Friday, July 24, 2015

END OF THE WORLD EVENT - Free Spotlight for Writers!



End of the World Event

Hosted by Writing Belle

August 2015-October 2015


* *  

Hello, readers! If you know anything about me, you’re probably aware that I read a lot of post-apocalyptic and dystopian fiction. By extension, I probably write more of it than I actually read. Or maybe I’m just sitting around, reading what I just wrote.
There’s a thought for you to chew on.

But in all seriousness, I DO love the end-of-the-world plotlines, and I want to share that love with you. I am hosting an End of the World Event, beginning this August. It will run until October, and during the event, I will be hosting every dystopian, survivalist, and post-apocalyptic/horror author that I can find.

You Can Be Featured!
I want YOU to come to me! If you’re a writer with stories like this, PLEASE contact me and I’ll see about booking you a slot for the event. You will get featured for FREE. I will showcase your book, your buy links and your author information for an entire day (or longer). This is something I do so that I can get to know authors and help share their work with the reading world.

I want to meet you, so shoot me an email and we will get you set up with a date for your featured post on Writing Belle. Share the news with your adventure-writing, post-apocalyptic friends. I can’t wait to see your stories!



What I need to know:
Title of book, category and genre, and a bit about yourself.







Friday, July 17, 2015

Collapse Enters the Graphic World Today for 99 Cents!




Title: Collapse: The Illustrated Guide 
Author: Summer Lane 
Release Date: TODAY 
Where: Amazon for 99 Cents!


Synopsis: 
Fight or die. Choose your side. 
Enter the world of Cassidy Hart, the fearless heroine of the post-apocalyptic Collapse Series, straight from the mind of its creator, #1 Bestselling Author Summer Lane. 

Explore designs from 20 of the most popular characters from the series, including concept art from some of the most famous scenes from Cassidy's adventures. 

Also included are three exclusive short stories from the viewpoints of Chris Young, Sophia Rodriguez and Harry Lydell.







This graphic guide will be available for 99 Cents for the first two weeks of sale, so be sure to snag it now before it's too late! 

Thanks again for making this book possible. Your love for the characters are what makes Cassidy Hart's world go round, and by extension - my world! Happy reading, and I hope you enjoy! 








Tuesday, July 14, 2015

New Adult Mystery Release by Ellen Mansoor Collier with Special Sneak Peek


Title: Vamps, Villains and Vaudeville 
Series: Jazz Age Mystery Series #4 
Author: Ellen Mansoor Collier 
Release Date: Available Now on Amazon 

Synopsis:
In 1920s Galveston, society reporter Jazz Cross is in for a surprise when she attends a traveling vaudeville show with her beau, Prohibition Agent James Burton, and sees an old flame in the production.  That night, they find a stabbing victim behind the Oasis — her half-brother Sammy’s speakeasy — who’s identified as an actor in the troupe. When the victim disappears and later turns up dead, Jazz must help prove that Sammy wasn’t the killer. After a second vaudeville actor is found dead, Jazz discovers that the events behind the scenes are much more interesting than the outdated acts onstage.

To make matters worse, Sammy’s old nemesis demands that he settles a score and forces him into yet another illegal scheme involving the troupe’s money-making ventures. Can Jazz help solve the murders and prove her brother’s innocence—so he can get away from the Downtown Gang for good? 

A historical Jazz Age mystery inspired by real-life Galveston gangs and local landmarks. Vamps, Villains and Vaudeville is now available for sale on Amazon. (See the link in the description to purchase!)







Special Excerpt


During dinner, Agent Burton and I made small talk, careful not to bring up the bloody knife or missing man or even my old flame Derek in case of eavesdroppers. I literally had to bite my lips and tongue to keep from blurting out nosy, none-of-my-business questions. Still, it seemed forced, when all I wanted to do was ask about his ex:  What was she like? Was she pretty? Why did you really call it quits?
Finally when I couldn’t stand it, I asked, “Why did you move to Galveston—because of your break-up?”
He nodded. “Partly. I needed to get out of upstate New York. I felt suffocated, stagnant, living and working in the same town where I grew up.”
“Why Galveston, so far away? I imagine it’s very different than what you’re used to.”
“That’s exactly why I accepted this assignment. I thought an island atmosphere might seem more like a tropical vacation.” He grinned. “Lucky for me, I got to meet you, and enjoy the company of a beautiful woman.”
What a line! “Boy, you’re a smooth talker.” I batted my lashes. “Keep it up, handsome.”
Without warning, a menacing man knocked into our table and stood there, daring Burton to fight. The table wobbled and I reached out to steady the candles, worried the tablecloth might catch on fire. I looked up to see a thug glaring at Burton, a smirk on his strong features. The waiter arrived with our dinners, took one look and scurried away to the kitchen.
The restaurant buzz died down to a whisper while the diners waited for Burton’s reaction. Slowly he removed his napkin and stood up, facing the bullynot afraid to back down.
“Excuse me, but I believe you bumped our table,” Burton said evenly, working his jaw. “If you have anything to say to me, we can go outside. Now.”
The goon patted his tailored jacket pocket, indicating a gun. He moved inches away from Burton, chest puffed out like a rooster. “I’ll say it to your face, Fed. Johnny Jack has a message for you and your pal, Sammy: Keep off the Downtown Gang’s turf—or else.”
My stomach knotted. How did this thug know Burton and my brother Sammy were friends?
“Oh yeah?” Burton leaned in, blue eyes narrowed. “Is that a threat?”
    “I’d call it a warning.” The hood glared at Burton, his eyes dark as coals. “You’ll know when it’s a threat.”


Fun, right? Be sure to pick up her previous titles so you can catch up on the series! The covers and links are listed below!



Buy it now!






Buy it now!


About the Author 
Ellen Mansoor Collier is a Houston-based freelance magazine writer and editor whose articles, essays and short stories have been published in a variety of national magazines. During college summers, she worked as a reporter for a Houston community newspaper and as a cocktail waitress, both jobs providing background experience for her Jazz Age mysteries. 

A flapper at heart, she's worked as a magazine editor/writer, and in advertising and public relations (plus endured a hectic semester as a substitute teacher). She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Magazine Journalism and served on UTmost, the college magazine and as president of WICI (Women in Communications). 

Flappers, Flasks and Foul Play is her first novel, published in 2012, followed by the sequel, Bathing Beauties, Booze and Bullets, released in 2013. Gold Diggers, Gamblers and Guns, the third book in the trilogy, came out in May 2014 and picks up right after BBB. 

Collier lives in Houston with her husband and Chow mutts, and visits Galveston whenever possible. 
In her fantasy life, she’s a real-life flapper and journalist who splurges on Art Deco purses and compacts when she’s not investigating crime and corruption. 






Thursday, July 9, 2015

HELP. I keep dreaming about the END OF THE WORLD.

Yours truly as a young survival enthusiast.
This was at the family cabin, my wilderness.
I will be the first person in the room to say that I do not want the end of the world to come anytime soon. I mean, look. I like my Netflix, I enjoy my electric blanket and I adore hot showers. Without them, I would be considerably grouchy and quite possibly, entirely intolerable. I like technology. My entire business is basically digital. So why do I keep having dreams about the end of the world? 

I BLAME MY BOOKS. I see no reason to beat around the bush here. I have been writing post-apocalyptic fiction at a rather frenetic pace for three years now, and I feel like I'm becoming more than just a closet prepper. I'm becoming a post-ap nerd. A survivalist enthusiast. Shows like The Walking Dead are like documentaries to me. I have a problem, ladies and gentlemen. The majority of the time, I close my eyes and night and dream about survival situations. Oops, are those ashes falling from the sky? I wake up in the middle of the night and am gripped by a sudden urge to throw my belongings into a backpack and squirrel away supplies in a hidden compartment in the floor. 

SURVIVAL. 
It's all about staying alive. While I'm clearly exaggerating here (or am I?), I have been fascinated with survival stories since an extremely young age. I noticed my fascination with the subject when I was about six years old, refusing to come inside and claiming that the sand-dollar tree in my backyard was my new abode. Forget oatmeal and scrambled eggs. Mud pies would just have to suffice. 

Always hiking. Exploring.
Notice the survival backpack.
Just saying.
It's really not a huge surprise to me that I ended up writing post-apocalyptic fiction in high school. As an adult, writing it professionally has been an incredibly insightful journey, and I find myself driving down the street some days, thinking to myself, What if it all ended right now? What would I do? 

Depressing? Yeah, a little. But accurate. Let's face it: we're all a bit fascinated with the "what if" questions of life. For myself, being inundated with end-of-the-world facts and fiction has sunk so deep into my brain, it will probably take a lifetime to stop dreaming about it. But you know what? I'm okay with that, because it's one of the story premises that I love. It's my absolute favorite. So excuse me while I work on my tenth post-apocalyptic book...happy reading. And remember: be prepared for ANYTHING.