Hi, my name is Sophie Duncan. I'm an author of fantasy, paranormal, horror and erotica. Welcome to my blog. Here I'll ramble on about the books I'm reading and writing, ebooks, publishing and anything else I happen to think of.
Greetings and welcome to my blog on the spookiest of spooky days. It is a tradition of Tasha and I that we always produce a free eBook at Halloween. Usually it is for AllHallowsRead, but they don't seem to have updated their website this year, so just think of this as a trick or treat that is better for your teeth.🎃
Beyond Death - Tales of the Macabre
Sophie Duncan & Natasha Duncan-Drake
Two tales that look past death into the terror beyond.
The Cup Runneth Over by Natasha Duncan-Drake
You have been tempted into places unknown and there are
things lurking in the shadows.
The Promise by Sophie Duncan
When a person makes a commitment, they should stick to it.
Carol is determined to stick to hers no matter how scary it may become.
Happy New Year everyone! To wish all our Newsletter subscribers the best this year, and to thank you all for sticking with us, we have 2 stories instead of 1 this month: a fantasy story of a young girl taking her first steps into magic and a contemporary fantasy m/m short about a young man, his dragon, and his best friend. You can find both of these for Free Fiction Friday over at Wittegen Press.
These stories are exclusively for subscribers of our newsletter, but anyone can join and it's really easy.
It is completely free to become a member and all you need is a valid email address. Fill in the form at the bottom of this page and you’re done. Don't worry if you join after the 1st Friday, the password for the month will be included in the welcome email after you subscribe.
What we WILL DO for our subscribers:
Send you an email on the 1st Friday of the month to remind you about the short story and give you the password for the month as soon as the story goes live.
Send you information about new books, competitions and events, so you don’t miss anything.
Give you two Free eBooks just for joining.
What we WON’T DO to our subscribers:
Spam you with loads of random advertising.
Reveal your email address to anyone else.
This Month's Short Stories
The Wand by Sophie Duncan Genre: fantasy Length: ~3.5K wds Description: Aelwin is a Maker, like her mother before her: she knows this in her heart, but will the fae Match her to her calling? When a hostile Shadow Coat arrives to perform the New Year Matching Ceremony for her and her friends, disaster threatens. Only Aelwin can stop it, but she doesn’t know how.
Mark of the Dragon by Natasha Duncan-Drake Genre: contemporary fantasy, m/m, adult Length: ~3.5K wds Description: Luke has always known he has a destiny, after all he has the manifestation of a dragon on his skin that moves around as it pleases and a book in his head that explains all about it. However even dragons can't help with relationships, or can they?
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We'll send you details of book releases, competitions and other news from our authors, BUT we WON'T spam you, or pass your details on to anyone else.
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To celebrate this day of love, my sis, Tasha, and I are sharing some free stories with you.
Over at Tasha's blog, you can find, Motivation, a fun little investigation of what it takes to persuade a shapechanger he's not stuck in one shape.
And I have a spooky love story for you: Phantom Love, which you can download from the widget below.
When Ben promises to show his cousin, Ellen, a ghost, the pair set in motion a series of events that lead them into a terrifying encounter. Yet, within her fear, Ellen finds a purpose, and it is to find out what Millicent Van Curren, shot by her lover, wants from them. Phantom Love is book 1 in the Inspired By... Series, where each story is prompted by a memory.
Newsletter Subscription Form
We'll send you details of book releases, competitions and other news from our authors, plus the odd free story, BUT we WON'T spam you, or pass your details on to anyone else.
We will also give you 2 FREE ebooks just for signing up.
As is our tradition at Halloween, Tasha and I are supporting All Hallows Read once again. The idea is that instead of candy we give out a free book. This makes giving over the internet much easier and promotes the joy of reading, so it's win/win!
Our book this year is called Possession is Nine Tenths of the Law and it has two spooky stories in it to tingle the spine:
Looking for Luticia by Natasha Duncan-Drake Lucy is the host of a successful ghost hunting TV show, but their latest location is going to be a lot more haunting than she or her crew have ever dealt with before.
Lost in the Dark by Sophie Duncan Evelyn Edness is a medium who works for the dead, helping them to move on from the limbo of an eternity as ghosts. Kate Grange has come to ask for her help.
It is free to download from Smashwords for all our trick or treating visitors. After Halloween it will be 99c so grab your copy TODAY while it is free. Just click below and you're away.
October is now upon us, which can only mean one thing, it's time for this month's Free Fiction Friday over at Wittegen Press. We've posted a new short story for our loyal readers to enjoy. This month it's really spooky.
These stories are exclusively for subscribers of our newsletter, but anyone can join and it's really easy.
It is completely free to become a member and all you need is a valid email address. Fill in the form at the bottom of this page and you’re done. Don't worry if you join after the 1st Friday, the password for the month will be included in the welcome email after you subscribe.
What we WILL DO for our subscribers:
Send you an email on the 1st Friday of the month to remind you about the short story and give you the password for the month as soon as the story goes live.
Send you information about new books, competitions and events, so you don’t miss anything.
Give you two Free eBooks just for joining.
What we WON’T DO to our subscribers:
Spam you with loads of random advertising.
Reveal your email adress to anyone else.
This Month's Short Story
Looking for Luticia by Natasha Duncan-Drake Genre: horror, paranormal Length: ~7.5K wds Description: Lucy and her team have the most successful ghost hunting show on UK TV. They investigate, they debunk, and every now and then they catch the supernatural on camera. Their latest project is Darling Manor. This place has a locked room, which may or may not contain the embalmed remains of a dead relative, a very strange inheritance cycle, and more spooky stories than any house really needs. Lucy and her team have moved in to find out the truth, but the creepy manor has Lucy on edge. Is it her imagination, or is there something to be afraid of? This could be the one investigation that is really dangerous. Will modern technology trump historic legend, or will the supernatural gain the upper hand?
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We'll send you details of book releases, competitions and other news from our authors, BUT we WON'T spam you, or pass your details on to anyone else.
We will also give you 2 FREE ebooks just for signing up.
It's the 1st Friday of August and that means it is Free Fiction Friday over at Wittegen Press. A new short story is now up for all the subscribers to our newsletter.
It is completely free to become a member and all you need is a valid email address. Fill in the form at the bottom of this page and you’re done. Don't worry if you join after the 1st Friday, the password for the month will be included in the welcome email after you subscribe.
What we WILL DO for our subscribers:
Send you an email on the 1st Friday of the month to remind you about the short story and give you the password for the month as soon as the story goes live.
Send you information about new books, competitions and events, so you don’t miss anything.
Give you two Free eBooks just for joining.
What we WON’T DO to our subscribers:
Spam you with loads of random advertising.
Reveal your email adress to anyone else.
This Month's Short Story
The Beast In Me by Natasha Duncan-Drake Genre: paranormal, contemporary fantasy Length: ~8K wds Description: There are worrying reports about the Misomene Corporation's business dealings. Teiji Inoue was sent in to investigate, but he cover was blown. Now Teiji must survive Misomene's attentions as he discovers that the rumours of illegal practices pale in comparison to the reality. Misomene are engaged in occult research and Teiji has become one of their experiments. Even if he comes out alive he may not come out sane.
Newsletter Subscription Form
We'll send you details of book releases, competitions and other news from our authors, BUT we WON'T spam you, or pass your details on to anyone else.
We will also give you 2 FREE ebooks just for signing up.
Announcing Wittegen Press Halloween Book Price Slasher!
On 31st October 2016
Tasha and I will be discounting all of our Wittegen Press horror/paranormal themed books.
That means many of our 99c books will be free and our higher priced books will have money off. Check back on the 31st to see all the deals.
For even more exclusive FREEBIES join our newsletter (form below), where, on Halloween, we will be giving our members chances to grab those discounted books completely FREE. You get two free books just for signing up anyway and on 31st Oct 2016 we will be sending out our exclusive offers all day.
We'll send you details of book releases, competitions and other news from our authors, BUT we WON'T spam you, or pass your details on to anyone else.
We will also give you 2 FREE ebooks, not available anywhere else, just for signing up .
Men in black aren't usually associated with figure skating, but when MiBs try to arrest men's champion Louis Hayes, his ex-rival Rafe Derouet finds out to his cost that telepathic x-files really do exist.
For a Limited Time Only 99c/99p (Until 1st March 2016)
Rafe Derouet used to be a world class, British figure skater competing against his arch rival, flamboyant American Louis Hayes. A catastrophic knee injury ended his career and now all he can do is look on from the sidelines, commentating where he used to be a star. He hates Louis and wants nothing more than to see his nemesis go down in a blaze of failure.
Then mysterious men in black with guns take over a press meet, trying to arrest Louis, awakening something dangerous in their target, and setting in motion events they cannot control. Most shocking of all, Rafe finds out Louis can literally read his mind.
Dragged into a murky world of government agents and x-files by one of those x-files, Rafe finds his world view completely changing. And, along the way, his hatred for Louis proves to be something else entirely.
Now Rafe just needs to survive so he can decide what to do about it.
If you are kind enough to leave a review at Amazon I would like to give you a free short story sequel to say thank you. Please see the back of the book for details.
Excerpt (Listen or Read)
Rafe was in a hurry.
Whoever had had the idea to produce a US/Russian/Chinese special sporting event in celebration of the new economic treaty that was going through had to have been insane. There was figure skating and speed skating, long and short track, in the dual arena and athletics on the field and gymnastics in another arena down the road. It was as if someone had stuck pins in all the sports they thought the various countries were good at and then invited all the top athletes from the three countries to compete.
It was completely crazy and the whole world was watching, which was why Rafe was there reporting on it.
Given the current political climate, everyone was hoping sport could settle some of the latest rumblings. Rafe was waiting for it to all blow up in the organisers’ faces.
He had too many things to do and not enough time to do them, which was why he wasn’t really paying attention to his surroundings. The messages from his producer and his agent were far more important at the moment. If he had been giving thought to anything but texts he would have picked a different route.
“Well look who it isn’t,” said an all too familiar voice with an annoying American twang.
Not that Rafe found all American’s annoying, just this one in particular. He looked up from his phone to see Louis ‘pronounced the French way, darling’ Hayes less than three feet away.
Before he had fallen in the previous year’s world championships and shattered his knee, Rafe had been Louis’ arch rival on the ice. Competing for the UK in men’s figure skating, Rafe had spent the last few years swapping the number one spots in various competitions with Louis, but that was all over now. After eighteen months he could skate again, but he would never be able to compete at top level. These days he was doing TV shows and reporting for European sports channels and Louis was still glittering up the ice.
It made him want to knock Louis’ perfect teeth in with one of his skates all the more.
“Hayes,” he said and then realised that Louis was not alone.
Joy of joys, possibly his other least favourite person was standing next to Louis.
“And Voronov,” he added, wondering which deity he had pissed off to end up with both of them in the same place.
Voronov was a long distance speed skater for the Russians. Tall, blond and very much not sparkly, Voronov was an unlikely friend for a flamboyant American figure skater, but the pair had met at their first Olympics, hit it off and been firm friends ever since. Louis was something of a Russophile and had even been to Voronov’s wedding two years ago, which, given that Voronov was something of a state hero, had been quite a big deal. Louis was also one of the few allowed to call Voronov by a ridiculous nickname like they were in a club or something.
Rafe had met Voronov at the same time Louis had, only their relationship had started off more as instant dislike.
“You’re looking a little harassed there, Rafe,” Louis said, smiling sweetly.
The urge to deck the other man was strong. Rafe employed all of his skating will power not to do it.
“Places to be, important people to see,” he said, doing his best to get in a dig.
Of course he was all too aware Louis was much better at this game; Louis with his perfect hair and designer clothes and sycophantic fan base. It made Rafe grind his teeth.
“The competitors?” Voronov said, tone innocent, but Rafe couldn’t help it, he glared.
That stung.
There was nothing more in the world that he loved than the ice and it had been taken away from him. He honestly had no comeback.
Surprisingly he saw Louis dig his elbow into Voronov’s side. Maybe their antagonistic relationship did have lines. Once upon a time he and Louis had been friends and practice mates under the same coach, but then they had somehow become rivals. Rafe still wasn’t sure what had happened, but he had become the British poster boy for the international ice skating federation and Louis had become the American rebel with amazing talent.
“So, who are you commentating for this time?” Louis asked, clearly trying to be nice after Voronov’s below the belt shot.
That just rubbed Rafe completely up the wrong way.
“The BBC,” he said, digging his fingers into his palm to keep himself calm. “Now I’m late for a meeting, so I have to run.”
“Aren’t you co-commentating with the lovely Maria Hessle?” Louis said before Rafe could get away.
“Yes,” Rafe replied, doing his best not to grind his teeth and damning the polite genes his family had handed down.
“I’m sure I read somewhere that you and she were an item,” Louis said, “how’s that going for you?”
Louis’ expression was completely innocent, but Rafe wasn’t fooled, it was yet another dig. When they had been friends there may have been some adolescent fumbling between them and Louis was well aware Rafe’s tastes ran more to the male than the female: yet another bone of contention between them, what with Louis being out and proud and Rafe being firmly in the closet.
“You of all people should know not to believe everything you read,” Rafe said, as sweetly as he could manage.
The one thing he had to be utterly thankful for was that Louis was not the kind to out anyone, not even an ex-rival. Louis had had to defend his own sexuality so much, even before being officially out, technically, that Louis had the integrity not to do that to someone else. Didn’t stop all the digs though.
“Maria is happily attached to a Polish plumber from Chiswick,” he added, because he couldn’t help trying to rub Louis’ nose in the ridiculousness of tabloid reporting.
Of course it didn’t work, Louis just smiled.
“I find it always pays to check,” Louis said.
Every time they met it was the same with the subtle poking at his weakest points. And it galled Rafe to realise that he only understood his own sexuality so well because of Louis Hayes. He had done quite a bit of self examination over the years.
“Well, I really must go,” he said.
Louis clearly wanted to continue the conversation, but Rafe wasn’t sticking around to find out what for. The last thing his career needed was a headline about him trying to kill an American citizen on American soil.
~*~
Rafe was hovering, waiting for the next skater to come along for the press meet. It was currently Louis’ turn. He was supposed to have been interviewing everyone, but even his producer realised that asking him to interview Louis Hayes was a bad idea, hence his co-host, Maria, was doing it. He was in line to talk to the next skater in.
If Louis won things Rafe would have to bite the bullet, since he was the lead interviewer this time round. At least he could be thankful that it had turned out he was good as a celebrity commentator. However, these were just preliminary chats for sound bites, so he could get away with leaving it to Maria.
“Sorry, Ladies and Gentlemen,” a member of the event security team walked up to the gathering, “I’m going to have to ask you to move to a new area. This one is needed for warm up.”
That sounded odd to Rafe, because he was pretty sure no one was due on the ice yet today and he hung back. Louis looked equally put out, which was actually kind of funny. Rafe guessed Louis was bitching to his agent, who patted him on the shoulder, and followed the gaggle of press out as Louis went to make for the locker rooms. Rafe couldn’t resist stepping towards his ex-rival, just to see if he could get an annoyed sound bite. Those he was actually quite good at when it came to Louis.
Louis was trying to find something in his huge, oversized bag, by the looks of things, so Rafe waited for his chance. However, it never came. As soon as the press were out of sight men in black Kevlar appeared from several different places with guns. The truly bizarre thing was that they all seemed to be pointed at Louis.
“Nobody move,” was the shouted order and Rafe froze.
It was difficult for Rafe to believe what he was seeing and, if his face was anything to go by, Louis was just as shocked. Louis raised his hands, staring at the men in black with guns, clearly terrified. Frankly if there was anyone less likely to need a gun pointed at them Rafe had never met them.
“What’s going on?” Louis asked, sounding as confused and petrified as he looked.
“Don’t move,” was the only response and then a woman appeared.
The way Louis’ eyes opened slightly and a frown of confusion appeared on his face, replacing the complete shock, Rafe guessed Louis knew her…
Only 99c/99p Until 1st March 2016
~
For information about Natasha's other books, sign up for The Wittegen Press Newsletter:
We'll send you details of book releases, competitions and other news from our authors, BUT we WON'T spam you, or pass your details on to anyone else.
We will also give you 2 FREE ebooks just for signing up.
Well, I had a preview of this book since I edited it, but, even if I have to declare my bias, I have to say, I love it. It has thrills and adventure, but also tenderness, and what's not to love about telepathic figure skaters! :)
And, even better, it's FREE for 3 whole days - that's 72 hours to get your hands on this exciting release for no pennies, nothing, nada!
The Machine
Rise of the Gifted
by Natasha Duncan-Drake
Men in black aren't usually associated with figure skating, but when MiBs try to arrest men's champion Louis Hayes, his ex-rival Rafe Derouet finds out to his cost that telepathic x-files really do exist.
FREE 21st - 23rd Feb ONLY (Starts 8am GMT- Midnight PST)
Rafe Derouet used to be a world class, British figure skater competing against his arch rival, flamboyant American Louis Hayes. A catastrophic knee injury ended his career and now all he can do is look on from the sidelines, commentating where he used to be a star. He hates Louis and wants nothing more than to see his nemesis go down in a blaze of failure.
Then mysterious men in black with guns take over a press meet, trying to arrest Louis, awakening something dangerous in their target, and setting in motion events they cannot control. Most shocking of all, Rafe finds out Louis can literally read his mind.
Dragged into a murky world of government agents and x-files by one of those x-files, Rafe finds his world view completely changing. And, along the way, his hatred for Louis proves to be something else entirely.
Now Rafe just needs to survive so he can decide what to do about it.
If you are kind enough to leave a review at Amazon I would like to give you a free short story sequel to say thank you. Please see the back of the book for details.
Excerpt (Listen or Read)
Rafe was in a hurry.
Whoever had had the idea to produce a US/Russian/Chinese special sporting event in celebration of the new economic treaty that was going through had to have been insane. There was figure skating and speed skating, long and short track, in the dual arena and athletics on the field and gymnastics in another arena down the road. It was as if someone had stuck pins in all the sports they thought the various countries were good at and then invited all the top athletes from the three countries to compete.
It was completely crazy and the whole world was watching, which was why Rafe was there reporting on it.
Given the current political climate, everyone was hoping sport could settle some of the latest rumblings. Rafe was waiting for it to all blow up in the organisers’ faces.
He had too many things to do and not enough time to do them, which was why he wasn’t really paying attention to his surroundings. The messages from his producer and his agent were far more important at the moment. If he had been giving thought to anything but texts he would have picked a different route.
“Well look who it isn’t,” said an all too familiar voice with an annoying American twang.
Not that Rafe found all American’s annoying, just this one in particular. He looked up from his phone to see Louis ‘pronounced the French way, darling’ Hayes less than three feet away.
Before he had fallen in the previous year’s world championships and shattered his knee, Rafe had been Louis’ arch rival on the ice. Competing for the UK in men’s figure skating, Rafe had spent the last few years swapping the number one spots in various competitions with Louis, but that was all over now. After eighteen months he could skate again, but he would never be able to compete at top level. These days he was doing TV shows and reporting for European sports channels and Louis was still glittering up the ice.
It made him want to knock Louis’ perfect teeth in with one of his skates all the more.
“Hayes,” he said and then realised that Louis was not alone.
Joy of joys, possibly his other least favourite person was standing next to Louis.
“And Voronov,” he added, wondering which deity he had pissed off to end up with both of them in the same place.
Voronov was a long distance speed skater for the Russians. Tall, blond and very much not sparkly, Voronov was an unlikely friend for a flamboyant American figure skater, but the pair had met at their first Olympics, hit it off and been firm friends ever since. Louis was something of a Russophile and had even been to Voronov’s wedding two years ago, which, given that Voronov was something of a state hero, had been quite a big deal. Louis was also one of the few allowed to call Voronov by a ridiculous nickname like they were in a club or something.
Rafe had met Voronov at the same time Louis had, only their relationship had started off more as instant dislike.
“You’re looking a little harassed there, Rafe,” Louis said, smiling sweetly.
The urge to deck the other man was strong. Rafe employed all of his skating will power not to do it.
“Places to be, important people to see,” he said, doing his best to get in a dig.
Of course he was all too aware Louis was much better at this game; Louis with his perfect hair and designer clothes and sycophantic fan base. It made Rafe grind his teeth.
“The competitors?” Voronov said, tone innocent, but Rafe couldn’t help it, he glared.
That stung.
There was nothing more in the world that he loved than the ice and it had been taken away from him. He honestly had no comeback.
Surprisingly he saw Louis dig his elbow into Voronov’s side. Maybe their antagonistic relationship did have lines. Once upon a time he and Louis had been friends and practice mates under the same coach, but then they had somehow become rivals. Rafe still wasn’t sure what had happened, but he had become the British poster boy for the international ice skating federation and Louis had become the American rebel with amazing talent.
“So, who are you commentating for this time?” Louis asked, clearly trying to be nice after Voronov’s below the belt shot.
That just rubbed Rafe completely up the wrong way.
“The BBC,” he said, digging his fingers into his palm to keep himself calm. “Now I’m late for a meeting, so I have to run.”
“Aren’t you co-commentating with the lovely Maria Hessle?” Louis said before Rafe could get away.
“Yes,” Rafe replied, doing his best not to grind his teeth and damning the polite genes his family had handed down.
“I’m sure I read somewhere that you and she were an item,” Louis said, “how’s that going for you?”
Louis’ expression was completely innocent, but Rafe wasn’t fooled, it was yet another dig. When they had been friends there may have been some adolescent fumbling between them and Louis was well aware Rafe’s tastes ran more to the male than the female: yet another bone of contention between them, what with Louis being out and proud and Rafe being firmly in the closet.
“You of all people should know not to believe everything you read,” Rafe said, as sweetly as he could manage.
The one thing he had to be utterly thankful for was that Louis was not the kind to out anyone, not even an ex-rival. Louis had had to defend his own sexuality so much, even before being officially out, technically, that Louis had the integrity not to do that to someone else. Didn’t stop all the digs though.
“Maria is happily attached to a Polish plumber from Chiswick,” he added, because he couldn’t help trying to rub Louis’ nose in the ridiculousness of tabloid reporting.
Of course it didn’t work, Louis just smiled.
“I find it always pays to check,” Louis said.
Every time they met it was the same with the subtle poking at his weakest points. And it galled Rafe to realise that he only understood his own sexuality so well because of Louis Hayes. He had done quite a bit of self examination over the years.
“Well, I really must go,” he said.
Louis clearly wanted to continue the conversation, but Rafe wasn’t sticking around to find out what for. The last thing his career needed was a headline about him trying to kill an American citizen on American soil.
~*~
Rafe was hovering, waiting for the next skater to come along for the press meet. It was currently Louis’ turn. He was supposed to have been interviewing everyone, but even his producer realised that asking him to interview Louis Hayes was a bad idea, hence his co-host, Maria, was doing it. He was in line to talk to the next skater in.
If Louis won things Rafe would have to bite the bullet, since he was the lead interviewer this time round. At least he could be thankful that it had turned out he was good as a celebrity commentator. However, these were just preliminary chats for sound bites, so he could get away with leaving it to Maria.
“Sorry, Ladies and Gentlemen,” a member of the event security team walked up to the gathering, “I’m going to have to ask you to move to a new area. This one is needed for warm up.”
That sounded odd to Rafe, because he was pretty sure no one was due on the ice yet today and he hung back. Louis looked equally put out, which was actually kind of funny. Rafe guessed Louis was bitching to his agent, who patted him on the shoulder, and followed the gaggle of press out as Louis went to make for the locker rooms. Rafe couldn’t resist stepping towards his ex-rival, just to see if he could get an annoyed sound bite. Those he was actually quite good at when it came to Louis.
Louis was trying to find something in his huge, oversized bag, by the looks of things, so Rafe waited for his chance. However, it never came. As soon as the press were out of sight men in black Kevlar appeared from several different places with guns. The truly bizarre thing was that they all seemed to be pointed at Louis.
“Nobody move,” was the shouted order and Rafe froze.
It was difficult for Rafe to believe what he was seeing and, if his face was anything to go by, Louis was just as shocked. Louis raised his hands, staring at the men in black with guns, clearly terrified. Frankly if there was anyone less likely to need a gun pointed at them Rafe had never met them.
“What’s going on?” Louis asked, sounding as confused and petrified as he looked.
“Don’t move,” was the only response and then a woman appeared.
The way Louis’ eyes opened slightly and a frown of confusion appeared on his face, replacing the complete shock, Rafe guessed Louis knew her…
FREE 21st - 23rd Feb ONLY
~
For information about Natasha's other books, sign up for The Wittegen Press Newsletter:
We'll send you details of book releases, competitions and other news from our authors, BUT we WON'T spam you, or pass your details on to anyone else.
We will also give you 2 FREE ebooks just for signing up.
And at this time of year, we'd like to say a big thank you to all our Wittegen Press readers, especially those who have supported us by signing up to our mailing list. As a gift from us to you, we have two books for you to enjoy totally free.
Those of you already subscribed to our mailing list will remember us asking you to vote on your favourite genres and now the two books based on the top two genres are ready for you to enjoy :).
Genre: Paranormal
Assassin's Blood
by Natasha Duncan-Drake
Meet Kira Roltof, or rather Jasmin Welby at the moment because she’s undercover. Kira’s an assassin with a sense of humour that’s almost as dangerous as she is. When hunting down her targets it helps that she's a vampire/werewolf hybrid and has been at the killing game for over seventy years. Practice makes perfect and all that jazz.
Of course her combined species status could just as easily get her killed as help her out. If either the vampires or the werewolves figure out she’s both, she’ll never be safe again.
Her latest target is a Mafia big shot. Nothing she can’t handle easily, except she runs into a little snag of the vampire persuasion at the end of the job.
Assassin’s Blood is a short story full of paranormal intrigue and action with a little bit of romance to round it off.
Genre: Contemporary Fantasy
Curse of a Banshee - (The Darwell [Magical] Cleaning Services #1)
by Sophie Duncan
B, a djinn/banshee low fae, runs Darwell Cleaning Services, a business that specializes in tidying up magical crime scenes. She's managed her company with her friend and business partner, Jean, for over one hundred years without any complaints, or problems. She keeps her head down and offers a job to those whom higher fae look down on for their lack of personal magic.
B and her team are expecting an ordinary night of clean-up when they arrive at the aftermath of a spell battle in the middle of an English woodland. However, when a terrified djinn boy appears in the middle of their job, B finds the mix of her djinn and banshee instincts, which she normally keeps under strict control, beginning to rise. The boy is not alone, he is being chased by criminals intent on selling him to become a genie, the same gang who took B's father a century earlier.
B must struggle with her own unsettled powers and fight the slavers for the boy's freedom, risking her own life and those of her friends in the process.
Curse of a Banshee is fast-paced fantasy taking a fresh look at ancient powers in a contemporary British setting.
~
Existing subscribers to our mailing list will have received our Christmas Newsletter containing the links to the books, for anyone else, you can get the books as well. We'll send you the links in the confirmation email when you sign up to the Wittegen Press mailing list.
And to celebrate, I'm joining in not one, not two, but three great Hallowe'en online events. So what does that mean for you, my readers, well it means free reads from both me and my sis, Tasha, and some chat from me about this wonderfully spooky season. :D
So, first things, first, the important bit. :) Both the Trick-or-Treat Blog Hop and All Hallows' Read are encouraging authors and readers alike to give away a book for Halloween. And Tash and I are supporting these events by giving away a new book of two spooky stories: Cursed, A Horror Collection It's free for Halloween. And do let us know if you went and downloaded the book in the comments, below, we'd love to know what you think :).
And remember, the best candy ever for a writer is to get a review :).
Cursed - A Horror Collection (FREE FOR HALLOWEEN)
Cursed - A Horror Collection was created for All Hallows Read 2014 to be given away as a Halloween treat on 31st October. It contains two haunting stories about curses and ghosts to give any horror fan a good scare.
This book has content not suitable for children and non-explicit scenes of a sexual nature.
If Wishes Were ... by Natasha Duncan-Drake
Essie and her friend Beth are taking a trip to commiserate Beth's loss of yet another boyfriend. When they visit a spooky old graveyard and Essie makes a wish on a haunted mausoleum, things don't turn out how she expected at all.
Happy Families by Sophie Duncan
Bridget loves Happy Families, so when she finds an old pack in a junk shop she buys them. She lives to regret it, as strange and nasty things start to happen to her house-mates.
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And now on to my ramblings if you care to stick around :).
I have loved the scares of Halloween since I was little. It's not as big a thing in the UK as it is in the US, but I grew up in the time when Trick-or-Treat was just coming over to the UK as something that was fun for kids to do. I lived in a little village and we used to have Halloween parties where most of the village children would attend. We'd all dress up and then there'd be apple bobbing and spooky stories and, of course, plenty of sweet treats.
I even remember one Halloween party when I was in Brownies that we had in the church. There was a treasure hunt and one of the clues delighted in directing us to the old funeral bier that was once used to carry coffins in and out of the church. We Brownies were a morbid bunch sometimes, we even had a song we used to sing at that time of year, about meeting corpses at the church yard gate. Each verse gradually built on the macabre image going on about worms and moaning. That used to scare the hell out of me, but I always sang it enthusiastically along with all my friends. I'm still a little lot nervous when going into graveyards at night time because of that song! ;P
If you have any scary stories to share, I'd love to hear them :).
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As well as Cursed, our free book for Halloween, we're also discounting all our horror and paranormal books over on Wittegen Press to just 99c, or less.
If you head on over to The Wittegen Press blog, you'll also find a collection of drabbles (100 word fictions) related to all our horror and paranormal books. And my twin, Tash, has another short scare to share on her blog.
