All sorts of news and thoughts.
Book Review: MISSING LYNX (Supernatural Romance)
Missing Lynx
The Lynx Series
By Fiona Quinn
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1Rtcqt1
#Supernatural #Psychic #Romance #Mystery #Action
Fiona’s second book of the series is as fantastic as the first and I’m still fangirling over this series. Spyder finally make an appearance, but it is a appearance surrounded by mystery. A creepy lady moves into the neighborhood, who keeps giving Lexi strange looks and her internal sense tells her the woman is bad business. Her internal knowing is correct. A series of events Lexi can’t prevent lead her into the worst mentally and physically damaging situation of her life. At the climax of the story your heart will be beating and you will be wishing with all your heart that Lexi will live.
The romance between Lexi and Striker teases us, the tension increases and their relationship deepens. I really like how Fiona takes her time with the relationship, letting it grow in a natural way. The action in this novel is still non-stop thrills, but the drama is even higher than in book one.
Bottom line: Fiona has created a world with high tension in the case, in the romance, and in physical action. This is a knock-out combination.
Excellent read!
Lilo Abernathy
Author and Book Lover
Book Review: CHAIN LYNX (Supernatural Romance)
Chain Lynx
The Lynx Series
By Fiona Quinn
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1NYR0X0
#Supernatural #Psychic #Romance #Mystery #Action
Another fantastic book by Fiona Quinn! The story opens with Lexi waking up in the hospital in the most severe condition imaginable. Her body has been devastated, but her mind, oh her mind, it just never stops. I love how analytical she is and I must be frank, that is one of the main reasons I’m in love with her character. Her mind is like a machine, but it certainly doesn’t mean she is lacking emotion. The other great thing about Lexi is her will. It is like steel. You can totally see her overcoming every physical adversity and how she just pulls her body along.
In this story we really get to see Lexi’s mental acuity as she begins to unwind the case and gets to the heart of who is really causing the problems.
The best news? Striker finally makes his move! Yay! Go Striker and Lexi!
Another non-stop action and thrills story that will leave you begging for more. I can’t wait for book 4!
Lilo Abernathy
Author and Book Lover
Fan Spotlight Review of THE BINDING OF THE WOLF by Emmi Kivimäki
Fan Spotlight Review of The Binding of the Wolf
by Emmi Kivimäki
Absolutely loved it! Knowing that Varg is actually Fenrir it makes the perfect sense. Everyone who has read The Light Who Shines should read this! I love Varg even more now.
Link: http://bit.ly/1LAPyI2
Editorial Review of THE LIGHT WHO SHINES by San Francisco Book Review
Editorial Review of The Light Who Shines
by Ruth Duran-Chea for San Francisco Book Review
During the 1600s, the first Vampire was created, bringing about extreme chaos and the beginning of the Red Ages.
Over two thousand years later, Bluebell Kildare, homicide inspector for the Supernatural Investigation Bureau, is faced with solving the murder of a boy found naked, tortured, and beaten near a bar. She is able to examine the emotions and feelings left over in the area, as well as of those near her through the use of her sixth sense; she is Gifted, and very good at her job. By closing her other senses off, she can focus in on the many emotions that permeate the area, so as to center her attention in on evidence and clues that others may miss.
Sadly, despite Blue’s passion for her job, and the other Daylight Vampires who ensure the safety of the people around them, not everyone during this time is so understanding of sharing the world with people who have come to be so different from themselves. Extremist groups, such as the Dilectus Deo, are constantly protesting the very existence of the Gifted humans among them and the Daylight Vampires that protect them from the dangerous Dark Vampires — beings who have fallen prey to their more base natures and given up their ability to roam in daylight after killing in bloodlust. It is a dangerous world, and it takes only the best and bravest to search after criminals who would do harm to others.
“The boy is stark naked, and dried blood streaks extend from the crushed area of his forehead down to the hollows of his eyes where they pool like small, bloody twin lakes. […] I’m going to catch the person who did this. I want to tear his heart out with my bare hands and squeeze it into a bloody pulp.”
Fortunately, Blue is not only a talented investigator, but she also counts on the help of her boss, Jack Tanner – or as she prefers to think of him,
“quite possibly the sexiest man alive. He exudes danger in a quiet, stealthy sort of way. I often think I should be frightened of him – quite possibly because he’s a very old and incredibly strong Vampire. But I can’t seem to muster any fear, even when he’s in an obvious rage. That only makes me question my sanity.”
It’s a complicated and strained relationship – but the clear and palpable tension between them only makes watching them work together all the more enjoyable.
In The Light Who Shines, Lilo Abernathy has created an amazing and fantastic world in which normal humans, Gifted humans, Daylight and Dark Vampires must coexist despite the magical dangers, intolerance, and greed that run rampant on a day-to-day basis. The mystery of the tortured boy is the driving force behind this intriguing novel. As clues are discovered, witnesses questioned, and tips followed from one place to another, it becomes progressively more disturbing to get closer to the person responsible for such a heinous crime. Yet, the more we learn about Blue and her commitment to fight for those who have been victimized by this bigoted society, the more we realize she is just the investigator needed to get to the bottom of these kinds of transgressions. She proves to be not only fully dedicated to her job despite any dangers that come her way – including her own safety – and surprisingly strong-willed for someone who’s most prominent gift is the ability to sense emotions. Still, it is her imperfections and limitations that make her an even more likable character we can all relate to… especially when it comes to her weakness for Jack.
As the story unfolds, it becomes increasingly evident that there is much more at stake than meets the eye. The torture and death of this young boy leads Blue down a path of unprecedented self-discovery and a much larger role she must play not only at the Supernatural Investigation Bureau, but the world. Furthermore, it brings her and Jack much closer than they’ve ever been. The Light Who Shines is a fast-paced, extraordinary, and provocative tale of high stakes and deep losses that demands to be read!
Link: http://bit.ly/1Lf5cHA
You’re invited to All Hallows’ Reads
Every hour a different author takes center stage.
Each author will introduce you to their book world.
Then they’ll entertain you during the party in their own unique way.
Some of the things you can expect include:
Trivia
Games
Contests
Free Samples
Prizes
Where
On Facebook
When
Thursday, October 29, 2015
9:00 PM, EST
to
Sunday, November 1, 2015
Midnight, EST
To Join
-
Click this link to the Facebook party: https://www.facebook.com/events/1645527649046331/
-
Click the “Join” button in the upper right hand corner of that Facebook page.
-
Bookmark the page.
-
Mark your calendar and on the day of, go back to that page.
My slots will be:
Thursday, October 29
11:00 PM EST
and
Saturday, October 31
2:00 PM EST
Time Zone Converter
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html
I’ll be providing a free short story to all who come to my time slot.
I’m also planning fun games that will have full novels awarded as the prize.
If you are a current fan of the Bluebell Kildare Series, some of the prizes that you can choose will be fan memorabilia.
This is my biggest event of the year and will be enjoyable for both current fans and new readers.
I hope you’ll join me and find some new favorite authors too!
Happy
Halloween!
Link to my books.
Where’s Lilo
Test where is Lilo page
Reviews of Lilo’s Work
This page is a selection of some of my favorite fan reviews, peer reviews, and editorial reviews. I can’t display half of what I’d like, but I do read every single review. They mean the world to me, so please keep writing them.
Peer Review of THE LIGHT WHO SHINES by Author K.K. Allen
Peer Review of The Light Who Shines
by K.K. Allen
Author of the Summer Solstice Series.
I’m giddy to say I finally finished reading The Light Who Shines! This has been on my Want to Read list forever and a day but it’s one of those novels that you need to sit down and give your full attention to it. Christmas break was the perfect time to dive into this book that has me excited for more. Everything I could possibly want in a good read was here—a riveting opening scene, interesting characters, great world building, romance, and magic. Loved it.
Link: http://amzn.to/1ifZBr2
Fan Spotlight Review of THE LIGHT WHO BINDS by Gina
Fan Spotlight Review of The Light Who Binds
by Gina
I was unsure that the second book in the series would be able to meet my expectations after reading the first book. There were just so many exciting possibilities for the author to take the storyline and to further develop the characters. I have a very active and creative imagination, so I am often disappointed in the final outcome of a book that I have been waiting oh-so-impatiently to be released. I have never been so happy to fall short on my expectations.
The story was even better than I could ever have imagined. The story was something that did not entirely see coming. It was as Lilo took everything that I was expecting and then turned it up a notch. I could not read the book fast enough. I hated to set it down for even a second.
This is one series that is worth the time and effort to obtain. I can not think of a negative thing to say about it at all. I wish I could give it 6 stars.
Link: http://bit.ly/1EPtvwc
Fan Spotlight of THE LIGHT WHO BINDS by Jennifer Zamboni
Fan Spotlight Review of The Light Who Binds
by Jennifer Zamboni
After much anticipation, I got my hands on this second book in the Bluebell Kildare series. I was up with the littlest kiddo at one in the morning, day of the book release, & I just couldn’t wait, so I bought it straight off, and started reading, as soon as I was awake enough to comprehend words. I couldn’t put it down! From start to finish, I was sucked in. No slow points where I had any inclination to put the book down, & go do something else. There’s a good look a Blue’s past, who/what Varg is. I found out what the mysterious Illustrissima is. There are even hints as to what Dragomira is. The end left me a bit sad, and looking forward to book three.
Note: this series is definitely NOT for young readers. There sex is graphic, though it’s just a part of the story, & doesn’t take over the story.
I’m a huge fan of Ms. Abernathy, & will continue reading everything she publishes!
Link: http://bit.ly/1QpEhui
Peer Review of THE LIGHT WHO BINDS by Author Louise White
Peer Review of The Light Who Binds
by Louise White
Author of The Gateway Series
The Light Who Binds by Lilo Abernathy was an excellent follow up to her first book, The Light Who Shines. Packed with action-adventure, mystery and suspense, I was thoroughly entertained throughout, and terribly sad that I’ll have a wait a while before the next one is out.
Blue’s training serves to supplement her quiet strength which is severely tested by a series of events and revelations that blew me away.
I loved learning more about Varg and Jack. Their loyalty and devotion knows no bounds. The characters have all been beautifully developed with Dragomira and weirdly, Shmidt – don’t judge until you read it – as particular favourites.
I believe that Crimson Hollow is real place with a sickness for which the cure is imminent. I look forward to finding out what happens with the next installment of this gripping series.
Link: http://bit.ly/1L3rFZA
Fan Spotlight Review of THE LIGHT WHO SHINES by Elaine
Fan Spotlight Review of The Light Who Shines
by Elaine
Wow, I loved this book from start to finish. It was fast paced, action packed and a little suspense thrown in.
I loved the character of Bluebell Kildare, she was such a likable character, strong, unsure of herself but always wanting to do things on her own as if to prove her self good enough.
The story basically is about Bluebell who is magically gifted investigating the gruesome death of a teenage boy and finding herself into deep while fighting her growing feelings for her boss Jack who is a daylight vampire, and who by the end of the book I was mentally shouting at silly male.
I also loved Varg the mysterious wolf who appears to save Blue and never leaves her side, always looking out for her.
The story it’s self was fast paced and started basically straight away, I liked that, no chapters of pointless getting to know the characters in this book you got to know them as the book progressed which I found made the book all that more interesting.
All the characters worked well together and I liked that there weren’t too many to keep track of.
I did have a little cry the last couple of chapters.
All in all this is a great start to what could be a good series, this book reminded me a little of the Racheal Morgan series by Kim Harrison. I loved it from start to finish and am eagerly awaiting book 2.
Link: http://bit.ly/1JXt8Pd
Fan Spotlight Review of THE LIGHT WHO BINDS by Elaine
Fan Spotlight Review of The Light Who Binds
by Elaine
Loved it. Bluebell, Jack and Varg are back and the stakes are getting higher.
This book more or less starts from were The Light Who Shines ended.
Bluebell is all healed after the torture she endured at the hands of Tobias Blackwater and is ready to be told the big secrets surrounding The key, Lilith and Bluebell’s role in the whole affair..
This book answered a lot of questions from the first book, while at the same time leaving new questions to be answered.
I liked the fact that in this book we also get to know a little more about Dragomira and her role in the story, as well as been introduced to the mysterious Anna Marie. There were shocks aplenty in this book and the biggest for me was the evil Dean Schimdt, I was rooting for him to be flayed alive, but he seems to be a major player maybe?
There were times when I wanted to smack Jack then he doe’s something to surprise me. He is the helpless hero, but flawed and I liked that.
This book just flowed with so much been revealed yet still kept back. So many hints I just need the next book.
Link: http://bit.ly/1JVLEFk
Fan Spotlight Review of THE LIGHT WHO SHINES by Elusive
Fan Spotlight Review of The Light Who Shines
by Elusive
A great an captivating story with an awesome heroine and just wow all the characters are just awesome I could not put this book down I just loved everything about it. This is one of those one in a million finds it is a great UF book and for anyone who like vampires demons psyhics and magic with an interesting spin on the supernatural I recommend you read this book you won’t be disappointed.
Things constanly move forward with Blue and some of it is dark but it is touching and important for us to understand Blue as a character. There is alot of revelations about Blues past that not even Blue knows about. There is also the love connection and sexual tension between her and Jack. Blue is a Gifted which means she has psychic/magic abilities, We have vampires and other Supernaturals as well, what more can you ask for?
If any of you are a fan of Kate Daniels, Jane Yellowrock, Mercy Thompson this is a book for you I can’t remember the last time I found a new book series that excited me this much. This seris has so much potential and Lilo Abernathy is using it all to make me fall in love with this amazing world she has created.
My favorite character after Blue her self: [ is Varg I just can’t help it I am so awed by Lilo Abernathy’s amazing writeing style and character development, Varg in my mind is one of the main characters in this book. Make no misstake Varg isn’t just some familiar or something like that no Varg is awesome let me tell you Varg makes up alot of what makes this book great.
Without Varg in this series it would still have been a good series but with all the elements in it together Lilo has created an amazing book series (hide spoiler)]
I must say I like Jack as well but he can be frustrating at times allthough that is part of what makes him an awesome character he really makes you feel. The character development and the unfolding of an astounding plot will have you at the edge of your seat reading this.
Fair warning once you start reading this book you won’t want to put it away untill you have finished it, this is just one those books you pick up and don’t put down again untill it is read.
Link: http://bit.ly/1UIj7Iu
Fan Spotlight Review of THE LIGHT WHO BINDS by Elusive
Fan Spotlight Review of The Light Who Binds
by Elusive
I have to say WOW!!!! Just WOW!!! This book just have it all I didn’t think Lilo Abernathy could possible make me love this fantastic world and characters she has created anymore than I already did, But I was wrong oh so wrong I was ignorant and now I have seen the light haha 😛
No but really Lilo Abernathy keeps writing these awesome captivating books that I just can’t escape, add to that the fact that I have finished the second book and I really really want more.
I just loved this book so much there was such incredible revelations in it. I really felt like alot of things where explained and came to light in this second installment of Bluebell Kildare. I am suprise I had to go look hard to find this series, it should be right at the top of the UF list of amazing books, along with books such as Kate Daniels, Mercy Thompson, Jane Yellowrock and other best selling awesome UF books.
If you are thinking about buying this book I got one thing to tell you stop thinking and buy it now!!! I promise that if you liked or like me, deligthed in the first installment of the Bluebell Kildare series. Then you will just drop everything to get a chanse too read this.
Thanks to Lilo Abernathy for another amazing and captivating book that keept me at the edge of my seat through the entire read. I can’t stress enough how very well and interesting written this series is.
Link: http://bit.ly/1ieS3EU
Fan Spotlight Review of THE LIGHT WHO BINDS by Carol-ann Hill
Fan Spotlight Review of The Light Who Binds
by Carol-ann Hill
This is the second book in the Bluebell Killdare series by Lilo J Abernathy. If you have not read the first one yet, the Light who Shines, do so now! I enjoyed this book immensely. Blue, her companion Varg, a gorgeous wolf, and Jack, her boss at the Investigation Agency, are off on another adventure. Blue is about to make some interesting, stunning discoveries about herself, which both scare and confuse her. We learn more about Varg as well, and Blue’s romantic feelings for Jack lead her to force him to make a decision. In this book, a mysterious firestarter is causing havoc, townsfolk are out to destroy vampires and gifted alike and it is up to Blue, Jack and the agency to solve the baffling mystery and protect the innocent. The writing in this book is lyrical, and flows like a beautiful melody throughout. The pace is scintillating and keeps you reading way past bedtime! The intricacies of the plot are carefully knitted together into a stunningly suspenseful way, and you are inexorably drawn into the characters, becoming one with them. I felt every emotion; anxiety, fear, sadness, joy, excitement, all of it. There were even parts that brought me to tears, which does not often happen when I read. At the end of the book, I felt as if my emotions had been put through a wringer, and as I came out of this dream world, I realized that I was not a character! What a shock! The Light who Binds is a MUST READ! I will be awaiting further books most eagerly, as my secret life must continue! Well done Lilo J Abernathy for an amazing book! I wish you much success with this series!
Link: http://bit.ly/1UCP6Pn
Fan Spotlight Review of THE LIGHT WHO SHINES by Carol-ann Hill
Fan Spotlight Review of The Light Who Shines
by Carol-ann Hill
First let me say that the book was awesome! I loved the characters, the side plots, the little twists and turns and red herrings. The start was a little slow, but the plot quickly picked up and kept me enthralled. I am so privileged to have read such a great debut novel and very sad that there is not another one to read immediately!!!
The characters are delightful, with interesting quirks and gifts, which makes me eager to discover more about each one and particularly find out who Blue really is. Why can’t Jack be with her? I know this will become clearer over time, but I became so engrossed in their obvious love for each other, I just need to know more.
The prejudice in the book comes across quite strongly and is so reminiscent of some of the prejudices we face today, although albeit with race, religion etc. it reminds us of how we should be more accepting of others and not judge them until we truly know their hearts well enough to make such decisions. Unfortunately we are all so prone to judging people for the wrong reasons and this comes across so clearly, especially with Blue. I hope this changes the way some people think as it is such an important lesson to learn in life. The prejudice was subtle enough not to take over the entire book, but nonetheless there, and making one feel slightly angered as this kind woman was judged more on what she was than who.
Blue is a great character, and so is Vargas. Who is he, where did he come from, why her, these questions all bounce around my mind. And Jack is awesome too!
Link: http://bit.ly/1Q2pPro
Peer Review of THE LIGHT WHO BINDS by Author Rose Montague
Peer Review of The Light Who Binds
by Rose Montague
Author of the Norma Jean School of Witchery Series
This book grabs you, wraps you up, and won’t let go until you’re done. I loved The Light Who Shines and have been waiting on this one with great anticipation. I was not disappointed. Blue grows in so many ways during this book, there is a lot more action and some very hot romance. My favorite character, Varg, gets a lot more attention and that mystery as well as several more left from the first book are revealed. A terrific second installment!
Link: http://amzn.to/1iycAUO
Fan Spotlight Review of THE LIGHT WHO BINDS by Christina Hurley
Fan Spotlight Review of The Light Who Binds
by Christina Hurley
This is the second book in her series. It’s split between Blue and Jack’s point of view, which, I think, gives the reader a better understanding of their “relationship”. Both are romantically interested, but he’s her boss, so you know, conflicts of interest.
But the main arc of the book (and series) is the animosity between the Norms (people without powers) and the Gifted (people who have some sort of supernatural power). Lilo does an excellent job creating and maintaining this; as well as taking it to the next step as things start to heat up between the two groups and Blue and Jacks job to try to help maintain the peace.
Link: http://amzn.to/1iycbBT
Peer Review of THE LIGHT WHO SHINES by Author Cary Allen Stone
Peer Review of The Light Who Shines
by Cary Allen Stone
Author of The Jake Roberts Series
The Light Who Shines centers around a world of dark and light vampires, a world of Gifted and Normal humans. Together they live in close proximity based on an uneasy peace forged 2000 years earlier. Highlighted are the elements of hatred and prejudice toward anyone who is not a Normal. Jack, a Light vampire is in a budding romance with Blue, a Gifted human. The sweet Maud and resourceful Alexis are Blue’s supportive friends. Blue also has the friendship of a very special wolf named Varq. Blue and Jack both work for the Supernatural Crimes Bureau. They work to solve supernatural crimes, and recently occurring hate crimes. Blue stumbles into a dangerous criminal who almost ends her life. Jack and Varq come to her rescue. Brilliantly well-written by Lilo Abernathy, the paranormal romance and mystery has a supernatural power all its own. I highly recommend it.
Link: http://amzn.to/1UCIVep
Peer Review of THE LIGHT WHO SHINES by Author Tima Maria Lacoba
Peer Review of The Light Who Shines
by Tima Maria Lacoba
Author of the Dantonville Legacy Series
If a gripping paranormal, suspense mystery with a deeper social message is your kind of read, then this is the book for you. In The Light Who Shines, the author has successfully combined a whodunnit with the stronger issues of prejudice and bigotry, highlighting the injustice faced by those who manifest “gifts” feared by the human community.
Bluebell Kildare, who works for the Supernatural Investigation Bureau (SIB), has the gift of being able to read souls. In other words, she can spot a lie a mile away. Her boss is a vampire. Both are on the fringes of a society which has reluctantly accepted their existence—’coming out’ was never meant to be easy—and both face human opposition in their investigations.
Underpinning all this, is the burgeoning romance between Blue and her dishy boss, Jack Tanner. The sexual tension between them is nicely maintained throughout the story, but don’t look for a quick resolution. This is a series after all.
I’m looking forward to Book 2, The Light Who Binds.
Link: http://amzn.to/1JXcJtV
Peer Review of THE LIGHT WHO SHINES by Author Rose Montague
Peer Review of The Light Who Shines
by Rose Montague
Author of the Norma Jean’s School of Witchery Series
This was just an amazing book and a great read. It has everything. Wonderful characters, an element of mystery, lots of action, and just the right touch of romance. Fans of urban fantasy have a new heroine in Blubell Kildare. If you are a fan of Jane Yellowrock, Kate Daniels, or Mercy Thompson, you will love this book. If you are just starting in the urban fantasy genre, this one is a good place to begin. I can’t wait for the next book.
Link: http://amzn.to/1Q2jmwo
Story Extras
Occasionally, I create extra small pieces related to my stories to hand out as prizes at social media parties or just for fun. Everyone who signs up to receive my notifications is welcome to these freebies. Enjoy.
Bragging Rights
On my author journey, occasionally I attain new notable milestones that I’d love to share with you here. This section is reserved for my biggest, most important news, besides new release announcements (of course).
Hot Deals
This is where I list all my sales, giveaways, and contests. So if you are a super coupon shopper and deal guru (like my sister!) keep an eye on this page.
Odds and Ends
Regular page text goes here.
Reviews by Lilo
I’m actually embarrassed to say how much I read. A. Lot. Times ten.
I don’t provide critical reviews, because I don’t feel like I should attempt to judge for you. Instead, I simply highlight what I think people will love best about the books I review. Hopefully you will find a new favorite here.
Excerpt: The Light Who Binds
The Light Who Binds
Bluebell Kildare Series, Book Two
Chapter 01
Three Deaths
Bluebell Kildare
July 7, 2022, Red Ages
Lightning streaks across the twilight sky casting a brilliant glow on the building before me. Stone gargoyles loom above me, their eyes seeming to gleam and blink, their great amphibious wings, arched for flight. A slow roll of thunder fills the air as though the bowels of the earth are opening.
I behold the formidable oak doors of the Dragomir Magical Artifact Shop, wondering what mysteries lie inside. Oh, I know many spells, charms, and magic secrets reside within the artifacts, but those aren’t the unknowns I seek tonight. Tonight, I anticipate learning secrets about myself.
From behind me, the warmth of Jack’s chest radiates into my back, and Varg leans into my thigh. A measure of calm returns to me. Whatever news awaits me, at least I have friends at my side. I straighten my spine, lift my chin, and remove the remaining space between me and my future, pushing the heavy oak doors open to boldly stride in.
As I enter the shop, eddies of dust coalesce from the swish of the doors into a whirlwind at my feet. I’m instantly comforted by the familiar shelves of aged magical texts stacked on bookshelves and delighted by the glass-doored cabinet stocked with magical artifacts. I was last here just a few months ago, but I feel like an entirely different woman now.
Dragomira stands behind the counter and lifts her head with a weary expression, but a fierce glint fills her warm, brown eyes. She is not Dragomira right now. No, she is the Dragomir. Her movements, as fluid as rippling water, trace a path across the room as she quietly deadbolts the door behind us.
With a wave of her hand, she beckons us into her back room. A small fire flickers in the fireplace, casting dancing shadows across the walls. Jack and I take a seat in wing-backed chairs next to the hearth, while Dragomira, still curiously silent, pours three drinks from a beautiful decanter sitting on an ornate wooden table amidst the chairs. She places one in my hand in silent command, watching as I taste it. The shock of whiskey burns my throat and slides warmly to my belly. She sets a glass in front of Jack and keeps the last for herself.
As Dragomira takes her place, I notice again how strikingly beautiful she is. Her hair cascades in long, tumultuous brown waves against her olive skin, and her deep-set eyes gleam with life. Sitting back in her chair, she directs her scrutiny toward me. “Welcome, Illustrissima,” she begins. “I’m sure you have many questions.”
Her harmonious voice rolls through me in a soothing wave. I forget myself for a moment and tilt my ear to enjoy its song. Then I gather myself and say, “I do. Let’s start with the name Illustrissima. Why did you give this name to me?”
Dragomira blinks. Then she regards me steadily and answers, “I no more gave you the name Illustrissima than I gave you your blue eyes. It is a Latin word that has many meanings: the Shining One, the Bright One, the Lustrous One, the Famous One, the Distinguished One.” She waves her hand as though all of that is inconsequential. “You are all of these things. You simply are the Illustrissima.”
I take a slow sip of whiskey. “You can see my light.”
The Dragomir’s eyes flare with a glint of yellow in acknowledgement.
“How?”
She contemplates the fire for a moment before responding. “I am also many things. I have magic . . . gifts, you might call them, which allow me to see things that would normally pass unnoticed. However, what I have been most as of late is a scholar.” She looks at me intently again. “Tonight, your time would be better spent allowing me to share what I’ve learned about you.”
Release Blitz: BREAKING FAITH (Contemporary Romance)
Breaking Faith
The JackholeS Series, Part 1
by Joy Eileen
Synopsis
Faith made the mistake of giving her heart to someone who didn’t deserve her. After making the decision to leave, she sought refuge at a bar full of misfits. They accepted Faith without question, and now they protect her as if she’s family. While putting the pieces of her life back together, she fights to keep her broken heart from falling for the moody lead singer of the JackholeS. A man named Kill. Killian has his own demons to battle, yet Faith brings out his protective side: a side he thought he’d buried long ago. Can Faith and Kill trust each other long enough to leave their pasts behind and find love? Or is the past too overpowering to allow anyone a chance at happiness?
This book contains explicit non-consensual sex scenes. It contains strong language and adult situations. This book is not intended for anyone under 18. This is a series so this book does not end with resolution. Don’t worry the second book is already done and the third is being created. 🙂
NOW LIVE!!
Grab your copy here:
Amazon:http://amzn.to/1L8fbz0
iBooks: http://apple.co/1J5gQ3r
Barnes and Nobel: http://bit.ly/1Km8LbA
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1WpLu1O
Teasers
Excerpt
Realizing I was half naked and pressed against him, I slowly backed away. The immediate sadness from the removal of his electricity was staggering.
His grin disappeared, and the laughter in his eyes was replaced with desire. I could see why girls all over Portland were infatuated with him. Just one fierce look, and I wanted to wrap myself around him until you couldn’t tell where he stopped and I began.
I took the step I had just taken away from him back toward him. We both inhaled sharply when our bodies collided.
He pulled in his bottom lip, raking his teeth over it until it popped out. My attention became rapt on his bottom lip and I wanted to bite it like he had just done.
The wet heat between my legs was on fire, and the only way I could think of getting rid of the burning ache was to have him buried deep within me.
The look in his eyes, before my attention went to his lips, showed he was thinking the same thing.
My tongue darted out, and he groaned, making his chest rumble. The sound caused my nipples to pebble, aching along with the rest of my body for his attention.
He lowered his face to mine until our foreheads touched, our lips a breath away. Both of us were panting, the dull pain between my legs caused me to press my thighs together, trying to gain friction to help with the need building inside of me.
When I was about to break and press my lips to his, Kill turned around and stormed away, leaving me confused and unsatisfyingly hot.
Add to your TBR on Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22594101-breaking-faith
About the author
Joy Eileen is a born bibliophile who becomes deeply engaged with her characters, and has devoured more books than she would like to admit. She becomes obsessed with happily-ever-afters, and will read any genre that fulfills that requirement. Evading the library is something she has been known to do, because after befriending the characters returning them would be a heartbreaking event. Books are held hostage on her bookshelf, and any author that makes her ugly cry becomes her sworn enemy. Nicholas Sparks is one of the many on the list of villains.
As a massage therapist, most of Joy’s stories come to her while working. With the sound of classical music, and snoring from a half covered hostage, characters are created. The victim (massage patient) has no idea that while their body is being manipulated, Joy has traveled into distant lands creating landscapes and inhabitants as she goes. Her patients should be wary as sometimes they are pulled into her stories and turned into characters. Hero or Foe? Well, that depends on how they tip.
Social Media Links
Book Review: BREAKING FAITH (Contemporary Romance)
Breaking Faith
The Jackholes Series
By Joy Eileen
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1hHNpP6
#ContemporaryRomance #Comedy #Drama
For those of you who have been following my reviews you may find it odd that I’m breaking from the Fantasy genre to review a Contemporary Romance. Ohh, but you don’t know me so well, do you? I love romance in all its shades of glory: historical, contemporary, paranormal, Gothic, suspense . . . Fresh out of Nancy Drew books, my hormones first budded under the influence of Victoria Holt and Mary Stewart, but they fully bloomed during a period of Rosemary Rogers and Kathleen Woodiwiss. Romance and I have a long and sultry history. In fact, my affair with Romance has lasted well over twenty times that of my marriage that ended twenty years ago.
Without going into details about why my marriage was so blessedly short, I will say this. Breaking Faith hit very close to home. Now on to the review . . .
The opening of this story is the moment that Faith finally broke away from her abusive boyfriend, Jason. She’s sitting outside a bar with a restraining order in her hand, at a true crossroads in life. The meager amount of belongings she managed to grab are stuffed in the trunk of her car and she has nowhere to stay that night. She’s meeting some friends and hopes one of them will let her crash at their place, but she’s covered in bruises and hasn’t even shared her dark secret with them yet. The secret that Jason wasn’t the perfect boyfriend. In fact, it was an illusion that was so twisted that even Jason believed he was the perfect boyfriend. But the reality of Faith’s bruises, fractures and scars prove the illusion a lie. And stepping into the bar to expose her bruises will be her first step into breaking that illusion to her friends.
This story gives a raw, unadulterated view into the mind of a young woman with low self-esteem who ignores many red flags and gets sucked into a relationship with an abusive man. This woman, like so many women in this situation, is intelligent and kind, but she has been a loner most of her life and has never dealt with a situation like this before. Her nature is so giving, she doesn’t have practice with putting herself first. She has finally managed to break free, but she is not, in any way, whole.
The beginning of the story alternates between Faith’s first days of freedom and flashbacks of her relationship, so you get a good idea of how truly twisted Jason’s mind is. Physical abuse is never just physical. It is emotional and mind bending. Jason built a fairytale facade of their relationship that he shared with the world and he, in fact, wouldn’t even allow himself to see the true reality of the relationship. Jason’s sickness was so deep rooted, he hid his abuse of Faith even from his own mind.
But this story isn’t about Jason. This story is about Faith, broken and bruised, who steps through the door of Ray’s bar and meets a new circle of friends, including the gorgeous Rock and Roll singer, Killian (Kill). This story is about how Faith starts to pull all the shattered pieces of herself together again, still tentatively glued in places, so full of holes if she were a vase, water would flow out of it like a sieve. But she does it, by sheer force of will. She doesn’t even really believe she’s worthy of love because of how terribly she has allowed herself to be treated by Jason, but slowly, she begins to remember that maybe she might be worth something.
Now this story isn’t all dark drama. In fact, Faith has a sense of humor and has an ongoing monologue with her vagina who seems to have different opinions about the sexy Kill than her broken soul does. Part of Faith’s healing is her insistence and success at denying her vagina its way because she knows she’s not ready to delve into any sort of relationship until she has a better grasp of herself. Through the eyes of her new circle of friends and Kill, who actually adores her, she begins to shape a new and better self-image.
I recommend this story to contemporary romance lovers, lovers of truth, people who can quirk a smile in the face of great pain, and people who are brave enough to stand by the side of a not-so-perfect heroine and watch the sometimes agonizing and sometimes comedic process of her rebirth.
Lilo Abernathy
Author and Book Lover
Editorial Review of THE LIGHT WHO SHINES by Reader’s Favorite
Editorial Review of The Light Who Shines
by Tracy Slowiak for Readers’ Favorite
I just finished The Light Who Shines: Bluebell Kildare Series Book One by author Lilo Abernathy. I am always thrilled to find a new series that promises to be fantastic, and this book has all the elements needed to make that the case! The story starts with a witch-burning 2000 years ago, one with serious consequences for the people in our story. Bluebell Kildare, more commonly called Blue, an agent with a paranormal investigative team in the year 2022, has many gifts. With the abilities of a Sensitive, she is able to sense magic, see souls, and feel emotions, and is able to assist in solving crimes in a very unique way. When we’re first introduced to Blue, she’s at the scene of a supposed hit and run car crash that has killed a teenaged boy. It quickly becomes apparent that his death is more than a simple hit and run and, before she knows it, Blue is wrapped up in a complex and dangerous situation that could lead to her solving the mystery or coming to harm. Combine that with her growing attraction to her boss, a daytime vampire, Jack Tanner, and you’ve got an extremely intriguing story on your hands.
I loved this book! I really enjoy paranormal reads, and this book has everything the genre needs; vampires, wolves, witches and Sensitives, but so much more as well. Mystery, intrigue, action, adventure and romance also abound in The Light Who Shines, and I so appreciate author Lilo Abernathy’s ability to pull all that together in one book. This novel would appeal to any reader of paranormal fiction, mysteries, romances or action/adventure novels, or just those ready to try a creative read that is very well done. Ms. Abernathy does a great job of world-building in this novel, and sets the reader up for the next in the series. I, for one, can’t wait to read the next installment!
Link: http://bit.ly/1EPilrx
Book Review: WEAKEST LYNX (Supernatural Romance)
Weakest Lynx
The Lynx Series
By Fiona Quinn
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1hdXLpH
#Supernatural #Psychic #Romance #Mystery
It’s official, I’m a Quinn Fangirl. This book has been on my reading list for a while, but I had to get through publishing my latest in my series and I had a couple of books ahead of this. I finally got to it just the week before my ‘break between writing books’ ended. And boy am I glad I did. By the third chapter this story grabbed me with iron hooks and sucked me into a powerful vortex and a week later I emerged having read every single one of Ms. Quinn’s books. I couldn’t stop. I wouldn’t stop. I hoped fervently she wrote under a pseudonym so I could find more books, but no dice. Yeah, it was like that. One more point before I’m on to the review. This book isn’t a paranormal shifter novel and has absolutely nothing to do with a Lynx cat. Instead, it is ohh so much better . . .
Lexi is orphaned a year before the story takes place and a fire forces her out of an apartment building where she’s lived as part of a close-knit community all her life. She’s been unschooled. By that, the author means she hasn’t gone to traditional school, but has instead been tutored by and has apprenticed with many people. Some of these people she calls her Grandma’s. They’re six elderly women of different ethnic backgrounds who teach her different languages and cultures. Other tutors are more specialized, such as her training to fly airplanes, her martial arts training by Master Wang, or her training by Spyder, a special undercover operative of a group called Iniquus.
Lexi also has some special psychic and supernatural abilities. She can perform Reiki, which is a method of healing using energy transformation, she has psychic ‘knowings’, she can perform simple searches for lost things, and most startling of all, she can go ‘beyond the veil’. I’m not going to tell you what that is, but let me just say, it is freaking cool. It happens during the most shocking climax of the book.
Spyder recognizes that Lexi is a genius operative in the making as a young teen between her unorthodox education, her martial arts training and her supernatural abilities. She becomes his secret weapon and puzzles out complex crime scenarios to find the truth.
All of this so far is background and as you can see, it’s very rich. The story really starts the day after Lexi’s wedding. It opens with Lexi on her way to speak with her friend, a father figure, to tell him about a threatening note she received on her wedding day. She’s near tears and scared out of her mind because her husband left for service in Afghanistan that morning and she’s alone. She didn’t tell her husband about the threatening letter because she didn’t want him focusing on her when his life was at stake on his own mission. She’s never been the victim of a crime like this, or involved in dangerous situations before. She’s only lent her mind to puzzle out the crimes against other people.
The person she really needs to speak with is Spyder, but he’s been undercover for about a year and a half after the last big case she puzzled out. She hasn’t heard from him and though he suggested she go to a man named Striker if she has problems, she is independent enough not to want to get their help. Since she’s been working directly in secret with Spyder, she doesn’t even think they will believe her. Well, after more threatening notes she realizes she’s being stalked by a crazed serial killer.
I can’t really tell you more without giving away major plot points. The story covers some brutal scenes and holds a strong thread of romance. This is a phenomenal story. We have a serial killer, a team of hunky special operatives, supernatural powers, a genius heroine, and romance. What more can you possibly want?
You can want the next two books in the series and more that the author hasn’t even written yet. And you will. You will want it bad . . .
Lilo Abernathy
Author and Book Lover
Book Review: MELABETH THE VAMPIRE (Urban Fantasy)
Melabeth The Vampire
Melabeth Series: Book 1
By E.B. Hood
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1dGSWn5
#UrbanFantasy #Vampire #Necromancer #Sorcerer
As a little context, Melanie, the heroine, is fifteen years old so officially this book fits into the young adult category. But due to the adult themes I think it is more appropriate for an adult audience. On to the review.
Wow! This story is jam packed with action and drama. If I were to sum it up in one word, I’d enthusiastically say that this story is very interesting. And by that I mean it kept my attention riveted until 6 a.m. when I finally had to sleep a tiny bit before picking it up again.
Melanie is born to careless parents. Her mother dies of a heroin overdose and her father ends up allowing some thugs to take her from him when he couldn’t repay a drug debt. She’s brought to a house where a pedophile forces her take part in a pornographic movie with the same thugs who captured her. At the end of the movie, he has one of her “partners” kill her. Thankfully, all this bad stuff is highly glossed over and just sets the history.
A vampire named Nicks finds her in a trash can and tries to turn her. He puts her in the ground where she’s supposed to arise in five days. Instead, fifteen years later she wakes up in the coffin, trying to remember what happened to her. She escapes the coffin and thus Melabeth is born. Her sole purpose in life is to find the men who defiled her and killed her. And she’s not looking for justice. She’s looking for VENGEANCE. Trust me, you will want her to find it too.
Naturally, after fifteen years Nicks gave up that she would ever rise and had moved on, so she has to navigate learning the rules of being a vampire on her own. Most of the story takes place after she’s been born again as a vampire. It documents in vivid detail the confusion and cluelessness of a newly born bloodsucker as she navigates the new world.
The story that follows is filled with tentative love interests, first friends, necromancers, sorcerers, witches, a new vampire family, and plenty of blood, death, and destruction. Not to mention a crazy vampire named Alice who was turned at age fourteen but is over four hundred years old.
Besides Alice, who I absolutely hated at first then came to adore for her wicked ways, I really enjoyed the way Mr. Hood described Melabeth’s awakening within the coffin. He also does some interesting things with flashbacks and memories, weaving them seamlessly into the story. Not all authors can do that well and Mr. Hood does.
I recommend this book for adults who enjoy vengeful minded non-sparkly vampires and great action. The romance is extremely light, so if romance isn’t your thing, this book should still do the trick.
Lilo Abernathy
Author and Book Lover
COVER REVEAL: Breaking Faith
Breaking Faith
The JackholeS series part 1
by Joy Eileen
Cover Reveal
Synopsis
Faith made the mistake of giving her heart to someone who didn’t deserve her. After making the decision to leave, she sought refuge at a bar full of misfits. They accepted Faith without question, and now they protect her as if she’s family. While putting the pieces of her life back together, she fights to keep her broken heart from falling for the moody lead singer of the JackholeS. A man named Kill. Killian has his own demons to battle, yet Faith brings out his protective side: a side he thought he’d buried long ago. Can Faith and Kill trust each other long enough to leave their pasts behind and find love? Or is the past too overpowering to allow anyone a chance at happiness?
WARNING: This book contains explicit non-consensual sex scenes. It contains strong language and adult situations. This book is not intended for anyone under 18. This is a series so this book does not end with resolution. Don’t worry the second book is already done and the third is being created. 🙂
Pre-Order Now:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1L8fbz0
Add to your TBR on Goodreads:
About the author
About the author
Joy Eileen is a born bibliophile who becomes deeply engaged with her characters, and has devoured more books than she would like to admit. She becomes obsessed with happily-ever-afters, and will read any genre that fulfills that requirement. Evading the library is something she has been known to do, because after befriending the characters returning them would be a heartbreaking event. Books are held hostage on her bookshelf, and any author that makes her ugly cry becomes her sworn enemy. Nicholas Sparks is one of the many on the list of villains.
As a massage therapist, most of Joy’s stories come to her while working. With the sound of classical music, and snoring from a half covered hostage, characters are created. The victim (massage patient) has no idea that while their body is being manipulated, Joy has traveled into distant lands creating landscapes and inhabitants as she goes. Her patients should be wary as sometimes they are pulled into her stories and turned into characters. Hero or Foe? Well, that depends on how they tip.
Social Media Links:
Teasers
Fan Spotlight Review of THE BINDING OF THE WOLF by Jennifer Zamboni
Fan Spotlight Review of The Binding of the Wolf
by Jennifer Zamboni
I loved this fairy-tale like look at Varg’s origins. Definitely a different feel than Ms. Abernathy’s other work :). It really enhanced my enjoyment of her Bluebell Kildare series! A must read for Lilo Abernathy fans!
Link: http://bit.ly/1OLM9XF
Peer Review of THE BINDING OF THE WOLF by Author J. Kehele
Peer Review of The Binding of the Wolf
by Author J. Kehele
I enjoyed this short story and I really love the authors writing style. She crafts amazing and believable characters and pulls you right into the fantasy world she creates.
Link: http://bit.ly/1NhNl3x
Peer Review of THE BINDING OF THE WOLF by Timothy Bateson
Peer Review of The Binding of the Wolf
by Timothy Bateson
This short story is a marvelous retelling of the myth of Fenrir, and in many ways leads up to the first meeting between Varg and Bluebell, from The Light Who Shines. While some changes are made to the myth, there are none that are outside the realms of possibility for the world of Bluebell Kildare.
The style of the writing is a mix between the old Norse tales, and Lilo Abernathy’s own, making for an interesting combination of old and new.
As the author notes, this story is best read after The Light Who Shines, so that the reader may get a better appreciation of the link between the protagonists of both stories. With the new information presented in this story, I can’t wait to read The Light Who Binds.
Goodreads Link: http://bit.ly/1LVlv9Q
THE LIGHT WHO BINDS: Release Date and Parties! Cover Reveal!
My Dear Readers and Friends,
It’s finally time. That’s such a simple statement, but if it weren’t for the stern words of my editors and proofer, that simple statement would have about 300 exclamation marks after it. So, let’s have a moment of silence while we thank them.
Oh, what the heck. It’s finally time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That feels soooooo much better as it’s closer to how I actually feel inside. Okay, onto the news because I have so much to share.
Release Date: Saturday, June 27, 2015
The Kindle ebook version will be released first and the print copy will follow as soon as possible after. There is some slim chance I can get it ready in time for the release of the Kindle version, but I can’t promise.
Limited Time Reduced Price!
As a thank you to all of my loyal readers who’ve been waiting for Book Two, The Light Who Binds, I’m offering a reduced price of $3.99 for the first weekend. The price will also be reduced in other countries, but I’m not sure what it will be as Amazon handles the conversion automatically. So be sure to mark your calendar.
After that weekend I’ll increase it to Amazon’s recommended price, which should be $5.99 – $6.99 based on their current recommendations for Book One, The Light Who Shines.
Cover Reveal
Before going into details, I need to take a moment to thank Federico Musetti who created the awesome cover art. Federico is so amazing I want to share his work with you. If you love fantasy art the way I do, you will definitely check out his portfolio.
I’d also like to thank the beautiful Kristin Sallee, the model who provides the face of Blue and who humored me when I asked Federico to show some cleavage so people would stop thinking my novels are young adult! Not only is the heroine too old to be technically considered young adult, there’s graphic violence and a few steamy scenes, though the stories are definitely plot heavy. Plus, the underlying theme is about the very adult topic of prejudice and hate.
Okay, back to the cleavage . . . I assure you that Kristin’s photo were all modest, so I can only assume Federico has seen boobs in his time. (wink)
Drum roll please . . .
I know, there’s so much action in that photo. But that isn’t it! Federico also did a full cover spread so I can properly attire the print version.
We finally have Jack! And he has a mustache. Who knew! Okay, I’m desperate to know what you think is happening in this cover. Please do comment with your guesses. How will I know what people see if you don’t? (If you hover over the image and right click ‘Open link in new tab.’ you’ll see a larger version.)
Online Release Parties!
Schedule and RSVP: click ======> here
Creating this book took much more work than birthing a baby, so I hope you will come celebrate with me. This is an open invite and everyone is welcome! I’m having four online parties; two on Facebook, one on Twitter, and one on Goodreads. Each party will have different games and entertainment and all of them will offer a Kindle copy of The Light Who Binds as the prize. Plus, as a door prize, all attendees will get a free copy of a new short story called The Binding of the Wolf. It’s Varg’s backstory and you can read details here.
The Twitter and Goodreads parties are my first of their kind. The Twitter party is bound to be noisy and who knows, we might even trend. The Goodreads party will be more of an intimate affair. I’m holding it in a group where I’ll be able to have great discussions with all of you who attend.
International Wolf Center
In honor all of my fans who love the wolf Varg in the series, I’m donating 100% of my royalties earned during that weekend from the sale of Book One, The Light Who Shines, to the International Wolf Center. It’s a great charity that receives four out of four stars from the Charity Navigator.
If you are feeling charitable, you can also donate directly here.
So, I hope you’ll come to one of the parties and help me make some noise about this new release.
Lilo
Excerpt: THE LIGHT WHO BINDS
Dear Readers,
For those who cajoled me, here’s an excerpt of The Light Who Binds . . . Enjoy!
The Light Who Binds
Bluebell Kildare Series, Book Two
Chapter 01
Three Deaths
Bluebell Kildare
July 7, 2022, Red Ages
Lightning streaks across the twilight sky casting a brilliant glow on the building before me. Stone gargoyles loom above me, their eyes seeming to gleam and blink, their great amphibious wings, arched for flight. A slow roll of thunder fills the air as though the bowels of the earth are opening.
I behold the formidable oak doors of the Dragomir Magical Artifact Shop, wondering what mysteries lie inside. Oh, I know many spells, charms, and magic secrets reside within the artifacts, but those aren’t the unknowns I seek tonight. Tonight, I anticipate learning secrets about myself.
From behind me, the warmth of Jack’s chest radiates into my back, and Varg leans into my thigh. A measure of calm returns to me. Whatever news awaits me, at least I have friends at my side. I straighten my spine, lift my chin, and remove the remaining space between me and my future, pushing the heavy oak doors open to boldly stride in.
As I enter the shop, eddies of dust coalesce from the swish of the doors into a whirlwind at my feet. I’m instantly comforted by the familiar shelves of aged magical texts stacked on bookshelves and delighted by the glass-doored cabinet stocked with magical artifacts. I was last here just a few months ago, but I feel like an entirely different woman now.
Dragomira stands behind the counter and lifts her head with a weary expression, but a fierce glint fills her warm, brown eyes. She is not Dragomira right now. No, she is the Dragomir. Her movements, as fluid as rippling water, trace a path across the room as she quietly deadbolts the door behind us.
With a wave of her hand, she beckons us into her back room. A small fire flickers in the fireplace, casting dancing shadows across the walls. Jack and I take a seat in wing-backed chairs next to the hearth, while Dragomira, still curiously silent, pours three drinks from a beautiful decanter sitting on an ornate wooden table amidst the chairs. She places one in my hand in silent command, watching as I taste it. The shock of whiskey burns my throat and slides warmly to my belly. She sets a glass in front of Jack and keeps the last for herself.
As Dragomira takes her place, I notice again how strikingly beautiful she is. Her hair cascades in long, tumultuous brown waves against her olive skin, and her deep-set eyes gleam with life. Sitting back in her chair, she directs her scrutiny toward me. “Welcome, Illustrissima,” she begins. “I’m sure you have many questions.”
Her harmonious voice rolls through me in a soothing wave. I forget myself for a moment and tilt my ear to enjoy its song. Then I gather myself and say, “I do. Let’s start with the name Illustrissima. Why did you give this name to me?”
Dragomira blinks. Then she regards me steadily and answers, “I no more gave you the name Illustrissima than I gave you your blue eyes. It is a Latin word that has many meanings: the Shining One, the Bright One, the Lustrous One, the Famous One, the Distinguished One.” She waves her hand as though all of that is inconsequential. “You are all of these things. You simply are the Illustrissima.”
I take a slow sip of whiskey. “You can see my light.”
The Dragomir’s eyes flare with a glint of yellow in acknowledgement.
“How?”
She contemplates the fire for a moment before responding. “I am also many things. I have magic . . . gifts, you might call them, which allow me to see things that would normally pass unnoticed. However, what I have been most as of late is a scholar.” She looks at me intently again. “Tonight, your time would be better spent allowing me to share what I’ve learned about you.”
She’s right; after all, Jack and the Dragomir have kept me waiting on this information for months now. “Yes, why don’t you,” I answer curtly.
The Dragomir raises her eyebrows and Jack gives me a warning glance, but I am not so easily cowed.
She nods and settles back in her chair. “Let’s start at the beginning. I’ve told you the story of Patersuco and the inception of the Vampire race. As you know, it didn’t take long for him to kill in bloodlust and turn Dark, as corrupt as he was, but he had already started creating children. And so the curse spread.”
“What I did not tell you was that Patersuco was survived by his wife. Shaina lived in the village, and before the first winter of the Red Ages had passed, several of the townspeople had died at the hands of Patersuco and his Vampire progeny. The villagers turned on Shaina and burned her as a witch.”
I shudder at the thought of that pain, thankful I wasn’t there to feel it.
“Yes, these were rough times, Illustrissima. We have very few written accounts from that time, but from what we know, Shaina was Gifted. Like you, she was an Empath. The villagers tied her to an ash tree and used oak branches to burn her alive.”
“Both these trees have deep, old magic. Ash acts as a bridge between worlds, and oak provides strength. Somehow, the combination of the rage of the villagers, the strength of the oak, and the power of the ash all fed Shaina’s pain, creating a force strong enough to open a pathway from Shaina to the Great Demon Lilith. As she burned, Shaina was able to reach across to the Plane of Fire and lay a powerful curse upon Lilith.”
“What was the curse?”
Dragomira leans back, and her eyes glaze as her mind transports to another place and time. The firelight flickers, and shadows play artfully on the curve of her cheekbone. Then her husky whisper fills the room.
“Lilith, I call on you to hear me.
By my blood, you will be destroyed.
A light will come—
a light that shines through your evil;
a light that calls you to answer for your deeds;
a light that binds you as I am bound and burns you as I burn;
a light that rips you asunder and destroys your darkness.
Lilith, hear me.
I call to you.
By my blood, you will pay for what you have done.
Lilith, by my blood, you will be destroyed.”
As these words wash over me, tendrils of fear sink into my flesh and thread through my soul. The curse grabs something deep and dark inside of me, and I start to shiver. I reach out for my drink and take another burning sip.
My voice comes, breathless but laden with protest against the implications of Dragomira’s story. “And you believe I am this light? You’ve proved no connection.”
She takes another drink of whiskey, a deep pull this time. I’m not sure if it’s the fire reflecting off them, but her eyes seem to swirl with yellow in their depths.
“Three times Shaina called Lilith’s name that night. Three times she demanded that Lilith listen. Three times she said that retribution would be by her blood. This cinched the curse. But what you need to know most is that while Patersuco’s son was sacrificed, his twin sister survived. Her name was Sorcha.”
“Still, how does that relate to me?”
She raises one dark eyebrow at me. “When Shaina said ‘by my blood,’ she meant her lineage, not the blood that flowed through her veins. You are Shaina’s only remaining descendent, through Sorcha.”
I stand rapidly, knocking into the table and causing it to rock furiously, my glass of whiskey threatens to spill. The table eventually comes to a rest, but I do not. I fling myself across the room and pace as the thoughts roil around in my brain. Despite the cacophony of questions on the tip of my tongue, one thought rises urgently above the rest.
They think I’m supposed to destroy Lilith!
I spin around to see both Jack and Dragomira watching me with grave concern.
Jack sits tensely on the edge of his seat as though ready to leap to my rescue. The light glints off his cropped golden curls, and he reminds me of a fierce golden angel ready for vengeance. Every hard plane of his body speaks of coiled strength and lethal abilities. I’ve felt those enticing planes beneath my fingertips just a few times, and I’m honest enough with myself to admit I want more.
Dragomira says, “There’s more.”
Jack and Varg growl simultaneously, and I guess the more she’s talking about isn’t quite the more I want.
I swipe my drink from the table and knock back the rest. The liquid scorches my throat and traces a fiery path down to my belly, providing a momentary distraction. With a huff, I sit down again and cross my arms. “Just tell me all in one shot, please. I’d like to process this once, not five times.”
Dragomira deliberately refills my glass. I consider this a bad omen. She begins again, this time watching me intently.
“Shaina was close with a woman named Mor who had the gift of sight. She warned Shaina that the villagers were coming for her. Still, they could not escape in time. When Shaina saw that she couldn’t outrun them, she entrusted Mor with Sorcha.
“Mor watched the burning from the safety of the woods, and it is she who documented the events of that night. Afterward, she took the babe to the Dragon tribe, a clan who lived in the Sea Caves nearby. While she was there, she had a vision. That’s what brings us to you.”
Dragomira lifts her hand and a roll of parchment flies off the mantle and into her palm. She passes it to me, and I carefully unroll the aged hide. Quietly, I read aloud the ancient script that promises to reveal my fate.
The DARK ONE spreads her plague across the land.
Rivers run red and earth soaks black with blood.
Man will fear the Cursed and greatly decline.
When they hide like rabbits, the end is near.
The DECEIVER will dance in her triumph.
There is one way that Man can rise again:
trust their enemy
live as one people,
or all will perish.
If they succeed, the DESTROYER will rage;
mourn her loss of souls,
plot her artifice,
move forth with vengeance.
Beware! The PRETENDER has many ways.
Need changes to greed;
love corrupts to hate;
hope buckles to fear.
Foes renew and the Great Pact is broken.
When Man wrongs Man, the BEAST has all but won.
Yet one last path still remaining for Man,
Yet one last path to deliver the Cursed.
The scion of Shaina’s blood will shine BRIGHT.
The BRANDED ONE will thrice-fold be guarded:
blade preserves body;
bone benefacts mind;
Cursed entrenches soul.
The LUSTROUS ONE will thrice-fold be fitted:
light her palisade,
justice her design,
love her instrument.
The ONE WHO IS KNOWN will thrice-fold meet death:
once in trade for life,
once that is taken,
once that is given.
The LIGHT WHO SHINES will shatter the darkness.
The LIGHT WHO SHINES will deliver the Cursed.
The LIGHT WHO SHINES will assail the DARK ONE.
The ANNIHILATOR will be destroyed.
The ERODER OF SOULS will be rebirthed.
Be steadfast, for the end is uncertain.
The edges of the aged parchment nearly crumble under the force of my grip. I loosen my shaking hands, and color flows back into my knuckles. Varg, sensing my stress, leans heavily against my knee. He places his snout in my lap, raises his eyebrows and blinks his ice blue eyes. I wrap my fingers in his long fur, gaining strength from his comfort.
I turn my attention to Dragomira and Jack. They clearly knew the prophecy, as their faces are not filled with questions; instead, a great solemnity surrounds them like a thick mist. Dragomira seems weary but resolute. Jack’s eyes burn with an unnatural shine, and fear and pain wisps around him in an eerie dance. Most telling of all are the tentative vines of hope intertwined with his concern.
Once more, I fill the dark silence. “The first stanza refers to the beginning of the Red Ages. The second stanza clearly describes the creation of the Great Pact.”
An unhappy agreement with my interpretation weighs their expressions.
I study the parchment for another moment. “We have no way of knowing if the third and fourth stanzas have occurred yet. The beginning of the fifth stanza says that the Great Pact will be broken.”
My hands tremble at the thought of that. It is not an event I wish to see in my lifetime. The image of Daylight Vampires taking blood at will and Dark Vampires going unchecked by Daylight Vampires horrifies my very soul.
Dragomira prompts, “And what does the end of the fifth stanza predict?”
Suddenly, I feel older than the darkness of the sky and more burdened than the ground beneath the mountains. “It predicts my birth and says I am the last hope.”
I lay my hand on Jack’s arm. “The last hope to free the Vampires from the curse.”
His jaw clenches, and his body becomes taut. Shame wraps around him as guilt leaks from him like wine through a sieve, filling all corners of the room.
“Jack?” I ask.
He glances at me briefly, then stares straight ahead. “You should go over the rest.”
The parchment, all but forgotten in that singular moment, still remains in my hand. I wrestle my eyes away from him and examine the next set of stanzas. “I can see how the Lustrous One could refer to me, but what about the Branded One and the One Who is Known”
Dragomira responds, “Recall that Illustrissima means Famous One and Distinguished One. To say someone is known is equivalent to saying they’re famous. Remember, there was no technology in those days—no phones, cars, or news stations. People’s circles were small. If someone was widely known, they were famous.”
“But I’m not famous, and I’m certainly not branded.”
Jack grimaces further. “You are famous. When the slaves were found in Blackwater’s house, the Dilectus Deo staged protests across the land. Of course, you were missing at the time, so your name was spoken in every other broadcast. The Dilectus Deo cast aspersions on you, said that you were involved in the crime rather than a victim. You were a topic of much debate.”
“You’re also branded. Your birthmark is no ordinary mark. To be marked like that is to be distinguished. It connects you both to the name Illustrissima and to the prophecy.”
It feels as though the noose is tightening further. I can’t imagine that I’m special enough to be the savior of the breeds. Every scrap of my life has been a fight for even the smallest amount of respect, so to be cast in this light, as though I’m important . . . I just can’t grasp it. But, clearly, they believe it.
“So you really think that I’m the Illustrissima, and I’m supposed to deliver the Vampires from the curse?”
Jack replies softly, “You don’t have to do anything. I’m not sure that the entire Vampire breed is worth your life.”
“Jack, it isn’t just the Vampire breed at stake,” I point out. “According to the prophecy, the fate of all mankind hangs in the balance. That’s a large prize for destroying Lilith. If this is true, then it’s lucky that I’ve already died twice and I only have once more to go.”
Their heads snap toward me, four shocked eyes taking me in as though wings have suddenly sprouted from my back.
I narrow my gaze as I take in their befuddlement. I was sure they would have known.
“I was stillborn,” I explain, “and with a combination of my father’s healing skills and my mother calling to my soul, much the way you did, Jack, I came back to life. That’s the first death, which was in exchange for life. The second death, the death that was taken, was at Blackwater’s hands. That leaves a third death: one that must be given, though I have absolutely no idea what that means. And I’m not saying I believe the prophecy, but how does one go about giving a life and killing the Great Demon, anyway? I’m certainly not killing anyone in sacrifice.”
A wry smile slides across Dragomira’s face. “If I knew, and if it were within my power, I assure you it would already be done. I can tell you though, it’s no coincidence that the amulet found its way into your hands. This is ultimately a war between you and Lilith, and somehow the Grimoire is involved. I wouldn’t be surprised if that necklace of yours played a part as well.”
I lightly finger the Belladonna necklace, which drapes down my breasts and shoulders like a piece of archaic chainmail. “Can you remove it? Do you know how?”
Dragomira stands in obvious dismissal. “Come to me tomorrow evening, and I will see. Now, I have other things to attend.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Available Now!
Recommended reading order for the Bluebell Kildare Series:
The Light Who Shines
The Binding of the Wolf
The Light Who Binds
Now, did you enjoy it or was it too much of a tease?
Lilo
A Bonus Book: The Binding of the Wolf
June 9, 2015, Tuesday
I polled my fans on Facebook about what they wanted as a prize at the release parties and the vote, by a landslide, was a short story about Varg. So, I’ve done it! It is about 3000 words and tells you his backstory. It’s written in the tone of a fairy tale because he’s actually a creature from mythology. The story will be given out free to all those who attend the release party for The Light Who Binds. Afterwards, I’ll offer it on sale on Amazon for only 99 cents.
The Light Who Binds, Book Two, is off to the Proofer!
June 8, 2015, Monday, 3:00 a.m.
That’s it! The Light Who Binds is off to the proofers. It’s gone through five revisions of my own, eight beta readers, a full edit, a light edit and tightening, and now on to the final proofing. I’m busy planning release parties and waiting for the final version to format and publish. The official release date will be announces as soon as I’m able to get the release party schedules set.
Cover Reveal! BloodVault by Author Tima Maria Lacoba
BloodVault
Author Tima Maria Lacoba just shared the cover for BloodVault, Book 3 in The Dantonville Legacy Series. Isn’t it gorgeous! I love the green gem on the key. She has kept her Gothic Fantasy Romance feel and included her serpent ring and the flowing curtain as a common element on all her book covers.
I haven’t had a chance to read Book 2 yet, but I really enjoyed the historical and mythological aspects of Book 1, Bloodgifted. You can find my review of it here.
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/18mq9Bd
Nook Link: http://bit.ly/1NZ9VMi
Lilo Abernathy
Author, Reader, and Book Lover
Help Me Donate My Royalties To The International Wolf Center!
Dear Readers,
My release date and the release parties for The Light Who Binds (Book Two) will be announced very soon!
But I have more BIG NEWS!
I’ve decided that during the weekend of my release, I’ll donate 100% of my royalties for The Light Who Shines (Book One) to the International Wolf Center.
Hopefully with the hype of my release, I’ll get a good number of sales. But I could use your help in three easy, free, and fun ways:
The first way is to consider leaving a review of The Light Who Shines on Amazon here if you haven’t done so already. The more reviews a book has, the more people trust it’s a good book, and the more likely people will buy it. Sure, I love those big long thorough reviews. But that isn’t necessary. Even a short one line review helps because so many people just look at the actual count of reviews and star rating. I consider this to be like polishing my shoes to prepare for the big day.
The second way is to attend one of my online release parties for The Light Who Binds. When the day comes, the more fun we have and the more noise we make, the more likely The Light Who Shines will sell as well. I know you can’t commit to that until you see the party schedule, so just stay tuned! But consider signing up here for my Release News to make sure you don’t miss the announcement. The parties will all be online and will be across a number of different social media. You’re welcome to join even if you haven’t read The Light Who Shines yet.
The third way is to simply like and share this post!
This donation is in honor of all my readers who have told me how much they love Varg the wolf in the story. You can find more information on the International Wolf Center in the links below.
The International Wolf Center
The International Wolf Center is one of the world’s leading organizations dedicated to educating people about wolves. The organization is committed to advancing the survival of wolf populations by teaching about wolves, their relationship to wild lands, and the human role in their future.
Founded in 1985 by a group of biologists led by world-renowned wolf biologist Dr. L. David Mech, the Center opened in June 1993.
http://www.wolf.org
It’s rated four out of four stars on the Charity Navigator.
http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=9226#.VW-pXc9Viko
Thank you!
Lilo
What’s My Middle Name?!
If you’re following me on Facebook you know I been searching for a middle name. I made a mistake creating a Google Plus account and had to create a new email address different from the first. So I stuck a ‘J’ initial in for fun. The only problem was I didn’t know what the ‘J’ stood for. So after almost a year and a half of being only an initial, I asked my Facebook friends to help me pick a name.
If you do follow me you also know I’m a tease, so it will come as no surprise that I’m making you wait until the bottom of the post for the winning name. I’ll try to entertain you with humor on the way, but if you’re impatient, you can skip to the bottom. Meanwhile, I’d like to hand out some Honorable Mentions by Category.
Most Humerous Names
First Place – Jay
Submitted by Keith Fritz, Giselle Marks Author, Raul Sprovieri, Jamie Lockett, And Adri Sinclair
Keith says, “Homer J. Simpson’s muddle name = ‘Jay’ lol. Just kidding.”
Jamie says, “Homer that shit. Lilo ‘Jay’ Abernathy.”
I know you weren’t kidding Keith. You can’t fool me. And Jamie, I hate Homer Simpson, but even I have to agree this is brilliant! But thank goodness it didn’t win. It was probably due only to that lucky horseshoe I have hanging over my computer.
Second Place – Jabberwocky
Submitted by Martha Fawcett Vincek
‘Jabberwocky’ is a nonsense poem written by Lewis Carroll and included in his 1871 novel Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There. Here are the first three Stanza’s:
Jabberwocky
‘Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
“Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!”
He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought—
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.
Here’s a nice post if you want to read the whole poem without reading Through the Looking-Glass. I can’t read his work because my mind goes into insane land as it tries to put everything into correct boxes. There are no correct boxes with Lewis Carroll and I already have a headache.
Third Place – Juggins
Submitted by Joe Ward
This is humorous simply because it means I’m an idiot. Definition: a silly person; simpleton: one easily victimized: “was a clumsy juggins and let the ladder get out of control.”
Now I might be offended, but . . .
- Joe Ward is actually a relation through marriage so he’s allowed a level of casualness I wouldn’t necessarily like from others. Yes. My brother-in-law is calling me stupid.
- I’m not all that worried about my intellect.
- Joe isn’t that bright and probably had no idea what it meant anyway. (Kidding Joe! Sorry, you walked into that one and I had to give it to you.)
- Let me remind you Joe that we’re related through marriage so I’m allowed a level of casualness you wouldn’t necessarily like from others.
- You started it.
Most Interesting Names
First Place – Jeronimo
Submitted by Kate Sullivan
I did a search on Jeronimo and kept coming up with Geronimo. So I assume this is Kate’s attempt at telling me that I seem like a wild warrior woman capable of wreaking havoc on my enemies and being a celebrated defender of my people. Thank you for that Kate. For those who want the story of Geronimo, visit this nice post. It says that Geronimo means, “one who yawns.” That’s right. I’m such a bad-ass, I yawn in the face of my enemies.
Second Place – Jinx
Submitted by Ana Crow Clemans
Wikipedia gives Jinx a number of different meanings and the following are among them:
- A type of curse placed on a person that makes them prey to many minor misfortunes and other forms of bad luck.
- An object or person that brings bad luck.
- A penalty that one person can invoke on another when the two of them say the same thing at the same time.
What makes this so interesting is that I’m about the least superstitious person on earth. I will laughingly:
- walk under ladders,
- take black cats home,
- break mirrors,
- spill salt,
- stay in a motel on Friday the 13th,
- open an umbrella inside,
- forgo saying “God Bless You” after someone sneezes (Yes, that’s a superstition mistaken for etiquette.),
- drive by a cemetery without holding my breath,
- put my hat on in bed,
- wear my wedding ring on a finger other than my forth (Yes, another superstition!), and;
- step on a crack. Though my mother has had back problems so perhaps I should rethink this one.
One thing I won’t do is place my shoes on my table because that is just gross! You were thinking the same thing, weren’t you? Jinx! You owe me a Coke!
Third Place – Jupiter & Justice
Jupiter was submitted by Michelle Lewis
Justice was submitted by Annette Drolette Mardis and Deborah Ehling
I couldn’t make up my mind on which of these were more interesting, so they’re tied.
Justice would be a great name for me, though my sister would probably correct me and say I’m a “nark.” I was quite the nark when we were growing up.
And being named Jupiter after the fifth planet from the sun and the largest planet in the solar system (one thousandth the size of the sun) is just way cool. It speaks to my geeky side. But my sister would probably say it speaks to a big head. You decide.
P.S. This is the same sister who is married to my brother-in-law who called me stupid. Are you drawing any correlations?
People Who Believe I am Their Child From Another Life
Now a few people like me so much they wanted to name me after themselves. I want to take a moment to thank you. I appreciate your self-esteem, err I mean, your esteem and regard. (Teasing!) I don’t have a ranking for these so I’ll just give them to you.
Jasper
Submitted by Kasper Beaumont
This one is sneaky. Kasper, I bet you didn’t think I’d look it up. Kasper is the German form of Jasper. Busted.
Janice
Submitted by A League of Independent Writers
This one is in complete disguise. A League of Independent Writers is otherwise known as Janice Williams. Peeps, you REALLY should follow her. She’s fantastic and you can find her on Google Plus and Facebook. She has been amazingly supportive.
Jeanna
Submitted by Jeanna Ford Read
Jeanna gets the prize for boldness since she brazenly gave me her first name as she displays it to the world.
To all three of you, I’m honored.
Most Beautiful Names
I don’t have a ranking for these names either. I just loved the way they sounded with Lilo Abernathy.
Janae
Submitted by Pam Mastricola
Lilo Janae Abernathy
Jazina
Submitted by Giselle Marks Author
Lilo Jazina Abernathy
Joella
Submitted by Itsjoysworld Blogger-Author
Lilo Joella Abernathy
If I were picking solely based on beauty, I would probably have picked one of these. Great suggestions!
Most Popular Names
Third Place – Jade, Jane, & Jay
All three of these tied for third place, getting six votes each.
Jay – Submitted by Keith Fritz, Giselle Marks Author, Raul Sprovieri, Jamie Lockett, and Adri Sinclair
I’ve already said a few words about Jay and I’m sure I have a four-leaf clover to thank for this one not winning.
Jade – Submitted by Christina Lynn, Ann Marvin, Dawn Singh, and Arriane Alter
Not only is Jade the name of a beautiful semi-precious stone, but it’s also the name of my author friend Rose Montague’s first book. Suspiciously, all of her characters have names that start with ‘J’. I wonder if she named them after my middle initial . . .
Jane – Submitted by Rebecca Stoneham Gladu, Arriane Alter, Ann Moynihan, Jeanna Bini, Rachel Mustain, and Annie Palone
My first thought was, “Are you all Edgar Rice Burroughs fans too?” Jane actually goes very well with Lilo Abernathy and I would have enjoyed it. But to me it sounds a little too innocent and I feel far from that. Speaking of innocence . . .
Second Place – Jezebel
Submitted by Mary LoMar and Ann Doherty Jurmain
This one got seven votes, narrowly beating out the three above and almost winning. I do love Jezebel and wouldn’t have minded it at all, even though it doesn’t really flow with Lilo Abernathy.
According to Wikipedia . . .
According to the biblical accounts, Jezebel incited her husband King Ahab to abandon the worship of Yahweh and encourage worship of the deities Baal and Asherah instead. Jezebel is said to have persecuted the prophets of Yahweh, and to have fabricated false evidence of blasphemy against an innocent landowner who refused to sell his property to King Ahab, causing the landowner to be put to death. For these transgressions against the God and people of Israel, the Bible relates, Jezebel met a gruesome death – thrown out of a window by members of her own court retinue, and the flesh of her corpse eaten by stray dogs.
Jezebel became associated with false prophets. In some interpretations, her dressing in finery and putting on makeup led to the association of the use of cosmetics with “painted women” or prostitutes.
According to Israel Finkelstein, professor of archaeology at Tel Aviv University, apart from the names of rulers and some of the buildings and battles mentioned, the Biblical stories of Jezebel and her family contain “very little verifiable historical material”.
Doesn’t it feel like we’re playing the Telephone game? Now, Jezebel sounds like a radical trouble-maker and a regular bad-ass. If I were superstitious (and we’ve already covered this) I might be worried about the history. But I’m not. So you may call me Jezebel if you wish.
And the First Place Winner is . . . Leave it a Mystery!
Submitted by Dannika Dark
This got 10 votes, far outstripping the other options. Thank you so much Dannika for the suggestion. For your prize I’m giving you a big fat plug. Dannika Dark is a prolific author and highly rated by her readers. I’ve personally read her Mageri series and loved it. Chances are, if you like The Light Who Shines you’ll like her work as well. You can find her books on Amazon here and her Facebook page here.
So I guess I’m back where I started and have no middle name. However, I’m planning on having fun with this and may start signing my emails and posts with a different middle name every time. I’ll never explain to anyone why, and only those of you who were in on this process will know the secret.
Thank you all for participating!
May the rest of your week be successful and bright, knock on wood.
Lilo Jaracanda Abernathy
Book Review: BLOODGIFTED (Urban Fantasy / Romance / Myth & Legend)
Bloodgifted
The Dantonville Series: Book 1
By Tima Maria Lacoba
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1zvdKIn
#UrbanFantasy #Romance #Historical #Myth #Legend
A deftly woven tale of myth, legend, action, and romance.
Bloodgifted starts out with a prologue that takes us back to 263 AD when the battle between two warring parties, the Pictish and the Romans, culminates in a curse thus creating the first vampires and the bloodgifted.
Author Tima Maria Lacoba spins an exciting tale of romance and intrigue as her heroine, Laura, comes into her bloodgift and the vampire race grapples at a chance to shift the power. This story is an exciting recount of the struggle between two factions of vampires, those who want to maintain order and integrate with human society and those who see humans only as food to be devoured.
Trapped in the middle, Laura struggles to survive the violent power-plays between these volatile factions, who both consider her the winner’s prize. To spice things up further, Laura must deal with the rivalry between her current boyfriend Matt, a tenacious detective, and the irresistible Alec, a vampire from the new underworld she is just discovering. But there is more! An obsessive stalker is on the loose . . .
If you love action packed urban fantasy or paranormal romance, and have a taste for history, myth, and legends, you should definitely try this story.
Lilo Abernathy
Author and Book Lover
Book Review: NIKO (Urban Fantasy / Science Fiction / Gene Mutations)
Niko
The Outsider Chronicles: Book 1
By Kayti Nika Raet
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1OGgLvO
#UrbanFantasy #ScienceFiction #GeneMutations #Monsters
Before I even go into the review, I feel this cover must be mentioned. IMHO it is kick-ass. Not only does Niko look tough, but she looks sexy with some great booty. And, pleases, let’s talk about the bat. Chains and nails and dripping blood? Sweet . . .
Okay, moving on to the story. If you like original stories, creativity, and new creatures, this story is for you.
Niko lives in a time where something happened to the atmosphere to turn all rain to acid rain. The acid is so strong you can’t let it touch you, least it eats through you. Acid proof shingles have to be put on roofs. Your shoes have to be acid proof or they will melt away. And all water must be treated or it will kill you. This is a harsh world.
It’s made even harsher because humans have divided into the Haves and Have Nots because there are limited resources. Only the wealthy can afford to live in the city where purified water is in plentiful supply. The rest are kept out by gates, guards, and guns, surviving by their brawn and wits.
If that isn’t bad enough, there are genetically mutated humans who have transformed into scary as hell creatures called Slithers. Slithers eat people and move with incredible speed, far beyond the average human. Luckily, some rare people have an innate ability to move fast enough to kill them.
Enter Niko, a seventeen year old girl who’s entire family is killed by Slithers, except for one brother who goes missing. When the insider populace finds out Niko can kill Slithers, she’s taken to the city to protect the populace. However, her brother is on the outside and all Niko cares about is finding her brother. Outside of the gate waits Slithers galore, acid rain, starvation, thirst, gangs, and other people doing whatever required to survive their brutal existence.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants a unique kick-ass urban fantasy with science fiction elements in a dystopian environment.
Lilo Abernathy
Author and Book Lover
Book Review: JADE (YA Urban Fantasy / Action)
Jade
Three J’amigos Series: Book 1
By Rose Montague
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1bFej6S
#UrbanFantasy #Paranormal #Action #Shifter #YA
An Action Packed Story of Good Versus Evil
The story opens up with Jade Smith joining her new police partner, Rolfe, a shifter who takes the shape of a huge Kodiak bear. Rolfe initially thinks Jade will be a weak female partner, a liability if you will, but he is soon disavowed of that notion. Jade kicks butt.
But what is Jade? She has the build of a shifter, but keeps mum about her shifter form. She has vampire fangs and fay relatives. One part of her is even more secret than all the rest. Where did Jade come from and what did she do in her life prior to working with Rolfe? How does she happen to know the secret of a weapon legend says was used by angels?
The plot is rife with twists and turns, new friends and lovers, and set-ups and betrayals. The mysteries are slowly revealed.
This story will be enjoyed by YA readers and adults alike. Kudos to Ms. Montague for weaving in a LGBT relationship into the story. There is considerable focus on diversity, which I really appreciate.
Lilo Abernathy
Author and Book Lover
Book Review: THE CALLING (YA Urban Fantasy / Romance)
The Calling
The Gateway Series: Book 1
by Louise White
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1Fz42Wb
#YA #UrbanFantasy #Romance #Action
I loved this book. The beginning was absolutely incredible. Carolyn walks in to see her family being destroyed and something happens to her. She becomes this beautiful feral wild thang. She is called the Destroyer and her purpose is to kill Demons who steal humans.
Let’s just pause here a moment and reflect on the Feral Wild Thang. When I say feral, I actually mean feral, as in the movie Nell with the feral child, starring Jodi Foster. It’s fantastic like that too. I am soooo envious that Author Louise White thought of this idea before I did. Now that she’s written it and I’ve read it, I can’t use it. Maybe in about 20 years. But for now, I can’t. So . . . major envy here.
The story is filled with thrilling action as Carolyn completes her mission of destroying demons. Eventually, she starts to move toward a more aware mind and way from being a raving killing beast. The transition is fascinating to watch. Then, several possible love interests appear, each with potential ulterior motives, leaving the reader unclear who’s safe and best for her. I’m rooting for one male, but I’m not sure if Louise is with me on that. 🙂 Deception and betrayal complicate the plot and the characterization is excellent, allowing you to feel deeply for Carolyn’s team.
Several side plots further enrich the story and mysteries abound. Do some of the secondary characters have a relationship? What is the relationship of the strongest Mage to the God-like Protector? What is this parasitic power that has attached to her first, and secondly to Note? So many mysteries . . .
I’m looking forward the next book!
Lilo Abernathy
Author and Book Lover
Book Teaser: THE LIGHT WHO BINDS
Exciting News: The Light Who Binds is coming soon!
I’ve just finished integrating the changes from my Beta Readers and I’ve sent it off to editing. At this point, I’m estimating about six weeks. So with the book complete now, I’ve drafted a teaser and wanted to share it with you. Please note this is unedited!
The Light Who Binds: Teaser
The Prophecy
Inspector Bluebell Kildare has waited months for her sexy Vampire boss, Jack Tanner to divulge the secrets he knows about her. She couldn’t be more shocked when he finally reveals her birth was prophesied over two thousand years go and she’s expected to save the Vampire souls so they can escape their fate of eternal damnation and burning on the Plane of Fire.
The Case
A savior she is not. Blue and her wolf Varg are busy battling several factions attempting to abduct her. Plus, she’s chasing a vicious serial arsonist who’s setting houses on fire and burning victims alive. Is it random or Genocide?
The Wolf
The furor accelerates when Varg displays new powerful abilities and a complaint is filed against him. But when the sorceress who sent him shows up, Blue fears she’ll lose him forever.
The Romance
Jack is the final straw. His eyes and sometimes his hands vow yes to her, but his delicious mouth murmurs no, until she puts her foot down and demands he makes a decision about them. What will he choose? And can she handle the answer?
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Well, did that tease you enough to want it? This will become my Amazon description and the back of book blurb so I’d love to hear your opinions on it. Please comment below.
Want more?
You can read an excerpt of Chapter 1 here.
You can sign up here to be notified right before The Light Who Binds is released.
Best,
Lilo
The Light Who Binds, Book Two is almost done!
April 26, 2015, Sunday
All the hard stuff is done. The book is written and I’ve revised it myself five times. Then I solicited my Beta Readers for their review and comments. I took a week off of my day job and made all the changes necessary from the Beta Reader comments. And last night, glory of glories, I submitted it to my editor. At this point I’m estimating it will be complete in about six weeks, give or take. This will include two rounds of editing and a proof. Be sure to sign up for the news above to get notified just before the book is released.
Excerpt: THE LIGHT WHO SHINES
Dear Readers,
It occurs to me that since so many people loved the excerpt of book 2, I should probably post an excerpt of book 1, THE LIGHT WHO SHINES. (smile)
I do have to give you a bit of warning. This excerpt contains graphic violence and a torturous death. So turn back now if you can’t handle a taste of dark fantasy. The book in its entirety contains some very steamy sex scenes, though this excerpt does not. The dark scenes of the book are well balanced by magic, whimsy, love, and humor.
This excerpt is the entire Prologue which takes place 2000 years before the rest of the story. It begins in Year 1 of the Red Ages. The age was named thus because it’s the year that Vampires were first created and the time that followed was so bloody, it’s said the rivers ran crimson and the ground was cloaked in scarlet. This Prologue is the story of Shaina, the wife of the first Vampire.
So here goes!
The Light Who Shines
Book 1 of the Bluebell Kildare Series
Prologue
Shaina
Winter, Year 1, Red Ages
I wake to the sound of pounding on the door and Mor’s voice yelling, “Shaina. Shaina.”
Sorcha wakes up crying as I rush to open the door. A bloodcurdling scream tears through the night, destroying any illusions of a peaceful return to slumber. I swing open the door with trembling hands and see anguish in Mor’s eyes. The words that tumble from her mouth bring to the fore all the fears I’d been trying to suppress this winter.
“Shaina, Conor was found dead, killed by the bloodsuckers. Grainne and Aongus are calling you a Witch and gathering the town folks to burn you as one. Quick! We must run.”
I start gathering my things together, but Mor yells, “There is no time. Grab the bairn. We must go now!”
Sorcha is wailing now. Tears streak her little cheeks as she grips her blanket tightly in tiny fists. I grab my plaid and wrap it around us both as I follow Mor outside.
“You must quiet her,” Mor whispers.
I try to comfort Sorcha in a hushed voice. “Shh, Sorcha, you must be quiet. Shhhh.”
Sorcha pays no heed and cries all the louder as she clutches me with her little fingers.
I hear the voices of the villagers coming now, yelling and screaming, “Burn the Witch. It was her husband who brought this upon us.”
Aongus’ voice rises above the rest. “Let her die too. Why should she be spared?”
Mor leads me past the blacksmith’s shop, behind Fergus’ cottage, toward the forest. I see their torches at my cottage now. A voice yells, “They’re gone,” and the villagers continue to chant, “Burn the Witch. Burn the Witch.”
I cast through my mind wildly now, seeking a remembrance of a place to hide. My mind comes up empty, just as it did all winter when I feared a night such as this would come. I should have braved the cold and gone to the sea caves where the dragon tribe dwells despite the perilous winter journey.
Just then, Sorcha lets out a loud bawl, and I hear Grainne yell, “She’s over there.”
Mor and I run around Fergus’ cottage and make for the tree line. The throng is following us quickly with the younger men in the lead. The woods are just up ahead—if only we could lose them in the deep of the trees. If only Sorcha would stop crying.
We reach heavy brush, and I hear the thunder of feet behind me. Just at the edge of the woods, my foot catches on a tree root and I tumble to the ground. As I land on the hard dirt, I twist to protect Sorcha from being crushed by my weight, and pain shoots up my leg. Fear strikes my heart as I realize I’ve a choice to make.
“Mor,” I yell.
Mor glances over her shoulder and sees me on the ground. I try to stand, but my knee gives way. I see the torches through the dark coming swiftly closer.
“Mor, take Sorcha. It is too late. Run. Keep her safe.”
Mor stands there, petrified. She looks at me, she looks at the woods in front of her, and she looks at the torches that are almost upon us. I thrust Sorcha out while warm, wet tears stream down my cheeks and fall unheeded onto the snow. “Take the bairn! It’s me they want.”
Mor grabs Sorcha and my arms, bereft of their lovely burden, fall uselessly at my sides. I stare hungrily after Sorcha for one last moment, and just as Mor and Sorcha disappear in the dark of the woods, the torches are upon me. First the young men arrive, their faces ugly with rage. I know each of them, grew up with them, broke bread with them, bartered with them, sang with them, but it matters not. It’s fear that drives them this night, and no proclamations of innocence or fond memories will help me now.
Niall grabs my arms and drags me into the throng. I try to gain footing, but my right leg will bear no weight. Tadgh holds my other arm, and together they pull me to the center of town. The mob crowds around, cursing me, throwing sticks at me as I’m roughly tied to a large ash tree. The faces of my friends and neighbors swirl around me in angry confusion with rays of moonlight shining on a gaunt cheek here and a slashing brow there. The bindings are pulled tight, cutting into my wrists and ankles as I struggle, but I know it’s useless. It’s been useless since Torloch made his pact with the devil’s handmaiden, Lilith. It’s been useless since Torloch took my wee baby boy and returned home with his blood on his hands. It’s been useless since Torloch became a bloodsucking monster and spread his disease through the village.
I look out at the faces of the crowd, and I see anger and fear. I see despair. It’s a mercy they’ve let me live this long. I curse myself again for not leaving earlier despite the biting cold of winter. I hear one voice among the bloodthirsty yell, “Give her a Witch’s Trial.”
Another voice responds, “We’ll give her a trial of fire. If she’s innocent, let her be saved.”
Bundles of dry oak twigs and sticks are piled at my feet. Oak, the tree of strength. I wonder if the oak will give me strength in my last moments of life. I think of Sorcha, the twin of my poor baby boy. I hope only that Mor got her away safely and at least one of our family will be spared.
Grainne walks right up to me and spits in my face. “You filthy Witch,” she snarls. “Your monster husband and his kind killed my son. Shredded his neck.” Tears run down her dirt-smudged face. “We are going to watch you burn for what you’ve done.”
Una, who lost her husband to Torloch, grabs a torch and sets the wood at my feet on fire. The firelight reflects off her savage face, and I see months of grief and seething anger in the depths of her wild eyes. There is no mercy here.
I feel the heat rising, and it burns. I look at their faces, and even through my fear, I feel their sorrow and rage. I feel it in me as well. That has always been my curse: to feel others as myself. Their rage now feeds mine. The flames lick my ankles, and smoke fills my eyes.
I look up at the night sky and my fury overflows. Months of rage at Torloch, who took the life of our son to try to save himself. But most of all I rage at Lilith, who made him an empty promise and turned him into a monster for the price of our child. Tears stream down my face as I recall my own black pit of grief at losing my lovely little boy. I feel the grief and pain of everyone on this dark night.
I smell the smoke from the ash tree I am tied to mingling with the oak kindling about my body. My childhood learnings flit through my mind even in my last hour. While oak gives strength, ash is the bridge between Earth and other worlds. Good. Let it make a bridge to the Plane of Fire for me so that I might reach Lilith and pay her back in kind.
I shout to the blackness of the sky above. I call to the dark with all the rage of my soul. “Lilith, I call on you to hear me. By my blood, you will be destroyed. A light will come. A light that shines through your evil. A light that calls you to answer for your deeds. A light that binds you as I am bound and burns you as I burn. A light that rips you asunder and destroys your darkness.”
The pain is so great. The flames sear my legs. I can’t help but scream and convulse, though I know there is no escape. I writhe, trying to get away from the fire, but it just grows and grows as my calves blister and melt. A part of my mind wishes the fire were higher so this pain would end more quickly. The only escape now is death, and it fast approaches. The smoke is so heavy I cough as I scream. The fire has reached my waist now, and it envelops me in its excruciating embrace. I see the horrific faces of the mob, distorted and cast in red from the fire that consumes me.
I scream with all the strength I have, willing my voice to carry through the between spaces. “Lilith, hear me. I call to you. By my blood, you will pay for what you have done.” I cough and hack, unable to get a breath of air. I thrash my head as the tongues of fire lick ever higher, melting my flesh, binding me to the holy ash tree as though we are one. The pain is so great now that I know nothing but the feel of it engulfing me. It seems to be all that was before me and all that will ever come after. I’m being eaten alive by the ravenous fire. The agony and the rage are the whole of who I am now.
I think one last thought, unable to even catch enough breath to scream it, unable even to work my mouth to speak it as the flames lick my chin. My dying thought sears into my soul and lifts with me to the Plane of Light. “Lilith, by my blood you will be destroyed!”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Available Now!
If you enjoyed that excerpt, you can get entire book, The Light Who Shines on Kindle here: amzn.to/1zdMqub It’s also available on Audible and in print either on Amazon or through your local book stores.
Coming Soon!
Be sure to sign up here to get notified when book 2 of the Bluebell Kildare Series, The Light Who Binds is released. https://sites.google.com/site/lilojabernathy/home
Please do comment and let me know how you liked it.
Lilo
Book Review: THE SUMMER SOLSTICE ENCHANTED (Fantasy, Magic, Greek Mythology, Romance, Fun)
The Summer Solstice Enchanted
The Summer Solstice Series: Book 1
By Author K.K. Allen
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1bgapkq
#Fantasy #Magic #Greek Mythology #Romance #YA #Fun
Well, I’ve been in love with this cover for the longest time. Now that my second book is with my beta readers, I finally had a chance to read it. And let me just say that the cover exactly portrays the story. This was such a light fun read, I loved it.
Kat, recently orphaned, moves in with her estranged Grandmother and weird things start happening. Her sight and hearing senses become impossibly accurate. Disturbing and dangerous dreams haunt her sleep. She’s confused about what’s happening and her Grandmother isn’t giving her much. Plus, she’s lonely, and nervous about being the new kid in school. Then along comes the handsome neighbor boy. He gives her some confidence, but the two girls who feel she’s infringing on their territory give her equal measures of trouble.
Author K.K. Allen has filled this story with all the drama of a young girl in this situation. There’s suspense woven in through the enigmatic Grandmother, the unfolding of the family history, and the magic capabilities Kat is learning to control. Unbeknownst to her, danger is creeping up as she comes to the attention of evil forces. But, Allen keeps it light with the beach town setting and the threads of romance.
I recommend this lovely story for YA readers or anyone who enjoys YA and magic. It was quite an enjoyable read.
Let’s give a collective sigh for young love. Sighhhh . . .
Lilo Abernathy
Author and Book Lover
Update: Book Two of the Bluebell Kildare Series: THE LIGHT WHO BINDS
Dear Friends and Readers,
I just wanted to give you an update on where I stand with The Light Who Binds. The book has been written and I’m in the process of getting it into shape to send to beta readers within a week.
My process will be:
- Beta Readers
- Revision
- Full Edit
- Revision
- Light Edit / Cutting / Tightening
- Revision
- Proofing
- Publishing
I have to tell you that I’m so excited about this book I can hardly keep quiet. And if someone were to beg me for info, I would have a hard time not divulging. With that said, it really gave me some trouble there for a while, but after coaxing and cajoling, it is now behaving like a stellar student.
There are three major plot lines in this book. So, the last 20 chapters are practically non-stop thrills and emotional chaos as each plot line has a climax of its own.
Minor Spoilers
We definitely learn who the heroine, Bluebell Kildare is and what Illustrissima means. Maud and Harry’s (Blue’s mother figure and her neighbor) relationship progresses, in what direction I won’t say. Alexis (Blue’s friend) may have a love interest. And Varg (the ever loyal wolf) gets a mini plot of his own. All of this is in addition to the three major plot lines. And yes, we get to dig deeper into the hero, Jack, as well. He’s featured a lot in this book.
End Minor Spoilers
Ohh, so many mysteries revealed and so many more mysteries yet to unravel. Yes, I’m a big fat tease. If you can imagine a woman sitting by her desk reviewing her work while waving her pointy fingernails in the air and cackling with glee over the angst she is creating, that would be about right.
If you are familiar with my work you know I write each separate scene as an individual chapter, so that means some are long, but some are short. I don’t try to artificially tie chapters together or make them longer to be some predefined “typical length.” Every scene serves a purpose in the plot, and when the purpose is achieved, I move to the next. Right now it’s at 81 chapters and about 105,000 words as it stands. And let me tell you, it is packed so much, I can hardly believe all that stuff can fit in one book.
The entire series will be:
- The Light Who Shines
- The Light Who Binds
- The Light Who Burns
- The Light Who Destroys
Ohh, one more thing . . . As we’re getting closer and closer to release, please be sure to sign up for my news so you get notified of its release right away. https://sites.google.com/site/lilojabernathy/home
Best,
Lilo
Author Spotlight and Giveaway of THE LIGHT WHO SHINES
Over the holidays while everyone was busy with their new toys, I was working diligently on Book Two of the Bluebell Kildare Series, The Light Who Binds, and going back and forth with Author Jane Bled, on an in-depth interview.
The interview is done and done quite well, in my humble opinion. I love Jane’s style. She asked one question at a time and waited for my response before moving on to the next. This process took several weeks and was accomplished over a massive family holiday and through a bout of the flu. I hope you are feeling better Jane!
About Jane Bled
If you don’t know Jane, I’d best describe her as someone extremely artsy with an exquisite sense of detail. She describes herself as “a fiction writer with the soul of a poet.” I have a feeling that everything she completes is done for the joy of the beauty she creates. She only completes one Author Spotlight a month, so I’m extremely honored she chose to spend her time with me.
What the Interview Covers
The interview itself covers a great span of topics, from my marketing methods, my philosophy on labeling people, insights into my characters and what drives them, my own secret mark, my reading habits, and two short excerpts from The Light Who Shines.
If you are interested in reading the interview, you can do so here: http://wp.me/p4P6Db-dh
Giveaway of The Light Who Shines
If you comment on the interview (link above) before the deadline on January 21, 2015, you will automatically be entered to win a copy of The Light Who Shines. Scroll all the way down the page to the very end to comment.
Warm regards and good luck!
Lilo
THE LIGHT WHO SHINES: Holiday Sale! $1.99
Friends!
If you are like me, the holiday season is a time of giving, but it strains the pocketbook. It also often gives you a lot of time off. Time to read that is!
But what to do when you want to read, but you spent so much money on others? As an Amazon Kindle Select member, I can only do a sale every so often. So, I saved my sale for the week between Christmas and New Years just for this situation. I’ve been broke after Christmas myself often enough that I know exactly how it is.
The Light Who Shines
On Sale: Only $1.99
When: Now through 12/31, Midnight
Regular Low Price: $4.99
Amazon Suggest Retail Price: $5.99!
Link: http://amzn.to/1wM9fGw
I hope you and your loved ones have a wonderful holiday season.
Best,
Lilo
P.S. If you have already read The Light Who Shines don’t forget, you have until December 28th to enter the Audio Giveaway! See this blog post for rules and how to enter: http://bit.ly/13EYtoU
Happy Holidays! 10 Free Audible Versions of THE LIGHT WHO SHINES for Current Fans!
As you may have heard, I’ve just released the audio version of The Light Who Shines. Today, I got a great gift from Audible; coupons for free Audible books of The Light Who Shines! So, I’m passing the gift on to current fans of the book who have already reviewed it. I’ll do a drawing and select 10 people out of those interested.The audio book regularly retails for $24.95 and is 14 hours and 25 minutes long.
Here are the rules:
- You must have already read The Light Who Shines. This is a gift to current fans as a thank you for your support.
- You must have already reviewed The Light Who Shines on Amazon (regardless of the rating, so long as it was honest). This is because I want assurance that you really will leave a review of the Audible version on Audible.com. If you’ve read it, but you haven’t reviewed it yet on Amazon, it isn’t too late. Go review it on Amazon!
- You must agree to listen to and leave the review of the audio version on Audible.com within 2 weeks of receiving the coupon (but sooner is better!)
- You must enter the drawing by leaving a comment on this blog post with a link to the review of the book that you already left on Amazon. (Click on the title of your review. Then click on “Permalink”. Then copy and paste the URL into the comments.) Entries without the link won’t be accepted.
I’ll randomly select 10 people from the comments section (assuming I have that many interested parties.)
I’ll accept entries until Sunday, December 28th at 8:00 p.m. EST. I’ll announce the winners then.
The purpose of this is naturally to get reviews on the Audible version, so I’d really like your review to contain some focus on the narration as opposed to just a copy/paste of your book review. That way future Audible listeners will know what to expect.
And for all my dear readers who already bought the Audible version, I am so sorry! I didn’t know these coupons were coming. Big bummer.
To learn more about the Audible Version, see this blog post.
Listen to the sample here.
Happy Holidays and Best of Luck!
Lilo
The Giveaway is now closed! Thank you to all who participated. I’ll contact each of you individually with you coupon for the free Audio. Happy Holidays!
Chills and Thrills Giveaway!
Happy Chanukah, Winter Solstice, Festivus, Christmas, Boxing Day, Kwanzaa, New Year, and National Fruitcake Day! Or any other holiday that you celebrate this time of year. If you know me, even causally through my Facebook account or other social media, you will know that respect for diversity is important to me.
Personally, the holidays mean family time, great food, and a chance to buy my family what I think they need. Sometimes, I even pay attention to what they want. Sometimes, not so much. (wink) But giving is always more fun for me than receiving. I’m notoriously bad at remembering birthdays, so I try to make up for it this time of year.
This year we are doing casual Mexican fare for Christmas. Though I’m not religious, I consider religious holidays to be a cultural event, and wherever there is good food and fun, I’m happy to show up!
In the spirit of giving, I, along with 11 other authors have joined together to do a Holiday Giveaway. Each author is giving away a book and a side gift. There are some really great books and fun gifts here. It is open to international and if any gifts are out of stock at the time the winners are selected, comparable gifts will be given.
Please share this giveaway with others you think might be interested. The winners will be announced on December 23, 2014.
Happy Holidays!
Lilo
(Update: Giveaway currently closed.)
My Thanks To The Wonderful Book Community For Your Support
Did I make my goal of hitting #1 on Amazon? Well, I’m not sure yet. Rank usually hits the lowest point (best rank) around 6:00 – 7:00 a.m. EST. Right now I’m sitting at a beautiful #48. Yes, I made it into the Top 100 Best Seller List! I have the following ranks to be proud of as well.
#01 Paranormal Romance > Psychic
#02 Paranormal Romance > Witches and Wizards
#02 Paranormal Romance > Devils and Demons
#02 Paranormal Romance > Vampires
#02 Paranormal Romance > Werewolves and Shifters
#02 Science Fiction/ Fantasy > Paranormal and Urban
There is what I like to call “The Evil Box Set” of 20 books on sale for only 99 cents that is conspiring to keep me out of the #01 slot of all of those categories.
I am definitely a winner because I had such wonderful outpouring of support. It was awe-inspiring to see so many friends and complete strangers saying, “I’ll do everything I can!” And all of this on short notice!
(See my final update in the comments section.)
Now I want to do something for you.
I’ll be posting a few blogs in the next week to cover some of the most commonly asked questions.
- What is the Daily Deal selection process?
- What did you do to prepare?
- Lessons learned? (This is my own ask!)
Check in on my blog in a week or so to get answers to these questions.
If you do use Facebook and you supported me during the event, please go here on Friday/early Saturday. The “Help Me Get to Amazon #1” event will be transformed into a networking event where supporters will share information that will be helpful to each other. I’ll have posts where you can drop your information and others can pick it up.
The rest of this post is aimed specifically at people who don’t use Facebook but who supported me during this endeavor. It is my way of reaching out to non-Facebook users.
I’d like to collect the following information from you.
You can send it to my email at [email protected]. But I must receive it sometime on Friday/early Saturday for it to be useful. Saturday/Sunday will be an information sharing days.
Do you follow back or reciprocal retweet? (Reciprocal retweeting means you retweet people who retweet you on a consistent basis.)
If ‘yes’, then:
- Please provide your Twitter profile link. This is not your Twitter handle. This is the url at the top of the page when you are sitting on your profile.
- Please indicate if you follow back or reciprocal retweet or both.
Example
https://twitter.com/Lilo_Abernathy
Reciprocal Retweeter and Follows Back
What I’ll Do With This Info
- I’ll assemble a list of all Reciprocal Retweeters and share it with all reciprocal retweeters.
- Likewise with a list of those who follow back.
Blogs/Website Posts
Did you blog The Light Who Shines during this promotion or post about it on your web site?
If ‘yes’, then,
- Please provide the following information.
- your name:
- blog/website name:
- blog/website link:
- direct link to post:
- Please select the role that best describes you: author / blogger / book lover (Please select only one.)
What I’ll Do With This Info
- I’ll assemble a list of the website links for all bloggers and give them to all the authors and book lovers on Saturday.
- I’ll do a reciprocal link back from my site to all authors / bloggers / book lovers who created a blog post or a website post during this event. I’ll do this as soon as possible.
Authors
Are you an Author who did a blog or website post for The Light Who Shines?
If ‘yes’, then,
- In addition to the details above, please send me the following information for one book of your choice.
- book cover
- book blurb
- buy link
What I’ll Do With This Info
- I will share this with the book lovers in the event on Saturday
- I’ll post them to my site with your links as soon as possible.
Thank you all so much for your support.
Be sure to check for further updated on how low my rank goes!
Lilo
Amazon Kindle Daily Deals
November 20, 2014, Thursday
Amazon contacted me and announced that The Light Who Shines will be the Science Fiction and Fantasy selection for Kindle Daily Deals on Thursday, November 20th. Holy Cow! I can’t wait. I’ll update this post on that day with the results. HAPPY DANCE!
Just to show you what an honor this is, the image shows the selection and out of the year, no more than 365 books are selected for the Science Fiction and Fantasy category since they only select one a day at most. I’m sure you can imagine how ecstatic I am.
Update!
I made it to the Amazon #47 slot so I am officially an Amazon Best Seller! I made it to #1 in Paranormal Romance > Psychics. I also made it to the #2 slot in 5 other categories. In all five of those categories the same product beat me out. It was a box set with like a zillion books for only 99 cents. So the competition was stiff.
A special thanks to all the people who supported me on this special day. 193 authors and book lovers attend a Facebook event to lend support and help me push toward Amazon number one. Though I didn’t quite make it, I came so darn close, I’m thrilled. But even more thrilled about the rank, my heart just swelled at the outpouring of support from the book community. 193 is just the number on Facebook. There were sooooo many Twitter folks, Linked-in Friends, Google Plus friends, and Bloggers lending support as well. I didn’t have time to check, but I wouldn’t be surprised if I trended on Twitter that day.
For as long as Facebook keeps the event, you can view it here: https://www.facebook.com/events/487144214760082/
Here are some photos of my rank and stats. After promoting for nearly 72 hours I had to rely on my international friends to help keep me posted as I finally caught some sleep after Midnight. My rank kept going up while I slept. What an amazing day!
The Light Who Shines: Amazon Special Price – One Day Only $1.99
Amazon has awarded The Light Who Shines a super special Kindle Daily Deal. The price has been marked down to $1.99 for one day only. Be sure to grab a copy while you can!
The Light Who Shines
by Lilo Abernathy
4.7 ★
$4.99 $1.99 – One day only!
Thursday, November 20th, 2014Genre: Urban Fantasy / Paranormal Romance / Mystery (Solid Blend)
Thursday, November 20th, 2014Genre: Urban Fantasy / Paranormal Romance / Mystery (Solid Blend)
Amazon Link: amzn.to/11sqD5Y
When Supernatural Investigation Bureau agent Bluebell Kildare (a.k.a. Blue) arrives at the scene of the crime, it’s obvious the grotesquely damaged body of the deceased teenage boy was caused by far more than a simple hit and run; and she vows to catch the killer. Using her innate sixth sense, Blue uncovers a powerful magical artifact nearby. She soon discovers it acts as a key to an ancient Grimoire that was instrumental in the creation of the Vampire breed and still holds the power to unravel the boundaries between Earth and the Plane of Fire.
Blue and her clever wolf Varg follow a trail that starts at the Cock and Bull Tap and leads all through the town of Crimson Hollow. Between being sidelined by a stalker who sticks to the shadows and chasing a suspect who vanishes in thin air, the case is getting complicated. If that isn’t enough, Dark Vampire activity hits a record high, and hate crimes are increasing. However, it’s Blue’s growing feelings for Jack Tanner, her sexy Daylight Vampire boss, that just might undo her.
While Blue searches for clues to nail the perpetrator, it seems someone else is conducting a search of their own. Who will find whom first?
Danger lurks in every corner, and Blue needs all her focus in this increasingly dangerous game or she risks ending up the next victim.
Character Profiles
Bluebell Kildare: Blue is a Supernatural Homicide Detective and a gifted empath who has a pure spirit and a will of steel. She was orphaned at a young age and has had a tough life so far. Yet, she continually picks herself up by the boot straps and fights to do what is right, regardless of the cost. Just how high will the cost be?
Jack Tanner: He’s Blue’s sexy boss, the head of the Supernatural Homicide Unit in Crimson Hollow. Jack is very old and powerful Daylight Vampire with many layers. He is driven a little crazy by his desire to protect Blue in the face of her independence. Can he keep his cool when Blue needs him most?
Varg: He is a great grey wolf who comes out of nowhere and decides to be Blue’s companion. He seems to have some mysterious magical abilities and uses them to guard Blue’s life. Can he keep her safe?
Maud: She is Blue’s dear friend and mother figure. Maud used to visit Blue in the orphanage and read to her as a child. She can’t cook but she makes awesome Southern beverages. What color is her hair today? Is it blue, fuchsia, scarlet, or peach sherbet?
Alexis: She is Blue’s comrade and neighbor, as well as the sassy owner of a store called Herbal Enchantments. She is gifted in earth magic and if she isn’t busy feeding her friends, she’s telling them what to do. Does she have her hands on her hips right now, or is she waving her finger at Blue?
The Villain: Can he get any more evil? No. He is about as evil as they come . . .
One of My Favorite Amazon Reviews
Brilliant story
By jazz
Format:Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
I can’t praise this book highly enough.It was absolutely riveting. I have read thousands of books in my life and this one is one of the best.The only negative comment I can make is that I now have to wait for the next one in what I hope will be a very long series.I wish I could gobble up the whole story immediately.If you like urban fantasy (or even if you don’t usually) this is a must read. Blue is up there with Mercy, Kate, and Harry. D. as a wonderful character already along with the rest of the cast in this delightful book.If you are looking for the next big thing in urban fantasy you have just found it.
Review Link
Author Bio
Lilo Abernathy is a somewhat eccentric, deep-thinking, warm-hearted young woman of at least 43 years. She started out as a restaurant chain hostess and worked her way up to the exciting world of global mergers and acquisitions. She has enjoyed an on again/off again relationship with formal education and has been affectionately referred to as information hound. In the evenings, she fills her writing breaks by scanning the internet for answers to provocative questions, such as: “What causes diamonds to be formed in different colors?”
One thing that never changes is Lilo’s ongoing love affair with books. A born bibliophile, by age ten she finished all the children’s books in the house and started devouring the adult section. By age 15, she was working her way through grocery store book aisles and libraries. Just as Picasso had his blue period, Lilo had her own periods of readership–urban fantasy, paranormal romance, Gothic novels, etc. Now she’s planning on creating a bookshelf for you to enjoy.
Social Networks
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/lilojabernathy
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lilo_Abernathy
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7789942.Lilo_Abernathy
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/liloabernathy/
Site and Blog
Website: https://sites.google.com/site/lilojabernathy/home
Blog: http://lilojabernathy.blogspot.com/
Thank you!
Lilo
You’re Invited to an Event to Help The Light Who Shines Get to Amazon #1
Authors, book lovers, and book promoters, you are invited to join others of your ilk, in a Facebook event to help The Light Who Shines get to Amazon #1.Amazon has given me an incredible once-in-a-lifetime opportunity by granting The Light Who Shines a Kindle Daily Deal on Thursday, November 20th. I’m using this fantastic opportunity to try to make it all the way to Amazon #1. And I’d love to have you join in on the fun.
Yes, it is a stretch goal, but I already have about 100 authors/bloggers who have thrown in their post/blog support. Plus, I have about 150 retweeters so far who are raring to go for the Daily Deal. On top of the Kindle Daily Deal, this is doable, and I just might make it!
Already this event has had a huge response and is filled with authors, book bloggers, and other book loving supporters. After the event, as a thank you to supporters, I’m turning the event into a networking party. I hope you will join the fun.
- Authors will get a chance to promote a book of their choice, copy book blogger details, and woo my fantastic fans. These are the kind of reader fans you want, because they are also huge supporters.
- Book Bloggers will get a chance to share their details to gain new audiences and network with other book bloggers.
- Readers / Book Lovers will get a chance to see the Author’s book and be wooed by them. Plus they will find great new book blogs to follow.
The Light Who Shines $1.99 Thursday, November 20th Only!
I hope to see you there!
Lilo
HUGE NEWS! Amazon selects The Light Who Shines for a Kindle Daily Deal!
In September Amazon emailed me and asked my agreement to do a potential special Kindle promotion any time before the end of the year. The caveat: I couldn’t reduce my price until they did. So, no promotions for The Light Who Shines for a while.Naturally, I’ve been checking my email three times a day, waiting for their confirmation. Checking, checking, checking . . .
And it came!
They said that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, The Light Who Shines is going to be on a Kindle Daily Deal on Thursday, November 20th, 2014. It will be marked down to $1.99 for one day only.
Another author friend of mine was offered a one day Kindle Daily Deal and he sold like 3000 copies in one day!
HOLY COW!
I read up on this and sometimes a book can get to the Amazon #1 spot with 3500 buys in 1 day. So, I’m going to take advantage of this situation and see how high I can get in rank. Wouldn’t it be awesome if The Light Who Shines made it to the #1 spot on Amazon, even if for one day only? I thought about this, and I’m committed to try.
If you want to help me try to get to #1, please mark your calendar and help me promote it on November 20th. I’ll do a separate post that day you can share if you like. Some of my author friends and fans have already volunteered to do this and that is what gave me the idea. But any additional help is really appreciated.
Any way you want to share the news will help: Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, GooglePlus, telling your work comrades about it . . . I’ve already signed up for every advertising option I can find that will take me on such short notice.
This is a huge stretch goal, but I’m going to work every free minute between now and Thursday to try to make this happen.
Now, for a little additional news. I’ve done a small make-over of the cover. The art is the same, but I’ve revamped the typography a bit and I think it makes it look that much sharper. What do you think?
And finally, I think that it is safe to say that The Light Who Binds, Book Two, will move into the revision phase by December 1, 2014.
Lilo
Amazon Link: amzn.to/11nuVM5
Ghoulishly Good Giveaway: Announcing Winners!
I know everyone wanted the awesome lollipops, but in the end, there could be only one. So, without further ado, I’ll announce the winners!
Prize 1
Goes to: Stephanie Brumber
Located in: United States
Prize 2
Goes to: Arriane Alter
Located in: Argentina
Congrats Arriane and Stephanie! I hope your prizes bring you hours of enjoyment.
I still haven’t decided if I’m going to buy myself some of those lollipops. I’ve included the links to the prizes incase any of you are feeling so bereft you must indulge yourself (wink). Wouldn’t it be great to suck on an eyeball lollipop while reading The Light Who Shines? You know it would.
I hope you took the chance to check out some of the great books that were included. There are a lot of talented authors out there waiting for you to discover them.
Thank you all so much for participating. Be sure to follow my blog. There will be plenty more giveaways to come!
Lilo
Surprised by the Mysterious and Magical Ferocious Wolf
a href=”https://liloabernathy.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Varg-BW.jpg”>
I was so surprised to discover that Varg, the mysterious wolf, would end up being the most loved side character in The Light Who Shines. It’s quite a feat for a character with absolutely no dialogue. But, when I first published, the comments came pouring in.
- Varg can come live at our house.
- Can’t wait to find out more about the wolf Varg!
- Varg is awesome – always showing up when needed.
- Varg needs to be explained more and I would like to order 2 more wolves for my two grandsons!
- I of course LOVE Varg.
- There is something about Varg . . . Who/what is he really?
It goes on and on . . . I wasn’t lying when I said he was popular! This really made me question, “Why does everyone love Varg so much?” It certainly isn’t his witty discourse. But what Varg misses in conversational skill he makes up for in personality.
He makes his first appearance from the shadows when Blue’s life is in imminent danger and he saves the day. This heroism is repeated time and again throughout the story. His number one job is to protect Blue and he does so with a single minded devotion.
Wouldn’t we all love having someone in our lives who has our back no matter what?
And Varg is no dummy; let’s just say that. He seems to follow discussion and understand direction as though he’s on the same level of intellect as we are. He emits growls when the villain is mentioned in casual conversation; he executes on complex instruction; and, he clearly has all the advanced senses a wolf has. This is a wolf who is on top of things.
Who wouldn’t love to be able to communicate with their animal companion?
But something is up with Varg. Things aren’t quite normal. He seems to have magic powers that I won’t elucidate for fear of giving the plot away. But that is the crux of the matter. I think the number one reason everyone loves Varg so much is they can’t quite figure him out. How does he do his magic tricks? What is he? Where did he come from? Why did he appear?
So I have to ask, does mystery inspire us more than answers?
Varg has become such a loved character in this story that I felt it necessary to include him with the main character Blue when planning the redesign of the cover. But before I did, I asked my Varg fans what he should look like. They said:
- Ferocious and Fangy
- Intelligent
- Fluffy and Cuddly
That description may be most telling of all. Everyone sees him as a dangerous and perfectly loveable brainy animal. What a dichotomy!
On the cover you see Varg walking next to Blue and that is exactly the way the story goes. Varg and Blue go everywhere together. I used to think my girlish fantasies of walking around my neighborhood with a big vicious pet animal next to me was unique. Now, I highly doubt that. Perhaps we all want someone who will comfort us with their presence and keep us safe.
When I started writing Varg into the story, I doubted him. I wondered if it was self-indulgent to include my girlish fantasy. But now, when I imagine the story without him, it seems a dim shell compared to its current vibrancy.
Varg adds intrigue, danger, and fun, and somehow he catches our heart.
In case you are wondering where I came up with his name, Varg is Norse for wolf and wolves play a part in ancient Norse mythology.
Lilo
Ghoulishly Good Giveaway! (and eyeball lollipops)
You may not know this, but Halloween is my favorite holiday. It isn’t expensive, it involves copious amounts of chocolate, and people dress up funny. Plus, I have fond memories of getting caught drunk on Halloween by my parents, at a way too young age. (Don’t try that at home kids.) Anyway, what’s not to love?
Then there are those horrid one-liner jokes . . .
- What do you call a ghost with a broken leg? A hoblin goblin of course!
- What does a skeleton order at a restaurant? Spare ribs, rare.
To prevent me from turning your brain into a spongy mush, without further ado, I’d like to share a Ghoulishly Good Giveaway.
12 authors are giving away two prizes each. One prize is a supernatural / paranormal read and the other is a Halloween themed gift. That means there will be 24 winners! I picked a half-dozen gourmet eyeball lollipops as my gift. I soooo want them myself, but I guess I’ll give them to a winner. Aren’t you just itching to suck on an eyeball?
My prizes are Global. The rest are US, Canada, and UK
Scroll through the pictures at the top of the Rafflecopter to scope out the goods.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
The Rafflecopter ends at Midnight on Halloween.
Happy Best Holiday Ever!
Lilo
Bibliophiles Rejoice! Ancient Book That Opens Six Ways
Ohhh, my dear Bibliophiles, have I got a treat for you. I present you with a book that opens SIX WAYS! It can be read SIX WAYS too! Yes, it is true. And there is more. Ohh, so much more . . .
I read the article on this book and saw a link to Erik Kwakkel’s blog. I clicked on it and struck gold. GOLD my friends. Erik is a book historian and his blog covers ancient books, naturally.
He has posts on the biggest books in the world, books with feet, books with ivory carvings, books made of fish skin, books with ancient bookmarks, and hand drawn initial capital letters at the beginning of chapters. If I have not sucked you in by now, you probably don’t belong on my feed. That is all I can say.
I’m not going to torture you any longer. Here is the link to his blog. Go forth and devour. Don’t miss the GORGEOUS library. http://erikkwakkel.tumblr.com/
I normally don’t like to blog this close together, but really, how could I not share this? Thanks to my author friend Lesley Donaldson for sharing the six way book with me which drew me into Erik’s blog.
Lilo
Audible Announcement
October 18, 2014, Saturday
http://lilojabernathy.blogspot.com/2014/10/the-light-who-shines-on-audio-woot.html
Lilo announces that The Light Who Shines will be produced on Audio and narrated by Elizabeth Klets. ACX awards The Light Who Shines a rare stipend for production.
E.B. Hood Channel
October 14, 2014, Tuesday
Author E.B. Hood produces the first video review of The Light Who Shines
Fan Spotlight Review of THE LIGHT WHO SHINES by Jasmine Hambrick
Fan Spotlight Review of The Light Who Shines
by Jasmine Hambrick
Blog Owner of Pages 2 Bigscreens
The Light Who Shines by Lilo Abernathy is one of the best supernatural mysteries to date. No supernatural is off limits in this book’s debut, but the book really focuses on 3 races of people, The norms(normal human beings) The gifted(humans with magical abilities) and vampires. I like how the book betrays discrimination but not that of race but about your class in society. The norms hate The gifted, they feel like they were made of the devil, especially because there powers cannot be used on holy ground and not because they don’t want to, it’s really because they physically can’t. This book is about a gifted Detective Bluebell Kildare, her handsome, sexy, vampire boss Jack, and her trusty and loyal pet wolf Varg that seems to have some magical powers of his own,thus making him a gifted pet. Bluebell has been assigned to a murder case of a 17-yr old gifted boy, at the murder scene she finds an amulet that puts herself in the line of fire and now it’s up to her to find out what is so special about this amulet and why did this 17-yr old boy have it, all the while trying to stay alive. With her first encounter of the mystery guy behind the case, in a dangerous situation she stumbles upon a wolf who saves her life at that moment in time and she adopts him as her own(Varg). Its gets better, Bluebell’s power is to be a sensitive, she senses a person’s emotion, which comes in handy if someone is lying. She also has this crush on her boss Jack and he on her, but he is afraid to go there with her because he feels that there is no redemption for a vampire and therefore she is too good for him.
But all in all, This is a great mystery and should be made into a series. Really it was fun trying to figure out the culprit. In this book, the character development was amazing, the evidence was great, and the anticipation lead up was awesome, all the while developing a love relationship with Bluebell and Jack, which you will for sure root for. And the fact that Jack has secrets himself about Blubell’s past is very shocking and also keeps you wanting more. I really can’t wait til Lilo comes out with the 2nd book of this series. And because of the sexiness of the book, I would really recommend this be a series on HBO like Trueblood or some other channel within that same genre. I give this book a 4 thumbs up and hope everyone agrees with me on wanting to see this on TV. Because after reading this book you for sure will keep wanting more!!!!
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1IZ6geb
Blog Link: http://bit.ly/1Q2lMvh
Truth in Fantasy
October 6, 2014, Monday
http://www.truthinfantasy.com/blog/paying-it-forward
Blogger Anne Marvin writes a post called Paying it forward, inspired by The Light Who Shines.
Truth in Fantasy
September 18, 2014, Thursday
http://www.truthinfantasy.com/blog/living-in-the-now
Blogger Anne Marvin writes a post called Living in the Now, inspired by The Light Who Shines.
Pages2BigScreens
September 13, 2014, Saturday
http://www.pages2bigscreens.com/blog/a-supernatural-mystery
Book Review: J. Alyse recommends that The Light Who Shines get screen time.
The Light Who Shines Amazon Rank Hits the 2000’s!
September 7, 2014, Sunday
The Light Who Shines has been hanging around on Amazon with a rank in the 4000’s and 3000’s for a while. Let’s not mention my lowly beginnings of a Rank of 1,500,000 ish. (Oops, I mentioned it.) Though my the rank has been higher at times, it has never been this high sans-promo. Today it made it to 2910. That means out of the millions of books sold on Amazon, only 2909 books are selling more copies. OMG!
Plus as a little teeny tiny side note, you may notice that it is in three best seller categories! It has been hanging out in those categories for a while. This is so exciting!
The Light Who Shines Hits Bestseller & Top Rated Status!
June 11, 2014, Wednesday
The Light Who Shines hit bestselling status again in the Psychic category:
#78 Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Romance > Paranormal > Psychics
What is most exciting about this event is I have no promotion running
The Light Who Shines is also in the #2 position for Top Rated in the Romance, Psychic category.
Truth in Fantasy
September 1, 2014, Monday
http://www.truthinfantasy.com/blog/something-for-nothing
Blogger Anne Marvin writes a post called Something for Nothing, inspired by The Light Who Shines.
New Video Trailer
August 18, 2014, Monday
After weeks of slaving away and debating clips, at the behest of my readers, I’ve produced my first book trailer. It has received tremendous support with some viewers even saying it is “the best ever!” However, the accuracy of this statement cannot be validated.
Style: Eerie / Gothic
Narrator/Producer: Me
Enjoy . . .
THE LIGHT WHO SHINES: New Book Trailer!
I know this is perhaps a TAD bit backwards, but one of my readers from Twitter recommended that I do a book trailer. Originally I didn’t do one because I wasn’t convinced they sold books. But I polled my readers on Twitter and they almost unanimously told me I should do one. And, being a slave to my fans as I am, I complied.
I must say that the project was quite a bit of fun, though challenging. Luckily, I have Photoshop Premier Edition so the tools were available to me. However, I found myself wishing I had purchased the additional RAM on my computer before long. Nevertheless, after hours of agonizing over clips and music, I have produced a book trailer.
Now, before you watch it, I’d like to go back to my earlier comment. It was almost unanimous. One person didn’t want a book trailer because she didn’t like to have her image of a character spoiled. So I promised I wouldn’t show a picture of Blue in the trailer. And I have not. I do show a picture of another girl who is just an anonymous person.
However, when I released the trailer on Facebook, I did get some interesting comments on my voice. Some people love it. Some people said the video gave them the chills (which “Yay!” is exactly what I was going for). A few didn’t like my voice narrating it at all. They said it sounded too old for Blue. I suspect that those who had already read the book had Blue’s voice in their head and my voice didn’t match that. I am not 22, I am 43.
So, if you have read the book, watch at your own risk. If you enjoy it, please pass it along.
I am rather proud of it. I really hope you like it too.
Now, enough with re-edits and new book covers and trailers . . . Book 2 is full steam ahead.
Lilo
Renay Allen Origin
July 31, 2014, Thursday
http://www.renayallen.com/community-2/author-interviews/
Author Renay Allen interviews Lilo Abernathy on blog.
Great News: The Light Who Shines Hits 4.9 Stars!
My news is short and sweet. So short it is hardly deserving of a blog post, but I must mark the moment.
Today, The Light Who Shines hit 4.9 stars on Amazon!
I am so excited; naturally I’m doing the HAPPY DANCE! However, I’m writing this post with some trepidation. I worry that sharing this great news will inspire a troll to leave a bad review. Even knowing the risk, I’m braving it because I think, I hope, that most of those who read this will just be happy for me, and with me.
Part of what amazes me about this is I know my book isn’t perfect. I know of at least two editing errors remaining, and I just paid for another round of proofing and editing to tighten it. I have the changes, but I haven’t reviewed and pushed them yet. Still, the book seems to make people happy, as is.
I’m also a realist and can’t expect the rating to stay this high as it continues to expand it’s reach. Right now I’ve sold 871 copies and I’ve received 61 reviews. I attribute some of that rating to the fact that I’ve marketed it to the correct genre audience. Eventually, people outside of my target audience will read it and I can’t expect such good reviews from the expanded crowd.
For now, I’m going to try to bask in the glory. I’m not really a basking kind of person, so we will see how that goes.
Best,
Lilo
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/VGJHL3
#UrbanFantasy #Paranormal #Mystery #Romance #Vampires #ebook #Kindle
Note: I’ve corrected this post. Previously, I stated that I’d sold between 300 – 500 copies. I just did an actual count and it is much higher than I had thought. I’ve corrected it to 871 based on my sales reports.
Book Review: THE GIRL (Urban Fantasy, Action, Romance)
The Girl
The Sanctum Trilogy: Book 1
by Madhuri Blaylock
Link: http://amzn.to/1EEmlIB
#UrbanFantasy #Action #Romance #Warriors
This is ABSOLUTELY a most Kick-ass Book!
We have The Sanctum, an organization put in place by the Gods to rule and protect. However, where power exists, so often does corruption. The leadership of The Sanctum is sick and twisted.
We have The Sanctum warriors. They are honorable and highly trained warriors. Unfortunately, they follow orders blindly. The exception are three of our four main characters, Wyatt, Ryker, and Jools who see with clear eyes the corruption in The Sanctum. Yet, they feel honor-bound to defend it, for what it was in it’s better days and with the hope that it will shine again.
Finally, we have Dev, The Girl. She is a hybrid of demon and angel and she is being hunted by The Sanctum. Her crime? Being born.
When Dev and Wyatt meet, the two mortal enemies feel an instant connection, and Wyatt does the unthinkable. He defies The Sanctum for the very first time.
This book is filled with thrilling action and kick-ass scenes. There are battles, torture, healing, despair, triumph, love, but most of all, friendship. The story is a coming of age for these four main characters as they step into leadership roles and act as the catalyst for the righting of decades of wrongs. The story leaves you on the edge of your seat and you will love it. I promise. By the end of it, you will come to care for the characters.
I want to take a moment to speak about Ms. Blaylock’s writing style. She is a skilled writer who carries a rhythm in her written words. It’s not a lyrical style, but rather you can hear the ups and downs of tone and the quickening and slowing of pacing as though she were reading it to you. With grace and style, she will sweep you along the journey with her.
Lilo Abernathy
Author and Book Lover
Peer Review of THE LIGHT WHO SHINES by Author Madhuri Blaylock
Peer Review of The Light Who Shines
by Madhuri Blaylock
Author of The Sanctum Trilogy
Lilo Abernathy is a masterful storyteller, which she proves emphatically with her debut novel, The Light Who Shines.
Set in the twenty-first century of the Red Ages, a time when Gifteds and Vampires help keep Norms safe from Dark Vampires, TLWS centers around the brutal murder of a young boy and its investigation by Bluebell “Blue” Kildaire, an investigator for The Supernatural Homicide Investigation Unit.
Blue is a Gifted, an interpreter of souls, and an excellent and empathetic detective, but there is more to her story and very early on hints are dropped that she holds a key to something very important, that she is very significant to the souls, both human and supernatural, around her.
Abernathy’s writing style, her rich, detailed world-building, and her meticulous descriptions keep you turning the pages of TLWS, wanting more of Blue’s story, her painful past, her interesting (and painful!) present and her intriguing future.
Then there is Jack.
I love Jack.
I don’t know how Ms. Abernathy feels about Jack – every writer has their favorite character, like my love affair with my own character, Darby Winthrop – but I love him. This love runs counter to my initial intention, which was to fall head over heels for Blue, since she’s a working woman in this man’s world, making her way on her own and whatnot.
But Jack entered the picture and all girl power stuff was pretty much forgotten. Pretty freaking fast.
Also, I should clarify this little love fest – I initially met Jack through Blue’s eyes and honestly, wasn’t that intrigued. He came across as a sexy, sure-of-himself vampire, a character I’d read hundreds of times over. Then I actually met him, for the story is told from his perspective as well, and that’s when I fell for him.
Yes, he’s sexy and sure of himself – you would be, too, if you were an old ass, been-around-the-block-a-few-times vampire. But Jack has layers that make him very interesting, much more than the one-dimensional character Blue introduces us to at the crime scene.
He’s vulnerable, insecure, protective, conflicted, loving, controlled and he’s hiding something huge. HUGE.
Oh. And as an added bonus, homeboy is gifted in his knowledge of a woman’s body. I mean gifted. Whoa, Lilo writes good sex. Trust me when I say, everyone, man or woman, needs a little Jack in their lives. (For the record, I fell for Jack long before I learned of his excellent bedside manner.)
But I digress.
Needless to say, if you are looking for a new fantasy author and series to follow, I highly recommend picking up Lilo Abernathy’s The Light Who Shines. The world she has created will pull you in from page one and then the characters take over and hold your attention until the very last word.
My only regret is that I cannot immediately turn my attentions to book two in the series.
Link: http://amzn.to/1EPlTtI
The Sanctum
June 25, 2014, Wednesday
https://madhuriblaylock.wordpress.com/2014/06/25/book-review-the-light-who-shines-by-lilo-abernathy/
Author Madhuri Blaylock reviews The Light Who Shines.
Dreams, Fantasies, Nightmares and Visions: Huge Facebook Party & Giveaway
June 20 – 22, 2014, Friday – Sunday
Lilo hosts a promotion spot each day.
– June 20, 2014, 8:00 PM EST, Friday
– June 21, 2014, 7:00 PM EST, Saturday
– June 22, 2014, 6:00 PM EST, Sunday
Dreams, Fantasies, Nightmares and Visions Event!
Join author Lilo Abernathy
Games, Prizes, and Giveaways
The party has already started and there will be over a dozen authors in all. Each author will have a different events planned, though most will have giveaways as part of their event. You can stop in any time to visit any author’s time slot.
Lilo’s event will feature games and giveaways, as follows:
Games, Prizes, and Giveaways
The party has already started and there will be over a dozen authors in all. Each author will have a different events planned, though most will have giveaways as part of their event. You can stop in any time to visit any author’s time slot.
Lilo’s event will feature games and giveaways, as follows:
Amazon Gift Cards
Free eBooks
Book 1 Memorabilia
Maud’s Southern Beverage Recipe Cards
Raspberry Lemonade Ice Tea (with Blackberry Kicker)
Mint Julep (with Bad Day option)
Sparkling Lemonade (with Extra Sparkle)
Keepsake Image of Character Letter from Blue to Jack
Book 2 Sneak Peak
Win a chance at an exclusive draft of the Prophecy of Illustrissima!
“The DARK ONE spreads her plague across the land…”
(This is a beautiful scroll image, with the prophecy written on it,
and celtic knot font accents.)
and celtic knot font accents.)
When and Where
Join our Facebook event to be part of the fun:
Lilo’s events will be:
Friday, June 20, 8:00 p.m. EST
Saturday, June 21, 7:00 p.m. EST
Sunday, June 22, 6:00 p.m. EST
Each event lasts for 1 hour
Each event lasts for 1 hour
Massive Rafflecopter Giveaway
Win a 6 x 9 print copy of The Light Who Shines
HUGE MASSIVE LIST OF GIVEAWAYS
Character Letter From Blue to Jack (in The Light Who Shines)
June 1, 2022, Red Ages
Dearest Jack,
I am writing because I find myself a tad bewildered about our personal relationship. But first I feel compelled to address your professional attitude toward me at work in my role as an experienced Supernatural Homicide Detective.
I may not be a Light Vampire skilled in the art of swordplay and able to move faster than the human eye can observe, but I can dispense Holy Water and snuff out Dark Vampires with the best of them. I confess, I am not a strapping specimen of male strength with magical skills that lend themselves to blending in the dark. However, I have my wolf, Varg, who lends me his strength, ears, eyes, and nose. Although I am female with the seemingly benign gift of being a sensitive, you may find it somewhat relevant that I can SENSE SOULS, and therefore am unlikely to be surprised by any perpetrator I track.
In addition, I believe my exemplary record of caseload success proves that I should not have to report to you every five minutes. Somehow, I find this to be a smidgen overprotective. Since, you don’t require my colleagues to report to you on such a frequent basis, I think we should reflect on why you single me out. Is it because I am a female?
Please loosen up! I expect to be treated as the competent, intelligent, successful agent that I am.
Now on to personal matters…
Perhaps it has occurred to you that when you stand well within my personal body space and do such gentle things as tuck my hair behind my ear, that it might have an affect on a healthy female libido? Alternatively, it may strike you as a tad outside of normal professional behavior to get me in a state of half-undress on the belfry? I don’t recall a course on interoffice undressing during my initial training seminars. Did I miss that?
So, in reflection, you might understand my confusion when you make powerful statements like:
“Don’t even think of me. I am nothing but a boss keeping an eye on an employee who is working on a dangerous case.”
I don’t think it is too much of a stretch for me to conclude that at least some element of our relationship has passed the bounds of the normal boss and employee relationship. Do you?
I’m sorry, I have to run. Varg senses someone on my balcony and I need to investigate!
In haste and confusion,
Blue
Bluebell Kildare
Inspector, Homicide Unit
Supernatural Investigation Bureau
Meet My Main Character Blog Tour
Imagine my surprise as I plug away at a well debated third chapter of the night, when Madhuri Blaylock tags me in the “Meet My Main Character Blog Tour.”
One quarter of the way through reading her post, I had to laugh out loud at her use of this line to describe herself: “Blunt as shit. There is no shame in my game.”
Three quarters in I said to myself, “Damn. I can’t believe I haven’t read this book. MUST READ!” I don’t usually swear. It is all Madhuri’s fault.
I dare you to read her post and try to walk away without wanting it: The Sanctum Trilogy: Meet My Main Character Blog Tour
At the end of the post I realized that I was up next and she was already linking to my blog. It also occurred to me that my current blog post was decorated with a pink and purple third grade clip art bat with the words “spoiler alert” across the front of his shirt. This was, perhaps, not ideal and it naturally follows that my next thought was “Holy Shit!” (That swear word is Madhuri’s fault too, in case you’re wondering.)
However, I’m thrilled to talk about Blue. In fact, I could talk about Blue until I’m, well, (you know it’s coming), blue in the face! I’m sorry, but I couldn’t resist.
Let’er rip…
The Light Who Shines
1. What is the name of your main character? Is she fictional or a historic person?
Supernatural Inspector Bluebell Kildare (a.k.a. Blue) is a purely fictional character, but I like to think she embodies a little of the best of us. While physically vulnerable, she makes up for it in spades with her intelligence, assertiveness, and will of steel. Her standout features are the blue streak in her hair, her abnormally blue eyes, and a bright glowing aura. These are all natural traits that mark Blue as one of the magically Gifted, whether she wants to be marked or not.
2. When and where is the story set?
This story is set in the Smoky Mountains in contemporary times, but with an alternate history. Technology is sometimes on par with ours, but sometimes it’s a bit behind. The world relies a lot on magic for everyday things. Firefly lanterns are lamps filled with magically lit flakes of quarts that swirl around, lending a soft ambiance to any room. Chimerators are rings that flip open to project the image and voice of the person you’re speaking with. Charms and potions are used for most everyday illnesses, with standard medicine reserved for surgeries and such. It’s an exciting world with many possibilities. The scenery is quite beautiful and eerie at times.
3. What should we know about her?
Blue is a sensitive and gifted empath. While these traits seem benign, they are actually quite useful. Her empathy skills allow her to detect feelings to such an extent she is practically a walking lie detector. Her sensitive skills can detect the presence or lingering vibrations of magic. These skills are extremely well fitted with her role as an Inspector.
She can also sense souls…
And she has the hots for her sexy Vampire boss, Jack Tanner.
4. What is the main conflict? What messes up her life?
The story starts out at the scene of the crime where a teenage boy was found horrifically tortured and murdered. The plot follows the investigation of that crime and unfolds from the alternating first person perspectives of Blue and Jack.
At the crime scene Blue uncovers a powerful magical artifact. She soon discovers it acts as a key to an ancient grimiore that was instrumental in the creation of the vampire breed and still holds the power to unravel the boundaries between Earth and the Plane of Fire. Other parties seem very interested in the key and Blue becomes the hunted as much as the hunter.
The main societal conflict present in this world is prejudice and hate. While the typical prejudices we see in our reality don’t exist in this world, the story flips the lens of prejudice to focus on the three different breeds of humans: Norms who are regular humans as you and I know them, magically Gifted humans, and Vampires (Dark and Light). The culture is strife with tension as these three breeds deal with a bloody history and lingering hate.
5. What is her personal goal?
Orphaned by the death of her parents at the hands of Dark Vampires, rejected by her grandparents because of her magical heritage, Blue is accustomed to going it alone. After all, she survived bullying, hate, fear, and ostracism in the orphanage, yet still managed to maintain her moral compass.
As an Inspector in the Homicide Unit of the Supernatural Investigation Bureau, Blue fights for interbreed peace and justice every day. She believes in this job with all her soul, despite the ungrateful Norms who harass her at every turn.
Did I mention she has the hots for her sexy Vampire boss, Jack Tanner? (Wink)
6. Is there a working title for this novel, and can we read more about it?
Yes! It’s called The Light Who Shines.
You can read more about it on my website.
The first ten chapters are available as a free excerpt. It’s currently getting a 4.8 star rating on Amazon and has been positively reviewed by Kirkus.
7. When can we expect the book to be published?
It’s published already and is available at Amazon: (click here)
The three books that finish out the series have already been outlined and the draft of book two is in progress. The entire series will be:
- The Light Who Shines
- The Light Who Binds
- The Light Who Burns
- The Light Who Destroys
And now it’s my turn to pass on the favor!
I’d like to invite some of my favorite writers to take part in this blog tour. I would have invited others as well, but my good friend Joy was also tagged and she called them first.
Lee Miller: She’s currently blogging the process of writing. We have future plans to write simultaneous blog posts on the weird shit we Google. (You guessed it. That swear word was Madhuri’s fault too.)
Louise White: She’s the author of The Calling, a story that features a feral magical girl, no less. Don’t you love it? I’m so mad I didn’t think of the idea first.
Keith Fritz: Author of Man Hunt, which recently hit best seller status across several Amazon categories. I know this because I saw it and reported it to him while he was driving home one day. He was very responsibly not texting and driving.
Todd Thiede: Author of Time Killer and Lies to Die For. He’s a #1 best selling Amazon thriller author and has been a friend since childhood.
Lee, Louise, Keith, Todd, tag, your it!
Lilo
The Light Who Binds: Spoiler Alert!
My Dear Readers,Since I hear on a daily basis how eager you are for book two, The Light Who Binds, I thought to keep you updated via this blog post.
Right now the outline for the entire series is complete, and I’m turning the book two outline into the first rough draft. As I complete chapters, I’ll list them here. Chapter names will change and order will switch around. When it’s complete, I still have many revisions and refinements to go.
Lately, I’ve been writing one chapter a night, but it will vary. With that said, here is where I stand.
Last updated: 6/13/2014 1:34 a.m.
Total words written: 23,690
Goal word count – 1st draft: 80,000
Goal word count – final: 100,000
Chapters in order:
- Dark Rays of Sunshine
- Three Deaths
- Seeking Wisdom
- Foreboding News
- Mystery Beneath Mystery
- Circle of Fire
- In The Dog House
- Synchronous Burning
- A Diseased Tree
- Difficult Explanations
- Double Trouble
- Immigration Issues
- Interception
I’m not entirely sure if this will ease or tease your curiosity, but I hope you enjoy it either way!
Bookmark this blog and check for updates. I’ll try to update it nightly.
Outline (check!)
It is a rough plan of what happens to whom and where. Each day of the story has many scenes and each scene is a chapter. In my outline, each chapter only gets one bullet (paragraph) describing it. It allows me to think of the plot at a high level.
Rough Draft (in progress)
A rough draft is really the bones of the story. These are full chapters and expound on everything in the outline. Sometimes I have to stray from the outline when a chapter contains too much and needs to be broken down. Every chapter should have a logical focus and end point. But I don’t spend time on intricate descriptions or characterizations. My focus is on flushing out the plot.
P.S. If you stumbled on this blog post without having read book one of the Bluebell Kildare series, The Light Who Shines, you can check it out here: http://amzn.to/1eL48yy
Lilo
The Bookcase Big Giveaway winners have been selected!
June 1, 2014, Sunday
– Theresa Davies wins the 6 x 9 print copy of The Light Who Shines.
– Shelley Phelps, Emmi Ollila, Maria Schmidt, Yvonne Roga, and Sarah Macguire win the Kindle copy of The Light Who Shines.
Congrats to all!
Fan Spotlight Review of THE LIGHT WHO SHINES by Mitsy
Fan Spotlight Review of The Light Who Shines
by Mitsy
Wow! This book has it all!
Bluebell Kildare works for the Paranormal Investigative Bureau when she is called to the crime scene of a hit and run. Upon further investigation, she uncovers the teen boy was badly beaten before his death and a secret artifact that holds the key it all. She uses her sixth sense to help determine who is responsible. While doing so, she makes an enemy amongst the local police force, develops feelings for her boss, Jack, and becomes the owner of a wolf. Will she discover the secrets before it’s too late? Does Jack return her feelings? How does she respond to all that’s going on around her?
Blue is an incredible character. She’s one that stays with me days after finishing the novel. She’s adorable, beautiful, smart, good at her job, and caring. 🙂 Jack is a wonderful boss. The cast of characters are all very memorable.
There are Dark (bad) Vampires and Daylight (good) Vampires. There are Gifted humans, like Blue, and normal humans, like the cops who work the local police force. There’s Blue’s protective wolf, Varg. There’s science fiction, romantic suspense, two very dark scenes, and humor. Throughout the story is the message to respect each other or be prepared for the consequences if you don’t. It is a very fun novel with meaning.
The Light Who Shines is a book for everybody because it doesn’t fit into any one genre. The best books never do. 🙂
Link: http://amzn.to/1gaHhxy
Editorial Review of THE LIGHT WHO SHINES by KIRKUS
Editorial Review of The Light Who Shines
May 28, 2014
by KIRKUS
Debut author Abernathy offers a supernatural detective novel set in the near future.
In 2022, society consists of more than mere humans. There are, of course, regular people (known as “Norms”), but there are also Gifted humans with a talent for magic in the mix, as are vampires who, as the name suggests, feast on blood. Bluebell Kildare, a Gifted human with blue eyes and a streak of blue hair, fights crime as a member of the Supernatural Homicide Investigation Unit. She has the ability to sense souls, and with her trusty Glock at the ready, she investigates supernatural hate crimes as well as deaths that occur “due to a motive relating to magical gifts or blood theft.” When a 17-year-old Gifted human is brutally murdered, Kildare vows to find the culprit even as the investigation compromises her personal safety. Aided by her vampire boss, Jack (“quite possibly the sexiest man alive”), who helps narrate this tale, Kildare dives deeply into a world of crime and prejudice. The book abounds with action, supernatural creatures and tinges of sexiness (“I select a pair of bright fuchsia, French cut panties and a matching push-up bra, both decorated with tiny, black satin bows,” says Kildare) and will please readers looking for a gun-toting, magical hero who’s independent yet yearning for companionship. The novel is lengthy but readable, although it’s sometimes repetitive and slowed by unnecessary dialogue (“Well, if that is it, I should head back to my men,” one character says to conclude a conversation). As much as she’s defined by her butt-kicking attitude, Kildare is complex, confident and introspective. Readers will find her a likable character as she earnestly pursues both justice and romance.
An often enjoyable delve into urban fantasy.
Link: http://bit.ly/1Q2dgwi
BookCase Big Giveaway: Books, Books, Books!
Win ebooks, print books, even autographed copies.
Free to enter: http://tinyurl.com/qcofsaf
Try your luck!
These are the books involved:
Dead Medium
by Peter John
Dark Comedy, Ghosts & Haunted Houses
http://www.amazon.com/Dead-Medium-Peter-John-ebook/dp/B00B000O8C
The Light Who Shines
by Lilo Abernathy
Urban Fantasy, Mystery, Paranormal Romance
http://www.amazon.com/Light-Who-Shines-Bluebell-Kildare-ebook/dp/B00HYH3ZU4
Dead Shambles
by Chris Raven
Comedy, Horror
http://www.amazon.com/Dead-Shambles-Stage-Amateur-Vile-Horrors-ebook/dp/B00HX4LQJK
Coast to Coast Paranormal Investigations: The Journey Underneath
by Carolyn Bennett
Contemporary, Mystery
http://www.amazon.com/COAST-PARANORMAL-INVESTIGATION-JOURNEY-UNDERNEATH-ebook/dp/B00D82BNLC
Man Hunt
by K. Edwin Fritz
Thriller, Suspense, Science Fiction, Dystopian
http://www.amazon.com/Man-Hunt-K-Edwin-Fritz-ebook/dp/B00BFC657O
Woman Scored
by K. Edwin Fritz
Thriller, Suspense, Science Fiction, Dystopian
http://www.amazon.com/Woman-Scorned-Hunt-Edwin-Fritz-ebook/dp/B00JQN7II4/
Tainted Lies
by Shemeka Mitchell
Romance, Urban
http://www.amazon.com/Tainted-Lies-Love-Loyalty-ebook/dp/B00EGIT6BQ
Everlasting Love
by Shemeka Mitchell
Romance, Urban
http://www.amazon.com/Everlasting-Love-Lies-Loyalty-ebook/dp/B00DOVTENG
Blind Trust
by Shemeka Mitchell
Romance, Urban
http://www.amazon.com/Blind-Trust-Love-Lies-Loyalty-ebook/dp/B00FNS5UL8
Vindictive
by Shemeka Mitchell
Romance, Erotica
http://www.amazon.com/Vindictive-Shemeka-Mitchell-ebook/dp/B00J5HUXRE
Fan Spotlight Review of THE LIGHT WHO SHINES by Jazz
Fan Spotlight Review of The Light Who Shines
by Jazz
I just got this glowing review of The Light Who Shines. This is by a reader named Jazz, on Amazon, who is unknown to me. The most exciting part is her comparison of my main character, Bluebell Kildare, to urban fantasy favorites: Mercy Thomson, Kate Daniels, and Harry Dresden.
“I can’t praise this book highly enough. It was absolutely riviting. I have read thousands of books in my life and this one is one of the best. The only negative comment I can make is that I now have to wait for the next one in what I hope will be a very long series. I wish I could gobble up the whole story immediately. If you like urban fantasy (or even if you don’t usually) this is a must read. Blue is up there with Mercey, Kate and Harry D. as a wonderful character already along with the rest of the cast in this delightful book. If you are looking for the next big thing in urban fantasy you have just found it.”
I am in love with this review, and YES, I actually did the Happy Dance!
Thank you Jazz, whoever you are. You’ve just made my day.
Link: http://amzn.to/1IZdpLv
Editorial Review of THE LIGHT WHO SHINES by Douglas C. Meeks
Editorial Review of The Light Who Shines
May 19, 2014
by Douglas C. Meeks
(Author Note: Mr. Meeks is one of Amazon’s top 500 reviewers. He’s actually #257 if you want to be exact, and I do!)
Where do we start, the prologue gives us the history that the entire series will be based around and since it promises to bring down what amounts to a Goddess that will be a tall order but that is more of a series ender rather than this story, but it gives us a bit of insight.
Bluebell Kildare (a.k.a. Blue) is a Sensitive, basically she can feel people emotions and feelings to the extent she is almost a walking lie detector, and these skills have proven very effective in her job as an investigator for the Supernatural Investigation Bureau. Her boss Jack Tanner (A Daylight Vampire, the good guys) has feelings for her which are reciprocated by Blue but both pretty much keep their feelings to themselves for most of the book but this is a very on/off again thing with a heaping share of “I’m not worthy” thrown in for good measure, never fear, I think it will eventually work out …….. maybe.
This novel centers on finding the killer of a young boy and the search for why he had a very powerful item in his possession when he dies. The killer wants it back and is willing to torture and kill to get it, this puts Blue right in the crosshairs of the action and drives Jack a bit crazy trying to protect someone that does not want to be protected.
The mystery of the “whodunit” is pretty good but you can get a pretty good idea of the culprit about halfway through, a goodly portion of the book (as most Book #1 in a series are) is dedicated to world building and a bit of the characters history which feeds into the story very well. A big background into the overarching storyline is the racist type movement against the “Gifted” which was a bit overdone in the first few chapters but evened out and fit into the story right nicely although the “religious fanatic” moniker has been overused and a more secular sect would have been just as effective and a bit more original IMHO.
The secondary cast was excellent and I hope will be fleshed out a bit more as the series progresses, good mix of characters. The one that steals the show though is a wolf (Varg) who seems to appear from nowhere, decides he is Blue’s guardian and proceeds to do just that on several occasions, there are a lot of questions about him since he seems to understand language and displays a few not so normal wolf powers. I am sure we will see more of him in future books.
The plot was done well even interspersed with the history and world building, the ending was great and entices the reader to continue without the use of any cliffhanger (I hate cliffhangers).
Bottom Line: Excellent novel, alpha male hero/strong heroine, good reading, no scanning, loved the wolf, loved the characters almost as much, sex was in line with the story and not overdone even though mentally chaotic, violence is about as graphic what you should expect after reading about the first death (not overdone and not whitewashed in any manner). Highly recommended and will be continuing with the series, great new world. 4.5 Stars round to 5 for Amazon/Goodreads.
Link: http://amzn.to/1gaAQKO
The Light Who Shines: Leukemia and Lymphoma Fundraiser – Numbers Are In!
We sold 33 books this weekend with the fundraiser!
Total royalty donation = $104 USD!
Right now the Leukemia and Lymphoma research is on the cusp of many great therapies that will save lives. Sometimes the society also helps with things like taxi’s to the hospital for treatment for those who have no transportation or paying co-pays for medicine for those below the poverty line.
Every bit helps.
I want to thank you all for helping me in this effort. I met a lot of wonderful new people and got to hang with some of my friends.
You all got to know a little more about me and my daughter. Plus, there are 33 more people out there now with The Light Who Shines in their hands, hopefully reading as I type!
This was my first internet fundraiser and I also had some lessons learned. Next time I do this, I’ll fill the event with fun, like quizzes and games and giveaways to build excitement that way. I’ll also make the duration shorter so we can keep the excitement high.
Thanks so much for joining me on this journey.
Lilo
Peer Review of THE LIGHT WHO SHINES by Author Louise White
Peer Review of The Light Who Shines
by Louise White
Author of The Gateway Series
This gritty urban fantasy by Lilo Abernathy, was an amazing read that kept me gripped from the outstanding prologue until the very end.
The characters – especially Blue, and the situations in this dark and compelling story were realistically drawn and I could easily envisage the world that has been created in The Light Who Shines.
The plot moves at a fast pace, building the suspense and entertaining throughout. It also provokes deeper thought for disturbing parallels that may be drawn to the real world.
I didn’t once want to put this book down, and I look forward to the next in what promises to be a fantastic series.
Link: http://bit.ly/1OAP8QO
THE LIGHT WHO SHINES (Urban Fantasy) 4.8 Stars!
Teaser
magic • murder • mystery • mayhem • vampire • wolf • romance
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1eL48yy
When Supernatural Investigation Bureau agent Bluebell Kildare (a.k.a. Blue) arrives at the scene of the crime, it’s obvious the grotesquely damaged body of the deceased teenage boy was caused by far more than a simple hit and run. Using her innate sixth sense, Blue uncovers a powerful magical artifact nearby. She soon discovers it acts as a key to an ancient Grimiore that was instrumental in the creation of the Vampire breed and still holds the power to unravel the boundaries between Earth and the Plane of Fire.
Blue and her clever wolf Varg follow a trail that starts at the Cock and Bull Tap and leads all through the town of Crimson Hollow. Between being sidelined by a stalker who sticks to the shadows and chasing a suspect who vanishes in thin air, the case is getting complicated. If that isn’t enough, Dark Vampire activity hits a record high, and hate crimes are increasing. However, it’s Blue’s growing feelings for Jack Tanner, her magnetic Daylight Vampire boss, that just might undo her.
While Blue searches for clues to nail the perpetrator, it seems someone else is conducting a search of their own. Who will find whom first?
Danger lurks in every corner, and Blue needs all her focus in this increasingly dangerous game or she risks ending up the next victim.
Meet the Characters
- Agent Bluebell Kildare (a.k.a. Blue): She’s a smart and gritty detective, determined to catch her perp., regardless of the price. But, when the stakes are raised to protecting the boundaries between Earth and the Plane of Fire, how high of a price will she pay
- Jack Tanner (Blue’s boss): He’s a lethal day-walking vampire who tries to keep Blue out of trouble. But with his broad shoulders, burnished gold curls, and predatory green-eyed stare, is he creating a different sort of danger altogether?
- Varg (Wolf): Blue is joined on her hunt by her faithful companion and oh-so-clever wolf Varg. Wait! Is Varg really just cunning or does he have mysterious powers?
- Maud (Eccentric Friend): Don’t forget Maud! She may be retired, but she is feisty with her kaleidoscope hair. Is it fuchsia, peach, blue, or scarlet today?
Adult Content
Due to a few scenes that have explicit sex and violence, this book is intended for adult readers.
Great News
If you purchase any print or ebook version before midnight on 5/18, EST the author will donate 90% of the royalties to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society!
Lilo
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Book Fundraiser
May 16 – 18, 2014, Ends Sunday
Lilo donates 90% of royalties.
Totals calculated, 30 books were sold and $104 will be donated!
Update: The royalties have been received and $104 was donated on July 5, 2014.
So I Read This Book Today Blog
May 15, 2014, Thursday
Lilo’s Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Fundraiser
Leiah supports the fundraiser by blogging it. Thanks Leiah! You are a shining star!
Fundraiser! 90% of Royalties Go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
News: I’ve upped the donation to 90%, buy before midnight!
The Light Who Shines
Friday, May 16 – Sunday, May 18
Please Share if You Care
Amazon Link: (click here)
I’m the author and I pledge 50% of the total royalties earned on my novel, The Light Who Shines, from the start of Friday, May 16th, 2014, to the end of Sunday, May 18th, 2014, on any versions (print or ebook) in any country or webstore that Amazon distributes it. The donation will go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
What kind of book is this?
The genre is Urban Fantasy, which is a mix between:
- Fantasy
- Mystery
- Thriller
- Romance
It is genre-crossing and will also be enjoyed by lovers of:
- Action
- Crime Thrillers
- Detective Stories
- Paranormal
- Animals
Due to a few scenes with explicit violence and sex, this book is intended for adult readers.
How good is this book anyway?
So far the reviews have been fantastic. It’s holding the following ratings:
Amazon: 4.8 stars (click here to see: http://amzn.to/1eL48yy)
Goodreads: 4.3 stars (click here to see: http://bit.ly/1juCRf4)
What is this book about?
When Supernatural Investigation Bureau agent Bluebell Kildare (a.k.a. Blue) arrives at the scene of the crime, it’s obvious the grotesquely damaged body of the deceased teenage boy was caused by far more than a simple hit and run. Using her innate sixth sense, Blue uncovers a powerful magical artifact nearby. She soon discovers it acts as a key to an ancient Grimiore that was instrumental in the creation of the Vampire breed and still holds the power to unravel the boundaries between Earth and the Plane of Fire.
Blue and her clever wolf Varg follow a trail that starts at the Cock and Bull Tap and leads all through the town of Crimson Hollow. Between being sidelined by a stalker who sticks to the shadows and chasing a suspect who vanishes in thin air, the case is getting complicated. If that isn’t enough, Dark Vampire activity hits a record high, and hate crimes are increasing. However, it’s Blue’s growing feelings for Jack Tanner, her magnetic Daylight Vampire boss, that just might undo her.
While Blue searches for clues to nail the perpetrator, it seems someone else is conducting a search of their own. Who will find whom first?
Danger lurks in every corner, and Blue needs all her focus in this increasingly dangerous game or she risks ending up the next victim.
For more details, click here:
https://sites.google.com/site/lilojabernathy/books
What you may not know about Leukemia and Lymphoma.
They are blood cancers and often target children, even infants, even babies in the womb! Blood cancers are the most common type of cancer children face.
My daughter was one of them.
Here she is at Cancer Camp. Yes, I’m both happy and sad to report there is actually a camp for kids with cancer. Happy because it exists, sad because there is a need.
Here she is as bald as the day she was born, ready to go to a highschool dance. I was very worried she would fall as she had collapsed recently in a video store. One of the chemotherapies attacks muscle. But she made it through okay.
Here she is at the homecoming game. She was probably in need of a blood transfusion at this point, her skin was so pale. She couldn’t walk across the whole field.
Here she is at her sweet 16th birthday party. Her hair was just growing in. Little did we know a massive bloodclot was growing in her brain, due to the chemotherapy.
Here she is with me at a restaurant. She wore these little tees so that the nurses could access a port that was embedded in her chest to inject the chemotherapy directly to a main blood vessel.
Here she is now. You see that tattoo?
It covers the scar from where her port was embedded and it reads:
Survivor!
Not all of her friends from cancer camp were as lucky as she was. Let’s Stop Blood Cancers!
Lilo
2 days until my Leukemia and Lymphoma Society book fundraiser: 4 easy ways you can help for FREE
50% of the Total Royalties Earned On My Novel
Go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
The Light Who Shines
From: Friday, May 16 – Sunday, May 18
You can help even if you don’t read urban fantasy; chances are some of your friends do.
Here’s How to Help Now
Follow me on social media so that when I post the fundraiser, you can help spread the word to your circles. It’s that simple.
- Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lilo_Abernathy
- Like my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lilojabernathy
- Friend me on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7789942.Lilo_Abernathy
- Add me to your Google Plus circles: google.com/
+LiloAbernathy
I’ll give you all the info you need to share on Friday. When the time comes for the fundraiser, I’d like as many people to know about it as possible.
What is urban fantasy?
It’s a mix between:
- Fantasy
- Mystery
- Thriller
- Romance (sometimes)
Urban Fantasy, due to the content, is intended for adult readers. The Light Who Shines is high on action, mystery, and suspense. It is also designed to provoke thought on the social injustices of prejudice and hate. For more details, click here: https://sites.google.com/site/lilojabernathy/books
How good is this book anyway?
Currently the reviews are fantastic. It’s holding the following ratings:
- Amazon: 4.8 stars
- Goodreads: 4.3 stars
What you may not know about Leukemia and Lymphoma.
They are blood cancers and often target children, even infants, even babies in the womb! Blood cancers are the most common type of cancer children face.
My daughter was one of them.
After three grueling years of chemotherapy, all through high school, she is now a Lymphoma survivor. Yep, that is her above. She was on her way to her first highschool dance after getting cancer and her head was as bald as the day she was born. Normally, I wouldn’t want her to wear a dress that low cut at only 16. But we didn’t know if she would be well enough to go until last minute and that was the only dress we could find at the store. We couldn’t go to more stores because she couldn’t walk that far without tiring. One time she fell inside of the video store, because her legs gave out and she just couldn’t stand again. Someone had to help me carry her to the car. I wasn’t going to risk that again. Needless to say, she didn’t dance much, but I’m sure you understand it was very important that she go to that dance.
Let’s Stop Blood Cancers!
Lilo
News: Fun, Fun, and More Fun!
Yes, that’s three different funs. I’m serious . . .
Fun 1
Out of the blue (pun intended), my photographer, Ivan Phillips, sent me a bonus photo from the model shoot. (exhibit right) The model shoot for The Light Who Shines occurred almost a year ago and as much as I love the book cover, looking at the same photo for a year can drag on you. So this is a lovely surprise.
The model, Darlene Nuccio plays the part of Bluebell Kildare (a.k.a. Blue) on the book cover. Isn’t she beautiful? I say that with unearned pride, as though I were in some way responsible for how delightful she is. I am not. Nonetheless, it is a fun photo. I have no idea what effect he used to make it look like an old time tinted photo. I love it. Thank you Ivan!
Fun 2
One of my readers sent me a photo of their copy of The Light Who Shines when it arrived in the mail. She was so excited to get it, but I’m afraid she wasn’t nearly as excited as I was to see a photo of my book in someone else’s possession. Trust me; I was flipping somersaults in my mind. I would have flipped them in person, but I’m 43 years old and I’m not stupid.
I posted her picture on my website and my Facebook page and thus the Shining Lights Wall of Fame was born. Readers have been sending me photos of themselves with their copy of The Light Who Shines and I’m tweeting them and plastering them wherever I can.
Don’t believe me? I can prove it.
Visit the Shining Lights Wall of Fame
I have to say that as a writer, nothing is more satisfying than seeing these photos of people who so obviously are enjoying my work.
Fun 3
This book of mine seems to inspire questions. Well, first it inspires yelling and screaming fits, usually accompanied by the words “When will book 2 be done?!!!” so I try not to take it too hard. Yes, I am serious. I get yelled at a lot.
So, I had this brilliant and unique idea to start a book discussion group on Facebook for people who had just finished The Light Who Shines. Okay, I’m lying. I actually read about another author doing this and stole the idea. However, it was a perfect decision to implement because of the sheer numbers of questions that immediately follow the screaming!
- What is Varg?
- What the heck is going on with the Belladonna Necklace?
- Will Jack and Blue bump the fur, bury the bone, do the nasty?
- Who is Dragomira really?
If you’re interested in checking out reader speculation on these important topics, or seeing a few more exclusive photos from the model shoot, search for this group on Facebook:
Bluebell Kildare, Book 1: The Light Who Shines
It is an open group and anyone is welcome to join. However, there are spoilers, so I hope you finish the book first.
Fun 4?
There actually is a fourth bit of fun, but I’m not going to share that today. You’re going to have to follow my blog to be sure you catch it later.
Have a fun day!
Lilo
Hero’s and Heartbreak Site Recommendation
April 23, 2014, Wednesday
The Light Who Shines is listed as one of the April recommended reads.
Thanks StephanieWR @KindlesConsort for the recommendation!
American Humanist Association Book Fundraiser
April 21 – 28, Ends Monday
Lilo donates 50% of royalties.
Totals calculated, 32 books were sold and $57.52 will be donated!
Update: The royalties have been received and $57.52 was donated on July 5, 2014.
Book Babe Blog
April 17, 2014, Thursday
Feature: Strong and Sexy Heroines
Watch Blue get featured as a Strong and Sexy Heroine!
LibraryThing Giveaway Winner Announcement
April 15, 2014, Tuesday
Donna Clark wins the LibraryThing Giveaway for The Light Who Shines.
Congratulations Donna!
Wall of Fame is First Established!
April 15, 2014, Tuesday
Today is the first day of the Wall of Fame.
The Tweet That Started It
Lilo Abernathy gets a tweet from a reader with a picture of The Light Who Shines that just arrived in the mail. This is the first picture Lilo has ever gotten from a reader of her book. Lilo made a post of this on facebook and vows never EVER to delete it.
Look what amazon delivered today @Lilo_Abernathy !! Ready to read! pic.twitter.com/7bTn9Cc2Xr
— Michelle (@smwilder24) April 15, 2014
The Light Who Shines Becomes an Amazon Best Seller!
April 11, 2014, Friday
The Light Who Shines hit bestselling status in the following categories:
#15 Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Romance > Paranormal > Psychics
#36 Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Urban
#37 Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Romance > Paranormal > Witches & Wizards
Kindle Countdown Deal – The Light Who Shines – UK
April 11, – April 18, 2014, Friday – Friday
The Light Who Shines discounted to L0.99 on April 11.
The Light Who Shines discounted to L1.99 on April 15.
The Light Who Shines returns to normal price on April 18.
Kindle Countdown Deal for The Light Who Shines – US
April 11, – April 18, 2014, Friday – Friday
The Light Who Shines discounted to $0.99 on April 11.
The Light Who Shines discounted to $1.99 on April 15.
The Light Who Shines discounted to $2.99 on April 16.
The Light Who Shines discounted to $3.99 on April 17.
The Light Who Shines returns to normal price on April 18.
Platinum Book Review Multi-Author Facebook Party
April 11, 2014, Friday, Evening
Join Lilo Abernathy at the party. Lots of prize giveaways!
(This was SOOOOO much fun! I am totally doing it again!)
THE LIGHT WHO SHINES – Big Sale Today! (Urban/Dark Fantasy)
Reg: $4.99 Today: 99 cents!
4.8 Stars | Urban/Dark Fantasy
magic | murder | mystery | mayhem | vampires | wolf
Meet Bluebell Kildare (a.k.a. Blue) and her cast of friends for an 80% discount.
- Blue, the heroine, is a smart and gritty detective, determined to catch her perp. regardless of the price.
- Her counterpart, the lethal day-walking vampire Jack Tanner, has broad shoulders, burnished gold curls, and a predatory green-eyed stare. Does he want Blue or not?
- Blue is joined on her hunt by her faithful companion and oh-so-clever wolf Varg! Does Varg have some mysterious powers?
- Don’t forget Maud with her kaleidoscope hair! Is it fuchsia, peach, blue, or scarlet today?
Adult Content: Recommended for ages 17+ for sex and violence. Not for the faint of heart. This is no cozy mystery folks! It is Urban Fantasy that crosses into mystery, romance, and has a dark side.
Readers keep saying they want more. Check out the reviews. Don’t miss this deal!
Amazon US link: click here
Amazon UK link: click here
Lilo
THE LIGHT WHO SHINES: 5 Star Book Review at the Brainy Bookshelf
Blue gets blogged on the Brainy Bookshelf by Alisha Howard!
In Alisha’s review of The Light Who Shines, she says, “Bluebell is a bad ass. No questions asked, no further explanation really needed. She may be only human, but she makes up for it with true grit. And the writing is fantastic.”
Alisha has been blogging reviews on The Brainy Bookshelf since May of 2013.
The Light who Shines is currently holding a 4.8 star average rating on Amazon.
To purchase The Light Who Shines on Amazon, click here.
Lilo
Jeanz Book Read n Reviews Blog
March 23, 2014, Sunday
Author Interview & Promotion: Lilo Abernathy
Lilo gets interviewed and the Light Who Shines gets promoted.
Goodreads Giveaway Announcement
March 19, – June 16, 2014
Giveaway: The Light Who Shines
Enter to win one free autographed copy of the 6 x 9 print novel (472 pages).
Events: Fantasy Book Lane
I visited Fantasy Book Lane today and gave Erica the scoop on what a rebel I am.
“I’m a rebel. No seriously, I am a rebel.” – Lilo
She asked me why I went Indie with my debut novel, The Light Who Shines, and I gave her exclusive insights into the highly complex algorithms I used to make that decision.
Yeah. I’m kidding again! To learn the real reason, click here.
Lilo
Book Review: THE FURY (Horror, Crime, Mystery)
The Fury
By John Reinhard Dizon
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1JCbcva
#Horror #Occult #Crime #Mystery
Holy Freaking Voodoo Mojo… that was scary!
I’m pretty sure I read most of this book from between the fingers of the hand covering my eyes. It is not gruesome due to explicit detail, but there is plenty of ‘WTF! Did That Just Happen?’ violence and the suspense is amazing. It will have you clutching a comforter and will freak you the shit out! Seriously.
The plot is anchored around private investigator, Bridge (short for Bridgette), who is hired by a New York Mob Boss to run surveillance on his daughter, Annabell. Annabell gets mixed in with a fortune telling Voodoo crowd and is closeted in a building where horrific murders keep happening. Bridge is a strong female heroine, and I love her. I especially love when she retorts back to an insult by grabbing her breast and saying “Suck on this.” She is hard-ass all the way.
The evil Voodoo queen is soooo EVIL! You will quake in your boots. And The Fury, what can I say? It simply destroys.
The intertwining relationships in this story are amazing, both current, and in snippets from generations past. This author did his research well, and you can tell. A lot of this story takes place in New York, between cops and the ‘hood. The lingo is believable, the situations, authentic.
If you like New York rough neighborhoods, private detectives, cop investigations, thrillers, horrors, suspense, paranormal, strong heroines, possessions, and voodoo magic scariness, then you will totally love this book.
Lilo Abernathy
Author and Book Lover
Book Review: Bombardier (Vampire / Short Story)
Bombardier
by K. Edwin Fritz
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1HSLgsT
#Vampire #ShortStory #Emotional #Awesome
A Strikingly Emotional Non-traditional Vampire Short Story
This story grabs your guts and won’t let go. It is a HUMAN story of a man recently bitten and facing the life-long curse of Vampirism.
The story doesn’t reveal that he is a vampire until the very end. It is a sweet and tantalizing unfolding of the truth. I LOVED the mystery and the slow revealing.
The story is about a man, struggling with the pain and addiction of the vampire infection, seeking solace in the company of others in similar situations. He searches for, and finds it in a bar named Bombardier, where others of his kind gather.
Once there he sees glimpses of what he could be if he held out against the addiction, and what he will be when he eventually gives in. But most of all, he finds human empathy for his struggle against the inevitability of his final human death.
If you want something fresh and unusual, this is it! I highly recommend it.
Lilo Abernathy
Author and Book Lover
Brainy Bookshelf Blog
March 4, 2014, Tuesday
Author Post: The Gorgeous Crazy Hat Lady
Check out Lilo’s post on eccentric wild-card characters and what they add to your story.
Tidbits and Bragging Rights
A little over a month ago I published my debut novel, The Light Who Shines
I’m proud to say it has achieved the following ratings:
- Amazon: 4.8 stars
- Goodreads: 4.36 stars
- Barnes and Noble: 5.0 stars
- Smashwords: 4.4 stars
So far, it appears that it will be a solid 4.0 average rating. Since this is my first book ever, and my first creative writing endeavor since a college composition class over 20 years ago, I hope you understand why I’m ecstatic with this great start!
Wait! There is more.
It has been listed in two giveaways:
- Goodreads Giveaway: three autographed print copies offered: 1079 requests
- LibraryThing Giveaway: ebook copies offered: 32 requests
It has been reviewed by the following blogs:
When I first published it, I had no social media set-up to speak of. Since then I’ve achieved the following stats:
- Facebook Page Likes: 180
- Twitter Followers: 680
- Goodreads Friends: 134
- Goodreads Fans: 10
- Goodreads To Be Read Shelves: 539
Thank you all for your support!
In just under two weeks I’ll be diving into writing Books 2 and 3 of the Bluebell Kildare series. Meanwhile, I hope you will follow along with upcoming happenings available on my website events page. There’s more fun to come!
Lilo
My Blog is All Dressed Up in New Duds. Check it out!
I’ve been preparing my website and blog for my eventual press release. The truth is, I’m procrastinating working on my bio, because I hate my bio and I feel it needs to be done before the press release goes out. It is, after all, a key part of the media kit.
I’ve heard you need a very short professional bio, a fun bio, and a longer bio. No one has explained if the longer bio needs to be fun or not. Do I really need three bios?
So! Now that my website and blog are all bright and spiffy, I need to return to work on my bio. Just kidding! It really means I need to find some NEW way to procrastinate.
But GOOD NEWS! I have something else that requires being done. Something I’m very glad to do in fact. I am heading out to an office center to package up and send three books to three lucky Goodread Giveaway winners! It is very exciting.
I’ve got to run now, but please, while I’m out, take your time to examine my spiffy new duds. Both the website and blog are linked to each other now. Isn’t it grand?
Lilo
Fan Spotlight Review of THE LIGHT WHO SHINES by Christina Hurley
Fan Spotlight Review of The Light Who Shines
by Christina Hurley
I’ve been looking for a new good author for awhile and I have found one. The Light Who Shines is a paranormal, crime investigation, romance book that had me staying up late at night reading not wanting to put it down. While set in the not so distant future, the book touches upon subjects and themes that are relevant today, such as prejudice and it’s blinding affect. I was disappointed when I finished because it was over and the next book isn’t yet published. I’m really looking forward to the next book.
Link: http://amzn.to/1EPmUBU
Guardian Earth Star Blog
February 17, 2014, Monday
Book Review: The Light Who Shines
Blue gets blogged.
An Empty Fridge
So, my Dad looks in my fridge this morning and says, “Man, you’re not getting nuttin out of here but a cool breeze!” (My parents drove three hours yesterday to visit with me and spent the night.)
The photo is not my fridge, but the contents in mine are somewhat similar. Apparently, the freezer contents were even worse… I won’t repeat what he said about that.
Thankfully, my fridge isn’t empty because I’m broke. It could be worse. It’s empty because I am unbelievably busy. Or perhaps it’s empty because it’s lower on the priority list.
This week I’ve listed my book for a Goodreads giveaway, and LibraryThing giveaway, did a submittal for Bookbub (yet to be approved), sent my book to a TON of reviewers who all have different submittal requirements, accidentally deleted all my blog photos, reattached all my blog photos, sent numerous twitters, deleted 500 twitter people I was following who hadn’t signed on for 30 days, had a birthday, revamped my book description, wrote up a press release, started on my media kit, and cleaned my house from top to bottom for my parents’ visit.
All of that work was on top of a 40 plus hour day job. This book promoting work takes so much time, yet is so important that I just let other things fall off the list.
Let me just say that if I didn’t have a day job my fridge would look worse than what is above so I must work on promoting the book. Yet, I suppose I should go shopping today.
My response to my father was, “You can choose. You either get a clean house with your visit, or a full fridge. I don’t have time for both.” But I know what will really happen. Next time he will either bring groceries or his own food! I have to stop blogging right now because I’m laughing too hard.
Lilo
Book Giveaway! The Light Who Shines ($18.99 value)
I am currently offering three FREE print copies in a Goodreads Giveaway.
Title: The Light Who Shines
Author: Lilo Abernathy
- Autographed Copy
- 447 pages (over 136,000 words)
- Debut Novel
- Goodreads rating is 4.56 stars
Deadline: Midnight on February 25.
Requirements: You simply log into your Goodreads account and click to enter. Available to participants in the following countries:
- United States
- Canada
- United Kingdom
- Australia
Goodreads Entry Link: click here
The first ten chapters are free on my website: click here
Lilo
Goodreads Giveaway
February 12 – 25, 2014
Giveaway: The Light Who Shines
Enter to win one of three free autographed copies of the 6 x 9 print novel (472 pages).
Book Release of Lilo’s Debut Novel, The Light Who Shines!
I’m posting this news retroactively. This is the day I debuted my first work of writing, The Light Who Shines. This was a quiet release as at this time I had no platform to speak of. It’s amazing how things have changed and what a wonderful first year it has been.
As a side note, when I searched my photo website for “stealth” and “quiet” it kept giving me images of owls. I have no idea why. Regardless, I picked the best one out for you!
Lilo