Beyond the Veil is now available to read in Kindle Unlimited or to purchase for $2.99!

amzn.to/2GRFgJv

A newly appointed slayer desperate to prove herself. A cursed vampire king waiting to be awakened. A kiss that would change her life forever.

Delia Adams has been given her first mission as a slayer, a task she’s not sure she’s ready for. Liam, the vampire king of Velum Mortis, has been sleeping these past twenty years and hidden away from his people, thanks to the slayers and a curse placed upon him by a witch.

When Delia is sent to kill the king, she doesn’t have to wonder how to find him. She knows exactly where he is, thanks to the nagging force that has beckoned her to the cemetery where he sleeps time and time again.

Desperate to prove herself, she prepares to shove her sword through his heart, ending him and claiming her first victory.

She’s a slayer. He’s a vampire. It’s her duty to kill him…

So then why is the urge to abandon her mission and kiss him so damn strong?

Unlock Beyond the Veil to find out whether Delia gives into her urges or stays true to her slayer training today!

Beyond the Veil is an adult vampire romance novel that was loosely based on the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty. It contains mature content, adult language, and violence. Though this is the first book in the Vampires of Velum Mortis series, it can be read as a standalone.

 Coming January 10, 2019, to Kindle Unlimited! $2.99 to buy!
amzn.to/2GRFgJv <---------- Check it out here!

Check out Chapter 1 of the first book in The Vampires of Velum Mortis series, Beyond the Veil!

“You’re going down,” I exclaimed as I stood poised and ready to strike.
I was so going to kick Harmon’s ass. A smirk graced my lips, as did his, but I knew I was about to wipe the smugness right off his face with quick-as-a-cat reflexes and stunning agility. At least, that’s how it had played out in my mind. Reality, though? That was a whole other story. 
With a quick thwack of his boot to my ankle, I landed with a thud right on my backside. The pain tore through me, coaxing out an embarrassing groan. Needless to say, the plan to wipe the smirk off his face had gone awry and it was mine that had been wiped instead. Why had I thought today would be any different than any other day?
I’d gotten the best of him here and there when we sparred, but this time was different. Every other slayer who’d come up with me in training had gone out on their own, ridding the world of all the things that go bump in the night, but not me. Not Delia Adams, daughter of Drew Adams, slayer-extraordinaire. I wondered sometimes if I’d ever live up to the reputation of my father. Would I ever prove I was worthy of being a slayer?  
“Eye on the prize, Cordelia,” Mitch Harmon, head trainer for the Mallory Falls Slayers’ Council and my fiancé, said as he snapped his fingers, jolting me out of the depressing headspace I’d found myself wandering down.
I hated when he refused to use my nickname during training. Cordelia was too formal and sounded almost jarring to my ear. Delia was the name I’d chosen to go by, but when we trained, he insisted on using Cordelia. Probably because he knew I hated it.
“If we were in the field, you’d be dead. You want to go out there and kill the son of a bitchin’ bloodsuckers? Get it together.”
“Sorry,” I said, nearly under my breath as I sat up and shook my arm. Hours of training had pain and stiffness setting in. If I had my real sword instead of the training sword, I might not have been so sore. The training sword was cumbersome, heavy, and clunky. It was nothing like the silver-tipped weapon that felt so natural in my hand, almost like it was an extension of my arm. I’d grown accustomed to handling it during solo training and when I practiced at home by myself, but if I used it against Harmon, I might actually hurt him. That was the last thing I wanted. Sure, knocking him on his ass would be wonderful, but really hurting him? Nope. I’d feel terrible.
“You should never have to say you’re sorry when it comes to slaying. Mistakes don’t happen out there because if they do, you’re dead. Turn off your emotions and be your instincts. Become one with your surroundings. Focus on every sound, every movement, and use it to your advantage. Go where your gut takes you. Don’t hesitate. Learn to do that every time, and you’ll be out there slaughtering the fucking beasts before you know it.”
“Yes, sir,” I said, pushing myself to my feet, ignoring that he was my fiancé and how weird it felt to refer to him as sir. But when we trained, we weren’t a couple. Not really. He was my superior and I was a trainee. His job was to teach me the skills I needed to make sure I didn’t get dead the first time I went out on my own.
Some days I felt like giving up, especially when the others I’d started with had passed me by weeks ago. They’d all been given their first missions, many of them moving on to the next in no time flat. And there I was, still training in the courtyard for the whole town to see, like a big old loser.
And their whispers didn’t help any. Yeah, I’d heard it from the others more times than I could count. If Harmon didn’t have such a hard-on for her because of who her dad was, she’d have been out on her ass ages ago…. She’ll never amount to anything… She’ll be sucked dry the first time she has to fight one… Why did he ever want to marry her in the first place?
That last one stung the most, as if I weren’t worthy of such a man as Harmon. As if there was something wrong with me as a woman and nothing wrong with him as a man. Like the very essence of perfection ran through his body and I wasn’t worthy enough to partake… And the part that bothered me the most was that the same sentiment had poisoned my own thoughts more than a time or two. Why had he agreed to marry me? And why had I agreed to marry him? I loved him, that was true, but it wasn’t the kind of love I expected to feel for the man I’d be spending the rest of my life with. There had to be something more out there for me, something breath-takingly epic, like the type of love story I’d read about time and time again in my favorite romance novels, but this was my life. My path had been set out for me years ago, and I was determined to make it work.
No use in chasing fairy tales.
Rolling my neck and shoulders, I took my place in front of Harmon and stared him down, ready to strike at a moment’s notice. He was attractive, easily one of the most handsome men I’d ever seen. Tall with lean muscles building his frame. His blond hair shimmered in the sun, hovering just over the horizon. His hazel eyes could be soft and sweet and deep enough to get lost in, but right now, he was all business. There was nothing personal between us.
“Come at me,” he commanded.
And I obliged. Launching myself forward, I jabbed the training sword out in front of me, aiming for his shoulder, but he blocked it before I could land the blow. Pushing me back with the force of his body, I managed to regain my footing before I could fall. Balling my hand into a fist, I struck, hitting his side and buckling him to his knee.
Capitalizing on the moment, I landed a blow with my foot to his abdomen, knocking him the rest of the way to the ground as I tightened my grip on the wooden sword. In one swift movement, the blunted tip of the weapon rested just above his heart. If he had been a vampire, it would’ve been over for him an instant later.
Looking up at me with a grin plastered on his face, Harmon slapped the ground, signaling that he had conceded. I moved the sword away, pride coursing through my veins as I stood. If my father could see me now, he’d be so proud.
“That’s what I want to see, babe,” he exclaimed.
Babe. It was a nice enough term of endearment, but I longed to be called something unique, something meant only for me. Not just babe.
Picking himself off the ground, he said, “I’ve never been so happy to have my ass handed to me as I am right now. Who’d have thought you could actually do it, Cordelia? There just might be hope for you yet.”
The smile on my face faded along with my pride. Way to believe in me, I thought to myself.
“You act like it’s the first time I’ve knocked you on your ass,” I said, wiping a thin line of sweat from my hairline. “Maybe it’s been a minute, but it has happened before.”
“Yeah… I’m sorry I put it that way,” he said and planted a kiss on the top of my head. I wanted to swat him away, but he’d left my personal space the moment his lips had disengaged. Every time he said something insensitive to me during training, his go-to move was to kiss my head to try and smooth things over, and then he was gone again. “I know you’re trying your best. I just worry about your first mission and what it’ll be like for you out there alone without me to guide you. I just hope you’re ready to do the right thing.”
Somehow, that didn’t sound much better. Harmon was sweet… most of the time, but during training, he was a whole different beast than the one I’d grown accustomed to during downtime. When we trained, he had a way of making me feel insignificant whether I made a mistake or performed spectacularly well. And every time he did it, it was like maybe all those whispers taunting me about how he was out of my league were right. Like he was a fierce warrior king, and I was nothing more than a peasant with no hope of ever becoming his queen.   
“You ready to go again?” he asked.
Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, I replied, “Yeah. Starting to get a little hungry though.” That was an understatement. I was almost ravenous. Eating before a training session was a tricky thing. Too much, and I’d be doubled over in pain in no time. Too little, and I’d start to get shaky. Neither were conducive to a lengthy session, and I had training quotas to meet every week.
“We’ll go one more round, and if you can take me down again, I’ll come to your place and grill you a steak for dinner. What do you say?”
I could almost smell the meat, tender and juicy, cooking over an open-flame, complemented by a buttery baked potato and a nice salad with lots of fresh veggies from the community garden, maybe even a glass of wine. “I say let’s do this, so we can eat,” I said and lunged at him, catching him off guard.
Crashing into him, the two of us fell to the ground in a fit of laughter. Onlookers eager to see me fail glanced in our direction and looked away once they were satisfied that I was still a loser and that Harmon had no business going so easy on me.  
I buried my face into the arm he wrapped around me and gave him a playful nibble to the bicep.
“Ow,” he shouted through laughter. “We’ve got a biter.” Flipping me over onto my back, his finger grazed my top lip, pushing it back to expose my teeth. “Is there something you’re not telling me, Delia? Are you a vampire? Do I need to slay you right here right now for the whole town to see?”
Wiggling my way out from underneath him, he managed to keep ahold of me. I pushed at his shoulders, and said through laughter, “Let me go, you fucker.”
Someone behind us cleared their throat in an obnoxious manner, halting our laughter.
Harmon jumped to his feet and held out a hand to help me up. Malachi, one of the junior members of the slayers’ council, stood before us. He may have been little more than a messenger boy for the other councilmen, but he still outranked the two of us, and he wouldn’t tolerate us forgetting it.
“Your presence is requested in the council chambers.”
“Yes, master. I’ll head there now,” Harmon said.
“Not you. Her,” he said, pointing his finger straight at me, though his eyes never left Harmon’s.  
“Me?” I asked and glanced at Harmon who stared at the ground, avoiding eye contact with either of us.  
“Yes. We have something to discuss with you. It’s imperative that you make your way to the council right away.”
“Of course,” I said.
Malachi’s face contorted as if he’d gotten a snout full of shit.
“I mean, of course, master.” I’d nearly forgotten to address him properly while I’d been wondering what this something important could be.
“Follow me,” he said, turning his back to us and headed up the hill toward the council chambers where they gathered daily.
“What do you think it’s about?” I whispered to Harmon, hoping Malachi wouldn’t overhear me. I was about to burst at the seams in anticipation.
He shrugged his shoulders as if he didn’t know, but the way his mouth had straightened into a hard line and the color had seemingly drained from his face, I suspected he knew more than he let on.
“Do you think it has to do with my first mission?” I asked eagerly. That would be so awesome if it was, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t concerned that it maybe had to do with my lack of progression in comparison to my peers. Maybe the council was done with me and it was time to let me go. I’d wanted to be a slayer for as long as I could remember. Hadn’t even thought what else I would do with my life if I wasn’t. Were there any other jobs out there where you could basically read books, listen to music, kick ass all day, and get paid for it?
“Doubtful,” he whispered back. “I haven’t cleared you for that yet. I don’t think they would send you out without my recommendation, no matter the reason.”
My stomach nearly hit the ground. Not only had I not gotten the chance to really prove myself in the field, but it was Harmon who had stood in my way. The fact that he didn’t believe in me cut deep.
Harmon’s loyalty to my father persisted even now, nearly five years after he’d died. I’d always suspected my father had pushed us together because he couldn’t stand the thought of leaving me alone in the world. It had even been his dying wish that we get married, and I’d agreed, but now, that feeling that I was missing out on something epic reared its head again. I didn’t require much from a partner. I just wanted someone who believed in me.
I was silent the rest of the short journey to the council chambers.
We entered through a heavy mahogany double-door that took nearly all of Malachi’s strength to open it. Each member of the council sat at a stone semi-circle table situated in the center of the room, their eyes locked on me as I made my way toward them.
Malachi took his seat on the far right and announced my presence, as if they hadn’t seen for themselves that I was there.
“Miss Adams is here at your request.”
There were no women on the council, and I pictured myself sitting up there someday after a long and storied career, guiding the town of Mallory Falls and its slayers into the future. Nothing wrong with dreaming big. Dad had once been on the council after all, so why not me?
Master Lewis, sitting smack-dab in the middle, addressed me as the others sat back in silence. “Come forward.”
I did as I was told, leaving Harmon behind, thankful for the distance.
“As you well know your peers have all progressed to the junior slayer rank. Unfortunately, you have not been cleared yet and remain a trainee.”
“I can explain…” I said, trying my best to defend myself, though I was at a loss for what exactly I should say. Maybe that I was trying as hard as I fucking could… Or maybe, just maybe, I would rock their fucking socks off if they gave me the chance to prove myself.
“No need, my dear,” he said, his smile reassuring. His face softened before continuing. “I’ve been watching you nearly every day, and you have something special. Something that makes you stand out from the others, despite the fact that you haven’t been promoted yet,” he said, shooting an irritated glance toward Harmon.
“What’s that, if you don’t mind me asking?” Eager to hear his response, I straightened my back, pulling my shoulders back as I held my chin high.
“Heart,” he said and stood. Making his way around the table, he came to me and rested his hand on my shoulder. “You have heart, my dear. The same heart your father had. I see the way you give it your best and how you improve every day. As far as I’m concerned, you should have been promoted with your peers weeks ago. You have far surpassed the requirements as far as I can tell, though I would suspect Harmon’s reluctance to clear you is because of the way he feels for you. In any event, I’m relieving him of that duty and clearing you myself. Your twenty-first birthday is tomorrow,” he said and removed his hand from my shoulder. Why my birthday was important enough to mention, I didn’t know. Didn’t really care either. I was too elated at the news I was probably going to get my first mission to think twice about it.
I took a moment to catch my breath after his words had knocked it from my lungs. Someone had been watching. Someone had believed in me. Someone wanted to vouch for me. And it felt fan-fucking-tastic.
“Thank you,” I said, regaining my composure before it spilled out for everyone to see. “Does this mean I have an assignment?”
“Yes, and this assignment will make it or break it for you, though I have faith you will follow your training and prevail. It is of the utmost importance that you focus and make the right decisions on your way. You will travel into the forest to the west. An old cemetery lies there deep within the woods. Near its center, stands a mausoleum,” he said. “Much larger than any of the others. Two dragon statues sit on either side of its entrance. You can’t miss it.”
I was all too familiar with the graveyard and the structure Master Lewis described. A force so strong I couldn’t ignore it, like a terrible heaviness in my heart, had pulled me to that place so many times over the years that I’d lost count.  
I was eleven the first time I’d seen it. Cleaning my room while Dad was out on a mission was what I was supposed to be doing that summer afternoon, but I’d found myself wandering in the woods instead, meandering along a faint path and picking flowers until I’d stumbled upon a graveyard. The structure almost at its center had been large and foreboding and called to me in a way I never quite understood. My hands trembled when I looked at it during my youth, but I found it beautifully macabre. Visits back then were few and far between, but it wasn’t long before I wondered about the person or people resting in eternal peace on the other side of the mausoleum’s walls.
Though I’d continued to go there sporadically over the years, something changed just after my eighteenth birthday, like I couldn’t fully catch my breath until I visited the place that haunted my dreams. An ache formed deep within my chest—dull at first, but quickly intensifying to the point where I could hardly stand to exist—and it only seemed to be relieved upon visiting the monument. The feeling had only happened a couple of times at first, but over the last year it had become so strong that I went there nearly every chance I could get. Weekly, for sure, but sometimes daily when I could spare the time.
Each time I visited the place, I felt like I was getting closer to discovering something big about myself, like the secrets of my destiny were buried there, but there was nothing more than crumbling monuments and death greeting me. Forcing myself to enter the place wasn’t something I’d mustered up the courage to do just yet, but it looked like that’s right where I was headed. Ready or not.
 “There is a passageway just inside that’ll lead you underground to a tomb where your target lay.”
“I’m ready, Master Lewis. No vampire stands a chance against me,” I said confidently. Thankfully, they couldn’t hear my heart racing at the thought that the vampire resting there had been calling to me all along.
“Make no mistake. This is no ordinary vampire you seek to destroy, and you’ll have to use every bit of strength and training to guide you in your quest to slay him.”
“Who is this vampire?” I asked, getting the sense that this mission was much more dangerous than I’d expected my first to be.
“The vampire king of Velum Mortis.”

Available for preorder now! amzn.to/2GRFgJv

A newly appointed slayer desperate to prove herself. A cursed vampire king waiting to be awakened. A kiss that would change her life forever.

Delia Adams has been given her first mission as a slayer, a task she’s not sure she’s ready for. Liam, the vampire king of Velum Mortis, has been sleeping these past ten years and hidden away from his people, thanks to the slayers and a curse placed upon him by a witch.

When Delia is sent to kill the king, she doesn’t have to wonder how to find him. She knows exactly where he is, thanks to the nagging force that has beckoned her to the cemetery where he sleeps time and time again.

Desperate to prove herself, she prepares to shove her sword through his heart, ending him and claiming her first victory.

She’s a slayer. He’s a vampire. It’s her duty to kill him…

So then why is the urge to abandon her mission and kiss him so damn strong?

Beyond the Veil is an adult vampire romance novel that was loosely based on the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty. It contains mature content, adult language, and violence. Though this is the first book in the Vampires of Velum Mortis series, it can be read as a standalone. Beyond the Veil will be available to read in Kindle Unlimited.

amzn.to/2GRFgJv

It's been a while. A long while. But I'm still here, and I'm not done yet.

I published my first book back in March of 2014. Between then and June 2016, I managed to write and publish six novels in total (and a few short stories here and there). I felt like I was on a roll, like I had this writing thing down pat. I was making a living with my words (which is extremely hard to do, but that's a topic for another day) and living a life where I paved my own way by doing something I truly loved. Overwhelmingly, I felt like I was on the verge of really hitting it big. Not Stephen King or Diana Gabaldon big, but a little closer to a hell of a lot more people remembering my name and a hell of a lot more readers consuming my work. Maybe a little delusional, but hey it helped to keep me going. Each letter from a reader telling me how much they loved my books, each review shouting praise for the worlds and characters I had created, each interaction on my social media pages, and all the love shown at book signings also played a huge part in pushing me forward. The sky was the limit as far as I was concerned.

So what happened? Why no new releases in over a year-and-a-half? Why did I mostly disappear?

Well, to be blunt, life happened, I had a huge bout of self-doubt, and the words left me. The characters were there showing me bits of their stories, but when it came to putting their trials and tribulations and quests for love to paper, I couldn't do it. I'd open a file and nothing would happen. The characters would go silent and I would stumble along for a paragraph or two (if I was lucky) before giving up. The more I couldn't write, the more I didn't want to try. I'd go weeks at a time without so much as a thought toward writing. Depression, which is something I've dealt with off and on for as long as I can remember, set in, making me doubt myself that much more, and I honestly thought maybe I was done. Like I'd written all that I was meant to write. But every once in a while, I'd get a flash of inspiration, a fleeting moment of desire to create.

It took a long time to realize what I was dealing with. The dreaded writer's block, magnified by depression and anxiety. And let me tell you, writer's block is a real bitch. My motto was always to just keep writing, no matter what. I didn't truly understand what it was to sit down, eager to write, and nothing happening. Now I do. I so get it, and I wish I didn't.

But those moments of clarity where I could see a scene so clearly that it was like watching a movie made me realize that I wasn't done. I hadn't written all that I was meant to write. I hadn't brought all the characters living in my head to life. I hadn't told all of their stories. Something finally broke loose for me in the last month or so, and for the first time in a really long time, I feel like I'm doing what I'm meant to be doing. The words have started flowing again and the characters have started talking non-stop. I can't tell you what a relief it is to feel that energy released.

I know I have probably disappointed some of you along the way with my lack of new books, but I hope that you're still here with me and that you'll enjoy what I have to offer in the future just as much as you have my previous works.

With that being said, I'm going to be changing up the way I publish going forward. I'm no longer going to mix my paranormal romance and my contemporary romance under one name. From here on out, my paranormal romances will be published under the name Stephanie Summers and my contemporary romance, which will now focus primarily on rockstar romance, will be published under the pen name Scarlett Alexander. As much as I enjoyed writing Blowback/Forsaken Love, it just didn't seem to hit the mark with what my readers expected from me. Perhaps if I decide to venture into that territory again, I'll start a new pen name, but in the meantime, I'll be sticking to what I love writing and what I hope you all still love reading.

If you'd like to give my Scarlett Alexander Facebook page a like, twitter a follow, or just check out my website, you can do so here, here, and here. Because this is not a secret pen name, I will always announce on my main Stephanie Summers pages that I have a new release under that name, so no worries if you don't click the follow button.

Anyway, if you managed to read all that and are still with me, I just want to say thank you. Thank you for still believing in me. And to everyone who reached out with kind words about my books over the last several years, you'll never know how much that truly meant to me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. If it weren't for all of you, I might have laid my pen down for good. If you ever feel like contacting your favorite authors but think maybe you're bothering them, please don't feel that way. You never know how much of an impact your words can have on someone, and your message might be just the thing they need to keep going. Trust me, I know firsthand.

I'll be sharing more about what I'm working on in the coming days and weeks, and I'll be creating a new reader group on Facebook where we can chat about life and all things books, so be on the lookout and let me know what you think. Until then...

Much love,
Stephanie

What's going on in the writing world of Stephanie Summers? A lot of frustration, questioning, and finally what seems like a light at the end of the tunnel--in a nutshell.

I've been in a bit of a writing funk since I finished up Blowback, probably because I poured so much time and hard work into it that I tapped my mental resources for a bit. This isn't uncommon for me after finishing a book, but it can be a terrifying time when it happens because I tend to sit around and analyze why I can't write instead of writing. What's wrong with me? Have I used up all my good ideas? Am I completely tapped out? Will I ever be able to write another book? Luckily, I seem to be pulling myself out of all that and back into writing. My how I have missed it!

Some of you might have noticed not too long ago that I posted over on my Facebook page about how I was working on a vampire story, and while the idea is still brewing and the story has been set up, I'm sorry to say, that it's been shelved for the time being. I can't focus on it, though I feel like it will evolve into its own series soon enough. I know it sounds cliche when authors talk about how their characters speak to them and how they dictate the story, but it really is true. I can't force them if they just aren't there.

Listen, I struggled for weeks trying to write a story about Big. If you've read Blowback, you know who I mean, if you haven't read it, what are you waiting for? ;) Anyway, I had most of it plotted out in my mind, but when I sat down to write, he didn't speak to me and I'd stare at the screen. I have a possible sequel in mind for Jet, too, but I've got no focus when it comes to those stories. Same thing happened after the initial set up of the vamp story. I'm happy to report that finally, FINALLY, I have some characters talking to me, and I've plotted out four books in a new rock star series. I've decided to buckle down and get them written, with the hopes of releasing them about two months apart, starting sometime around September or October. I'll have a more concrete date once I get close to the editing phase.

I don't have a working title yet, but I can tell you a little about the band. If you've read Take Me Home, you might remember an encounter a certain Mister Ash London had with a guy pushing his music into his ears, literally, while he was on a date with Lila, the same one who opened the show later in the book that was signed to Ferrum's new record label. And if you haven't read Take Me Home, what are you waiting for? ;) Anyway, Evan Kelley, front man for Untamed Destruction (formerly known as Tiger's Den lol you'll get that reference if you read TMH) is who the first book is about. He's reeling from the loss of the band's original drummer and his best friend. I can't say much more than that at the moment, but there's a little taste for you. Three more books will follow, and as of right now, they'll be about Jameson Rhodes (guitarist), Kane King (bassist), and Jayson Stonewall (drummer)--not necessarily in that order and names at this point are subject to change. And I am happy to say that Ash London WILL be playing a somewhat sizable role at some point in the series, and he might make another cameo here or there. Hint: Anyone remember Lila's best friend, Paige? Can't say one way or the other, but she *might* just be the romantic interest for one of these guys. ;)

This shouldn't surprise anyone who has followed my books thus far because they all happen in the same universe, even The Willow Creek Vampires Series,  though I doubt Ash or Jet Flanagan are aware there are vampires lurking about. Remy is certainly aware of Ferrum through Sabine's fascination with them. The band Ferrum has been mentioned in most of my non-Ferrum books. It only made sense to me to continue the tradition. You might be wondering why I didn't write a book for the other members in Ferrum, but it's quite simple. Matty already has Tori, and Dax has never spoken to me in a romantic way. If he ever decides to settle down, I'm sure he'll let me know his story.

Anyway, just wanted to let you all know what's been going on, and how excited I am to be focusing on a new series that I hope you'll enjoy. I'll try and keep you updated along the way with some sneak peeks and teasers. Until next time, take care!

The time has come for me to revamp my newsletter list. When I started it over two years ago, I only had Craving under my belt, so one all-inclusive list seemed like the way to go. I've since branched out from paranormal romance into contemporary and romantic suspense, and I realize those genres don't always have the same readers. In an effort to better serve my subscribers, I'm splitting my list into three targeted lists. You'll have the option to sign up for the paranormal romance list, the contemporary romance/romantic suspense list, or the all-inclusive list if you happen to want to hear about my new releases, regardless of the genre.

Aside from making it better for subscribers, I have another reason for this. Earlier this year I participated in a couple of big Kindle giveaways that were run by two different places that specialize in massive email lists and promoting authors/books to those subscribers. It seemed like a great idea at the time, give away a Kindle, grow my newsletter, reach more readers. Well, hindsight is always 20/20, right?

I've come to the realization that a lot of people who subscribe in those situations don't give a flying fuck about the author whose newsletter they're subscribing to. They just want to win that prize. I get it. Really, I do, and I'm not saying every subscriber is that way. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that the one giveaway that was focused on paranormal romance readers probably did garner me subscribers who really were interested in my books. The other one that wasn't genre specific and certainly wasn't limited to romance? Probably not so much. I know I've gained readers from these promos, so they weren't a complete bust, and please don't think I don't want you if you signed up this way. That is not the case at all. I want every subscriber who genuinely wants to be here. I love you. Promise!

Anyway, the problem? Of those who didn't really want to be on the list and only signed up for a chance to win, many will simply forget they've signed up and click that the newsletter I send at a later time is spam instead of just unsubscribing. I've never once added a person to my email list who didn't physically sign up at an author signing I've attended, and the only other way to get on the list is to fill out the form yourself, so yeah, it stings a little when you see those spam reports, like I'm some Nigerian prince searching for his long lost relative to help in securing this billion dollars I have lying about. The places we authors use to store our lists and send out our newsletters like Mad Mimi, MailChimp, etc., don't like it when someone reports those emails as spam because it can get them into hot water legally on their end. The more times I'm flagged, the bigger the chance that I'll lose my whole list and lose the privilege to send out newsletters at all. Plus, it costs money to maintain these lists. Believe me, if you don't want to hear from me, I'd much rather you click unsubscribe because I'm essentially paying for a massive list of people who might not really want to hear from me in the first place.

In order to save myself a little money (because the bigger the list, the more money I have to pay to maintain it) and the headache of being flagged as spam, I'm changing things up. I am essentially nuking my subscriber list, so if you want to stay, you must subscribe again. Go up to the newsletter tab at the top of this page, and sign up for the list of your choosing. And thank you so much for understanding and cooperating with me on this. I've been contemplating this change for a few weeks now, and I finally decided to just go for it. I know I'll lose a lot of subscribers, but honestly, I'd rather have a smaller list of readers who want to hear from me than a massive list full of those who don't.

Beneath Her Skin 
by Beth Mikell 

Blurb:

Brooke Stone runs a slumping hot air balloon business and pride keeps her from asking for help. Her last flight of the day introduces her to Damon Sinclair. He is mysterious, sexy, and he wants her to work for him. But there is deception at play. Someone is gunning for her, strategically placing Brooke at the center of danger, while Damon uses all his government resources to help her. She is two steps away from a break down, yet her new savior proves she needs a miracle, and she cannot help but hold onto his dust-devil storm, awestruck and seduced. 

No matter their sensual cravings, trouble is coming… and so is the truth. 

Available to read in KU! Just $2.99 to purchase!
http://amzn.to/1TVVwWL