Monday, October 30, 2017

Halloween Deals - 99c #SciFi & #Superhero Stories with #Horror


Fight Alien Spiders and More in A Tale of Two Colonies
 Colonies

Fight for freedom. Fight to survive - For refugees from an overcrowded Earth, dreams of a better life on an alien planet transform into a terrifying battle for survival. 
Nothing will stand in the way of Tiger Lily's dream of escaping the subterranean slums of Terra and visiting the stars. She enters the fierce competition for a place in the scout team on the next spaceship to the remote planet of Delta, where an earlier colony disappeared. Before the ship departs, the arrival of a mysterious message from Delta suggests that the descendants of the first colonists may have survived.

A risky mission to seek the lost colony exposes the scouts to unexpected attacks, and they encounter a grim warrior in the isolated valley. Has Tiger Lily met her match in the tortured man? Is he leading them to safety or further danger? And who are the real rulers of this strange world? 

Only 99c at Amazon  iBooks  Kobo  B&N


Superhero and Snarky Horse Fight Living Gargoyles 

 Gargoyle Hunt

Danger is the last thing on Estelle’s mind when she visits the University of Oxenford for a summer course. But, mysterious thefts from the archives and shadowy figures on the ancient walls propel her into action. With Toby five thousand miles away, Estelle and her winged horse must hunt for the culprits alone. Soon they are embroiled in a mixed bag of aliens and ancient magic. Toby’s unexpected arrival throws her into turmoil and spurs events into a climax. Under pressure from his family to succeed, Toby is trapped in a web of deceit. The two supers have a week to catch the crooks and salvage his reputation.  


Only 99c or FREE with Kindle Unlimited at Amazon

Sunday, October 29, 2017

Results of Reader Survey of Preferred eBook formats #IndieAuthor


Results of Reader Poll on eBook Formats

I ran a poll for my newsletter subscribers to determine where to publish my new book, Europa. People could answer by replying to my email or on my Facebook page. 

Request for your input on where to publish my latest story

EUROPA, Taxyon Space, book 1 - SciFi Thriller & Romance
Daredevil scientist & scarred alien meet in perilous seas.
Pre-order for only 99c

 Europa

My questions:
Where would you read this story?
A. ePub reader (kobo, ibooks, nook).
B. mobi for kindle (Amazon).
C. kindle unlimited (Amazon).
D. Print (paperback).

Poll in October based on my new SciFi Thriller and Romance novel
Reader preferences are listed as percentages.
Mobi  54%
Mobi or epub  9%
Only ePub  20%
Only Kindle Unlimited  9%
Print only  4%

Only 9 % of readers use kindle unlimited exclusively, while 20-29 % buy ePubs. 

Since twice as many readers preferred ePub to kindle unlimited, I will publish Europa in this format as well as mobi.

August Survey
Two months ago, I ran a more general survey of where my subscribers buy ebooks and what genres they read. Note, this survey did not mention my books unlike the October poll.
About 100 people answered my survey.

Summary of results of general survey in August
Amazon (92), Kobo (11), nook (9), ibooks (10), GooglePlay (6), KU (18),
Amazon 92%
Mobi or epub 24%
Only KU 14%
ePub only 5%

In this case, 14-18% of readers use kindle unlimited compared to 5-24% for ePub books. 


Saturday, October 28, 2017

Spinning spacesuit - Snippet from Europa for #WeWriWa #SciFiRom

Welcome to another Sunday with Weekend Writing Warriors. Meet writers in various genres and read 8-10 sentence snippets of their stories.

I’m sorry I did not read all the snippets last weekend. My twitter account was locked and I’ve created another one, although without >9000 followers. 

I’m posting snippets from my latest novel set on Jupiter’s moon, Europa. I’ve called it a SciFi thriller and romance. The book releases on November 14th.

Tag line: What alien creatures lurk under the ice crust of Europa?

After Nikki’s lifepod crashed on Europa, she tumbled into a hole in the ice and saw a stranger’s face in the water below. He pulled her into the ocean under the surface ice.
I’ve skipped to a section near the end of the chapter. Kiron has towed Nikki under the surface ice sheet to the Earther Station. Note, Galileo Station is constructed in two sections: Upper Station (Topside) within the ice sheet on the surface of Europa, and Lower Station (Bathos) about a mile below on a plateau at the sea bottom.

At the rippling surface of the ocean, he ducked into the concealment of a shallow groove in the ice sheet. He narrowed his eyes to peer at the torus of the upper station. Detecting no activity in the water near the borehole, he placed the limp body of the Earther just under the ice. Aiming carefully, he propelled her toward the borehole with its framework of cables. The space-suited body rotated in the water, drifted into the tunnel and rose toward the upper section of their station.
Kiron backed away slowly to elude the motion sensors. When he had retreated into the swaying branches of stingers, he halted and gave a grim smile. Their detectors would register the spinning spacesuit, and someone would come to investigate.

 Europa

You can read the first two chapters in your choice of format HERE.

The book is available for Pre-order for only 99c
Non-Amazonhttps://www.books2read.com/u/bxqJ2e  (Not live yet)

 Colony

My science fiction story, A Tale of Two Colonies, is discounted to 99c this month. The giant alien spiders make it fit for a Halloween read.
Fight for freedom. Fight to survive - For refugees from an overcrowded Earth, dreams of a better life on an alien planet transform into a terrifying battle for survival.
Available at Amazon  iBooks  Kobo  B&N

As always, I’ll be happy to reply to your comments.
Please return to www.wewriwa.com to sample the works of the other writers.

Find a catalog of my published stories HERE.
Join me on Facebook  Twitter  Google+


Thursday, October 26, 2017

Marked by Fate - Boxset of 25 SciFi & Fantasy Novels


Marked by Fate: A Young Adult Fantasy and Science Fiction Collection
Publication date: October 24th 2017
Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Young Adult
Marked by Fate is now enhanced with Augmented Reality! Read, Watch, Listen. The new ultimate reading experience!
Step into adventure with Marked By Fate; the ultimate reading experience. Be immersed in twenty-six fantasy & science fiction worlds with state of the art Augmented Reality technology. Read, listen, and watch bonus content inside to bring the characters and story to life around you.
Enjoy the added features of this special edition, which allow you to enjoy bonus content right from your reading device. See character artwork. Listen to your story’s soundtrack. Watch book trailers and bonus videos. Experience behind the scenes like never before, thanks to Augmented Reality technology. Immersive Fantasy™; bringing fantasy worlds to life.
25 COMPLETE SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY NOVELS BY 26 BESTSELLING AUTHORS. PLUS, A SPECIAL BONUS NOVELLA.
Embark on fantastic journeys through magical realms, dystopian lands, and faraway galaxies in this exciting collection of fantasy & science fiction novels brought to you by some of today’s hottest authors. Encounter werewolves, robots, angels, time travelers, shifters, and more in this action-packed box set that will leave you breathless.
Authors:
Kristin D. Van Risseghem
Rhonda Sermon
Kelly St. Clare
Raye Wagner
Ednah Walters
Erin Hayes
Siobhan Davis
Jamie Thornton
Debra Kristi
Sarah K. L. Wilson
Hilary Thompson
Ingrid Seymour
Jeanne Bannon
Melle Amade
Lena Mae Hill
C.J. Anaya
Jackson Dean Chase
D. L. Armillei
Emily Martha Sorensen
Amalie Jahn
Dionne Lister
J.L. Weil
Alisha Klapheke
Angela Fristoe
Meg Cowley
Brandon Barr
99¢ for a limited time only!
Welcome to Marked By Fate:
An interactive Immersive Fantasy™reading experience!

The authors of Marked By Fate are thrilled to share this ground-breaking novel with you!
Think Harry Potter and Kindle in Motion. Moving, singing books,and all the excitement of a truly enriched reading experience.
We call it Immersive Fantasy™, because that’s what it does. It draws you into our stories and brings our worlds to life!
The titles in Marked By Fate use this revolutionary technology to bring you the best reading experience of your life.
How does Immersive Fantasy™ work?
Immersive Fantasy™ utilizes what’s known as Augmented Reality (AR). Using a smart phone/device, you can scan secret cues in the stories, and extra AR content will pop up on your device, streamed direct from the cloud (internet connection required).
See amazing, exclusive character artwork. Watch video content.Listen to the soundtrack whilst you read. Discover behind the scenes with the authors in bonus content.
Would you like to try it?
Then keep reading! You have already downloaded the Immersive Fantasy edition of Marked By Fate, and you just need to bring the magic to life.
The simple instructions overleaf will help you easily access this astonishing new world of fantasy that will delight your every sense.
Start your Immersive Fantasy™ adventure today!
Immersive Fantasy™ Instructions
Getting set up
These three steps are crucial to ensure you can access the AR content.
1.On your smart phone or tablet, download the Aurasma app from your app store.
2.Login to the app, and register your account.
3.Search for the user ‘MarkedByFate’, and click follow.
Accessing the Immersive Fantasy™ Augmented Reality content
Follow these steps carefully to access the AR content. Additional help can be found on the Aurasma help desk.
1.Read and enjoy the story, and watch for clues to the AR content. These will appear in the form of images with a symbol next to them, denoting the type of AR content. Content viewable includes images (camera icon), videos (movie clip icon), or music (music icon).
2.You will need one device/format to read on, and a smart device to access the AR content.
3.When you spot an Immersive Fantasy™ clue, open the Aurasma app on your smart device.(Navigate to the viewfinder screen if the app does not automatically do this.)
4.Centre your viewfinder on the trigger image. Make sure to include all of the trigger image in the screen. You can view the content vertically/in portrait or horizontally/in landscape.
5.The app will display the AR content in the form of an image overlay, video overlay,or music overlay, as denoted by the symbol next to the image.
6.Enjoy!You can zoom in and out and tilt your camera to fully explore each piece of content. Make sure you have your sound turned on so you can listen to the video and audio content! You will have to continue focusing on the content to keep listening to music/watching videos/viewing images.
7.It might take a little practice – don’t worry if you struggle on your first try.
Troubleshooting
What to try if it won’t work.
1.No AR content is popping up: have you registered an Aurasma account,and followed ‘MarkedByFate’? You must do this to access the content.
2.No AR content is popping up: have you made sure all of the trigger image is in your viewfinder?
3.No AR content is popping up on my kindle/e-ink device: please adjust your device screen brightness. If the screen is too bright or too dim, the image cannot be recognised by the app.
4.I can’t hear any sound: check the icon. Only video/music AR content has sound.
5.I can’t hear any sound, and it should be playing some: please ensure your volume is not muted,and turned up.
6.The content keeps disappearing: ensure you keep the viewfinder focused on the trigger image so that the AR content will remain overlaid on your screen.If you move too far away from the trigger image, the AR content will disappear.Activate it again by re-scanning the trigger image.
7.Can I access the eBook and the AR content on the same device? No. Aurasma uses your device camera, so you will have to read the book on a difference device to the device you are using Aurasma with.
8.It’s just not working – I’ve tried everything: Please refer to the Aurasma help files,and contact their help desk if you are still having issues. Whilst extensive testing has been performed to ensure maximum device compatibility, regrettably not all devices may be compatible. Best compatibility will be found on pixel based screens with good brightness levels.

XBTBanner1

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

New Release and Interview with #Indie #Author Lincoln Cole

The Everett Exorcism by Lincoln Cole

Something strange is happening in the city of Everett, Washington and Father Niccolo Paladina is tasked with investigating possible demonic activity. Nothing is as it seems, however, and things quickly begin spiraling out of his control.
 When his path crosses with that of an old rival, they discover that things are worse in Everett than either of them could ever have imagined. As his world collapses around him, Niccolo will be left with one terrible question: what is my faith worth?


Excerpt

“Come out, come out, wherever you are!”
Father Paladina knelt in his uncomfortable position beneath the staircase, eyes closed and struggling to control his breathing. Each gasp sounded like the cracking of a tree branch, and he couldn’t fight down an occasional sob of terror. His heart beat in his ears, and his veins seemed about to burst open.
“I can smell you, Priest. I know you didn’t run far. Where are you?”
The voice came from upstairs in the local priest’s office. Niccolo couldn’t remember a time in his life when he had been so on edge and afraid. It felt like a sickness in his stomach, as all of his muscles tensed simultaneously. It made his body shake, and he worried that he might throw up at any moment.
“We both know how this will end. If you come out now, I’ll do it quick. If you make me come and find you, though …”
Niccolo struggled to control his breathing as hot tears ran down his cheeks. He reached into his front-right pocket for the single item he kept there. His rosary, which he held between his fingers and pressed against his lips, praying as hard as he could for the strength to deal with whatever was happening to him.
Not to overcome it, though. Part of him—if he were honest, a large part—knew he was about to die alone in this church, and the only thing he prayed for was the strength to die well. 
After all, right now, not only his life hung in the balance: so did his everlasting soul.
“This basement has no exits. I know this church. This is my church. Not yours,” the man—if still a man—said from just upstairs. “I never thought I would actually get to kill a priest here. This is delightful!”
What is he waiting for? Niccolo wondered, in fear. Tim Spencer—or whatever controlled him—seemed to enjoy taking his time. Every muscle in Niccolo’s body ached, and he had to fight to keep from sobbing. Why is he doing this? Why is he waiting up there?
It felt like he’d been hiding under the stairs forever, but it had probably lasted for less than a minute.
“We’re having fun, aren’t we, Priest?” Tim asked. 
Niccolo couldn’t contain a shudder, and the movement caused his shoulder to bump against one of the boxes behind him. The noise it made wasn’t that loud, but to Niccolo, it rumbled like an explosion in the stillness of the basement.
If his pursuer heard, though, he didn’t let on. Tim hummed to himself as he took his first step down the staircase. It creaked heavily underfoot, and Father Paladina winced when dust fell on his head.
Another step; the sound of the boot on the stairs sounded like a nail in the priest’s coffin. Tim kept on coming, humming a tuneless tone, until the father could see muddy boots in front of his face.
“Priest? You know I’ll find you. You can’t hide from me.”
Niccolo’s whole body trembled, and the man had called it true. His hiding place seemed weak and pathetic now. As soon as Tim reached the bottom of the staircase, he would spy Niccolo. The priest had backed himself into a corner and had nowhere to go.
He shouldn’t have stayed here at Saint Joseph’s Cathedral alone. Should have gone with Father Reynolds to his home; splitting up had turned into a terrible idea, and one that might well cost him his life.



Author Interview 


Tell us about your latest release, including its genre. Does it cross over to other genres? If so, what are they? 

I tried to blend together horror and action in this novel, because they are two of my favorite genres and it fits in with the Raven’s Peak series that is already written. I like mashing up different things and making it feel like the world isn’t just one note.

Why did you write your book (or series)?

A lot of readers told me they wanted to know more about Arthur and what happened earlier in his life after reading Raven’s Peak. He was such a broken character in that novel that I really wanted to flesh him out more.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I’ve always been writing stories, and it’s just something I do for the fun of it. I don’t really want to get stuck in a position that I have to write to make money, but I do love to finish new projects.

What do you find are the best and worst parts of being an indie author?

You have complete control over your career and what you choose to do, but it also means you have to do it all alone. That makes things a lot more difficult and means that you have to write, market, publish, research, and more tasks that traditional authors can avoid.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

Watch TV with my wife or go on walks with my dog, Luther.

Do you have any pets at home?

Yep, my pugamonster Luther. He likes to sit on the back of our couch and watch out the window. You know, because he’s weird.

How much of your personality is in your main character?

A little bit of my personality ends up in all of my characters, and I try to also give them more than just one element. I want them to feel real and interesting.

What advice would you give to an aspiring writer?

Have fun with the writing, and don’t be afraid to market and promote. You’ll make mistakes along the way, but in general people who don’t market don’t sell, and if anything that trend is getting worse.

Are your stories driven by plot or character?

Character. I design plots, but the characters never follow along with my original outline and I find the story changing as it moves forward.

What book, movie or TV show has most influenced your life or writing?

I love the television show Supernatural, and I also loved reading The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher.

What are your current projects and plans for the future?

I want to wrap up this series and move on to a horror/sci-fi series I want to write that will be totally bonkers. It fits into my graveyard of empires series and tells an entirely new story. 


Author Biography 

Lincoln Cole is a Columbus-based author who enjoys traveling and has visited many different parts of the world, including Australia and Cambodia, but always returns home to his pugamonster and wife. His love for writing was kindled at an early age through the works of Isaac Asimov and Stephen King and he enjoys telling stories to anyone who will listen.

If you would like to sign up for his newsletter and receive news and special offers, then please go to: LincolnCole.net


Social Media Links –


Other Books by Lincoln Cole

The Vatican Children


After the events in Everett Washington, Father Niccolo Paladina decides to assist Arthur in hunting down the Bishop and bringing him to justice for the crimes he has committed. He knows that the Bishop has something big planned against the Church.
Arthur, on the other hand, is hoping to find some redemption for his actions against The Ninth Circle and atone for his mistakes. Atonement, however, can be difficult to come by...
Especially when the stakes are so high.


The Bishop’s Legacy


Everything is falling apart for Niccolo Paladina as his mistakes come back to haunt him. He's been reminded once more that the shadowy world in which Arthur inhabits is not his own.
He is ready to face the consequences for his actions, but not until he has dealt with the threat he's helped to create. Things are getting desperate, though, and they are worried that more people will be hurt before they can bring things to an end.

Saturday, October 21, 2017

Hint of a Smile - Snippet from Europa for #WeWriWa #SciFiRom

Welcome to another Sunday with Weekend Writing Warriors. Meet writers in various genres and read 8-10 sentence snippets of their stories.

I’m posting snippets from my latest novel set on Jupiter’s moon, Europa. You may notice the new genre-appropriate cover. I’m called it a SciFi thriller and romance.

Tag line: What alien creatures lurk under the ice crust of Europa?

After Nikki’s lifepod crashed on Europa, she tumbled into a hole in the ice and saw a stranger’s face in the water below. He pulled her into the ocean under the surface ice.

Quickly coming to a decision, he wrapped a strap around the suit and hauled her toward the Earther station. In a dozen lengths, he halted under a depression in the ice, an inverted trough gouged out by the tidal waves. He had often sipped oxygen-enriched air from these pockets. He enlarged the cavity and tethered the spacesuit to the ice crust. Holding her head above the water, he deciphered the unfamiliar mechanism and unfastened her helmet. Loose strands of her brown hair clung to his hands as he examined her pale face in the dim glow of his night light. Under the fine arch of her brows, her eyes were shut. Her sweet lips held a hint of a smile as if she hoped he would save her. 

 Euroa

Blurb
Dr. Nikki Bell’s plan to discover intelligent life in the oceans of Europa hits a rocky start when her spaceship crashes on the icy surface. Seconds before she blacks out, she spies a man’s face in the water beneath the ice. When she wakes on the submarine Station, nobody believes her story. Convinced the mysterious stranger saved her life, Nikki searches for him while she explores the ocean and its alien inhabitants. 
Kiron Arqin Ramis chose exile as a Watcher on a remote outpost to redeem his family’s honor. He never expected to find an attractive Earther woman close to death. He violates the prime policy by rescuing her. Despite suffering the penalty, he strives to warn her about his hostile leaders.
Nikki’s unexpected meeting with Kiron triggers a chain of disasters in Europa’s perilous oceans. Can the daredevil scientist and scarred Watcher forge a new alliance despite their people’s antagonism?  
          Book 1 in a new SciFi series, Taxyon Space.

You can read the first two chapters in your choice of format HERE.

The book is available for Pre-order for only 99c

Please comment if you would prefer to read the book in ePub (iBooks, Kobo, nook) format.

My science fiction story, A Tale of Two Colonies, is discounted to 99c this month. 

The giant alien spiders make it fit for a Halloween read. 
 Colonies

Fight for freedom. Fight to survive - For refugees from an overcrowded Earth, dreams of a better life on an alien planet transform into a terrifying battle for survival.
Available at Amazon  iBooks  Kobo  B&N


As always, I’ll be happy to reply to your comments.
Please return to www.wewriwa.com to sample the works of the other writers.

Find a catalog of my published stories HERE.
Join me on Facebook  Twitter  Google+


Tuesday, October 17, 2017

FREE Stories in Science Fiction & Fantasy #Instafreebie

 YA
Oct 13-20: Young Adult Fantasy and Science Fiction Festival -- Heroes and Heroines https://www.instafreebie.com/gg/XUdkWhzZ04LNr5GZ0lTP



 Arcane

Oct 17-30: Art of the Arcane SFF Giveaway 
https://artofthearcane.com/october-multi-author-sff-giveaway/



 Laserswords
Oct 10-Nov 10: Laserswords and Technomancy https://www.instafreebie.com/gg/1CWM10pyu2dK72dLNrXN

Saturday, October 14, 2017

Alien beauty - Snippet from Europa for #WeWriWa #SciFiRom

Welcome to another Sunday with Weekend Writing Warriors. Meet writers in various genres and read 8-10 sentence snippets of their stories.

I’m posting snippets from my latest novel set on Jupiter’s moon, Europa.

Tag line: What alien creatures lurk under the ice crust of Europa?

After Nikki’s lifepod crashed on Europa, she tumbled into a hole in the ice and saw a man’s face in the water below.
I have skipped some sentences and added punctuation to fit into 10 sentences.

Kiron Arqin Ramis stared through the thin plate of ice at the space-suited body. The Earther lay with the faceplate of the suit touching the ice and one gloved hand with five fingers flattened against the sheet. He pondered the dilemma posed by the stray Earther: her people must never learn of the Watchers’ existence, yet, she would die without his help.
Her eyes flicked open and focused on him, blue eyes in a pleasantly contoured face. Her fingers scraped the ice sheet between them, and her mouth opened in a soundless exclamation. He leaned closer and smiled in greeting. Her mirrored smile transformed her pale face with an alien beauty. Within a second, her lovely smile faded and her eyes shut. 
Kiron punched his fist through the thin ice.
The Earth woman slid headfirst into the water.
 Europa


Blurb
Dr. Nikki Bell’s plan to discover intelligent life in the oceans of Europa hits a rocky start when her spaceship crashes on the icy surface. Seconds before she blacks out, she spies a man’s face in the water beneath the ice. When she wakes on the submarine Station, nobody believes her story. Convinced the mysterious stranger saved her life, Nikki searches for him while she explores the ocean and its alien inhabitants. 
Kiron Arqin Ramis chose exile as a Watcher on a remote outpost to redeem his family’s honor. He never expected to find an attractive Earther woman close to death. He violates the prime policy by rescuing her. Despite suffering the penalty, he strives to warn her about his hostile leaders.
Nikki’s unexpected meeting with Kiron triggers a chain of disasters in Europa’s perilous oceans. Can the daredevil scientist and scarred Watcher forge a new alliance despite their people’s antagonism?  
          Book 1 in a new SciFi series, Taxyon Space.

You can read the first two chapters in your choice of format HERE.

The book is available for Pre-order for only 99c

I am running two other special discounts.
The 3 books in my Secret Supers series are 99c this week or free with kindle unlimited. 
 Secret Supers

Superheroes at college, snarky animals, and devious aliens living among us.
Super Starrella, Book 1: Amazon
Starrella Falls, Book 2: Amazon
Gargoyle Hunt, Book 3: Amazon


My science fiction story, A Tale of Two Colonies, is discounted to 99c this month. 
 Colony

The giant alien spiders make it fit for a Halloween read.
Fight for freedom. Fight to survive - For refugees from an overcrowded Earth, dreams of a better life on an alien planet transform into a terrifying battle for survival.
Available at Amazon  iBooks  Kobo  B&N

As always, I’ll be happy to reply to your comments.
Please return to www.wewriwa.com to sample the works of the other writers.

Find a catalog of my published stories HERE.

Join me on Facebook  Twitter  Google+ 

 My Books