On Father's Day...

I decided that I'd give you a little peek at the fathers in The Chronicles of the Diasodz as a way to commemorate Father's Day.  I am blessed to still have my father in my life.  The older I get, the more I appreciate the challenges that he has faced and overcome throughout his life.  I wish I could say that I created one of the fathers in this series after him, but each of them took on a life of his own from the very beginning.  That being said, I can see bits of my dad in each of them, though it wasn't done purposefully. :-)  So, may I present to you the fathers of my series:

Nolan

Nolan is first introduced in The One Discovered although you don't really get to know him until The One Enlightened.  I absolutely love Nolan.  He is my white version of The Rock.  He is built like a military barricade but has a heart of gold.  He is kind and affectionate and even playful at times, but mess with his family and he will not stop until he avenges them.  He isn't hot-headed, though.  He is patient and plans out his attack with strategy and smarts.  

Nolan is the father of Ar'ch (his son with Valerie) and Angel (his son with Liana - that story is shared in The One Enlightened) and the adoring husband of Valerie.  In his eyes, Valerie can do no wrong.  He is also one of the five members that make up the High Council, the governing board of the Diasodz.  He is highly respected and loved.  His weapons to call are blade tattoos on his wrists, and he has the ability to manipulate objects, making them appear or disappear.  He is also able to transport an embryo from one womb to another.  He is currently working on the ability of transporting a Diasodz from one place to another without the use of a portal.

Martin

***SPOILER ALERT***  If you haven't read The One Betrayed yet and do not like being told things ahead of time, you may want to skip this section.  You have been forewarned. :-P

We meet Martin in The One Betrayed.  He isn't one of the main characters, but he does play a significant role in influencing some of the choices that other characters make.  Martin is Mel's father and Harmony's husband, though she considers their marriage to be over.  Martin was once a strong and powerful Diasodz who had made a successful life for himself on Earth.  Unfortunately, he became greedy and wanted more. 

Martin allowed others to influence his mindset which slowly caused him to turn away from the Goddess. Eventually, he decided to become a Raizyn and was turned into a demon.  His dark, Hispanic skin turned a dirty gray.  His already strong build became thicker and more ripped than a body builder. His hazel eyes turned yellow.  In his transition, he lost his Goddess-given skill, but he didn't care because he felt like he was a part of an indestructible team with the Raizyns.

In joining the Raizyns, he destroyed his family unit.  Harmony refused to turn her back on the Goddess, so he abandoned her.  Later, Harmony begged Damiana to release Martin and take her instead.  Damiana agreed, knowing that Martin was there on his own free will.  Damiana threatened to turn Harmony into a deminion, but when Martin realized that Harmony was carrying his child, he begged Damiana to show mercy.  Damiana allowed Harmony the opportunity to raise her daughter so long as her daughter became best friends with Sofia.

It's easy to dislike Martin for the choices that he has made, but there is still good in him.  He truly loves Harmony; he just happens to love power more.  He absolutely loves Mel and does whatever he can to protect her, but for as much as he wants to be strong and powerful, he is weak and does not make good choices.

Drake

We first hear about Drake in The One Enlightened, but we really get to know him in The One Betrayed.  I gotta admit, I have a soft spot for Drake.  He had a traumatic start at life and never really got to learn about goodness and kindness.  He is truly a product of his environment.  He and Nolan had such different upbringings, and it shows how the way they were raised influences the choices that they make throughout their lives.

Drake is another male who is easy on the eyes.  He is 6'2" with golden tanned skin and deep, forest green eyes with red sparks within them.  He is also extremely muscular and has great strength to go along with all of those muscles.  He has shoulder-length brown hair that he pulls back into a low ponytail.  His weapon to call is a flail with three maces hanging from the tip.  He has the power to inflict pain upon others if he touches them.  He can also create heat through touch.  He is able to control lava and earthquakes.  He can create weightedness through touch and also bring darkness, sadness, grief, despair, and anger to others.  He is very powerful, which is why he is the king of the Raizyns.

***SPOILER ALERT***  If you haven't read The One Englightened yet and do not like being told things ahead of time, you may want to skip this section.  You have been forewarned. :-P

Drake is the father of Rafe and Sofia.  Rafe and Sofia have different mothers, and the stories of how they were conceived are debatable (Damiana and Valerie have different versions of the truth, and I'm not ready for the reader to know which version is correct - if either - so we will just leave it at that.) ;-) Drake went to jail for almost two years (about 18 human years) for a crime that he admitted to, so he missed out on watching his children grow up.  In fact, he doesn't even meet Rafe until The One Betrayed (he meets Sofia later).  He is also Damiana's partner, though he regrets that decision many times.

Drake is hellbent on getting revenge on Nolan (for reasons told in The One Betrayed), but his ultimate goal is to destroy the Diasodz so that Lucifer's Raizyns can have full power.  He believes he holds the secret weapon to accomplish his task, and is moving forward with his plan.  

So, there you have it.  Hopefully, this helps you to know the fathers of my series a little bit better. Thanks for visiting and reading about them. :-)

If you have yet to read the series and if I have sparked your interest, you can find my books at the links below.  If you are a member of Kindle Prime, you can read my books for free on Kindle Unlimited:

The One Discovered:  https://www.amazon.com/One-Discovered-Chronicles-Diasodz-Book/dp/1495338975

The One Enlightened:  https://www.amazon.com/One-Enlightened-Chronicles-Diasodz-Book/dp/1505907152

The One Betrayed:  https://www.amazon.com/One-Betrayed-Chronicles-Diasodz-Book/dp/1519799888

Author Spotlight - A.M. Manay

Author Spotlight - A.M. Manay

Today, I have the honor of being a part of A.M. Manay's 3-Day Weekend Book Boost.  I've downloaded her books, She Dies at the End and She Lights Up the Dark, and I cannot wait to read them. Her novels are the kind of books that I love to read, and I'm sure the readers of my novels will also love them.  So, enjoy an inside look to Manay's books as she tells you about them.

In my second novel, She Lights Up the Dark, we are introduced to a community called Eden, where humans, fairies, vampires, and werewolves live honestly and in peace.  The commune was created by Gul, an elderly former king among the fairies and widower to Queen Lilje.  Gul eventually marries Raina.  This letter sheds some light on the origins of this community as well as the close relationship between Raina and her mother, Ilyn's late wife Marisha.  It would date from the late 18th century, a few decades before Marisha's untimely death.  You can learn more about all of these characters by reading She Dies at the End, She Lights Up the Dark, and She Sees in Her Sleep, all available this weekend for only $0.99 each!

Dearest Mother,

I hope this letter finds you content and well.  My journey has been largely uneventful, though more rugged than I knew to expect.  This is an untamed land.  The fairy servants I brought along have served me well, and we have taken care to keep our contact with other wagon trains brief and seldom.  I hope to send them back to you as soon as weather permits.  I suspect, however, that once out of my sight, greed may call them to seek their fortunes on the frontier.

It is a beautiful country, with much for me to paint and draw, though treacherous for the mortals.  We passed dead and dying migrants with some frequency along the trail.  Thankfully, there have been enough hale and hearty human travelers to keep us in prey.  The natives keep well clear of us.  It seems they are aware of the danger we pose.  There was no real trouble from the lycanthropes.  They, too, are cautious on the road, fearing to be exposed to the ordinary people.  We were and continue to be careful during the full moon.

Gul's band is small, but committed and growing.  It is a strange sight, to see werewolves and fairies, humans and vampires, working together to put up a barn by moonlight.  This evening, as I write, a fairy girl and a little cub are playing checkers by the fire, laughing together like brother and sister.  I cannot believe my eyes.   Mother, some of them even marry happily!  It is quite astonishing. 

You must never tell Father.  He would burn the entire place to ashes.

Give my best wishes to Savita and the others.

All my love,

Raina

Book blurb for She Lights Up the Dark (November Snow Book 2)

A frightening vision stalks November, even in her grave . . . and things go severely sideways just as soon as she claws her way out of it. 

Continuing the story begun in the well-received paranormal romp She Dies at the End, She Lights Up the Dark finds November Snow struggling to adjust to her new life as a vampire with none of the support she'd expected. Her nemesis Luka has plotted to isolate November and scatter her allies as he executes his plan to bring human society under his control. Her loneliness leads her to become emotionally entangled with a charming but likely untrustworthy fellow vampire. 

When danger flares, November discovers that her psychic gift has expanded in a powerful and perilous fashion. Coerced into close company with her enemy, she fights to master her power and to uncover the secrets that may help her to save both her friends and the human world from being crushed under Luka’s boot. November is determined to stop Luka as his plan builds toward an unknown and deadly climax, but she may find that lighting up the dark comes with a high price to pay. 

This books contains violence, some sexual content, and occasional profanity.

A short excerpt from She Lights Up the Dark (November Snow Book 2)

Raina turned from her canvas, a smear of blue paint on her cheek testifying to an earlier itch.  "Ilyn's made another child?  And lost the throne?"

"It seems so.  Luka's finally made his move."  Gul shook his head.  "Marisha's only mistake, that one."

"I wouldn't say 'only,'" came her dry reply.  "There's also me.  What about William?  What's he up to?"

"They know nothing of him, save that he's out there making trouble for his brother."

"Hmmph.  I don't really know William.  They found him after I left," Raina replied as she turned back to the painting.  It was a landscape of a garden in the morning sun.  It was quite beautiful, but there was something off about it, about the colors, as though she was painting a picture of something she had only heard about thirdhand.

"Apparently Luka's using a hider fairy to keep the girl from Ilyn," Gul said carefully.  "A fairy who may well be my descendent — the sole survivor of that werewolf massacre a few centuries back."

Raina closed her eyes and put down her brush.  "Well, s***."

"Indeed."

"She's going to wind up all screwed up like the others.  Emil's children never recovered after the wolves took them when they were young.  He had to put them down," Raina said, growing more upset.  "He's never been right since.  And that boy, Philip . . . when Ilyn kicked him out and Marisha died, I heard he went all strange."

"I remember the stories," Gul replied.

"How could Luka take such a risk with his own kin?" Raina fumed.  "Is nothing sacred anymore?"

"He really wants that girl, I suppose.  And he likely hates Ilyn more than he cares about her."  Gul's chest tightened painfully.  He struggled to continue.  "There's something else . . ."

"Oh, Christ on the cross," Raina sighed.  "Spit it out."

"This girl, November, she's a demon, like Savita and Philip . . ."  He looked down at his hands.  "This demon girl once was Lilje," he finally continued.  "I'm nearly certain of it.  The way Pine described her eyes, and there are things in Lilje's book that sound like what is happening now."

Raina at last looked him full in the face and swore softly in a dead language.  "You're going to go after her, aren't you?"

"I am honor bound two different ways, Raina.  How can I not?"

"Helena will have a fit," Raina replied, placing her hand worriedly over her mouth.

"That she will.  She won't be the only one."

"I guess I'd better pack light," she sighed.

"You're coming with me?" he asked, his face lighting up.  "You said you'd never leave this place again."

"I can't very well let my husband go off looking for his dead first wife without me, now can I?"

 In addition to her work as an indie author of paranormal fantasy, A.M. Manay is a former inner-city chemistry teacher, a singer, a yoga enthusiast, a Clerk of Session in the Presbyterian Church (USA), and a mother through domestic open adoption.  She has a passion for increasing diversity in popular culture and for strong heroines who stand up for themselves, make their own decisions, and don't depend on romance as their reason for being.

Be the first to know about the release of the upcoming sequel as well as bonus material about your favorite characters by: 

Checking out her website: www.ammanay.net

Signing up for the fan email list: November's News

Following the author on Facebook: facebook.com/ammanaywrites

Following the author on Twitter: @ammanay

Following the author on Instagram: instagram.com/a.m.manay

Following her Amazon author page: amazon.com/author/ammanay

Author Links for A.M. Manay

She Dies at the End: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0112S00KI

She Sees in Her Sleep: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B019EG1NWE

She Lights Up the Dark: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BQGGBMW

Website: www.ammanay.net

Fan email list: November's News

Facebook: facebook.com/ammanaywrites

Twitter: @ammanay

 Instagram: instagram.com/a.m.manay

Amazon author page: amazon.com/author/ammanay

 ***The tour is sponsored by 4WillsPublishing.wordpress.com.***

A Mother's Love...

There are several mothers in my Diasodz series, so I thought that I would take a few moments to give you some insight to a few of them since today is Mother's Day. :-)

The first mother that you are introduced to is Liana.  My heart breaks for her.  She has been through so much in her life, and yet she always manages to find a way to believe in hope.  I am sure that you know a mother or two like that.  Some of you are not caught up in the series, and I hate spoilers, so I will do my best to not give anything away.  Suffice it to say that love has not been kind to her.  She always try to do what is right for others; she truly is selfless.  The problem is that her selflessness tends to bring heartache for those whom she loves.  Still, she never gives up on her faith, and she holds on to hope, even when there is no reason to believe in it.  That has to be rewarded at some point, right? ;-)

Then, you meet Damiana.  I love to hate her. lol!  I also love her. :-)  She is that mom that seems perfect.  She is loving and doting and kind and caring...when the spotlight is on her. Then, when the stage goes dark, she is plotting and scheming to make sure that she is the queen and everyone else is far beneath her.  You all probably know someone like her as well.  The thing is...women are not born like that; something turns them into this two-faced witch of a woman.  The question is...is she redeemable?  Can she heal the parts of her that were broken once upon a time?  Does she even want to?  Or are the perks at the top worth betraying everyone to have?

And then there is Valerie.  I truly love Valerie, but she drives me nuts! lol!  She is supposed to be strong and confident and a female bad *ss, but her secrets have weakened her until she is just a brittle shell of what she once was.  Secrets destroy so much more than they are worth.  They weaken us and eventually break us or those around us.  Valerie learns this first hand (several times).  That saying, "The truth shall set you free," really has power.  I, for one, am looking forward to when Valerie's true self is set free.

And finally, the Goddess... Though she only appears for a short period of time in a few of the books, she is the ultimate mother.  She loves all of her children (yes, even the bad ones).  She loves them unconditionally, but she also guides them using tough love.  There are consequences for their actions, and she deals out punishments even when it breaks her heart.  She rewards those who follow the rules, and she stays patient with those who have not yet chosen to learn their lessons.  She gives her children space to make their own choices, but  she is there to comfort them when they need her.  All they have to do is ask.  Unfortunately, many of them have abandoned her and left her to fend for herself.  In doing so, her children have found themselves alone and hurting, and they cannot even see that it is they who have put themselves in that lonely place.

Three of the novels (The One Discovered, The One Enlightened, and The One Betrayed) are already available for you to read.  I am currently writing book four (I will release the title soon).  Every character has his/her journey, and the mothers in my series are no exception.  Nothing is skin deep, and the mothers' stories and their choices in the future books will affect Sofia and the other children in ways you cannot imagine.  So, on this Mother's Day, take a moment to treasure your mom.  She may not be perfect, but she is yours, and your world without her would not be the same.

The One Enlightened is on sale until April 29th!

Last week, I gave away The One Discovered.  This week, I have The One Enlightened on sale for only $0.99!  This is book two in the Chronicles of the Diasodz series.  In this installment, you will get to learn about the world of the Diasodz and about their history.  You will also meet some very interesting and sexy new characters.  There is so much of this story that you do not know.  Don't miss this opportunity to dive into the Diasodz world, especially when it is on sale! The sale ends on Friday, April 29th, so take advantage of it now.  And share it with all of your friends. They will love you for it later. :-)

The One Discovered is FREE on 4/21 and 4/22!

In honor of Earth Day (4/22) which celebrates all of the elements that make up this great world, I am giving away the ebook version of The One Discovered on Amazon.  Yes, it is FREE for the next two days.  The Diasodz have skills/powers that are connected to the elements, so they whispered to me that they wanted to show respect to their elements for Earth Day.  :-)

I love nature.  I enjoy visiting national parks, exploring caves/caverns, hiking, camping, etc.  I especially love sitting at the beach and absorbing the incredible energy that exists there.  There are so many beautiful places to explore in our world, and I truly believe the most beautiful destinations were placed on this earth by Mother Nature.  So, grab a copy of my novel and find some place where you can be surrounded by nature and enjoy losing yourself in my story while absorbing the beautiful energy of your environment.  Happy reading!

For those of you who want to watch a video about nature, I'm including this link.  I think the video is fantastic and really has a powerful message: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmVLcj-XKnM  

And here is the link to download The One Discovered for FREE:  http://www.amazon.com/One-Discovered-Chronicles-Diasodz-Book-ebook/dp/B00I4L2Q40

A Gift for You on my Birthday! :-)

Happy birthday to me! :-) Birthdays are the one day in the year in which you celebrate your mother giving you life.  Life should be celebrated every day, but on your birthday, the miracle of birth is celebrated.  The miracle of every year that has past is honored.  And the hopes and dreams of the years to come are recognized.

My beautiful and incredible mother gave birth to me 42 years ago and gave me a life full of beauty and love, trials and tribulations, and dreams and possibilities.  And from my earliest memories, I remember having a love of reading. That led to a love of writing.  And that love of writing gave birthday to the world of Caelagios and my amazing Diasodz.

So, to celebrate my birthday today, I have decided to give you all a gift. :-)

For today (March 7, 2016) and maybe for tomorrow ;-), The One Discovered (the first novel in the Chronicles of the Diasdoz) will be FREE!  If you haven't read it yet, this is the perfect time to download it.  If you have read it, this is the perfect time to share it with all of your friends!

Here is the link to download it for FREE:   http://www.amazon.com/One-Discovered-Chronicles-Diasodz-Book-ebook/dp/B00I4L2Q40

Download it.  Read it.  Share it. Consider it your birthday gift to me! When you share your love of reading with others, we allow them to embrace the beauty of worlds they never would have imagined on their own.

Help me celebrate my birthday by gifting yourself and your friends with my Diasodz.  I promise you that you will be celebrating today for years to come. ;-)

Oh, and if you want to give me a gift in return, please write an honest review after you have read it.  Reviews are another way of sharing your love for reading, and I would be honored if you would share your thoughts with me.  Happy reading! :-)

Book Trailer - The One Discovered!!!

UPDATED - 12/23/15!
And the winners are.... (see prizes)
Congratulations to all of the winners!
And thank you to all of you who viewed my book trailer! :-)

Welcome to the #RRBC Holiday Train "Book Trailer" Block Party!

I am once again participating in the Rave Reviews Book Club's block party, but this time we are promoting our books through book trailers on YouTube.  I have to start off by saying that I have never before in my life created a book trailer, so please don't judge me too harshly. ;-)  I watched many book trailers before trying to figure out what I wanted to include in mine, and I had one of my Key Club members (thank you, Catt) introduce me to Windows Movie Maker.  From there, it was a whole lot of trial-and-error and what-do-I-do-now's. 

The perfectionist in me says it's not good enough.  The realist in me says that my talent is writing, not video making. :-P That being said, I am still very excited to share with you my very first book trailer video: https://youtu.be/XZTzJ5iplxY!  :-)

Oh, and did you know...you can win PRIZES by watching it! The full rules are at Rave Reviews by Nonnie Jules.  But the gist of it is this: watch my video on 12/22/15, leave a comment, and you might win one of the following prizes:

* One (1) ebook copy of The One Discovered - JAN SIKES

* One (1) ebook copy of The One Enlightened - ELIZABETH NEWTON

*One (1) ebook copy of The One Betrayed - MICHAEL LYNES

*One (1) set of ALL THREE ebooks! :-) - SHIRLEY HARRIS-SLAUGHTER

It's that easy! Watch the video on 12/22, leave a comment, and wait to see if you win! Feel free to thumbs-up it if you like it. ;-) And by all means, share, share, share!!! :-D  As always, thank you for your support! XOXO

Top Seller!!! Wow!

On the eve of the release of The One Betrayed (book 3 of The Chronicles of the Diasodz), I am sitting here in awe.  You see, I write not to become rich and famous but to have readers fall in love with my stories. Today, I learned that The One Discovered (book 1) is number 7 on Amazon's Best Seller's Top 100 Free Teen & Young Adult Paranormal & Urban Fantasy Ebooks.  Earlier, this morning, it was in the #19 slot, and I was ecstatic! After all, 19 is my favorite number!  And now, it's in the lucky number 7 spot! I am definitely feeling lucky! :-)

I cannot wait to read the reviews of those who have downloaded the book.  And yes, I am spreading energy out into the world that reviews are written because reviews are the lifeline to a story.  Good, bad, indifferent...a review lets others know that you read it and have something to say about it.  It helps others gauge whether it's worth reading. 

I'm both nervous and excited about The One Betrayed's release tomorrow.  Those of you who have read the first two books have been relentless about wanting to know about TOB. :-) I thank you for your patience, and I hope that Rafe's story meets your expectations.  I know that these are my villains, but I love them just as much as my Diasodz, so save a little place in your heart for them, too. ;-)

In case you haven't heard (lol), in honor of the release of The One Betrayed, the first two books are discounted to help you (and I) spread the love of my Diasodz with others. So, feel free to tell everyone you know as well as the stranger sitting next to you on the bus or at your doctor's appointment or in your class or...you get the idea. ;-) Happy reading!

  Book One will be free until 12/17. Download it here.

                                           For a paperback copy, you can purchase it here.

  Book Two is on sale for $0.99 until 12/18.  Order it here.

                                           For a paperback copy, you can purchase it here.

  And finally! Book Three is available tomorrow (12/17)! Order it here.

                                           For a paperback copy, you can purchase it here.

The One Discovered is currently FREE!

With The One Betrayed just a couple of days away from being released, I've decided to have a little promotion of the first books in the series. So, for those of you who haven't started my series yet, I've just made it a whole lot easier. The One Discovered, Book 1 of the Chronicles of the Diasodz, is FREE for the next two days (12/15/15 - 12/17/15)! Download your copy now and lose yourself in the world of the Diasodz. :-) I'd love to hear from you if you download it and/or are currently reading it. :-) http://www.amazon.com/One-Discovered-Chronicles-Diasodz-Book-ebook/dp/B00I4L2Q40

The One Betrayed is available for pre-order!

     I have finally published the e-book version of The One Betrayed.  Its release date is 12/17/15, but it's already available for pre-order.  I am working on the print book's cover, and as soon as that is available, I will publish that as well.  Stay tuned for a huge sale on the first two books of this series! :-D In the meantime, pre-order your copy here so that you are one of the first to read it!