Mother of god, is this year still going on?
I wrote a lot for the optional December question, so I'm just going to go with that.
Heck, yeah. November and December are usually my busiest writing months. Why? Because I nearly always write a book/story to give as a present to some of my friends/family.
I started this tradition back in 2004 when I wrote a book for my wife as a Christmas gift. I wrote something like 60,000 words in 17 days. I was not used to being crouched over my computer so long (I'm a champ at it now) and I ended up needing to get physio on my shoulder in the New Year. I kept it up, with either novels or stories nearly every Christmas since. In 16 years I've written I believe 8 novels, 12 short stories and 3 children's books (the children's books are the biggest pain because they're illustrated). This does not include any other homemade projects I make as gifts (I'm also known for board games and repaints of Christmas village houses as whorehouses), or any other writing I'm doing at the time. So on top of regular life, work and holiday responsibilities, Christmas is usually a crazy stressful time for me.
The best part, and the reason I don't know if I can call this writing "productive," is that NONE of those books or stories have been released publicly. A couple of them I've re-worked with the intention of hopefully sharing/selling, but so far only my closest family members and a handful of friends have actually read them. It is very much a labour of love for a very small audience. Most of my relatives have no idea how much work goes into them. My kids don't get it all, which is hilarious. I think they assume everyone's fathers write books. In Grade 1, my son brought one of my kids books to class for show & tell. His teacher loved it and asked if she could get a copy, but my son said he only had one so I would have to write her another one.
Yesterday I sent off this year's books to the printers (unsolicited plug - Lulu.com is great for this) and it felt like a large weight was lifted of my shoulders. One thing off my list. Now I just have to wait to see if the other presents I ordered actually come in on time.
The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Writers post their thoughts on their blogs, talking about their doubts and the fears they have conquered. It's a chance for writers to commiserate and offer a word of encouragement to each other. Check out the group at http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/.
Friend of the Blog, Shannon Lawrence, has a new book coming out in just a few short days, and it looks like a doozy. It's a collection of spooky tales for the holidays, which is the best kind of holiday stories.
She also asked me to share some of my family's weird holiday traditions, which I originally jumped at, then realized my family's traditions aren't that weird. Odd, maybe, but not that weird.
🎄My paternal grandmother always served salt fish and raisin bread for dinner on Christmas Eve. I don't really know why; fish and raisin bread doesn't exactly scream "Christmas." I suspect it started because they had a big family and it was inexpensive, but she kept doing it, and inviting all the family over, every Christmas Eve until she passed away. My parents have since taken over the tradition, so if you're on the West Coast of Newfoundland and have a hankering for salt fish and raisin toast on December 24th, I've got a hook-up for you.
🎄We try to do a Secret Santa Gift exchange every year with my in-laws (my wife's parents, sister & husband). I say "try" because we usually do some sort of theme, and my wife's parents seem to have trouble grasping this. One year we were doing funny "gag" gifts and my mother-in-law brought a generic Santa Claus decoration, which was neither funny nor any kind of joke. Then there was the time we were supposed to buy our own favourite book to share with someone else, and they bought new books they knew each other wanted to read.
So, yeah. Kind of a disappointment. But you know what isn't a disappointment? Shannon Lawrence's new book!
HAPPY GHOULIDAYS by Shannon Lawrence
The holidays can be a stressful time, as we all know, but I'm hoping to lighten up this winter season with a little holiday horror.
Maybe "lighten up" isn't the right term.
The first story begins the winter holidays with Thanksgiving, with stories representing Christmas, Hanukah, Hogmanay (the New Year), Yule, Groundhog Day, and, finally, Valentine's Day. From serious horror to tongue-in-cheek. Read them all at once or save them for their holidays. Or both!
Release day is November 20, which also happens to be my birthday! Just in time for Thanksgiving week. You can pre-order the Kindle version, with other versions, including paperback, available on release day.
Family time can lead to murder and mayhem, especially during the holidays. A turkey with a tale to tell, elves under attack, sorority sisters putting on a killer party, a woman's desperation to save her family, and a stranger ringing in the New Year. These and other tales of woe await you beneath the mistletoe.
Be careful who you offer a kiss. It may be your last.
Amazon pre-order link:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MDZR9K5
A fan of all things fantastical and frightening, Shannon Lawrence writes in her dungeon when her minions allow, often accompanied by her familiars. She writes primarily horror and fantasy. Her stories can be found in several anthologies and magazines, and her collections, Blue Sludge Blues & Other Abominations and Bruised Souls & Other Torments, are available in stores. You can also find her as a co-host of the podcast “Mysteries, Monsters, & Mayhem.” When she's not writing, she's hiking through the wilds of Colorado and photographing her magnificent surroundings. Though she often misses the Oregon coast, the majestic and rugged Rockies are a sight she could never part with. Besides, in Colorado there's always a place to hide a body or birth a monster. What more could she ask for?
Find her:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon Author Page | Goodreads | Instagram
PSYCHO HOSE BEAST FROM OUTER SPACE has been live for just over a week. It's my third full-length, self-published novel, and the first one I've put out in over four years. I had the release built up a lot in my head, and I put a lot of work into the pre-launch, a lot more than I've put into previous books. So how is it going?
There certainly is a lot of "buzz." I've gotten lots of positive comments and feedback on social media, including thousands of views for my cheesy little video promo (big thanks to 80s Summer Camp for the help spreading that!):
Hi y'all!
Today I'm helping friend of the blog CHRYS FEY share her brand new book, FROZEN CRIMES, the latest volume in the Disaster Crimes series. Chrys always has a fun prompt to go with her blog hops, so read my answer below and then check out her latest awesome offering!
Frozen Crimes Blog Hop Prompt: Whom would you want to be stuck with during a blizzard, and what would you do?
My Answer: Definitely my parents. Not because I want to spend time with them or anything (which I supposed I also do), but because they have the most well-stocked freezer and pantry of anyone I know. When the pandemic hit earlier this year and getting food and supplies was difficult, they literally just said "What odds?" and put their feet up and relaxed. They always have enough canned goods, preserves, frozen meat and toilet paper to last them for MONTHS. Not to mention my dad makes his own wine and usually has I think it's just a by-product of growing up in Newfoundland - a blizzard or storm is a possibility at any time, so you always need to be prepared.
Hop around to the other participants to read their answers: Frozen Crimes Blog Hop
When disasters strike around every corner, is it possible to have a happily-ever-after?
BLURB: Beth and Donovan are expecting their first child. Life couldn’t get any better…until a stalker makes his presence known. This person sends disturbing messages and unsettling items, but it isn’t long before his menacing goes too far.
Hoping for a peaceful Christmas, Donovan takes Beth to Michigan. Days into their trip, a winter storm named Nemesis moves in with the goal of burying the state. Snowdrifts surround their house, and the temperature drops below freezing.
Except, the storm isn’t the only nemesis they must face. Everyone’s lives are at stake—especially that of their unborn child. Will they survive, or will they become a frozen crime?
BUY LINKS: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iTunes
EXCERPT:
The crunch of the shovel pounding into the snow and ice filled his ears. It was all he could hear. The rest of the street was silent beneath its wintry blanket. Breathing was difficult with the icy air clogging his lungs. His nose burned. His throat was dry and on fire. But he ignored it, focusing on his task.
Crack, crack, crack.
He jabbed the shovel into a hunk of snow. On the third hit, it shattered into several pieces. He scooped them up and flung them to the side. He surveyed what remained. There was one big ball in the middle of the path that needed to be dealt with next. He moved over to it and struck it. That one impact had it severing in two. He was about to hit it again when something crashed into the back of his head.
Explosions of white light danced over his vision. Pain enveloped his skull.
The shovel slipped from his fingers. Blackness cloaked his mind, coaxing him into its depths.
Beth. Her name was a whisper in his head, as if his thoughts were being sucked into a wormhole.
His legs collapsed under his weight.
Cold. It seeped into him, consuming him. And then his consciousness fled down that same void that ate his thoughts.
***HUGE DISASTER CRIMES GIVEAWAY***
Prizes: 4 eBooks (Disaster Crimes 1-4: Hurricane Crimes, Seismic Crimes, Tsunami Crimes, Flaming Crimes) + Girl Boss Magnets (4), Inflatable Cup Holder (1), Adventure Fuel To-Go Cups (2), Anchor Fashion Scarf (1), Mermaid Nail Clippers (2), Citrus and Sea Salt Scented Candle (1), Snowflake Handmade Bookmark (1), Insulated Cooler Bag (1)
Eligibility: International
Number of Winners: One
Giveaway Ends: October 30, 2020 12:00am EST
LINK: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/76132e0221/?
***FREE EXCLUSIVE EBOOK***
To get the exclusive prequel to the Disaster Crimes series, sign up for Chrys’ newsletter. By signing up, you agree to receive Chrys Fey’s newsletter. After you confirm subscription, you will receive an email (so check your inbox and spam folder) with directions on where to snag your eBook copy of THE CRIME BEFORE THE STORM.
Click here to sign up and get The Crime Before the Storm FREE!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Chrys Fey is author of the Disaster Crimes Series, a unique concept that blends disasters, crimes, and romance. She runs the Insecure Writer’s Support Group Book Club on Goodreads and edits for Dancing Lemur Press. https://www.chrysfey.com
Author Links:
Website / Blog / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Amazon
At long last, today is the day I officially release PSYCHO HOSE BEAST FROM OUTER SPACE onto the world. This is my first full length novel release in four years, so needless to say I'm pretty excited.
PSYCHO HOSE BEAST is set in a small Newfoundland town in the early 1990s, a town very similar to the one I grew up in. In that way it's a personal story for me, though I admit I never fought a murderous monster from beyond the stars. Many of the locations and even some of the people might seem familiar if you grew up in that time and place, and I've had a few early readers comment on how they enjoyed the nostalgia.
An even more common compliment I've received is that the young main characters seem very believable and reminded the readers of themselves and their own friends at that age, no matter where and when they grew up. I really appreciated this, as I've sometimes struggled to make characters that were relatable and that the readers cared about. Turns out all I had to do was channel my inner 12-year-old boy.
I would really appreciate it if you checked out PSYCHO HOSE BEAST on Amazon, or read some of the great early reviews on Goodreads. It's available today for Kindle and paperback.
Enjoy the book!
Hugs & Kisses,
-CDGK
Newfoundland, Canada, 1992.
Gale Harbour hasn’t seen any excitement since the military abandoned the base there thirty years ago, unless you count the Tuesday night 2-for-1 video rentals at Jerry's Video Shack. So when a dead body turns up floating in the town water supply, all evidence seems to point to a boring accident.
Niall, Pius and Harper are dealing with pre-teen awkwardness in the last days of summer before the start of high school. The same night the body is found, the three of them witness unusual lights in the sky over the bay.
Is it a coincidence? Are the lights connected to the rapidly-increasing string of mysterious deaths? And what does the creepy old lady at the nursing home have to do with it?
There is an evil older than time hidden deep beneath the waters of the North Atlantic. It is hungry, and vengeful, and it has its sights set on Gale Harbour to begin its path of destruction. All that stands in its way are a group of kids who would rather be playing Street Fighter II...
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT PSYCHO HOSE BEAST FROM OUTER SPACE:
"The great strength of the book is the voice, the way Gallant-King really gets into the minds of his characters. The kids feel authentic, with all the baggage or adolescence as well as supernatural horror bearing down on them."
"I found the humour to be excellent [...] The author has done a fantastic job of crafting the main characters into believable, real life pre-teens wrapped up in their own worlds but willing to do what it takes to protect their community."
"Gallant-King’s writing is very easy to read and keeps you engaged in the story the whole way through. I also loved his humour. I enjoyed the setting, it was creepy, dark and imaginative."
"Hot damn, this was a good read."
"Expertly paced and excellently crafted sci-fi. I enjoyed every moment."
"In case you missed the clues the title provides, this book is typical Gallant-King – gutsy, original, and savagely fun. With aggressive pacing and a stable of interesting characters, Psycho Hose Beast From Outer Space is a real page-turner."
BUY THE BOOK!
Friend of the blog and author extraordinaire Patricia Lynne has just released brand-spanking new covers for all of her young adult books. They're the same great stories inside, just with a shiny new coat of paint on the outside!
Below are the new covers and blurbs, as well as the buy links so you can pick them up. I've read a bunch of her stuff and it's all great, particularly Being Human, which is the book my wife read and famously quoted: "You should read this. She's a much better writer than you."
Being Human
Tommy forgot his human life when he became a vampire...but it didn’t forget him.
Like all vampires, Tommy must do one thing: survive. With no memory of his life before death, his only connection to humanity is his twin brother. When Tommy rescues a young girl, he learns not all monsters are undead. After returning her to her family, Tommy struggles to understand why he felt so protective of her when she has no connection to him.
As the years pass, and with his twin’s help, Tommy moves on with his ‘life’ but never forgets the young girl or the monster who hurt her. When she re-enters his life as a teenager, Tommy struggles with his vampire need to survive and his desire to protect her. He will be forced to decide which part of him is stronger: The vampire? Or the human? The answer may destroy him.
Snapshots
Cyclop can see other people’s futures, but his own is clouded by a past he can’t escape and a man he calls Master.
It’s not Cyclop’s albino skin and mismatched eyes that make him stand out, but his ability to see the future and a dark past he escaped. Only those close to him know his secrets, and with their help, he has carved out a normal life. But his past refuses to let him go, and when the man he calls Master finds him, he is forced to return to his old life.
Imprisoned, Cyclop clings to the hope of freedom. To do so, he must break Master’s control over him. Will he find the strength to become the master of his own life? Or is his past destined to be his future?
Leaves of Fall
Armory was raised to hate nature, but not all trees wanted a war.
Armory was born in a world torn apart by the war between man and nature. The threat of another attack looms over Armory and the survivors hidden in the remains of New York City. When Armory is kidnapped, a tree nymph is her unlikely savior.
Birch claims he can return Armory safely home. Can she trust a tree? If she wants to see her home again, she has no choice. As they travel across the wasteland of America, Armory meets both humans and trees who want the fighting to stop.
But the hatred between man and nature may be too deep of a wound to heal. In a world destroyed by hate, can Armory and Birch’s friendship change minds and forge peace? Birch has a plan to make it happen. He’s just not sure he’ll survive.
THE AUTHOR!
Patricia never set out to become a writer, and in fact, she never considered it an option during high school and college. She was more of an art and band geek. Some stories are meant to be told, and now she can't stop writing. Her young adult stories often have a paranormal, fantasy or sci-fi twist.
Patricia lives with her husband in Michigan, hopes one day to have what will resemble a small petting zoo, and has a fondness for dying her hair the colors of the rainbow. She also writes New Adult Urban Fantasy and Sci-Fi Romance under the name Patricia Josephine.
THE LINKS!
Website: -http://www.patriciajosephine.com
Goodreads – http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/635444.Patricia_Lynne
Amazon Author Pagee – https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B01EM6YLAW
Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/pattyauthor07
Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/paranormalpeeps/
ALL THE BOOKS!
Being Human – https://www.patriciajosephine.com/being-human.html
Snapshots – https://www.patriciajosephine.com/snapshots.html
Leaves of Fall – https://www.patriciajosephine.com/leaves-of-fall.html
A Quick Bite – https://www.patriciajosephine.com/aquickbite.html
Sherry Ellis has a new book out today from Dancing Lemur Press, so I'm sharing my blog to help spread the word! Check out all the details below:
Bubba and Squirt’s Mayan Adventure
by Sherry Ellis
An ancient Mayan civilization!
That's what Bubba and Squirt find when they travel through the mysterious vortex for another wild adventure. There they meet archeologists who are unearthing priceless artifacts.
But someone is stealing them. And an encounter with the Tate Duende awakens magic within Bubba. Throw in the mysterious Alux and a new discovery and things get sticky.
Will Bubba and Squirt solve the mystery, or will they be stuck forever in the jungles of Belize?
Release date - September 15, 2020
$7.95, 6x9 trade paperback, 96 pages
Juvenile Fiction - Action Adventure (JUV001000)/Legends, Myths, Fables-Caribbean & Latin American(JUV012070)/Fantasy & Magic(JUV037000)
Print ISBN 9781939844705 / EBook ISBN 9781939844712
$3.99 EBook available in all formats
Sherry Ellis is an award-winning author and professional musician who plays and teaches the violin, viola, and piano. When she is not writing or engaged in musical activities, she can be found doing household chores, hiking, or exploring the world. Ellis lives in Atlanta, Georgia.
https://www.bubbaandsquirt.org/
https://www.facebook.com/sherryellisbooksandmusic
https://twitter.com/513sherrye
Sherry Ellis’ Bubba and Squirt’s Big Dig to China won the Reader’s Favorites Silver Medal for the Children's Grades 4-6 category.
Links:
Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083S1VQ14
ITunes - https://books.apple.com/ca/book/bubba-and-squirts-mayan-adventure/id1495108829
Barnes & Noble - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bubba-and-squirts-mayan-adventure-sherry-ellis/1136013293?ean=9781939844705
Kobo - https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/bubba-and-squirt-s-mayan-adventure
Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50624942-bubba-and-squirt-s-mayan-adventure
This is it! Less than a month left until the release of Psycho Hose Beast From Outer Space. It's been four years since I launched a full-length novel and did a full-scale release, so needless to say this is a bit nerve-wracking. It's been going pretty well so far. I've already got a handful of (very good!) pre-reviews up on Goodreads, and I've got a bunch more ARCs out there, so I'm hoping for at least a few more reviews by launch time. I've received some pre-orders, too, which is encouraging. I've got a blog tour lined up for the release and I'm busy writing guest posts and interviews. So far, everything is going as planned.
Of course, on top of that I decided to submit not one, not two, but three short stories this month. Plus I'm still juggling working my regular job from home while having the kids underfoot all the time. Plus my wife's health has been up-and-down as usual. Our family doctor is sending her back to see the surgeon, which is never a good sign. Plus we have the Damoclesian Sword of school hanging over our heads - we're keeping the kids home for remote learning but we still don't even know when classes start or what it will look like (or if it's even possible to teach a 5 year-old-from home!). We've been buying supplies and moving things around the house to try and make it more "school-like." Plus my father's birthday was this weekend and we didn't get home to visit again this year, nor do I know when we will be able to with the current situation in the world. It's yet another reminder that I don't know how many chances I (or my children) have left to see my parents. Plus our cat, who has been with us for 19 years, is sick and it's no longer a decision of if we'll have to put him down but when.
So yeah, I haven't gotten a lot of sleep lately.
There are good things happening, to counteract the bad. My father-in-law, who lives just down the street and is obviously much closer to my kids, has officially been in remission for one year after being diagnosed with stage IV cancer almost three years ago. Because I can work from home, we've been in a much better position financially than a lot of people. Not to mention safer, as I don't envy the people who have to go into dangerous and potentially life-threatening situations they never signed up for (ie, teachers). I have to be grateful for that. And hey, I finally got a medication that worked to clear up that gross eczema/skin infection on my hand (yeah, I'm sure you wanted to hear about that).
So life isn't all bad, but it's a lot. Trying to write and publish books with everything else going on is hard, and exhausting. But I also know that I go through cycles and pretty soon I'm going to hit a wall. If I don't get the most out of the productivity while I can, then I'm going to feel even worse in a couple of months when I can't bring myself to write anything.
So yeah, try to be positive, try to keep going. Enjoy the book launch. People do seem to be enjoying Psycho Hose Beast, and this is by far the most buzz I've ever had for a book pre-release. One of the best pieces of feedback I've received, and certainly didn't expect, is that the 12-year-old main characters are very believable. That they feel like real pre-teens with believable thoughts, worries and relationships. I will definitely take that praise, but you know what that means, right? That I totally have the mind of a 12-year old.
I guess I'm okay with that.
Pyscho Hose Beast From Outer Space releases Monday, September 28, 2020. It is available exclusively on Amazon. You can pre-order it on Kindle for just 99 cents, so help a fella out and order it now. You save yourself a couple of bucks and it ensures I get a nice day-one sales boost! 😉 Full details and blurb is below.
Stay safe!
Hugs & kisses,
-CDGK
The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Writers post their thoughts on their blogs, talking about their doubts and the fears they have conquered. It's a chance for writers to commiserate and offer a word of encouragement to each other. Check out the group at http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/.
Hey all!
Good friend of the blog, Patricia Josephine, has a new book out this week, called Influenced! I read it and it was awesome, you can check out my full review on Goodreads, but here's a highlight:
It's a testament to Patricia's talent, creativity and ingenuity that she can take a tired old idea and make it into something entertaining and moving. I'm not surprised - she accomplished a similar feat with vampires in books like "Being Human" - I am genuinely awed and delighted that she did it with something as strange and decidedly un-sexy as the old shoulder angel/devil trope.
So yeah, check out Patricia's book and book and pick up a copy! If you need more info, full details are below, as well as a neat quiz to see if you're more attuned to the darkness or the light.
Take it away, Patricia!
There is no Light without Dark.
Influencers are the voices that whisper in our ears. Tiny Angels and Devil sitting on our shoulders and guiding our choices. They are sworn to thwart the other. It is their duty.
Or so they thought…
Nothing is as it seems and questions are piling up. Do Kale and Ariel have the strength to face the truth? Will Antonia and Landon be forced to choose a side? Can Soleil break through to Kemuel? Three tales, three choices: Light. Dark. Or the shades of gray between.
Which one will win?
BUY THE BOOK!
Amazon: http://mybook.to/influenced
THE AUTHOR!
Patricia Josephine is a writer of Urban Fantasy and Sci-Fi Romance books. She actually never set out to become a writer, and in fact, she was more interested in art and band in high school and college. Her dreams were of becoming an artist like Picasso. On a whim, she wrote down a story bouncing in her head for fun. That was the start of her writing journey, and she hasn't regretted a moment. When she's not writing, she's watching Doctor Who or reading about serial killers. She's an avid knitter. One can never have too much yarn. She writes Young Adult Paranormal, Science Fiction, and Fantasy under the name Patricia Lynne.
Patricia lives with her husband in Michigan, hopes one day to have what will resemble a small petting zoo, and has a fondness for dying her hair the colors of the rainbow.
THE LINKS!
Website: - https://www.patriciajosephine.com
Patreon - http://bit.ly/2sHZ3Vr
Ko-Fi - https://ko-fi.com/pattyauthor07
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pattyauthor07
Newsletter - http://bit.ly/2qOsvbm
Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13460894.Patricia_Josephine
Amazon Author Page - https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00UH7GAK0
Guest Post: Are you a Light Influencer or a Dark Influencer?
We all have Influencers who sit on our shoulders and guide us, but have you ever wondered which one you would be? Would you be urging your mortal toward light or enticing them into some devious fun? Find out with these simple questions.
1) What flavor describes you?
a. Vanilla
b. Caramel
2) Which do you prefer?
a. Dog
b. Cat
3) Is cereal a soup?
a. No
b. Yes
4) Does pineapple belong on pizza?
a. No
b. Yes
5) Toilet paper on the roll?
a. Over
b. Under
6) Is a hotdog a sandwich?
a. No
b. Yes
7) Who shot first?
a. Han Solo
b. Greedo
8) What would you teach a parrot to say first?
a. Polly wants a cracker
b. F$@%&$@
If you answered mostly A:
If you answered mostly B:
Which one are you? Did the answer surprise you? Thank you for stopping by and celebrating Influenced release with me. If you want to see the inspiration behind this quiz, you can grab it on Amazon for $1.99 or read it for free on Kindle Unlimited.
"Typical Gallant-King - gutsy, original, and savagely fun."-Samuel Gately, author of Night of the Chalk and The Fire Eye Refugee
"C.D. Gallant-King pays an exciting and thrilling homage to the 90s. The story is expertly paced and an excellently crafted sci-fi."-Paul Carberry, author of Zombies on the Rock
"The author has done a fantastic job of crafting the main characters into believable, real life pre-teens."-Damien Larkin, author of Big Red
"I would put him at the top of the list of Canadian horror humor authors, as soon as I find some more so I can actually make a list."-Patrick LeClerc, author of Out of Nowhere
