Over 100,000 words of werewolves, gore, and ghostly spine-tingling suspense – for a buck! You kidding me?

For the next three days, if you purchase my debut novel “The Clearing” (Amazon, priced at 99 cents), I will email you a coupon code to get my new ghost story anthology “Restless Souls: 3 dark fables” FREE on Smashwords! All you have to do is email me at “steelerfutball57@yahoo.com” after making your purchase, and I will email you the coupon…

————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

You can feel it, can't you? It's a different feel in the air, an unsettling tingle in the coolness that tweaks the air on your arms, makes you glance furtively at shadows as you pass by empty doorways. 
  Leaves freshly dead scuttle across the sidewalk, the soft scraping of their skeletal flesh sending chills up your soul. A distant train whistle echoes into the night, lonely, isolated. Suddenly, the chill air no longer signals a need for that streaming cup of hot chocolate typically revered for those who worship crisp fall nights. Every nerve is on edge and alert, and a slick of sweat begins to creep through your pores as you glance in all directions. A quick look at the clear night sky reveals a moon two days from full, and you realize:
You're alone on the street. 
What better time to read of werewolves and spirits? Particularly when the reading is done for - well, practically free. 
Picture this. You breeze over to Amazon, search for Thomas Rydder, find my two books, and click to buy. Almost instantly - and for a total of $0.99 - you have the makings of a creep-filled evening of reading pleasure. By the time your purchase is confirmed, that cherished cup of aforementioned choc-o-late is beeping in the microwave. You sigh into the recliner, the blanket comes up, the Kindle comes on, and you click on "Restless Souls: 3 dark fables", and read - 

“Get the hell outa here!”

A boot sailed across the room, bouncing off the wall when the scraggly tabby cat dodged hastily. “Bloody hell. A man can’t even grab a few winks without you wailing for something.” He ran a grimy hand through his greasy, sleep-do hair and staggered over to the mirror to squint at his reflection in the tarnished glass.

“Jesus. Jeremy, how could it possibly get any better than this?” Scratching under his arm, he reached for the baggy dungarees hanging over the chair and pulled them over his bony legs, yanked on the socks from last night, and cursed when he realized he’d have to retrieve his boot from its resting place against the wall. First came a few handfuls of water from the stained sink, then a hasty straight-back comb and a stained, threadbare shirt over the thin, stooped shoulders.

The yellowed, buzzing fridge grudgingly offered green bread, a bag of potatoes, and an apple with one brown spot. Teeth sank into the apple while eyes swept over his kingdom. A sagging mattress and box spring sans frame, one floor lamp with a crooked shade, a dresser with one drawer missing, and three books: “The Collected Works of Ambrose Bierce,” John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men,” and a King James version of the Holy Bible. The last was a nuisance. He hadn’t read a page of it, but it had been a gift from mum, and every time his hand had poised over the dumpster out back, a vision of her pitiful face during his last visit to her hospital room came to mind. So it stayed and gathered dust. Even had a couple nibbles out of one corner from a scuttling tenant who lived in that hole behind the fridge.

He yanked open the top drawer of the dresser. A wallet, two watches, a purse, and best of all, an Ipod he’d managed to snatch from some brat at the mall. The kid had sounded like an air-raid siren as Jeremy had pelted away, and he had been so scared he’d not stopped running for 3 blocks. Damn near killed him, but it would be worth it. Ernie would pay good money for this baby – ohhhh yeah. Going to hold that one for awhile, though. Save it for when he needed some smack real bad. The wallet held a Master Card and 15 bucks. Not much, and the Master Card was useless, but he’d eat today. Use the MC and get your mug on a camera…can’t have that. Needed to get a fix, though, so what’s in the purse? Yeaaaaah. A whopping 37 bucks grinned back at him, might as well be saying “shoot that stuff in, baby.”…

I just hope you remembered to lock your door…

 

Click to get it on Amazon!

A small town in western Pennsylvania – quaint, simple, peaceful. That is, until The Elder takes up residence. He has an agenda – one that is 1,000 years old, and cannot be denied. One that will change the lives of many – and end the lives of any who interfere.

 

 1. “Do Unto  Others” (short  story) – Jeremy is  a street hood, lawless and unchained. When he is wronged by a local businessman, it becomes his mission to seek revenge.  But his new enemy has friends – ones that don’t take kindly to intruders.
 2.  “Colors” (short story) – Harrison Street.  attorney, biker wannabe, coward. When he finds the bike of his dreams, it seems too good to be true. It is.

 3. “Simona Says” (novella) – Simona has had it rough. Death, disenchantment, and disappointment are all part of her life. She wants to be happy for a change, and she’s willing to do just about anything to find some.
 Anything.

How to Trick Yourself into Writing, Editing and Marketing – Rachelle Gardner

By Bryan Cohen:

Self-motivation is crucial for authors, regardless of which publishing path you choose. Writing a book is difficult enough, but when you add on editing and marketing, it can feel impossible. And I’m crazy enough to have self-published 32 times. How did I do it? I learned a few ways to trick myself into doing work when my brain wants nothing but mindless entertainment.

(Click on Rachelle’s logo to read on)

 

(With thanks to Olga NM) The Real Costs of Self-Publishing a Book | Mediashift | PBS

By Miral Sattar:

At every writers conference or self-publishing panel the question that almost always inevitably comes up is: “How much will self-publishing really cost me?”

Because the book publishing industry is one of the last industries to go digital, it’s going through a quick transition. As a result of this shift, authors no longer need to go through the traditional gatekeepers to publish high-quality books and are instead moving toward self-publishing. Launching a book is like launching a startup. Putting together a quality book involves not just writing it, but getting it edited, then formatted, designing a cover, and having a marketing strategy around it.

Below, I break down the costs of how much professional services will cost you for a high-quality book.

(For the purposes of calculation we’ll assume you have a manuscript that is 70,000 words.)

(Click on the cover to read on)

 

In the Spotlight – Thomas Rydder » Maer Wilson

By Maer Wilson:

It’s always fun when friends stop by to visit and today is no exception. Thomas Rydder is the author of the paranormal novel, The Clearing, and his story collection, Restless Souls: 3 dark fables. He’s fun, generous with his time and has a wicked sense of humor. Thomas is always quick with a word of support and encouragement to his fellow writers. He’s one of the good guys.

(Blush – click on the cover to read on)

 

Are self-published Authors guilty of sabotaging their trade? | Jade’s Jungle

By Jade Reyner:

Wow… that’s a weighted question.. and one that I would like to hold my hands up to in shame and admit that yes, I probably am guilty of sabotaging the trade that is self-publishing.

I shall explain.

(click on Jade’s banner to read on)

 

How To Keep A Writer Entertained And Happy | Rose’s Road

By Rose:

This is just a short list of things you can do to help keep life with your Writer a little more comfortable for the both of you. Whether your Writer is your wife, room-mate, sister, daughter, or strange person who comes over in her sleep to use your computer, using these tips could make things a little easier.

(Disclaimer: Every Writer and situation is different. If you discover that your Writer does not like any one of these tips please discontinue its use and attempt to find a suitable substitute. Also, the Writer is referred to as ‘she’, this is simply because I am a female Writer and have no knowledge of what it is like being a male Writer. Sorry.)

(Click on the image to read on)

 

“Obtrusion”, by Anastacia Moore, is FREE on Smashwords. This one sounds great!

From Anastacia:

From November 25th through November 30th, Obtrusion Book 1 The Gathering is available for free download on Smashwords. In exchange for your FREE copy, all I ask is an honest review on Amazon, B&N, Smashwords, etc., as you are able to provide upon completion of reading the first installment of the OBTRUSION trilogy. Please email me for the code to receive YOUR copy, or leave a comment. Thank you!

(Click on the cover to go to Anastacia’s site)

Book description:

Are there aliens among us? Do you believe there is another explanation as to how we came to inhabit the Earth? Whether you do or not, Obtrusion will cause you to think again on things such as the story of Adam and Eve or whether we truly evolved from apes. Eric Von Daniken and many others have voiced their theories on how the pyramids, the lines at Nasca, the temples spread through the world, that are so technologically advanced, yet so similar in the widespread cultures may have come to fruition. There is more to these theories than just conjecture. We have been visited. We are the product of years of evolution, but it is not the type of evolution you may have read about in your history books. 

David Mohr and Molly Turner search for answers when they find strange disks that lead them on an epic journey. They discover that there are many dark secrets being kept by top-secret government officials . . . so secret that even some of the highest ranking person in the country is unaware of the scope of deception being perpetrated . . . the President of the United States! 

Why was John F. Kennedy really assassinated? Could it possibly have been because of his demand only ten days before his untimely murder to have complete knowledge of the secret alien files held by the Majestic 12 organization? Conspiracy theories abound . . . about JFK, aliens, Area 51, Dulce, New Mexico, and many other ultra-top-secret installations both in the United States and abroad. 

Obtrusion will not only shed light on the alternate creation of life on planet Earth, but will leave you pondering . . . is it really possible that we have been fed lies and propaganda throughout the centuries in order to hide our true origins . . . how can such widespread cultures have had such advanced technology to create highly sophisticated and similar structures across the planet . . . who truly are the ‘bad’ guys, and what are their ulterior motives? 

David and Molly must make a life changing choice in deciding whether to trust their newly discovered alien friend Goran or the Interstellar Development Agency who seems determined to intervene in the interest of humanity. You are invited to take the journey with them as they uncover that we are not alone in the universe . . . and whether there is any hope for the inhabitants of Earth.

The Write Practice says “Write Naked!”

By Sophie Novak:

Do you write from personal experience? Or you rather get lost in imaginary worlds and alternate realities, full of superheroes and alien creatures?

Our imaginations are endless and should be exploited creatively as much as possible. And yet, the number one writing advice says: ‘Write what you know’. Does this suggest that only war veterans can write about wars, or that Jules Verne really went around the world in 80 days?

Honestly, I used to hate this epic instruction. It somehow suggested that everything anyone writes is utterly personal and resembles the writer’s soul. Which simply isn’t true.

(Click on the image to read on)

 

Hey! Foresight (Guarded Secrets series Part One) eBook: Erika M Szabo is now available on Amazon!

 

Book Description:

Ilona is an emergency room doctor, born into an ancient Hun tribe which still exists hidden amongst us with its strict and fiercely enforced rules. She doesn’t know much about her Hun heritage other than legends, customs, and rituals that she continues out of respect for her parents who died suddenly ten years ago. Her mother didn’t have a chance to explain her inherited powers, but after her twenty-ninth birthday, Ilona is considered as an adult by Hun standards and begins to remember forgotten instructions concealed as childhood rhymes. Ilona discovers that she can heal with her bare hands; she can rearrange the human body to its healthy state. This ability is exciting as well as frightening. She is conflicted between having confidence in her intelligence and inherited abilities while having no confidence as a woman. Her insecurity creates barriers which keep others out and her caged in. She’s in love with her unsuspecting best friend, but when a dashing stranger explodes into her life, the magnetic feelings frighten her. A dark, sinister man appears to be the connection to a series of mysterious deaths, and Ilona is now forced from her calm, steady life and is thrust into the unknown.

 

Readers should be grateful authors work for peanuts – Digital Book Today

By Thomas Rydder:

Bet that got your attention, didn’t it? Now, before you run to the tool shed for your pitchfork, I’ll hasten to explain myself. See, this isn’t a “you buncha ingrates” thing. It’s more of a “food for thought” thing. So, as with any good meal, we’ll start out with an appetizer. My personal favorite is stuffed mushroom caps. So:

Mushroom #1 -The books I’m talking about are good books. Good story, nicely laid out, colorful characters, and it moves along. Well edited, too. You know, a quality read.

Mushroom #2 – I’m a reader right in there with ya. I’m a writer, and my debut novel “The Clearing” came out March 1st (shameless plug, wasn’t it?), but I’ve read hundreds of books. So, I’m a much more prolific reader than writer, and always will be.

So, onto the salad (peppercorn ranch for me):

(Click on the cover to read on)