Day: January 28, 2021

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Audio Spotlight & Excerpt: Nite Fire + Author Interview

Nite Fire

Title: Nite Fire: Smoke & Fire

Author: C.L. Schneider

Narrator: Cassandra King

Length: 15 hours 16 minutes

Series: Nite Fire, Book 3

Released: Nov. 13, 2020

Publisher: C.L. Schneider

Genre: Urban Fantasy

 

Secrets are a dragon’s best friend. Deception is a close second. Both provide a sturdy armor, allowing half-dragon shape-shifter Dahlia Nite to live undetected among the humans. Walking in two worlds, belonging in neither, she wraps herself in a shroud of lies to hide in plain sight. But nothing stays hidden forever.

When dismembered bodies of multiple species are dumped on the riverbank, the case falls to Dahlia and Detective Alex Creed. Backed by Sentinel City’s new task force, the pair finds themselves urged along by clues that seem too good to be true. Bouncing from one crime scene to the next, they hunt for a clear motive in a murky sea of conflicting evidence. Already on edge from the recent string of unexplained crimes, the city begins to unravel.

Drowning in missing creatures, slaughtered remains, masked men – and the search for her sidekick’s missing sister – Dahlia burns the candle at both ends. Seeking answers, she employs her empathic abilities and uncovers something deeper and more sinister than a simple serial killer’s web. As the dots connect and worlds collide, she struggles to shields her friends from the truth. But secrets can be deadly. And Dahlia’s not the only one who keeps them.

Smoke & Mirrors is the third book in the Nite Fire series.

C.L. Schneider is an award-winning author of immersive fantasy fiction, including The Crown of Stones Trilogy and the Nite Fire Series. Born in a small Kansas town on the Missouri river, she penned her first novel at age sixteen on a typewriter in her parent’s living room. She currently resides in New York’s scenic Hudson Valley with her husband and two sons.

To learn more about C.L. Schneider, and the worlds she creates, visit clschneiderauthor.com where you can read reviews and excerpts, subscribe to her newsletter, and join her Street Team. An active part of the indie author online community, you can often find her on social media, chatting about the daily ups and downs of a writer’s life.

Website⎮Twitter⎮Facebook⎮Goodreads⎮Amazon⎮Instagram

Narrator Bio

Cassandra is a professional actor from New York. She works with a private acting trainer and has been making her way into the voice over world. Becoming an audiobook narrator was a great way to combine her desire to act and her passion for literature. She is currently working on book 2 of the Nite Fire series entitled ‘Chain Reaction’ as well as a Warhammer 30k fan film called ‘Death of Hope’. In addition to reading and acting, Cassandra also enjoys anime, sports, cooking, and traveling.

Website⎮Instagram

 

 

 

Q&A with Narrator Cassandra King
  • Did you find it difficult to “break into” audiobook narration? What skill/tool helped you the most when getting started?
    • Ha! I still think I’m trying to “break in” to this world. But I do know that I’m on the right path that I want to be on and taking active steps towards achieving my goals in my career. Two things help me the most; A: Acting Skill – being able to keep your listeners engaged is important and I try really hard to make sure I embody each character to their fullest and B: Drive – It’s one thing to say “I want to do x, y, z” and another thing to actually go DO those things. I recorded my first audio book inside a closet…you just do whatever it is you need to do to make progress.
  • A lot of narrators seem to have a background in theatre. Is that something you think is essential to a successful narration career?
    • Absolutely! Voice acting is, at it’s core, acting. Being an actor helps you to not only understand emotion, but be able to portray it properly for others to see. Especially for voice over! A lot of times we gauge emotion by facial expression, but when you’re listening to an audio book, you don’t get that luxury. The emotion has to sound real and authentic and that takes training.
  • How do you manage to avoid burn-out? What do you do to maintain your enthusiasm for narrating?
    • It’s easy to maintain your enthusiasm when you’re passionate about something. I absolutely love to read and act, so being a narrator is a great marriage of the two. Burnout comes quickly, but mostly in the editing process. I try to avoid it by spacing it out and not trying to do it all at once…it’s a very tedious process.
  • Are you an audiobook listener? What about the audiobook format appeals to you?
    • I love to listen to audio books! I like to read the physical book first and then revisit it later in audio book format. I love that it gives me the ability to step back into a world that I love, yet also allows me to multi task and do other things.
  • What are your favorite and least favorite parts of narrating an audiobook?
    • My favorite thing is always diving into the world and getting to portray different characters. The character work is always fun and different for each individual. Finding out their quirks, their sound and their attitude is always exciting and interesting. Least favorite – editing. Hands down. A tedious, but necessary evil. I have a lot of respect for editors!
  • What about this title compelled you to audition as narrator?
    • The genre is right up my alley! I purchased the books before I even knew I was going to be narrating them. The story sounded cool and Dahlia really sounded like a great character. I love doing work for books I am passionate about.
  • How closely do you prefer to work with authors?
    • I really love to work closely with authors. I think its vital to a successful project. Making sure that words are pronounced properly, getting ideas of character break downs and inspirations, consistency – these are just some bonuses you get from working closely with your author.
  • What types of things are harmful to your voice?
    • Where to start?! Sometimes just overuse can strain my voice or even certain character voices. It’s important to warm up before every session.
  • Have there been any characters that you really connected with?
    • Actually, yes. Dahlia. She’s the main character in the current series I’m narrating now, ‘Nite Fire’. She’s sarcastic and honest, but also extremely understanding and sympathetic towards others. She wants to be alone, but also can’t stay away. She’s a bit of a contradiction and I can relate to that.
  • What type of the review comments do you find most constructive?
    • Honest reviews. I saw one review that said that they thought my narration for one book was a little slow. Everyone’s listening style is different, but I did take that note into consideration in my future recordings.
  • Bonus question: Any funny anecdotes from inside the recording studio?
    • When I’m recording in my home studio, I mostly do so without pants…it gets VERY hot in there!

 

 

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Spotlight & Excerpt: FarSight + Giveaway

FarSight
The Divine Potentials Book 2
by Ethan Stein
Genre: Epic Fantasy

 

Death is only the beginning …
 
Kell Stevyns is cursed with the ability to foresee a person’s death. Unable to completely block the visions of violence and loss, she is determined to find a cure. Recently, her own demise began playing out in her mind, leaving her sanity hanging by a thread. Determination has become desperation.
All is well that ends well … or is it?
 
Daena Vulatanne faced many trials as she ascended the ranks of her community in Iburdeen and her survival was a relief to her people. Unfortunately, not everyone was pleased and someone is on a mission to carry out their revenge.
Past, present, and future collide …
 
Kell’s salvation may lie with the mysterious woman in her new vision: a member of a remote religious order framed for the murder of their leader and set to be executed in forty-eight hours.
Haunted by images of death and destruction, Kell must trust her travel companion to keep her safe—and sane—as she embarks on a journey to locate the stranger and exonerate her.
Fate is a fickle thing, and there is no margin for error if Kell is going to succeed.

 

Clarity
The Divine Potentials Book 1

 

High Priestess Daena Vulatanne has spent more than a decade preparing to lead the Holy Order of the Water Goddess Anahita. The safety of the isolated community of women has always been paramount, but the arrival of a strange messenger forces her to question if their exposure is worth risking her role as the future leader.
Asha’s presence in the village threatens the secrecy the women have fought to maintain. While he carries a message for Daena’s people, he also holds the key to a rogue Order member’s lifelong ambition: revenge for the destruction of her brethren.
The purity and innocence Daena thought she knew soon gives way to evil and corruption. In a tumultuous time of deception, magic, and adventure, she must sacrifice something dear to her: her ideals, her devotion, or her life.
**Only .99 cents!!**

 

farsight - excerpt
Asha eagerly rushed toward the road, reaching the rear bathhouse door as it swung open. He jumped aside as the muscular woman he fought earlier exited. She was clothed this time in a blue sleeveless tunic and armband with a towel around her neck. Her eyes narrowed immediately. “What are you doing here?”
In reply, he darted toward the main road. His footing disappeared, and he crashed to the ground before being roughly flipped over with his hands pinned beneath him. The woman knelt on his chest, her face a mask of rage highlighted in shadows.
“I should kill you,” she said, “but the holy mother has decreed a more suitable punishment, one I will have no small amount of pleasure administering.”
“What might that be?” he said.
“Mutilation. And since you won’t be seeing your face again, a few more broken bones won’t make much of a difference.” Grinning, she slammed a fist into his face.
Everything went dark.
 
 
Ethan Stein was born in Buffalo, NY, where he developed a love for writing at an early age.  While the beginnings were rather gory and incomplete, it was the start of something important.
In college, Ethan developed a far greater love and understanding of writing, even taking a few courses on how to be a better writer.  It was there that he also began to develop the world of Mahrahspand, which was the foundation of his Divine Potentials Series.
His wife and two kids have been very supportive in his quest to further flesh out his fantasy world, and are eager to discover all that he has to offer.
 
 
Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
 
$25 Amazon 

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Spotlight & Excerpt: Operation K-9 Brothers + Giveaway

Operation K-9 Brothers
Book 1
by Sandra Owens
Genre: Military Romance

 

Navy SEAL Jack Daniels (save the jokes, he’s heard them all) and his trusty Belgian Malinois sidekick, Dakota, are back home in Asheville, North Carolina, after a bomb left them scarred. Unable to accept that he’ll never be able to return to his team, Jack is looking for a miracle. What he isn’t looking for is a permanent relationship, though he’s open to a no-strings distraction at the magic hands of gorgeous local potter Nichole Masters.
 
Nichole is on a losing streak with men. Her ex-boyfriend won’t stay gone, a competitor is out to ruin her business and even her rescue pup, Rambo, is refusing to get in line. A chance run-in with a navy SEAL turned canine companion trainer might solve the dog problem. The fact Jack is easy on the eyes doesn’t hurt, either.
 
But when Nichole feels like she’s being watched, Jack is the only person she can turn to. He’s a protector and problem solver by nature and training. Accepting his protection is one thing—Nichole didn’t count on falling in love.
 
 

 

operationk9brothers - excerpt

When Nichole found Ghost, she held it up. “Ready?” At Jack’s nod, she slid the disk into the slot. “This is a great movie, so pay attention.”

“My eyes are glued to the screen.”

“Ouch. That must hurt.” She laughed when he rolled his eyes.

When she sat on the sofa, he pointedly looked at the foot of space between them, then lifted his gaze to hers and raised his eyebrows. Without a word, he had her moving to him until their bodies were aligned from arms down to legs. It was where she wanted to be.

“Better,” he said, then put his arm around her and pulled her closer, until her shoulder rested against his chest. “Even better. What’s this movie about?”

“Demi Moore is in love with Patrick Swayze, and he’s murdered. He comes back as a ghost. That’s all I’m going to say.”

“Really, Nichole, we’re going to watch a ghost movie?”

“Yes, Jack, really. Now shut up and watch.”

He glanced at her and smirked. “You’re bossy, you know that?”

“So I’ve been told.”

“Are you this bossy in bed? Because if you are, you should know I’m good with that.” He waggled his eyebrows.

“Maybe you’ll find out someday. Or maybe not.” He totally would.

He leaned over, putting his mouth next to her ear. “Oh, I will, I promise you.”

A delicious shiver raced through her, and he chuckled, letting her know he’d felt it. The opening credits finished, and as the movie began, she blinked. She’d watched this movie many times, and knowing what was coming, tears stung her eyes.

It didn’t take long to learn that Jack liked to make commentary. “Dude, open your eyes. You just walked by a bad guy hiding in the doorway.” Then, “So that’s the answer to life after death. You turn into a lightning bug,” he said when the twinkling white lights swooped toward Patrick Swayze.

And so it went. She tried not to encourage him by laughing, but whenever a laugh or chuckle at one of his asides did escape, his expression was entirely too smug. He was funny, and for her, there was nothing more appealing than a man with a sense of humor. Good looking, a really nice man, a drool-worthy body, and funny meant she was in so much trouble!

But whatever.

There was no way she could resist Jack Daniels. Her salvation was that he’d be leaving in a month or two, and that would be that. All she had to do was program her mind to not fall for the sweetest, hottest man she’d ever met.

“I’d totally do her,” he said when a close-up of fat tears from luminous green eyes meandered down Demi Moore’s cheeks.

Nichole snorted. “I don’t know one straight man who wouldn’t. Heck, I’d almost do her.”

He groaned. “Don’t be putting pictures like that in my mind.”

“Am I torturing you?” She peered up at him. His blue eyes, darker than they had been minutes earlier, answered her question. She hid her smug smile. She’d surprised him with her comment, and she had a feeling he wasn’t a man who surprised easily.

“Yes, but in the best kind of way.”

Before she could think of a response, the scene she especially wanted him to see came on. “Hush. This is where you need to be quiet and pay attention.”

“I’m yours to command.”

That was all he said as he stared at the TV screen. If he had any idea of all the ways she’d like to command him, he’d instantly forget they were watching a movie. Nichole had wanted to recreate the pottery scene since the first time she’d seen it. She just hadn’t had the right man before to do it with, and now she had. When the scene ended, she held her breath, waiting to hear what he would say.

 
 
A best selling, award winning author, Sandra Owens lives in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Her family and friends often question her sanity, but have ceased being surprised by what she might get up to next. She’s jumped out of a plane, flown in an aerobatic plane while the pilot performed death-defying stunts, has flown Air Combat (two fighter planes dogfighting, pretending to shoot at each other with laser guns), and rode a Harley motorcycle for years. She regrets nothing. Sandra is a member of Romance Writers of America’s Honor Roll, and a 2013 Golden Heart® Finalist for her contemporary romance, CRAZY FOR HER. In addition to her contemporary romantic suspense novels, she writes Regency stories.
Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
 
$25 Amazon

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