Awesome Excerpt Thursday ~ Kaidyn's Courage by Diana Waters

Book title: Kaidyn's Courage

Author: Diana Waters

Genre: M/M Romance / Fantasy

Publisher: eXtasy Books

Date published: March 15, 2019

Book length: Approx. 51,000 words

Blurb: Kaidyn is the son of the queen and a trainee officer in the kingdom of Sareen. He is also a Half-Blood—his father is from Iskandir, a neighboring kingdom which has been at war with Sareen for many years. Bitter and angry at the prejudice he faces, Kaidyn meets Sorin, a healer from one of Sareen’s most prominent noble families. As their relationship deepens, the war between Sareen and Iskandir grows worse. Not only will the pair inevitably become involved with the conflict one way or another, but Sorin is also hiding a secret, and time is running out for them both.

Note: This is the second book in the Wild Magics series (the first being the short novella, A Trust to Follow). However, both books are completely readable as standalone stories, as they take place in the same universe but feature a different cast.

Excerpt:

“Oi! The Watch, run!”

Kaidyn’s ears had caught it, too—the clinking of steel as a patrol wandered nearby, perhaps attracted by the sounds of their struggle. No others could walk the city streets openly armed, even by day. Not that Kaidyn wanted to stick around any longer than his attackers. He had no wish to be locked up for the night either.

The man directly in front of him seized him by the collar of his shirt. “Something to remember me by,” he muttered, and Kaidyn knew his mouth was open but couldn’t hear his own gasp as he was dealt a final blow. The hit wasn’t in his stomach again, as he’d been expecting, but at the side of his head. It felt like an object struck him, not merely a fist, but something blunt and hard. He felt the blood begin to drip from the base of his skull and trickle down his neck. The world wavered around him as the last of the men ran off. Cowards, all.

Kaidyn took an uneven step, then several more. He tilted toward the ground but did not fall. Luck. Where is Luck? I have to find him, before...

He was still so angry, but his thoughts were leaking out of him along with the blood, the dizziness beginning to con-sume them. If I don’t hurry...

The stars were wheeling somewhere above him. When did I fall to the ground? He tried to search for a familiar landmark, but his sight was failing him. Kaidyn had either drank too much or been hit too hard.

“Oh!” Kaidyn heard a gasp, but it had not come from him. It wasn’t Luck, either. He tried to get up, to defend himself once more, but his hands met only empty air.

“I’m not going to hurt you, I promise—”

Kaidyn growled, his tone low and furious.

“All right, all right,” the voice soothed him. “I’ll just wait until you’re ready to walk again, shall I?” The unknown per-son sounded sympathetic. Gentle, even, and impossibly, unbearably kind. But that must have been in his head, because surely nobody who saw Kaidyn in his current state could be anything but disappointed, disgusted, or a combination of the two.

“It’s going to be all right,” the voice continued, and to Kaidyn’s astonishment he felt a cool hand touching his brow, brushing wisps of hair from his forehead. He could not remember the last time he had been touched with such tenderness. “I have you. You’re safe now. I won’t leave you alone here.”

Kaidyn shook his head, forcing his sight to clear. A pair of eyes stared anxiously back down at him and drew him in, as though calling him on from somewhere. But from where? Where...

Kai!

He had definitely imagined that part, because this stranger, whoever he was, could not have known his name, much less the one reserved for his closest friends.

Kai!

But he could not think any longer, he was falling, falling... and running again, running away from the pain and the bile rising in his throat, escaping everything but the darkness that finally overtook him to swallow him whole.

EXtasy buy link: https://www.extasybooks.com/978-1-4874-2218-9-kaidyns-courage/

Amazon buy link (print): https://www.amazon.com/Kaidyns-Courage-Magics-Diana-Waters/dp/1487423748

Amazon buy link (Kindle): https://www.amazon.com/Kaidyns-Courage-Wild-Magics-Book-ebook/dp/B07PN1RWN4

Author Bio: Diana is a New Zealander currently living in rural Japan. She has no idea where in the world she’ll be this time next year and is pretty okay with that. Other than reading and writing, her main passions include travel, amateur photography, and competitive swimming.

Author Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/diana.c.waters

Author Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/diana_waters

Author Twitter link: https://twitter.com/diana__waters

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Writing Warriors Wednesday ~ Write Like You're Already Famous!

My kids are constantly boasting about how I’m a famous author. I just laugh at them and say yep, that’s me the Famous Author Mom.

What makes us famous or even infamous? What makes anyone famous? Is it the amount of money you make—probably not. There are lots of billionaires. I don’t know them from Joe Schmo at the convenience store.  How about what you drive or your wearing Brand name clothing – these things will probably get you noticed. We all know just because we own expensive items does not mean we can afford them.  Being on all of the talk shows and having a billion YouTube followers? – Yeah, not so much.

To me – in my ever so humble opinion—being famous is about two things. Confidence and determination.

In a previous post – To blog or not to blog – we talked about marketing and how you are not selling books anymore you are selling yourself. It is a harsh truth. We all know Best Seller, and Award-Winning means nothing when it comes to selling books. Yes, it helps, it shows your marketing skills, but we have famous books – one comes to mind in particular—that were worldwide best sellers, had movies made based on them and the book, well, sucked.  There are two reasons for this – the Big 5 is one of them. We all know money = success. If you have the money to splash TV ads, print media and buy your way onto the best-seller list, you will have a profitable book.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not discounting any authors abilities and deserved success. There are a ton of authors that succeeded and deserve every accolade they get.

To the world an author’s success is based on volume. How many books have you sold? Well, that is none of their business, to be frank. No one but you and your publisher knows those numbers.  That – my friends is a good thing. Use it, do not let your sales or lack thereof stifle your writing or make your doubt your talent. Being famous is a state of mind. The perfect example of this is the Kardashians. Seriously, think about it. They were nothing, but they became famous because of their confidence in themselves and what they have to offer the world. And money – lots of money.

Let me put it this way – if you reached the top of the pile and your books were selling like hotcakes on a summer griddle would that change the way you write? Would it change the way you perceive your writing? Your goals? Your ability to continue to get better, hon your craft? Would you feel more creative freedom? Would it change the way you market your books?

The world – via book sales is telling you – wow you are awesome and famous! 

What does it mean?

Reality? It means nothing. Not really.

So why not act like you are famous now? You are. You are a published author! Do the work, hon your craft, edit until your eyes bleed, and market like you are on speed. You are already famous. Use it, leverage it – write like it. Don’t hold back, let the words and ideas fly. What have you got to lose? Absolutely nothing, right? You can only gain. Gain experience, and visibility which equals book sales.

Okay so don’t go nuts and start yelling “do you not know who I am?” when the barista screws up your coffee. But do walk into a room of other authors proud. Talk about your book on social media. Brag about your book at parties and events. List your self as Published Author on your resume, business cards and emails.

The point to his whole post is –

You have just as much to offer as the Kardashians (or whomever you want) if not more. Scream it at the top of your lungs and keep working because you are already famous, the world just doesn’t know it yet.

This post was partially inspired by an amazing book I read a few years ago – Write Like You are Already Famous by a good friend of mine, M. LeMont. This post is also inspired by my fellow authors who while sitting in a dim room pound out millions of words every year. Keep going. 

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Teaser Tuesday ~ Finders

Now that Finders is off to the editor I thought I would give y'all another sneak peek. Enjoy!

Blurb : When an expert Demonologist a meets a Reality Show Producer on the Ghost Hunting Show Finders, sparks of true love fly so bright even the Devil takes notice.

Demonologist Luke Melloy has seen the face of true evil. He's fought it and sent it back to hell. It's what he does. To Claire Westin, ghosts and demons are just great television and good for ratings. When faced with the truth Luke has seen, her reality is turned upside down as the two are swept into dire straits just moments after they meet. Desire sparks between the unlikely pair, throwing their hearts into chaos. Love was neither expected or wanted.

When the demon targets an unsuspecting Claire with his wrath, Luke finds his focus split between his oath to God and the awakening of his heart. Together, they must face the ancient evil and defeat it. Or lose everything.

Excerpt

Claire moved off to the right. Luke forced himself to not look in her direction, giving her needed privacy. Arranging his clothes to dry he left a drying rod for Claire’s things.

You’re a professional. Your attraction to this woman is superficial and based on the extreme circumstances of the moment. Nothing more. Focus.

Luke turned to the bed of leaves realizing his little pep talk wasn’t working. Running a frustrated hand over the back of his neck, Claire stepped into his eyeline, and he stopped. Her hair once pulled up and away from her face, was now a cascade of caramel dancing in the firelight. She moved carefully. Her bare feet unsteady on the rocky floor. The edge of his gray t-shirt showed off her long, toned legs but covered enough to tweak his imagination. Her blue eyes shone brightly despite the surrounding darkness. Luke struggled to focus on anything but the ravishing beauty walking toward him.

“Where do you want me to put these?” She asked, her eyes full of uncertainty.

“I’ll…” he started and then stopped recalling her need not to be coddled. “You can hang them here.” Luke referenced the piece of wood hanging over the fire. She stepped forward. Luke put another log on the fire and moved to the pile of leaves.

“How is this gonna work?” She asked, her gentle voice a small whisper from behind.

“The idea is to create heat through mutual body warmth, then trap the heat under the leaves to raise body temperature. Not the most ideal situation but it’s all we have until the clothes dry out,” Luke said, Claire was already shivering violently. He wasted no more time. “You’re going to lay down first, on your side facing the wall. I’ll lay down next to you, cover you with my body as much as possible. Once settled in we can cover ourselves with the leaves.”

Claire went from feeling awkward to not caring one single bit about her nakedness. She was freaking cold! Claire moved forward, the sharp rocks beneath her feet making her wince in pain. The glossy leaves were a comfort for her feet. She lowered first to her knees and then bent forward on her hands. She was shifting to get comfortable as possible, finding herself struggling without something beneath her head.

The sound of rustling and the delicious warmth of his body alerted Claire to Luke’s presence. His large arm slid beneath her neck to cradle her head, and she thanked God for miracles. Her body shivered in response. Luke started twisting, she could feel him draping the leaves over their bodies. Once finished his free arm wrapped securely around her waist pulling her solidly against his heated chest. If she would stop shivering, she could almost feel sleep pulling her away.

“No sleeping, princess.”

“No promises.”

“Not an option.”

* * * *

That's it! That is all you get!

Hope you LOVED it!

Finders will be out this FALL!

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