Blood Ties by Julie Nicholls Book Release!

Hey peeps!
Today is the official release day for Blood Ties! In case you need another sneaky peek to whet your appetite, here's a little more from the book.

This is a paranormal, shifter, werewolf, romance, and it's currently available on Amazon.com & Amazon.co.uk 

I've spent some time making the paperback quite special, and if you're a collector of 'real' books, I hope you'll consider adding Blood Ties to your collection.
The first letter of each chapter has a wolf motif, which I've created in photoshop and adobe illustrator.
I hope you like the design and for the readers who like to hold a book, this is a perfect gift.

The paperback is available from Createspace :
BUY LINK
Or you can purchase via Amazon:
BUY LINK

The morning looked promising. Keagen was on the road, traveling to a small town he’d never heard of. Filled with elation, thoughts of catching his prey made him smile. There was no need to rush. Despite his need to snag the escapee, he took a leisurely drive. Intel he received advised of a stranger who'd set up house in Dewburn Falls, and was deemed a ‘badass.’

Keagen smirked. There’s a new player coming to town. Move over badass.

Relaxing into the soft leather seat of the BMW 328i, one of Keagen’s favorite rides, he took in the scenery and thought about his plan of action. Meticulously organized, he always had a fallback plan. He wasn’t at home being Mr. Cock-up, and hated if someone fucked up, which wasn’t too often as he mostly worked alone. Forced to team up on one occasion, it didn’t go well, resulting in a few deaths. Kicking off, Keagen said it was either his way, or he was retiring, which was funny considering they owned him; despite his reluctance to admit it. While he was comfortable, he’d put up with their shit and continued along his merry way. 

Doing their dirty work. With access to fast cars, the best weaponry, some not even on the market officially, and recreation time to fuck, life was good. He wanted it to continue.

His mind took him back to when it wasn’t so pleasurable, and his hands tightened around the steering wheel as he growled. While he didn’t have many memories remaining, he knew it wasn’t good. Faded scars on his body were the only reminders of his childhood, since Solgen wiped his memory. It was the standard protocol to start with a clean mind, and easier. Still perfecting the procedure, the scientists had made a few errors, but Keagen was their most successful guinea pig. Receiving top marks in all the tests, he confirmed loyalty to the company and, therefore, was allowed to leave the compound. At first, he was under supervision, but that had soon changed. After excelling in each mission within a few months, his reputation soared. Managing a hundred percent retrieval rate, with a required eighty percent coming in alive, he was the top dog. The twenty percent died because they resisted capture and return back to the labs. Keagen was strong. At the start of his hunting career, he didn’t know his own strength. Rarely bringing home a dead one these days, he’d learned to master his body and the enhancements.

When you sign up to my official email list, you can download Demon Within FREE (retail $3 .99)

The audio is here!

Eye of the Storm Eilida's Tragedy audio is available now. 

Amazon/ Audible - #FREE with Audible trial

iTunes

Listening to this book was an absolute treat, it was like a brand new story. I imagine when an authors book goes to big screen they feel the same way. Her voice adds another dimension to the characters and the story. It is the first of my books in audio. Take a moment to listen to the sample by clicking either link above. 

A note to readers, even if you've read the book the audio is entirely different. I've never been a huge audiobook reader but after listening to Eye of the Storm and with all the travelling I've been doing audio has really grown on me and I love it!

It's perfect for travelers, put your earbuds in and fall into a fictional world. Busy parent's who don't have time to actually sit down and read, hit play and chase after children, clean the house, or work from home while listening to the book. Audio is also perfect for those with poor eyesight who desire to read but struggle with tiny print words.

A note to authors, why haven't you put your book in audio yet? I've had a few authors ask me about the process, finding a narrator, and sales. If you've been thinking about, here are my answers. 

1 and 2.The process is easy through ACX. You post your work and wait for narrators to audition or you can listen to various samples find a narrator then ask them to audition. After a deal is made you and the producer/ narrator discuss the progress until the book is complete. If you're an indie author its a little different as you don't choose the price. 

3. So far, so good. The book has been making steady sales but as it's very new 12/18 I haven't received a royalty check yet so I have no idea what I'm making off each purchase and assume that amount changes depending on whether its an audible customer using credits, not using credits or a customer who isn't with audible such as someone who purchases the book through iTunes.

If your an author and reader and have questions I didn't answer, please send an email.

Enjoy the story and Happy Holidays!

Fragments by Jeniann Bowers Blog Tour

Blurb:

LIFE; FEEL IT,

SEE IT, TASTE IT AND KNOW IT

LET THE MUSIC OF POETRY BEGIN

AND WALK WITH ME THROUGH THE PAGES OF FRAGMENTS

FRAGMENTS SPEAKS LIFE, THE SWEETER SOFTER, PEACEFUL SIDE THAT HAS SO MUCH PASSION AND LOVE FOR LIFE.

AND

FRAGMENTS SPEAKS OF THE ANGER, HATRED, JUDGEMENT, LACK OF LOVE, AND COMPASSION SEEKING LIFE WITHIN SOCIETY….

THIS IS THE PIECES OF FRAGMENTS OF SOCIAL ATTITUDE AT ITS BEST AND WORST

Excerpt 1:

 I choose America,

to live in this land

That was built on personal choice,

to live under a Constitution,

Of Liberty & Justice & Freedom

for ALL…

I have witness society corrupt…

Liberty & Justice & Freedom

Respect MY privacy,

as I choose not to walk

With what some call

SOCIETY!!

Some say that mine’s all wrong,

That I must live by their rules,

And not my own…

Liberty & Justice & Freedom

Social Graces,

is the simple fact,

That society can kiss my ass!!

Excerpt 2:

Shaking the feeling of the day’s end, only to find a weary line of poetry. Lines break off and trails end no-where to be found. Only me and the screen with no words to play, just struggle to express one’s words of thought. Jumping up, running from the screen, too scared to write what it all means. Lines break off and trails end no-where to be found. Writer’s block is the enemy when one wants to express, between hand and screen nothing more exists. The world continues to spin, my hands continue to type senseless words, that no-one will read. The weary line of poetry is my only friend, I can speak of secrets and taunting games of words, but the screen protects. While the line breaks off and the trails end no-where to be found….

only one, the screen

Bio:

Jeniann Bowers was born in Whitefish, Montana in 1972. She was raised in Eureka, Montana most of her younger years. She was the youngest of four children and is the only surviving girl. Jeniann attended Rexford Elementary School her kindergarten year and the following year she transferred to Eureka Elementary School where she graduated from the eighth grade in 1987. She attended Lincoln County High School until her junior year when she moved from Eureka to Medford, Oregon with her mother and stepfather. Her mother passed away in January 1991, and Jeniann soon got married and started a family. She was married for 21 years and had five children. She lost a daughter to SIDS in March 1994. Jeniann has recently become divorced and is raising her two boys with her daughter's help. Jeniann's youngest son suffers from Autism. J. also suffers from her own disabilities of Fibromyalgia, physical chronic pain, neuropathy, chronic depression and anxiety.

Jeniann attended college at Capella University throughout most of her writing career. She made both the President's and Dean's list for outstanding academic achievements.
Jeniann is published poetess. Her books have been in the top ten bestselling list on Amazon in the past and her current ratings stand at 4.5. She has published the following books: Expressions on Life Book One, Expressions and Letters, Phraseology and Letters, Collection of 25 Days of Christmas Poetry, Poems, Dreams & More, Poetry Is...???, Poetry: The Lighter Side of Silliness, The Sound of Nature: Collected Poems & Other Writings and soon to be released Fragments, and the re-release of Expressions, and Phraseology of Love, 25 Days of Christmas Poetry.
Jeniann is the owner of Poetry is...which is a blogging business of her own personal poetry, teachings of poetry, journals and other writings. Jeniann is a firm advocate for poetry publishing and writing poetry.

Author Interview: Fragments

What inspires you to write poetry?

Several things inspire me to write poetry. Nature plays a large role in most of my poetry. I was raised in the mountains in Montana and nature was all around me. Different poets inspire me as well, especially Robert Frost and Emily Dickinson’s poetry. Music inspires me when I am really sincerely in touch with my emotions. To me, inspiration is all around me, I just stay in tuned with my surroundings and how it makes me feel.

What is a measure of success as a poet?

The measure of success as a poet is just writing the poem. I don’t measure my success by my readers or by how many books I sell. I measure my success on each poem I write, how I put the poem together and how the poem makes me feel as a poet.

Who are some of your favorite poets?

Robert Frost is my all-time favorite, with poems such as, “Nothing Gold Can Stay,” “Birches,” “Mending Wall,” “Fire and Ice,” Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening.” Robert’s word play is what inspires me the most and his thought process of his poetry is unbelievably amazing.

Emily Dickinson is my hero, she just wrote poetry and never worried about society likes or dislikes of her work. Her poems depict this in each one, she wrote from the heart and soul of her emotions.

Maya Angelou, I look at her as a teacher in the modern world of poetry. I study her poetry a lot and learn a lot from her poems and how she displays her emotions through her poetry.  

What advice do you have for aspiring poets?

My advice to anyone who writes or wants to write is keep practicing. The more you write the better you will become and easier the writing process and word play becomes.  

Do the Internet and social media contribute to the well-being of poetry?

I have mixed feelings about social media and poetry. Yes, the Internet and social media opens up the door and has helped bring poetry to new audiences, however, I am choosy about what platforms I use to promote my own poetry.

What do most well-written poems have in common?

The specialty and structure.

What book are you reading right now? I am always reading more than just one book, there can never be just one. The Poet’s Corner by John Lithgow and Ponderings by Michele Ward

What does “being creative” mean to you?

Being creative to me means that I can express myself in a new way in which I have never done before. Being creative means to create a formation of words into a written piece of work that sheds the specialty of the written word.  

What kind of creative patterns, routines or rituals do you have?

I use many different creative patterns. In my Top Ten, I speak about word play and what I call the “Word Theater;” which is my writer’s notebook that I keep my creative patterns such as word banks of words that go together or rhyme together.

As for routines, I have to take a few moments and meditate, go for a walk or journal to get into the motion of creativity.

My biggest ritual of writing is having my time and my coffee to write.

Which creative medium would you love to pursue but haven’t yet?

I would love to learn more about songwriting. I have always had a love and interest for lyrics and for music.

What's the biggest mistake you've made as a writer?

Trust! When I first started out I trusted everyone! I was wrong there, I found myself swallowed up by a group of writers that only cared about themselves and their work   I thought if I helped them promote their work, they in return would help me. I have learned more about why I call myself a poet and why I write from this experience. I recluse myself more and only depend on a small handful of friends for support.

If you had to convince a friend or colleague to read this book, what might you tell them?

First, I would tell them that poetry can save your life and then I would ask them their thoughts about life. After the answer I would tell them exactly what the beginning of my book says “LIFE; FEEL IT, SEE IT, TASTE IT AND KNOW IT~ LET THE MUSIC OF POETRY BEGIN AND WALK WITH ME THROUGH THE PAGES OF FRAGMENTS.”

Where does this book fit into your career as a writer?

This book is far from being a milestone in my career as a poet. This book stands out from my usual routine of writing about broken hearts, love and grief. I am very excited and happy with this book.

What influenced this book?

Life influenced this book. Being in touch with my surroundings.

Tell me about your book.

Fragments has three sections to it, Fragments of Peace, Fragments of Social Attitude, and Fragments of Love. Fragments of Peace speaks the softer sweeter side, peaceful side of life and my social attitude towards it. Fragments of Social Attitude speaks of anger, hatred, judgment, lack of love and the compassion seeking life within society. Fragments of Love speaks about the truth I see in love and my feelings about love at this moment in my life as a whole.

The Black Eagles by Kat Green Tour

Strings by Kat Green

The rise of the Black Eagles was meteoric, from band practice in the garage to global stars almost overnight. And Melissa Webb, the beautiful girlfriend of the front man, appeared to have it all. But when Luke Black disappears without a trace and Melissa wakes up in a hospital bed after a savage attack, her perfect world is shattered and their lives are plunged into a potentially deadly crisis. Where is Luke, and can he be found before it is too late?

Encore by Kat Green

The Black Eagles and their loved ones try to recover from the traumatic events that have beset the band, starting to piece together their lives while trying to make sense of everything that happened to them. How can they trust again, after so much betrayal? As they begin a collective healing process, they find that the future has more demons in store for them. At the centre of it all are Luke and Melissa, only just starting to put their lives back together. As they embark on new adventures, old enemies may not be ready to let them forget

Character Bio

CAREER: Front man for The Black Eagles.

Full name: Luke Black

Gender: Male

Age: 22

Birthday:  Sept 7th 1991

Nationality: English

Religion:  Music

City or town of birth: Portsmouth UK

Currently lives: London

Relationship Status: Taken

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Height:  Short but has presence bigger than Goliath

Hair colour: Jet Black

Hairstyle: Short with a lightening strike fringe

Eye colour: Sapphire Blue

Tattoos: Eagles on Left side and both arms

Piercings:  None

Preferred style of clothing: Jeans and Hoody

Frequently worn jewellery: Leather wristband given to him by his Girlfriend

HEALTH

Smoker? Too much

Drinker? Too much

PERSONALITY

Personality:  Perfectionist, Loving but fierce if messed with.

Likes: Guitars, Eagles and his girlfriend

Dislikes: Vanity, Liars and Death Wishes.

Fears/phobias: Losing his arms so he can’t play guitar

Favourite colour: Black

Hobbies: Music, Music and Music

SKILLS

Talents/skills: Guitarist, Lyricist, Singer and Leader.

Ability to drive a car?  Yes

EATING HABITS

Favourite food(s): Homemade

Favourite drink(s):  Beer, Whiskey and Coffee

Disliked food: Nothing, eats anything.

Disliked drinks: Water

HOUSE AND HOME

Describe the character’s house/home: Top floor Apartment in London

Significant/special belongings: Chloe, his acoustic Guitar

Parents names: Debbie and Stuart Black

Siblings? Only Child

Other Important Relatives: Ray his manager is like a tour dad to him.

Partner/Spouse: Melissa Webb (Girlfriend. Soul mate)

Best Friend: Dale Baxter (Band member)

Other Important Friends: Toby Maxwell and Tom Lawton (Band members)

Character Interview

Q1: How old were you when you started playing guitar?

LB: I was Twelve.  My mum gave me Chloe my acoustic guitar on my twelve birthday. That guitar is like another best friend, if anything ever happened to her it would be tragic.  I would sulk for weeks.  I have poured my heart out with her, wrote many a song with that guitar. It’s like a limb that is a part of me. It would hurt to lose her.

Q2: What was the first song that you wrote? And, Why?

LB: Pink Ribbons was my first song. It was written about a girl called Chloe who was my first real friend. We meet when we were 5; even then I had an eye for the girls. (Luke laughs, but then frowns.)  She died in a house fire on her seventh birthday, her death impacted on me so much. I was 7 years old and I didn’t understand it. How could she be gone? I had all these things I wanted to say and I didn’t know how to. So I didn’t and I locked her away, buried the pain. The guitar came along and suddenly I found an outlet. Turns out, I’m pretty good at it. It was the only way I could move on and accept it. Writing songs is how I cope with bad things in a positive way.  Hence naming my Guitar. That is my way of saying that I have never forgotten her and I never will.

Q3: If you were not in a band or doing anything music related. What job would you be doing?

LB: I would still be working in a petrol station, dying of boredom. I try not to think about it. I’m doing the only thing I want to do and have any skill in and it’s the best thing in the world. I’m the happiest person in the world when I’m on stage.

Q4: What was it like to go from playing to 20 people in a pub to what you’re doing now?

LB: Mind blowing, insane and I am still in shock. Everyone dreams of it but not everyone gets it. I am so thankful for every fan we have, we have some incredible fans. Some have been with us from the very start. Some have become friends. It’s nice and I will never take them for granted.

Q5: What song is your favourite to perform?

LB:  That’s easy ‘Weekend High’ I wrote that when I was twenty after a really bad relationship. It wasn’t really a relationship but at the time I didn’t see it.  It was just convenience and there was no love there we argued more than anything else.  I love the fact the fans go insane to it. My work is done and it’s what I set out to achieve.

Q6: Which song don’t you like?

LB: Hmmm.. I don’t really dislike any but I guess ‘Just another day wishing’ I think it’s quite slow for us and I sound like such a moaning old git. I was quite down when I wrote that. I don’t mind it but none of us really get excited about playing it. We drop it from sets sometimes, if I’m in a bad mood and I don’t want to do it, I won’t. Not a good song for me if I’m in a strop already. We get away with it as it isn’t a fan fave, some seemed to like it but not everyone. My mum loves it.

Q7: Which gig has been your favorite so far?

LB: That is harder to answer because every gig is amazing for all kinds of reasons. I don’t think it would be fair to choose one. That is like saying to one set of fans ‘Oh you were great’ and make other fans feel like you didn’t enjoy their show.  For sentimental reasons our third gig at Ruby’s back home will always be special. I meet my girlfriend there and it was what changed everything for me and us as a band.

Q9: There is story at the moment saying you proposed to Melissa? True or False?

LB: What? News to me. No, not true. She’s amazing though, one day, maybe. Right now I’m concentrating on my career and she is so supportive.

Q8: It’s a Saturday night and you’re not on tour. What would you be doing?

LB: I don’t see my girlfriend very much so we would either be catching up at home. (Luke winks and laughs) or I would be writing new material. I don’t really have spare time. I feel like I always have something to work on, or prepare for. When I’m on tour that is my party time, and when I’m home I calm it down a bit.

Q9: Who is your best friend?

LB: My band are my best mates but the ultimate title goes to Dale. He’s always there for me even when I’m being a dick, we’ve know each other for about 100 years. He’s a fucking ace best friend and he’s not a bad guitarist either.

Q10: What would you like to say to your fans about the gossip that surrounds you?

LB: That most of it is complete and utter Bollocks. If you haven’t heard it from me the chances are it isn’t true.  Just to clarify the latest story. The band is not splitting up. My girlfriend isn’t sleeping with my drummer, doesn’t have a drink problem and isn’t pregnant. and I haven’t proposed. Amazes me how many lies fly around.  I don’t care what they write about me as I’m really not that bothered by it.  I do care when my girlfriend is sobbing because people are calling her all kinds of things in the street or online over lies.

Q11: What annoys you about being in the limelight?

LB:  Just people’s need to lie. Write the truth or don’t bother. If people want to know something just ask me. I’ve no problem with having a chat but don’t make stuff up or I will pull you on it. I’m not scared of standing up for myself. Be warned.

Q12: Do you have any regrets?

LB: Yes. I would rather not say as it’s something that is causing me issues currently and I wish I could turn the clocks back so I never meet this person.  That’s all I’m willing to say.

Q13: What would you say annoys others about you?

LB: I’m a perfectionist. I drive everyone mad at times. We could have completely nailed a song but I will be thinking about making it better. I worry about things more than the others. There have been times where I’m trying to change a set list minutes before a show and that winds people up.

Q14: Would you change anything about the band?

LB: Hell no! We’re in a good place and there’s nobody else I would consider doing this with. They are my best mates and we have a laugh and without them I would be nowhere. Anyway, I don’t think anyone else would put up with me.

Q15: You have 48 hours to live. What would you do?

LB: I would put on the biggest show and say goodbye to my fans before spending whatever time I have left with the people I love. Hopefully write a song that will go down in history so I live on forever. Have a massive party and go out with a smile on face.

Teaser 1
She felt as though they were never going to let her recover in private – the vultures were already circling, and picking for information as to what had happened. Jean had dodged two of them as she’d come into the hospital and that wasn’t even the beginning. There would be more – lots more. She wanted to scream at them to leave her daughter alone, but what would be the point? She was an intelligent woman and she knew that the lifestyle Melissa and Luke had chosen came at a price. But surely there had to be a limit? Apparently, her broken and terrified daughter was even more exciting to them than she was before. It was just another scoop for them to sell their trash, she thought. They didn’t care that two families and their friends were going through a terrible time, which would only get worse if he didn’t return. Millions of fans around the world waited to discover the fate of their idol. But to Melissa he was her boyfriend, her soul mate, her world.


Melissa went deathly white and the sound that came from within her made her parents jump; it was like an animal being tortured. She was hysterical, and had to be restrained as she threw herself on the floor screaming for Luke. Her parents struggled with her, begging her to calm down but she had snapped. Everything she had been subjected to rushed to the surface and boiled over. She was unable to control herself any more.

Her medical team rushed in and quickly assessed the situation. Due to her state of mind, they decided that sedation was the only way to calm her down and prevent her from causing herself harm.

‘Do it, doctor – now!’ Jean yelled as she struggled to hold her broken daughter.

Teaser 2
‘You look beautiful, as always.’ She barely had to try, he thought.

He was in his usual dark blue jeans and black hoody.

‘Do I look fat?’ she asked.

‘Shut up and stop fishing for compliments!’ he joked, but she pulled a sad face.

‘Of course you don’t!’

‘That’s the right answer.’

‘I’ve something for you too, to bring you luck today.’ She opened her travel bag and pulled out a small package.

‘You didn’t have to. It’s your birthday, not mine!’

She waved his protest away; it was a big day for him, and she felt that it would be right to give him a gift too. It was a brown leather cuff which she’d seen in a music shop. She’d thought it would suit him and look good while he played. She placed it on his wrist carefully, winding the strap around several times so there were three layers, then fastened the small silver buckle at the side to secure it.

‘It’s great – thanks, babe,’ he said gratefully as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Even though he tried to hide it, she could tell he was nervous.

‘Play for me – don’t worry about anyone else,’ she whispered. The next few words came out of her mouth without her even thinking, ‘I love you ...’ She immediately realised that this was a big moment because they hadn’t said it to each other before, even though everyone else could see they were head over heels in love. She held her breath, waiting for him to react, hoping he felt the same. It hadn’t been planned, and she’d surprised herself as well as him, but desperately hoped she hadn’t picked the wrong moment or said it too soon and scared him off.

Kat Green was born Nov 1979 into a military family and moved around a lot during her childhood. This shaped her into the person she is today. She is at ease with meeting new people and adapting to new surroundings. Her family roots are from Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. Kat now lives with her husband and son on the south coast of England, Portsmouth. She doesn't pretend to be the best and is still growing as a writer and having fun along the way. She loves books and has a busy imagination. Her love for music plays a big part in her first novel called Strings. Kat loves to watch live bands and can usually be found at gigs around the UK. In 2010 she lost her mother to blood cancer and it was time to put her words on a page and stop worrying about what people might say 'Life is too short and precious to waste' is her motto. Writing is her passion and her escape.

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