Three Reluctant Promises, by Kierstin Marquet

One of the things I love about the LDStorymakers Conference is the opportunity to meet new people. A few years back, I met author Kierstin Marquet, and had the opportunity to read part of her manuscript. Her novel has now been published--congrats, Kierstin! Here is some information about her book: 

Illegal immigrant Tommy Ramirez made Three Reluctant Promises to a dying woman. Kidnapping a cop’s daughter is the only way he can keep them. College student Ashten Mason is a stranger to trouble until a gorgeous guy with a gun jumps into her car and demands help.  Soon embroiled in one dangerous situation after another, they are forced to rely on one another—an idea that Ashten believes is an oxymoron, and one that drives Tommy crazy. 

Award-winning author, Kierstin Marquet, has a BS in criminal justice, a minor in psychology, and a love of sleuthing. Her debut novel, Three Reluctant Promises, and its sequel Three Stupid Lies are the first two books in the Mason Jar Series. These stories were inspired by Kierstin’s unique experiences growing up as a police officer’s daughter, such as getting pulled over with lights (thankfully no siren) in the church parking lot and going to process crime scenes in her nightgown. You can visit her at KierstinMarquet.Weebly.com. To purchase Three Reluctant Promises, click here.

Book Blast for I, Spy--and Get a Sneak Peek at The Witnesses

Jordan McCollum is holding a book blast for the next few days for her novel I, Spy. Purchase I, Spy and you'll get all kinds of freebies, including . . . ta da! . . . a sneak preview of my upcoming novel, The Witnesses. 

If you're looking for a fun, clean, spy novel that mixes humor and chills and thrills, this is a great time to try I, Spy. And if you've already purchased it, you can still get the freebies--in the information below, Jordan explains how. Here are the details:

To save her country and her secrets, CIA operative Talia Reynolds must sacrifice the man she loves—but your choice is much easier! Just buy a copy of I, Spy during the book blast AND receive awesome prizes!

What you have to do

Step 1: Buy the book any day from September 19 to September 22. Any retailer will do!

Step 2: Email Jordan a copy of the receipt (jordan at jordanmccollum.com). Yes, even if you buy the book from Jordan's site, we need to know you want to receive the freebies.

Step 3: Wait with bated breath.

What you're going to get

EVERYONE who participates gets fabulous prizes, including 13 free books and samples from wonderful authors!

The fabulous prizes!

a free copy of A Body in the Backyard (A Myrtle Clover Mystery) by Elizabeth Spann Craig	a free copy of Rose, Undercover (Dead Roses #1.1) by RaShelle Workman	a free copy of Anasazi Intrigue: The Adventures of John and Julia Evans by Linda Weaver Clarke
a free copy of Writing Your Family Legacy by Linda Weaver Clarke (Isn't she awesome?!)	a free copy of Secret Sisters by Tristi Pinkston	a free copy of Dead Running by Cami Checketts
a free copy of First Kiss (Confessions of a 16-Year-Old Virgin Lips 1) by Cindy Hogan	a preview of A Change of Plans by Donna K. Weaver	a sneak preview of The Witnesses by Stephanie Black, out next month!
a sneak preview of Pocket Full of Posies (Hostage Negotiation Team #3)

by Julie Coulter Bellon, out next month!


an exclusive look at "I'll Cry for Christmas," a short story by Rachelle J. Christensen


a free copy of Mr. Nice Spy (I, Spy Prequels) by Jordan McCollum

PLUS!

An exclusive sneak preview of Spy for a Spy (Spy Another Day #2) by Jordan McCollum

What if I've already bought I, Spy?

First of all, THANK YOU!! If you take a picture of you with your copy of I, Spy (or the cover on your reading device) and post it somewhere public on the Internet— Facebook (or maybe on Jordan's Facebook page), a Tweet, Flickr, Tumblr, Instagram, sky's the limit—send Jordan the link and you can have these fabulous prizes too!

So spread the word! The more, the merrier!

The Witnesses

Here is the cover for my upcoming novel, The Witnesses. The designer did an amazing job with the cover--I love it! 

The book will be released in October, so only about six more weeks to go. We just finished up final changes on the manuscript this week, so now it's off to press. It's been a crazy summer, finishing everything up, and my editor has been marvelous to work with and very patient with me, even when I was running behind schedule or I was getting all picky over tiny things in the manuscript.

The publication of this book is an absolute dream come true for me. It's the sequel to my first book, The Believer, and I'm super excited to get this book out both to readers who enjoyed The Believer and to new readers meeting the characters for the first time.

Here's more info in Q and A form, with questions posted by my subconscious. Just kidding. Heaven knows what my subconscious would ask (probably "Why don't we have more chocolate in the house?" and "Son, how can you call the kitchen clean when there's SO MUCH GARBAGE in the sink?" Oh, sorry, those are my conscious questions).

Q. How are these books different from your last few novels?

A. My last five novels were contemporary mystery/suspense. The Believer and The Witnesses are still suspense, but they are dystopian thrillers, set in a near/alternate future in a nation that has broken off from the United States.

Q. Can I read The Witnesses without having read The Believer or will I be completely lost?

A. One of our goals in revision/editing was to present Witnesses in such a way that a new reader can pick up the book and enjoy it without having read the first book. So yes, you can enjoy it as a standalone. But if you want the details of how the characters got to this point (and an exciting ride in the bargain :) read The Believer first (to avoid spoilers, if you haven't read Believer and would like to, don't read the blurb for Witnesses--it has all kinds of spoilers for Believer).

Q. Will there be more books in the series?

A. Nope. Two books only. So if you're a reader who likes to wait until a series is finished before you start on the first book, you're in luck!

Q. What forms will the books be available in?

A. The Witnesses will be available in paperback, Kindle ebook, and as an unabridged audio book. Believer will be available in paperback and Kindle ebook--there are probably some old audio books kicking around Amazon or eBay, but be aware that Believer's audio is abridged--it was recorded in the day when my publisher was still doing abridged audio. Thank heavens that day has passed.

Here are the links:

The Believer is currently available as an ebook from Amazon or Deseret Book. It is available for pre-order as a paperback from Deseret Book.

The Witnesses is available for pre-order from Amazon as both a paperback and on audio CD. It will be released in October.

I'm so excited!!!

Timeless Romance Anthology: Autumn Collection

My romantic suspense novella, "Eye for an Eye," is part of the Timeless Romance Anthology Autumn Collection. It will be released in August 2013, so it's getting close! I am thrilled to be part of this anthology. 

Here is the blurb about my novella:

Eye for an Eye, Stephanie Black’s thrilling novella, follows Mallory as she is just getting her life back together, living with her sister and brother-in-law and starting college. After a difficult few years following a family tragedy, she’s finally ready to move forward, which includes getting to know the charming Darien better. But when illegal drugs turn up in her sister’s drawer, the first person accused is Mallory, and suddenly she doesn’t know who to trust. She turns to Darien, but with all evidence pointing at her, she doesn’t know if Darien is the man to save her.

Announcing . . .

My friend Jordan McCollum has a book coming out in June. I've read it, and it's FUN--suspense and chills mingling with humor. Here's the info:

I, Spy by Jordan McCollum—Coming June 5, 2013!

About the Book

Canada is probably the last place you'd expect to find an American spy. But even idyllic Ottawa has its deadly secrets—and so does CIA operative Talia Reynolds. She can climb through ventilation shafts, blend in at the occasional diplomatic function, even scale buildings (small ones). But there’s one thing she can’t do: tell her aerospace engineer boyfriend Danny about her Top Secret occupation.

It worked for a year, keeping Danny in the dark, keeping him away from danger, keeping her secrets. And then Talia finally catches a hot case: Fyodor Timofeyev. Russian. Aerospace executive. Possible spy?

She can make this work, too—until Danny needs her at the same time her country does. And when Fyodor targets Danny? Suddenly her schedule isn't the only thing suffering. Now to save her secrets and her country, Talia must sacrifice the man she loves.

Add I, Spy to your Goodreads to-read list!

Advance praise

The edge-of-my-seat undercover operations kept me turning pages, and just when I thought the story would go one way, plot twists sent it down another path. Thrilling, adventurous, and romantic, this book has it all for an Alias fan.

— Jami Gold, award-winning author

Jordan McCollum’s debut novel is a delightful combination of mystery, action, and romance. Talia’s CIA training and almost OCD caution feed her quirky humor while exposing her very human fears and insecurities. Add in her boyfriend Danny, and it's enough to twist your heart.

— Donna K. Weaver, author of A Change of Plans

Clever, suspenseful, and charged with political intrigue and romance, I, Spy is the perfect combination for a fun and captivating read!

— Michelle Davidson Argyle, author of Monarch

About the author

An award-winning author, Jordan McCollum can’t resist a story where good defeats evil and true love conquers all. In her day job, she coerces people to do things they don’t want to, elicits information and generally manipulates the people she loves most—she’s a mom.

Jordan holds a degree in American Studies and Linguistics from Brigham Young University. When she catches a spare minute, her hobbies include reading, knitting and music. She lives with her husband and four children in Utah.

Follow Jordan on Twitter, like Jordan on Facebook and add I, Spy on Goodreads today!

Donuts and a Booksigning. Also, Seeking Reviewers

Donuts . . . see, here's the thing. We have the tradition of making homemade donuts sometime in October. I loved it when my mother would make them when I was a kid, and we've started doing it once a year. It's not the sort of thing I really want to do more than once a year, since, hey, do I really want dozens of greasy, sugary, delicious donuts waiting for me to devour them? (Maybe . . . ). Plus, it's a production and leaves the kitchen and dining room coated in flour, grease, and sugar, and the sink and counter stacked with dirty dishes. So, once a year is good.

But--I know this is shocking--I'm thinking of crossing the October donut-making off the list. With my two older daughters gone at college and my very slim and disciplined husband controlling his intake, there are just not enough people eating enough of them. He did eat a bunch last night, but I don't think he's had any today (!!) I don't think my older son is that keen on them. And in an unfortunate twist of fate, my younger two children felt icky with colds today, so they weren't consuming much. But never fear--I made up for EVERYONE. I will not tell you how many I ate today but it was a HUGE NUMBER (okay, I don't actually know the number, but I know it was huge). And there are some in the freezer, and some not in the freezer that are going stale even as we speak, and it's like, man, that's it--if I'm the only one pigging out like crazy, it's time for a new tradition. Next year we will line carrots up on the table and decorate them with flax seed and balsamic vinegar, after which we will do pushups. Or maybe I'll change my mind by next year . . .

And now, moving on to other news that doesn't involve the oddity of whining because my family didn't eat enough junk food. I was able to do a booksigning at the Beehive Bookstore in Campbell, CA as part of their Ladies' Night celebration, and it was super fun. The staff there was so nice and the customers were great, and I got to try a Tres Leches cupcake. One of the staff made them from Josi Kilpack's recipe, from her new book of the same name. Here's a picture (not of the cupcake--I ate the cupcake; I didn't pose with it).



And lastly: I'm looking for a few people who would like to review Shadowed. If you are interested, email me at emailstephanieblack (at) gmail (dot) com.

It's Here (in Actual Physical Form This Time)!

My books arrived! It's always exciting to see a new book for the first time--hold it, flip through the pages--a real book with my words in it! The book that grew from story ideas that emerged from the haphazard process of brainstorming and developed through that messy first draft . . . the story that passed through revision, revision, test reads, more revision . . . then the submission process, the editorial process, proofing, not to mention graphic design and all those other awesome things--it's all done and here's the culmination of all that work, the finished product. It's a book!! It has a cover! And pages! And an ISBN! It's going to be in bookstores, and online, and in libraries! Somebody might read it! People I don't know might read it! If you think about that long enough, it's kind of mind-blowing. 

 

Photographic evidence---it's here! My new book!

It's also an unabridged audio book. Oh unabridged audio, how I love thee!

And it's a Kindle book! Lots of choices.

Shadowed is my sixth novel. Whew. Six books! I wrote six books! Six whole books, full of words! I can't parallel park, I stink at reading maps, my socks are never all folded, and heaven knows what's living under my fridge, but I wrote six books. I'd celebrate with chocolate, but I already ate chocolate, plus three huge chocolate chip cookies. I should celebrate with wheat germ or garbanzo beans, just for a change of pace.

The book is now for sale at Deseret Book online and the Kindle version is for sale at Amazon. It should be listed at Seagull Book soon, and I hope soon to hear reports of a bookstore sighting.