Book Tour and Giveaway: Cozy up this Fall with a book from Gail Z. Martin!

 

 

Cozy up this Fall with a book from Gail Z. Martin!

Get started on a new series today! 

The Summoner

Chronicles of the Necromancer Book 1

The Chronicles of the Necromancer series is an action-packed epic fantasy adventure filled with magic, occult lore, honorable ghosts, loyal friends, found family, immortal creatures, secrets, curses, forbidden love—and a necromancer hero!

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**Get the FREE Chronicles of the Necromancer short story The Last Mile here!**

https://claims.prolificworks.com/free/AUjkL

Ice Forged

Ascendant Kingdoms Saga Book 1

The Ascendant Kingdoms Saga, a tale of unpredictable magic, battling warlords, and the lust for vengeance set in the unforgiving frozen wastes at the edge of the world.

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**Get the FREE Ascendant Kingdoms short story Reconciling Memory here!**

https://claims.prolificworks.com/free/JQorl

Assassin's Honor

Assassins of Landria Book 1

The Assassins of Landria series is buddy flick epic fantasy, an action-packed epic adventure filled with loyal friends, honorable fugitives, secret sanctuaries, hidden magic, and unexpected explosions

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**Read an Excerpt here!**

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Scourge

Darkhurst Book 1

Fighting the monsters that killed their family and friends cost undertaker brothers Corran and Rigan Valmonde their home and livelihood and made them wanted men—but the worst is yet to come.

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Sons of Darkness

The Night Vigil Book 1

When a series of disappearances, suicides, and vengeful spirits cause havoc and death along a remote interstate highway, demon-hunting ex-priest Travis Dominick teams up with former special ops soldier and monster-hunter Brent Lawson to end the problem with extreme prejudice.

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**Read an Excerpt here!**

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Spells, Salt and Steel Season One

Spells, Salt and Steel Book 1

By day, Mark Wojcik can be found elbow-deep in engine grease, making cars and trucks safe for the highway. By night, he can be found traipsing through the wilds of Pennsylvania, making the world safe for humans. He’s more than just a mechanic, he’s a New Templar Knight. He travels the backroads and byways fighting weresquonks, ningen, selkies, ghosts, and…gnomes?

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**Read an Excerpt here!**

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Cauldron

The Joe Mack Adventures Book 1

When you ask a god for favors, be careful what you wish for. You just might get it. Josef Magarac was a brave man, a strong man, a hard-working immigrant who only wanted a better life for his family. Instead he got a bloodbath. From the bloody steel mill strikes of Pennsylvania rose a true man of steel, a steelworker transformed into something more by the power of the Old Gods. Now Joe Mack is in Cleveland, and he’s working to protect those who can’t protect themselves. 

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**Read an Excerpt here!**

https://claims.prolificworks.com/free/opZehln5

Deadly Curiosities

Deadly Curiosities Book 1

Deadly Curiosities is an action-packed urban fantasy paranormal thrill ride full of dark magic, infernal creatures, goblins and demigods, haunted places, pirate ghosts, found family, witch dynasties, loyal friends, Voudon spirits, secret history and plenty of adventure.

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**Get the FREE Deadly Curiosities short story Catspaw here!**

https://claims.prolificworks.com/free/UAjd6

Iron & Blood

The Jake Desmet Adventures Book 1

Mad scientists, brilliant inventors, airships, vampires, clockwork zombies, absinthe magic, and a conspiracy of dark magic, industrial sabotage and the monsters that  threatens not just New Pittsburgh, but the whole world.

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**Get the FREE Iron & Blood short story Grave Voices here!**

https://claims.prolificworks.com/free/jaNQX

Wasteland Marshals

Wasteland Marshals Volume 1

The Wasteland Marshals series is an action-packed near-future post-apocalyptic thriller full of grim ghosts, legendary creatures, shifters, and elemental spirits, brave survivors, loyal friends, and found family. 

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**Read an Excerpt here!**

https://claims.prolificworks.com/free/CuLJ5uYu

Check out the latest books from Gail Z. Martin!

Exile's Quest

Assassins of Landria Book 4

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House of Cards

Spells, Salt and Steel Book 8

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Chicagoland

The Joe Mack Adventures

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Legacy

Deadly Curiosities Book 5

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Gail Z. Martin writes urban fantasy, epic fantasy, steampunk and more for Solaris Books, Orbit Books, Falstaff Books, SOL Publishing and Darkwind Press. Urban fantasy series include Deadly Curiosities and the Night Vigil (Sons of Darkness). Epic fantasy series include Darkhurst, the Chronicles Of The Necromancer, the Fallen Kings Cycle, the Ascendant Kingdoms Saga, and the Assassins of Landria.

Together with Larry N. Martin, she is the co-author of Iron & Blood, Storm & Fury (both Steampunk/alternate history), the Spells Salt and Steel comedic horror series, the Roaring Twenties monster hunter Joe Mack Shadow Council series, and the Wasteland Marshals near-future post-apocalyptic series. As Morgan Brice, she writes urban fantasy MM paranormal romance, with the Witchbane, Badlands, Treasure Trail, Kings of the Mountain and Fox Hollow series. Gail is also a con-runner for ConTinual, the online, ongoing multi-genre convention that never ends.

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

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In Honor of Native American Heritage Month: Frank Linderman and Crow History

I fell in love with Frank Linderman’s work and became fascinated with the Crows or Apsaalooké Nation when I wrote my first jinni hunter novella, Kiss of the Silver Wolf, a paranormal romance that involved the handsome and mysterious director of a clandestine division within a powerful government agency. Bert Blackfeather, a hero of the Gulf War with both a Purple Heart and a Silver Star, runs Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate’s Anomaly Defense Division. His agents vary in talents and skills, all paranormal, all outside the bureaucratic box. The Haunting of Hotel LaBelle, takes place in Billings, Montana and on the Crow Reservation, Bert’s home which he returns to from time to time. I hope the following very brief introduction to the Crow culture and history piques your curiosity and gives you a sense of the wonder I felt as I researched and wrote my latest book.

The Name and Language

Although the origins of the name have been argued about by scholars over time, the designation of “Raven” and “Crow” people has been “used interchangeably since the 18^th century” (Voget, 2001). The Crow name for their tribe is Absaroke, or Apsaalooké translated variously as bird, children of the large beaked bird, sparrow hawk, crow, raven, or anything that flies, depending on the author and the century. The majority (85%) of the tribe speaks Crow as their first language. Don’t be daunted! There’s an app to learn about the Crow culture and language and it can even be downloaded to your smart phone.

The Reservation and Little Bighorn

Like many Native American peoples, the Crow have experienced loss of territory and lands since Europeans arrived. Treaties were signed, broken, renegotiated and broken again—by the White men. According to the Crow Reservation Timeline, 38 million acres of land over which the Plains people rode and hunted buffalo shrank to its present size of 2.3 million acres. The Crow Reservation sits on breathtaking lands and waterways. South of the city of Billings, the reservation borders on Wyoming. Within its boundaries is the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument at Crow Agency. Crow warriors served as scouts and soldiers in this battle, alongside General Custer’s troops in the fight against their old enemies, the Sioux, Cheyenne and Arapaho. According to Pretty Shield, a Medicine Woman, at least two Crow women served as warriors in this battle, Finds-them-and-kills-them and The-other-magpie.

[A Crow Camp]

Gender Roles

A matrilineal society, the woman owned the tipi (teepee) or lodge tent and all the household goods. They skinned the animals, prepared food, gathered water and wood. The men owned the horses and their weapons. If parents proposed a match to their daughter (outside of the clan, to prevent in-breeding) based on what they thought was a good fit, if she didn’t like the man, she could say no. There was no formal marriage ceremony. The man offered a horse (or two) and a rifle (or two) in exchange for his love and, if accepted, they moved in together—into the woman’s home. Men could take more than one wife, usually the sisters of his first wife. Men were not permitted to speak to their mother-in-law, but had to make public announcements or talk through their wives, which in my opinion, probably avoided a lot of conflict (Linderman, 2003; Vogt, 2001).

[Crow Mother and Child, 1900’s]

Men were hunters and warriors, although there were some exceptions, as noted above. Another Woman Warrior, whom some thought was not real until further research by Denig indicated she truly existed is Pine Leaf. Captured in a raid on the Gros Ventre as a ten-year-old child by the Crow, Woman Chief Pine Leaf grew up to be a powerful warrior and chief. To become a chief a Crow warrior had to “count coup”, by doing one of the following four things: striking an enemy with a bare hand or stick without killing him, leading a successful raid, stealing horses from an enemy camp, or grabbing a bow or gun in hand-to-hand combat.

Two-Spirit People are those individuals who don’t fit into a neatly assigned gender role, but instead are on a continuum of gender. Native Americans have a more fluid approach to gender, with some tribes describing four or more genders. Based on Pretty Shield’s description (noted above) and other extensive historical documentation, Finds-them-and-kills-them also known as Osh-tisch,was a two-spirit person, a male who dressed as woman. Two-spirit people were considered highly spiritual and were accepted by the Crows.

Spiritual Beliefs

Contrary to early European settlers’ misperceptions, the Crow believe in a Supreme Power who is responsible for all life. Since the Crow worshipped and pray in a different manner from the Europeans, this monotheistic belief was lost in translation. A young man or woman will seek guidance from the spirit world by fasting and going out alone in the wilderness to sacred spaces. A successful vision quest will provide the seeker medicine dreams. Animals, birds, or persons are often part of these dreams. In the case of Chief Plenty Coup, the Chief of Chiefs, The Dwarfs, or Little People, appeared to guide him when he was nine years old. They adopted him and instead of giving him a medicine bundle, gave him advice which made him wise and helped him to become a great leader (Linderman, 2002).

[Chief Plenty-Coups, 1880]

Death and Mourning

Historically, when someone died, the Crow women and men cut themselves, lacerating arms, legs, even puncturing their heads. They cut their long hair, one of the Crow people’s greatest pride, to reflect their suffering and loss. Once someone has died, his or her name was not spoken, and they were Beings without Bodies. The departed move to the hereafter, or the “camp beyond.” Historically, Crow burial customs included wrapping the deceased in his finest clothing and blankets and placing them on Hulishoopiio or scaffolds. When the body fell from the scaffold, it would be covered with rocks. Or the body was placed in an Ashalaxxo, or lodge, which is closed up with all their belongings inside and their animals let loose. After the Crow were placed on the reservation, scaffolds on the plains were not an option, so a Balaxoo, or a Tree-Resting Place was used. Again, if the body fell, it was covered with boulders and rock. And, bodies were placed on Rock Ledges and in Crevices during the Smallpox Epidemic of 1843, after the US Army knowingly distributed blankets and rations contaminated with the contagious disease. 

 [Burial Scaffold, 1908]

Animals, Patrons, Spirits and Shapeshifting

The Crow have sacred and spiritual connections to the animals in their lives. They are seen in vision quests and visitations and have special significance when they appear as patrons with special powers. The most sacred animal is the buffalo, the beautiful creature that gave the tribe everything from food to shelter. Like the buffalo, the eagle is the most sacred bird and along with falcons and hawks they are considered spirit patrons. As an aside, because of the spiritual association with these birds, eagle and hawk feathers can only be owned by Native Americans. Wolves were domesticated as pups, but were not treated as common dogs. They were respected, and human scouts were called “wolves” in honor of this animal. Coyotes were considered friends and the coyote’s call was used to communicate among warriors on a raid. The elk gave food, but were also mystical and could transform themselves into women, as could white tail deer. Mink were considered treacherous and could transform into women, bewitching and leading men astray. This is a short list of the animals in Crow life.

[Buffalo, 1902]

Want More?

Thanks to the hard work of Frank B. Linderman in the late 1920s, the world has a written history of the Apsaalooké, or Crow Nation, a traditionally oral culture. As a young man, Linderman became entranced with the West and moved out there to become a hunter and trapper. Over time, Native Americans befriended him and began to tell their stories to him in sign language and through interpreters. The Crows called him the Great Sign Talker and Pretty Shield said he made books speak. Almost a century later, his work crackles with life and takes the reader on breathtaking journeys into another world and another time. If you have not read his books and are interested in Native American stories, biographies, and autobiographies, please see my list of resources below. I recommend beginning with Pretty Shield: Medicine Woman of the Crows and Plenty-Coups: Chief of the Crows. Pretty Shield’s granddaughter, Alma Hogan Snell, offers us more contemporary perspectives with her books, Grandmother’s Grandchild: My Crow Indian Life and A Taste of Heritage: Crow Indian Recipes and Herbal Medicines. I hope you enjoy the story.

Here are some additional resources if you are interested in this topic.

Crow Apsaalooké app https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/crow-apsaalooke/id956337368?mt=8

Denig, E.T. (1961). Five Indian Tribes of the Upper Missouri: Sioux, Arickaras, Assiniboines, Crees, Crows. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press.

Montana Office of Indian Affairs: Crow Nation. https://tribalnations.mt.gov/crow

Linderman, F. (2002). Plenty-Coups: Chief of the Crows. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press.

Linderman, F. (2003). Pretty Shield: Medicine Woman of the Crows. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press.

Little Bighorn Battlefield, National Park Service https://www.nps.gov/libi/index.htm

Library of Congress Images http://www.loc.gov/pictures/search/?q=crow%20indians%201900-1910&st=gallery&sg=true

McGinnis, Anthony R. Counting Coup and Cutting Horses: Intertribal Warfare on the Northern Plains, 1738–1889. Evergreen CO: Cordillera Press, Inc., 1990. In Wishart, D.J. (Ed.) Encyclopedia of the Great Plains. http://plainshumanities.unl.edu/encyclopedia/doc/egp.war.013

Pretty Shield’s Story of the Battle (transcribed from Linderman’s work, Pretty Shield) https://astonisher.com/pretty-shields-story-of-the-battle/

Snell, A. H. (2001). Grandmother’s Grandchild: My Crow Indian Life. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press.

Snell, A. H. (2006). A Taste of Heritage: Crow Indian Recipes and Herbal Medicines. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press.

Vogt, F.W. (2001). Crow. In Sturtevant, W.C. (Ed.) Handbook of North American Indians. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution, pp. 695-717.

Weiser-Alexander, K. (2015). Frontier Slang, Lingo & Phrases. Warsaw, MO: Legends of America.

Book Tour and Giveaway: Lost Omega A Sweet Omegaverse Romance Book 2 by Romy Lockhart

 

 

Lost Omega

A Sweet Omegaverse Romance Book 2

by Romy Lockhart

Genre: Paranormal Romance 

Ember Nestor lost everything that mattered to her in one night. Her true mate was taken from her, and her mother decided to send her to Goldcrest Omega Academy where she must stay until she's claimed by an Alpha.

She isn't interested in finding a new mate while she's in mourning. She doesn't think she'll ever get over her loss, but a dangerous Alpha wants to claim her, and his persistence pushes her to go on the run.

Escaping from the academy, she finds herself drawn to the two Alphas and their Beta who immediately recognize her as their true mate. Love was the last thing she expected to find in the middle of the woods, but it comes at a cost. Can she let go of her past to open her heart to her rescuers, or will she forever be lost to her grief?

Lost Omega is a standalone sweet omegaverse romance with college-aged characters, serious steam, and an HEA.

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**Don't miss the other books here!**

Secret Omega

A Sweet Omegaverse Romance Book 1

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**Coming Soon!**

Broken Omega

A Sweet Omegaverse Romance Book 3

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Romy Lockhart writes paranormal reverse harem and M/F contemporary romance. All of her books contain steamy scenes between consenting adults. All of her reverse harems have harem ever afters, and all of her romance novels have happy endings.

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and two giveaways!

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Win a Signed Copy of Secret Omega!

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Cianna's Fortune The Caragh Chronicles Book 3 by Rachel Rossano

 

Cianna's Fortune

The Caragh Chronicles Book 3

by Rachel Rossano

Genre: Medieval Fantasy Romance

As a daughter of a former ambassador, Cianna grew up in distant lands and unusual climates. Now she uses these experiences and connections to keep a small shop stocked in exotic goods. With her father dead, the shop supports her stepmother and stepsister as well. The task would be easier if her stepmother didn’t spend money as fast as Cianna made it.

Cyrus is haunted by the memory of a young girl he met in his uncle’s garden when he was twelve. While on an ambassadorial mission, he embarks from a ship and spots a familiar face. Cianna doesn’t recognize him, but he remembers her. But how to renew a friendship with someone who might not even remember him? Determined to give it a try, Cyrus embarks on a scheme to persuade her to let him into her life again.

Three young women, bound by friendship and faith, seek the Lord's will in their lives in The Caragh Chronicles. Each book brings a tale of love and faith in a medieval fantasy novella. Cianna's Fortune contains touches of Cinderella, the exotic spice of foreign lands, and a sweet friends-to-lovers romance via letters.

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Rachel Rossano is a happily married mother of three children. She spends her days teaching, mothering, and keeping the chaos at bay. After the little ones are in bed, she immerses herself in the fantasy worlds of her books. Tales of romance, adventure, and virtue set in a medieval fantasy world are her preference, but she also writes speculative fantasy and a bit of science fiction.

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

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Giveaway and Book Tour: Surrogate For a Vampire by Nina R Schluntz

 

 

Surrogate For a Vampire

by Nina R Schluntz

Genre: LGBTQ M/M Paranormal Romance 

Every vampire has one goal- to find a surrogate human strong enough to birth their heir.

Surrogate for a Vampire spans three vampire love stories entangled around the fate of one man, who refuses to be a human, a traditional surrogate, or a vampire.

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Nina Schluntz is a native to rural Nebraska. In her youth, she often wrote short stories to entertain her friends. Those ideas evolved into the novels she creates today.

Her husband continues to ensure her stories maintain a touch of realism as she delves into the science fiction and fantasy realm. Their three cats are always willing to stay up late to provide inspiration, whether it is a howl from the stray born in the backyard or an encouraging bite from the so called “calming kitten.”

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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

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