#PoweredByIndie

This month, four of my books are being featured in Amazon's Powered by Indie and I'm so excited to be part of it. The books are Shiver, Vengeance, Tangled Mess, and Surviving the Biker (under my pen name of Cassie Alexandra).

 

Why do I enjoy being an Indie author?

A lot of people asked me why I remain Indie. It's not that I haven't ever been offered a traditional publishing contract. I have. Especially in the very beginning, after writing my Zombie Games series. But, after publishing twenty-nine books, I feel like I've accomplished a hell of a lot on my own and it's an exhilarating feeling.

Other reasons:

*I don't have to answer to anyone but myself. I am my own boss. For some writers it doesn't always work well. Yes, I still have deadlines and need to remain focused, but at the end of the day, I'm answering to myself. Whether I fail or succeed is in my hands.

* I can write what I want and when I want. In fact, I write several different genres, including horror, fantasy, romance, and YA. My pen names are Cassie Alexandra, K.L. Middleton, and Kristen Middleton.

*I'm leaving it up to the readers as to whether my books are enjoyable, and not someone at a publishing house who just might not "get" my writing. Not everyone is going to like my books. I respect that. But, I want to publish something that I've enjoyed writing and not get any road-blocks or forced to make plot or character changes.

*I am making the decisions on my book covers, my pricing, and where I want to sell my work. I can also hire my own editors, pay for my own advertising, and market the way that I want to market. I'm in charge and if I fail, I learn from the experience and move forward.

*I've motivated others to publish their own work. There are so many people out there who have wonderful stories to tell and do not realize that they can bypass a traditional publisher. Especially if they've been turned down. No, you might not be able to make a living on your self-published book, but on the other hand, if you do have a real talent for storytelling, you just never know what the future might bring.

Finally...

I've always loved reading, especially horror stories. From early on, I had my nose buried in Stephen King, Dean Koontz,  F. Paul Wilson, and Peter Straub's books. I can still remember how disturbed I was, at the young age of nine, after reading Ghost Story. To this day, I don't think I've ever read anything so creepy and fantastic. Now, over thirty years later, I'm writing and publishing my own books, which is something I would have never dreamed possible. It's a dream come true and if it wasn't for Amazon's self-publishing platform, I'd never be where I am today. I am so very grateful and honored to be included in Amazon's Powered By Indie this October. They have changed the writing industry and for me, it's been nothing but joy and success. 

Jezebel (Daughter Of Darkness)

Now available for free - Jezebel (Daughter of Darkness) Book One (EBOOK). Find it at most ebook stores, including Amazon, Itunes, Kobo, Googleplay, etc...

Four sisters, fighting to stay alive.
One father, plotting to make sure that they fail...

Meet Jezebel, a red-haired vampire/succubus with dark appetites. She's also a Private Investigator, living in Sin City, and tracking down cheating spouses is her specialty. Life is good, until one night when Jez is visited by a stranger, named Dorian Hart, who hands her a letter with some shocking revelations.

(This book has dark humor and plenty of twists and turns. It is not erotica, but there will be some intimate scenes in book two)

Daughter Of Darkness:
4 authors will each take a different daughter born from the Prince of Darkness, Vlad Montour. (Also known as Vlad the Impaler, an evil villain from history).

Blair – Chrissy Peebles
Jezebel – Kristen Middleton
Victoria – W.J. May
Lotus – C.J. Pinard

The Daughters of Darkness is a series of female heroines who may or may not know each other, but all have the same father, Vlad Montour.

This is part I of Jezebel's journey. Part II will be out in October 2015. 

FREE 30 day trial for Audible.com - Listen to Venom and my other books for free when you sign up in those 30 days!

Now on Audible.com (An Amazon Company).  Not signed up with Audible (An Amazon Company)? Try it for free for 30 days and get a credit for any book of your choice in the program. Click HERE to learn more.

Looking for my books?

Currently, most books are available on Amazon for Kindle. Don't have a Kindle? You can usually download a Kindle reading App for your smart-phone or home computer for free.


Kindle For Android Click Here


Kindle Reading App on Google Play

Kindle For PC Click Here

Author Amazon page


 
  Why only available on Amazon?

My books are currently enrolled in the Kindle Unlimited Program, which makes them exclusive to Amazon. In placing them into the program, there is a great benefit for readers who also join Kindle Unlimited. For only $9.99 a month, you can read any book enrolled in the program for free (and read as many as you'd like).  There are over 800,000 books currently enrolled in the program, including most of mine.

To learn more about the program, click here.

Ibooks is featuring Slade as a Bestselling Paranormal Romance!

Pre-Order Toxic!

Toxic is now available for Pre-order. The release date is 5/31/2015 and right now you can reserve it for $2.99 (will raise to $3.99 after release date). It's currently available on Amazon and Itunes but should be showing soon on Kobo and Barnes&Noble.

Amazon -Pre-order now!

Itunes - Pre-order now!

Another Pen Name

If you've enjoyed my contemporary romance, I've just released a new MC (Motorcycle Club) biker series under the pen name of Cassie Alexandra. This is quite a bit more... grittier than my other books, and the original cover was very provocative, so that's why I'd decided to use a different pen name (and for advertising purposes).  The cover has since been re-designed, but the books are definitely for ages 18 and older.  You can find the first book, Resisting The Biker, in most online ebook stores.

 The Biker Series -

Twenty-one-year-old college student, Adriana Nikolas, doesn't really know what to make of Raptor, the sexy biker who seems to be obsessed with getting into her pants. Hot or not, she knows from their first encounter that he's dangerous, both in AND out of bed.

What Raptor wants, Raptor gets. Right now, he wants Adriana and will do whatever it takes to claim her as his woman. But, she keeps resisting, which isn't something that the Road Captain of the Gold Vipers is accustomed to. Arrogant, cocky, and stubborn, Raptor takes on the challenge, and in the meantime, gets much more than what he'd bargained for.
 
63,000 Words
For readers 18 and older
Graphic Themes, Language, Violence, Sex, Crude Language, Drugs

No more Amazon Exclusivity Beginning January, 28th.

On January 28th, you should be able to find most of my books on Itunes, Barnes&Noble, Kobo, and other major online retailers.My newest, Planet Z, will remain an Amazon exclusive for right now.

Clinton Daily News

This article in The Clinton Daily News, was just brought to my attention and I'll be honest - I'm tickled pink! So is Blayze Watkins, a young man who inspired me to write my book, Planet Z. He wrote to me a couple of years ago, when I was first starting out in my career, and we've kept in touch. He has a passion for writing himself, and I really wanted to do something special, so I named a character after him and dedicated the book, as well. Anyway, if you're interested in reading Planet Z, it's now available on Amazon!

Click Here For Planet Z

Frostbite - Current Project

Just an update on what I'm currently working on, Frostbite. I'm really enjoying this one as it's strictly horror and I haven't really had that since my Zombie Series.

When four longtime friends decide to take their annual snowmobile trip at the Boundary Waters of Minnesota, their excitement is cut short after making a wrong turn during an unexpected snow storm. Cold and low on fuel, they chance upon a cabin nestled deep in the woods, where two sisters offer them a warm refuge. As they settle in for the night, the men soon realize that they’ve stepped out of the cold and into something much more chilling than the icy blizzard raging outside.

Here's a sample from this book. It hasn't been edited, so please forgive the grammar errors.

***

 

Paul stared up into the cold darkness, confused. 

Where in the hell am I?

Raising himself up onto his elbows, he noticed that he was surrounded by a curved wall of icy dirt. From the look of things, he was in some kind of old well, twenty or so feet below ground.  As the terrifying memories of earlier resurfaced, he tried getting up and cried out as a wave of crippling pain surged through the ligaments of his left ankle, reminding him how he’d twisted it earlier. 

 “Oh, good. You’re awake!” called a pleasant voice from above. “Sybil! The young man. He’s regained consciousness!” 

Paul’s head jerked up toward the middle-aged woman’s voice. The one he was sure he’d left dead in a ditch. But, here she was still breathing and, from the look of things, he was at her mercy and in very deep shit.

“Oh, look at that. Yes he is,” replied her equally psychotic sister, Sybil, now also staring down at him with glee. “Paul, isn’t it? I’m so glad to see that you’ve pulled through. We were getting worried about you.”

Glaring up at her, he flipped her off. 

“Constance, make sure we have enough coals,” she said, ignoring him.  

“For the Weber?” asked Constance, shivering as a gust of wind whipped her frizzy orange hair across her face. She pulled her shawl tightly around her shoulders. 

“Yes. I’m in the mood to grill,” replied Sybil, her lips pulled back into a ghoulish grin.  

Constance clapped her hands together and did a little dance, like a child excited about Christmas. “I can’t wait! This one is already making my mouth water. Can I have his heart?”

“No. We’re going to split it, like usual.” 

“I don’t think we split the heart, the last time. In fact, I think you ate the entire thing yourself,” she pouted.

Sybil clenched her jaw. “Are you saying that I’m lying?”  

Constance hesitated. “No. Not exactly. I think you just forgot.”

Sybil raised her hand and Paul sucked in his breath when he saw the large hunting knife pointed at the other woman.

“You wouldn’t,” laughed Constance.

Paul watched in shock as the woman grabbed her sister's throat and held the knife up to her cheek. “Wouldn’t I?”

Constance was amazingly calm but no longer smiling. “Sybil?” 

Roaring with laughter, she let her go and dropped the knife. “You know, “said Sybil, putting an arm around her shoulders. “I believe you’re correct! I did eat that last one’s heart, all by myself. You take this one’s and I’ll have his liver. We’ll freeze the rest.”

“We play first, though, right?” 

“Yes. Of course we’ll play.” 

 “You’re crazy. Both of you!” he hollered, staring up at them in horror. “If you think that I’m going to let you… eat me, you’re insane!”

Sybil looked down at him and her smile widened. “Dear boy, we enjoy resistance. It makes everything much more exciting and fun. I’m surprised that you haven’t already figured that out yet, Paul.” 

“Yes,” agreed Constance, now holding the hunting knife. She touched the blade with her index finger, drawing blood. “The meal is something to look forward to,” she said, licking her finger, “but nothing beats the thrill of the hunt.”

Paul watched as Sybil threw a thick rope down into the well. “It gets real boring out here, Paul. So, you see, not only do we need to eat, but we also need to be entertained. I guess you could say that we enjoy playing with our food,” She grinned evilly. “So, tell us … are you ready to come out and play?”

24 Days of Christmas Author Showcase

Day Eleven - Me

So, it's the eleventh day of the showcase and I feel really honored to be invited. I typically don't do many blog-hops or or author take-overs, because I feel a little silly saying too much about myself. What I can say is that I love, love, love writing and interacting with my readers. I enjoy getting emails and answering questions, especially from teens who are developing a new passion for books or maybe even writing. I still remember how much I loved reading and writing stories of my own, growing up. I started so many books but then gave up on them, wondering why I was wasting my time. I'd never completed a chapter, let alone an entire book, until I decided to write one for fun in 2011; one that was inspired by my own children. Oh, and zombies. I'd just seen a movie called Zombieland (what a cool movie!) and knew that I had to throw them into the mix. Anyway, all I really wanted to do was write a book and give it to my kids, the following Christmas, as a tribute to them. Something we could laugh about one day. Well, when I showed the story to a friend of mine, she talked me into sharing it with others and I took the plunge. I published it on Amazon and, frankly, couldn't believe the reviews. They were pretty darn good. I mean, there were a couple of bad ones because I hadn't hired an editor at that time, but the reviews on the story itself were enough to make me continue writing. Well, it pretty much changed my life, because in 2013, I was able to quit my job and became a full-time writer. It's been a dream come true and I feel so grateful to everyone who's helped me along the way, especially my readers. It just goes to show that if you have a passion for something, it just might be your destiny. You just never know...

This brings me to my giveaway. I'm offering the complete set of Zombie Games (all 5 Ebooks). This series holds a special place in my heart. Not only did the first book spark a renewed passion for writing, it made me realize that I could step out of my comfort zone and share it with others. It also made me realize that my imagination is pretty freaken strange at times. Anyway, I hope that you enjoy reading the series as much as I enjoyed writing it!

For a chance to win Zombie Games (The Complete Ebook Series), including my Enchanted Secrets ebook, tell us what you love about the holidays (being with family, winter break, giving presents, baking cookies, Christmas songs, etc). Also, don't forget to enter to win a free Kindle!

Entry-Form

I'm giving away a $100 Visa Gift Card

To express my deepest gratitude and appreciation to all of my readers, I'm giving away a $100 Visa Gift Card. To enter the contest, visit my Facebook Fan Page, tweet about the giveaway on Twitter, or join the Kindle Buddy Mailing List for daily Kindle FREE ebook notifications (no spam just free ebook links to Amazon). There is absolutely no purchase necessary to enter this contest, and you can earn extra points every day (by tweeting about the giveaway). The contest begins tomorrow, December 10th. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

December Deal!

Get Zombie Games, the complete Ebook set of all five books, for only $9.99 (Normally $14.96!). You will also get Enchanted Secrets with this set. This deal ends on December 31st, so don't miss out! This is available on Amazon only.

Get Deal Now by Clicking Here!

 

Entry-Form

Zombie Games (Origins) now available to read with music and sound effects!

Check out www.booktrack.com to read Zombie Games (Origins) with sound effects and music. It brings an entirely new experience to reading! Spooky music, zombie moans, and even bullets pummeling the undead. Did I mention you can read it for free? Check this book out with many other freebies available on Booktrack!

Planet Z

Planet Z is now available for pre-sale at a special price of $.99 on Amazon (Exclusive). Reserve your copy now for the discounted price! Click Here

 

Planet Z -
After the Human race has depleted most of the Earth's natural resources, Alexandra (Alex) Logan and her little brother, Jimmy, join their parents, both planetary astronomers, in a mission to try and save what is left of mankind.

The Mission?

Bring back conclusive evidence that Planet "Z" is the miracle planet that can sustain Human life.

Unfortunately, they soon learn that the wonders of this new planet are nothing compared to its' horrors.

Kindle Unlimited Program

Okay, so I signed up for the Kindle Unlimited Program. What is that? For $9.99 a month, readers can read as many books as they want on titles that are enrolled in the program. The only catch is, I can't put my titles in other estores. The good news is, if you normally read on your phone or have a Nook, or other type of ereader, you can download a free app that will allow you to read any of the Amazon books, even if you do not have a Kindle. So, those of you who do not typically use Amazon for purchasing books, but still want to read some of my books, you can now do so as the APP will make them work on other devices. I found my Kindle Reading App on Google Play. You can also download directly from Amazon HERE

If you are interested in checking out the Kindle Unlimited Program click here.

My reason for doing this is that there are already tens-of-thousands of people signing up for the program. You can even try it out for 30 days. If you're an avid book-reader, it really does save you money in the long run as well. It's nice because you can also cancel at any time if you're not absolutely thrilled with it. I've heard that most people are liking the program, however, so it's something that might be worth checking out.

Other than that - I hope everyone has a great weekend and a fun Halloween! Don't forget to download a great spooky book to enjoy later in the evening!

Current Project

In case you're wondering what my current project is - it's this story.
I'm not quite sure if it will be a novella or a full-length book yet. It's a futuristic Science Fiction book for all ages that will be done before the end of the year. I will keep you updated.

Slade - Book Two (Venom)

Slade is all set to release on Oct 11th for $2.99. The price will go up to $3.99 afterwards. You can pre-order your copy on Amazon before the release date, to get the lower price!