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The Apocalypse Show by Darren Kasenkow The Apocalypse Show by Darren Kasenkow Nov. 24, 2010 $2.99 230282 words Sample 20%
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Darren Kasenkow is an Australian author who is determined to embrace the digital publishing realm and reach new readers on a global scale. His body of work begins with the novels The Apocalypse Show, Dust And Devils and Masterpeace, with 2011 bringing 3 new titles and a growing selection of short stories. Crossing genre boundaries, his work is pulled straight from the heart while continuously seeking new heights in literary creativity. His passion is, and always will be, the written word. You can contact the author by writing to cyberfenixpublish@gmail.com
Emerald (World of Samar) by ML Hamilton Emerald (World of Samar) by ML Hamilton Sep. 29, 2011 $0.99 229240 words
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Maita Collection 4: award nominations by CD Moulton Maita Collection 4: award nominations by CD Moulton Feb. 16, 2012 $4.99 228776 words Sample 10%
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Born in Florida, travelled the world as a rock guitarist with some big names in the late sixties, early seventies. Been everything from a high steel worker to longshoreman, from musician to bar owner, and much more. Educated in botany and genetics. Now living in paradise (Panamá!)
The Unsettled by Michael Schwaba The Unsettled by Michael Schwaba Jan. 04, 2011 $4.95 228558 words Sample 45%
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I was born in Chicago on a sunny day in September, one month premature according to my mother. I emerged in the dark wee hours of the morning and four days later I was welcomed into an Irish/Polish Catholic family. I must have slept through it; I don’t remember much of it. I was the fourth child, and in time there would be four more, years before I left home and hometown to go out in the world on my own. My two earliest memories are: 1) lying on the floor, looking at an enormous pair of feet in front of me, and 2) Piano playing. My parents played; my mother’s parents played; my aunts and uncles played. I cannot recall many days when someone wasn’t playing the piano in our house. So, having a love of piano music, I eventually sat down one day and learned to play…the guitar. I loved reading at an early age. It stimulated my imagination, and this inspired me to write. Writing gives me purpose in life. It’s like looking in a mirror. “Oh! There you are! Thought I’d lost you…” I love writing as much as I love reading. I love the excitement of "watching" the characters and feeling the flow of words when I am in the "zone." I love the tired ecstasy of reading something finished, and knowing that it is better written than my last piece. I have even (sometimes) come to love writing myself into a corner, when I don't know where else to go, which I do much more frequently than I used to, only now it is not as crippling as it used to be, though it is still as exasperating. I have proved to myself over time that some of my best writing is to be found in those corners if I will simply do one thing when I don't feel like writing. And that is write. I still love making things up. MS
Pterippus: The Awakening by Kristl Thompson Pterippus: The Awakening by Kristl Thompson July 23, 2011 $3.99 228469 words Sample 20%
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Kristl Thompson was born and raised in the heart of the Midwest. She spent her days wandering the woods surrounding her home, absorbing the scenery which would eventually become the background of Buthania. Her love of the written word grew from a young age, writing poetry, short stories and sequels of her favorite books, and continues to this day, reading novels of every genre and writing the first of many novels to come. She currently resides in the Midwest with her husband and two children. Pterippus: The Awakening is her first published novel. Follow me on Twitter for coupon offers (including limited-time free downloads) and to discover more about the Buthania Chronicles!
Iceblade by A. Kuffner Iceblade by A. Kuffner April 24, 2012 $2.99 228465 words Sample 5%
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A. Kuffner is a new author with a goal to reinvigorate the fantasy genre with fresh content for a more sophisticated reader. Weaving action/romance together with powerful poetic imagery, Kuffner's novels are sure to keep the reader on the edge of their seat while painting an unparalleled vista of previously unseen worlds.
The Ryel Saga: A Tale of Love and Magic (Wysard and Lord Brother single-volume edition) by Carolyn Kephart The Ryel Saga: A Tale of Love and Magic (Wysard and Lord Brother single-volume edition) by Carolyn Kephart Jan. 19, 2010 $4.95 228402 words Sample 50%
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About the author: Early life as a military brat gave Carolyn Kephart an appreciation of nomadic lifestyles, a fascination with world cultures, and close-up insights into the warrior mentality and its manifestations, all of which influence her work. She loves things that nourish the spirit and widen the mind. Kephart's epic fantasy THE RYEL SAGA: A TALE OF LOVE AND MAGIC combines her critically acclaimed duology WYSARD and LORD BROTHER. Her latest novel is QUEEN OF TIME, contemporary magic realism that puts a Roman/Mayan spin on the Faustian bargain. Visit http://carolynkephart.com for first chapters and much more. Kephart's publications are also available for the Amazon Kindle, the Barnes and Noble Nook, and the iPad. Her novels QUEEN OF TIME and THE RYEL SAGA: A TALE OF LOVE AND MAGIC are now available in paperback at Amazon.com.
The Colors of Elberia; book 1 of The Black Blade trilogy by Matthew Ballotti The Colors of Elberia; book 1 of The Black Blade trilogy by Matthew Ballotti March 22, 2012 $4.99 228351 words Sample 20%
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Brother's Keeper - The DeathQuest Saga - Volume I by David Pretty Brother's Keeper - The DeathQuest Saga - Volume I by David Pretty Oct. 25, 2011 $4.99 228066 words Sample 10%
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The Converging: Closures in Blood by George Straatman The Converging: Closures in Blood by George Straatman April 08, 2010 $0.99 227675 words Sample 50%
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George lives in Timmins, a small Northern Ontario city with his wife Louise and their collection of furry kids. He writes both horror and high fantasy. The Converging Trilogy is his first series and will be followed by the epic fantasy series entitled Journey Through the Land of Shades.
The Society On Da Run: Dragons and Cicadas by Nipaporn Baldwin The Society On Da Run: Dragons and Cicadas by Nipaporn Baldwin March 26, 2012 $3.12 227539 words Sample 20%
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I am a teenage African American poetess trying to open up a new avenue in the world of Dragons: Space Dragons!! And I WILL make it "work." My stories are mostly flash fiction, short stories and (best of all) poetry. About The Society On Da Run series: Earth has seen many visitors, from space dragons colonizing the planet in Pre Cambrian times to intelligent insectoids and benevolent owl gods. Follow the adventures of a wide cast of characters as they encounter the dragons of the Draconizica empire, and Ashuton Karrucci, the god of dragons going about his daily life in Italy. From a story about a small town ravaged by an airborn dragon virus, to a story about a cruel dragon king on a terraformed Mars, to the story of a girl pregnant with a Dragon god, these stories are not bound by the norms of the Fantasy and Science Fiction genres. Also includes stories unrelated to the dragons. _______________________________________________ As of March 2012, all issues in the TSODR have been (or are being) updated with new covers and additional content. Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4809527.Nipaporn_Baldwin _______________________________________________ CURRENT WORKS SO FAR: Issues #1-50: Lyarknar Saga Epoch Issues #51-60: Starsplitter Issues #61-80: Citybane FA>KED THORN spin-off series Ascendant Likelihood mini-series FA>KED spin-off series (Ascendant Likelihood spin-off) Black Dragon (yaoi series)
Pentad by Sharon L Reddy Pentad by Sharon L Reddy June 06, 2011 $3.99 227462 words Sample 20%
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No biography. I'll write memoirs when I'm 103 and anyone I mention will be so happy to be alive to read them they won't sue. I write science fiction female fantasies for fast-reading smart women. What they wish fan fiction could be and know it can't. It's what I was asked to write at Mediawest in '92, when I won two Fan-Q's for my first two stories. Why me? They said "You can do it." What's that mean? It's not just storytelling talent. That's rather common. It was a real survival trait. Every good storyteller taught about the world and passed knowledge. That's what I do and like the talespinners of old, I do it in a fun way. Still not enough? My university transcript looks like I began with a map of the campus and checked off buildings I'd explored well. I admit I didn't spend a lot of time in biology and horticulture, but I did a thorough exploration of the other 'ologies, economics, engineering, philosophy, music, theater, computer science, communications and, of course, language and literature. It does show. The cultures I build and the relationships of the characters don't have any missing pieces. Some are very sexy. Some aren't. I write for an under-served market. Will others like my work? Yes, but they aren't really wishing for something that's not available. Or not this something. There really isn't anything else like my work out there. If there had been, I'd have found it. I want action-adventure that never slows down and engages me intellectually too. I want superheroes who are eloquent and brilliant. I want characters who sound like they've got an education and wisdom from 'immortals,' who aren't cases of arrested development that haven't learned anything since they were 20. I want books I have to read more than once to get everything in them out of them. I want societies that don't have any missing pieces. Traders who think about profit margin, and guard captains who think about needing to use the toilet and wish the dignitaries would, please, go into the meeting room. To get it, I had to write it. The style is for my target market too. It takes a couple chapters to get used to it, but once the women I write for do, they will read it faster. I'm a torchbearer, a member of the avant-garde, as we escape the economic confinement of physical mass distribution. You still hear people say, "If it was any good, it would be REALLY published." No, only books which the corporation decides will appeal to a vast audience get published and the people who make that decision haven't read them. A decision of that financial magnitude requires spreadsheets. They can't invest stockholder money in anything that isn't blockbuster-connected and probable sell-through, nothing truly new or different. It's our decision to create that which is the guide to all who follow. Ready for some real brain candy? Download a sample and see if it satisfies that wish for something you just couldn't define. I am a Talespinner. I shall you a tale of heroes, of the wide velvet night! A Talespinner's Web, an historical site: http://www.targetyonder.com Spinner, 6/2011
Under Siege by M.A. Harris Under Siege by M.A. Harris Oct. 27, 2011 $1.99 226898 words Sample 20%
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Born in England in the mid years of the socialist experiment I moved to the US with my parents (economic refugees of a sort with three boys in a country where 1+ was more the norm) I have lived in the US ever since. I am a third generation engineer, a mechanical engineer who has worked for the government, myself, a tech start up and a foreign owned defense middle weight. I have experience in manufacturing, detail design, concept design, product development, and research in both government and corporate environments (in other words I've lived in Dilbert’s world). I usually love my job, (when its not driving me nuts) and have had the luck to work on a broad range of programs, developing concepts and proposals for systems from electromagnetic guns to nuclear electric space probes and remote monitoring systems for long term hospitalized children. Reading came late for a child who had some issues with a form of Dyslexia, but when I got the hang of it I went from having a hard time with Dick and Jane to reading Zane Grey, G.Heyer, Heinlein and Clark with the book hidden in my desk during class in less than six months. As soon as I learnt the wonders of reading and the wonders of the inner mind I wanted to write. In high school and college Arthur C. Clark was my muse (I still re read Rendezvous with Rama every few years) along with L.L’amour, J.Pournelle and L.Niven plus dozens of authors writing on the history of weapons and warfare like Ian Hogg and Keegan. Favorite contemporary authors are, Clancy, Weber, Francis, Ringo, Flint, Correia, etc. I started writing in high school, I was one of the few guys to take typing, convinced that it was a skill I would need for both computers and writing (though my early computer projects were on punch cards or tape.) In several advanced English courses in High School I wrote short stories that got me through on pure bravado if not technical skill. Then life and a career got in the way, I continued to see computers as the wave of the future for writing, and was almost always tinkering with something but time passed and all I did was tinker. Then a bit more than a decade ago I decided that I wanted to write professionally and took the advice of J.Pournelle and S.King on writing, both advising that in the end its about work and some luck, but mostly its about writing lots of words getting lots of critiques and doing more edits. But timing has never been my best skill and I got to the point of actually trying to sell my work just as the old publishing model began to implode. After more than five years of frustration (and having several full length novels at the point of at least being ready for a professional scrub) I discovered Smashwords. I bought my wife a Nook and then we began to acquire and read free and low cost eBooks, many of which were published by this strangely named company, Smashwords. And that’s how we come to meet....I hope you like the stuff I write, I actually enjoy writing it though like all jobs it has its down side (edits and critques) and it bad days (I really need to grow up and stop dreaming.) As I get into this I hope to be able to get to know more of you and get your opinions on the job I’m doing.
Worlds of the Timestream Book 4: The General by Richard Sutcliffe Worlds of the Timestream Book 4: The General by Richard Sutcliffe Sep. 28, 2011 $2.99 226859 words Sample 20%
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Glittering Darkness by Elaina J Davidson Glittering Darkness by Elaina J Davidson July 27, 2011 $2.99 225997 words Sample 10%
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Reader, poet, mom, partner, chef, gardener, cat lover, Mahjong player, friend, blogger, music fan and, yes, writer. A restless South African, who lived in Ireland for a few years, resided in majestic New Zealand until recently; back In Cape Town...until my feet find another path... Gathering of Rain is the first Tale from the Path of Shades and is about RAIN being gathered to become something greater than he initially suspects. How did Rain’s journey come to light? Sitting in the classroom, I paged through a book on Alchemy, a dictionary of terms. I wish I could now recall the author, to thank her for the proverbial light bulb moment. I do recall the 14 steps to alchemical perfection she listed, and those steps caused me to grab pen and paper...and also form the basis of the quest for Rain in Gathering of Rain. There's more, of course! 1. Gathering of Rain 2. House of Valla 3. Shades of Shadow 4. The Sunless One 5. Glittering Darkness 6. Netherworld 7. Walker of Realms 8. Animated Spirit 9. Sacred Space 10. Avior's Door 11. Time’s Timekeeper 12. Sirens in Stone Enjoy the journey!
Golden Trail by Kristen Ashley Golden Trail by Kristen Ashley July 06, 2011 $3.99 225415 words Sample 50%
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Kristen Ashley lives in the beautiful West Country of England with her husband and her cat. She came to England by way of Denver, where she lived for twelve years, but she grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana. Her family and friends are loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write. Kristen’s Mom moved her and her brother and sister in with their grandparents when she was six. Her grandparents had a daughter much younger than her Mom so they all lived together on a very small farm in a small farm town in the heartland. She grew up with Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched). Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up. And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.
Prison of Power by Chris Northern Prison of Power by Chris Northern March 07, 2009 $4.99 225022 words Sample 1%
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Chris Northern is European, a traveller by inclination, and an electrical engineer by education. He has plied many trades over the years, determined to gain experience as he believed writers should. When asked what he does for a living, he tends to reply, "Whatever's to hand," and when asked why he writes novels, will usually say, "It's like blinking; it's just something that happens." He likes to tinker with car engines and will occasionally get them running for a while. He is often to be found eyeing the horizon; shortly thereafter, he is often found to be gone.
Crestview Academy: Tory by Misty Reigenborn Crestview Academy: Tory by Misty Reigenborn March 11, 2012 $0.99 224011 words Sample 20%
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Misty Reigenborn has been writing poetry, short stories and novel length work since she was nine years old. She is the author of thirteen titles: romance novels A Twist of Fate, Crestview Academy: Tory, Crestview Academy: Molli, Crestview Academy: Mellenda, Girls of Gabe's Place 1: Brandy, Girls of Gabe's Place 2: Jessica,Girls of Gabe's Place 3: Robyn,and Girls of Gabe's Place 4: Ami, fantasy novel Mind over Matter, short story collections Second Chance, and This Song Reminds Me of You, poetry collection From the Heart, and non fiction title A Broken System: Examining the Clark County Department of Family Services. She loves to connect with her readers and appreciates an honest review. Find out more at her website! All other e-book titles will be available exclusively on Amazon for the next 90 days but will be back on Smashwords before you know it! Check out the many ways to get free e-books at the author's website!
Shared Emptiness by John Brinling Shared Emptiness by John Brinling April 27, 2011 $4.99 224010 words Sample 10%
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Author Bio: John Brinling I was born in Pittsburgh, Pa. on June 8, 1936. I grew up in Pittsburgh and didn’t leave home until I was 21 and heading off to graduate school at the University of Illinois in Chicago. I’ve attended multiple universities: Duquesne, U. of Illinois, U. of Pittsburgh, Columbia. And I have a B.S. in Pharmacy and an M.S. in Pharmacology. I was married in 1975 and have one daughter. I have been writing all of my life. I wrote my first novel when I was sixteen. “Black Dawn.” It dealt with segregation and the KKK. Whatever happened to it I don’t know. Since then, earning a living has preempted long periods of my life when I wrote very little. My wife and I are both in data processing (IT nowadays) and we usually work long hours when we are on a contract, which meant I spent little time writing fiction when gainfully employed. The birth of my daughter offered me another excuse for not writing, but that’s what it was: an excuse. Writing is hard. But it’s in my DNA and I keep returning to it, despite some part of me that prefers the lazy life. However, not writing is unthinkable, and I am constantly exploring ideas even when I’m not committing them to paper. I lived and worked in Europe for seven years. I met my wife In Italy where we both worked for the same company, and were married in 1975. The contract we were working on ended that year and we took two years off to live in England, in a 300 year old farmhouse in Wiltshire. It was in that farmhouse that I wrote “The Ghost Of A Flea,” as well as another book titled “Quarantine,” which is a science fiction thriller. “The Ghost” has a strong autobiographical component. I was a programmer/analyst. The office ambience in the novel is similar to life in my New York office, although the intrigues were of an entirely different nature. I had a good friend who lived in Sparta. I lived for a time near the George Washington Bridge. The building manager was an Irishman, who became a good friend, and an integral character in the book. “Quarantine” is set in East Africa, where my wife and I vacationed, and I drew liberally on what we read, saw, and experienced. I had an agent back then who marketed both books, and came very close to selling them to both Doubleday and St. Martins. Unfortunately he died before completing the sale and I put the books on a shelf and forgot about them for 35 years. Only this year did I resurrect them and publish them on Amazon’s Kindle and Smashwords. In 1977, my wife and I returned to the states and founded our IT consulting firm, Brinling Associates. For the next fifteen years we worked hard building our business. I wrote one novel during that time, a book titled “Alone,” which dealt with a man in an irreversible coma who is aware of what is happening around him, but is unable to communicate with the real world. I thought the book was lost, but have just recently found a hardcopy of the book and have begun reworking it.. In 1990, during a down period in our business activities, I wrote several other novels which I am attempting to bring out of retirement. These novels were also put on the shelf when circumstances re-ignited our business opportunities. One book – “The Watcher,” an occult horror thriller – is already self-published. The other is a much larger work, a rural mystery series tentatively titled “The Valley Mysteries” set in Vermont, that I’m still working on. As you can see, writing books is one thing, marketing quite another. I am perhaps the world’s worst marketer, which helps explain why my writings have spent most of their lives on a shelf in my home in Vermont staring out at me asking “Why am I here?” For the past few years I have been writing screenplays, which are more bite-sized writing efforts. I have done fairly well in some contests, but am still waiting to be discovered. The small royalty checks I earned from Amazon this year are the only money I’ve ever earned from my fiction writing. My writing is pure escapism. When I sit down to write, I embark on an adventure. I let things happen and I let the characters be who they are. Since I strongly avoid outlines, I am as surprised by events as I hope the reader is. Pulling together loose ends is a subject for revision, which I do endlessly. This undoubtedly makes for more work and takes me longer to “finish” something, but it seems to be the best, the only, way for me. It is the candy bar just out of reach that keeps me at the keyboard. My background illustrates my chaotic approach to life. I have been at different stages a pharmacist, a pharmacologist, a tech writer, a programmer/analyst, a business consultant, a business owner, a teacher, a novelist and a screenwriter. At one time I thought it perfectly acceptable, if not desirable, to change jobs/professions every year or so. I didn’t worry about the future, assuming I would always find a way to muddle through. I’m still muddling through.
The Talisman of Faerie by Jason Beil The Talisman of Faerie by Jason Beil Sep. 25, 2011 $4.99 223626 words Sample 20%
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Jason N. Beil has written numerous short stories, countless songs, and a rock musical fantasy, The Other Side of Never. He is currently working to complete his fantasy cycle, The Talisman War Trilogy. The first novel in the cycle, The Talisman of Faerie, was published in 2004 and translated into German in 2010 under the title Flucht Nach Faerie. The Second novel, The Sword of Kings, was published in 2010. A trained vocalist and musician, Beil graduated from Millersville University in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music. He pursued musical theater in his twenties, appearing in productions such as Cabaret, Oklahoma, Some Like It Hot, and Jesus Christ Superstar. He enjoys singing barbershop quartet music, and during the holidays, he sings with a professional group of carolers, the Occasional Singers. He is the keyboardist of the popular Delaware-based cover band HyJinx. Currently Beil’s activities include spending time with his beautiful daughter, working with his band, and writing the final volume of the Talisman War.
The Stone Age by Barry Klemm The Stone Age by Barry Klemm May 15, 2011 Free! 223293 words Read a sample
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Game Over by Daisy Jordan Game Over by Daisy Jordan Oct. 31, 2011 $3.99 222972 words Sample 20%
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I am a YA and adult fiction author currently living in Denver, CO!
Three Crime Stories by Gary Whitmore Three Crime Stories by Gary Whitmore Dec. 06, 2011 $2.00 222944 words Sample 5%
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I'm a laid-off safety engineer after spending 28 years on the Space Shuttle program at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. I'm trying for a career as a writer. At the present, I have completed 8 books that were written from screenplays I've written in the past. I have 9 more books to completed based on other screenplays I've written.
In the Shadow of Mountains: The Return of the Sixpack by David George Richards In the Shadow of Mountains: The Return of the Sixpack by David George Richards Dec. 21, 2011 $2.99 222719 words Sample 20%
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I was born in Manchester in the North West of England in 1957. Although I have moved around a bit, Manchester is still both my physical and spiritual home. I am a Northerner. I am also married to Rosanna, and have been now for over twenty years. I have an imagination that began when I was very young and never waned. I also like reading and so it was no surprise I suppose when I started writing. Because I am an unknown who has never been picked up by either an Agent or mainstream Publisher, I am a bit of a one man band. I even do my own covers and have become a bit of a digital artist as a result. I started writing when I was young and very bad. Now I am older and a lot better. My writing has improved too. I write science fiction, fantasy and romance stories. I also like to mix and match with romance in science fiction and so on. Female characters feature very prominently in my stories, many of them in strong and attractive leading roles. The reason for this is that I like women, a lot. In fact I adore everything about them, so it is no surprise that I enjoy reading stories where women feature prominently and that I should also enjoy writing stories where women feature prominently. It gives my stories a female bias, but I think they are better for it. I also like every character, even the monsters and villains, to have a realistic reason for being and doing what they do. Like reality, everything blurs. There is no right or wrong, just different viewpoints that lead to conflict. But I also like my out and out villains to be really bad. If you like science fiction, thrillers and romance stories with particular emphasis on leading female characters that are exciting and adventurous, look no further. You can also visit my website at www.booksandstories.com.
Armada by Robert Carter Armada by Robert Carter May 06, 2012 $3.99 222147 words Sample 20%
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I was born near Etruria. Not the place in Italy where the Etruscans lived, but the place in the Midlands of England that Josiah Wedgwood made famous. It's in Staffordshire. I was named after Robert Carter, my grandfather, who was a Lancashire fisherman. His father, William, was one of the first men to die in the First World War. I have his posthumous medals and the bronze plaque that his widow got instead of her husband's body. His trawler, the Mary, had been sent to the North Sea to fish for German mines, but it fished up one too many. My grandfather was left at the age of thirteen to bring up the rest of the family. He hunted cod in the North Atlantic through the 1920's and 30's, sailing by dead reckoning between Iceland and the White Sea. He rounded the North Cape and even visited Archangel, and he knew equally well the coasts of Greenland, the Hebrides and the fjords of Norway. My mother was nineteen when she had me. My father, a cargo ship's engineer, was in the Red Sea and heading for New Zealand at the time. By the time I was three we had moved as a family to the Fylde on the silvery shores of the Irish Sea. Two years later, following the severe winter of 1962, we emigrated to hotter climes. As a child I lived in Sydney. Home was Maroubra Junction in the Eastern Suburbs. I went to a junior school in Matraville, then later to a special school in Woollahra, where kids were hot-housed. I think there was some plan to create a new Australian intelligencia. At any rate, they took us to plenty of museums and art galleries ... I was twelve when family commitments took my parents away from the Land of Oz and back to England aboard the P&O liner Orcades. We went back to live in the fishing town where my father's parents came from. I was sent to the local school, but didn't fit in and couldn't settle. In those days I used to write little bits of fiction by way of escape. My own musical tastes included Led Zeppelin, who I saw perform in Manchester. I also saw The Who play at Blackpool's Grand Theatre. All the bands I liked seemed to have a colour in their names: Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, Tangerine Dream ... you get the idea. I attended Newcastle University - the famous font of knowledge for students who like to drink! I loved Newcastle from the moment I arrived. I loved the university, loved the city and I especially loved the Geordies. Newcastle was, and is, the queen of cities. My subject was Astrophysics. By then I was reading a lot of science fiction - it was the amazing ideas that grabbed people like me. Soon I began to write stories of my own, and I eventually launched the university's first science fiction society. I graduated with a First! But no job ... So I made a decision and went to work in the USA. The day I flew off to Fort Worth to be trained in the oil industry, I put my writing ambitions on hold. From here on, it was going to be a time of serious world-wide experiences. After a while training in West Texas (which I have a yearning to return to) I was posted to various parts of the Middle East and after that into the war-torn heart of Africa and, I have to say that it was both dangerous and well-paid work. More than once I came close to being killed - and plenty of good men I knew never came home. I went to some very remote places like the Rub al Khali and the Congo, and I saw things most people don't see, or ever want to. I got around quite a lot in my 20's, visiting dozens of different countries at every opportunity. I travelled to East Berlin and Warsaw an then on to Moscow and Leningrad during the reign of Czar Brezhnev. Shortly afterwards I took the Trans-Siberian railway to Japan. I worked in Hong Kong and entered China proper as part of a project to develop that country's communications with the outside world following the hand-over. I took tea with the heir of the last king of Upper Burma near Mandalay, and on the road to Everest base camp I just happened to run into Sir Edmund Hillary. After travelling around most of India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia , I needed to get serious and responsible, so I returned home and got a job with the BBC working on: Play School (first day induction!) and then Breakfast Time, Newsnight, Panorama and The Money Programme. Then after about four years, I felt it was time to follow my ambitions and I left the BBC to write. I have had four historical novels published as print books: Armada, Talwar, Courage and Barbarians and these will all be available as e-books soon. I also have three mythic history/fantasy novels: The Language of Stones, Giants’ Dance and Whitemantle published by HarperCollins which are available electronically. I am now working on a new project , set in more recent times – more information will be available soon.
Raven’s Shadow Book One: Blood Song by Anthony Ryan Raven’s Shadow Book One: Blood Song by Anthony Ryan July 31, 2011 $2.99 221882 words Sample 20%
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Anthony Ryan writes and illustrates fantasy and science fiction. He works full time as a researcher, has a degree in history, and lives in London. For news and general wittering about stuff he likes, check out Anthony's blog at: http://anthonystuff.wordpress.com.
Journey through the Land of Shades by George Straatman Journey through the Land of Shades by George Straatman July 13, 2011 $1.99 221678 words Sample 30%
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George lives in Timmins, a small Northern Ontario city with his wife Louise and their collection of furry kids. He writes both horror and high fantasy. The Converging Trilogy is his first series and will be followed by the epic fantasy series entitled Journey Through the Land of Shades.
Wizards' Slave by Veronice Ceccarelli Wizards' Slave by Veronice Ceccarelli Sep. 30, 2011 $2.99 221394 words Sample 10%
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My books are: 1. 'The John Doe' which is free. 2. The four books of 'Valencio's Story.' A recent review of this series includes the words: 'The whole saga is quite a deeply thought out story of sexuality - that one can come to yearn for something that is hated and feared. In the end, I thought it would be a tragedy, but it was not a tragedy.' Personal information about the author? Denied, but my flower is the passion flower. Interpret it as you please.
The Village Wit by Mark Beyer The Village Wit by Mark Beyer Sep. 26, 2010 $4.99 221382 words Sample 10%
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Mark Beyer was born and raised in the Chicago area. He has taught fiction writing at Columbia College Chicago, been a book editor, and worked for many years as a journalist. He has won awards for short story writing (Columbia University Scholastic Competition, 1998) and news features (Florida Association of News Publications, 2004). As the top-selling author for Siren & Muse Publishing, he has drawn attention to small-press publishers, where people work to make strong literature thrive. Beyer is currently on the road promoting his new novel, "What Beauty," and making notes for his next book. He blogs at www.bibliogrind.com.
The Dance of The Cat and The Owl by Nancy Hand The Dance of The Cat and The Owl by Nancy Hand May 13, 2010 $0.99 221159 words Sample 30%
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In the course of years I've held a number of jobs (bookkeeper, sales clerk, computer network engineer) while trying to launch a career (jeweler, sculptor, knitter). In the process I've heard a lot of stories, read a lot of stories, and discovered I like to tell stories. My books were written "for fun". I hope you enjoy them
Summer Rain by Jon Konrath Summer Rain by Jon Konrath April 20, 2012 $2.99 221003 words Sample 20%
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Jon Konrath has written and published about six books, including Summer Rain and Rumored to Exist. He is the editor of Air in the Paragraph Line zine (ParagraphLine.com), and has written for many other zines and publications. He lives in Oakland, and has bought 40 acres of land in the mountains of Colorado, where he plans to build a heavily-armed compound and write a manifesto, which will probably be self-published in eBook format. He can be found online at rumored.com.
Staying Power (Darshian Tales #3) by Ann Somerville Staying Power (Darshian Tales #3) by Ann Somerville Feb. 17, 2010 $4.99 220837 words Sample 30%
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Ann Somerville grew up in one of Australia’s prettiest small cities. In 1989, she left Australia with a BA and a burning ambition to see more of the world and its people, and to discover this ‘culture’ thing people kept telling her about. In 2006, she returned home to Southeast Queensland with two more degrees, an English husband, and a staggering case of homesickness, vowing never to leave Australia again. Her long, plot-driven fiction featuring gay and bisexual characters has been professionally published, although copious free full length stories and novels are also available on her website. She blogs about writing, publishing, her life and many shiny distracting things.
The Dig by Frank Paul The Dig by Frank Paul Nov. 22, 2010 $4.99 220720 words Sample 50%
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Katlyn Zinger and the Hornless Unicorn by Christine Williamson Katlyn Zinger and the Hornless Unicorn by Christine Williamson April 18, 2012 $2.99 220587 words Sample 20%
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Raised, though not born, in rural New Hampshire, Christine Williamson graduated from Carleton College in 2002 with a BA in biology and her eyes set on a career spent studying marine wildlife. This sunny future, however, was suddenly and irrevocably derailed when she acquired her first manga and embarked upon an abrupt, but serendipitously timed, quest to earn an MFA in Sequential Art from the Center for Cartoon Studies in White River Junction, Vermont. Having succeeded in that quest, Christine now resides in the wilds of New England and spends her time playing RPGs with local kids while earning money to placate the demands of two moody cats. It is her fondest wish to one day be able to truthfully say, “I am able to placate those demands with income earned exclusively and entirely from my writing and drawing endeavors.”
Edge of Tomorrow by Wolf Wootan Edge of Tomorrow by Wolf Wootan Jan. 16, 2011 $4.99 220557 words Sample 20%
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I am the author of the Sam Crown private-eye mystery/thriller series. In order of writing: Crown's Law (top five finalist in Reader Views literary contest), Crown's Justice, and Crown's Dilemma. Crown's Jewels is due out soon. I am a member of Private Eye Writers of America (PWA). My books are for adult readers. I write character-driven action/thrillers with a dose of romance. I try to appeal to both men and women readers, and so far the critics think that I have succeeded. Try my books and make your own assessment. I am currently writing two series: One follows the Edge of Tomorrow path, a high-tech, international spy/assassin series. The other follows Crown's Law, a hardboiled private eye series. I was lucky enough to get professional reviews for some of my manuscripts. Read them at my website. You might find an interview I did with Reader Views interesting at http://www.readerviews.com/InterviewWootan.html.
Worlds Apart by David Poulter Worlds Apart by David Poulter May 19, 2011 $4.99 220300 words Sample 15%
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David Poulter is the youngest of a family of four. He was born in a North Yorkshire village and emigrated to Johannesburg at the age of 19.Employment has been varied, from hotel waiter to cabin crew member for British Airways, to hotel manager and hotel proprietor. He decided to follow in his mother's footsteps in writing his first suspense thriller INSEPARABLE BOND, and has now completed his more extensive second novel WORLDS APART.After a colourful and roller coaster life, his keen observations of people and places have contributed to his work by recalling events and situations he has experienced whilst travelling the world and being at the front line of the discerning general public.
Flint House by Nancetta Liles Flint House by Nancetta Liles Nov. 03, 2011 $2.99 220095 words Sample 15%
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Flint House is my first published book.I drew upon many of my life experiences to write the book, and thank all of those who supported me during the process.
When Atlas Shirked by Nynia Chance When Atlas Shirked by Nynia Chance April 15, 2012 $3.33 220022 words Sample 10%
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In the Brief Eternal Silence by Rebecca Melvin In the Brief Eternal Silence by Rebecca Melvin May 07, 2010 $2.99 220002 words Sample 50%
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Rebecca Melvin wrote for over twenty-five years before producing In the Brief Eternal Silence. In 2005, she founded Double Edge Press and has continued with publishing, public speaking, conducting writing workshops and editing since its inception. Rebecca is married to her husband Neal and they reside with their four children in Scenery Hill, Pennsylvania.
The Norecomb Women by D E Austin The Norecomb Women by D E Austin Jan. 21, 2012 $4.99 219991 words Sample 20%
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Stories from ancient Sumer to 1930's America to a "Mad Maxish" future, though most revolve around love and romance in unusual or forbidden circumstances. Some eroticism though more of an imaginative, speculative or "literary" sort rather than blatantly descriptive eroticism.
The Gates of Avaelon by Margaret Fisher The Gates of Avaelon by Margaret Fisher Dec. 15, 2011 $0.99 219937 words Sample 20%
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I'm thirty-one years old, and I live in Brevard, NC. I'm a graduate of Western Carolina University with a degree in cultural anthropology and a minor in professional writing. I'm currently unpublished (professionally published at least), but I won the high school division of the Flat Rock Playhouse's annual play-writing contest and my play was performed there. I have a life-long love of reading and writing, and my interest in folklore has only intensified that appreciation. I write primarily urban fantasy, though occasionally I work in science fiction and magical realism elements- I enjoy writing fantasy stories that the reader could believe could actually happen in our world. Blood Dawn is my second book, and is the first volume in a planned four book series.
Justice by Richard Davila Justice by Richard Davila April 08, 2012 $2.99 219622 words Sample 20%
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Chill Harbour by E. Bard Chill Harbour by E. Bard Sep. 05, 2011 $1.99 219329 words Sample 30%
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About three years ago I began working on a few stories that I could customize for my children, their friends and a couple of relatives. I had it in mind that I could occasionally produce these customized paperbacks as a small, experimental business. It never fully took shape, but my children and the friends and parents who read the novels enjoyed them. They encouraged me. The books here are the original self published editions so I've priced them for a quick cheap read. Please feel free to leave your honest review. I would really like to know what you thought of the books. They're just meant to be enjoyed - they're not literature. So a great big thank you to all you readers out there who took the time to download them. And please remember... Your reviews will help me decide whether or not to turn these novels into series. Check out my website if you want info on the customized paperback versions. (Yes customizing these novels is still an option. It's just not a full throttle gig. Examples are shown on the website and blog).
Angel of Death: Book One of The Chosen Chronicles by Karen Dales Angel of Death: Book One of The Chosen Chronicles by Karen Dales June 28, 2011 $0.99 219144 words Sample 10%
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Karen Dales is the Award Winning Author of "The Chosen Chronicles." She began writing "Changeling: Prelude to the Chosen Chronicles" and "Angel of Death: Book One of the Chosen Chronicles" after she was inspired to create the character of The Angel for an on-line role playing game she was part of. It was from that experience the birth of The Angel was formed and through years of research Karen fleshed out The Angel and other characters that came to her. Having completed York University's Creative Writing courses years previously, Karen began to write "Changeling" and "Angel of Death" as one novel. It was on their completions that it was clear they were two distinct novels of an evolving series that has come to include "Shadow of Death: Book Two of the Chosen Chronicles." Karen is currently writing the next installment - "Thanatos: Book Three of the Chosen Chosen Chronicles." Since the publication of both "Changeling" and "Angel of Death" in a limited edition single volume, Karen has been an Author Guest at, Polaris, AdAstra, FanExpo, and has appeared at Word On The Street. You can find out her future appearances by clicking http://karendales.com/appearances.html In January 2011 Karen's book "Angel of Death" which included "Changeling" won the Siren Books Awards for Best Horror 2010 and Best Overall 2010. Karen loves hearing from you. If you have a question or comment please feel free to email it to her at karendales@karendales.com You can also follow her on: Twitter - https://twitter.com/karendales Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Karen-Dales#!/
Riders of the Wind by Robert DeBurgh Riders of the Wind by Robert DeBurgh May 24, 2011 $2.99 219020 words Sample 20%
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Robert F. DeBurgh was born and grew up in the northeastern United States. From a very early age his entire life has been dedicated to aviation, from flying airplanes himself as a professional pilot to writing about the people who fly them. His first recollection of flight is sitting on his aunt’s lap in the front seat of an open cockpit biplane flown by his uncle at the tender age of five. He learned to fly at age fifteen and obtained his commercial pilot and flight instructor certificates at eighteen After completing his military service he returned to college and obtained graduate degrees in psychology, sociology and education and a master of arts in psychology, supporting himself and paying his tuition by doing what he loved best, flight instruction and writing about aviation. His writings have included aviation and sports car columns for several newspapers, many articles for American and foreign magazines, short stories in the realm of adventure, science fiction and fantasy and much poetry. He has also worked as associate editor for “American Roadracing Magazine.” At the present time he writes articles for “Indian Aviation Magazine” and several US magazines and is the author of the widely acclaimed novels, Riders of the Wind and Winds of Fate. In each of these novels DeBurgh has woven a tale of high adventure set against an accurate background of actual historical events. Robert DeBurgh has served as captain for three overseas airlines and has sojourned widely in the US, Canada, Central and South America, Asia and Africa. For the past seventeen years he has served his country in the capacity of a pilot examiner for the Federal Aviation Administration until his recent retirement. He still flies regularly and does some advanced flight instruction for airline transport pilots and flight instructors. He resides in the southeastern US with his wife of twenty-five years and his four dogs. His new novel, The Winds of Kunlun Shan, due to be released in the autumn of 2011, is the third book in the Riders of the Wind series.
Gathering of Cans by Robert Saunders Gathering of Cans by Robert Saunders Jan. 07, 2011 $5.00 218953 words Sample 10%
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Robert L. Saunders is the author of five novels. Including the Tommytown series, The Monopoly Factor, Gathering of Cans and John Paul Jones: Finding the forgotten patriot. He has written a variety of genres including, Mystery, Romance, Womens Fiction, Family Drama, and Historical novels. Saunders has also released several books on Amazon Kindle for $4.00. These include: The Monopoly Factor, a mystery novel of corporate deceit and murder. Tommytown; the autor's autobiography set in the 1950's. His struggles with poverty as seen thru the eyes of the 11-year-old boy, Barry, and the inspirations that his mother instilled in him. "I grew up in the area known as Tommytown, located 4 miles NW of Sharpsburg, MD. After college and being exiled to “muddle around” the computer world for 15+ years; my introduction into the literary world came late in life. That was 15+ years ago. . My life has always revolved around books from the first novel I read by Nevil Shute (he certainly was a man of many talents) entitled On the Beach. I was 14. My wife, Janet, who adds a lot to our conversations, is a voracious reader and usually devours 15 to 20 novels a year. We live with our Miniature Schnauzer, Tux, in a house which I designed and built. My latest novel entitled The Burial of John Paul Jones: Finding the Forgotten Patriot, has just been released.
The Tenth Avatar by Gary Naiman The Tenth Avatar by Gary Naiman July 08, 2009 $3.99 218816 words Sample 15%
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Since retiring from senior positions in the pharmaceutical, chemical, and entertainment industries, Gary Naiman has focused on stories that carry a harsh warning. “We’re approaching an ecological disaster. While world governments look the other way, we continue to poison our air and water, and time is running out.”
Sorcerer: The Clann by Bruce H Johnson Sorcerer: The Clann by Bruce H Johnson Feb. 19, 2010 $3.99 218712 words Sample 30%
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Bruce H. Johnson, writing as BJohn, is 63 years old and was born in Arizona. He went to school in Akron, Ohio and has a BBA from Kent State University (yes, of the National Guard “fame.”). He missed the entire thing by about ten minutes). He spent eight years in the U.S. Navy as a Nuclear Power Engineering Laboratory Technician both on a ship and as an instructor in Idaho. Once leaving the Navy in 1978, he moved to Los Angeles and spent the next ten years as a computer programmer. Much of his duty involved documenting the various programs, languages and systems he worked on. In 1988, he joined a consulting group specializing in large computer system documentation where he has been ever since. The group has evolved from straight “technical documentation” to business process analysis and providing solutions to problems. All his writing is in his spare time. “Sorcerer: The Inner Circle” is his first fiction work except for a very short story in the fifth grade.
The Moghul by Thomas Hoover The Moghul by Thomas Hoover Aug. 19, 2010 Free! 218603 words Read a sample
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Live in New York City. Have published nine books. All available from Smashwords or my web site.
Settling the Account by Shayne Parkinson Settling the Account by Shayne Parkinson May 13, 2009 $2.99 218365 words Sample 50%
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I write historical fiction set in New Zealand, starting in the 1880s. My fifth novel takes the series to 1918. I'm fascinated by social history, particularly that of my own country. I live in a state of barely-controlled chaos; fortunately I share my life with an invariably calm and endlessly optimistic husband. I divide my time between an apartment in the city, in reach of good espresso, and a few acres in the country, where the rank grass in the orchard is kept under control by a small mob of sheep (and where we have our own espresso machine). When I'm not writing, reading, or engaged in mundane activities, I play the piano rather badly.