Friday, March 27, 2015

Lest We forget my Other Book

The tendency is to think I only wrote the Sabrina Strong series, when long before I wrote that one, I wrote my crazy story about a oxymoron witch from another planet who has to hide from a desperate dark wizard who wants to steal a stone that she is keeper of. In order to avoid him at all costs, she opts to come to Earth.

In a way, this is something of a mixed genre. Here you have Zofia Trickenbod who is a witch (paranormal), who is not from our world, but from another (science fiction). She has left her world believing her husband (sorcerer), is dead. In the beginning of the story, she opens the door to her husband, and soon learns he isn't dead, but... uh... well he's undead. Yup. He's a vampire.

There were two things that inspired me to write this adult mish-mash of sci-fi and paranormal genres. It was the TV show Bewitched, which I grew up watching, and then the Harry Potter series which I could not get enough of. The magic, pace and excitement of the Rowling's series had me prowling the bookstores for something more... well adult to read. Which I couldn't find at the time. So, I wrote it. 

It has plenty of action, lots of kookie characters (including an invisible servant who is both cantankerous and ill tempered at times). Oh, sure, there is a black unicorn who loves to munch on Zofia's flowerbeds. Meanwhile Zofia is miffed about how her husband didn't send her a note of some sort telling her he was still around--she went years thinking he was dead, the least he could have done was let her know, for crying out loud. Before she got involved with the handsome cop of the small burg she lives in. But when Dorian (husband), becomes the prime suspect of a murder, and arrested, she's bound and determined to spring him out, and try and turn him back into a sorcerer, all while trying to figure out where Blood (the evil sorcerer) is before he can make her life more difficult, and expose the fact she's a sorceress.

I have three very nice reviews there at Amazon. It would be nice to have more. Hopefully Amazon doesn't whack those few I do have off the board. Well, I can only do so much. When this book first came out, I had a wonderful book signing at Borders. A lot of people bought the book that way. Thus, you can't get a review from people who bought elsewhere on Amazon, I don't think. But, if you do happen to buy on Amazon, and you loved it, do give it a review. I would appreciate it.

And, by the way, it will go on sale starting Monday, the 30th, for .99 again.

Have a great weekend!

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Ascension Giveaway!

Today, and rest of the month, I'm having a giveaway contest of one autographed paperback copy of "Ascension"...
details below:



After the death of her father, Sabrina Strong is hired to solve the murder of Letitia, Bjorn Tremayne's life-time mate. She is quickly immersed in romantic trysts and danger. Megalomaniac vampires are planning to take over and rule the the North American Vampire Association for their own greedy desires. 

Sabrina is not thrilled about the aspect of working for vampires in Chicago, but she needs the money, and wants to find the gorgeous and mysterious vampire who has been turning up in her dreams. Is he the one who bit her when she was ten - marked her for his own - and turned her mother so long ago? 

A unique and mesmerizing mystery blending intricately detailed fantasy and romance, twists and turns of mystery in a contemporary setting, and new insights on a vampire's life including love, passion, heartache, hope, devastation, lust and longing. 

“A truly extraordinary vampire tale . . . something to sink your teeth into . . .” ~Reader Views

New cover/title formerly "Vampire Ascending"
first book in the Sabrina Strong series.
REVIEW:
Because Amazon, for whatever ridiculous reason, has taken away at least FOUR 5-star and 4-star reviews of this book... Here is a link from my very good friend Shelly Arkon's post with her review--exactly the way it appeared on Amazon: Two Fur-Peeps and A Writer.


DETAILS ON GIVEAWAY:

Autographed copy of Ascension (to US addresses only), will be given to winner of this contest.

This is what you must do to be entered:

SHARE THIS LINK on Twitter, or facebook, or your own blog, and send me the link(s) to my email - loreleibell4(at)gmail (dot)com

The more times you share, the more times your name will go into the hat to be chosen!

Remember even if you have a copy, this would make a great gift for someone... just saying.

This contest will go on throughout the rest of this month (March 2015) 
I will announce winner on April 1

GOOD LUCK!

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

AMAZON HITS the DELETE BUTTON on my REVIEWS!

Well, color me P.O.ed!

All but one or two of my 4- and 5-star reviews have disappeared from Ascension! Some were beautifully written, and I don't know if I'll never get them back! (see reviews on the amazon page--there's only 3 and there should be 9)

I had 9 reviews now it says I only have 3. I've heard of this sort of thing happening to other authors. 

My publisher and I are going to try and ask about them, see if this was some sort of error (of course) on their part.

My hope is that they return them. There was no reason they should have taken them off to begin with!

Now for the part where I ask/beg for those of you have ever bought and read my first book (formerly Vampire Ascending, or the other books in the series), from Amazon and loved it, but never made any review, I ask that you so kindly leave some sort of review and rating. The more ratings/reviews helps drive sales.

Here are the other book's links:
Vampire's Trill (now just Trill)
Vampire Nocturne (Nocturne)
Vampire Caprice

Now, as some of you may know, I've gone with a new publisher. He's working really hard for promotions, and I'm giving you one sneaky bit of information...
Ascension and Trill will both be on sale in April. Come back then for details, so that I can give you guys the details and links again.

Thank you! 
Cross your fingers I get those reviews back--somehow.

Sunday, March 8, 2015

Dracula's Demeter - Review

Hello, my pretties! How are you this fine Sunday? We've finally warmed up, here in northern Illinois, and I think we'll be getting rid of this obnoxious snow and ice this week. Not so crazy about our time-change, but what can you do?

As those of you who are regulars know, I'm all about vampires. Anything about vampires, or Dracula, that crosses my attention I'm on it like a vampire on a drop of spilled blood. When I joined the publisher, Creativia, about a month or so ago, I checked a few authors out, just to see what they were writing. One title struck me and it sounded so interesting, I had to look into it.

by 



Let me explain that I'm not one who likes to read a book at my computer. So, for me to have actually finished this book cover to cover while sitting at my computer in an uncomfortable chair, attests to how very good this book was. If it were a paperback, I don't think I could have put it down. 

This story is like a missing piece in the classic, Dracula  by Bram Stoker. In Stoker's classic story, you get only a few pages from the captain's journal of what has happened on the ship, which Dracula took from his homeland to England. Here, Lamoreux has basically brought you, the reader, on board, and there's a few surprising turns, and events there that Stoker couldn't have possibly covered, or maybe even thought of. That being said, Lamoreux has done a superb job of somehow making this story feel/read as though it were a missing piece that was left out of the original.

This master piece of work will give you a spine-chilling look into Dracula's mind, how he controls humans, beasts and even--well--spiders! The author takes you to England where he keeps tabs on Lucy, and Renfield in their various states and stages of awaiting the master. 

In Dracula's Demeter, we are left with no question that Dracula is absolutely the most vilest, most evil creature, and why he's the king of vampires. Lamoreux uses some inventive ways to show it, too, let me tell you!

Exquisitely written, it doesn't surprise me that this author has been nominated for various writing awards, AND a movie of the book is being made.

Tipping my hat off to Doug Lamoreux for a tale that was well worth my few hours spent each night, at my computer in a not-so-comfortable chair in the evening with a glass of wine while I read it.


Thursday, March 5, 2015

New Book Cover Release & Announcement

Yeah. So, when my publisher sent me a couple of book covers, the first one I looked at was super, and except for the blonde hair, the cover had "That Look". So, I asked if the cover artist, Melody Simmons, could at least make the hair brown, Miika worked on it.

In the meantime I put up the original and got a lot of "likes" on facebook. When I put the final one up, I heard from people I rarely or have never heard from on facebook! It seemed unanimous. People really, really liked this cover!

Here it is. You be the judge.
cover artist Melody Simmons
Oh, you do? Great!

Now, two things. 
ONE:
I'm going to do a GIVEAWAY for an autographed paperback copy. 

Wait, hang on. This is going to happen beginning mid-March. I'm aiming for 15- 22. So, details later here--believe me, I'm going to make you work for it. (evil laugh)

TWO:
If you want to host me/the book with this lovely cover, and haven't told me as yet (I do have a couple of you who have offered, and I thank you kindly), let me know here, or email me or at facebook. Okay? 

That's my news for now.

Oh, and the ebook is available now, too. Soon, the paperback will be up as well with the wonderful cover. But, like I said, I will be doing a giveaway for one paperback copy with my autograph (to US addresses only).

Oh, and if you have purchased this book, or will do so, be a sweetie and do a review about it, (if you have not done so). 

Thanks for stopping by!

AUDIO BOOK NOW AVAILABLE!

Hi, everyone, I have some great news! My first Sabrina Strong book, Ascension, is now in an audio book format.  NOW THAT I HAVE YOUR ATTE...