Years ago, I finally made connections and was allowed to hang around the Apoc crowd with the big kids. In a group, I saw DA Roberts. Gulp. I had read everything in his series. I was a fan. One night, although I can't recall the reason, he spoke to me! We spoke one-to-one and I recall screaming to my husband, "He's talking to ME! He's treating me as an equal...wow." (I had 20+ books out, most with Severed Press, but still felt impostor syndrome).  He was HUGE to me, a REAL writer!
     My family knows I have poor impulse control, and before my brain caught up with my typing, I told Doug about problems I was having with a book; he gave me ideas and thoughts. (Sqeeeee)  My brained lagged again and before I could stop myself, I asked if he would co-author. How I wished I could erase the words. I was so embarrassed, and knew he would just laugh. My audacity was stupid. Don't read it!  Wait. He said, "ok."   He didn't hesitate! What? It was as if Stephen King had offered to make my writing better and to co-author. I screamed again. 
     Then it was okay. As he and I talked, we played pretend. What if...what if....what if...  He and I thought alike and we bounced ideas, each of us already ahead of each bounce. I knew we had a helluva book.  We both fell into comfortable idea-sharing and I knew we'd become very good friends forever.
     That book will be released soon!
     My story is important because DA Roberts is releasing his series under JEA and again, I feel the same excitement and amazement over the fact that a writer of his caliber is with us!  When he moved in as CEO of JEA (Boy, was he shocked when I asked him, but Amanda M Lyons and I had met and we knew it was the chance of a lifetime to have him come on in that capacity) we saw a change at once. Impulse control (lack of) proved to be a positive once more.
      But this series. I love it and was a fan long before I met Doug. It's had a few tweaks. There are beautiful covers by Fish. It's the same series I fell in love with, but it's just given a bit of gloss. (Doug doesn't know this, but will after reading this, but long ago, as JEA grew up, there were two series I always dreamed of having. One author promises he'll  bring more and I believe he will as soon as time allows. This was the other. A dream come true.)
     Doug brings in dedication, hard work, enthusiasm, and knowledge to JEA, just as he has done to this series. Look, I was a fan long ago and he won me over. Because of this, he became CEO of my company. He became the only author I have ever written with.  He became a good friend (as has his wife).  He's a good person, but I'd never have known that had he not been a wonderful writer, who I met inside of the  first book of his that I read.
     My point is that when we 'meet' a writer within a great story, we never know what may happen, but look at all of this. Read the first book. Give it just one shot. I dare you to read just the first book; it won't happen.  Read them all...and get to know an author I am still stunned to get to work with every day!

​Author’s Bio:  D.A. Roberts
D.A. Roberts is an author of fiction, primarily in the horror/dystopian and science fiction genres. Born in Lebanon, Missouri, he now lives in Springfield, Missouri with his wife and sons. When not writing, D.A. serves his community in Law Enforcement.
Best known for his “Ragnarok Rising Saga,” he blends the zombie genre with elements of Norse Mythology. The series has been called “a thinking man’s apocalyptic world.” This is a unique approach that creates a new sub-genre in Apocalyptic Fiction. Debuting in July of 2012, the series has been featured on radio shows on three continents.
He is also known in science fiction for “The Infinite Black Series.” This series is based on the hit video game from Spellbook Studio. Approached by Spellbook Studio to create the history of their universe, D.A.’s series explores the rich tapestry that is The Infinite Black.  Download and play the game for free at www.Spellbook.com.  
 
Find more about his work at www.jellingtonashton.com and www.Amazon.com. 

How can YOU help? Read something by one of these authors (or both?) and leave a review. Both are great authors and need to see that you support them.  They appreciate that you read their books, but everyone needs a fantastic review to show off!  If you feel really brave, then grab a book by the author you haven't read and see  what you think!

Jeremy Mac and Christopher St John Sampayo are equally professional, talented, handsome, funny, and joys to work with.  Is it really about Texas verses Arkansas? Come on, READERS, and give both a chance. Grab a book from each and decide who scares you the most. If others are like me, they will find that the decision is impossible to make!  Good old boy vs. bad boy....WAIT...which is which? I am confused, now. Just read both and figure it out; you can thank me later. Fall in love with some brilliant writing.

     This is going to be confusing, but stay with me. Amanda M Lyons is a well respected author and CEO of J Ellington Ashton. Impressed? Everyone should be. Her talents are amazing, and I am a fan of everything she writers; she crossed genres with grace. Her husband, Todd Misura, is an author, and has a special ability to turn a phrase into something that is akin to art. He is terrifying! (Their son is also a budding writer!). Amanda's father is probably the center of this entire story and of course, he is an excellent writer as well. Rob Lyons is also modest, proud of his children, and is determined to keep entertaining readers. Recently, Rob seemed sure his family would continue to work the craft and feels that there is a lot to come.  Robert Lyons, Amanda's brother, is deep, sometimes shocking, and always frightening; he delves into horror with an erotic twist (something that some of the family does very well). Finally, Amanda's sister married author, Mike Kanuckel, and added him to the clan! Mike is so good that some of us feel he is giving Stephen King a run for his money. 
     It's talent. It's a tight bond. It's a lot of work writing, but it really is All in the Family.