Book Blitz & Excerpt: Beware of a Cursed Forest + Giveaway

Beware of a Cursed Forest Blitz Banner

 

Beware of a Cursed Forest

Misty Falls, Book 3

by Martha Wickham

Contemporary Fantasy Fiction

Date Published: 09-19-2023

 

How long can a magic ring last?

Long enough to get Violet through the worst, then send her through it again. When her new husband and his friends go grave robbing, they dig up a legend. They recover a thousand-year-old ring with a curse. When she finds it she uses it to her advantage like the last ring she owned, and her husband confesses to her how he obtained it. The magic flees from the ring after killing the people it sees deserving, but when it attacks her, Violet knows what she must do. It’s go back to grandma’s, then Misty Falls.

When she goes back her curiosity gets the best of her and she goes with a friend to investigate a murder in the haunted forest. Soon the forest is haunting her, and she is met with the killer, who wants more young blood. Though born on Friday the 13th, she believes in herself. Is she able to escape a streak of bad luck?

Purchase Link

Amazon


Excerpt

Curtis and his friends split up into three motel rooms ten minutes away from the cemetery they wanted to rob. They couldn’t bring them on the plane, so they had to go to a local store and get a shovel for each of them. The plan was to rob Jessie’s grave first and look for the famous ring that was fashioned in hell. “I want to see this ring,” one of them said. “I hope it doesn’t say made in hell or I will run.” They snickered at his joke except for Curtis. All their rooms were right next to each other. After hitting Jessie’s grave that night they would look through other graves and the mausoleum afterwards because there was no digging with those, then they’d go for the bigger graves, because the families may have had more money to pay for them.

After a quick dinner it was darkening. “Can we go now?” Curtis asked.

“It’s supposed to be late, but we will all take the rental car and be there in about thirty minutes. It’s getting darker at this point. I don’t think anyone will see us.”

“Have you done this before?” Curtis asked.

“No, I’ve stolen but not from a grave and this will probably be the only time.” By the time everyone was in the car it was darker, and they left. They had shovels and gardening tools in the back.

A red glow of light began to come from over the horizon. “I thought the sunset was over,” one of them in a black leathery jacket said.

“It was,” said the dark blond who appeared to be the leader. He had the most  experience stealing and did not spend one day in jail for anything.

As they got out the red seemed to get bigger. After opening the trunk, they then got out shovels and began looking for the one grave with the ring. There was a large, rounded tombstone straight ahead with some fresh flowers there half dead. The leader went for that one and it read Jessie the name they were looking for. He had died almost ten years ago and there was a card against the stone. It was about how someone missed him so much and how she loved him but never told him enough and it was signed Tess. It was from his girlfriend. The leader left it open and put it back. His friends began to dig but Curtis wandered around looking for graves to start digging. “Go to the mausoleum,” the leader told him, and Curtis went that way glad Violet had no idea where he was.

As the guys dug Curtis tried opening crypts with the shovel but they didn’t come open. When he found an old one with a big crack he decided to try that one. This person had died in the 1920’s. He hit it hard a few times with the shovel and the right side fell off. Sliding the coffin out and peeking in he could not see well but there wasn’t anything buried with him of value. He put it back and tried to find another one. He kept looking for older graves because if they were buried with anything old it could be valuable.

Curtis stepped out of the crypts and saw that most of the sky had turned red accept a circle of black in the middle. They all stared at it. “What makes the sky like that?” One of them asked. No one responded.

“Guys I don’t like this,” Curtis said.

“We are almost there,” the leader said, and he made deep holes with his shovel. “Go look for crypts to steal from.” Just then he smacked into the coffin with his shovel. They dug it out and opened it. Curtis came to see. “There he is.” Exactly, Here lies Jessie just like the tombstone said. Curtis glanced up and the whole sky was red. It seemed like an omen to him but there were still pretty twinkling stars shining through. The leader pulled the ring of his finger. Examining it the design looked like hell fire and he check on the inside. It said made in Hades. He wanted to throw it but pawning it would be a better idea. He put the ring in his pocket, and they began reburying Jessie.

They kept looking around the graveyard for ghosts and zombies coming to get them for revenge, but they didn’t. If anything, Jessie would have been glad the ring was gone and being the good person that he wouldn’t hurt anyone. They finished covering the grave. “Don’t worry. We’ll pawn it as fast as we can,” he told Curtis.

“If and when we find a pawn shop,” one of them said. Curtis was the only one uneasy and they couldn’t drive away fast enough. He would never do this again and was sorry he broke the man’s crypt marble.

The sky had stayed red for the rest of the night. When morning came it seemed like a dream but they needed to find food and a pawn shop. There were still days left in their stay in Michigan to do as they wished after finding what they needed.

After Curtis called Violet the leader wanted to tell them his decision. “I easily found a pawn shop in the phone book, but it’s not close. So, I have decided we have more to steal, and we can pawn that before we go back to Canada where we won’t get caught. Is that ok?” he asked Curtis.

“That’s fine. It’s only a ring and I’m not even staying with it,” he responded.

“Yes, and it must be worth so much. We can split it just tell your little lady back home your business was doing well.” Curtis nodded in agreement. They spent the day looking for places to rob and eat.

While they ate Chinese food in a motel room the leader made his announcement. “We will rob an old mansion. It’s old but they look like they have money. Tomorrow me and Anthony will go and see if there’s an easy way in and what they leave open or unlocked.” All they could do was nod. “Then we’ll come back when they’re gone and get you Sawyer. Curtis we need someone to drive the car. You can get out, but you need to be ready to drive. Hopefully these people are going on summer vacation. How’s that sound?” he asked Curtis.

“Sounds fine. If we go in through the backyard it’s harder for people to see what we are doing,” he suggested.

“Good idea,” the leader Tristan said.

He turned on the TV while they had a beer and relaxed. “It’s funny how rich people like to come out here thinking that it’s nice and peaceful and then get robbed.”


About the Author

Martha has studied writing with Writer’s Digest and has an associate’s degree in Social Services. She has also written poems and songs and even studied screen writing and horror. She still writes and likes getting writing prompts. Her favorite author is VC Andrews. If you purchase and read Martha’s books a review on this web site will be greatly appreciated. She can also be found at www.marthawickham.com. 

Contact Links

Website

Twitter: @MarthaWickham

 


 Giveaway:

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RABT Book Tours & PR

Winter Thrills, Holiday Chills

winter vault banner

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the WINTER THRILLS, HOLIDAY CHILLS! from VAULT Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

WINTER is the second scariest time of year. And it’s not just because of the terror of last-minute gift buying, frightening crowds, and haunting memories of holiday gatherings past. Specters cast dark shadows in snow, frost covers every inch of your sanctuary, and a variety of monsters from world legend and lore stalk your dreams from the child-eating Icelandic Yule Cat, to Northern Europe’s icy wielder of justice Frau Hölle and her Wild Hunt, to Germany’s devilish anti-Santa, Krampus, the Kallikantzaros evil goblins from Greece, and the Alpine witch Frau Perchta and her Kraumpus-like minions, the Perchten.

VAULT Comics knows this terror, feels your pain, and wants to share the horror…

Enter VAULT’s bone-chilling list of most popular horror, fantasy, and science fiction titles, with the best talent in SFFH comics with a WINTER THRILLS, HOLIDAY CHILLS!, Holiday Special!  This Winter, slay/sleigh those demons of indecision with the best in creator-owned Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror!

Here’s a list of all of the titles & authors participating in the tour! Check out each individual blog/Instagram/or booktok (schedule below) for more details on each book!

DARK ONE by Brandon Sanderson

END AFTER END by David “DB” Andry, Tim Daniel, Sunando C (Illustrator)

MINDSET by Zack Kaplan & John J. Pearson (Illustrator)

MONEY SHOT Volumes 1-3  by Tim Seeley, Sarah Beattie, Rebekah Isaacs (Illustrator)

MONEY SHOT VOL 1

MONEY SHOT VOL 2

MONEY SHOT VOL 3

THE BLUE FLAMEby Christopher Cantwell & Adam Gorham (Illustrator)

WEST OF SUNDOWN
Volumes 1 & 2
by Tim Seeley & Aaron Campbell, Jim Terry (Illustrations)

WEST OF SUNDOWN VOL. 1: Out Beyond the Dust N’ Dark

WEST OF SUNDOWN VOL. 2: Youthful Blasphemy

WITCHBLOOD by Matthew Erman & Lisa Sterle (Illustrator)

HEART EYESby Dennis Hopeless & Víctor Ibáñez (Illustrator)YA Crossover


Feature:

DARK ONE cover

Title: DARK ONE BOOK 1
by: Brandon Sanderson, Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, & Nathan C. Gooden
Pub. Date: May 16, 2023
Publisher: Vault Comics
Formats:  Hardcover, Paperback, eBook
Pages: 224
Find it: Goodreads, bookstoread

From #1 New York Times Bestselling, Hugo Award-winning author, Brandon Sanderson, comes DARK ONE – an action-packed fantasy adventure exploring good and evil. Paul Tanasin is haunted by visions of a dark, fantastic world. A world called Mirandus. A world he must shatter.

SOME WORLDS ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN.

From #1 New York Times bestselling, Hugo Award-winning author, Brandon Sanderson (The COSMERE Univserse, The MISTBORN TRILOGY, The STORMLIGHT ARCHIVE series, co-author of The Wheel of Time Vol. 12-14 with Robert Jordan, consulting producer on The Wheel of Time series from Amazon Studios ), along with Nathan C. Gooden, Jackson Lanzing, and Collin Kelly, comes DARK ONE, the first book in a series of original graphic novels from Vault Comics.

NOW IN TRADE PAPERBACK!

Paul Tanasin is a young man haunted by visions of a dark and fantastic world—visions he initially believes are hallucinations. But when he discovers they are prophecies from Mirandus, a world in which he’s destined to become a fearsome destroyer, he’ll have to embrace the fear, rise up as the Dark One, and shatter everything. DARK ONE examines the dual roles we often take on in life-the ability to be a savior as well as a destroyer.


Praise:

“A dramatically dark fantasy that will leave readers eager for the sequel.” – KIRKUS

Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Best Graphic Novels and Comics (2021)

#1 Fantasy title in Kindle eBooks!

“(Dark One) is a thought-provoking interpretation of epic fantasy from a villainous point of view.” – Screen Rant

Dark One is a great read for fantasy lovers…” – Wandering Nerd Girl

“The art is beautiful, dark, and violent.” – Screen Rant

“[DARK ONE is] a brilliant graphic novel that has some amazing themes delving into the duality of man and light and dark. The creative team tells Paul’s story beautifully, making sure that this novel will leave an impact.“ – But Why Tho?

“Brandon Sanderson’s DARK ONE is the realization of a supremely ambitious Vault Comics ideal. It’s a literary comic that blends high concept storytelling interests across genres without sacrificing any of the craft, structure, or character development needed to make narratives compelling and immersive.“ — Comics Bookcase


Interview with Jackson Lanzing

  1. What Winter holidays do you celebrate in December and January … and how do you celebrate them?

I was raised by druids, so I celebrate the Winter Solstice – but I love Christmas as a tradition generally, and my parents always celebrated that one too. Nothing like having a fresh tree in the home for a couple months – especially since it gives my cat an exciting new place to hide and make chaos.

  1. What traditions are old family traditions?

A huge homecooked meal on Christmas Day is a tradition that echoes back generations in my family – one I’ve definitely carried forward. I celebrate with a group of friends every year, since it’s often difficult to get the time off between deadlines to actually travel to visit family. My wife makes latkes. It’s phenomenal.

  1. What sort of activities during the holidays are your favorites?

I really love taking the time to hibernate. Just really let the stress of the world fall away and get to focus on friends and family. 

  1. What are your favorite holiday memories from adulthood?

Does “watching the entirety of the Crown on Netflix while bundled up with my wife and cat” count as a memory? Gods, I’m dull.

  1. What are your favorite holiday foods?

We regularly celebrate “Ham Week” in my house – during which I use every part of the ham to create dishes following the big dinner. You’ve never had a soup quite like my ham-and-pea.

The Winter Holidays and your book’s characters!

  1. How do your book’s characters celebrate the holidays? Do they celebrate with family & friends?

Paul Tanasin hasn’t had a nice family dinner since he was a very young man – and genuinely, I’m not sure if he properly remembers the ones he did have. The effect of the Narrative is strong.

  1. What do they eat?

Lin used to bring her family over, they’d make dumplings as a holiday tradition and feed the whole law firm for weeks. But these days, I feel like she barely even remembers it’s happening until it’s already underway. The characters in DARK ONE are pretty overwhelmed… so they probably order out.

As for Mirandus… who knows what holidays they celebrate there? Sounds like I gotta make a call to Brandon…


About Brandon Sanderson:

Brandon Sanderson is the fantasy and science fiction #1 New York Times Bestselling, Hugo Award-winning author of the Cosmere Universe, including: The Stormlight Archive series, both Mistborn series, Elantris, Warbreaker, Skyward, and various novellas including The Emperor’s Soul, which won a Hugo Award in 2013.

Website | Twitter | FacebookInstagram | YouTube

About Jackson Lanzing:

JACKSON LANZING, THE CREATIVE DIRECTOR has over a decade of experience in digital and audiovisual marketing. He started his career at Electronic Arts, where he handled day-to-day production and post for “Battlecast Primetime,” an innovative hourlong e-sports series. He has since moved into film and television marketing as Creative Director at Jump! Creative, producing award-winning digital content and TV spots for Disney, Marvel Studios, Warner Brothers, Lionsgate, Fox, Sony Pictures, and more. While he oversees creative at Jump, he also still cuts his favorite spots himself.

JACKSON LANZING, THE WRITER is a screenwriter and New York Times Bestselling comic book creator alongside co-writer Collin Kelly, known for JOYRIDE (Boom! Studios), BATMAN & ROBIN ETERNAL (DC Comics), GOTHAM CITY GARAGE (DC Comics), ZOJAQAN (Vault), and Alyssa Milano’s HACKTIVIST (Archaia). Parallel to their comics career, Lanzing/Kelly are screenwriters – since 2010 they’ve developed and written over a dozen screenplays both on spec or assignment for directors/producers like Peter Berg, Akiva Goldsman, Tim Kring, and Barry Josephson. They also wrote all 13 episodes of YouTube Red’s original animated series KINGS OF ATLANTIS, and produced/starred in two live-RPG series: VAST (Legendary Digital) and CHAMPIONS OF THE EARTH (Nerdsmith). In 2018/2019, they partnered with Adam Goodman and directors Pagan/Deustchman on an UNTITLED HORROR PROJECT, wrapped TOMB RAIDER for Dark Horse, took over GREEN ARROW for DC Comics, launched STAR TREK: YEAR FIVE at IDW, and began work on DARK ONE, a three-book original graphic novel series with multiple-time Bestselling fantasy author Brandon Sanderson.

Twitter | Instagram

About Collin Kelly:

COLLIN KELLY is a screenwriter and New York Times Bestselling comic book creator alongside co-writer Jackson Lanzing, known for Brandon Sanderson’s DARK ONE (Vault Comics), JOYRIDE (Boom! Studios), BATMAN & ROBIN ETERNAL (DC Comics), GOTHAM CITY GARAGE (DC Comics), ZOJAQAN (Vault), and Alyssa Milano’s HACKTIVIST (Archaia). Parallel to their comics career, Lanzing/Kelly are screenwriters – since 2010 they’ve developed and written over a dozen screenplays both on spec or assignment for directors/producers like Peter Berg, Akiva Goldsman, Tim Kring, and Barry Josephson. They also wrote all 13 episodes of YouTube Red’s original animated series KINGS OF ATLANTIS, and produced/starred in two live-RPG series: VAST (Legendary Digital) and CHAMPIONS OF THE EARTH (Nerdsmith). In 2018/2019, they partnered with Adam Goodman and directors Pagan/Deustchman on an UNTITLED HORROR PROJECT, wrapped TOMB RAIDER for Dark Horse, took over GREEN ARROW for DC Comics, launched STAR TREK: YEAR FIVE at IDW, and began work on DARK ONE, a three-book original graphic novel series with multiple-time Bestselling fantasy author Brandon Sanderson.

Twitter

About Nathan C. Gooden:

Nathan C. Gooden is an award-winning illustrator and sequential artist, as well as the Senior Art Director at Vault Comics. Nathan studied animation at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, and worked in film production, before co-founding Vault Comics. Nathan’s previous works include Brandon Sanderson’s Dark One (Vault), Barbaric (Vault), Zojaqan (Vault), and Killbox (from American Gothic Press). He lives in Southern California, where he plays a lot of basketball and hikes constantly with his wife.

Instagram


Giveaway Details:

1 winner will win finished copies of every book featured in the CHILLING HOLIDAYS from VAULT tour, US Only.

1 winner will win eBooks of every book featured in the CHILLING HOLIDAYS from VAULT tour, International.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ends January 6th, midnight EST.


Tour Schedule:

Week One:

12/1/2023

Lady Hawkeye

FEATURE- WEST OF SUNDOWN

12/2/2023

#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

FEATURE- END AFTER END

Week Two:

12/3/2023

Comic Book Yeti

FEATURE- HEART EYES

12/4/2023

Two Chicks on Books

FEATURE- MONEY SHOT

12/5/2023

Kountry Girl Bookaholic

FEATURE- THE BLUE FLAME

12/6/2023

Kim’s Book Reviews and Writing Aha’s

FEATURE- WITCHBLOOD

12/7/2023

The Book View

IG Post

12/8/2023

@darkfantasyreviews

IG Post

12/9/2023

@dreaminginpages

IG Post

Week Three:

12/10/2023

celiamcmahonreads

IG Post

12/11/2023

Eli to the nth

Review/IG Post

12/12/2023

Country Mamas With Kids

Review/IG Post

12/13/2023

GryffindorBookishnerd

IG Review

12/14/2023

A Blue Box Full of Books

IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post

12/15/2023

@book.reviews.letters.and.recs

IG Review

12/16/2023

@enthuse_reader

IG Review/TikTok Post

Week Four:

12/17/2023

@pagesforpaige

IG Review

12/18/2023

Jaimes_mystical_library

IG Review

12/19/2023

Nonbinary Knight Reads

Review/IG Post

12/20/2023

Books With a Chance

Review/IG Post

12/21/2023

One More Exclamation

IG Post

12/22/2023

@ohyouread

IG Review

12/23/2023

travelersguidetobooks

IG Review

Week Five:

12/24/2023

@lfl_onhst

IG Post

12/25/2023

jlreadstoperpetuity

IG Review/TikTok Post

12/26/2023

Sadie’s Spotlight

Feature- DARK ONE

12/27/2023

bookgirlbrown_reviews

FEATURE- MINDSET/Review/IG Post

12/28/2023

The Momma Spot

Review

12/29/2023

Here’s to Happy Endings

Review/IG Post

12/30/2023

@ashe_and_ink

IG Review

Week Six:

12/31/2023

Destiny’s Direction

Review/IG Post

 

Book Blitz & Excerpt: Kiss of a Witch + Giveaway

Kiss of A Witch Blitz Banner

Kiss of a Witch
by S.G. Slade
(Darkness Rising, #2)
Publication date: December 14th 2023
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Historical

Trapped in a spreading web of darkness, the power of an ancient book might be their only hope.

Mary Sparrow was cursed at birth, and the bawdy house is the only home she’s ever known. Like most of the girls, she dreams of escape. But when an old man drives her friend to madness, she swears she will have her revenge.

Toby Chyrche also hopes for a better future, away from the tailor’s shop where his fate seems set in stone. Then afateful meeting seems to promise freedom, until an ancient book of magic reveals chilling truths.

Ensnared in the spreading web of darkness, they turn to magic to protect themselves. But shadowy forces crave a sacrifice, and the spectre of death is beckoning. Can they wield the power of the book to protect those they love? Or will they pay for their courage with their lives?

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo


EXCERPT:

Then Toby ducked through the low door from the street and her breath stopped short in her throat. She was on her feet in a moment, shoving the sewing back into the basket at the hearth, straightening her skirts, checking her hair and adjusting the neckline of her bodice, small breasts pushed up and on display to their best advantage. She waited by the hearth, a coy smile on her lips and her head tilted in invitation. He saw her straight away and made his way towards her, and the little light of hope inside burned brighter. He had come, not for any girl, but for her.

‘Ale, Rosalind,’ Mary ordered to the other girl, who still sat staring at the unlit fire. Rosalind turned towards her, frowning in question. ‘Get us ale,’ Mary told her again, and eventually the girl got to her feet and headed out the back to where the barrels were kept.

‘Master Chyrche.’ She dropped her best curtsey, and he returned it with a bow.

‘Mistress Sparrow.’

They sat at a small round table beside the fireplace, and he looked around the empty room. ‘Where is everyone?’

She shrugged. ‘Elsewhere.’

‘Then I’m glad,’ he replied. ‘Because it means I can have you all to myself.’

She laughed, taking pleasure in the pleasantry. ‘I am all yours, Master Chyrche.’

He took her left hand in his, and began to caress the extra finger, gaze intent on the movement of their hands. Then, looking up, his eyes fixed hers in question. ‘Are you truly cursed, Mary Sparrow?’ he asked. ‘Does the Devil suckle at night on this finger?’

She gave him an uncertain half-smile in answer. Why was he asking the same questions again? ‘I cannot rightly say,’ she murmured. ‘I hope not.’

Lifting her palm to his mouth, Toby kissed it, then briefly, discreetly, slid the extra finger between his lips, his tongue warm and moist as it curled around the tip. Her breath lifted in response, warmth in her gut. Then Rosalind returned with the jug of ale and Toby let her hand go. Mary poured for them both and she drank, unsure of him now. She had met men before who made a fetish of her fingers, but Toby’s sudden interest disconcerted her. She lowered her cup and looked at him. He was watching her closely, eyes grey and pale in the candlelight, and she was self-conscious under his scrutiny.

‘Perhaps I’m your Devil,’ he said.

‘Perhaps,’ she replied, but she had no understanding of his meaning. He must have seen the confusion in her eyes, though she tried her best to hide it, because then he gave her a smile that made her fall a little deeper.

 

Author Bio:

S.G. Slade was born and raised in the historic city of Bristol in England, and now lives in Sydney, Australia, with her husband, son, and a very small dog called Livvy. She has worked variously as a secretary, a teacher, a shop assistant and a nurse, but lifelong obsessions with books, history, and magic have never waned. When she isn’t reading or writing (which isn’t often), you can find her either doing yoga, going for long walks, or watching old movies. Touch of a Witch is her first historical fantasy book.

She uses the pen name S.G. Slade for her fantasy books, and also writes Historical Fiction under the name Samantha Grosser.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / TikTok


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