Maria Savva's Blog - Posts Tagged "3"
Thank YOU & a cover reveal!
I just wanted to thank all my readers, fellow authors, and random people on the Internet for helping spread the word about my free promotion. For 3 days from 3-5 July, I was giving away my book Delusion and Dreams as a free Kindle download, and within a couple of days it was listed on two categories on Amazon.com, and reached #1 in one of the categories. It also made it into the top 100 free books on the whole of Amazon.com.
I couldn't have done this without everyone's help. Lots of people helped out by Tweeting on Twitter, sharing on their Facebook pages, and telling their friends.
Thank you to everyone who downloaded the free book, to everyone who Tweeted, shared, told their neighbour about it etc.
I am truly grateful.
For those who downloaded a copy, I hope you enjoy the stories as much as I enjoyed writing them :)
For short story fans, I have a bit of news! I will be publishing another collection of short stories very soon. I have made the book trailer, and designed the cover.
'3', is -- as the title suggests -- a collection of three short stories.
They're all new stories. They have quite dark themes.
I'll be telling you more about this soon.
Hope you love the cover as much as I do!
The photographer is Dave Wicks. Here's a link to his website: http://www.opticgroove.com.au/
I couldn't have done this without everyone's help. Lots of people helped out by Tweeting on Twitter, sharing on their Facebook pages, and telling their friends.
Thank you to everyone who downloaded the free book, to everyone who Tweeted, shared, told their neighbour about it etc.
I am truly grateful.
For those who downloaded a copy, I hope you enjoy the stories as much as I enjoyed writing them :)
For short story fans, I have a bit of news! I will be publishing another collection of short stories very soon. I have made the book trailer, and designed the cover.
'3', is -- as the title suggests -- a collection of three short stories.
They're all new stories. They have quite dark themes.
I'll be telling you more about this soon.
Hope you love the cover as much as I do!
The photographer is Dave Wicks. Here's a link to his website: http://www.opticgroove.com.au/
A quick update...
I'm getting ready to publish a new collection of short stories, titled '3'.
As you can guess by the title, there are 3 short stories in the collection. They are all about how memories of the past can haunt the present. All the stories are quite dark.
The main character in each story has a secret or memory that plays a big role in the story.
I am reading through the final version today and will then hopefully be able to send it off to be formatted for Kindle. I'll also be publishing a paperback version through Lulu.com.
In other news...
I am currently editing A Time to Tell so that I can publish a second edition with a brand new cover.
As you can guess by the title, there are 3 short stories in the collection. They are all about how memories of the past can haunt the present. All the stories are quite dark.
The main character in each story has a secret or memory that plays a big role in the story.
I am reading through the final version today and will then hopefully be able to send it off to be formatted for Kindle. I'll also be publishing a paperback version through Lulu.com.
In other news...
I am currently editing A Time to Tell so that I can publish a second edition with a brand new cover.
"3" is now available on Kindle! (But you probably knew that already!)
I have been so busy lately that I completely forgot to announce the release of my new collection of short stories!!
Sorry!
Anyway, the book is now published on Kindle and next week lots of my lovely author and blogger friends will be helping me reveal the new book to the world. Between 16th & 20th September, look out for blogs about "3". It would also be helpful if you RT (if you're on Twitter) or post links to the blogs on your FB pages etc.
If you have a blog and want to post something about the new release, please do!! The more the merrier, and send me the link so I can promote it.
I really like this new collection, but of course, I am biased LOL.
Here's the blurb:
A trio of short stories.
Memories from the past can haunt the present.
1. Never To Be Told - Tom and Amber are on a romantic date... but the past is always present.
2. The Bride - In this paranormal short, Olivia makes a chilling discovery.
3. What The Girl Heard - Victoria revisits a place that holds a dark reminder of an incident from her childhood. She had vowed she would never return.
The stories are leaning towards the dark side. I worked very hard on them and think they're great and hope you do too.
If you read the book and enjoy it, please leave a review on Amazon/Goodreads. It doesn't have to be anything detailed, it's just nice for authors to know when people enjoy their stories... gives us a bit of a boost. We appreciate every review... even the slightly not-so-good ones as long as they are not nasty. Critical reviews can help an author improve his/her writing skills.
Here are a few quotes from the reviews that have been posted so far:
"In the first story we meet Tom and Amber they are on a romantic date for the first time. But one of them is hiding a secret from their past that will haunt their life forever. The second story is a frightening paranormal, and the third is about a woman who had a childhood incident that bleeds into the present as a living nightmare.
A fantastic collection of psychological suspense." Sheri Wilkinson
"...thought provoking, clever and even chilling... each of the three tales is worth reading, the writing itself drawing in the reader to want more. I loved the characters, which were believable and realistic.
Cleverly done" Julie Elizabeth Powell, author of Gone
"Three is an innovative showcase of a trio of her short stories, all with her trademark twist in the tale. I always enjoy reading Maria's stories as they are well written and flow beautifully. She is very good at portraying the emotions of her characters, making them real to the reader." Catherine Rose
You can buy the book at Amazon worldwide:
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/3-ebook/dp/B00E...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/3-ebook/dp/B0...
Amazon FR: http://www.amazon.fr/3-ebook/dp/B00EU...
Amazon ES: http://www.amazon.es/3-ebook/dp/B00EU...
Amazon CA: http://www.amazon.ca/3-ebook/dp/B00EU...
Amazon BR: http://www.amazon.com.br/3-ebook/dp/B...
Amazon IT: http://www.amazon.it/3-ebook/dp/B00EU...
Amazon JP: http://www.amazon.co.jp/3-ebook/dp/B0... - See more at: http://www.mariasavva.com/site/index....
Hope you enjoy the stories!!
Sorry!
Anyway, the book is now published on Kindle and next week lots of my lovely author and blogger friends will be helping me reveal the new book to the world. Between 16th & 20th September, look out for blogs about "3". It would also be helpful if you RT (if you're on Twitter) or post links to the blogs on your FB pages etc.
If you have a blog and want to post something about the new release, please do!! The more the merrier, and send me the link so I can promote it.
I really like this new collection, but of course, I am biased LOL.
Here's the blurb:
A trio of short stories.
Memories from the past can haunt the present.
1. Never To Be Told - Tom and Amber are on a romantic date... but the past is always present.
2. The Bride - In this paranormal short, Olivia makes a chilling discovery.
3. What The Girl Heard - Victoria revisits a place that holds a dark reminder of an incident from her childhood. She had vowed she would never return.
The stories are leaning towards the dark side. I worked very hard on them and think they're great and hope you do too.
If you read the book and enjoy it, please leave a review on Amazon/Goodreads. It doesn't have to be anything detailed, it's just nice for authors to know when people enjoy their stories... gives us a bit of a boost. We appreciate every review... even the slightly not-so-good ones as long as they are not nasty. Critical reviews can help an author improve his/her writing skills.
Here are a few quotes from the reviews that have been posted so far:
"In the first story we meet Tom and Amber they are on a romantic date for the first time. But one of them is hiding a secret from their past that will haunt their life forever. The second story is a frightening paranormal, and the third is about a woman who had a childhood incident that bleeds into the present as a living nightmare.
A fantastic collection of psychological suspense." Sheri Wilkinson
"...thought provoking, clever and even chilling... each of the three tales is worth reading, the writing itself drawing in the reader to want more. I loved the characters, which were believable and realistic.
Cleverly done" Julie Elizabeth Powell, author of Gone
"Three is an innovative showcase of a trio of her short stories, all with her trademark twist in the tale. I always enjoy reading Maria's stories as they are well written and flow beautifully. She is very good at portraying the emotions of her characters, making them real to the reader." Catherine Rose
You can buy the book at Amazon worldwide:
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/3-ebook/dp/B00E...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/3-ebook/dp/B0...
Amazon FR: http://www.amazon.fr/3-ebook/dp/B00EU...
Amazon ES: http://www.amazon.es/3-ebook/dp/B00EU...
Amazon CA: http://www.amazon.ca/3-ebook/dp/B00EU...
Amazon BR: http://www.amazon.com.br/3-ebook/dp/B...
Amazon IT: http://www.amazon.it/3-ebook/dp/B00EU...
Amazon JP: http://www.amazon.co.jp/3-ebook/dp/B0... - See more at: http://www.mariasavva.com/site/index....
Hope you enjoy the stories!!
Blog tour is underway for "3"
This week, my new book 3 is being featured on lots of blogs.
"3" is a collection of three short stories. They are quite dark. Here's one of the latest reviews that made me smile:
"3. It's a bad number for lovers, but a goodly number for short stories about lovers and the rites and wrongs thereto. Especially such stories as contained in Maria Savva's latest collection by that same title. Hitchcock in a new direction, Maria blends Twilight Zone anomalies with romance to create a truly unique reading experience. I read it start to finish in a single, page-turning, Kindle-clicking session, and I'm already eagerly awaiting her next fictions. Brava, Savva!" Karen Robiscoe
There have already been a few posts about "3" in this blog tour. I've listed them below.
(I'll be updating the list during the week with all of the blog posts. If you're on Pinterest, you can follow my Board there, where I will be adding all the posts: http://www.pinterest.com/mariasavva/b...)
Terry Tyler's UK Arts Directory Blog: http://ukartsdirectory.com/terry-tyle...
Julie Elizabeth Powell's blog: http://www.freewebs.com/julizpow/blog...
Samantha J Wright's blog: http://samanthajwright.com/guest-auth...
Humor Outcasts (Donna Cavanagh): http://humoroutcasts.com/2013/blog-to...
Angela Thomas's blog (includes a review): http://aethomas2005.wordpress.com/201...
The Secret Writer: http://thesecretwriterblog.blogspot.c...
Martin Cosby's blog (Includes an interview): http://strangerdesigns.blogspot.co.uk...
Darcia Helle's blog: http://quietfurybooks.com/blog/2013/0...
Helle Gade's blog: http://hellegade.wordpress.com/2013/0...
Stacy Juba's blog: http://stacyjuba.com/blog/2013/09/16/...
Jason McIntyre's blog: http://www.thefarthestreaches.com/201...
Geoffrey West's blog (also includes details of the talented Terry Tyler's new release 'What it Takes': http://geoffreywestdotcom.wordpress.c...
Sandra Yuen Mackay's blog: http://symackay.blogspot.ca/2013/09/m...
Lucy Pireel's blog: http://lucypireel.wordpress.com/2013/...
J. Michael Radcliffe's blog: http://michaelradcliffe.wordpress.com...
Merita King's blog: http://meritaking.com/2013/09/16/new-...
Simon Hay's blog: http://blog.simonhay.com.au/2013/09/w...
Marta Moran Bishop's blog (includes review): http://www.martamoranbishop.com/5/pos...
Orchard Book Club (includes review): http://orchardbookclub.wordpress.com/...
Karen Robiscoe's blog (includes review): http://charronschatter.com/2013/09/17...
Cinta García de la Rosa's blog: http://authorsyouwanttoread.wordpress...
Aobibliophile's blog:
http://networkedblogs.com/Pa66I
Cindy Schuerr's blog: http://theheartofwriting.blogspot.co....
Alberta Ross's blog: http://albertaross.wordpress.com/2013...
Laxmi Hariharan's blog: http://immortalprotozoan.blogspot.co....
I hope you enjoy the blog tour, and the stories.
"3" is a collection of three short stories. They are quite dark. Here's one of the latest reviews that made me smile:
"3. It's a bad number for lovers, but a goodly number for short stories about lovers and the rites and wrongs thereto. Especially such stories as contained in Maria Savva's latest collection by that same title. Hitchcock in a new direction, Maria blends Twilight Zone anomalies with romance to create a truly unique reading experience. I read it start to finish in a single, page-turning, Kindle-clicking session, and I'm already eagerly awaiting her next fictions. Brava, Savva!" Karen Robiscoe
There have already been a few posts about "3" in this blog tour. I've listed them below.
(I'll be updating the list during the week with all of the blog posts. If you're on Pinterest, you can follow my Board there, where I will be adding all the posts: http://www.pinterest.com/mariasavva/b...)
Terry Tyler's UK Arts Directory Blog: http://ukartsdirectory.com/terry-tyle...
Julie Elizabeth Powell's blog: http://www.freewebs.com/julizpow/blog...
Samantha J Wright's blog: http://samanthajwright.com/guest-auth...
Humor Outcasts (Donna Cavanagh): http://humoroutcasts.com/2013/blog-to...
Angela Thomas's blog (includes a review): http://aethomas2005.wordpress.com/201...
The Secret Writer: http://thesecretwriterblog.blogspot.c...
Martin Cosby's blog (Includes an interview): http://strangerdesigns.blogspot.co.uk...
Darcia Helle's blog: http://quietfurybooks.com/blog/2013/0...
Helle Gade's blog: http://hellegade.wordpress.com/2013/0...
Stacy Juba's blog: http://stacyjuba.com/blog/2013/09/16/...
Jason McIntyre's blog: http://www.thefarthestreaches.com/201...
Geoffrey West's blog (also includes details of the talented Terry Tyler's new release 'What it Takes': http://geoffreywestdotcom.wordpress.c...
Sandra Yuen Mackay's blog: http://symackay.blogspot.ca/2013/09/m...
Lucy Pireel's blog: http://lucypireel.wordpress.com/2013/...
J. Michael Radcliffe's blog: http://michaelradcliffe.wordpress.com...
Merita King's blog: http://meritaking.com/2013/09/16/new-...
Simon Hay's blog: http://blog.simonhay.com.au/2013/09/w...
Marta Moran Bishop's blog (includes review): http://www.martamoranbishop.com/5/pos...
Orchard Book Club (includes review): http://orchardbookclub.wordpress.com/...
Karen Robiscoe's blog (includes review): http://charronschatter.com/2013/09/17...
Cinta García de la Rosa's blog: http://authorsyouwanttoread.wordpress...
Aobibliophile's blog:
http://networkedblogs.com/Pa66I
Cindy Schuerr's blog: http://theheartofwriting.blogspot.co....
Alberta Ross's blog: http://albertaross.wordpress.com/2013...
Laxmi Hariharan's blog: http://immortalprotozoan.blogspot.co....
I hope you enjoy the blog tour, and the stories.
Great discounts on my Lulu.com books!
As the Christmas season is nearly upon us and some of you may be thinking of stocking up on books for your friends, I thought I'd let you know about the great discount I've heard about on my Lulu.com paperback books.
If you buy up to 14 books by 5th December (midnight), and use code LULUVIP466781 at the checkout, you can get 30% off any of my books! You'll see that some of my books are already available at a discounted price, so this makes them even more of a bargain buy!
Here's a link to my page at Lulu: http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/mariasavva
Most of my books are available there.
If you buy up to 14 books by 5th December (midnight), and use code LULUVIP466781 at the checkout, you can get 30% off any of my books! You'll see that some of my books are already available at a discounted price, so this makes them even more of a bargain buy!
Here's a link to my page at Lulu: http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/mariasavva
Most of my books are available there.
End of year round-up
2013 has been a very busy year for me.
Writing:
At the beginning of the year, one of my my plans was to work on my 6th Novel, which I started writing at the end of 2012. However, I haven't written any more of that novel since! I do intend to get back to it soon because I was enjoying writing it.
My main project at the moment is my next collection of short stories. It's mixed-genre. It contains a fantasy story, a mystery, and the rest are all quite dark fiction. It's titled "Far Away in Time". That is, of course, a line from the song 'Echo Beach' (which has always been one of my favourite songs), so being a music fan I couldn't let that pass me by. I have deliberately added some links to that song throughout the book. For example, some of the characters are named after the people who wrote or sang the song; there is a beach that plays an important part in one of the stories; one of the characters bakes some muffins in one of the stories :) (Martha and the Muffins).
The cover of the book will be a photograph by the same photographer who took the photo that is now the cover for my novel "Second Chances". A total coincidence, because I was looking through the website where I usually find royalty-free photos and came across his photo. It's gorgeous and I plan to do a cover reveal shortly.
This year, I've also been editing the second edition of "A Time to Tell". I have a lovely new cover for that, designed by Kat at Aeternum Designs. I'll be revealing that cover soon too.
I'm hoping that both new books will be published in the first half of 2014.
Blogging:
This year, I started blogging for the UK Arts Directory. They then branched off into the UK Music Directory and I now blog there. I interview bands. Mainly new and independent bands. If you're a music fan you might want to check it out.
My other blog (which I share with Darcia Helle and J. Michael Radcliffe) BestsellerBounds Recommends, has also been keeping me busy as it grows in popularity. We help to promote the best in new independent publishing.
Giveaways:
This month there are a couple of giveaways running where you can win some of my books, so in case you missed those announcements here are the links:
Books Direct: http://quietfurybooks.com/bestsellerb...
You can win an e-book of Coincidences (Lots of other great prizes there too!)
Quiet Fury Books:http://quietfurybooks.com/contests.html
You could win a paperback copy of "3", or e-books of "3", Delusion and Dreams, or Haunted (lots of other great prizes up for grabs there too!)
Finally...
I hope you all have a wonderful festive season and look forward to chatting with you all again in the New Year.
I'll be back in the New Year with a blog about my plans for 2014. Last year, I blogged about my plans for 2013. Out of the things listed, the only one I accomplished was publishing Delusion and Dreams! However, at the time, my book 3 wasn't even planned. I'm really happy with both those short story collections.
Merry Christmas!
Writing:
At the beginning of the year, one of my my plans was to work on my 6th Novel, which I started writing at the end of 2012. However, I haven't written any more of that novel since! I do intend to get back to it soon because I was enjoying writing it.
My main project at the moment is my next collection of short stories. It's mixed-genre. It contains a fantasy story, a mystery, and the rest are all quite dark fiction. It's titled "Far Away in Time". That is, of course, a line from the song 'Echo Beach' (which has always been one of my favourite songs), so being a music fan I couldn't let that pass me by. I have deliberately added some links to that song throughout the book. For example, some of the characters are named after the people who wrote or sang the song; there is a beach that plays an important part in one of the stories; one of the characters bakes some muffins in one of the stories :) (Martha and the Muffins).
The cover of the book will be a photograph by the same photographer who took the photo that is now the cover for my novel "Second Chances". A total coincidence, because I was looking through the website where I usually find royalty-free photos and came across his photo. It's gorgeous and I plan to do a cover reveal shortly.
This year, I've also been editing the second edition of "A Time to Tell". I have a lovely new cover for that, designed by Kat at Aeternum Designs. I'll be revealing that cover soon too.
I'm hoping that both new books will be published in the first half of 2014.
Blogging:
This year, I started blogging for the UK Arts Directory. They then branched off into the UK Music Directory and I now blog there. I interview bands. Mainly new and independent bands. If you're a music fan you might want to check it out.
My other blog (which I share with Darcia Helle and J. Michael Radcliffe) BestsellerBounds Recommends, has also been keeping me busy as it grows in popularity. We help to promote the best in new independent publishing.
Giveaways:
This month there are a couple of giveaways running where you can win some of my books, so in case you missed those announcements here are the links:
Books Direct: http://quietfurybooks.com/bestsellerb...
You can win an e-book of Coincidences (Lots of other great prizes there too!)
Quiet Fury Books:http://quietfurybooks.com/contests.html
You could win a paperback copy of "3", or e-books of "3", Delusion and Dreams, or Haunted (lots of other great prizes up for grabs there too!)
Finally...
I hope you all have a wonderful festive season and look forward to chatting with you all again in the New Year.
I'll be back in the New Year with a blog about my plans for 2014. Last year, I blogged about my plans for 2013. Out of the things listed, the only one I accomplished was publishing Delusion and Dreams! However, at the time, my book 3 wasn't even planned. I'm really happy with both those short story collections.
Merry Christmas!
My favourite book covers of 2013
One of my favourite parts of self-publishing my books is choosing the right cover. In the past I have used my own artwork, or photographs that have caught my eye in some way.
For me, the important thing is that the cover should reflect what is inside the book. I love art and I've always liked browsing bookstores just to look at the book covers. Some of them are very eye-catching and I've sometimes bought a book just because I like the cover so much!
I thought it would be nice as an end of year list to choose my favourite book covers of 2013.
I'm going to include the covers of my books, Delusion and Dreams, and 3, both of which were published this year. I love the photographs on the covers.
Here are my favourites from this year. (I'd also be interested in hearing about yours, so if you have any favourites, please comment with a link so we can all see!)
My Favourite Book Covers of 2013 (in no particular order)
Rise of the Shadow by J. Michael Radcliffe
The Christmas Spirit by Susan Buchanan
13 by Julie Elizabeth Powell
Delusion and Dreams
3
Nine Lives by Terry Tyler
Fastian: An Edgeweir Tale (The Weaver Saga, #1). by Jay Finn
An Eye For An Eye For An Eye by Marc Nash
Nocturnal Embers by Helle Gade
Sandcastle and Other Stories byJustin Bog
The Conversationalist by Justin Bog
A Virtual Love by Andrew Blackman
For me, the important thing is that the cover should reflect what is inside the book. I love art and I've always liked browsing bookstores just to look at the book covers. Some of them are very eye-catching and I've sometimes bought a book just because I like the cover so much!
I thought it would be nice as an end of year list to choose my favourite book covers of 2013.
I'm going to include the covers of my books, Delusion and Dreams, and 3, both of which were published this year. I love the photographs on the covers.
Here are my favourites from this year. (I'd also be interested in hearing about yours, so if you have any favourites, please comment with a link so we can all see!)
My Favourite Book Covers of 2013 (in no particular order)
Rise of the Shadow by J. Michael Radcliffe
The Christmas Spirit by Susan Buchanan
13 by Julie Elizabeth Powell
Delusion and Dreams
3
Nine Lives by Terry Tyler
Fastian: An Edgeweir Tale (The Weaver Saga, #1). by Jay Finn
An Eye For An Eye For An Eye by Marc Nash
Nocturnal Embers by Helle Gade
Sandcastle and Other Stories byJustin Bog
The Conversationalist by Justin Bog
A Virtual Love by Andrew Blackman
Halloween Reads
It's nearly Halloween.
I've always loved a good ghost story. It might have something to do with the fact that I grew up in a haunted house. Many of my novels and stories have some elements of paranormal in them, probably for the same reason.
Open Culture posted a blog today about horror author H.P. Lovecraft's books. You can get his complete works free, either as an e-book or audiobook. Follow the link to find our more: http://www.openculture.com/2014/10/h-...
Reading that blog got me thinking about what books I could recommend as Halloween reads.
Here are a few suggestions:
Her Fearful Symmetry, by Audrey Niffenegger.
From the bestselling author of The Time Traveler's Wife. I loved absolutely everything about this book. It's definitely spooky, and there are ghosts in it. I'd say this is a more or less perfect Halloween read. It's great for those who don't really like gory books. It's also quite light-hearted in parts even though the theme is dark and disturbing.
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Her-Fearful-Sym...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Her-Fearful-S...
Legend of the Pumpkin King by J. Michael Radcliffe.
If you like fantasy tales, J. Michael Radcliffe is a master of the genre; this is a nice little story. It's part fantasy and part horror. It will definitely get you in the mood for Halloween.
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Legend-Pumpkin-...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Legend-Pumpki...
Dying Embers, by M.R. Cosby.
This is a book of dark and strange tales with ghosts that turn up often as memories from the past. It's an ideal read to put you in the frame of mind for the spooky goings-on at Halloween. The characters will lead you down very dark and ghostly paths.
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Dying-Embers-M-...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dying-Embers-...
The Other Room and
Falling Over by James Everington.
I couldn't decide between James Everington's two brilliant collections. These contain horror, paranormal, and all things twisted. He has some other books that are also dark and highly recommended. These stories definitely challenge our perception of reality and are just right for this spine-chilling season.
The Other Room:
Amazon US:http://www.amazon.com/Other-Room-Jame...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Other-Room-Ja...
Falling Over:
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Falling-Over-Ja...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Falling-Over-...
While we're on the subject of horror, you could try 13, by Julie Elizabeth Powell, if you want to be shocked and scared. This is a perfectly crafted horror story that will send shivers down your spine.
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/13-Julie-Elizab...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/13-Julie-Eliz...
If you want ghosts in your Halloween read, but would prefer a book that will also make you laugh, you should check out Into The Light, by Darcia Helle and Horse Latitudes, by Quentin R. Bufogle.
Into The Light is the story of a ghost who is trying to help to solve his own murder. It will definitely add an element of fun to your Halloween.
Horse Latitudes features a ghost who helps the main character make an important decision. It's a book that will definitely make you laugh out loud.
--------------------------
I've seen lots authors promoting special Halloween stories or posting on Twitter about their books that would make great Halloween reads, so below is a list I have compiled from those promotions. I haven't read any of the books listed below, but they all sound great and will be added to my never-ending TBR list!
Shadow the Ghost Dog by J T Therrien
(Children' fiction)
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Ghost-Do...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shadow-Ghost-...
Sad I Am, by Regina Puckett
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N99F1K8/
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00N99F1K8/
Dark Before Dawn, by Stacy Juba
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Before-Daw...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dark-Before-D...
-----------------------
Talented author, Justin Bog has been posting chapters from his current work in progress since May this year, on his blog. It's a horror story called The Play (The Queen’s Idle Fancy). Having read both of Justin's published works I know this must be good. I haven't found time to read any of it yet! Seems like the ideal time of year to start. The first part is here: http://justinbog.com/new-horror-ficti... and you can follow the story on his blog.
-------------------------------
As I mentioned at the start of this post, some of my novels and stories have elements of paranormal in them. The Dream and Haunted both feature ghosts. There are also ghost stories included in my short story collections Fusion and 3.
The new novel I'm working on also features a ghost, but probably won't be released until Halloween next year!
Haunted:
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Haunted-Maria-S...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Haunted-Maria...
"3":
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/3-Maria-Savva-e...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/3-Maria-Savva...
The Dream:
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Dream-Maria-Sav...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dream-Maria-S...
Fusion:
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Fusion-Maria-Sa...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fusion-Maria-...
-----------------------------------
I hope you find something from the above suggestions to help make your Halloween more spooky! Whatever you're planning, have fun and stay safe!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
I've always loved a good ghost story. It might have something to do with the fact that I grew up in a haunted house. Many of my novels and stories have some elements of paranormal in them, probably for the same reason.
Open Culture posted a blog today about horror author H.P. Lovecraft's books. You can get his complete works free, either as an e-book or audiobook. Follow the link to find our more: http://www.openculture.com/2014/10/h-...
Reading that blog got me thinking about what books I could recommend as Halloween reads.
Here are a few suggestions:
Her Fearful Symmetry, by Audrey Niffenegger.
From the bestselling author of The Time Traveler's Wife. I loved absolutely everything about this book. It's definitely spooky, and there are ghosts in it. I'd say this is a more or less perfect Halloween read. It's great for those who don't really like gory books. It's also quite light-hearted in parts even though the theme is dark and disturbing.
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Her-Fearful-Sym...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Her-Fearful-S...
Legend of the Pumpkin King by J. Michael Radcliffe.
If you like fantasy tales, J. Michael Radcliffe is a master of the genre; this is a nice little story. It's part fantasy and part horror. It will definitely get you in the mood for Halloween.
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Legend-Pumpkin-...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Legend-Pumpki...
Dying Embers, by M.R. Cosby.
This is a book of dark and strange tales with ghosts that turn up often as memories from the past. It's an ideal read to put you in the frame of mind for the spooky goings-on at Halloween. The characters will lead you down very dark and ghostly paths.
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Dying-Embers-M-...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dying-Embers-...
The Other Room and
Falling Over by James Everington.
I couldn't decide between James Everington's two brilliant collections. These contain horror, paranormal, and all things twisted. He has some other books that are also dark and highly recommended. These stories definitely challenge our perception of reality and are just right for this spine-chilling season.
The Other Room:
Amazon US:http://www.amazon.com/Other-Room-Jame...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Other-Room-Ja...
Falling Over:
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Falling-Over-Ja...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Falling-Over-...
While we're on the subject of horror, you could try 13, by Julie Elizabeth Powell, if you want to be shocked and scared. This is a perfectly crafted horror story that will send shivers down your spine.
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/13-Julie-Elizab...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/13-Julie-Eliz...
If you want ghosts in your Halloween read, but would prefer a book that will also make you laugh, you should check out Into The Light, by Darcia Helle and Horse Latitudes, by Quentin R. Bufogle.
Into The Light is the story of a ghost who is trying to help to solve his own murder. It will definitely add an element of fun to your Halloween.
Horse Latitudes features a ghost who helps the main character make an important decision. It's a book that will definitely make you laugh out loud.
--------------------------
I've seen lots authors promoting special Halloween stories or posting on Twitter about their books that would make great Halloween reads, so below is a list I have compiled from those promotions. I haven't read any of the books listed below, but they all sound great and will be added to my never-ending TBR list!
Shadow the Ghost Dog by J T Therrien
(Children' fiction)
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Ghost-Do...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shadow-Ghost-...
Sad I Am, by Regina Puckett
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N99F1K8/
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00N99F1K8/
Dark Before Dawn, by Stacy Juba
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Before-Daw...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dark-Before-D...
-----------------------
Talented author, Justin Bog has been posting chapters from his current work in progress since May this year, on his blog. It's a horror story called The Play (The Queen’s Idle Fancy). Having read both of Justin's published works I know this must be good. I haven't found time to read any of it yet! Seems like the ideal time of year to start. The first part is here: http://justinbog.com/new-horror-ficti... and you can follow the story on his blog.
-------------------------------
As I mentioned at the start of this post, some of my novels and stories have elements of paranormal in them. The Dream and Haunted both feature ghosts. There are also ghost stories included in my short story collections Fusion and 3.
The new novel I'm working on also features a ghost, but probably won't be released until Halloween next year!
Haunted:
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Haunted-Maria-S...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Haunted-Maria...
"3":
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/3-Maria-Savva-e...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/3-Maria-Savva...
The Dream:
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Dream-Maria-Sav...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dream-Maria-S...
Fusion:
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Fusion-Maria-Sa...
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fusion-Maria-...
-----------------------------------
I hope you find something from the above suggestions to help make your Halloween more spooky! Whatever you're planning, have fun and stay safe!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Read my latest author interview on Bookscover2cover
I recently found out about a wonderful website, Bookscover2cover. It features author interviews, book reviews, and lots of other book related stuff. There are some very interesting articles on the site. I found out about it because one of my readers, Piper Templeton, is also an author and I was pleasantly surprised when she told me she was going to post an author study about my books on the website. I've never had anyone write an author study about my books, so I was thrilled that she had taken the time to do that.
Piper based her study on three of my books, The Spider, Delusion and Dreams, and 3.
Here's an excerpt:
Maria Savva brings the reader deeply into the human conscience and inner psyche of her characters. Her fiction expertly weaves moral ambiguities, deep-seated memories, and modern challenges into contemporary storytelling that deals with relationships, jobs, unmet expectations, and living with past choices. These are struggles we can all relate to, and many people will recognize themselves through the inner dialog that goes on inside her characters’ minds. [...] Savva’s thought-provoking fiction is also entertaining. Her evocative writing style is clear and straightforward as her characters tackle complex dilemmas. The dark, sometimes disturbing plots and characters are balanced with humor, believability, and relatable conflicts.
You can read the entire author study at the following link: https://bookscover2cover.com/2016/12/...
Piper also invited me for an interview. You can also read that on the Bookscover2cover website: https://bookscover2cover.com/2016/12/...
Bookscover2cover is also on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bookscover2c... and
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bookscovr2covr
Like/follow them to read some fascinating articles about books and authors. You can also subscribe to their newsletter here: https://bookscover2cover.com/sign-up-...
Piper based her study on three of my books, The Spider, Delusion and Dreams, and 3.
Here's an excerpt:
Maria Savva brings the reader deeply into the human conscience and inner psyche of her characters. Her fiction expertly weaves moral ambiguities, deep-seated memories, and modern challenges into contemporary storytelling that deals with relationships, jobs, unmet expectations, and living with past choices. These are struggles we can all relate to, and many people will recognize themselves through the inner dialog that goes on inside her characters’ minds. [...] Savva’s thought-provoking fiction is also entertaining. Her evocative writing style is clear and straightforward as her characters tackle complex dilemmas. The dark, sometimes disturbing plots and characters are balanced with humor, believability, and relatable conflicts.
You can read the entire author study at the following link: https://bookscover2cover.com/2016/12/...
Piper also invited me for an interview. You can also read that on the Bookscover2cover website: https://bookscover2cover.com/2016/12/...
Bookscover2cover is also on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bookscover2c... and
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bookscovr2covr
Like/follow them to read some fascinating articles about books and authors. You can also subscribe to their newsletter here: https://bookscover2cover.com/sign-up-...
