INSIDE THE MOUNTAIN IN VELLONIA, CITY OF THE DRAGONS—MORNING

Bronwyn, Blayke and their creaturas entered the vast dining hall.  One of the long timber tables was set with a farewell breakfast. Pancakes, fresh strawberries, gozzleberries, fried bacon and the extra-large eggs of the Vellonian eagle—cooked sunny-side up—lay enticingly upon platters on the tabletop. Bronwyn breathed in. “Yum. That smells delicious.” She sat on one of the large bench seats, legs dangling, while Sinjenasta lay behind her chair, the large panther having enjoyed his haunch of venison outside earlier. Blayke sat opposite, grabbing his fork and stabbing into a pancake, dumping it into his plate before spreading a clump of butter on top. Fang, the rat, peeked out of Blayke’s pocket and took the small piece of pancake the realmist offered him.

Zim, the black dragon prince, entered as Blayke shoved a forkful of pancake into his mouth.

“Good morning, my friends. How did you sleep?”

“Good thanks,” said Bronwyn as she scooped strawberries onto her pancake. “I’ll be sad to leave today.”

“We’ll be sad to see you go, young realmist. I’m sure you’ll be back one day.”

“I hope so.” Bronwyn smiled as Zim sat next to her and spiked a piece of bacon with one claw, an egg with another, popping them into his mouth. “Mmm, this is good.” Suddenly a loud rumble rolled through the dining hall. “Oops. Excuse me.” Zim’s dinner-plate size eyes looked from Bronwyn to Blayke and back again.

“Oh my gods! Did you just … um, pass wind?” Bronwyn coughed and covered her mouth and nose with her hand.

“Wow, that stinks!” Blayke snatched another pancake and stood. “I’m gonna have to finish this outside.”

Bronwyn’s voice was muffled by her palm. “I’ll join you.”

Wait for me said Sinjasta.

“I’m sorry. Come back. It’s not that bad, is it? Really?” Zim sniffed as he watched them hurry out. Suddenly alone, he surveyed the food. “I’m going to have to stop eating eggs, at least when we have company. Oh well, I have no company now, and this food won’t eat itself.” The dragon reached over towards the eggs…

Life is sweet for Caramel and things are finally getting back to normal.
Well, as normal as it can be for a telepathic elf who can train trees and
control computers, but she soon finds life on Cardamom is not all cupcakes
and apple cider.  A saboteur is hiding in the rainforest canopy, and the
elves’ precious cardamom export has been wiped out. Caramel is certain it’s
another trick of Alexander222 and her Aunt Isabel, but no one will believe
her, and the clock is ticking. She must expose the saboteur in time to save
the crop or the Elves of Cardamom will lose their livelihood.
Caramel won’t rest until her theory is proven. While she is on the hunt, she
makes a shocking discovery, one that will change everything.

Website:  www.julieannegrassobooks.com

Blog: http://www.whenigrowupiwannawriteakidsbook.blogspot.com.au/

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16060026-escape-from-the-forbidden-planet

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Julie-Anne-Grasso-books/287496411357122

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jujuberry37

The Society of Sinners will be on sale from 14th May, for 0.99. Snag your copy now from the following outlets, before the price increases.

Amazon: viewBook.at/B0053482GW
B &N: http://bit.ly/Q60a2Z
SW: http://bit.ly/MdJHLa
Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/The-Society-of-Sinners/book-4fnG7_BwhEqQDe1xVXhZHA/page1.html?s=leNojui_ckq4XROpPKaHmw&r=1
All Romance Ebooks:https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thesocietyofsinners-1148947-139.html

The Society of Sinners

Blurb

“Evil lives in the dark. We instinctively know this as children.”
Nestled high in the mountains…

The quiet community of Jackson Station is where everyone knows your name and…species?

Vampires have existed since almost the beginning of time, but not in the way we have been led to believe. These were not men cursed by the devil but warriors blessed by God to have great strength, agility, and eternal life.
Eternal life came at a price, the price of human blood. Some chose to live within their own society; The Society of Sinners.

This is the first in Charity Parkerson’s new sinners series introducing a paranormal world filled with vampires, werewolves, changeling, and God’s greatest warrior.

Teaser

He was cloaked from head to toe in black, with black leather gloves covering both hands. His odd hair color of black, blonde, and red stood out starkly against the absence of color in his clothing. A pair of dark shades covered his eyes, hiding his true identity, but Mika was no fool; that was a trap she wouldn’t fall for again.
There was a matching chair to one side of his that was separated only by a small round table. She fancied it was something an old married couple would do, kicking back in recliners next to each other at the end of a long day. She threw herself down wearily in the chair next to him.

“Hello, Dimitri, it has been awhile.”

“You do not seem surprised to see me.”

“Well, I heard you were kicking up trouble again.”

“Are they mad about the dog?” he asked, incredulous. “Gabe’s a tough guy; he would’ve survived it.”

“I’m not going to lie. Gabe is pretty pissed, but I think it has more to do with the other shit you’ve done over the years. Now I hear you can change into anything,” she added. “You’re getting better. It used to only be other people.”

Dimitri shrugged with indifference. “What do they plan?”

Mika shrugged as well. “To trap you and run some tests on your blood. I don’t know what they plan after that. You’ll probably be judged for your crimes.”

A low chuckle sounded from deep within his chest. “How do they intend to trap me?” He thought for a moment, then added, “Perhaps they think to wait until I turn into a bird, and then they’ll put me in a cage. Then I shall turn into a lion just to watch their faces as the cage is destroyed underneath my weight.” He laughed at his own description.

Mika leaned back in her chair, crossing her feet at the ankles, matching Dimitri’s pose.

“I do not know,” she answered tiredly.

He turned his head to watch her, his expression hidden from her behind his dark glasses. They simply stared at one another for a moment before he whispered, “Perhaps they think you will convince me to turn myself in if only you ask.”

“Do you break my heart on purpose?” she asked, a tear slipping from the corner of her eye. “By looking at me with his face and talking to me using his voice?”

He looked away before answering. “Yes,” then after a moment, he whispered, “No.”
He pushed from his chair and moved to stand over her. Using his foot, he kicked her chair closed while pulling her to her feet. He wrapped her in his embrace, and she went willingly, feeling her heart crack open anew at the feel of Dominic’s body against hers, even though mentally she knew it was only an illusion. He lowered his head to hers, giving her the chance to say “no,” but when the words never came, he brushed her lips with his own. Her tears fell unchecked between them, but, undeterred, he deepened the kiss while searching for the hem of her shirt with his fingertips. He pulled away only long enough to tug the shirt over her head, then returned to her mouth. She kissed him back just as fiercely, trying desperately to cling to the dream of Dominic. Her bra fell away beneath his fingers and his hot tongue moved from her lips to her breast. He sucked lightly, drawing her pebbled nipple in between his teeth. A moan escaped from her chest as he moved back up to her neck, and she felt his sharp teeth scratch against her skin. She tugged his hair with both hands, pulling him away. “If there is a shred of love in your heart for me, you will not do this to me while wearing his face.”

Before her eyes, his features transformed back to those of Dimitri’s and he looked at her from his own familiar face. Reaching up, she removed his sunglasses, revealing his light-blue eyes. His dark-red hair was similar to hers in coloration, and a light smattering of freckles across his nose left him with a look of innocence that caused women to flock to him over the ages. He looked like a boy of nineteen instead of a man who had lived for centuries.

“That’s better,” she breathed, drawing him close to her in a kiss so hot he was left panting.

eFestival of Words Awards

My days just get more and more exciting. I’m proud and happy to announce that my debut novel Shadows of the Realm has been nominated in two categories in the eFestival of Words Awards. It’s an award solely (that word looks weird, solely, hmm, anyway…) for self-published authors and authors who are published with small indie presses. Shadows of the Realm has been nominated in the Fantasy and the YA categories and I’ve even been nominated for an editing award for Amber Jerome-Norrgard’s short story, David. I’ve noticed that Wool, by Hugh Howie, is in there too, so he adds some awesome cred to these awards.

The books are nominated by your peers and then the field is narrowed down by hard-working volunteers who work with eFestival of Words. Then comes the scary part: on the 1st June, 2013, the final list of books is announced and can be voted on by the reading public (although you have to be a registered member of their site to vote). I’m sure I’ll be hounding everyone for votes when the time comes. Even if I’m not an overall winner, I’m so happy just to make it as a nominated author and editor. I’d also like to say good luck to all the other authors who have been nominated. I hope you’re all as excited as I am!

Shadows of the Realm

Dark Spaces by Dionne Lister

Dark Spaces has been getting great reviews, but I’ve been neglecting promotion because my fantasy series has been begging for my attention. So now it’s Dark Space’s turn. Run out and grab your copy while it’s still 99 cents. This promotion will run for two weeks (until the 18th May, 2013).

You can download from Smashwords (which has every format you could want) and Amazon. Happy reading, or should I say scary reading .

Sacrifice

Seth’s heart is breaking. He knows his decision will hurt the one person he keeps breathing for, but he can’t take it anymore. He can’t be near Grace knowing she will always be just out of reach.

Grace is oblivious to Seth’s turmoil. She loves him unconditionally, but not in the way he wants. They both know that in Heaven physical love is forbidden, and to break the rules is to defy everything they’ve ever been taught.

When Grace and Seth are sent on a mission to save a young mother and her unborn child, Grace must face the fact that Seth won’t be returning home. She doesn’t understand Seth’s decision and hates him for it. But what neither of them realise is how big a part that single decision will play in shaping their entire future.

What would you sacrifice for the one you love?

K. A. Last was born in Subiaco, Western Australia, and moved to Sydney with her parents and older brother when she was eight. Artistic and creative by nature, she studied Graphic Design and graduated with an Advanced Diploma. After marrying her high school sweetheart, she concentrated on her career before settling into family life. Blessed with a vivid imagination, she began writing to let off creative steam, and fell in love with it. She now resides in a peaceful leafy suburb north of Sydney with her husband, their two children and a rabbit named Twitch.

Over 500 authors, journalists and creative types (including Molly Ringwald, Ruby Wax and Michael Carlton) are presenting. It’s an amazing festival to be a part of.  I don’t know how I got to be so lucky, but I’m going to enjoy it and hope it’s not the last one I get to natter at.

As an advocate for professional self-publishing, I’m sitting on a panel called The Author as Everything—Publisher, Printer, Publicist, which will discuss the ins and outs of self-publishing and is being chaired by Anna Maguire (who has many years experience in publishing and now helps self-published authors). Authors Chris Allen and Elisabeth Storrs will be joining us. It’s part of a day-long seminar on publishing in general, called The Forest for the Trees, which will be super interesting (trust me on this) and encompasses insights from publishers, authors and agents. If you can make it, it would be great to see you (well, ok, I also need some people to hold up the “I love Dionne” banners and cheer when I say something clever).

Tickets can be purchased from the Sydney Writers Festival site.

Okay, I’m going now: I have to book my hair appointment,  choose an outfit (there’s only five weeks to go you know) and practice not swearing. Bye!

Future of Publishing Panel

I recently appeared at the NSW Writers Centre speculative fiction festival and sat on a panel—the Future of Publishing. I was honoured to be able to represent self-published authors. My co-panelists were Joel Naoum from Momentum Publishing and Zoe Walton  from Random House. It was an informative discussion and anyone interesting in self-publishing or just becoming a published author, should take a look. I’m the clever one on the right (your right ). Click on the photo for a link to one of the discussions and here for a short video  with me saying something that was probably very important .

A Time of Darkness Cover

I almost feel like I’m spamming everyone; my cover was ready so I did the cover reveal, and I was going to wait to upload to Amazon, but I couldn’t! So now, the next book in  The Circle of Talia series is out there. You can find it on Amazon or Smashwords and soon iTunes, Kobo and Barnes & Noble. The sequel to Shadows of the Realm continues the story of realmists, Bronwyn and Blayke and their creaturas, Sinjenasta and Fang. It’s fast-paced, scary and has awesome dragons (although those who have read Shadows of the Realm would know that).

I hope a lot of readers are waiting for this book and will now run out and buy it—I promise you won’t be disappointed. Here is an excerpt where we join the evil gormons in the Third Realm, a place they hate. They look forward to the day when they swarm Talia and begin their eating frenzy:

“Klazich absently picked at his teeth with a sharpened ulna—courtesy of his last meal. He looked across the table at his brother. Squinting and blinking did nothing to improve the hazy view. The Third Realm wavered and shaded reality like a suffocating nightmare—nothing appeared clear. Feldich’s outline was revealed to him, and he could almost look into his eyes. He curled his clawed hand into a fist, resisting the urge to slam the table.

Feldich sipped from the glass of bevanda, his favorite mix of blood and acidic lake water, and burped. Many gormons had died trying to adjust to the acidic water when they were first banished to this dim, nowhere realm. “Ha, Brother. I might have just hit upon the only thing I’ll miss from this stinking realm. I suppose we might be able to acidize Talia’s water once we’re there. What do you think?”

“Whatever you want.” His raspy voice suited the gloom. “Right now, I couldn’t care less. If we don’t get out of here by the full moon, we’ll never get out. I don’t fancy dying on this shitty, gods-forsaken excuse for a realm.” Klazich placed the bone in his mouth and crunched down, snapping it in half.

“How long have we got?”

“The next-best window through the corridor is Talia’s next full moon. Embrax calculated that’s in sixteen First Realm days. He’ll watch the moon’s symbol as it grows brighter.”

“Only one corridor will be open?”

“Yes. I know it’s not ideal. We’ll all end up where High Priest Kerchex is. It will take longer to spread out and crush those usurping parasites. But we will do it. I won’t rest until every filthy human and dragon is dead.” Placing the rest of the bone in his mouth, he chewed, grinding the fragments into splinters. He hated the humans. He hated the dragons. Talia had once belonged to the gormons, and it would again.”

Grab A Time of Darkness and find out what happens next.

A Time of Darkness Cover

While Bronwyn languishes in a cell in the bowels of Vellonia and the dragon king argues for her death, the gormons are one step closer to destroying Talia. To add to The Circle’s problems, Leon’s plans to overthrow his brother, King Edmund, are moving ahead faster than anyone could have imagined, and someone will die as a result. The realmists and dragons are doing all they can, but how could it possibly be enough when thousands have already been slaughtered?

The prophesized time of darkness, a time the realmists have dreaded for the last thousand years, has begun.