Author: Ellwyn

I live with my loving husband, two children and dog in Philadelphia, PA. I discovered my passion for writing in second grade when I had to write a book report for school. I was so excited to write the report, until my mother told me that I had to write about someone else's book and not my own story. I became indignant and decided that once I finished the book report I would most certainly write my own original story. I have been writing ever since! My self-published book Chris Kringle's Cops was a Finalist in The Reader's Favorite Book Contest for 2016. I am so happy to share this story with you. My picture book Kamyla Chung and the Creepy Crawlies was given a 5 Star rating by Reader's Favorite Book Reviews in 2017.

Guest Post & Giveaway By Steven J Morris

How an Engineer Became a Fantasy Author

By day, I’m an engineer. By night—and during lunch breaks, weekends, vacations, and any other stretch of time I can protect—I write fantasy novels.

I didn’t grow up expecting to become an author. I always loved stories, particularly speculative fiction, but writing a novel felt like something other people did.

Eventually, though, the ideas in my head became too persistent to ignore. I had characters, fragments of scenes, pieces of a world, and questions I wanted to explore. At some point, thinking about the story was no longer enough. I had to find out whether I could actually write it.

My engineering background follows me into my fiction. I enjoy understanding how things work, and that includes imaginary things.

If a world contains magic, I want to know what magic costs, who controls it, what assumptions people have built around it, and what happens when those assumptions turn out to be wrong.

I like stories in which the world feels larger than the page and where history, religion, politics, and personal relationships are all pressing against one another.

Becoming an author was less a single moment than a long series of decisions: hire a writing coach, finish the chapter, then finish the draft, then revise it, then let someone else read it, then publish it and begin again.

Even now, with multiple books behind me, I’m not sure the feeling of “becoming” an author ever entirely ends. Every book asks you to learn how to write it. Every book (at least for me) has a wall to break through, and each one is quite different.

I’m also a husband and the father of three daughters, so writing has always had to coexist with a full life. I don’t wait for the perfect silent morning or an empty calendar. I write when I can, keep returning to the story, and trust that a book can be built a few pages at a time.

Tropes:

Found family, monster-as-hero, reverse portal fantasy/alien invasion, humor in high stakes, heroine who starts with nothing (no magic/no powers), morally gray politics, ancient elf x human slow-burn (really low on romance), dragons, prophecy, shared-universe worldbuilding

Two series, one shattered universe: an ancient war that forged magic, and the modern invasion that it made possible.

Mother of Trees

Thaumatropic Roots Book 1

Part of the Fractured Arcana Universe

by Steven J. Morris

Genre: Epic Fantasy

A dying goddess. A fractured prophecy. A magicless elf who shouldn’t exist.

Elliah has spent her entire life being told what she is—bereft, wrong, a mistake the world would prefer to correct. Drifting from town to town with a mother who won’t explain why they keep running, she has no magic, no place, and no future. Then a single misstep draws the attention of those who’ve been looking for her, and everything her mother was hiding comes apart.

She isn’t ready for what she learns. But ready was never an option.

Mother of Trees is the thrilling first book in the Thaumatropic Roots epic fantasy series. Enter a world of dangerous magic, ancient powers, and one impossible girl who refuses to stay down.

Buy Mother of Trees today.

**Get it FREE!**

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

Book Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CP6CNCD3?maas=maas_adg_08B13741FCB61F7070641CC50E553147_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/mother-of-trees-an-epic-fantasy-thaumatropic-roots-book-1-by-steven-j-morris

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/220501397-mother-of-trees

Continue the Thaumatropic Roots Series

Magic is as natural as breathing in Elliah’s world — except to her. Born without a single spark in a war that runs on it, she has nothing but her will and her refusal to accept the limits everyone else has already decided for her. This is what happens when the world writes you out of the story, and you refuse to leave.

Get them:

Mother of Trees

Bones of Cenaedth

Secrets of Deara

Shepherds of Truth

The Guardian of the Palace

The Guardian League Book 1

Part of the Fractured Arcana Universe

by Steven J. Morris

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Magic isn’t real.
Red Hernandez is very sure of that.

She wants a quiet life after Special Forces—just a steady security job at a half-finished Manhattan skyscraper.

But then a sister tower implodes in a way physics can’t explain.
Witnesses report creatures in the smoke.
And something hunts her in the tunnels beneath.

Red wants answers. What she gets instead is an elf with a sword, a troll with a wry sense of humor, and a dwarf who believes every battle requires an audience. They insist an ancient enemy has crossed into our world—and Red becomes an accidental gatekeeper simply because she’s standing on the fault line when it cracks open.

As a hidden war erupts in the shadows of New York City, Red must decide: run from the past that nearly destroyed her… or fight for a world she’s only just beginning to believe in.

A veteran with nothing left to lose.
A threat born of magic and shadow.
A team she never saw coming.

The Guardian of the Palace launches the action-packed Guardian League series—perfect for fans of urban fantasy, modern-world magic, found family, and heroines who refuse to back down.

**Get it FREE!**

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

Book Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08TV879J6?maas=maas_adg_EB04FC3A6C1CDB6AE89BAA3104DBCCA0_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-guardian-of-the-palace-a-reverse-portal-fantasy-adventure-the-guardian-league-urban-fantasy-series-book-1-by-steven-j-morris

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59701135-the-guardian-of-the-palace

Continue The Guardian League Series!

Earth, through its technological advances, supports nearly eight billion souls; from a cosmic perspective, that makes it ripe for the picking. ‘Red’ Hernandez, trying to put a questionable military life behind her, finds herself caught in the middle of stopping an apocalyptic invasion of Earth. But to do that, she has to figure out who the good guys are, and how she can combat forces in which she does not believe.

Get them:

The Guardian of the Palace

Stars in the Sand

We’re Going On An Elf Hunt

The Song Unsung

Get the Box Set Here

About the Author

Steven J. Morris writes fantasy where magic runs deep and the consequences run deeper. By day he’s an engineer and father of three in Austin, Texas. He’s the author of eight novels across two completed series — the epic Thaumatropic Roots and the urban Guardian League — both set in the shared Fractured Arcana universe. Find him at sjmorriswrites.com.

Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * TikTok * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

Author Links

Website: https://sjmorriswrites.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steven.j.morris.author

X: https://x.com/sjmorris_writer

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steven.j.morris.writer/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sjmorriswrites

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/steven-j-morris-1e2e4acf-98b4-4a6a-9b51-ba3c2247caa0

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Steven-J.-Morris/author/B08TVCYP5X

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21119304.Steven_J_Morris

Giveaway

$25 Amazon or Paypal

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Breaks, Battles, and Invasions: The Brutal Cataclysm That Fractured Ancient Magic Echoes Forward Into a Terrifying Modern Manhattan Siege in The Fractured Arcana Universe.

Burnout Cover Reveal & Giveaway

Tropes: Opposites attract, small town, found family, fake dating, Country FMC/Big city MMC, MCs in their 30s, steamy, dual POV (book 7 but can be read as a stand-alone)

She thought chemistry only existed on the page, then he set her world on fire.

Burnout

Love Burns Series Book 7

by Isobel Reed

Genre: Small-Town Romance, Romantic Comedy

She thought chemistry only existed on the page, then he set her world on fire.

The only men in Lucy’s life are fictional. Which is fine. So fine. At thirty, she is happy with her life. She has a ride or die best friend. A cute little ginger cat to snuggle with. And an apartment full of books.

What more could she possibly want? Well, before Jack Jones swaggered into town, with his designer suits and British accent, the answer was nothing. But now, here he is, showing up where she works, calling her beautiful and making her question everything.

Jack Jones had it all. High-powered job in the city. Fancy apartment. Women offering to warm his bed every night. Then he blew up his life.

Now, he’s in small town Wyoming, doing damage control while babysitting his sister’s kids. There is one silver lining though… Lucy Mills. He felt a spark during his first visit to Woodvalley Pines, when he’d shamelessly flirted with her at the diner where she worked.

Three years on, she’s somehow even harder to ignore. She’s everything he’s been searching for. If only she’d just let him in.

Return to Woodvalley Pines one last time with this swoon-worthy opposites attract romance packed full of chemistry, charm and Isobel Reed’s signature witty banter. Burnout is perfect for fans of Book Lovers by Emily Henry and The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary. Whether you’ve already devoured the other books in the Love Burn Series or are enjoying it as a standalone, you won’t want to miss this final book.

**Releases Sep 8 – PreOrder Now!**

Amazon * Apple * B&N * Kobo * Bookbub * Goodreads

Book Links:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3TzZKwa

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/burnout/id6776438027

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/burnout-isobel-reed/1150319288

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/burnout-124

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/burnout-love-burns-series-book-7-by-isobel-reed

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/253049682-burnout

Don’t miss the rest of the Love Burns series!

Find them on Amazon

https://amzn.to/4vXtb8N

Excerpt

“You okay?” Bethany’s hand went to Lucy’s forearm. “I don’t think you’ve spoken or taken a breath in the past six minutes. I’m beginning to get concerned that the lack of oxygen has cut off the supply to your brain.”

Her best friend was hilarious.

“I just remembered that I forgot to leave food out for Daisy-Mae. I need to go.”

Yes, she was being dramatic, and no, her cat did not need to be fed, but she didn’t care. She lived a relatively drama-free life, so she was allowing herself one tiny little freak-out.

“Oh no, you don’t.” Bethany narrowed those big green eyes at Lucy. “I’m not letting you run just ’cause the mysterious Jack has arrived.”

Jack Jones, the hottest man Lucy had ever seen in real life, had indeed just entered the room. With floppy dark hair, piercing blue-green eyes, and a ridiculously symmetrical face, he was darn right dangerous. Throw in height, muscles, and a designer suit, and he was practically a health hazard.

The sight of him alone was clearly enough to break her. But the sight of him currently being introduced to his three-month-old nephew? She wasn’t sure she’d ever recover.

Annnnnd … my ovaries just exploded.

Cool, cool.

Who was she kidding? There was nothing remotely cool about her. Which was exactly why she needed to get out of there. Before she melted into a puddle, in her friend’s living room, on her pretty abstract rug.

That wouldn’t be a good look.

It wouldn’t be. Yet, she wouldn’t put it past her traitorous body. Apparently, it had control issues around this man. Which was stupid, because she’d only met him once for Pete’s sake. Three years ago. When he’d shamelessly flirted with her at the diner where she worked.

Oh no. He’s coming over.

Abort! Abort! Get out of there now!

Only she couldn’t. Her so-called friend had noticed Jack’s slow-motion swagger toward her, and amid Lucy’s internal panic, Bethany had sneakily grabbed hold of Lucy’s arm and was keeping it hostage.

“I hate you,” she whispered to Bethany, her voice full of the venom her friend deserved.

“You love me.” Bethany had the audacity to laugh.

As soon as their gazes locked, she felt it. That same feeling she felt all those years ago, one she had started to believe she’d imagined. Until now. The skin on the back of her neck prickled. Her body flushed.

And her stomach swooped. Deep down, a part of her accepted that this was just her body enthusiastically reacting to an attractive man. But still, the knowledge that she’d gone thirty years without ever feeling this instantaneous chemistry before made it feel significant.

The closer he got, the hotter Lucy felt. It may be January, and Woodvalley Pines may be under a blanket of ice outside, but under her off-the-shoulder cream sweater, there were some questionable things happening. She may even be forced to throw out her bra.

I love my bra.

Wow. That was a sucky thought. Great. Now she was angry, flustered, and sad. Just in time for Jack to enter her space. Close enough for her to see the fierce intensity in his eyes, giving her the overwhelming urge to find the nearest blanket and crawl under it.

“It’s Lucy, isn’t it?” His voice was deep and smoother than silk. Did she mention he had a British accent, too? Because … of course he did. “We met a few years ago … at the diner.”

About the Author

Isobel was born and raised in London. While she’s a city girl at heart, she loves daydreaming about running away to a charming small town—though she’s not entirely sure her husband and son would share her enthusiasm for the move.

When she’s not writing small-town romantic comedies or growing unhealthily attached to the characters in her books, you can find her reading, chasing after her very active toddler, or attempting to channel her inner domestic goddess in the kitchen (with varying degrees of success).

Website * Facebook * Instagram * TikTok * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

Author Links

Website: https://www.isobelreed.net/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/isobelreedbooks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isobelreedbooks

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@isobelreedbooks

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/isobel-reed

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Isobel-Reed/author/B0924F61MT

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21372915.Isobel_Reed

Giveaway

$10 Amazon or Paypal

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

https://www.silverdaggerbooktours.com/burnout-reveal

Direct link:

https://gleam.io/8wScB/burnout

How Creative Pros Can Build Thriving Businesses From Their Talents

Guest Post By Laura Pearson

Image by Petra from Pixabay

For freelance designers, illustrators, photographers, writers, and other creative professionals, the dream isn’t just making great work, it’s building sustainable businesses from that work.

The core tension is real: creative talent commercialization asks artists to price confidently, sell consistently, and make business decisions without letting the business challenges for artists drain the joy from creating.

Entrepreneurship in creative industries can feel like a constant switch between maker and manager, especially when income depends on visibility, relationships, and trust. With the right mindset and structure, creative careers can support steady, professional income.

Quick Summary: Building a Thriving Creative Business

Define a clear target audience so your creative work solves specific needs and stands out.
Develop focused offerings that package your talent into services or products clients can buy.
Attract clients with intentional strategies that make it easy to discover, trust, and hire you.
Balance creativity and business responsibilities to protect your craft while growing sustainably.

Create a Simple Logo That Boosts Trust in Minutes

Once you’ve got the big moves in mind, one of the fastest ways to look more established is to show up with a consistent visual identity.

A professional logo helps creative pros build a recognizable brand that people remember, while quietly signaling expertise and care in how you present your work.

Even a simple, clean mark can make you feel more credible to potential clients as you grow a sustainable business around your talents, because it looks intentional everywhere it appears.

If you don’t have the budget (or time) for custom branding, using an online logo maker can get you there quickly: start from ready-made templates, then tailor the design by adjusting fonts and colors until it matches your style and the kind of work you do.

Many find that free logo design is a practical first step toward looking cohesive across your portfolio, website, and social channels.

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Turn Your Talent Into Offers and Paying Clients

This process helps you move from “I’m good at this” to clear offerings, the right audience, and a repeatable way to find clients. It matters because even the most talented creatives struggle when pricing, marketing, and delivery are unclear.

Segment your audience by needs, not vibes
Start by listing 3 to 5 groups who might hire you and write what each group wants solved, what they value, and what makes them hesitate. Use what you already know from past projects, peers, and feedback since pooling existing knowledge helps you make smarter assumptions quickly. Choose one primary segment to focus on first so your message and portfolio feel specific.
Turn your skills into packaged offers
Create two to three “menu items” that are easy to say yes to, such as a starter package, a core package, and a premium option. For each, define the deliverables, timeline, and one clear result it supports so buyers understand what they get. Keep one custom option for special projects, but make your default path simple.
Pick a business model that protects your creative energy
Choose how you want to get paid most often: project fees, retainers, licensing, or product sales. Match the model to your capacity and attention span, not just income goals, so you can stay consistent without burning out. Write one non negotiable that safeguards your artistic vision, such as revision limits or a “no rushed timelines” rule.
Build a client acquisition system you can repeat weekly
Select two channels you can maintain, such as referrals plus one social platform, or email plus partnerships, then commit to a small weekly quota. Do outreach with a clear pitch tied to the audience’s problem and a specific next step like a short call or a paid audit. Remember that many buyers hire creatives for agility, and 82% of clients said freelancers give them flexibility, so emphasize responsiveness and clear process.
Market with proof, then refine with feedback
Share one or two case studies that show the before, after, and your role, then reuse them across your portfolio, proposals, and posts. After each project, ask what made the client choose you and what felt confusing so you can tighten your offer and messaging. As you gain traction, add structure slowly so your work scales without losing its signature style.

A Weekly Loop That Keeps Business Moving

A thriving creative business needs a rhythm that supports both making and managing.

This workflow turns your talent into consistent momentum by giving you a predictable way to sell, deliver, and improve without letting admin swallow your creative time.

It also mirrors what creative project management aims to do, combining structure with room for iteration.

Stage	Action	Goal
Clarify	Choose one priority offer and one priority audience need	Focused message and fewer scattered tasks
Publish	Share one proof asset or insight tied to that need	Visible expertise and easier trust-building
Reach out	Contact 5 aligned prospects with one clear next step
Deliver	Ship what you promised and document decisions	Smooth projects and fewer revisions
Review	Track leads, revenue, time spent, and friction points	Clear signals on what to keep or change
Adjust	Update your offer, template, or boundary for next week	Continuous improvement without reinvention

Flash Point Book Tour & Giveaway

A flash of attraction, the potential for more.

Flash Point

Pinegrove FD Book 4

by Libby Kay

Genre: Small-Town Firefighter Sweet Romance

A flash of attraction, the potential for more.

Best-selling author Libby Kay’s sweet fireman romance Flash Point is a bad boy redemption story perfect for fans of B.K. Borison’s Lovelight series.

Javier “Javi” Ortiz never has trouble finding a date. The confident fireman enjoys the perks of no-strings hook-ups and his bachelor lifestyle. Yet when a certain blonde moves to Pinegrove, the idea of casual dating fizzles out. Javi is finally ready to settle down, but will he be able to charm his way into her life? Or will his reputation ruin his chance at real love?

Lola Peabody has given up on love. She doesn’t have time for men and their empty promises, especially with her hands full being a single mom and running her own photography business. Her plans do not include finding a man, even a charismatic fireman who treats her and her daughter like queens.

But Pinegrove is a small town, and the pair can’t stay away from each other. From photoshoots and romance book club to quiet walks in the woods, Lola and Javi spend more and more time together.

Could this be happily ever after? Or will their romance burn out faster than a five-alarm fire?

Amazon * Apple * B&N * Kobo * Bookbub * Goodreads

Book Links:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4wP6Tb6

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/flash-point/id6769785459

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/flash-point-libby-kay/1150160458?ean=2940184964249

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/flash-point-53?sid=b8d73f3b-5ffc-4f30-bab3-39e16084a784&ssid=7Sv0Pxz3qYGdNHJOjL23_&cPos=2

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/flash-point-a-pinegrove-fd-novel-book-4-by-libby-kay

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/252183088-flash-point

Check out the rest of the series for more smoldering sweet romance!

Find them on Amazon!

https://amzn.to/4wK30UV

Excerpt:

Never before had Javi held a woman in such regard, kept a woman at arm’s length as they got to know each other. While the notion would have chafed before, now it made perfect sense. He’d do whatever it took to make Lola comfortable, happy.

Javi wasn’t certain, but the stars shone brighter as he looked up at the night sky. He liked to pretend his mamá was looking out for him, that the twinkling stars were her way of keeping in touch.

“I love you, Mamá,” he said up into the ether as he leaned back against his deck railing. “And I think I’m falling for someone—you’d love her.”

Well, Javi really didn’t want to lie to his mamá. He wasn’t falling for Lola, he’d already fallen—hard.

About the Author

Libby Kay lives in the city in the heart of the Midwest with her husband. When she’s not writing, Libby loves reading romance novels of any kind. Stories of people falling in love nourish her soul. Contemporary or Regency, sweet or hot, as long as there is a happily ever after—she’s in love!

When not surrounded by books, Libby can be found baking in her kitchen, binging true crime shows, or on the road with her husband, traveling as far as their bank account will allow.

Libby cohosts the Romance Roundup podcast with Liz Donatelli where they recommend romance books and interview authors, influencers, and publishers. Check it out for your weekly dose of romance!

Website * Facebook * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

Author Links

Website: https://www.libbykayauthor.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LibbyKayAuthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/libbykayauthor

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/libby-kay

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Libby-Kay/e/B07VGY8SCH

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19377638.Libby_Kay

Giveaway

$10 Amazon or Paypal

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Pinegrove, Playboys, and Passion: A Confident Fireman Tries to Charm His Way Into the Heart of a Skeptical Photographer in Flash Point

Direct link:

https://gleam.io/nWIJD/flash-point

Where Dragons Are Captured Release Tour & Giveaway

How much would you wager to save a dragon?

Your safety, your friends, your people?

How about your life?

Where Dragons Are Captured

Where Dragons Are Book 1

by Fran Zuid

Genre: Epic Grimdark Dragon Fantasy Adventure

How much would you wager to save a dragon? Your safety, your friends, your people? How about your life?

Skye, an alitur—elf as the small-minded humans would degrade her—is a gambler hiding in the skin of her enemy to escape capture, her past and her true identity.

However, her fragile safety shatters when she’s caught cheating. Thrown into the corrupt world of gambling, where animals and creatures are pitted against one another for sport, Skye witnesses something she thought long extinct: dragons.

Determined to save and connect with the dragons, Skye is drawn into a web of deceit, loyalty, and love, impelling her to face her past and reclaim her heritage.

With unlikely allies, Skye must confront the soul-devouring priestesses and their ruthless general, One-Eye-Nic, before the last dragons—and her own soul—are lost forever.

This is an enthralling tale of lies, rebellion, and the price of freedom…

**NEW RELEASE!**

Amazon * Apple * Kobo * Smashwords * Books2Read * Bookbub * Goodreads

Book Links:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3QKfT11

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/where-dragons-are-captured/id6781296727

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/where-dragons-are-captured

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/2050472

Books2Read: https://books2read.com/u/4j9L7Z

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/where-dragons-are-captured-by-fran-zuid

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/252691010-where-dragons-are-captured

Excerpt

The girl showed up with their tankards and a jug of homebrew. The man’s attention went straight to her cleavage. The hairy man pinched her behind for good measure before tipping her. Skye used the distraction to nick a card from the pack, a prince, hiding it in her coat sleeve. She waited for the girl to leave before dealing. The cards were soft, faded, and stained from nights of gambling.

Skye watched the three players as they scrutinized their cards. ‘Stupid’ smiled, Sid’s left eye twitched. The hairy man downed his tankard of homebrew.

Skye looked at her cards, she had two of pawns and a prince. On the table were a five and a seven of shields, a castle, and a three of pawns. Skye wasn’t sure what ‘Stupid’ thought he had, but Skye was pretty sure Sid had a castle, giving him the highest pair from the table.

Skye’s attention turned to the hairy man. The more she watched him, the more he seemed a ‘Stupid’ and in that case, no threat to Skye. He was only lucky with the previous hand.

Skye had the winning hand if she switched her two of pawns for the prince in her sleeve. ‘Stupid’ started the bets, throwing half his coin in, four silvers. Sid saw the bet and the hairy man added a silver.

She didn’t want to chase away Sid, so she also raised with only a silver coin. Keep it modest, keep it moving.

As the bets evened out around the table, Skye shifted her weight slightly and slid one hand under the edge of her sleeve. A quiet motion, a simple flick. She switched her cards—replacing a dud with a prince. Now she had two.

But just as her fingertips closed over the edge of the second card, a hand clamped down on her shoulder.

Steel. Not touch. Not pressure. Just steel.

“That is enough. We know what you are,” a male voice said. “Good call, Jim, you will get your reward. And you,” the man’s grip tightened slightly, “Finn Skylar, just won yourself a meeting with the gambler’s guild.”

Her heart jumped. Breath caught halfway up her throat. The hairy man had a smug cat-smile. He’d caught his mouse.

Her gut twisted. A setup. She should’ve seen it. Should’ve felt it. No wonder he was unreadable—he wasn’t here to play. He was here for her. Cold flooded her limbs.

What did they know? That she was a cheater? A woman? An alitur?

Or all three?

She relaxed her face into neutrality, but her mind raced. Could she run? No. Not yet. Too many eyes, too close to the table. No one had drawn steel, which meant they still wanted her alive—questioned, not killed. Yet.

“What? You have nothing to say?” the hairy man–Jim–said. He leaned over and took Skye’s tankard of homebrew and downed it. “Cheers.”

Skye didn’t answer. She reached down, slow and measured, and picked her tricorne up off the floor. Her hat was just fabric—but it made her feel armed. Steady. Like herself.

She rose to her feet.

“I don’t know what this guy told you,” Skye gestured towards Jim, “but I didn’t cheat. I haven’t seen him before in my life.” She truly hoped that was the only reason they were confronting her.

The house-muscle behind Skye chuckled, or that was what she assumed the rumbling noise was.

“We have been watching, and you have an appointment with the gambling guild.”

“No one told me,” Skye said with a shrug.

“I did. Just now.”

Skye looked over her shoulder at the house-muscle looming over her. Tall. Broad shoulders. A scar cut down his right temple, hugging the cheekbone like a crack in old stone. His stance was heavy, but not rooted. A bit off balance. Good.

The short one would be slower, maybe better in a brawl, but easy to outmaneuver. The tall one could be clumsy. The real problem was her coat—it would get in the way if she had to move fast. If she had to fight.

But—

She ran through options. Surrender. Fight. Flee. None was good. She shifted her weight, breath held shallow in her chest.

“Where is this meeting?” Skye asked.

“At the boss’s office, at the pits,” the tall one answered.

Skye scanned the room. No escape. Everyone watched. Waited. Sid had crushed his cards in his hands. Only Jim kept drinking, he found his entertainment for the night.

“I don’t go to the pits,” Skye said.

The tall one rumbled again from behind, “I don’t care, you are going.”

The room inhaled.

Jim smirked at Skye and lifted his tankard off the table. With a flick and a flash of her hand, a knife plunged into Jim’s eye.

Gasps.

The cup fell, and Jim followed.

About the Author

Fran Zuid lives in a village on the outskirts of Cape Town, South Africa, with two dogs and four parrots (her personal dragons, without the fire-breathing part—which is a bonus). If she is not submerged in a creative fantasy world, or playing old games, she is fiddling in her garden, sipping wine at a vineyard or conquering a hiking trail somewhere—that is, if her “dragons” allow it.

Where Dragons Are Captured is her debut novel.

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Author Links

Website: https://www.franzuid.com/

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Giveaway

$15 Amazon or Paypal

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Wyverns, Warfare, and Flames: A Ragtag Team of Quirky Misfits Braves Death-Defying Odds to Mount a Relentless Rescue Mission in Where Dragons Are Captured

The Hera-Zeta Chronicles Book Tour & Giveaway

The only freedom of man is the freedom of thought. That is how human evolution is possible. Evolution of a man is the development of power and possibilities which never develop by themselves.

The Hera-Zeta Chronicles:

As Above So Below

by Zsa Zsa Tudos

Genre: SciFi Fantasy, Extraterrestrial Time Travel

Somewhere between galaxies, soul contracts, and the quiet chaos of human emotion, the book casually decided to rearrange your entire understanding of reality. Rude. Brilliant. Slightly illegal.

The Hera-Zeta Chronicles: As Above So Below doesn’t just tell a story, it initiates the reader. There’s something deeply precise about the way Zeta’s earthly path intertwines with Hera’s galactic mission, like it is not just a fiction, but it is decoding something ancient and quietly slipping it into the reader’s consciousness. The dynamic between dimensions, the Alpha & Omega Council, the 12 Magi… it all feels expansive without losing emotional gravity. And then it is anchored in something so human: behaviour, struggle, longing, connection.

The story embraces millions of Earthly years in cosmic interrelations emphasising the roles of earthlings in the Great Matrix and the cycle of nature. It is not only a book but an initiation of the readers, that can truly highjack their mind and clear misconceptions chiselled in by hundreds of years of conscious brainwashing.

The 87 chapters introduce events of the multidimensional life of the heroes, like the 1st generation Hera, a member of the Alpha&Omega Council, Hades’s wife, and her earthly counterpart Zeta, whose mission is to push the knowledge and help the Haya Sophia, the Magnum Opus, the Sefer Jezeera. Their steamy love affair with Hades serves as a good example of passion and deep emotional attachment.

There are no sharp divisions in the book. The story unfolds naturally, through which a clear vision of the origin and the true nature of mankind is drawn, providing allowance for the supernatural capabilities they all possess and the responsibilities they all bear.
Touching upon the creation and the arrival of people on the planet, the book introduces the effects of prominent astronomical events, migration, purpose, the knowledge and the lack of it, through the picture that unfolds after removing the man-made gap fillers, the stories and false events invented by the groups in power.

With the help of astral travelling, souls go through star gateways, visit far-away planets, learn and experience to support the one objective of life: to raise their own vibration. With the interrelations of energies, it creates a healthier environment below and adds to the frequency required by the above to fit into the cycle.

However, as it was clearly stated by Antoine Saint-Exupery in his most prominent book, The Little Prince, WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS HIDDEN. This concealed treasure is always Knowledge. Nevertheless, there is a catch. One needs to have enough to understand the lack of it.
Life is a jigsaw puzzle. However, the board is empty and there is no image to help you with the design. The only certainty is the interrelations between the pieces.

My strong desire is to help people understand their lives, events and become knowledgeable enough to take responsibility for their words, thoughts and deeds. It is a necessary step towards the Nirvana, called Happiness.
All the wonders!

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Book Links:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/49XqiNe

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Excerpt:

With the chip in her hand, Zeta walked to the round table on the terrace. It was already cleaned and the black ritual cover was laid out. There were few candles to choose from and some frankincense was lit on the burner. There was a small, washed and ironed white cotton cloth for the chip that Zoltan brought back from his trip.

Zeta decided upon 3 candles. One small white for the altar, one thick red for energy and fire and the help of Hades and one thick blue for Uranus. She lit them and invited the brothers to contribute to the ceremony.

The small, turquoise, pebble-like recording device was lying there, waiting for the expert touch.

“Wow, I have no idea how to handle this one,” pondered Zeta. “Let’s be logical. Looking at the aura it is organic. If organic, it behaves like one, therefore cracking it open is not an option. The full moon would help,” entered Zeta’s mind. “But it is still a week away. There is no time to wait. I will try the frequencies.”

As she said that few musical instruments were fetched and placed on the table.

“Logic dictates that I should use the opposite frequency to irritate the mass to open up. It is a high frequency energy. I will use deep sounds. The starting point should be the A sound. For lower vibration, I need to go down by either 5 or 7 pitches to follow the structure of the universe. I go down an octave. This name is confusing. There are 7 sounds between the two pitches, why is it called octave then?

They represent the 7 colours of the rainbow as the 7 natural colours, the 28 days moon cycle, 7 days of the week and so on. On musical terms they count the frame. Starts with A and finishes with A. So, the finishing A is the beginning of another octave. It shows infinity just like the number 8. It could be. But it is still confusing,” ran a train of thought Zeta. “This African drum would do the trick,” she said and hit the leather.

The pebble moved and its colour started changing however, stopped a minute later.

“All right. I might need to hit it 7 times in a certain rhythm, like the heartbeat of the universe.”

After the last beat the recording device started to show significant changes in its energy field. A rainbow emerged slowly growing until it covered the table. “I have to get ready to take notes,” ran Zeta for a notepad and pen.

When the energy covered the whole terrace, it began to concentrate at a point few steps away from her, until it formed an almost human-like being, who started to talk in a warm and deep voice.

“Greetings Hera. I am the messenger. My function is to deliver the message from the Pleiadeans. Listen very carefully. You cannot rewind me, I am not capable of answering questions that form in your mind while listening, and I cannot argue.

I exist until I speak. After, I become the organic part of the device yet again. The message is quite lengthy therefore you should make yourself comfortable,” it announced and paused for a minute.

Although Keta is an old planet, human life here is relatively young. In all of our 5 planets we count humanoid times in the millions, while you are in the early thousands. That is why souls coming down here still store memories of our existence, our schools, some of them might have even lived among us.

The structures of the planet and our physical appearance are almost identical. However, there is a big difference in our ways of living, and consequently our way of thinking. From now on, when I say: us, I mean the 3 planets living in unity. These are: Mekhranat, Muskhat and Mughat. The other 2, Quilwan and Nowtey walk different paths.

Following that thought, our planets are not visible from Keta. The stars’ cluster you call Pleiades received its name from people who cherished the Knowledge and noted everything within the interrelations of energies. These people you refer to as the Greeks. Unfortunately, they succumbed to the blind force of ignorance, similarly to the great majority of the planet, at one stage. I will talk about it later.

Coming back to the stars, as far as you are concerned, they are named after the daughters of Atlas and Pleione. The 9 of them together show a close unity. However, like other stars, these are not equipped to support humanoid life on their surface. Here, you live in a solar system with a sun at the core, from where you gain your energy, knowledge and fire. In our case it all comes from the sisters, notably from Maia and Marope.

The Haudi solar system, where Keta lives, is an old and wise organic energy mass. The planets ooze wisdom, especially that of Keta. Knowledge was the main objective when the decision for establishing a human life form here, was made. Knowledge shouldn’t be wasted. Without Knowledge the Great Matrix falls apart. The more the Knowledge the higher the resonance and stronger the Matrix. This should be an important clue for Keteans. To understand the Matrix of the Universe and their place within it.

About the Author

Life is an extraordinary journey. It is full of challenges and unsolved tasks that are put in front of us on the constantly moving and changing road towards Nirvana, the place that today we refer to as Happiness.

In my journey, I visited 103 countries, lived in 7, on 4 continents. I learned about the interrelated micro- and macrocosm. I became a REIKI Master-Healer, an Initiated Witch, an Orixa Shamanic Master, and a Phoenix Initiated Educator to teach the ancient wisdom of Khem, the Royal Art of Al Khemi.

Today, I have an established philosophy – I call AKIA – that explores the interrelations between earthlings and nature, and Earth and the universe. I have 12 books published and many faithful students. I am an Intimacy & Family coach and help people to find their purpose. The joy of seeing them succeed gives me the strength to find new adventures and learn from new experiences.

I believe that learning is the only way to understand life and the self within. This unique knowledge makes us or breaks us in the end.

I am British and living in London.

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Author Links

Website: https://www.zsazsatudos.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zsazsa.tudos

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/zsa-zsa-tudos

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Zsa-Zsa-Tudos/author/B00C1MYPCE

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/674165.Zsa_Zsa_Tudos

Giveaway

$25 Amazon or Paypal

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Galaxies, Guides, and Gods: A Multidimensional Soul Joins Forces With Hades to Save Humanity in The Hera-Zeta Chronicles

Direct link:

https://gleam.io/C1BCr/the-hera-zeta-chronicles

Dragons Of Mu Release Tour & Giveaway

The Eternals, a non-magical woman as the Chosen One, Marfóir, and her best friend join in the battle to slay the most evil dragon on earth who’s plan is to take over the world.

Dragons of Mu

by Pamela Ackerson

Genre: Epic Fantasy Adventure

Drakine is rising. The only hope is the hero no one expected.

One non-magical woman is the Chosen One. Destiny won’t wait. With her fiercely loyal friend, Lottie, by her side, and Blaze’s army behind her, Amy is thrust into a war against the most evil dragon ever to preside over the dragon realm on the Island of Mu. A creature whose heinous ambition is nothing less than total annihilation of the mortal world and complete global domination.

To survive, they must fight the ancient powers and unite the fractured kingdoms. The Island of Mu is burning… and only she can turn the tide. Grab your copy today.

**Releases June 26^th – PreOrder Now for Only .99cents!**

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Book Links:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/43G7RJs

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/dragons-of-mu-by-pamela-ackerson

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/249418529-dragons-of-mu

Excerpt:

he rubbed the back of her head, felt a small lump, and winced. Her head was throbbing. Her knee was yelling at her and now she heard angry, men’s voices.

One of them yelled, “Over there! There she is. Get her!”

Another pulled out a long knife and they ran toward her.

Amy rushed into the woods. Turning around, she could see they were catching up to her.

Up, Amy, up. They won’t be looking up.

She climbed an oak tree as high as she could. Pulling on the long skirt, she squatted on a branch.

The branch felt odd and slithered underneath her. A large, looming face in the shape of a dragon stared at her unblinking.

Holy cr—

The creature put a long claw to its mouth and said, “Shhh.”

Amy took a deep breath. A scream was building inside her but before she could release the ear-piercing screech, she was muzzled by the creature. Her heart jolted as its wing enveloped her and she lost consciousness.

A few moments later, she was gulping for air. Fully expecting to open her eyes and see the hotel lobby, she was stunned to be staring into the eyes of a dragon.

–A dragon, a huge dragon with big, green eyes.

You’re safe.

Amy shook her head. “No. No, I’m not. There’s no okay in this, whatever this is at all. This is crazy. Why is this happening?”

Where did you come from?

She stared at his mouth. It wasn’t moving.

This hallucination was freaking weird. A talking dragon that didn’t move his lips. They’re going to take her away and leave her in the psych ward for the rest of her life.

Her eye began twitching. It wasn’t real. None of it makes sense.

Think, Amy. Dragons aren’t real. How could a dragon talk?

Anything can happen in a hallucination. She repeated to herself. This isn’t real.

Was she dead? Is this purgatory? Her own personal nightmare of an afterlife? Could she have injured herself so badly that she died?

She wasn’t a bad person. It certainly wasn’t in Hades. Well, it better not be Hades.

A talking, psychic dragon communicating with his mind.

Of course, it makes soooo much more sense.

She watched as the men ran into the woods, searching for her.

The dragon spoke in a deep, soothing voice, “Why are you dressed in that garb?”

Amy stared at the huge beast.

The beast’s green eyes penetrated her with a questioning glare.

“A— a party. We were going to a party.”

He looked at the bracelet.

“Someone put them in my shopping bag.”

“Let’s go. We need to get you into normal clothing. I’ll take you to Bev’s.”

Amy started climbing down the tree.

“No, no.” The dragon grabbed her and placed Amy on his back before taking flight.

Amy squealed, inhaled and released another louder scream.

“Stop.” His body jolted. “Your obnoxious squawking is impaling my ears.”

Within a few moments, they soared through the air and flew from cloud to cloud.

Her stomach flipped and she swallowed the huge lump in her throat.

“Ugh, no ups and downs, please.”

He laughed. “No quick drops? You’re the slow-boat kind of person.”

Her heart was finally returning to its normal beat. She was getting comfortable riding on his back and was beginning to enjoy the view.

“Whoa! This is awesome. I never have flying dreams.”

The dragon huffed.

Amy was mesmerized. It was freaking fantastic. The warm heat from the sun and soft air on her face, the flapping of his wings, it was glorious.

She could do this. It was peaceful. He was gliding along and she was euphoric.

Hold on.

“Hold on? No, don’t ruin the moment!”

The dragon took a deep dive. Amy let out an earsplitting shriek and gripped the back of his neck tighter as he gracefully landed on the ground in front of a small, wooden cabin.

He grunted in pain.

“Your fingernails are cutting into my skin.”

“Sorry.” Amy dismounted him like she would a horse.

“You don’t look like you’re sorry.”

She gave him an angry side-eye.

He grumbled, “Go. Tell her I sent you.”

“Um. You want me to knock on a stranger’s door, in the middle of BFE, and tell her a dragon sent me?”

“We’re not in Egypt.”

She snapped, “What? We’re in the middle of freaking nowhere. That’s what BFE means!”

Ignoring her irritation, he responded, “We’re in Ireland.”

“Ireland? I’ve never been to Ireland. How am I dreaming that I’m here? I’ve only seen pictures and this in not anything like the pictures.”

“It’s fine.”

“No, it’s not fine. I don’t have a passport with me!”

She rubbed her forehead. Why would she need a passport in a dream?

“No worries.” He blew out a frustrated breath. “I’ll be back in a blink. In the meantime, tell her Blaze sent you.”

“Oh, look. A fairy circle.”

His wide-eyed, incredulous stare gave her pause. He shook his head. “Wow.”

She shrugged.

“I can’t keep up with you.”

“Yeah, I get that a lot. My mind goes really fast sometimes.” She limped toward the fairy circle.

“What are you doing?”

Amy chuckled. “Making a wish.”

He looked at her like she was growing horns.

“Um, yeah. Make a wish and the fairies will grant it only if they see fit. You have to watch out for all the fairies protecting the fairy circle. You don’t want to step on them, you know.”

Amy stepped back from the circle. “Hello, little fairies. I hope you’re having a pleasant day.”

He harrumphed and walked away.

“Hey, it’s my dream. I can do what I want.”

Amy raised her hand to knock, but never made contact. An elderly woman, in her mid-seventies, opened the door.

“Oh, I thought I heard Blaze’s voice.”

“I’m Amy. He told me to tell you—”

The woman opened the door wider. “Come in. The sun’s going to be setting soon and it’ll be a bit chilly.”

The elderly woman had light hair, dark blue eyes, and a wide, pleasant smile. Her hair was rolled up into a bun tucked on the back of her head. Amy’s memories immediately went to the cartoon with the grandma lady who owned the canary, Tweety.

Amy cautiously entered the house and as she turned to look about, a man rushed through the doorway.

He was an average-looking man except for his eyes. They gleamed an effervescent green. The man’s dark hair was a deep contrast to his light skin.

She never cared for the five o’clock shadow but it did do him justice.

“There you are, Blaze.” She handed him a mug.

“Thank you, Bev.”

“Mark on his way?”

“Soon. He has a few things he needs to take care of before he comes.”

Mark? As in Harlow?

Bev turned to Amy. “What would you like, dear? I’ve got some hot tea on the table or, if it pleases, I can pour another draught.”

“T—”

“She needs normal clothes.”

Amy glared at Blaze. “And who are you?”

“I’m the man who saved your skinny bum and brought you here.”

“And how, pray tell, did you do that? A dragon…” Her voice trailed off.

Bev looked puzzled. “So, she’s not from medieval times?”

“No.”

“She didn’t time-travel here?”

“No.”

Time travel? Amy interrupted, “I can speak for myself.”

“Really?” He snorted. “Go ahead, darling, and explain how you got here.”

“Fine. I was at a party.” Amy flipped her hand in the air. “I tucked the jeweled comb in my wig and the next thing I knew, these men attacked me and I’ve been having this dream or possibly been unconscious ever since.”

Blaze sat at the table. “You’re not unconscious.”

“Then you tell me what’s happening.”

Bev took her arm. “Oh, sweetie, it’s been a day for you, hasn’t it? Sit, relax, and have a cuppa. I’ll get you some clothes that should fit you. We’ll get you all sorted out.”

The concern in Bev’s voice was telling.

Wariness clung to Amy as a hesitant smile tugged at her lips, a stark contrast to how she was feeling.

“I don’t need clothes. I just want to wake up.”

Bev asked, “Wake up?”

Blaze waved Bev’s question off and spoke to Amy, “Somehow, you’ve managed to get two very powerful and magical relics to bring you here. People have gone to war to possess the magical comb and bracelet.”

Amy grunted.

“Those men stole the relics to take over Mu and conquer the magical world. They will not hesitate to kill you for them.”

Amy bit her upper lip, repressing a nervous giggle. “Not ruby-red slippers? Will lightning flash from the jewelry when you try to remove it from my hair and wrist? Do I repeat ‘there’s no place like home’ three times?”

Blaze glowered. “I don’t find your sarcasm amusing.”

She removed the jeweled comb and handed it to Blaze. “Here. Take it.”

Bev glared at Blaze and tapped Amy’s hand. “Blaze can get you back to where you belong and to your party whenever you’re ready.”

“Good.” Amy put her wrist toward Blaze. “I’m more than ready.”

Blaze reached to take the bracelet off her wrist. “It won’t come off.”

Bev put her hand to her chest. “What?”

Amy’s voice shook in panic. “No, no, take it off!”

“It won’t come off.”

“Fine, then I’ll do it.”

She fiddled with the clasp and finally threw up her hands in frustration. “It won’t come off!”

Bev walked over to the cabinet and brought back a bottle of Irish whiskey and three glasses, and said, “It has begun.”

About the Author

Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Wall Street Journal bestselling, award-winning author, Pamela Ackerson is a time traveling adventurer. She was born and raised in Newport, RI where history is a way of life. She lives on the Space Coast of Florida where everyone is encouraged to reach for the stars!

Her literary journey is as diverse and adventurous as the time-traveling escapades she writes about. With a rich tapestry of genres at her fingertips, she weaves stories that span from the wild frontiers of the Old West to the intricate cultural tapestries of Native American history. Her work doesn’t stop at fiction; she delves into the realms of history, self-help, and even marketing, showcasing a versatility that resonates with a wide audience.

Ackerson’s presence on the Space Coast of Florida reflects her forward-thinking approach to writing, always aiming for the next big leap in her storytelling odyssey. Her prolific output is a testament to her dedication to her craft, inviting readers to join her in exploring the vast landscapes of human experience and imagination.

Honest reviews of Pamela’s books are always appreciated.

Absolutely no AI programs were used to create any story she has written.

Thank you and have a good moments day.

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Author Links

Website: https://www.pamelaackerson.net/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pam.ackerson.7

X: https://x.com/PamAckerson

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/pamela-ackerson

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Pamela-Ackerson/author/B00QY1ARI4

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1375066.Pamela_Ackerson