Showing posts with label Twisted Earths. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Twisted Earths. Show all posts

9.26.2017

9 Twisted Tales Set in 9 Twisted Worlds #SpeculativeFiction #Giveaway



Untethered Realms is celebrating the upcoming release of the 4th collection in our elemental story series: Spirits on the Water. We're celebrating by making the first in the series, Twisted Earths, FREE!

That's right, 9 outstanding, fantastical stories for the price of free.

Twisted Earths Available at:

Amazon / AmazonUK / Google Play / Smashwords / iTunes / B&N / Kobo

Here's what you get:

Twisted Earths is a collection of tales from Untethered Realms, a group of speculative fiction authors. The stories are as varied and rich as the types of soil on this and other planets—sandy loam, clay, knotted with roots and vines, dreaded paths through unexplored planets, and in enchanted forests, lit by candlelight and two moons. 

M. Pax, author of the series, The Backworlds and The Rifters spins a tale called Patchworker 2.0. Specialists with digital interfaces are the only ones who can distinguish between biological energy and mechanical pulses, and “patch” AIs, which hold the world together. Patchworker Evalyn Shore meets up with an AI with deadly intent.

Cherie Reich, known for her epic fantasy series The Fate Challenges and The Foxwick Chronicles, presents Lady Death. Umbria, a beautiful and powerful swordsmith, is given an impossible task by her brother Leon when he asks, “You are the assassin. Are you scared to destroy Death when you are up to your elbows in it?”

Angela Brown is the author of the paranormal Shadow Jumpers and NEO Chronicles series. In her story, In The Know, Jacob, a loyal family man is struggling to stay out of debt when he’s hired to report on big plans for a future Detroit. He’s given a mysterious manila envelope with instructions to “open it alone” or pay the price. With switchback twists you won’t see coming, a debt of a much steeper cost is what he just might end up paying for his involvement.

Catherine Stine, author of the futuristic thrillers, Fireseed One and Ruby’s Fire, offers The Day of The Flying Dogs, a sinister tale of brilliant, troubled NYC high-school student, Theo. He experiences a day at Coney Island that includes drugs, delusions, a lonely capybara, Nathan’s hotdogs and a mind-bending lesson in our very twisted universe.

Christine Rains, known best for her paranormal series The Thirteenth Floor, gives us The Ole Saint, a story at once sweet, horrific and heartrending. Ezra longs to fit in and have boys stop calling him witch and freak, yet his unique supernatural skill sets him apart, and the last gift from The Ole Saint cinches the deal.

Graeme Ing, known for his young adult fantasy, Ocean of Dust presents The Malachite Mine, a gripping, scream-inducing ride. Whatever was Mary thinking when she accepted her husband’s gift of a most terrifying twenty-first birthday celebration in an abandoned Russian mine?

River Fairchild, author of her Jewels of Chandra series, presents A Grand Purpose. Rosaya and her cousin, Drianna are soon to be married off, but Rosaya is unhappy with her assigned match. She’s much more intoxicated by the older Firrandor, a wizard she hardly knows. When Rosaya is accused of killing an oracle boy, all bets are off, not only for her love, but her freedom.

Gwen Gardner, who pens the cozy paranormal mystery series, Indigo Eady, adds to her collection with Ghostly Guardian. Indigo and her rib-tickling ghost-busters must travel to a dangerous pirate-laden past in order to unearth a curmudgeonly eighteenth century spirit that is plaguing the Blind Badger Pub.

Misha Gerrick, whose War of Six Crowns series is forthcoming, gives us a story called Red Earth and White Light. Emily, a young ghost bride has long haunted a house. She longs to cross over into the afterlife, but she’s trapped in memories of lilies and betrayal.


The stories in this collection are marvelous, strange, frightening, and otherworldly. And we know you're ready for more. They're coming in Spirits of the Water! Huzzah!


12.14.2015

The science & mystique of boxed sets

Here at UR we've done a boxed set of novels called Fantasy Rising, and two story anthologies, Twisted Earths and Mayhem in the Air. See them all here! They've been great to work on for various reasons. One is the socializing factor, getting to know each other better through the editing and decision-making processes of cover design, title choice and the like. But, they've also been beneficial to spreading word of our group, our individual authorship and bodies of work. And of course, they make money that helps us publish other sets and buy promo.

This year, I've delved into the world of boxed sets and story anthologies outside of UR as well. My first venture was in placing one of my indie novels in a huge boxed set called Secret Worlds with twenty other authors of fantasy and paranormal fiction. I learned a lot about marketing with this set. We assigned one author a day to be responsible for posting promo material on Facebook, Twitter, blogs, TSU and Instagram. We had a contingent of people who specialized in creating visual teasers, and another who took care of accounting and payouts. Still another took money and placed ads in popular book sites.

The hard work paid off. We landed on the Amazon Bestseller list for three solid weeks in three categories (myth, new adult & fairytale). This proved to be such a good system we've kept the boxed set up three months after we planned to delete it.

As a final marketing plan to boost the set through the holidays to New Years, we created a perma-free story anthology called Beyond Secret Worlds that relates directly to our novels in Secret Worlds, so people can follow us into our other books. see it on iTunes, Amazon, Kobo.

And, hey, it's FREE, folks! It includes my story, Blue House Magic, which follows Ruby and Blane from book two of the Fireseed series, to their new home in Vegas-by-the-Sea. So, it's a lead-in to book three (as of yet unwritten).

I've found readers love boxed sets because it allows them to sample a variety of work for a great price. If one story or novel doesn't suit them, they can simply read on to another one. Having a bunch of authors working on the same project is a huge relief. It's community-building and so much less stressful than always going it alone. But it does require good organization, and sometimes, even a strict leader, barking away at the crew.

Have you participated in a boxed set or story anthology? Did you enjoy it? If so why? Pros and cons? 

10.17.2014

Happenings in the Realm: Huzzizzle October 2014 #SpecFic #SciFi #Fantasy #Horror


Twisted Earths is HERE!

Nine twisted stories from nine twisted worlds.



Purchase from: Amazon / iTunes / B&N / Kobo

Only 99 cents for a collection of fantastic stories!

*

Contributing authors:

Angela Brown

River Fairchild

Gwen Gardner

M. Gerrick

Graeme Ing

M. Pax

Christine Rains

Cherie Reich

Catherine Stine

*

Twisted Earths is a collection of tales from Untethered Realms, a group of speculative fiction authors. The stories are as varied and rich as the types of soil on this and other planets—sandy loam, clay, knotted with roots and vines, dreaded paths through unexplored planets, and in enchanted forests, lit by candlelight and two moons.

M. Pax, author of the series, The Backworlds and The Rifters spins a tale called Patchworker 2.0. Specialists with digital interfaces are the only ones who can distinguish between biological energy and mechanical pulses, and “patch” AIs, which hold the world together. Patchworker Evalyn Shore meets up with an AI with deadly intent.

Cherie Reich, known for her epic fantasy series The Fate Challenges and The Foxwick Chronicles, presents Lady Death. Umbria, a beautiful and powerful swordsmith, is given an impossible task by her brother Leon when he asks, “You are the assassin. Are you scared to destroy Death when you are up to your elbows in it?”

Angela Brown is the author of the paranormal Shadow Jumpers and NEO Chronicles series. In her story, In The Know, Jacob, a loyal family man is struggling to stay out of debt when he’s hired to report on big plans for a future Detroit. He’s given a mysterious manila envelope with instructions to “open it alone” or pay the price. With switchback twists you won’t see coming, a debt of a much steeper cost is what he just might end up paying for his involvement.

Catherine Stine, author of the futuristic thrillers, Fireseed One and Ruby’s Fire, offers The Day of The Flying Dogs, a sinister tale of brilliant, troubled NYC high-school student, Theo. He experiences a day at Coney Island that includes drugs, delusions, a lonely capybara, Nathan’s hotdogs and a mind-bending lesson in our very twisted universe.

Christine Rains, known best for her paranormal series The Thirteenth Floor, gives us The Ole Saint, a story at once sweet, horrific and heartrending. Ezra longs to fit in and have boys stop calling him witch and freak, yet his unique supernatural skill sets him apart, and the last gift from The Ole Saint cinches the deal.

Graeme Ing, known for his young adult fantasy, Ocean of Dust presents The Malachite Mine, a gripping, scream-inducing ride. Whatever was Mary thinking when she accepted her husband’s gift of a most terrifying twenty-first birthday celebration in an abandoned Russian mine?

River Fairchild, author of her Jewels of Chandra series, presents A Grand Purpose. Rosaya and her cousin, Drianna are soon to be married off, but Rosaya is unhappy with her assigned match. She’s much more intoxicated by the older Firrandor, a wizard she hardly knows. When Rosaya is accused of killing an oracle boy, all bets are off, not only for her love, but her freedom.

Gwen Gardner, who pens the cozy paranormal mystery series, Indigo Eady, adds to her collection with Ghostly Guardian. Indigo and her rib-tickling ghost-busters must travel to a dangerous pirate-laden past in order to unearth a curmudgeonly eighteenth century spirit that is plaguing the Blind Badger Pub.

Misha Gerrick, whose War of Six Crowns series is forthcoming, gives us a story called Red Earth and White Light. Emily, a young ghost bride has long haunted a house. She longs to cross over into the afterlife, but she’s trapped in memories of lilies and betrayal.




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Calling All Authors and Writers

I could use your help in getting the word out about this year's Realms Faire. The faire is about you and helping you gain some visibility for your work. It has several opportunities to help you do that. 

  1. Be a sponsor and donate prizes. This gets you listed on the Realms Faire scrolly and pages. The events giving away your swag will mention you. 

  2. Test your mettle in the joust. People will be cheering for you for five days straight. You will get a spotlight on one of the five days. You get a nifty badge. Limited to 10 knights.

  3. Duel with words in Dueling Bards. You and your work are spotlighted on one day. Limited to 10 bards.

Signups

Be a sponsor  /  Be a Knight  /  Duel as a Bard


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Get The Rifters and The Initiate while they're hot off the press!

The Rifters is a FREE download until 12/31/14The Initiate is 99 cents on preorder until October 20, 2014!

Riftersseriescovers

Download The Rifters from: Amazon / AmazonUK / B&N/Smashwords /Googleplay /

iTunes / Other

Preorder The Initiate from: 

Amazon / Amazon UK / AmazonAU / AmazonCA /AmazonDE / iTunes / B&N Googleplay / Other




  The Afterlife Series is online!
AMAZON - Available Now

AMAZON - Available Now

AMAZON - Available 10/20

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The Turnagain Arm, a prequel to Polar Night which takes place in 1917 during the building of the Alaskan railroad, is now available on Amazon for just 99 cents!  Find out what vampire Aleksei Nechayev was up to when he first made his way to Alaska. It's safe to say it wasn't anything good. 




DORIANNA Launches OCT 24!

Dorianna, Catherine Stine's YA horror/paranormal launches with Evernight Teen on October 24. You are invited to Come join the fun at the release party. Catherine, with Bewitching Book Tour's help, is throwing a Facebook party on OCT 29 with fun games, and two guest authors writing dark YA. 


Also, stay tuned for the tour, with a Rafflecopter chocked full of UR and other authors who write amazing dark fantasy!


9.19.2014

Happenings in the Realm: Huzzizzle September 2014 #SpecFic #SciFi #Fantasy #Horror

Marketh thee calendar!

2014 Realms Faire & Joust

November 10-14th

2014RFBadge


The 2014 Realms Faire and joust is coming. What? Yes, it's time to think about polishing off your lances and your huzzahs. The faire is November 10-14 this year.

2014 Events:

The Joust, hosted by M. Pax

Soak-a-bloke and Drench-a-wench, hosted by Christine Rains

Stockade Brigade, hosted by Mary Waibel

Dueling Bards, hosted by Cas Web

Riddle Me This, hosted by Cherie Reich

Phasers, hosted by Untethered Realms


Interested in hosting an event? Would love to have you join us.  This will be the third online joust and the faire has been a blast for hosts and attendees. If you'd like to host an event and are looking for ideas, I have a few.  This is also the sign up for knights. The joust is limited to 10. And if you'd like to be a sponsor by providing a prize, you can use this same sign up. Want to know more before you sign up? You can email me at mpaxauthor@gmail.com

Sign up!

 



Preorder Giveaway!


Preorder Twisted Earths and get your choice of an Untethered Realms' authored book for free with proof of purchase. For proof of purchase, you can do a screenshot of where you ordered the book. Send this screenshot along with which book you'd like for free (click here for our book list) to untetheredrealms@gmail.com.

Preorder at Amazon, Smashwords, iTunes, B&N, and Google Play!






Two Books for a Buck Special!

Riftersseriescovers

Try book one for free!

Download from: Amazon / AmazonUK / B&N / Smashwords /Googleplay / iTunes / Other

Take advantage of the preorder special on book 2, The Initiate. Only 99 cents via preorder from Amazon, iTunes, B&N, and Googleplay. Preorder

That's two books for one buck! But only for a limited time.

For more giveaways and events on the launch of the Rifters series visit MPax's Blog and THIS PAGE

September books & articles with 
Catherine Stine's commentary


  

As writers we like advice from people who have walked the walk. Even better if it's FREE! Authors Carrie Butler and PK Hrezo have compiled "Letters of Advice to my Younger Writer Self" from 60+ authors in this fascinating book, How I Found the Write Path.  FREE on AMAZON & B&N.


This quirky cooking/advice book on writing and love is the brainchild of author, Lois Winston. Catherine shares words of advice on love and writing with a recipe for a tasty fruit pastry.
Get the ebook from AmazonNookiTunes. Amazon paperback here. The blurb:

What do most authors have in common, no matter what genre they write? They love desserts. Sweets sustain them through pending deadlines and take the sting out of crushing rejection letters and nasty reviews. They also often celebrate their successes—selling a book, winning a writing award, making a bestseller list, or receiving a fabulous review—with decadent indulgences. And when authors chat with each other, they often talk about their writing and their lives. Recipes. Writing. Relationships. In this cookbook 105 authors not only share their favorite recipes for fabulous cakes, pies, cookies, candy, and more, they also share the best advice they’ve ever received on love and writing.


Catherine's commentary on marketing tactics for indie authors is included in the latest issue of Publisher's Weekly! Check it out here.

Her new adult novel, Private Internship launches on September 29. It's not exactly spec fiction (although, let's face it, love is often magical or freaky), but if you'd like to join the Facebook party on OCT 2, from 6 to 11 pm (EST) you're all invited! And stay tuned for her YA horror, Dorianna, launching October 24 with a spooktastic Facebook party and giveaways from some of your fave Untethered Realms authors! 


Okay, just got the cover for Dorianna... wanna see? You get the first peek!!!



Big Geeky News

Christine Rains has signed a 3 book contract with Ellora's Cave for their special line "Geekgasm." Her hilarious and nerdy trilogy is called Dice & Debauchery. It's about an online gaming group meeting for the first time at a convention and the crazy fun that follows. The stories are full of geeky jokes, sweet romance, and sizzling erotica. The first book, "Loose Corset" will be released on January 9th, 2015.

 
 
 
New Release!
 
Gwen Gardner has another new release on 9/22. The same quirky characters from her Indigo Eady novels are back to solve mysteries, only now they're working directly with the ghosts via some very special majick. Pre-order HERE.
 


8.15.2014

Happenings in the Realm: Huzzizzle August 2014 #SpecFic #SciFi #Fantasy #Horror


Coming Fall 2014!


Nine twisted stories from nine twisted worlds.

Contributing authors:

Angela Brown
River Fairchild
Gwen Gardner
M. Gerrick
Graeme Ing
M. Pax
Christine Rains
Cherie Reich
Catherine Stine

Twisted Earths is a collection of tales from Untethered Realms, a group of speculative fiction authors. The stories are as varied and rich as the types of soil on this and other planets—sandy loam, clay, knotted with roots and vines, dreaded paths through unexplored planets, and in enchanted forests, lit by candlelight and two moons.

M. Pax, author of the series, The Backworlds and The Rifters spins a tale called Patchworker 2.0. Specialists with digital interfaces are the only ones who can distinguish between biological energy and mechanical pulses, and “patch” AIs, which hold the world together. Patchworker Evalyn Shore meets up with an AI with deadly intent.

Cherie Reich, known for her epic fantasy series The Fate Challenges and The Foxwick Chronicles, presents Lady Death. Umbria, a beautiful and powerful swordsmith, is given an impossible task by her brother Leon when he asks, “You are the assassin. Are you scared to destroy Death when you are up to your elbows in it?”

Angela Brown is the author of the paranormal Shadow Jumpers and NEO Chronicles series. In her story, In The Know, Jacob, a loyal family man is struggling to stay out of debt when he’s hired to report on big plans for a future Detroit. He’s given a mysterious manila envelope with instructions to “open it alone” or pay the price. With switchback twists you won’t see coming, a debt of a much steeper cost is what he just might end up paying for his involvement.

Catherine Stine, author of the futuristic thrillers, Fireseed One and Ruby’s Fire, offers The Day of The Flying Dogs, a sinister tale of brilliant, troubled NYC high-school student, Theo. He experiences a day at Coney Island that includes drugs, delusions, a lonely capybara, Nathan’s hotdogs and a mind-bending lesson in our very twisted universe.

Christine Rains, known best for her paranormal series The Thirteenth Floor, gives us The Ole Saint, a story at once sweet, horrific and heartrending. Ezra longs to fit in and have boys stop calling him witch and freak, yet his unique supernatural skill sets him apart, and the last gift from The Ole Saint cinches the deal.

Graeme Ing, known for his young adult fantasy, Ocean of Dust presents The Malachite Mine, a gripping, scream-inducing ride. Whatever was Mary thinking when she accepted her husband’s gift of a most terrifying twenty-first birthday celebration in an abandoned Russian mine?

River Fairchild, author of her Jewels of Chandra series, presents A Grand Purpose. Rosaya and her cousin, Drianna are soon to be married off, but Rosaya is unhappy with her assigned match. She’s much more intoxicated by the older Firrandor, a wizard she hardly knows. When Rosaya is accused of killing an oracle boy, all bets are off, not only for her love, but her freedom.

Gwen Gardner, who pens the cozy paranormal mystery series, Indigo Eady, adds to her collection with Ghostly Guardian. Indigo and her rib-tickling ghost-busters must travel to a dangerous pirate-laden past in order to unearth a curmudgeonly eighteenth century spirit that is plaguing the Blind Badger Pub.

Misha Gerrick, whose War of Six Crowns series is forthcoming, gives us a story called Red Earth and White Light. Emily, a young ghost bride has long haunted a house. She longs to cross over into the afterlife, but she’s trapped in memories of lilies and betrayal.



Cover by: EDHGRAPHICS



Untethered Realms Now Has a Newsletter!
Keep up with giveaways, events, and all Untethered Realms is up to. Emails will only be sent when there is pertinent news.

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The Rifters is Coming!



The official launch date is September 8th. I'm recruiting help. If you'd like to help and/or help spread the word, I'd be mighty appreciative. You can help with just a straight shoutout of cover, blurb, buy links, or you can add a little something-something. What is it? A little story about your trip to Settler, Oregon.

"But Mary," you say, "I've never been to Settler, OR." I say, "No one has. I made it up." There's info HERE about Settler to help and there's photos HERE to help inspire you, taken from all over Oregon. There's a FB page HERE which tells of the daily goings on in the town.

I'll be giving out prizes to those who help with a story on Settler. Two $25 gift cards to Amazon or B&N, signed paperbacks and handcrafted steampunk bookmarks by Dire Steampunk (aka Husband Unit), ebooks of the second book in the series The Initiate, and an ebook awarded to someone who comments on your post about Settler. All as a thank you for your awesome help. More about the giveaways and events surrounding The Rifters launch can be found HERE.

A story can be 100 words or less. It can be longer. Anyway, I'd be obliged. You can sign up HERE. Stories can be posted to FB or blogs. Either or both. Posts can be anytime in September through October 31st.




DORIANNA by Catherine Stine launches this October 24 
from Evernight Teen!

Internet followers, beauty, power. It all sounded good. 
Until it transformed into a terrifying reality Dorianna couldn’t stop

Dorianna is a YA paranormal twist for the Internet generation on Wilde's A Picture of Dorian Gray. When her father is jailed, her mother ships lonely, plain Dorianna to her aunt’s. There, Dorianna yearns to build a new identity, but the popular Lacey bullies her—mostly for getting attention from her ex, Ander.
Ander takes Dorianna to Coney Island where Wilson, a videographer, creates a stunning compilation of her. She dreams of being an online sensation, as she’s never even had a birthday party, and vows she’d give anything to go viral. Wilson claims he’s the Prince of Darkness and warns her the pledge has downsides. Dorianna thinks he’s joking. She has no idea of the dire consequences.

She’s thrust into the spotlight, and an incomprehensible nightmare. Not only is she prettier, she’s gaining harmful powers of manipulation. When her powers grow beyond anything she can control, she’s desperate but clueless as to how to stop it.

***Or in the words of the infamous Simon Cowell (Formerly on the American Idol and X-Factor shows): "The ratings come in, you’re happy for five minutes, then the insecure madness comes in ... Your audience controls you, you cannot control them."  

To get details of the OCT 24 DORIANNA launch and tour, subscribe to my newsletter. And mark your calendars for OCT 27 to attend a Halloweenish Dorianna FB party with lots of prizes, sponsored by Bewitching Books!

Also, Private Internship, my new adult novel (writing as Kitsy Clare), launches Sept. 29. It's not exactly spec so I won't go into deets here, but hey, all love or attempts at it, are pretty much sci-fi in my book! Yours? Sign up for the PI book blitz here.