#BookBlast for Uncharted Storms by J.M. Anton

This stop is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Jackie will be awarding a paperback edition of “Wind River Refuge” penned as J.M. Anton (US only) to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. If the winner is international, the author will send a digital copy of Fateful Waters. Click the banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Weather is our constant companion, and when it behaves like a benevolent parent we pay little attention to it. Angry or out of control it becomes terrifying and can change the landscape as well as lives. So I asked my characters to take a ride on the wild side of weather. “Uncharted Storms” takes readers on a journey from a gentle summer rain to raging storms in the cosmos.

What if you were caught up in Uncharted Storms?

What if? Erica’s world didn’t come to an end in 2012 while she was in middle school? She manages to make it through college before an apocalyptic event changes her life forever. The science fiction story Terra Beyond 2012 shares Erica’s voyage.

What if? You and your best friend were traveling down the highway on the way home from an extended trip when you are caught in a blinding thunderstorm, and then are hit by lightning? To make matters worse you are injured, and wake in a strange world. Find out what happens to Chris in the tale Riding Lightning.

What if? You were on your way to meet a friend for dinner and caught in a flash flood? That is exactly what happens to Alexandra in the story Flashflood Texas Style.

What if? A boy you haven’t seen in two decades winds up sitting on your front porch? Find out what Casey comes up with on A Rainy Night.

What if? You were caught out in a winter storm on icy, drifted, walks and streets when a skidding car comes directly at you? Find out what happened to eighteen-year-old Annie when she is hit from behind in the short story A Tumble in the Snow.

About the Author:

Jackie Anton is the mother of two grown children, and grandmother of two. She and her husband, of forty-three years, continue to ride daily. They live on a mini-farm in rural Ohio, and share their little slice of horse heaven with two Quarter Horses, a Haflinger, a rescued dog, and a calico barn cat.

Jackie is an accomplished equestrian, with a life time of experience: as trainer, exhibitor, 4-H and youth club coach, as well as a horse show judge; the author brings many years of experience working with horses and young riders to her award winning Backyard Horse Tales Series.

Uncharted Storms: Short stories are aimed at the Young Adult and older reader. Look for more short tales in the future.

Backyard Horse Tales: Sox 2nd Edition Brings to light the mutual love between a handicapped colt and a lonely child with a learning disability. Find out how this pair team up to triumph over life’s roadblocks, and why their story won the prestigious Mom’s Choice Award of Excellence for Family Friendly Media. (Reading level age 8 thru Adult)

BYHT 2 “Frosty and the Nightstalker” was one of four finalists in the E-Book Fiction category for the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, then the paperback went on to earn the Mom’s Choice Award for Juvenile Historical Fiction.

Jackie is hard at work on BYHT 3 Don’t Call Me Love. You can catch a peek at her beautiful cover on the Backyard Horse Tales Face Book Fan Page
Author Website
Facebook
Adult Novel Fan Page
Email
Online Autographed Book Covers
Blog: Writing for readers in a .com world http://jackieanton.com/

Buy Uncharted Storms: Short Stories of Hearts at Risk at Smashwords, Amazon, or Barnes and Noble. Autographed Paperback Copies are available at Jackie’s Author’s Den. U.S. Readers click on the cover of your choice and follow the Signed Book link to order.

J. M. Anton (adult novels) can be purchased at Amazon.

Monday Musings

Contemporary thriller? Historical paranormal?

Those are the questions I have this week as I attempt to construct a new story. Trilogy really. Shorts, 25,000-30,000 words.The questions is...thriller or paranormal...contemporary or historical?

Rights reverted

I've recently learned that I might be getting the rights back to a couple stories. I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand I'm sad to see it no longer available. But then again, if I do get the rights back, I can post it for download on Smashwords, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.

It's an interesting cavet to all the stories going around about self publishing.

Progress always involves risks. You can't steal second base and keep your foot on first.

~Frederick Wilcox

Complicated Courtship

Complicated Courtship is a short story about Kirsten, a staunch patriot during the American Revolution whose fiance has stopped paying attention to her. She fears he no longer loves her but isn't willing to let it go. Seducing him on the advice of her stepmom, Kirsten realizes it isn't that James no longer loves her, but that he's being blackmailed by a British officer.

Excerpt:

“If you’ll excuse me, I’m gong to look for James.”

She saw Margaret nod serenely from the corner of her eye, but focused her attention on the Lieutenant.

He sputtered a little. “Isn’t it proper for the two of you to meet here in the parlor?”

“Oh, it’s no bother,” Margaret said casually. Waving a dismissing hand she added, “Let the young couple have a few moments of privacy.”

Nodding to her stepmother, Kirsten quickly exited. Her footsteps echoing sharply in the hall, she wasn’t paying attention and ran straight into James’ chest.

“Oh!” she gasped, looking up at him.

His arms steadied her, and Kirsten swore she could feel his touch through her many layers of clothing. Caught in his intense blue gaze, all she could think of were the things Margaret told her. For a heartbeat, his face showed his emotions, and it was the James she remembered. But then he closed himself off, and she wondered if she’d imagined it.

Breath short, she shakily stepped backwards. His hands stayed on her waist for a moment, before he, too, moved away.

“He’s an insufferable man,” she managed. Her voice sounded breathless, and she had to clear her throat before going on. “I don’t know how you stand him in your house.”

He looked to the side, and she wondered what he thought. “He’ll be gone before long.”

Opening her mouth to say more on Leftenant Cromwell, Kirsten changed her mind and stepped closer. This was her chance. Ignoring the nerves in her stomach, she said softly, “I hope for nothing more,” she turned his face to hers, wishing she was taller, “than for your attention.”

James’ surprise gaze hurt, but she went on.

“I’ve missed you,” she whispered, threading her fingers through his queue. His unpowdered hair was soft beneath her fingertips. “I don’t see why we have to be apart until our wedding night.”

Sex and Subterfuge

Today's my release date for Dark Desires of the Druids: Sex & Subterfuge! To kick off the release, I'm throwing a blog tour from July 12-August 6. Once I have all the locales, I'll post them here. If you follow the tour, at the end is a pretty prize!

In addition, I have a FREE short story, a Dark Desires of the Druids: Choose Your Own Adventure. Remember those from way back when? Or am I dating myself? Anyway, it's not nearly as long as those, man this was hard enough to make sure everything flowed! But it's a fun little adventure in the depths of London with a Druid couple.

Very soon I'll also have a free short story up about this couple, Duncan and Elizabeth, and how they came to be in London.

TWRP is looking for Short Stories

This is an excerpt from an email Rhonda Penders, co-owner of The Wild Rose Press, sent out. They're looking for short stories. I'm planning on submitting my Vintage Rose story sooner rather than later now. It's set in 1920 New York and takes place over four 25-35K word books.

When we're talking short, we're not talking so short there's no story. There is a definite need for stories that hit the 25K - 50K range.

Another good reason to write shorts is for audibles (the old books on tape). We
have entered an agreement with a company that does audibles. I'm working behind
the scenes to get some of our manuscripts to them. This company wants very
very few full length novels - they want shorts.

Anyway, if you have a short story in your mind, now is the golden time to get
that submission in. If you've never written anything short - try it. Sometimes
trying to do something with less can be very satisfying.

Short stories only $0.99

All my short stories (OK, all Ravenous short stories) are only 99¢.

My historicals: Complicated Courtship from 1774, Wanton Woman from 1810, Starlet from 1934 and my contemporaries: Love Birds and Sex in the Springtime.

Tryst! I forgot the prequel to my Dark Desire of the Druids series, The Tryst.

99 cent stories & Chat!

All my short stories are only $.99 today (Thursday) and Friday. Catch some hot historicals, Complicated Courtship, Wanton Woman, Starlet, or the prequel to my magicker stories, The Tryst. Or some sexy contemporaries: Love Birds & Sex in the Springtime.

Also join me Saturday May 16, 12-1 EST on Savanah Chase's Yahoo! group. I'll be chatting with other ravenous authors.

Short Story Sale!

Ravenous is having $.50 short story day today! You can get all 6 of my short stories for just $3.00! Love Birds and Sex in the Springtime from my Four Calling Birds series; my Wicked Seductions series, Complicated Courtship, Wanton Woman, and Starlet; and The Tryst, the prequel to my Dark Desire of the Druids series (Murder & Magick and Sex & Subterfuge).

From the Ravenous site:
Today only, all Ravenous Rendezvous short stories are just $.50! Buy 10 to build your own custom anthology, and then email us at submissions@ravenousromance.com to tell us the theme of your anthology and which stories you chose. If we like the anthology you created, we'll publish it and send you a gift certificate!

Holidays and short stories

They're coming. Thanksgiving is this Thursday, next you know Christmas'll be here in like a week, and bam! New Years. Do people actually breathe during the season? I'm not sure I do, but that's not the point.

Holidays=holiday stories. Holiday stories=writing holiday stories. Writing holiday stories=what holiday can I write about? All, the squeaky cogs of the brain.

I already have 2 (possibly 3) Christmas stories coming out this year. But there are other holidays. New Years aside, there's Valentine's day, St. Patrick's day, Easter, Flag day...you get the picture.

In one of the Christmas stories I submitted, there are 4 women and the men in their lives. No, this isn't Sex in the City by Isabel Roman. Nothing near that. More like Four Calling Birds. Which is what I named it, but Ravenous might change it, and they're more than welcomed to. So, my Four Calling Birds are only beginning their romantic holiday journey.

What's an author in the midst of holiday anxiety to do but propose further stories for her 4 couples? Propose 6 more holiday for her 4 couples, that's what.

We'll see if Ravenous accepts these proposals. In the mean time, I have other stories to write. Like the female pharmacist in 1918 London and her scared war hero home from Flanders. When he isolates himself from the world, only she can bring him back to the world. But what happens the morning after?

Facebook

I added (someplace) my blog to Facebook. It wasn't as hard as I thought, but then I don't know where it ended up. Weird, huh. What're you gonna do. Plus I spent a good portion of yesterday on Facebook...sending Star Trek ships, sending Disney characters, farming...it's so easy to procrastinate on there, so many new things to...ah...learn. Yup. Learn.

Back to writing this evening. Trying to finish up a short story so I can concentrate on DDoD 2, Morganna's story. I have that all outlined and have broken down all the chapters. I'm really excited to start her story, but want to get a couple contracted short stories finished so I don't have to worry about them.

Christmas

No, it's not too early for Christmas! Ravenous Romance offered me a contract for a Christmas short story! It's paranormal contemporary, but very much Christmas-y. I'm thrilled. And yes, doing the happy dance. How can I not?

Also check out their website for a free short story download.