Kickstarter Campaign for Sarah Starts Today

Back the Kickstarter Campaign Here

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kayelynnebooth-wcp/sarah-3

About the project-Sarah: Book 2 of the Women in the West Adventure Series

It’s finally here! Sarah is book 2 in my Women in the West adventure series. Some of you may have been waiting for this book since last year’s Kickstarter campaign for Delilah, which is the first book in the series.

In case you are just hearing about this book and the Women in the West adventure series, let me tell you about both. In the Women in the West adventure series, each book features a strong female protagonist braving the American frontier in the late 1800s, and fictionalized versions of true life historical characters. Delilah met Baby Doe and H.W. Tabor, who were instrumental in turning the mining camp of Leadville into a bonified town, and Sarah befriends Doc Holiday and Big Nose Kate.

Sarah is the second book in the series. Those following the series were introduced to the girl of 14 in Book 1: Delilah, when she was abducted and sold to the Ute Indians. Now as a 17 year old, she’s made a life for herself as a Ute squaw, and mate to the chief’s brother, becoming a valuable member of the tribe, until a mysterious Sioux warrior appears and turns her world upside down. Stolen away from those who she’s come to call family, she must face not only her abductor, but the dangers of the American frontier in a constant fight for survival.

Book Trailer

Book Trailer – Sarah: Book 2 of the Women in the West Adventure Series

Why Back This Campaign?

You mean beside the fact that you think I’m awesome and you can’t wait to read everything I write?

Just kidding. I know you all love me. 🙂

Seriously, we have some excellent rewards for this Kickstarter campaign which you can’t get anywhere else. You can get an early digital copy or a signed print copy of Sarah, or a Special Ilustrated Editions of both Delilah and Sarah. And you can get both digital and print copies of Delilah as add ons for less than you would pay through distributors. You can back the project for as little as $5 or as much as $100, depending on the reward teir that you choose.

The goal is $500, and if funded, your support of the campiagn will go toward the wonderful covers for the Special Illustrated Editions, by DL Mullan and Sonoran Dawn Studios, and help to keep me afloat as I work on Book 3: Marta, scheduled to come out in 2025, and all the projects that are lined up for the coming year. It would be great to fund the campaign in the first 24 hours and move it onto the favorite projects lists over at Kickstarter, maybe funding even more than the $500 goal. I’ve been thinking of making this series available in audio, and I’d love to raise enough to get my narrater for that. All support is appreciated.


Writer’s Corner: Publishing with Draft2Digital

Caracature of a woman typing on a keyboard at a very messy desk. Text: Writer's Corner with Kaye Lynne Booth

I’ve posted on the value of publishing wide with Draft2Digital and Books2Read links. You can see my previous article here. I am in no way compensated for sharing information about D2D, but I am a big fan of publishing with them.

As an author and publisher who uses Draft2Digital to publish wide, distributing my books globally, including subscription services and libraries, I’m a huge advocate of their services. But I recently caught episode 333 of the Stark Reflections podcast with Mark Leslie Lefabvre titled, “10 Things You Likely Didn’t Know About Draft2Digital”. In this episode, Mark shares a replay of a presentation he gave at 20BooksVegas in early November of 2023, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that there were several cool things about publishing with D2D which I didn’t know.

I’ve used D2D to publish since 2018, and I was already aware of many of the great tools and services that they offer, such as royalty payment splitting for collaborations, which I use with WordCrafter anthologies. And of course, I knew about using Books2Read links, so potential readers can find your book through most of the major distributors in one place, and in any format in which your book is available.

The ability to publish through most of the publish on some subscription services and get your books onto the major library distributors was one of the reasons that I chose to go with D2D in the first place. What I didn’t know, was that some authors even use D2D’s free tools to create their book files, probably because it is easy and doesn’t require you to have Vellum or a Mac, and then publish direct onto other platforms without using D2D’s aggregating services, and they are okay with that. I use these tools to create my files for my ARC copies, but I prefer to let D2D do all the heavy lifting for me. Publishing direct to all the distributors that I use through D2D would be an outrageous amount of work.

I was also aware of D2D’s “Refer a Friend” program, which provides you an affliliate link you can share for folks to sign up. Any author who signs up to D2D with your affilliate link earns you a percentage of money earned by D2D from any books they sell over the next two years. Any D2D user can get an affiliate link. If you read this and decide to give Draft2Digital a try, you can sign up through my affilliate link, below, and it doesn’t cost you anything. My affilliate link is paid outof D2D’s cut of any works you sell using D2D as an aggregator. Here is my affilliate link: https://www.draft2digital.com/WordCrafter

There are some promo services which I was not aware of. I knew you could create your own independent promos. In fact, I used this feature to set up the WordCrafter Holiday Book Extravaganza in December, discounting the entire WordCrafter Press backlist. In episode 333, I learned how I can also get my book into D2D promotions, which is really pretty cool when you think about it.

I also learned that D2D now offers free AI narration of audio books through Apple Books. Now this is something that interests me, as audio books have previously been out of reach for me due to the expense of narration. You can see my post and discussion on the use of AI here.I knew they had this coming, but it was in the beta stage the last I had heard. Apparently they have rolled it out, and I will be looking into this further in the near future.

I was so excited to learn about this feature of D2D that I just couldn’t wait to check it out.I’m happy to announce that the AI narrated audiobook of The Rock Star & The Outlaw will be available through Apple Books soon.

Audiobook Cover: Sundial and planet with lightning bolts in background. Black leather clad woman and man dressed as a cowboy standing behind a large guitar in foregroound.
Text: The Rockstar & The Outlaw, Kaye Lynne Booth, When a woman with a guitar meets a cowboy with a gun, it's time to travel, AI Audio Narrated

Mark Leslie Lefabvre is an expert in the publishing industry, having worked for Kobo before coming to D2D, in addition to being a succesful hybrid author. Honestly, he says it all better than I do, and he knows a lot more about the inner workings of D2D. So if you want to know more about what D2D has to offer, listen to episode 333 here: https://starkreflections.ca/2023/11/17/episode-333-10-things-you-likely-didnt-know-about-draft2digital/

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Author 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; Book 1 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah, and her Time-Travel Adventure novel, The Rock Star & The Outlaw. 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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Want exclusive content? Join Kaye Lynne Booth & WordCrafter Press Readers’ Group for WordCrafter Press book & event news, including the awesome releases of author Kaye Lynne Booth. She won’t flood your inbox, she NEVER sells her list, and you might get a freebie occasionally. Get a free digital copy of her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction, just for joining.


Sarah Kickstarter Coming Soon

The Campaign

The Kickstarter Campaign for Sarah: Book 2 in the Women in the West adventure series is set to launch on January 21, 2024, and I’m excited to tell you about it.

This will be a 21 day campaign and the goal is $500. Remember, Kickstarter campaigns are all or nothing, so if we don’t reach the goal, you don’t owe your pledge and I walk away with nothing. But, I ran two successfully funded campaigns in 2023, including Book 1 of this series, Delilah, and I’m hoping this one will do even better. If I raise enough over and above the goal, it will enable me to make this series available in audiobook – something I’ve been wanting to do for at least three years.

What’s in it for you?

We’ve got some great rewards for this campaign. As with other campaigns, backing at the $5 tier offers an early digital copy of Sarah, and backing at the $25 tier offers a signed print copy of the book, not available anywhere else. In addition, there are Special Illustrated Editions of both Sarah and Delilah, and an opportunity to name a character in Book 3: Marta. And in case you missed the first Kickstarter, for Book 1 of this series, Delilah is also available in digital and print as add ons.

Pre-Launch Page

The launch isn’t until the 21st, but you can show your support now by signing up on the pre-launch page at the URL below. Following on the pre-launch page will result in receiving a reminder on the day of the actual launch, so you can be one of the first to back this project. All support is greatly appreciated.

Pre-launch URL: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kayelynnebooth-wcp/sarah-3

About the book

Print edition of Sarah

Sarah is a young girl trying to make a place for herself in the world.

Sarah is not the young girl who was stolen away from Delilah anymore. Now she is Hair of Fire, mate of Three Hawks, even as she blossoms into a young woman and tries to make a place for herself among the Ute tribe.

When she is stolen away from the life she’s made with the Utes, she struggles to survive in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. A streak of stubbornness and determination take this tough, feisty heroine up against wild beasts of the forest and the rugged mountain landscape to Glenwood Springs, Colorado, where she receives a less than welcoming reception by some.

Will this young woman find her way back to the Ute tribe which she’s come to think of as family, or will she discover a place among the colorful inhabitants of the Colorado hot springs and mining town?

Follow along on her journey to learn who she truly is and where she belongs in this rough, and often hostile frontier.

If you like strong and capable female protagonists, you’ll love Sarah.

About the Women in the West Adventure Series

The Women in the West adventure series is historical western women’s fiction featuring strong female protagonists and fictionalized historical characters brings the American western frontier to life.

  • Book 1: Delilah – A young woman returning to her family home after serving a two year prison sentence for defending her mother and sister, and killing her abusive step-father sets out on a return journey to the family home, which ends up being a quest for revenge.
  • Book 2: Sarah – A young woman, abducted and sold to the Utes, trying to find a place for herself on the western frontier
  • Book 3: Marta (Coming in 2025) – A Mormon woman who has lost her family and been abducted in an Indian attack performs courageous feats as she makes her way on the western frontier.

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About the Author

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; Book 1 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah, and her Time-Travel Adventure novel, The Rock Star & The Outlaw. 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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Want exclusive content? Join Kaye Lynne Booth & WordCrafter Press Readers’ Group for WordCrafter Press book & event news, including the awesome releases of author Kaye Lynne Booth. She won’t flood your inbox, she NEVER sells her list, and you might get a freebie occasionally. Get a free digital copy of her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction, just for joining.


Call for Submissions

Its the start of a new year and time to announce the call for submissions for the annual WordCrafter Press short fiction contest. For 2024, the theme will be dark fiction of any genre: Dark Fantasy, Science Fiction, Paranormal, Dark Humor, Horror, Noir… I’ll even accept romance, if the story is dark.

The submission deadline is April 30, and the as yet, untitled anthology will be released in October. All submissions will be considered for publication, and the winning story is guaranteed a spot in the anthology. Follow the submission guidelines below.

Submission Guidelines

WordCrafter Press is looking for original short stories with dark elements. Previously unpublished stories only.

Genres: Any genre as long as the story is dark.

Length: up to 5000 words

Submission Deadline: April 30, 2024

Pay: Royalty share

Rights: First Anthology Rights and audio rights as part of the anthology; rights revert to author one month after publication; publisher retains non-exclusive right to include in the anthology as a whole. 

Open to submissions from January 1 through April 30, 2024.  

Submit: A Microsoft Word or RTF file in standard manuscript format to KLBWordCrafter@gmail.com

If you don’t know what standard manuscript format is, review, for example, https://www.shunn.net/format/classic/

Multiple and simultaneous submissions accepted.

Find some helpful tips for submitting short fiction here, but mainly just follow the guidelines.

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Submit your story with a cover letter to KLBWordCrafter@gmail.com with “Submission: [Your Title]” in the subject line and pay the $5 entry fee below.

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Contest Entry

Enter the 2024 WordCrafter Short Fiction Contest for a chance at an invitation to the Visions anthology and a grand prize $25 gift card.

$5.00


WordCrafter News: Special Christmas Edition – Looking Forward to 2024 & Early Call For Submissions

Newsprint background. WordCrafter quill logo Text: WordCrafter News

Looking Forward to 2024

WordCrafter Press

2024 promises to be exciting at WordCrafter Press and I am thrilled to tell you about it.

In January, book 2 of the Women in the West series, Sarah launches on Kickstarter and its going to be a good one. Rewards will include not only early digital and signed print copies of Sarah, but Special Edition Illustrated copies of both Sarah and Delilah, never before offered.

In March, Sarah will be released through distributors, and will be available at your favorite online retailers. I’ll be launching with a book blog tour and giveaway, so be sure and watch for that.

In April, Poetry Treasures 4: Natural World will be released through distributors. (The cover pictured above is just a fill in.) Featuring poetry written by guests of the 2023 “Treasuring Poetry” blog series with Robbie Cheadle. There will be a book blog tour for this book, with audio/video readings by the poets.

In May, my nonfiction writing reference book, D.I.Y. Author will be released through distributors, and will be available at your favorite online retailers. If you’re an author on a shoestring budget determined to find ways to write and sell books, this book is for you. Naturally, a book blog tour and giveaway will accompany this release.

In July, we have a Kickstarter campaign planned for my children’s book series. I’ll be releasing the first three books in the My Backyard Friends series, Heather Hummingbird Makes a New Friend, Timothy Turtle Discovers Jellybeans, and Charlie Chickadee Finds a New Home. After a first illustrator experience which turned sour, these books have been awaiting an illustrator for eight years. But I finally found one, whose illustrations I am proud to have featured in my books, Robbie Cheadle. If you know her, you might be familiar with the wonderful illustrations she’s begun to do recently, and you’ll understand why I am so thrilled to have her as an illustrator. These stories feature animal and bird characters in tales that each teach a social lesson. With Robbie’s beautiful illustrations, they are not to be missed.

In August, the first three books in the My Backyard Friends series will be released through distributors, and will be available at all your favorite distributors. I’ll be launching with a book blog tour and giveaway.

In September, a by invitation only themed anthology, Tales From The Hanging Tree, will be released through distributors and launched with a book blog tour and giveaway, with audio/video readings by the authors.

In October, the 2024 WordCrafter anthology will be released. Each year I release the annual anthology in October, which is just a scary month. Halloween is my favorite holiday, and I love scary stories, and other scary stuff, so releasing in October is condusive to dark fiction. In 2023, we had a great line-up of dark and scary stories in Midnight Roost, so we’re going with a dark fiction theme again this year. It will include both by invitation submissions and contest submissions that are worthy, and feature the winning story from the contest. (See Call for Submissions below.)

WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services

I’m happy to announce that in 2024, WordCrafter will be adding Book Trailers to our list of quality author services. We will have three different trailer designers available to choose from: myself, Robbie Cheadle and DL Mullan, and they will be offered at affordable prices.

Other services offered include editing and publishing services and WordCrafter Book Blog Tours. I still have time slots available for editing services into 2024. Learn more at Write it Right Quality Editing Services.

Writing to be Read

Author Jeff Bowles 

Text: Pop with Jeff Bowles

On Writing to be Read, 2024 promises more of the new monthly blog series, “POP with Jeff Bowles”, which has been well recepted. A blog series about all things POP, the first Wednesday of every month.

We also have a new addition to the WtbR team. Starting in January, DL Mullan will be bringing us another new blog series the first Friday of each month, “Undawntech: Technology and the Creative Arts”. Be sure to check it out and give Dawn a big welcome.

Call for Submissions – 2024 WordCrafter Anthology

It’s time for the Call for Submissions for the 2024 WordCrafter Anthology, which we’re calling “Dark Fiction” for now. Dark fiction is the theme: horror, paranormal, dark fantasy, science fiction, speculative fiction. Any genre as long as it is dark or scary will do. I’m leaving it wide in the hopes of bringing in a diverse selection of stories that will keep readers awake at night.

Submission Guidelines

Genres: Paranormal, Dark Fantasy, Horror, Science Fiction, Dark Humor, Speculative Fiction any combination there of.

Length: up to 5000 words

Submission Deadline: April 30, 2023

Submissions open January 1 and close on April 30. Watch for the January 1 post for full submission guidelines and contest entry.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to All!

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Join Kaye Lynne Booth & WordCrafter Press Readers’ Group for WordCrafter Press book & event news, including the awesome releases of author Kaye Lynne Booth. Get a free digital copy of her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction, as a sampling of her works just for joining


WordCrafter Holiday Extravaganza Sale

The WordCrafter Sale of the Year

Did you know that WordCrafter is having a Holiday Extravaganza Sale that includes every book in the entire WordCrafter Press backlist?

That’s right.

And books make great holiday gifts. Treat someone you know or treat yourself this holiday season.

December 1 – 22 every book in the WordCrafter Press back list is at a discounted price. Check it out.

Writing References

Book Cover: Large question marks, an ink well and colorful quill
Text: Ask The Authors, A WordCrafter Writing Reference Anthology, Compiled and Edited by Kaye Lynne Boothj

Ask The Authors – Only .99 cents

https://books2read.com/u/mdzvwO

Book Cover: Large question marks, an ink well and a colorful quill
Text: Ask The Authors 2022, A WordCrafter Writing Reference Anthology, Compiled and Edited by KAye Lynne Booth

Ask The Authors 2022 – Only $2.99

https://books2read.com/u/4Xejve

Fantasy/Science Fiction/Paranormal/Horror Anthologies

Once Upon an Ever After:

Modern Fairy Tales & Folklore

Only $2.50

https://books2read.com/u/mKdWGV

Refracted Reflections:

Twisted Tales of Duality & Deception

Only $2.50

https://books2read.com/u/3kPyxn

Visions – Only $2.99

https://books2read.com/u/49Lk28

Poetry Anthologies & Collections

Poetry Treasures – Only $2.99

https://books2read.com/u/3n7BDR

Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships

Only $2.50

https://books2read.com/u/3kP8aK

Behind Closed Doors:

a collection of unusual poems

by Robbie Cheadle

Only $2.99

https://books2read.com/u/md7r1Z

Feral Tenderness:

Poetry and Photography

by Arthur Rosch

Only $2.99

https://books2read.com/u/bPXpoA

Books By Kaye Lynne Booth

Last Call

And Other Short Fiction

by Kaye Lynne Booth

Only .99 cents

https://books2read.com/u/4jL2no

Hidden Secrets

Paranormal Mystery Novella

by Kaye Lynne Booth

Only $1.99

https://books2read.com/u/38RZ2O

Daily Devotionals

Raise the Tide

Daily Devotional

by James Richards

https://books2read.com/u/ml2l6B

Paranormal Anthologies

Whispers of the Past

Paranormal Anthology

Only $1.99

https://books2read.com/u/38EGEL

Spirits of the West

Western Paranormal Anthology

Only $1.99

https://books2read.com/u/ml2Kxq

Where Spirits Linger

Paranormal Anthology

Only .99 cents

https://books2read.com/u/mYGyNG

Lingering Spirit Whispers

Paranormal Anthology Set

Only $3.99

https://books2read.com/u/mB2qrk


WordCrafter News: Giveaway Winners, A Halloween Book Event, NaNoWriMo and a New Blog Series

Newspring background with WordCrafter logo and text: WordCrafter News

Wrapping up the WordCrafter Midnight Roost Book Blog Tour

We had a great tour for Midnight Roost and many of you visited one or more tour stops and commented, for a chance to win a free digital copy of Midnight Roost. We were giving away three copies for this tour, and all that’s left to do now is to give you the winners. So, without further ado…

(Drumroll please.)

And the winners are…

  • BeetleyPete
  • Vera Day
  • Lauren Scott

If your name appears on the above list, please contact me at KLBWordCrafter@gmail.com to claim your free digital copy of Midnight Roost: Weird and Creepy Stories.

In Case You Missed the Tour

Midnight Roost is a truly creepy anthology from 20 talented authors that you won’t want to miss. But, if you missed the tour, you can still get a copy here: https://books2read.com/u/318L0l

About Midnight Roost

Book Cover Dark and scary graveyard background Text: Midnight Roost, Weird and Creepy Stories, A WordCrafterr Anthology, Edited by Kaye Lynne Booth

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.

Halloween Book Event

Tomorrow is Halloween. My favorite holiday. To celebrate, WordCrafter is cohosting the author takeover during Sonoran Dawn’s Black Cauldron All Hallow’s Eve Book Event all Halloween day. Join us for promos, games, and giveaways, Halloween music and a whole lot more. Sign up and join in at the link below.

https://www.facebook.com/events/876710947358939/

Author takeover spots are available. If interested in promoting your books, artwork, or other creative projects, contact me at KLBWordCrafter@gmail.com and put Author Takeover in the subject line.

November NaNoWriMo

I’m so excited about participating in National Novel Writing Month this year because I’m itching to delve into Sarah. I’m still not prolific enough to think I’ll write the whole novel in a month, but I know from last year, with The Rock Star & The Outlaw, that participating in NaNoWriMo can offer one heck of a start.

For those who don’t know, Sarah is book 2 in the Women in the West Adventure series. Last January I ran a Kickstarter campaign for book 1, Delilah. I plan to run another Kickstarter campaign for Sarah this coming January, so it is time to write the book. In preparation, I’ve done my research and have a working outline ready. I’ve already had a lot of fun fleshing out the two supporting characters that backers got to name from Delilah’s campaign, Lillian Alura Bennett, and Owoz Crebo. One historical female character which will make an appearance in Sarah, which is a trademark of the series, is Kate Elder, a.k.a. Big Nose Kate, Doc Holiday’s infamous companion. So, I have everything I need at the starting gate, and I’m just waiting for the starting gate to open on November 1st.

New Blog Series Starting in November

I’m so pleased to be able to make this particular announcement. The first Wednesday in November, Jeff Bowles will be returning to the blog with a new blog series about pop culture, “Pop with Jeff Bowles”. He’ll be talking about the many areas of pop culture: comics and comic hero movies, video games, television, music, and more. Drop by Writing to be Read the first Wednesday of each month and check it out.

Note: Also in November and December, you may notice some extra reviews coming out on Saturdays as I try and get in all of my 2023 reads, so I can start fresh in 2024. For requested reviews, I like to post in a timely manner, and I don’t want to wait into the new year to post, as I’ve probably already passed their release date due to my back log. So, if you have requested a review and sent me an ARC copy this year, be watching, because they all should be coming up.

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Want exclusive content? Join Kaye Lynne Booth & WordCrafter Press Readers’ Group for WordCrafter Press book & event news, including the awesome releases of author Kaye Lynne Booth. She won’t flood your inbox, she NEVER sells her list, and you might get a freebie occasionally. Get a free digital copy of her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction, just for joining.


Meet the authors of “Midnight Roost”: Today, Joseph Carrabis

Book Cover Dark and scary graveyard background Text: Midnight Roost, Weird and Creepy Stories, A WordCrafterr Anthology, Edited by Kaye Lynne Booth

Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/MidnightRoost


Final Stop on the Wordcrafter “Midnight Roost” Book Blog Tour

Tour Banner
Spooky graveyard background with one-eyed bird roosting in a tree.
Foreground: Print copy of Midnight Roost and WordCrafter logo
Text: Wordcrafter Book Blog Tours Presents Midnight Roost Weird and Creepy Stories, Contributing Authors, Zack Ellafy,Chris Barili, Joseph Carrabis, DL Mullan, Christa Planko, Paul Kane, Sonia Pipkin, C.R. Johansson. Roberta Eaton Cheadle, Patty Fletcher, Keith J. Hoskins, Denise Aparo, Isabel Grey, Rebecca M. Senese, Mario Acevedo,Kaye Lynne Booth, Michaele Jordan, Robert Kostanczuk, M J Mallon
WordCrafter Midnight Roost Book Blog Tour

It’s the final stop on the WordCrafter Midnight Roost Book Blog Tour and today we’re going to wrap things up with a reading by contributing author Denise Aparo from her haunting story, “The Pines”,and some excerpts from stories from authors who weren’t able to participate in the tour. So, kick back and enjoy the reading and peruse the excerpts, meet the authors and join in the discussion by leaving a comment and earn a chance at a free digital copy of Midnight Roost.

Meet Author Denise Aparo

Denise Aparo is a new WordCrafter Press author, so I’m just getting to know a little ab out her, too. Her story, “The Pines” wasn’t the winning story in the short fiction contest, but I still felt that its dark parnormal feel would fit into the anthology. Now that the book is compiled and I can see the finished product, I think I made the right decision. It is a perfect addition to the Midnight Roost collection. Listen to the reading below and see if you don’t agree.

Reading from “The Pines”

Reading from “The Pines” by Denise Aparo

About Denise Aparo

Denise Aparo is a New England native, born and raised in the clockmaking city of Bristol, Connecticut. She lives with her husband, Joe, and they have five grandchildren. She is also a freelance writer who spends her time working on her novel and writing short stories. She also spends her time gardening, crafting, and crocheting.

Denise likes to write Paranormal Fiction, genre of Historical Fantasy. She recently completed her first novel, Crossbows. She has a Masters of Arts in English and a Fine Arts/Creative Writing with concentration in Fiction from Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) and a member of Sigma Tau Delta, International English Honor Society, and The National Society of Leadership and Success, Sigma Alpha Pi, with SNHU.

She is a member of the Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association (CAPA) and the author of a new WordPress writing blog, The Write Voice, The Write Voice | The write voice at the write time, a blog that boasts, “Like multiple genres, there are many cultures – each with an individual voice.”   Denise is a new addition to the WordCrafter Press authors.

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Excerpt from “Melina” by Kaye Lynne Booth

Dark and Scary Graveyard in the background. One eyed owl and print copy of Midnight Roost are perched in branches of old, scraggly trees.
Text: From WordCrafter Press, "Melina" by Kaye Lynne Booth - "Not gonna do it," Ralph says, crossing his arms and planting his feet. "No way, no how. That's Augie's corpse floating in the pool. Uh-uh."
Melina had thought Ralph might come to her aid, yet now it seems he would be the one to block her escape. But she can't let that happen. Not when she is so close. Her skin is searing in a fiery rage. She must get out of this pool now.
She raises her head and opens her mouth, letting her siren song pour out. Ralph's eyes glaze over, as Augie's had, and he turns and starres directly at her. A blank stare crosses Eddie's face, and he turns toward her , as well. Did not expect that.

Excerpt from “She Shed Galleria” by C.R. Johansson

Dark and Scary Graveyard in the background. One eyed owl and print copy of Midnight Roost are perched in branches of old, scraggly trees.
Text: From WordCrafter Press, "She Shed Galleria" by C.R. Johannson - "You're an artist." He sipped some of the wine, surprised by its fruity flavor. His wine experience went only as far as a box of bitterness from the corner grocery store.
"It's a Zweigelt," she said as if reading his mind.
He looked at her. Something in her gaze. He fidgeted in his seat. A sudden twinge of panic rushed through him, driven by a primitive intuition deep within him, driven by a primative intuition deep within him, and like a dog who squeezes in between the washing machine and the wall only to find itself trapped. He suddenly wished he hadn't got in the car.

Excerpt from “House on the Plains” by Zack Ellafy

Dark and Scary Graveyard in the background. One eyed owl and print copy of Midnight Roost are perched in branches of old, scraggly trees.
Text: From WordCrafter Press, "House on th Plains" by Zack Ellafy - “I just needed somewhere new and quiet, away from drama. I saw this was a place out of the way and the houses were cheap. Oh, sorry - I hope I didn’t offend you.”
“Oh, no ma’am. We like it that way. You married? Husband didn’t come in with you?”
“No. No husband. Recently divorced, but nope,” Madison said. 
“Really? I don’t want to alarm you, ma’am, but why is there someone sitting in your car?” Jeff asked.
“What?” Madison said as her head turned towards the large windows at the front of the store. There wasn’t a perfect line of sight to her car, so she slowly inched back for a better view. A chill ran up Madison’s spine - she could make out someone sitting in the backseat. His back was turned, but she thought she could make out some sort of hat on his head. It can’t be him, she thought. I covered all my tracks. No one except my family knows I’m even here.

Excerpt from “Take Two” by Rebecca M. Senese

Dark and Scary Graveyard in the background. One eyed owl and print copy of Midnight Roost are perched in branches of old, scraggly trees.
Text: From WordCrafter Press, "Take Two" by Rebecca M. Senes - Sondra handed her mother a mirror.
“What do you think?”
Her mother caught her breath, mouth opening a little. “Oh my,” she breathed. “I never… I had no idea.”
Sondra grinned. “Want to learn how to do it?” 
Her mother glanced up, almost sheepishly. “Could I?”
“You sure could,” Sondra said. She turned to the camera. “What do you think of Florence’s new look? Let me know in the comments! And join us in future videos where I teach Florence, and you, how to achieve this look. It’s easier than you think. Until next time!” 
She waved and turned off the camera.

Excerpt from “A Visitor Comes to the Window” by Robert Kostanczuk

Dark and Scary Graveyard in the background. One eyed owl and print copy of Midnight Roost are perched in branches of old, scraggly trees.
Text: From WordCrafter Press, "A Visitant Comes to the Window" by Robert Kostanczuk - This time, the winged thing was in the center windowpane, middle row. As it stalked about his window, the glass seemed to move with slight waves—undulate—as the mysterious thing methodically crawled from pane to pane.
It was an odd, mesmerizing visual. He felt a pane that was not occupied by the bug, but there was nothing abnormal; the surface was smooth. Then, the vision of the interloper on an adjacent pane caught his eye. The surface seemed to ripple ever so slightly.

That wraps up today’s stop, and the whole tour. I hope you enjoyed meeting Denise and the excerpts from the other stories. Be sure to visit any stops you missed through the links in the schedule below for more chances to win a free digital copy of Midnight Roost. I will announce the winners in next Monday’s “WordCrafter News” post, here on “Writing to be Read”

Giveaway

A chance to win a free digital copy of Midnight Roost at every stop. Just leave a comment to show your support for the tour, the anthology, and all of the fantastic authors.

Tour Schedule

Monday – October 16 – Opening Day –Isabele Grey (Interview & Reading) & Joseph Carrabis (Reading) – Writing to be Read

Tuesday – October 17 – M J Mallon (Reading) & Christa Planko (Interview & Guest Post)– Undawnted

Wednesday – October 18 – Chris Barili (Guest Post) & Paul Kane (Guest Post) – Patty’s Worlds

Thursday – October 19 – Julie Jones (Reading) & Keith Hoskins (Guest Post) – Robbie’s Inspiration

Friday – October 20 – Michaele Jordan (Reading) & Mario Acevedo (Guest Post) – Writing to be Read

Saturday – October 21 – Patty Fletcher (Guest Post) & DL Mullen (Guest Post & Video) – Roberta Writes

Sunday – October 22 – Sonia Pipkin (Guest Post) & Roberta Eaton Cheadle (Reading) – Kyrosmagica Publishing

Monday – October 23 – Closing Post –Denise Aparo (Reading) & excerpts from other stories – Writing to be Read

About 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.

Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/u/318L0l

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Book your WordCrafter Book Blog Tour today!


Meet the Authors of “Midnight Roost”: Today, Joseph Carrabis

Book Cover Dark and scary graveyard background Text: Midnight Roost, Weird and Creepy Stories, A WordCrafterr Anthology, Edited by Kaye Lynne Booth

Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/MidnightRoost