 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.
Ignore these pictures. Still with me? Jeremy Mac (J Mac) is first and foremost a fantastic writer; he is also far more. He is gracious, modest, funny, professional, and down-to-earth. Some people also think that he is a heart throb. He laughs off such ideas! Jeremy was kind enough to meet my challenge as I link his story to far bigger thoughts. We (humans, authors) are labeled as handsome/beautiful OR smart and talented. It’s all through the media and everywhere on television that no one wishes to have just ONE label and yet, we all still use them. I think we can prove that some people are all things. J Mac may be an Arkansas Heart Throb to his readers/fans, but may I suggest strongly that more readers grab his works and see for themselves just how talented this writer is? I hope I got your attention with the fun photos to begin with, and I hope J Mac carries that attention and proves that he (and we all) can be attractive AND smart AND talented AND professional. J Mac is the real deal. ~catt dahman 10.28.18   Jeremy Mac is a multi-genre fiction author with three novels, three novellas, and several short stories and poems to his list of writing credits. An avid lover of sand and sun, Mac has frolicked throughout the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, but he currently writes from Arkansas. To learn more about Jeremy Mac, visit his Facebook page @ facebook.com/jeremymac.author
First of all, Roy C Booth is a machine. He writes with other authors and his lovely wife , Cynthia, and seems to cross genres, write plays, novels, short stories, and pumps out tons of great writing! Instead of getting way behind on reading, get started with any of his excellent works; I guarantee any reader will find his style, stories, professional writing, and characters stunning.  Steampunk Victorian England is brought to life in this rousing tale of murder and intrigue featuring literature’s greatest detective: Sherlock Holmes. In an era of boilers and coal, inventor Samuel Brown finds himself persecuted for daring to apply his genius to the development of a kerosene powered internal combustion engine. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are tasked with uncovering the source of the conspiracy, and quickly find themselves in the web of a mysterious network capable of applying pressure at every turn. Among the henchmen in their opposition are several characters from England’s history with infamy to match the great sleuth’s acclaim. Not all is as it seems, but this Sherlock is equipped with brass enhancements, and has no qualms against fighting fire with scalding vapor and a rapier-quick mind. Excitement and adventure abound as Sherlock Holmes enters the world of Steampunk and finds the setting quite compatible with his unique and varied talents.
 They seemed to have the perfect family until Mitch disappeared. The police think he abandoned his family, while Loretta, his wife, and Mitch's brother, Ted, think something terrible happened to him. Ted begins to dig into his brother's disappearance and the deeper he goes, the more sinister the mystery becomes. What they discover is something even beyond their wildest imagination . We are being colonized.
True story here. Years ago, I was a bit anti-vampire even if I had a few of my own. Amanda M Lyons started my recovery but in the meantime, I was looking around at random, just seeing who was writing what, and I somehow found William Bove's writing. At once I was stunned by his style and his liquid prose and characters. I found that he was unpublished and asked him if he were interested in a contract because I just knew that every reader should become as addicted to his work as I was. Give this a try and demand the follow-ups, like I have!
 When Jim Goforth mentioned writing for Triggered, I thought it would be pretty simple since I have accused of triggering people (and ruining coffee, popcorn, and gumbo for people). I had also survived Dani Brown's trigger-causing story about toenails! Yet, when my story was done and turned in, it was subtle but triggered some very unpleasant feelings within me that almost became true fear. i told Jim to edit as he pleased and do as he wanted but that I never wanted to read my own story again because of (not what was written per se) but what was going on in my head as I wrote the story and the unsaid parts. No clue what he edited because I never read it again but he did accept it and chuckled at me. If a reader wants to be unnerved and , yes, triggered, give this a read. Whether or not my story causes any pain, I have no idea, but I suspect that the other stories are far more deadly. Enjoy! Click to purchase  When a small group of outcasts from the suburbs of Washington, DC witness the zombie apocalypse happening before their eyes, what will they do to survive and will they succeed? A small cabin in the mountains of Virginia, once a refuge from the hectic rush of city life, may now be the only refuge for life for these self-labelled DC Freaks. Not your mama's Cabin in the Woods.  So you think your job is dull? Routine? A dead end? Well, my friend – Dust off your resume, grab a pen and open these pages to see if any of These ‘Dark Possibilities’ of job opportunities may interest you: A hair salon where displaying hair designs is done in a rather unique way…… A Funeral Parlor where the Director goes the extra mile for his clients……. A Landscaper who truly has a green and red thumb…… An auto shop that services the surreal as well as the real…… As well as a few other occupations that may have you reaching for a job application……or not.  A hellish storm forces an unwitting group of travelers to seek shelter from the road. After nearly giving them up for lost, each finds himself in front of the eerie pub called the Rack and Cue. The pub's owner, Porky, welcomes them in with tasty beer, delicious homemade meat pies, and the promise of food entertainment - a pool tournament. It's a winner-take-all competition with a hefty cash prize. However, as each round wraps up, and each loser in turn mysteriously disappears down to the cellar, some of the guests become suspicious. One pair of truck drivers, Rigs and Iain, determine that their only hope is fighting their way out.
There are several authors who I was always a huge fan of and later got to meet and all were very inspiring and friendly people. There are a handful who I read and was a fan of and then met and who later became friends of or very very close buddies of. David Owain Hughs is one I do not know well (yet) but I am a fan by far and have been a while so I was thrilled when JEA began carrying some of his stuff! DA Roberts is one whom I have a great story with. I was a huge fan of his and when he began to speak with me, I had to try to hide my shyness because he was a hero-writer of mine: he is that amazing and I love his books. For years, he and I have been working on a book called Cold Hunger that will be out soon and he is the only author I have ever worked with as a co-writer. I still feel humbled. Fast forward. The book will be out soon, as said, but DA (Doug) is now with JEA and carries an amazing imprint dedicated to books with characters who are cops, military, detectives, etc. He and his darling wife are considered to be family friends now and we hope they might even move very close (fingers crossed). in a few years, I went from fan to friend and Annette is like a long-lost sister in my heart. TL Decay (Trevor Smith) and his family are like...well, family and I was a fan before I knew him. The night he spoke to me and was friendly, I got glassy-eyed and felt such pride that HE would consider me worthy to talk to. My message here is 2-fold. Authors, take a chance on a little guy who worships your talent and let us be your friend. Readers, talk to us who are writers, as just people and give us a chance to befriend you! Writing can build deep friendships.
*** I could list a ton more but suffice to say all JEA staff and friends and many more have become close friends because I first picked up a pen. Love to 2 special friends: Amanda and Kitty. |
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