Looking for Dependable Reviewers
Posted: September 25, 2025 Filed under: Anthology, Book Promotion, Book Review, Books, Dark Fantasy, Dark fiction, Fiction, Review, WordCrafter Press 10 Comments
Every anthology WordCrafter Press puts out, I send out between 30 and 50 review requests to various reviewers. While I’ve had some success with novel length works and poetry anthologies using this method, it doesn’t seem to be as effective. But, the first two volumes of the Midnight Anthology Series have no reviews on Amazon currently, and I just don’t get it. These are quality short fiction collections by talented authors, and I’ve given out plenty of review copies…, so why no reviews?
I’ve decided to try and build a WordCrafter Review Team, with the help of my readers. And the first step, is to find willing reviewers. I know many of you who visit here are reviewers yourselves, so I’m asking. If you would be willing to be put on the list of possible reviewers for WordCrafter short fiction anthologies, or poetry anthologies, or for fiction novels with single authors, I want to hear from you. Being on one or more lists doesn’t obligate you to review a book; it obligates me to offer you the opportunity and supply a review copy each time a new book on your list comes out through WordCrafter Press. You’ll receive a press release requesting a review, with a link to get a free digital copy if you choose to accept. Which books you chose to review are completely up to you.
I guess every author wishes for a review team which can be counted on to actually post reviews after receiving free copies of their books, but I’m guessing it doesn’t happen often, and when it does, it’s because the author has taken things into their own hands and followed up with each member of the team to assure they each have done their parts. Ideally, the review copies would be given out early enough so that reviewers could all post on the release date, skyrocketing the book up on the Amazon lists. But, I haven’t managed to get any books out quite that early as yet, and I don’t have the energy to be a slave driver of that caliper. I’ll have to settle for asking you to notify me when your review is posted and trust you to do so.
Most of you know that WordCrafter Press publishes wide, so reviews can be posted on Amazon, GoodReads, BookBub, one of the other distributors, or any combination thereof. If you post on a blog and send me a link, I’ll promote, reblog, and direct readers to view the review there.
With the third volume in the Midnight Anthology Series, Midnight Oil, getting ready to release, I thought I’d try something a little different. I’m specifically looking for reviewers willing to read and review the first two anthologies: Midnight Roost and Midnight Garden to get the series some traction, and I’m willing to provide free digital copies to those who are willing. If you post reviews for the first two books and notify me, I will automatically send you out the press release for Midnight Oil as soon as it’s available.
So, before you go on to the next blog to see what’s happening, please take a moment to drop a message in the comments section, or contact me at KLBWordCrafter@gmail.com, and let me know which types of books you’d be interested in reviewing. You’ll never be obligated to review any book you don’t want to, but I do ask that you leave a review somewhere and let me know about it once you have collected your free copy. Can I count on you?
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and book 1 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders and The D.I.Y. Author writing resource.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
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This post is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.
Midnight Roost: Weird and Creepy Stories: 20 authors bring your nightmares to life in 23 stories of ghosts, paranormal phenomenon and the horror from the dark crevasses of their minds. Stories of stalkers, both human and supernatural, possession and occult rituals, alien visitations of the strange kind, and ghostly tales that will give you goosebumps. These are the tales that will make you fear the dark. Read them at the Midnight Roost… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Roost-Kaye-Lynne-Booth-ebook/dp/B0CL6FPLVJ
Midnight Garden: Where Dark Tales Grow: 17 authors bring you 21 magnificent dark tales. Stories of magic, monsters and mayhem. Tales of murder and madness which will make your skin crawl. These are the tales that explore your darkest fears. Read them in the Midnight Garden… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Garden-Where-Tales-Anthology-ebook/dp/B0DJNDQJD3
Midnight Oil: Stories to Fuel Your Nightmares: 14 authors bring you 16 dark tales that explore your deepest fears. These are the stories which nightmares are made of. Tales of monsters, mayhem, and madness which will make you shiver in the dark. Read them while you burn the Midnight Oil… if you dare. Coming October 29, 2005
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WordCrafter News: Happy Halloween! Spooky October Releases & a Halloween Book Event.
Posted: September 22, 2025 Filed under: Anthology, Book Release, Books, Dark fiction, Fiction, Ghost Stories, Horror, Paranormal, romance, Short Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Stories, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours, WordCrafter News, WordCrafter Press | Tags: B.T. Clearwater, Curses: Chronicles of Darkness, Dark fiction, Midnight Anthology Series, Midnight Oil, New release, paranormal horror, Paranormal Romance, Smothered, WordCrafter News, WordCrafter Press 4 Comments
I’m posting this month’s “WordCrafter News” early because the first of three spooky WordCrafter Press releases come out next week. In fact, promotions have already begun over at JosephCarrabis.com, where you can learn a little about each of the stories in our themed dark fiction anthology, Curses: Chronicles of Darkness. Technically, it’s a September release, but it is dark fiction, just in time for the Halloween season. Halloween was my son, Michael’s favorite holiday, (and mine, too), so I always go all out in October.
Curses Release
Curses: Chronicles of Darkness will be released on September 30th. This themed anthology has stories which all pertain to…, you guessed it – curses. It is currently available for preorder, so reserve your copy through the link below. (This link is a UBL, Universal Book Link, which allows readers to choose to purchase through their favorite distributor.) This link can also be used as a purchase link once the anthology is released.
About Curses
There are all types of curses.
Cursed places, cursed items, cursed people, cursed families.
Curses that last throughout time. Curses which can’t be broken. Curses which are brought upon ourselves. Curses that will kill you and those that will only make you wish you were dead.
Eleven tantalizing tales of curses and the cursed. Includes stories by Kaye Lynne Booth, Molly Ertel, C.R. Johansson, Robert White, Joseph Carrabis, Paul Kane, Danaeka Scrimshaw, Abe Margel, and Denise Aparo.
Preorder/Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/CursesChroniclesofDarkness
WordCrafter Curses Book Blog Tour
The WordCrafter Curses Book Blog Tour will run September 29 – October 4, 2025. It will be an exciting tour, with a double stop each day, which we’ve never done before. The original stop will host readings and guest posts from contributing authors, and the second stop of the day will be over at Undawnted, where DL Mullan will interview a few of the anthology contributors. We’ll also be running a giveaway, offering chances for one of five digital copies of the anthology in a random drawing at the end of each day. I do hope you will join in the fun, follow the tour and meet the contributing authors. If you follow the tour and leave a comment each day, you will have five chances to win a copy of this original, themed anthology, Curses: Chronicles of Darkness. Drop by to join in the fun and help us send this collection of curses off right.
Midnight Oil Release
At long last, the third volume of the Midnight Anthology Series, Midnight Oil: Stories to Fuel Your Nightmares, is scheduled for release October 28th, just in time for Halloween!
About Midnight Oil
14 authors bring you 16 dark tales that explore your deepest fears. These are the stories which nightmares are made of. Tales of monsters, mayhem, and madness which will make you shiver in the dark. Read them while you burn the Midnight Oil… if you dare.
Contributing authors include Mario Acevedo, Joseph Carrabis, Jon Shannon, Rebecca M. Senesse, DL Mullan, Zack Ellafy, Christa Planko, C.R. Johansson, Kaye Lynne Booth, Robert White, Roberta Eaton Cheadle, Chris Barili, Paul Kane, and author of the winning story in the 2025 WordCrafter Short Fiction Contest, Denise Aparo.
WordCrafter Midnight Oil Book Blog Tour
The WordCrafter Midnight Oil Book Blog Tour will run October 27 – 31, 2025. We’ll have readings and guest posts from contributing authors and maybe a few interviews where you can get to know contributors better. Of course, we’ll be running a giveaway for digital copies, too. Drop by and join in the fun, follow the tour and help us send off this dark fiction anthology right.
Halloween Facebook Book Event
We’ll be promoting all of the above books at the annual Halloween Book Event on Facebook, hosted by WordCrafter Press and Sonoran Dawn Studios on October 31, 2025. WordCrafter Press and anthology authors will have takeover slots on Friday, the 31st, promoting both Curses and Midnight Oil, as well as other works by the authors. Watch for more information on this as the holiday gets closer.
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Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.
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This post sponsored by WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services.
Whether it’s editing, publishing, or promotion that you need, WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services can help at a price you can afford.
Stop by and see what we have to offer today:https://writingtoberead.com/readings-for-writers/wordcrafter-quality-writing-author-services/
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Book Review: “Ghost Therapy” & “Victim of a Delusional Mind”
Posted: September 19, 2025 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Dark Humor, Fiction, Ghost Stories, Middle Grade, Paranormal | Tags: Book Review, Dark Humor, Ghost Story, Ghost Therapy, Kaye Lynne Booth, Mark Rosendorf, Middle Grade Fiction, Paranormal, Writing to be Read Leave a comment
About Ghost Therapy
From Book 1: Pinedale Central High School is rumored to be haunted. For fifteen-year-old Sam Anderson, his haunting comes from the bullying he suffers each day within the school’s walls. Sam doesn’t believe the rumors, not until he meets Jessica, a former Pinedale student who died over one hundred years ago. No one can see or hear her except for Sam.
Jessica convinces Sam to stand up to his bully. Unfortunately, the confrontation ends in tragedy. Now Sam is one of the ghosts no one can see or hear. At least not until he meets a former military operative, now Pinedale’s newest Guidance Counselor, Mr. Copeland.
The two form a bond created out of Copeland’s determination to help Sam find his way to the afterlife. Their efforts, however, have consequences…some good, some not so good, and one that could put the lives of everyone in the school at risk.
Ghost Therapy opens the series, “The Haunting of Pinedale High,” presented by the authors of The Wild Rose Press.
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D9YZWG5Z?
My Review of Ghost Therapy
I received a digital copy of Ghost Therapy, by Mark Rosendorf, as a participant in Sandra’s Book Club book review program. All opinions stated here are my own.
Ghost Therapy is book one in Rosendorf’s The Haunting of Pinedale High series; a series of eight books by the authors of Wild Rose Press. I was drawn to this book by its title, but I have to be honest; here in the U.S. they have a television sit-com about a house that is haunted by several ghosts, and they interact with the current living occupants. It was pretty lame, in my opinion. In fact, I disliked it so much after a partial episode that now I can’t even tell you what the name of it was. So, when I realized that this story was about a high school filled with trapped haunts which can never leave, I was hesitant to read on. But I’m glad that I did, because I found this story quite enjoyable, with a good story line and creative solutions for the characters.
Pinedale High School has been rumored to be haunted, and Sam Anderson meets one of its ghosts one day while he’s trying to avoid Kurt Baker, school bully and Sam’s own personal nightmare. He becomes friends of a sort with the ghost, Jessica, who believes he must stand up for himself to turn the tables. When he tries to put Jessica’s advice into action, the tables are turned, but not in the way expected. Now, Sam becomes one of the ghosts who haunt Pinedale High, and no one can see or hear him in the world of the living or the dead, leaving him to wander the halls of the school alone, unable to leave the premises.
No one can see him until, someone can; a retired, special ops. soldier, turned school counselor, Mark Copeland. Mr. Copeland doesn’t believe in ghosts, until he meets Sam, and together they stand off Kurt Baker, who returns as a very disgruntled ex-student.
The set-up and execution of this story is delightful, making me smile and even earning a few chuckles along the way. The one thing I found distracting was that in the last half of the story, the antagonists last name alternates between Baker, as it was in the first part of the story, and Barton, for some reason, being the later in some places and the original in others. But I must say that Rosendorf does a skillful job of switching smoothly from one protagonist to the next when Sam finally passes on from his ghostly existence and the story.
A skillfully crafted story, but it could have used another editing run. I found Ghost Therapy to be highly entertaining, a perfect middle-grade ghost story. I give it four quills.
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About Victim of a Delusional Mind
Tragedy enters the quaint coastal town of New Haven, Oregon when the recently released convict, Ross Conrad, vows to make good on a ten-year-old threat. Private Investigators, Troy and Eva Winters take on the case when they realize their good friend, Jasmine, is the object of his delusional obsession.
When the threat becomes deadly and Jasmine turns up missing, Troy and Eva go on the hunt for Ross and his captive. The chase leads them from the Oregon coast to the dense forest of Puget Sound, Washington. Following clues and evidence of bodies left behind, Troy and Eva must find Jasmine before her time runs out.
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Victim-Delusional-Mind-Disturbing-Investigators-ebook/dp/B08VFL67WD
My Review of Victim of a Delusional Mind
I purchased a digital copy of Victim of a Delusional Mind, by K.J. North through a KindofBook deal. All opinions stated here are my own.
I have to say, although somewhat accurate, I think they could have come up with a better title for this story. It’s not about being a victim, but about triumphing against all odds. When I learned that it is book one in the Private Investigators Troy and Eva Winters Thriller series, I decided the author must just like titles which are a mouthful to say.
Titles aside, Victim of a Delusional Mind is a first-class crime thriller. Ten years ago, Jasmine testified to send Ross Conrad to prison on drug trafficking charges. The last thing he said as he left the courtroom was that she hadn’t seen the last of him. Jasmine takes a vacation to the coast, only to learn that he is now being paroled, and she fears he will make good on his threats. When she is offered a job at the bed and breakfast she’s staying at, she sees a chance to begin a whole new chapter of her life, and she confides her fears about Ross to her new friends, Eva and Troy, who are also private investigators.
When Ross and his brother Jax initiate their plan for revenge, they kidnap her, and she must keep her wits about her to survive. Meanwhile, Eva and Troy are doing all they can to find their missing friend before it is too late. The tension is high, the stakes are life, as Ross always seems to stay one step ahead of the game.
Everything a crime thriller should be, I give Victim of a Delusional Mind five quills.
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and book 1 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders and The D.I.Y. Author writing resource.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.
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LINDSEY’S WRITING PRACTICE: WACKY WAYS TO WARM UP
Posted: September 3, 2025 Filed under: Fiction, Lindsey's Writing Practice, Writing, Writing Inspiration | Tags: Books, Creative Writing, Lindsey Martin-Bowen, Lindsey's Writing Practice, Poetry, Reading, Writing, writing exercise, Writing to be Read Leave a comment
Many writers I’ve known either suffer from writer’s block—or, like Ernest Hemingway—have discovered techniques to lift their minds above that block and leap over it into productive writing.. So if you suffer from writer’s block, even for a day, why try some of these
WACKY WAYS TO WARM-UP
OPEN a book—any book. Often, dictionaries work best. Close your eyes, then point to a page. Open your eyes. Start writing by using whatever word you pointed to. (No cheating here—force yourself to use that particular word.
If your finger rested on an article, such as “an,” “the,” or “a,” start with the word following it. I suggest using this focused free-writing just after you awake in the morning—or even after a nap later. It worked wonders for Ernest Hemingway.
SIT AT A COMPUTER or TYPEWRITER or next to YOUR JOURNAL with pen-in-hand. WRITE a poem. IMMEDIATELY. This need not be a prizewinner. You might begin by describing sunlight filtering through Venetian blinds or ominous clouds churning above your concrete patio. Play with the poem’s language for about fifteen minutes, then embark on your writing project.
FLIP through a MAGAZINE until you find a provocative photograph. Imagine you’re one of the persons in the photo. What are you saying? Thinking? Feeling? Why? Who are you talking with? As you were the character in the photo, write about what’s on your mind for fifteen to twenty minutes. Then start on your project.
JAUNT (or drive, if you must) to an enclosed shopping center (or perhaps an outdoor mall, if weather permits). Find an “outdoor” cafe that serves whatever beverage you prefer. Open your journal and describe your environs. Then watch the people around you. Describe their physiques, clothing, and movements. Capture their voices and words (or dialogue). Then begin your own project. I used this method to write a few chapters of my novella during graduate school. The indoor mall near my home contained a Winstead’s, which inspired me.
AND, of course, DREAM. Jot down your dreams in your journal (which I suggest keeping on a table adjacent to your bed). Respond to those dreams when you first awake. Then begin your project. I’ve also found this technique invaluable when words come to me, too. Many times I lose particular phrases if I don’t jot them down immediately—then worry about revising them later.
GOOD LUCK. If any of these techniques inspire you to plunge into your writing, please let me know. And I’d love to learn the details about which ones helped and what your writing project was.
About Lindsey Martin-Bowen
On Halloween 2023, redbat books released Lindsey Martin-Bowen’s 7th poetry collection, CASHING CHECKS with Jim Morrison. Her 4 th collection, Where Water Meets the Rock, was nominated for a Pulitzer; her 3rd, CROSSING KANSAS with Jim Morrison was a finalist in the QuillsEdge Press 2015-2016 Contest. In 2017, it won the Kansas Writers Assn award, “Looks Like a Million.” Writer’s Digest gave her “Vegetable Linguistics” an Honorable Mention in its 85th Annual (2017) Contest. Her Inside Virgil’s Garage (Chatter House Press 2013) was a runner-up in the 2015 Nelson Poetry Book Award. McClatchy Newspapers named her Standing on the Edge of the World (Woodley Press/Washburn University) was one of the Ten Top Poetry Books of 2008. It was nominated for a Pen Award.
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Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.
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This post sponsored by WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services.
Whether it’s editing, publishing, or promotion that you need, WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services can help at a price you can afford.
Stop by and see what we have to offer today: https://writingtoberead.com/readings-for-writers/wordcrafter-quality-writing-author-services/
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Writer’s Corner: Caution in Using AI Tools in Writing
Posted: September 1, 2025 Filed under: AI Technology, Fiction, Writer's Corner, Writing | Tags: AI Technology, Kaye Lynne Booth, Writer's Corner, Writing to be Read 25 Comments
I’ve made no secret of the fact that I use of AI tools in my writing and editing tasks. I utilized the MS editor and ProWriting Aide to help spot typos and misspellings and passive voice writing, but I don’t always agree with the AI and often dismiss suggestions which don’t fit in with voice and tone.
I have even used a free version of ChatGPT, which is generative AI, to help enhance my descriptions in my own writing. It is useful when describing a scene or area which I haven’t actually visited in real life. When writing Sarah, although I had been to Glenwood Springs, where Sarah ends up, many times, I’d not visited in Sarah’s time. It was quite a different scene, coming into Glenwood Canyon on horseback, just after the railroad had arrived there, with no four-lane highway running through, from what I’ve witnessed in my lifetime. I used ChatGPT to help visualize what Sarah might have seen as she came into town, with no large hot springs pool tourist attraction, but many smaller hot springs sending up steam along the riverbanks. The version of ChatGPT which I used only offered a general description, and didn’t get that detailed, so I had to rely on my memory of photos at the pool, depicting that time to add the details. And please understand, at no time did I take text generated by the AI word for word, but simply used its descriptions and wording to enhance my own writing.
While I always caution writers who use AI to use caution by not using AI generated text word for word, and not accepting AI editing suggestions without considering each one individually, we are now supposed to reveal to Amazon if AI has been used in any part of the writing when we publish, even if you just used it to get some ideas or to polish your manuscript.
Now, let me be clear. I do not condone using any type of AI to write the story for you, then slapping your name on it as author. While I know there are authors who do just that, I don’t consider that writing. I consider it copying, and I consider it dishonest to put your name on something you didn’t actually write yourself. People are now writing entire books using AI and they are making money off of them, but they aren’t authors, they’re imposters. Authors write. That’s what they do. They don’t let AI do it for them because the actual act of writing is too difficult and takes to much time. These folks are just in it for the money, and they don’t care how it comes to them, as long as it comes. A real author cares about the product they put their name on, and they should want it to be their own.
So, when I found an article in Writer’s Weekly that relates the tale of an author who uses no AI, but had her work flagged as plagiarism, claiming it was AI generated, it illustrated the fact for me, even more, that you can’t trust technology and AI is not infallible. You can read that article here: https://writersweekly.com/angela-desk/ai-detectors-are-now-flagging-writing-that-was-not-created-using-ai. It’s some pretty scary stuff.
Today’s technology offers tools that can come in handy and make a writer’s life easier. They can be a good thing, if they are used properly. But AI isn’t always right and anyone who checks each editing suggestion individually will soon find this to be true. AI is only as good as the methods used to train it. My advice: use AI tools when they are helpful to you, but don’t use AI to do the work for you. Be sure that your own ideas and words are in the forefront.
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and book 1 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders and The D.I.Y. Author writing resource.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
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This segment of “Writer’s Corner” is sponsored by the Robbie’s Inspiration blog site, where you can find ideas on writing and baking with hostess, Robbie Cheadle.
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WordCrafter News: “Curses” Coming in September
Posted: August 25, 2025 Filed under: Anthology, Blog Tour, Book Release, Books, Dark fiction, Fiction, Horror, Short Fiction, Stories, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours, WordCrafter Press | Tags: Anthology, C.R. Johansson, Curses, Danaeka Scrimshaw, Dark fiction, Denise Aparo, Joseph Carrabis, Kaye Lynne Booth, Paul Kane, Robert White, WordCrafter Press 5 CommentsI’m excited to announce the coming release of the Curses anthology from WordCrafter Press on September 30. Naturally we’ll be launching this collection of stories featuring curses: cursed places, cursed objects, cursed people with a WordCrafter Book Blog Tour September 29 – October 5, where you can meet a different contributing author and learn more about them and their story through guest posts, readings and interviews. I do hope you’ll all join us as we celebrate with the authors and promote the anthology’s success.
About Curses
There are all types of curses.
Cursed places, cursed items, cursed people, cursed families.
Curses that last throughout time. Curses which can’t be broken. Curses which we bring upon ourselves. Curses that will kill you and those that will only make you wish you were dead.
Ten tantalizing tales of curses and the cursed. Includes stories by Kaye Lynne Booth, Molly Ertel, C.R. Johansson, Robert White, Joseph Carrabis, Paul Kane, Danaeka Scrimshaw, Abe Margel, and Denise Aparo.
On The Home Front
September is always a hard month for me because it is in September that my son, Michael died. I try to keep it a pretty quiet month, with not a lot of deadlines or other obligations to meet. It’s also the month that he was born and needless to say, I usually spend a lot of time thinking about him during September.
He’s been gone now for sixteen years. That’s a long time. So, for me, the month of September is kind of a month of mourning, but it’s also a month-long celebration of his life, even after all these years. I drag out all my old photos and think a lot about the memories they represent. I talk to Michael all the time, but during September, we have one-way chats at least daily, and sometime, even more.
But Michael was my biggest fan when he was alive, and although you may not hear a lot from me on social media in September, the wheels of production will go on, because he would have wanted it that way. He was always interested in what I was writing and even wrote short stories and poetry of his own.
The end of the month will see the release of the Curses anthology, so I’ll be working on blog tour preparations. And looking forward, I’ll also be editing and compiling the stories for Midnight Oil, the third book in the Midnight anthology series, which will include my story with the working title of “Elephant Zombie”, and will be released in October. Lastly, I’ll be preparing Smothered, a paranormal romance by B.T. Clearwater, which will also be released in October.
Wow! Now that I put it all down here, I guess I may be pretty busy in September after all.
Other Posts About Michael Daniel Lee
“We Miss You” (9/21/2010): https://writingtoberead.com/2010/09/21/we-miss-you/
“A Tribute to My Son” (9/19/2016): https://writingtoberead.com/2016/09/19/a-tribute-to-my-son/
“Wake Me Up When September Ends” (9/10/2018): https://writingtoberead.com/2018/09/10/wake-me-up-when-september-ends/
“September Blues” (9/15/2021): https://writingtoberead.com/2021/09/15/september-blues/
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and her Time-Travel Adventure novel, The Rock Star & The Outlaw,as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders and The D.I.Y. Author writing resource.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
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Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.
______________________________________________
This post sponsored by WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services.
Whether it’s editing, publishing, or promotion that you need, WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services can help at a price you can afford.
Stop by and see what we have to offer today:https://writingtoberead.com/readings-for-writers/wordcrafter-quality-writing-author-services/
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WordCrafter AI Audio Books
Posted: August 18, 2025 Filed under: Audio Books, Book Promotion, Books, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Paranormal, Science Fiction, Time travel, Western, Women in History, Women's Fiction | Tags: Audio Books, Delilah, Hidden Secrets, Kaye Lynne Booth, The Rockstar & The Outlaw, WordCrafter Press Leave a comment
Did you know that you can listen to my AI narrated audio books on Google Play Books? In fact, I’ve just dropped the price on all three of them to make it even easier.
Listen to my western historical women’s fiction, Delilah; my time travel adventure, The Rock Star & The Outlaw; or my paranormal mystery, Hidden Secrets at the links below.
Delilah: Book 1 in the Women in the West Adventure Series: ($4.99) https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Kaye_Lynne_Booth_Delilah?id=AQAAAECSazYrtM
The Rock Star & The Outlaw: Book 1 in the Time Travel Adventure Series: ($4.99) (https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Kaye_Lynne_Booth_The_Rock_Star_The_Outlaw?id=AQAAAECSG2Zb5M
Hidden Secrets: Paranormal Mystery Novella: ($2.99) https://play.google.com/books/listen?id=AQAAAECSG0ZbxM
About Delilah
Delilah is a woman haunted by her past.
Her homecoming from prison quickly turns into a quest for vengeance when she is brutally raped and left for dead, and her fourteen-year-old ward is abducted. Sheer will and determination take this tough and gritty heroine up against wild beasts of the forest, Indians and outlaws to Leadville.
Can the colorful inhabitants of the Colorado mining town work their way into Delilah’s heart, offering a chance for a future she thought she’d lost along with her innocence?
If you like strong and capable female protagonists, you’ll love Delilah.
About The Rock Star & The Outlaw
A time-traveler oversteps his boundaries in 1887. Things get out of hand quickly, and he is hanged, setting in motion a series of events from which there’s no turning back.
In 1887, LeRoy McAllister is a reluctant outlaw running from a posse with nowhere to go except to the future.
In 2025, Amaryllis Sanchez is a thrill-seeking rock star on the fast track, who killed her dealing boyfriend to save herself. Now, she’s running from the law and his drug stealing flunkies, and nowhere is safe.
LeRoy falls hard for the rock star, thinking he can save her by taking her back with him. But when they arrive in 1887, things turn crazy fast, and soon they’re running from both the outlaws and the posse, in peril once more.
They can’t go back to the future, so it looks like they’re stuck in the past. But either when, they must face forces that would either lock them up or see them dead.
About Hidden Secrets
Cassie wants nothing to do with the legacy her grandmother wants to hand down to her.
She doesn’t believe in all those Native American legends anyway.
She and Tony are to be married and start a family. They’re returning to her ancestral lands now to tell her grandmother to pass the tribal legacy on to someone else, along with the cursed gold that goes with it.
When she forces herself to go out on the lake where her parents drowned, she discovers the cave which holds the tribal treasure and the lake takes another life. Now Cassie must rethink all that she believes. If the treasure is real, could the curse be real, too?
Can Cassie find a way to stop it before Tony becomes the next victim?
If you love paranormal mysteries, pick up a copy of Hidden Secrets.
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Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.
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This post sponsored by WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services.
Whether it’s editing, publishing, or promotion that you need, WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services can help at a price you can afford.
Stop by and see what we have to offer today: https://writingtoberead.com/readings-for-writers/wordcrafter-quality-writing-author-services/
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Book Review: “Wings of Tabat”
Posted: August 15, 2025 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Review | Tags: Book Reveiw, Cat Rambo, Epic Fantasy, Wings of Tabat, Writing to be Read Leave a commentAbout Wings of Tabat
In the final book of Cat Rambo’s magical Tabat Quartet, we return to the city of Tabat, where Humans and magical Beasts co-exist—but uneasily. The exploited Beasts, used for both their labor and their very bodies, are finally fighting back, and turmoil abounds in the city.
At the same time, as Tabat prepares for its long-predicted elections, multiple factions are jostling for power—all of them preparing to oust the Duke. And the mysterious Circus of the Autumn Moon has departed from the College of Mages and is nowhere to be found.
Bella Kanto, once Champion of Tabat before being exiled for crimes she did not commit, has come home to her beloved city, carried by Dragons. If she is found, exiled Bella could be thrown into the Duke’s dark prisons.
Adelina, Bella’s former lover and best friend, has married Merchant Mage Sebastiano, but the two are still learning what it means to be in love with each other—and how to survive together.
Meanwhile, freed of his curse, Bella’s former companion Teo has escaped Lucy’s grasp, but finds the city an unwelcoming place nonetheless.
Now Bella must determine how to defend Tabat from a terrifying menace: the transfigured Lucy, transformed into a dangerous demigod. Monstrous in her power and angry at the city she feels has betrayed her, Lucy destroys the Duke’s castle and other vital parts of Tabat, raining down destruction and chaos, and threatening to eradicate the city entirely.
Now that she is reunited with her friends and family, can Bella manage to recapture her magical tie to Tabat in time to defeat Lucy before she destroys the city?
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Wings-Tabat-Quartet-Book-ebook/dp/B0FHC3M47Z
My Review of Wings of Tabat
I received a digital copy of Wings of Tabat, by Cat Rambo, from WordFire Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.
Wings of Tabat is the last book in The Tabat Quartet, by Cat Rambo. I had a hard time getting into the story because I was busy trying to figure out all the characters, with which I was unfamiliar because I hadn’t read the first three books. The author included a note to bring readers up to speed, but not knowing the characters and the world made it difficult to understand what has come before. Although some series books do well as stand alone, this series is epic fantasy, and there is need to be oriented in the world to be fully committed to the characters, so I recommend reading it through from the beginning.
Tabat is currently ruled by the Duke, but the city is in unrest and the upcoming elections threaten to change all that. The beasts are tired of being slaves and being treated as less than the humans, and there are humans who feel the state of things, where beasts are concerned, is wrong and needs to be corrected.
The champion of Tabat, Bella Canto, has been exiled by the Duke. Something has happened to a young girl, Obedience, to turn her evil and give her great power, turning her into Lucy, who is bent on revenge to all who have wronged her, as she sees it. Now, she has returned to Tabat to wreck havoc on the Duke and the city at large, and make the people she holds responsible pay.
But Bella Canto has also returned to Tabat, hoping to reclaim the city that she loves, and once loved her. As it turns out, she may be the city’s only hope, if she can gather the city’s magic once more.
Once I felt a connection with some of the characters, I was able to better get into this epic tale. I give Wings of Tabat four quills.
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and her Time-Travel Adventure novel, The Rock Star & The Outlaw,as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders and The D.I.Y. Author writing resource.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.
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Book Review: “Mason’s Missing”
Posted: August 8, 2025 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Crime, Fiction, Mystery, Review | Tags: Book Review, Mason's Missing, mystery, Teresa Burrell, Writing to be Read 4 CommentsAbout Mason’s Missing
Reluctant Allies, Small-town Secrets, & Stormy Weather
Old cowboy-turned-fixer TUPER is hired to find five-year-old MASON, who was likely taken by his father. But when Mason’s father is found dead, the boy is nowhere to be seen.
In a futile search during a cold Montana blizzard, TUPER and his hacker friend LANA pursue a quest that blurs into insanity
and murder. As wounded TUPER fights to stay alive in the bitter cold, LANA searches cyberspace and finds someone working hard to ensure secrets remain secret—especially Mason’s true identity.
Mason’s Missing is the first book in the Tuper Mystery Series and a gripping tale of suspense and redemption that will keep you hooked until the end.
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Masons-Missing-Tuper-Mystery-Book-ebook/dp/B075963GJB
My Review of Mason’s Missing
I purchased a digital copy of Mason’s Missing, by Teresa Burrell via a Saturday Bookbub deal. All opinions stated here are my own.
Mason’s Missing is tale filled with mystery from beginning to end. Right from the start, things begin not adding up, and the more Tupor uncovers, the more mysteries are revealed. Tupor is the protagonist, an aging cowboy turned investigator. A worried mother comes to him, asking him to help find her abducted son, Mason, pointing a finger at her estranged husband. But, when the husband turns up murdered, Tupor soon questions if the woman is who she says she is. And who is Mason, really?
This mystery kept me guessing until the end, where author Burrell ties things up nicely and all is revealed. I give Mason’s Missing five quills.
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and her Time-Travel Adventure novel, The Rock Star & The Outlaw,as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders and The D.I.Y. Author writing resource.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.
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WordCrafter News: Winners of the “Shadow Blade” Tour Giveaway & Upcoming WordCrafter Press Projects
Posted: July 28, 2025 Filed under: Anthology, Books, Fiction, Giveaways, WordCrafter Book Blog Tours, WordCrafter News, WordCrafter Press, Writing | Tags: Curses, Giveaway Winners, Midnight Anthology Series, Midnight Oil, Shadow Blade, WordCrafter News, WordCrafter Press 1 CommentLast week we stayed busy sending off the re-launch of Shadow Blade with the WordCrafter Shadow Blade Book Blog Tour. WordCrafter Press also released the original story prolog, Baiting the Hook, but we’ve added it as a free bonus book when you purchase Shadow Blade. The tour went off wonderfully, with many visitors who commented and entered in the giveaway. We were giving away three digital copies and one signed print copy of the book. Now it’s time to announce the winners of that drawing.
(Drumroll Please)
And the winners are…
- Beetley Pete
- House of Hearts
- Kamal at Boundless Blessings Blog
The winner of the signed print copy is Esther Chilton. If your name appears on the list above, please contact me at KLBWordCrafter@gmail to collect your prize.
August Projects
In July, I had an angel sent to me, or if not an angel, at least a guardian spirit, and as a result, I once again own a working computer, and I am slowly getting caught up on my production schedule. Because I was trying to operate Writing to be Read and WordCrafter Press mainly from my phone for the past few months, I’ve had to make some drastic changes, like putting my own personal projects on the back burners and pushing back my release schedule for collaborations.
So, for August, I’ll be playing catch up. I’ve pushed back the release of the Curses anthology to September, and I am currently working like mad to get my own two stories for the anthology, (“Death Clock” & “Carverna Del Oro (Cave of Gold)”, which were created in longhand, digitized and sent off to my beta reader before compiling and publishing the anthology in August. I’ll also be digitizing my story for Midnight Oil, (“Zombie Elephant”), and getting it off to the beta reader. Midnight Oil will be the third volume in the Midnight Anthology Series, which will be released in October.
Reminder
There are only a few days left before the Writing to be Read WordPress subscription runs out. We’ve raised part of the money through the annual fundraiser, but we’re not quite there and time is running out and we need your help.
So, if you enjoy the great content you find here, on the blog, please consider visiting the link below and giving a small donation. Every $10 donation will receive a digital copy of the WordCrafter Press book of your choice as my way of saying “Thank You”.
https://writingtoberead.com/2025/07/04/annual-wordcrafter-writing-to-be-read-fund-raiser/
About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and her Time-Travel Adventure novel, The Rock Star & The Outlaw,as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders and The D.I.Y. Author writing resource.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
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Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.
___________________________
This post sponsored by WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services.
Whether it’s editing, publishing, or promotion that you need, WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services can help at a price you can afford.
Stop by and see what we have to offer today: https://writingtoberead.com/readings-for-writers/wordcrafter-quality-writing-author-services/
