Chicks with Swords: A Book Club discussion

I realize that a number of my friends in the group are also authors, and inevitably some may want to talk about their own books, or even talk character shop with readers.

To minimize the effect of cluttering book discussion threads in the group, I'd appreciate it if all authors could keep their self-promotion to this thread.

Not everyone wants to read "Read my book. I wrote it." On the other hand, as readers we're all open to a little recommendation now and then, so please feel free to leave your shameless self-promotion here. This will keep discussion threads from becoming weighted down with recommendations and self-promotion.

I wrote a book called "Avalon" under my pen name Serena Carrington. It definitely has strong female characters. I think you can still get it on Barnes and Noble and Amazon and also on www.lulu.com. It is a self published book.

The book is available at those places online or in the stores or both?

online, I know for sure www.lulu.com has it. I think barnes and noble and amazon.com still have it.

Jayme have you thought about epubbing on Amazon, B&N and smashwords?

Not really, I am not interesting in publishing at this time. With all the hassle I had to go through to get published with print on demand, I moved on to other interests.

I'm trying overcome my desire to avoid being a shameless self-promoting pest but it doesn't seem there's any other way to let people know my stuff exists. And so...

I've got a couple of fantasy books with some strong female characters in them. They're in a series and I have a third one that's having cover art done for it presently. The titles are "Voidhawk" and "Voidhawk - The Elder Race". I prefer the second one myself but without the first a lot is lost. Ebooks and print available (via Amazon / Createspace).

Strong female characters have always been favorites of mine, both in fiction and reality. I find that people and characters who go through hardship and come out stronger for it are very compelling and the right sort of people to surround myself with.

I'm not going to bother posting about the story I wrote since it doesn't really fall in the fantasy category.

I love all sorts of books. Go ahead!

Jason wrote: "I'm trying overcome my desire to avoid being a shameless self-promoting pest but it doesn't seem there's any other way to let people know my stuff exists. And so...

I've got a couple of fantasy bo..."

Thanks for letting us know, Jason. Self-promotion is a tough thing. You want to tell the world about your books, but sometimes it just feels inappropriate. I am glad you posted about it here, and once I free up some of my reading list, I will check out your series. :)

Jennifer --- any hints on when we'll get the sequel to The Goblin Market?

:D

Jessie wrote: "Jennifer --- any hints on when we'll get the sequel to The Goblin Market?

:D"

Jack in the Green should be out near the end of June. :D

I just published The Carbon Trap, the first in The Carbon Series. It's the first ecopolitical thriller that identifies what can go awry when mankind tries to control CO2. The lead character is Anna Picard, a strong woman, a Harvard trained attorney, skilled in martial arts and creative weapons. And yes, she has a BeltSword (real weapon). Anna has a moral crisis for the events she helped set in motion, and is determined to undo some of the damage. www.rainforestpress.com. Currently it's available at Amazon, B&N, and Smashwords (free partial preview). Hard copy available from Amazon. The story line continues in books 2 and 3.

Howdy y'all! I'm David Hardy the author of Crazy Greta, published as an e-book by Musa Publishing. Greta is a 16th century Netherlandish tavern-keeper who battles hordes of skeleton warriors, starts an uprising in Hell, commands a fleet of flying ships in a war in Heaven, and tackles King Herod in a desperate hand-o-hand combat. Hope you enjoy my little tale.

Just released in ebook and soon in paperback:



Learning new magic isn’t as easy as Zoe expected, especially when the mages at Gorgon University seem dead set against teaching. Add in some necessary late-night sneaking about, and Zoe is almost certain to be kicked out. As for exploring the intriguing mysteries across the border in Wendal, well, it has more teeth than she ever imagined.

Hey guys! I just thought I'd share some exciting news from my neck of the woods. I finally started my very own book blog for all of my literary adventures! Go check it out and tell me what you think!
fortheloveofliterature.com

Hi, all. I have one published book, and another book nearing completion. Both have strong female lead characters, and both have plenty of swordplay. I am eager for your feedback.

Also, I wanted to let you all know about the Heroines with Heart tour, starting in January. I plan to join them for over a dozen venues. You can learn more at: http://heroineswithheart.com/

David D Carroll

Hey Paige, I'll check it out later today! Thanks for letting us know.

Hi guys,
My first book "Love's Guardian" has a very strong female heroine whose passion is fencing and throwing knives. It's set in Georgian England, so you can imagine this makes her very unpopular with the stuffy "Society" in London. For an exerpt, you can visit me at www.dawn-ireland.com
Thank you Jennifer for allowing me to tell folks about my book!

There's a GR giveaway for Dragons of Wendal going on (for the paperback version.)

http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho...

Please add me to your To Read Shelf!

For the ebook giveaway, check about 3/4th of the way down on LibraryThing:

http://www.librarything.com/er/giveaw...

Thanks,
Maria

I'm excited to announce to my fellow fantasy fans (or those interested in branching out, since this group is all about being eclectic) that "The Crimson League," a new indie YA fantasy novel, is FREE for download on the Kindle Wednesday, August 8 and Thursday, August 9.

Join teen sorceress Kora Porteg as she discovers it is up to her to save the kingdom of Herezoth after a coup by a noble-born sorcerer. She joins a resistance movement and has quite a few adventures along the way!

Great weekend read! Don't forget to become a friend and fan of author Victoria Grefer on Goodreads, and to follow her on Twitter and facebook!

AMAZON SITE (to download for FREE): http://www.amazon.com/The-Crimson-Lea...

BLOG: http://crimsonleague.wordpress.com/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/greferauthor

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/#!/vgrefer

Hello. My wife and I worked together to write a fantasy/romance called "Sword and Illusion." I'm hoping to get some feedback / reviews on Amazon and other places, and I'd be willing to give some free e-copies to people willing to help. Thanks!

is now in Amazon Prime. If you are a member of Amazon Prime, you can borrow Dragons for free! It will be in Prime until November 20.

Thanks!
Maria
www.BearMountainBooks.com

How about giant energy swords wielded by awesome gamer girls from around the world, who get recruited to be mech fighter pilots; and a mysterious alien girl, who is an elite warrior of a warlike people? It isn't quite fantasy, but it definitely has chicks with swords. :)

There are some guys in the story also and they're pretty cool too, but the main story is pretty evenly balanced between the two progagonists, Jason and Arael.



Earth Force I is the first book in an ongoing series. I'm working on the second one now and outlining another series that is more fantasy and mythology related.

Thanks!

Our book, "Sword and Illusion" is now available on Audible. Keith O'Brien does a great job reading it.

New free fan fiction story that reveals Darth Vader's true story: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/9139595/1...

I started writing a long time ago, but last year I published my first YA novel on Amazon and Smashwords, The Secret World of Dragons, and now I am working on a new high fantasy series.

I've been asking readers to go to my Smashwords page to check it out, mainly because I'm a little nervous with how it's going. It's my first time writing fantasy and I'm hoping it's convincing. If you want to read it (and possibly let me know what you think), here it is: The Myth of Kalvartr. Four chapters, free.

There's also an awesome summer sale on Smashwords until the last of this month (if anyone here buys from there). :)

At the blog for Cyber Monday: FREE send to kindle!

I've made Snitched, Snatched free at the blog using the Send to Kindle button provided by Amazon. (Only the English portion. The translation in Spanish isn't included in this one).

www.BearMountainBooks.com

If you have an epub reader, you can download a free ePUB in the blog store:

www.bearmountainbooks.com/store

There are chicks with swords in this one!!!

Maria, is that offer still valid even though it's no longer Monday?

I don't know if anyone here might be interested in scifi, but there's a great project going on here:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/f...
You can get 26 stories for just £1, and there are other stories and novels available as well. Also audio books. I don't think there are any chicks with swords in these, but there are several stories with strong female protagonists, certainly in the "Tales from the Frontier" anthology. I'm the author of one of those short stories, titled "Blood is Thicker".

Hi Ulla,

Yes! Come on over! The story is still available. Some of the stories in the blog store will only be there at the bottom for free until Christmas (including Snitched, Snatched). Grab them while you can--Nancy Fulda's Hexes one is very good--cute!

Thanks Maria, I went and grabbed it right away. :)

Hello all! Longtime silent reader here, first time poster...I think. Definitely first time promoting something here. My small press (Rogue Blades Entertainment) just released a novel starring a chick with a sword and created by a chick with a sword based upon the movie this same chick with a sword wrote, directed - and yes! - starred in as...a chick with a sword.Sword Sisters: A Red Reaper Novel

Thanks for allowing me to post here - and if this doesn't fit here, just let me know and I'll move it.

My publisher just invited me to this group - and I have to say this is the best fitting group I've ever been invited to.

I'm an actress and author. My first novel co-authored by Alex Bledsoe features nothing BUT chicks with swords.

I also played this role in the upcoming movie "Legend of the Red Reaper" (I wrote the final screenplay), so I really do know how to use a sword. Or two swords when the battle calls for it. ;)


http://www.amazon.com/Sword-Sisters-R...

Tara, that is so amazing. The novel sounds interesting and I'd love to see the movie! Any idea whether it will be brought to theaters outside the US? ;)

Mmmm. Heroine's with swords. My book, Love's Guardian, has a heroine who is very adept at throwing knives. (I gave her this ability because out of a 100 tries at hitting a wastebasket with a wad of paper, I'm lucky to make 2. It was so refreshing to have hand-eye coordination - even if it was through my character.) And for those of you in the Christmas mood, I have another short story in a Christmas anthology "All I Want For Christmas Is A Soulmate."

Good morning!

Dawn- that's awesome! You know, I've played a ninja, a samurai and a Red Sonja type character - But I can't toss trash into a trash can to SAVE MY LIFE! It must be genetic.

BTW - Dawn we could be twins if that profile pic is of your pretty face!

Ulla - where in this world are you? The movie releases in Germany March 4th. You can pre-order on Amazon.de
Other countries I don't know (yet) but if you tell me where you are I'll find out!
<3
Tara

Tara, I am in Finland. It would be great to see the movie on the big screen, but if it's not going to be released here, there's always Amazon. :) I found a trailer for the movie and it looks great, especially the fight scenes. So you wrote, directed AND acted in it? Wow.

Oh no! I hate all the trailers that are out. I'm working on a new one now (but first I have to finish the BOOK trailer! OY!!)

I can start a little campaign to get some interest in Finland. Do you know any movie reviewers that blog? Maybe we can get a buzz going?

Yes, I did all that. Actually, I was pretty controlling on set. I approved all the wardrobe, I was the only producer on set for 90% of the shoot, I did some of the editing too.
Tara = Control freak

Well, Tara, it looks like you had a very clear vision of what the movie should be like, and to get it right, you simply had to do much of it yourself. :)

I'm afraid I read most movie reviews in English and don't know any Finnish reviewers... I could always email local movie theaters or the Finnish distributors and ask if they're going to show the movie here, though.

That is very generous of you Ulla. But let's see if you like the book first!

I guess I better get back to work on that book trailer!

Tara wrote: "Good morning!

Dawn- that's awesome! You know, I've played a ninja, a samurai and a Red Sonja type character - But I can't toss trash into a trash can to SAVE MY LIFE! It must be genetic.

BTW - D..."

Hi Tara,
Yes, that's me a few years ago. My hair is a different style now, but I suspect my Scottish/Irish heritage still shows:) Amazing, that you had the courage to play all those characters! I wouldn't try. At one point my SCA campmates wanted to name me "Runs With Scissors." (I still call them friends.)

Well you're adorable!

SCA - my first sword master was in the SCA. I loved training with him. He was the first man I ever beat in combat that SMILED. He was SO proud of me - it felt GREAT.

Anyway, Lord Cathal was his SCA name, and we trained in his front yard in Florida for months. He hand forged my hero swords in Red Reaper (the movie, obviously, not the book!). And after each training we would sit for hours and just talk.

I think I mentioned before he didn't use SCA rules when we trained. Just one rule - Don't get poked!

What part of the world are you in Dawn?

Tara wrote: "Well you're adorable!

SCA - my first sword master was in the SCA. I loved training with him. He was the first man I ever beat in combat that SMILED. He was SO proud of me - it felt GREAT.

Anyway,..."

Hi Tara,

I'm in NY, but I go to Pennsic War in PA every year. If you want to chat about the SCA, e-mail me: dawn@dawn-ireland.com. I'd love to hear more about your movie!!!

Hello all! Thanks for the opportunity to mention my book about fighting with electric swords: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NNZRGBU

On an island ruled by women, young men must duel each other to impress young ladies and attract romantic interest.

Dario, a boy yearning for freedom and equality, is selected to duel in front of the girl he loves. He has no desire to fight his friends, and little chance of winning.

Will he refuse to duel, suffering punishment and humiliation? Or will he ruin his chances of winning her heart through an embarrassing defeat?

His problems get more complicated when a former ally hijacks his revolutionary plans, turning them into an evil power grab.

FREE, action-loaded dystopian love story featuring sword fighting with electric swords: Against Her Other Love (prequel to Against Her Gentle Sword).

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U9100DC

Against Her Other Love

Greetings, My name is Rusty Nugent. I am a southern dark fantasy paranormal with elements of horror, action, adventure, blood, guts and romance Author. I am 43 and and writing on my third novel in the series. My books are about heroic werewolves waging war against evil vampires and other evil supernatural creatures.
Moonwarriors: Guardians of the Night
2 books so far in series, as requested.
Dark Fantasy

http://www.amazon.com/Book-Two-Moonwa...

http://www.wattpad.com/myworks/234334...
http://authorrustynugent.freeforums.net/
@theparanormal72
http://www.facebook.com/rusty.nugent.5
http://rustynugent5.booklikes.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/authorrus...
https://youtu.be/yVxE2NjKx2I

Full Moon Bloodlust Poem about my books.

When the moonlight strikes me, I am filled with power. In an evil age, in my darkest hour. Death and Destruction are the pleasures of my life. A lonely life filled with agony. Here I stand upon this Ledge with sword in hand I hereby pledge. That in the full moon's waning light. I shall make my Sacrifice. The Fog drifts down the hills into my dark domain. My senses sharp and I Insane. Into the woods I go with the moonlight as my guide. I now creep like the mist and from my wrath you can not hide. I shall avenge all I have lost. Behold the coming of death with your now ending immortal life. I shall make my sacrifice. Unto the goddess of the night. I shall make my sacrifice.

The Mapkeeper is free on Amazon for three days only: Dec 7th-9th! Book one of the Mapkeeper series has been quite well-received by readers thus far. The main character, Lucy Barnes, is a total strong female lead whose bravery and leadership are essential to defeating the bad guys in this story. You will not regret downloading your free copy of this action-packed, dystopian YA fantasy thriller! Warning: it is addicting ;)

I truly hope you'll give it a shot :) Thanks for reading!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B017CK0T3I

Katie

Hi, all of the books in my sword and sorcery Epic Fantasy series have strong women warriors. You can get some for free by clicking http://www.neilport.com.
Especially check out book 4 (not free). (Warning: It contains a female-female love interest).
The Assassin's Quest

Sacrifice: And Other Short Fantasy Stories

I love the premise of this group! I think you'd all like my book

I recently released a novelette with a sword-swinging female protagonist.



It's been almost a year since Blythe was forced to strike out on her own. Now she's trapped in an unfamiliar village during the dead of winter without her priceless sword. Can she survive when she gets caught up between a master swordsman and a vengeful sorceress?

Swordcrossed Frostbite

There. Is that shameless enough?