunting, the present overwhelming, and the future hopeless? Inspired by real events.
Although I promised you’d be able to pre-order Tooth & Claw, it turns out free books can’t be set up for pre-order (boo). But not to worry, I will be posting again to let you know when Tooth & Claw is available. If you’d like an email reminder, please drop me a line.
In the meantime, don’t forget to download my other FREE short story Blood Magic, and while you’re at it, pick up Love Lies Bleeding too, available in paperback or e-book. Your support is much appreciated.
Tooth & Claw, a new FREE short story inspired by actual events, available 7 September.
They left the other vampires with the humans. Mara wanted to call out, to tell them to get away. But she stared at Omar and Wallace grinning at their prey and her voice fled. There was no help for them. There was no help for any of them.
Mara, Dominic, and their vampire associates arrive in Marseille, France in 1909, only to find another predator already on the loose. My new FREE short story is set in the Love Lies Bleeding universe and was inspired by real events.
Come back Saturday for the title and cover reveals, and to pre-order this new FREE story!
(PS: In the meantime, don’t forget to download my other FREE short story Blood Magic, and while you’re at it, pick up Love Lies Bleeding too, available in paperback or e-book.)
I’m excited to announce that I’ve finished the first draft of a new story set in the Love Lies Bleeding universe and inspired by true events! Details and cover reveal to come–make sure to follow or subscribe so you won’t miss out…
In the meantime, it’s always fun to take part in a book tag, and this one found its way to me via A.M. Molvik’s Ramblings…
Author You’ve Read The Most From:
Isabel Allende. Love her work. Close second: Ilona Andrews, if only because the Kate Daniels series has so many books in it.
Water or tea, I guess, which are my drinks of choice most of the time anyway.
Photo by Thought Catalog on Pexels.com
E-Reader Or Physical Book?
Mainly physical books, but an e-reader is perfect for travel or commuting (or school–I wish I’d had one when I was lugging around textbooks every day).
Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende. It caught my eye in a secondhand shop and was the first book of hers I read. Now she’s one of my favourite authors.
Photo by Jens Johnsson on Pexels.com
Hidden Gem Book:
Find a book by an indie author. Does the book’s description sound interesting? If yes, then enjoy that hidden gem!
Important Moment in your Reading Life:
Aside from learning how to read, maybe it was the first time I read a difficult book and really got it.
Just Finished:
The latest (and it seems, last, alas) Kate Daniels book (Magic Triumphs) by Ilona Andrews.
If the story is interesting to me, I’ll read just about anything. That said, however, I have no interest in abusive relationships portrayed as “romance.” I’m also tired of dystopian fiction–I think we’re all getting enough of that in reality.
Longest Book You’ve Read:
Probably Ulysses (it felt like the longest, anyway).
Major Book Hangover Because Of:
The Good: Every time I finished a Harry Potter book, and ultimately when I finished the entire series.
The Bad: When I finished Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and was left wondering wtf I just read (Harry’s name might be on the cover, but this book does not deserve that title).
The Ugly: A series I finished not too long ago that was so bad I’m still reeling. I posted about it here.
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
Number of Bookcases You Own:
25 (which is one reason why I’m not a fan of open concept design–I need walls!)
One Book You Have Read Multiple Times:
I’ve re-read a number of books, but the one I probably re-read the most was Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Every time a new book came out, I’d read the entire series again. Since Deathly Hallows (the last book) came out, I’ve re-read the entire series a few more times.
Preferred Place To Read:
Somewhere quiet and comfortable with good lighting.
Quote That Inspires You/Gives You All The Feels From A Book You’ve Read:
Not a single quote, but a passage from Gunmetal Magic by Ilona Andrews:
“In basic terms, a fractal is a system that doesn’t become simpler when analyzed on smaller and smaller levels….It doesn’t end….It can’t be explained by mathematical analysis, so humanity, as it so often does, declared it to be a mathematical curiosity and swept it under the rug. Except the fractal occurs again and again….Left to its own devices, nature defaults to a fractal. A human settlement is a fractal. It is a complex system with randomly interacting components that is adaptive on every level. The pattern of the evolution of a single cell to complex organism is a fractal. The way man approaches his quest for knowledge is a fractal. Think of it: biology, the study of living things. A simple concept…”
A straight line appeared on the floor.
“As man accumulates knowledge, the volume of information becomes too much. He feels the need to subdivide it.”
The line split into three branches marked with labels: zoology, botany, anatomy, then split again. Botany grew horticulture, forestry, plant morphology, plant systematics. Zoology splintered into zoological morphology and systematics, then into comparative anatomy, animal physiology, behavioral ecology…It kept building and building, splitting, growing, branching….
“And that’s the crux of our problem…Man can’t handle the chaos.”
I went in expecting a good story. I came away with insight into life, the universe, and the limits of the human mind (along with a good story). Not bad.
That I didn’t keep a record of the books I read when I was younger. Not only have I forgotten the titles of books I read and loved (and will likely never be able to find again), but I’ll never have an accurate count of how much I’ve actually read.
Series You Started And Need To Finish (all books are out in series):
I can’t think of anything in fiction, but there’s a series of science books I started a while back that I would like to finish (not going to happen anytime soon, though).
Three of your All-Time Favorite Books:
Not necessarily my top three, but three from my list of favourites (and I’ll try to stick to ones I haven’t already mentioned): Crime and Punishment by Dostoyevsky, Chocolat by Joanne Harris, Pinocchio: Vampire Slayer (graphic novel trilogy) by Van Jensen.
Unapologetic Fangirl For:
Reading. It doesn’t matter what or how or when–just read. Your life will be better for it–I promise. (But do yourself a favour and branch out a little–if you always read a version of the same thing, it’ll get boring after a while).
Very Excited For This Release More Than All The Others:
I don’t usually pay too much attention to new releases because I don’t mind waiting to get a book (I happily read books that are 10+ years old), but there are a couple coming out that I’m excited about: The Book of Lost Saints by Daniel José Elder, The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern, and Sacred Smoke by Amy Blackthorn.
Worst Bookish Habit:
Eating while I read, although I don’t do it much anymore. But I have stained a few books over the years (oops).
X Marks The Spot
Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book:
Unfortunately it was the last book in that series I ended up hating (see “Major Book Hangover,” above). I was almost finished the book, so I decided it was worth losing sleep to find out how it all concluded. I spent most of the night reading (there was more left than I realized) and then I was so upset at the horrible decisions the author made that I couldn’t sleep at that point if I tried. I stayed awake all night, reading and then thinking about how much time I wasted on such an awful series. I would really like that sleep (and my time, money, and peace of mind) back.
What’s the last book you bought? Have you lost any sleep lately to stay up reading? What’s the 27th book on your shelf? Share your answers in the comments below, or leave the link if you post this tag on your own blog 🙂
Cheers,
Aspasía S. Bissas
PS: It’s your last chance to take advantage of Smashwords’ summer sale and get Love Lies Bleeding at half off. Don’t forget Blood Magic–always free!
Looking for your next great read? Head over to Smashwords and get Love Lies Bleeding now for 50% off! Love Lies Bleeding, a novel about delusion, obsession, and blood, that one reviewer called “abominably good!”
Don’t forget Blood Magic, a free story in the Love Lies Bleeding universe, about choices, transformation, and retribution.
E-books not your thing? You can also get Love Lies Bleeding in paperback at most online booksellers, including many independent bookshops (see full list here).
The sale is on until 31 July. Thanks for supporting indie ❤
I prefer to use bookmarks, but I hate losing my spot, so anything will do in a pinch, including other books. I wish publishers would go back to including ribbon bookmarks inside hardcovers.
3. Can you just stop reading or do you have to stop after a chapter/ a certain amount of pages?
When I need to take a break I like to stop at the end of a chapter, but if I can’t, then I try to stop at a spot I can remember to go back to.
Here’s the thing with multitasking–you might get more done, but you won’t get anything done well (feel free to stitch that on a pillow). If something is important enough that I want to appreciate or retain it, then I need to skip other distractions. People who say they can do ten things at once and concentrate on all of it are impressively self deluded.
Funny enough, I’d never skipped ahead–until two weeks ago. I was reading a novel that was getting upsetting and for the first time that I can remember, I peeked at the end to see how it turned out (it ended the way I was hoping, thankfully). Then I went back and read it all the way through. I don’t know what it was about this book that made me feel the need to check the end.
No, because I’m civilized. I did highlight/underline passages in my textbooks when I was in university, and I sign copies of my book for anyone who asks, but those are the only exceptions. If I want to take notes, I do it separately. For anyone who likes to annotate the books they read, consider ebooks–they’re ideal for that.
12. When do you find yourself reading? Morning, afternoon, evening, whenever you get the chance or all the time?
Whenever I can, which mostly seems to be before bed or first thing in the morning.
Somewhere quiet, comfortable, and with good lighting. I like reading at the beach too, but it’s rare I get the chance.
14. What do you do first – Read or Watch?
Almost always read. I did watch the first Harry Potter movie before I read any of the books, though, which is what got me interested in the books (and ultimately led to a slight obsession).
15. What form do you prefer? Audiobook, E-book or physical book?
I like physical books (although the paper dries out my hands like mad). Ebooks are also good (and great for travelling), but as a writer I’m staring at screens all day long, so I try to limit my screen time when I can. (If I can find the charger, I’ll start using my Kindle again–those screens are very easy on the eyes.)
15. Do you have a unique habit when you read?
Not that I can think of, although I do have a tendency to (over)share what’s going on in my books with my SO, which probably drives him crazy (he’s very patient about listening to me talk about the trials and tribulations of fictional characters he’s never heard of, though).
I assume this is referring to the covers/formats matching. Yes, I’d rather all the books in a series match, but it’s not the end of the world if they don’t.
How about your reading habits? Tell me your answers in the comments (or let me know if you’ve posted this tag on your own blog).
