Literary Braun

Yes, the title says it all– I'm moving from this blog to a brand new website. I'm still having challenges with Wordpress, so it's safe to say that what I've uploaded won't be the final website. I'd like to add a bunch of other features but as I've learned recently, Wordpress is very stubborn about what you can't and can't do. 

Anyway, the site is cleaner and a lot more organized, and I'm happy with it design wise! Check it out below!

AMY BRAUN AUTHOR

I will be keeping the blog open to redirect traffic, and potentially open my book shop. Once I understand more of what I have to do (website creation is not my forte), I'll keep everyone posted. Thanks for stopping by this final time!

Cheers!

Amy

Last week got a little crazy near the end, what with edits coming back, a new website being made, and news about a future short story collection, and while I didn't exactly get everything completed, I passed the major obstacles:

• Format Midnight Skyfor print and order author copies
• Complete and launch website (Completed but launch date is hesitant)
• Plot remaining books for the Iron Gargoyle series (create a map)
• Minor plot alterations and continue writing The Iron Gargoyle
• Edit Storm of the Gods
• Make list of publishers accepting new authors and sending queries for Storm of the Gods

This week, I'm determined to cross off the remaining items on my list:

• Launch website
• Plot remaining books for the Iron Gargoyle series (create a map)
• Continue editing Storm of the Gods(finish first chapter)
• Make list of publishers accepting new authors and sending queries for Storm of the Gods

Yes, it's time to keep forging ahead. I'm still working out the kinks for my new website (tentative launch coming on Thursday), and I'd like to assume that the rest of the Iron Gargoyle series will be plotted out soon. I want to say that Chapter One of Storm of the Gods will be edited by the end of the week, but there's a lot to be done. Not that I'm complaining. Editing is a key part in being an author, and I actually kind of like doing it since once it's over, I know that my story is stronger and more polished. 

Damnation's Door has mostly winded down in terms of promotion, though it will still pop up on Kindle and Kobo from time to time. I'm also thinking about doing a giveaway when my new website launches. 

Demons are free. Angels are fallen. Hope is dying...

Constance Ramirez and her adopted sister, Andromeda, have stopped Lucifer’s plan– They have closed the Heaven Gate and kept the demons out. But their choice came with brutal consequences, and now every angel on earth is trapped in their mortal body.

All that remains is closing the Hell Gate and establishing a balance once and for all. That means returning to the city of Constance’s nightmares, which has become a haven for murderers and monsters. But even more dangerous than their hunt is that Andromeda’s powers and instincts are turning darker, and this time Constance doesn’t know how to protect her.

Constance is ready to fight for her life, but her enemies have plans she can’t begin to imagine, and they’re prepared to make her suffer...

Trust is lost and hearts are broken in the epic conclusion in Amy Braun’s Cursed trilogy...

Media Kit

Chapter One

Buy it here:

Amazon Kindle | Paperback | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | Nook | iBookstore |  Goodreads | Smashwords 

***

Starting this weekend, I'm going to work on promoting Dark Sky and its sequel, Midnight Sky.

There are secrets, there are betrayals, and there are sacrifices… 

The Behemoth has been destroyed, and the bloodthirsty Hellions seem to have left Westraven. But Claire Abernathy’s mind is not at ease. A terrible disease plagues her sister, appearing to have been brought on the Vesper, the leader of the Hellions beyond the tear between worlds– the Breach.

To save Abby and stop the Hellions for good, Claire must find the machine her parents built before the attacks, and fix it before the monsters return. To do so, she needs the help of her crew, and must ignore the secrets and rivalries between her captain and the man she saved.

Because the Hellions are not the only dangers following Claire. Twisted humans and old enemies surface to stop her and destroy all she loves. While she is determined to endure the trials, a single betrayal could shatter the hope of a better world, and force Claire to make a choice that will cost her dearly…

Media Kit

Chapter One

Preorder Links

Kindle | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Smashwords | Goodreads

Book bloggers interested in promoting/learning more about Crimson Sky and/or Midnight Sky can now signup for reviews and/or the release day blitz and blog tour:

Blogger Signups

Review Opportunity For Crimson Sky and Midnight Sky

Midnight Sky Release Day Blitz

Midnight Sky Blog Tour

Onto other writing news. Last week, Mocha Memoirs Press, my first professional publishers, emailed me with plans to combine four of my short stories– Call From The Grave, Hotel Hell, Lost Sky, and the upcoming Engineered Deceit– into a single collection called The Shadow Omnibus! I'm jumping all over myself with excitement for this, and couldn't be more thrilled about the September release. I think it'll be a great way to not only promote myself as an author, but to help promote the Dark Sky series since two of the stories in the collection coincide with it. 

And that's what's happening! Hopefully Thursday's post will be on my new website, but regardless, I'll keep everyone posted about what's going on. Thanks for stopping by!

Cheers!

Amy

It's Sunday, which means it's time for Weekend Writing Warriors, the weekly blog hop where indie authors get to share their work in 8-10 sentences. This will be the last 8Sunday snippet I post for Damnation's Door (Midnight Sky will start next week), and it was tricky to pick a final teaser, but I thought I'd pick something exciting, dangerous, and of course, cliff-hanger-y:

I couldn’t see Dro, and with a broken ankle, there was no way I could get back up the stairs to her without being set on fire.

The flames wouldn’t hurt her, but I couldn’t leave her trapped in her nightmare. She wasn’t in danger, but she was trapped in a different kind of torture.

A trap that only Lucifer could create for someone like Dro.

I will destroy you.

No– he didn’t want to hurt Dro. Not after going through so much to find her. I had to believe that. I couldn’t imagine he would try to kill her.

But now the thought was there, and it wouldn’t fucking leave.

Demons are free. Angels are fallen. Hope is dying...

Constance Ramirez and her adopted sister, Andromeda, have stopped Lucifer’s plan– They have closed the Heaven Gate and kept the demons out. But their choice came with brutal consequences, and now every angel on earth is trapped in their mortal body.

All that remains is closing the Hell Gate and establishing a balance once and for all. That means returning to the city of Constance’s nightmares, which has become a haven for murderers and monsters. But even more dangerous than their hunt is that Andromeda’s powers and instincts are turning darker, and this time Constance doesn’t know how to protect her.

Constance is ready to fight for her life, but her enemies have plans she can’t begin to imagine, and they’re prepared to make her suffer...

Trust is lost and hearts are broken in the epic conclusion in Amy Braun’s Cursed trilogy...

Media Kit

Chapter One

Buy it here:

Amazon Kindle | Paperback | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | Nook | iBookstore |  Goodreads | Smashwords 

***

There will be a few more sales and promos for Damnation's Door and the Cursed series over the next few days, but I'm also going to dive deeper into the Dark Sky world due to the upcoming release... 

There are secrets, there are betrayals, and there are sacrifices… 

The Behemoth has been destroyed, and the bloodthirsty Hellions seem to have left Westraven. But Claire Abernathy’s mind is not at ease. A terrible disease plagues her sister, appearing to have been brought on the Vesper, the leader of the Hellions beyond the tear between worlds– the Breach.

To save Abby and stop the Hellions for good, Claire must find the machine her parents built before the attacks, and fix it before the monsters return. To do so, she needs the help of her crew, and must ignore the secrets and rivalries between her captain and the man she saved.

Because the Hellions are not the only dangers following Claire. Twisted humans and old enemies surface to stop her and destroy all she loves. While she is determined to endure the trials, a single betrayal could shatter the hope of a better world, and force Claire to make a choice that will cost her dearly…

Media Kit

Chapter One

Buy it here:

Amazon Kindle | Createspace | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Smashwords | Goodreads

Blogger Signups

Review Opportunity For Crimson Sky and Midnight Sky

Midnight Sky Release Day Blitz

Midnight Sky Blog Tour

I'm super excited for this new book, but I'm equally excited for the other projects I'm immersing myself into. My new website is set to launch sometime next week, but the official date has changed. Wordpress is giving me grief with plugins and an online shop because Heaven forbid I choose a .com domain name instead of .org *rolls eyes*. Regardless, it will be up in July! 

I also received news that Mocha Memoirs Press, my first professional publishers, are planning to combine the four short stories I have written for them– Call From The Grave, Hotel Hell, Lost Sky, and the upcoming Engineered Deceit– in a single collection called The Shadow Omnibus! It's set for an early September release, and I can't wait to see the final product!

I want to say more, but I'm up past my bedtime (again), and didn't have the best day with my assistant manger. Long story short, she likes to do pointless meaningless tasks that force the rest of us to drown in work that actually has to be done, then gets snippy when she doesn't get her way. Still, I had some chocolate, co-worker support, came home, and got to look at this:

Yup. New books. That I wrote. Can't be upset when I have that.

Be sure to stop by the other amazing Weekend Writing Warriors blogs and leave some love in the comments! Cheers!

Amy

When I read the massive Gods and Mortals collection a month or so ago, I came across the first novel in Pippa DaCosta's The Veil series. I liked the story a lot and wanted to see what it was all about. The answer? It's one of the most exciting, fun, kick-ass urban fantasy series' I've read. And I read a lot of urban fantasy. This is the kind of series you kick yourself for skipping out on. I've been speeding through all of the books (just started the fifth and final instalment today), and Drowning In The Dark is by far the darkest in the series, which is saying something. If you're looking for a new urban fantasy series that takes demons and puts them in the new light, trust me, this is what you're looking for. The world-building is unique, the characters are strong and complex, the action is wickedly intense, and the stories are freaking fantastic. Don't miss out on this one. 

All these covers are absolutely gorgeous, and there's a bonus one inside the ebooks!

“I wasn’t demon enough to defeat my brother before. Things have changed.”

As the veil begins to fall, and the demons bleed through onto the streets of Boston, Muse knows the battle is lost before it’s even begun. 

To make matters worse, Adam and the Institute have captured Akil at a time when the city has never needed him more. Muse believes Akil’s incarceration is a ruse, because if he truly is at the mercy of the Institute, she must choose which side she’ll fight for. Human or demon? 

The princes are coming. Valenti, Muse’s immortal half-brother, leads the charge. The Institute is not ready, the people of Boston are not prepared, but one man is. Stefan knows what it will take to beat back the netherworld. Will his demon allow him the freedom to right his wrongs?

Muse’s loyalty will be tested. To save those she loves, she must give up that which she cherishes most. Her humanity.

The Mother of Destruction is about to go nuclear.

***

Our main character, Muse, just can't catch a break, and Drowning In The Dark is no exception to her ongoing struggles. The story kicks off at the speed of sound (as they usually do, a style that I love), and doesn't slow down even when the characters aren't fighting for their lives– and their humanity. 

There's so much to talk about, but let's start with the world. I love stories that take their own twist on demon hierarchy, and the version DaCosta takes is one I haven't seen before. It's brutal, violent, and damages those who get to close to it.

Speaking of damaged, Muse is one of the strongest female characters in the genre. Having started from the very, very beginning, it was clear she'd been through hell– literally– and back. Watching her grow as a character into the powerful force she is now is nothing short of breathtaking, and she has never been stronger than she is in Drowning In The Dark. She's packed full of emotions and turmoil, doing what she can to protect those she loves, facing her fears, losing herself to darkness and drawing herself out when to be even stronger than before. I love strong female characters, but they are even more incredible when they're not Mary Sue's. Muse is an epic character, and I'm genuinely going to miss her when the series is over.

I'm also going to miss the side characters– Stefan, Akil, and Ryder. Ryder had a lot more character development, which is great because I love him. A stubborn, tough human you don't want to mess with, I genuinely wanted to know more about him. He better make it to the end! I like Akil a lot, though I don't agree with him as a romantic interest. Yes, he's helped Muse time and time again, and his development was thorough, but in my view, he's betrayed Muse's trust too many times. And Stefan? Stefan I love. I loved him the moment he entered the series, and will likely love him when it's over. He's battled his own demons– literally and figuratively– and has come so far. I find his relationship with Muse, while complicate to say the least, is more genuine and deserves to have its day. 

The action is wicked. Muse has formidable enemies, and DaCosta knows her way around a magical action scene. Every battle is visceral and nail-biting, the kind of thing that keeps my eyes glued to the page and begging for more. I can only imagine what the final battle will be like, and I doubt I'll have any nails left when it's done.

There's so much to these books, genuine works of heart that are clearly loved by the author. I fell into them immediately, and will be buying the paperbacks as part of my newly restarted book collection. I could honestly go on on and on about all the things I loved about them, but we'd be heading to major spoiler territory and I don't want to do that. I want urban fantasy lovers to seek this series out, start from the prequel novella, and enjoy the same wild ride that I have. All of DaCosta's other books are now on my To-Be-Read List, and I can't wait to see how she rounds out Muse's adventures. 

Amy

Things are finally moving forward for this author! The printed proofs are finally on the way for Midnight Sky, now that I know the limitations of Scrivener for print formatting. So note to anyone thinking about buying a paperback for Midnight Sky– you get some bonus content! I'll go more into it when I officially launch my new website next week. It will likely happen Monday (possibly Tuesday, depending on some other tweaks I want to do), and it's come together really well. The newsletter signup isn't quite ready yet (though I can't wait to do that), and the shop isn't ready, but I'm still very excited about its look. The blog will stay up to redirect traffic, but nothing new will be posted.

I'm definitely looking forward to the Midnight Sky promotions starting in July. I'm really excited for this novel and have heard some good feedback from early reviews, so hopefully the pre-order sales will go up. *hint hint wink wink nudge nudge look below*

There are secrets, there are betrayals, and there are sacrifices… 

The Behemoth has been destroyed, and the bloodthirsty Hellions seem to have left Westraven. But Claire Abernathy’s mind is not at ease. A terrible disease plagues her sister, appearing to have been brought on the Vesper, the leader of the Hellions beyond the tear between worlds– the Breach.

To save Abby and stop the Hellions for good, Claire must find the machine her parents built before the attacks, and fix it before the monsters return. To do so, she needs the help of her crew, and must ignore the secrets and rivalries between her captain and the man she saved.

Because the Hellions are not the only dangers following Claire. Twisted humans and old enemies surface to stop her and destroy all she loves. While she is determined to endure the trials, a single betrayal could shatter the hope of a better world, and force Claire to make a choice that will cost her dearly…

Media Kit

Chapter One

Preorder Links

Kindle | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Smashwords | Goodreads

If you're a book blogger/reviewer interested in reading Crimson Sky and/or Midnight Sky, you can enter the signup sheet below! 

I wish I could say I was very productive last week, but the major stuff I wanted to do wasn't accomplished. Mostly because I'm having issues with it. Of course they're little simple things that must have an easy fix I'm just not seeing *frowns*. That said, I still managed to get some goals crossed off, or at least started:

• Format Midnight Skyfor print and order author copies
• Plot remaining books for the Iron Gargoyle series (create a map)
• Continue writing The Iron Gargoyle, the first Iron Gargoyle novel
• Beta read edits for Storm of the Gods(Finish them up)
• Formal edits and minor tweaking forStorm of the Gods(Finish them up)
• Make list of publishers accepting new authors and sending queries for Storm of the Gods
• Look through Scrivener tutorials and begin working from there

And here's what I want to do this week, bullets one and two being the most important:

• Format Midnight Skyfor print and order author copies
• Complete and launch website
• Plot remaining books for the Iron Gargoyle series (create a map)
• Minor plot alterations and continue writing The Iron Gargoyle
• Edit Storm of the Gods
• Make list of publishers accepting new authors and sending queries for Storm of the Gods

I'm still going to promote Damnation's Door, though the tours I had going on have winded down, though I recently did my first ever character interview, which was even more fun than I thought it would be. Recently, I've been using Kindle and Kobo's services to promote my books, which is a trial and error thing I need to get better at. 

I can't believe it's been almost a month since I fully completed a book series. How crazy is that? I definitely learned a lot from the Cursed series and couldn't be happier that I put in the effort to see it through to the end. 

Demons are free. Angels are fallen. Hope is dying...

Constance Ramirez and her adopted sister, Andromeda, have stopped Lucifer’s plan– They have closed the Heaven Gate and kept the demons out. But their choice came with brutal consequences, and now every angel on earth is trapped in their mortal body.

All that remains is closing the Hell Gate and establishing a balance once and for all. That means returning to the city of Constance’s nightmares, which has become a haven for murderers and monsters. But even more dangerous than their hunt is that Andromeda’s powers and instincts are turning darker, and this time Constance doesn’t know how to protect her.

Constance is ready to fight for her life, but her enemies have plans she can’t begin to imagine, and they’re prepared to make her suffer...

Trust is lost and hearts are broken in the epic conclusion in Amy Braun’s Cursed trilogy...

Media Kit

Chapter One

Buy it here:

Amazon Kindle | Paperback | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | Nook | iBookstore |  Goodreads | Smashwords 

***

As things wind down with Cursed and Damnation's Door, I'm turning my energies to Dark Sky and the upcoming sequel, Midnight Sky.

There are secrets, there are betrayals, and there are sacrifices… 

The Behemoth has been destroyed, and the bloodthirsty Hellions seem to have left Westraven. But Claire Abernathy’s mind is not at ease. A terrible disease plagues her sister, appearing to have been brought on the Vesper, the leader of the Hellions beyond the tear between worlds– the Breach.

To save Abby and stop the Hellions for good, Claire must find the machine her parents built before the attacks, and fix it before the monsters return. To do so, she needs the help of her crew, and must ignore the secrets and rivalries between her captain and the man she saved.

Because the Hellions are not the only dangers following Claire. Twisted humans and old enemies surface to stop her and destroy all she loves. While she is determined to endure the trials, a single betrayal could shatter the hope of a better world, and force Claire to make a choice that will cost her dearly…

Media Kit

Chapter One

Preorder Links

Kindle | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Smashwords | Goodreads

I've heard very positive feedback so far, but if you're a book blogger/reviewer interested in reading Crimson Sky and/or Midnight Sky, feel free to enter the sign-up sheet below! 

Review Opportunity for Crimson Sky and Midnight Sky

Looking at those covers rocks my world, and I can't wait to see what they'll look like when they're placed next to the prequel novellas in the fall and the final novel next year. 
Now, onto the news. I've been keeping it under wraps for a couple months, but I should let frequent readers of the blog know that I'll be moving to a brand new website *hopefully* at the end of the month. I'm familiar with Blogger and it's been working so far, but the simple fact is that I have a new novel I want to send out in another month or two. I want to show publishers that I take my career seriously, and what better way than to have a crisp new website? I'm using Wordpress and while it's been throwing me for some loops (seriously, it should not be that hard to make more than one drop down menu under the main header!), I love the way the site is coming together. I don't know if they'll be on their when the site launches, but I'll be working on setting up a mailing list with occasional, exclusive bonuses for those who sign-up, and an online shop for readers to buy my books. However, I intend to spend less time blogging and focus on my writing. I won't continue doing weekly/month recaps or Thursday posts (GIAM bloggers, you'll get the basics). That said, when something big happens, it will go on the blog, and I'll likely continue with review posts and will definitely keep up with Weekend Writing Warriors. 

I've started the edits for Storm of the Gods, which will need way more work than even I expected. That said, I'm looking forward to working with the new world and have so far been very impressed with my new editor. I'm hoping this new series goes far, and will be working hard to give it all the promotion and spotlight it deserves, regardless of whether it gets accepted by publishers or not. I'm hoping that will be the case *dreams about writing as a full-time hybrid author* but if not, then Storm of the Gods will be written, fully edited, and potentially formatted for a new release in 2017. I'm even thinking about adding graphics to the chapter pages. I know– it'd be pretty cool. 

Also gaining ground is The Iron Gargoyle, another new post-apocalyptic urban fantasy series that will go through the same process Storm of the Gods and the Areios Brothers series is currently undergoing. I recently discovered that I needed to alter the world history and therefore my plot, but thankfully it hasn't really affected what I've written so far. Still, the sooner I make the changes, the better and stronger the story will be.

So that's what I have coming up! I'm really hoping to have at least the paperbacks for Midnight Sky or the final version of my website finished today. It's killing me that I have to do all that boring stuff when I'm actually aching to write, but I do need to prioritize my time, and both of those tasks have been nagging me for weeks, and the sooner I have them done, the more time I'll have for my writing! Which means I need to get to work! 
Cheers!

Amy

Welcome to 8Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors, the weekly blog hop where indie authors get to share their work in 8-10 sentences. I couldn't really find a snippet appropriate for Father's Day, so instead, I decided to use a snippet featuring a character who acts like a father figure for Constance in Damnation's Door. She seeks Sephiel, a former warrior angel, for counsel and advice about the mass murders in her old hometown, but as expected, doesn't get the answers she wants to hear...

“Seph,” I asked the ex-angel, who stood across from me on the other side of the curtain, watching the opposite end of the street. “These killings, the major ones... do you think Lucifer is behind them rather than Mateo?”

Sephiel went very still. Talking about Lucifer always made him tense, and I had to remind myself not to push him. He was human now, and his emotions weren’t so tightly reined anymore. A single snap in battle could get him killed.

“It is likely they are working in collaboration,” he finally said. “Perhaps Lucifer is feeding Mateo Rocha’s thirst for vengeance, and your former lover is constructing the circumstances for the slaughter. His men are nearly always there, are they not?”

***

Still got lots going on. Damnation's Door is still on its blog tour, and one particular stop features an author interview, a character interview, and a giveaway. I've never done a character interview before, and it was a lot of fun to get back inside Constance's head and have her answer questions not typically posed for her. I'm still working on formatting Midnight Sky, editing Storm of the Gods, and rebuilding the world/writing The Iron Gargoyle. I would go into more detail, but I'm half-falling asleep at my desk. Not as comfy as a bed. 

Be sure to check out the other Weekend Writing Warriors and leave some love and wishes in the comments of their blogs. You have no idea how much that means to us!

Speaking of love and wishes, I hope everyone enjoys their father's day! Love you, Dad!

Amy

Abomination is the first novel I've read in a long time that felt like legitimate horror to me. I've read books with monsters before, and long time readers of my blog know it's something I actively seek out, but of all the novels I've read so far this year, this is the one that had the horror fan in me jumping with joy. It didn't "scare" me, but that in no way hindered my enjoyment of the novel. Gary Whitta's novel is creepy, intense, dramatic, filled with rich characters, and some surprising turns. An absolute must for all horror/fantasy fans. A wild, brutal ride, and one of my top reads for this year.

He is England's greatest knight, the man who saved the life of Alfred the Great and an entire kingdom from a Viking invasion. But when he is called back into service to combat a plague of monstrous beasts known as abominations, he meets a fate worse than death and is condemned to a life of anguish, solitude, and remorse.

She is a fierce young warrior, raised among an elite order of knights. Driven by a dark secret from her past, she defies her controlling father and sets out on a dangerous quest to do what none before her ever have—hunt down and kill an abomination, alone.

When a chance encounter sets these two against one another, an incredible twist of fate will lead them toward a salvation they never thought possible—and prove that the power of love, mercy, and forgiveness can shine a hopeful light even in history’s darkest age. 

***

I should say right off the bat that this isn't a novel for the faint of heart. The descriptions Whitta uses are brutal. Even I cringed at some of the images the story put in my mind. But that right there is the brilliance. I could visualize and sense everything. I felt like I was right there with the characters, experiencing the same astonishing horrors and brutality they were.

The characters are awesome. It's impossible not to love Wulfric, who is the definition of a tragic hero. He's almost too good to be honest, but I adore the guy and loved all the arcs he went through. The second main character, Indra... Talk about a handful. A feisty, strong woman who never needs to be rescued, I thought she was a bit too intense at some points. Though having said that, I loved being witness to her adventures and battles. Both characters were very strong and ideal leads for a horror/fantasy novel.

For me, the highlight was the monsters. Each one was more horrifying than the last and they carried unique weapons or fighting skills. I never knew what to expect from them, and the twist that carried them through the story was really engaging.

I'm itching to give this novel five stars, I really am, but there were a couple things that irked me. First, I found the pacing at the beginning a bit strange. Everything was moving really quickly, and I didn't know why until the end of that part when the twist began.

There were also a couple major events that I predicted early on. The biggest one was pretty obvious, and while it didn't alter my enjoyment of the story in any way, I wasn't exactly stunned when it came to light.

Finally, the villains. The first one was crazy and I wanted to see more of him. The second seemed to come out of nowhere, and until I knew he was the villain, I actually felt sorry for him. He just didn't seem like a good choice for an enemy, and was very anti-climactic.

But as a whole? Abomination rocked my world. Great characters, intense action, terrifying monsters, and incredible suspense. Maybe not recommended for readers who don't like gore, but if you like horror and light fantasy mixed with a little history? This is definitely the book for you.

Amy

It's been a little bit of a chaotic (though productive) week. I've started writing exclusively with Scrivener, and aside from some formatting issues, I really enjoy it. I'm still fiddling with the paperback version of  Midnight Sky, though I hope to have it sorted out by the end of the week or early next week. I really want it in my hands!

Onto the cool stuff. As part of the Damnation's Door release, I did my first ever character interview! It was way more fun than I expected. It was nice to get inside Constance's mind again.

Demons are free. Angels are fallen. Hope is dying...

Constance Ramirez and her adopted sister, Andromeda, have stopped Lucifer’s plan– They have closed the Heaven Gate and kept the demons out. But their choice came with brutal consequences, and now every angel on earth is trapped in their mortal body.

All that remains is closing the Hell Gate and establishing a balance once and for all. That means returning to the city of Constance’s nightmares, which has become a haven for murderers and monsters. But even more dangerous than their hunt is that Andromeda’s powers and instincts are turning darker, and this time Constance doesn’t know how to protect her.

Constance is ready to fight for her life, but her enemies have plans she can’t begin to imagine, and they’re prepared to make her suffer...

Trust is lost and hearts are broken in the epic conclusion in Amy Braun’s Cursed trilogy...

Buy it here:

Amazon Kindle | Paperback | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | Nook | iBookstore |  Goodreads | Smashwords 

***

I really can't wait to start the promos for Midnight Sky. It's going to be a lot of fun setting up all the blog tours, reviews, and giveaways. I had so much fun writing this novel and can't wait to share it. 

There are secrets, there are betrayals, and there are sacrifices… 

The Behemoth has been destroyed, and the bloodthirsty Hellions seem to have left Westraven. But Claire Abernathy’s mind is not at ease. A terrible disease plagues her sister, appearing to have been brought on the Vesper, the leader of the Hellions beyond the tear between worlds– the Breach.

To save Abby and stop the Hellions for good, Claire must find the machine her parents built before the attacks, and fix it before the monsters return. To do so, she needs the help of her crew, and must ignore the secrets and rivalries between her captain and the man she saved.

Because the Hellions are not the only dangers following Claire. Twisted humans and old enemies surface to stop her and destroy all she loves. While she is determined to endure the trials, a single betrayal could shatter the hope of a better world, and force Claire to make a choice that will cost her dearly…

Media Kit

Chapter One

Preorder Links

Kindle | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Smashwords | Goodreads

***

As far as usual writing goes, I'm still searching for time to edit Storm of the Gods so I can send it to my editor. I dread all the work that will go into it, but I look forward to sending out the final product. The Iron Gargoyle is also going great. I'm still toying with ideas and the world and haven't finish some of the details, but I'm learning more about the world the more that I write it. 

That's all I've got to share for now. I admit I'm rushing a little since I want to get writing, but what can I say? It's part of the job! 

Cheers!

Amy

I know I missed this last week, but I was out of town for my best friends birthday party, and when we came back into town, all we wanted to do was see X:Men Apocalypse and go out for drinks. That's my excuse, and I think it's a damn good one! But don't assume I wasn't working. Granted, I got almost no new words in, but I managed to get a lot completed in the last couple weeks:

• Send out Midnight Skymedia kit and pre-order links for promotions
• Format Midnight Skyfor print and ebook (test out Scrivener) (Just need to do the print versions)
• Series outline, and plots for the Iron Gargoyle series (create a map) (First novel is plotted)
• Start writing The Iron Gargoyle, the first Iron Gargoyle novel
• Finish the sequel to Storm of the Gods
• Beta read edits for Storm of the Gods(if they come in)
• Open contests for Damnation's Door(released next week!)

This week, the key word will be editing. The bane of every writer's existence, but if I want people to take me seriously as an author (meaning agents, publishers, reviewers, and readers), I need to work my ass off. So here's what I need to do this week:

• Format Midnight Skyfor print and order author copies
• Plot remaining books for the Iron Gargoyle series (create a map)
• Continue writing The Iron Gargoyle, the first Iron Gargoyle novel
• Beta read edits for Storm of the Gods
• Formal edits and minor tweaking forStorm of the Gods
• Make list of publishers accepting new authors and sending queries for Storm of the Gods
• Look through Scrivener tutorials and begin working from there

Yup. All of this for me. Still, I'm riding high for the release of Damnation's Door, which happened last week and is coming to the end of its two blog tours and release blitzes put together by XPresso Book Tours and En Pointe Author Services, which have contests and promotions open for 24 more hours!

Demons are free. Angels are fallen. Hope is dying...

Constance Ramirez and her adopted sister, Andromeda, have stopped Lucifer’s plan– They have closed the Heaven Gate and kept the demons out. But their choice came with brutal consequences, and now every angel on earth is trapped in their mortal body.

All that remains is closing the Hell Gate and establishing a balance once and for all. That means returning to the city of Constance’s nightmares, which has become a haven for murderers and monsters. But even more dangerous than their hunt is that Andromeda’s powers and instincts are turning darker, and this time Constance doesn’t know how to protect her.

Constance is ready to fight for her life, but her enemies have plans she can’t begin to imagine, and they’re prepared to make her suffer...

Trust is lost and hearts are broken in the epic conclusion in Amy Braun’s Cursed trilogy...

Media Kit

Chapter One

Buy it here:

Amazon Kindle | Paperback | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | Nook | iBookstore |  Goodreads | Smashwords 

Giveaways:

The Bookish Crypt Damnation's Door and Cursed series giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sign Ups:

Book Blitz for Damnation's Door

Release Blitz and Blog Tour for Damnation's Door

With the end of the Cursed series now upon us, all my attention is turning to Dark Sky and the novels and novellas taking up my schedule for the rest of the year, starting with Midnight Sky, the sequel.

There are secrets, there are betrayals, and there are sacrifices… 

The Behemoth has been destroyed, and the bloodthirsty Hellions seem to have left Westraven. But Claire Abernathy’s mind is not at ease. A terrible disease plagues her sister, appearing to have been brought on the Vesper, the leader of the Hellions beyond the tear between worlds– the Breach.

To save Abby and stop the Hellions for good, Claire must find the machine her parents built before the attacks, and fix it before the monsters return. To do so, she needs the help of her crew, and must ignore the secrets and rivalries between her captain and the man she saved.

Because the Hellions are not the only dangers following Claire. Twisted humans and old enemies surface to stop her and destroy all she loves. While she is determined to endure the trials, a single betrayal could shatter the hope of a better world, and force Claire to make a choice that will cost her dearly…

Media Kit

Chapter One

Preorder Links

Kindle | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Smashwords | Goodreads

I cannot get enough of that cover or that artwork. Seriously. I can't keep gushing about it, and for any bloggers/reviewers interested in reviewing the novel, you have your chance here:

Review Opportunity for Crimson Sky and Midnight Sky

Alas, promotion isn't the only thing I'll be working on in the coming weeks. Storm of the Gods has gotten its Beta edits back, and holy smokes, do I have a lot of work to do if I'm going to send it to publishers. I meant, that should be a given, really, but I'd rather it just be accepted and then I don't have to work any more! Why can't anything be easy? Sigh... 

Still, I'm testing out a new editor who is mega-detailed, and I think Storm of the Gods and the Areios Brothers series as a whole will gain a lot from working with her. I've never feared editing, and even if the series isn't accepted for a book deal, I'll be thrilled to publish it myself knowing it will be polished to a pristine finish. 

The Iron Gargoyle is still going strong. I haven't found the time to work on the other plots for the novels, but I'm hoping to do that within the next week or two so I have a better understanding of what I might need to add to the first novel to affect later novels, if that makes sense. That said, I'm loving the way thing are playing out and can't wait to see where it ends!

So, yeah. Every time I think I've caught up on my work, more tumbles down the line. Still, it makes me happy, and the massage I'm getting in a couple hours is destined to do wonders. Worst comes to worst, if my chosen career becomes too much to handle, I have a backup plan...

Hey, all the great authors did it, right? Cheers!

Amy

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors, the weekly blog hop where indie authors get to share 8-10 sentences from their current/upcoming release or work in progress. I'm still posting from my newest release, Damnation's Door, the last book in the Cursed trilogy, which has been going crazy with the blog tours I have set up with the generous help of XPresso Book Tours and En Pointe Author Services. Last week was full of action, so this week I thought I would tone it down a notch and add some romance. In this scene, main character Constance is sulking from the aftermath of her fight and the exasperation it drew from her friends. She expects her lover Warrick to do the same, but...

Instead of berating me, Warrick slipped onto the staircase with me and opened his arms. I stayed in place, but let him curl his arms around my back and pull me against his chest. The moment I felt the warmth of his body and inhaled his musky pine scent, I began to relax. I started to feel safe, comfortable, loved.

In the three weeks we had been together, Warrick had shown me more kindness and compassion than Mateo had done in two years. Clearly my choice in men had improved.

“Don’t do that again,” he whispered into my hair. “You scared the shit out of me.”

Demons are free. Angels are fallen. Hope is dying...

Constance Ramirez and her adopted sister, Andromeda, have stopped Lucifer’s plan– They have closed the Heaven Gate and kept the demons out. But their choice came with brutal consequences, and now every angel on earth is trapped in their mortal body.

All that remains is closing the Hell Gate and establishing a balance once and for all. That means returning to the city of Constance’s nightmares, which has become a haven for murderers and monsters. But even more dangerous than their hunt is that Andromeda’s powers and instincts are turning darker, and this time Constance doesn’t know how to protect her.

Constance is ready to fight for her life, but her enemies have plans she can’t begin to imagine, and they’re prepared to make her suffer...

Trust is lost and hearts are broken in the epic conclusion in Amy Braun’s Cursed trilogy...

Media Kit

Chapter One

Buy it here:

Amazon Kindle | Paperback | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | Nook | iBookstore |  Goodreads | Smashwords 

I'm going to take some time next week to do more promoting for the Cursed trilogy as a whole, but I also need to take some time and prepare my next release, which I know some people are anxious for: Midnight Sky, the second Dark Sky novel coming August 2, 2016. But rejoice! The buy links and a new teaser image are below!

There are secrets, there are betrayals, and there are sacrifices… 

The Behemoth has been destroyed, and the bloodthirsty Hellions seem to have left Westraven. But Claire Abernathy’s mind is not at ease. A terrible disease plagues her sister, appearing to have been brought on the Vesper, the leader of the Hellions beyond the tear between worlds– the Breach.

To save Abby and stop the Hellions for good, Claire must find the machine her parents built before the attacks, and fix it before the monsters return. To do so, she needs the help of her crew, and must ignore the secrets and rivalries between her captain and the man she saved.

Because the Hellions are not the only dangers following Claire. Twisted humans and old enemies surface to stop her and destroy all she loves. While she is determined to endure the trials, a single betrayal could shatter the hope of a better world, and force Claire to make a choice that will cost her dearly…

Media Kit

Chapter One

Buy it here:

Kindle | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | iTunes | Goodreads

And if all that wasn't enough, there are open giveaways and sign ups for both Damnation's Door and Midnight Sky:

The Bookish Crypt Damnation's Door and Cursed series giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sign Ups:

Book Blitz for Damnation's Door

Release Blitz and Blog Tour for Damnation's Door

Review Opportunity for Crimson Sky and Midnight Sky

In writing news... I have a lot going on. The Beta edits for Storm of the Gods are back, and I'm sending them to an editor to look over. I'm eager to get back into those books and tinker around before I take the big leap at the end of the month and send them to publishers. Writing the first draft of The Iron Gargoyle is also going really well. As in "holy crap I love this story and these characters why do I need a Real Job I want to do this all day for forever!" *breathes*

Finally, I'm going to tackle Scrivener for print. I was lucky earlier this week when a guest who frequents my Real Job gave me the best tip I've ever gotten. Long story short: Last week, we talked for easily twenty minutes about our love of books and my writing career and Writers Tears Irish Whiskey. A couple days ago, I saw him again and not only did he give me a file to read on Scrivener and a writing app that will connect to it, he gave me a mini bottle of the very whiskey I wanted to try!  

Has anyone from WeWriWa ever tried this? I'm not much of a whiskey drinker. Gin and tonic is my drink of choice. Speaking of WeWriWa, be sure to check out the other Weekend Writing Warrior websites and leave them some love in the comments. I guarantee you'll find a new genre and author to spark your interest. 

Cheers! For once, I can take that literally!

Amy

I remember the first time I saw A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness. I was in a bookstore and it caught my eye. There seemed to be a lot of hype about it. I read the back matter and it peaked my interest, though I wondered how much hype could have come from such a short book. Now I know. A Monster Calls is one of my most haunting, beautiful stories I've ever read. It had me in tears. I can count on one hand the number of times that's happened, and in the past, it's been when I'm invested in a long running series and I know the characters. Never from a short, standalone novel. But this book had me crying like a baby at the end. I never expected it, and it was glorious. A Monster Calls is one of the best novels I've ever read, and needs to be read by everyone. It's heartbreaking, but it's honest and meaningful and important. This is not a book that should be missed.

The monster showed up after midnight. As they do.

But it isn’t the monster Conor’s been expecting. He’s been expecting the one from his nightmare, the one he’s had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments, the one with the darkness and the wind and the screaming…

This monster is something different, though. Something ancient, something wild. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor.

It wants the truth.

***

This is going to be a fairly short review since the book itself is short, but I'll do what I can. The story follows a young boy named Conor as he copes with his mother's cancer, which is slowly robbing her of life. As the story progresses, he meets a strange monster made of a yew tree who comes to him and strikes a strange bargain with him– Three stories for a single truth. Everything that follows is unexpected, gorgeous, and heartfelt. If the ending doesn't get you choked up or strike you in the feels, you're probably made of stone. 

Conor is a very good character. He's the scared little child we all are when something as large and formidable as death is lurking around the corner. He's the perfect voice for this story, and watching him process everything that's happening is nothing short of a journey.

Make no mistake– this isn't a happy story. This is a grim tale about grief and mourning, and the struggle we all go through when something like this comes knocking on our door. I don't know if I'd read it again soon (my heart needs a break... No pun intended), but I absolutely loved it. The imagery, the emotions, the turmoil, the single, breathtaking climax that's getting me choked up even now as I write this... Worth it. Ness writes masterfully in a way I can only dream to achieve. I cannot speak more highly of this book. Like The Martian, it has earned every ounce of praise coming its way, and I will recommend it to everyone I know. 

That said, let me give you a single piece of advice. When you read this book, do so while you're at home. It's short– I finished it in a couple hours– and before you start, make sure you have a big box of tissue, a warm blanket, and whatever treat you give yourself when you bawl like a baby. Because trust me, you're going to need all three. 

Amy

I'm still reeling from the knowledge that I've officially released a full book series. It's exciting, uplifting, and a little sad. I've been on some great adventures with Constance, Dro, Warrick, Sephiel, and Max, and I'm sad to see them go. Still, I've learned a lot from the experience, and know that I can use the knowledge to improve myself as an author. Besides, there's another story to be told: Midnight Sky, the second Dark Sky novel, had its official cover reveal on Sunday, and I couldn't be happier with the work Deranged Doctor Design put together.

There are secrets, there are betrayals, and there are sacrifices… 

The Behemoth has been destroyed, and the bloodthirsty Hellions seem to have left Westraven. But Claire Abernathy’s mind is not at ease. A terrible disease plagues her sister, appearing to have been brought on the Vesper, the leader of the Hellions beyond the tear between worlds– the Breach.

To save Abby and stop the Hellions for good, Claire must find the machine her parents built before the attacks, and fix it before the monsters return. To do so, she needs the help of her crew, and must ignore the secrets and rivalries between her captain and the man she saved.

Because the Hellions are not the only dangers following Claire. Twisted humans and old enemies surface to stop her and destroy all she loves. While she is determined to endure the trials, a single betrayal could shatter the hope of a better world, and force Claire to make a choice that will cost her dearly…

Preorder Links (More on the way!)

Kindle | Kobo | Smashwords | iTunes | Goodreads

Though I'm still focusing on Damnation's Door and trying new promotion techniques, I have to say that I'm thrilled to have figured out parts of Scrivener with Midnight Sky, which will be my go-to writing tool... once I learn how to use it. I'm very excited about the release and everything that will come with it. In addition to the blog tours for Damnation's Door, I've also got a ton of contests and signups going on:

The Bookish Crypt Damnation's Door and Cursed series giveaway

The time has come! I've been teasing at it for a while, but today is the day I reveal the cover of Midnight Sky, the second novel in the Dark Sky series. Are you ready? I know I am!

10.

9..

8...

7....

6.....

5......

4.......

3........

2.........

1..........

There are secrets, there are betrayals, and there are sacrifices… 

The Behemoth has been destroyed, and the bloodthirsty Hellions seem to have left Westraven. But Claire Abernathy’s mind is not at ease. A terrible disease plagues her sister, appearing to have been brought on the Vesper, the leader of the Hellions beyond the tear between worlds– the Breach.

To save Abby and stop the Hellions for good, Claire must find the machine her parents built before the attacks, and fix it before the monsters return. To do so, she needs the help of her crew, and must ignore the secrets and rivalries between her captain and the man she saved.

Because the Hellions are not the only dangers following Claire. Twisted humans and old enemies surface to stop her and destroy all she loves. While she is determined to endure the trials, a single betrayal could shatter the hope of a better world, and force Claire to make a choice that will cost her dearly…

Preorder Links (More on the way!)

Kindle | Kobo | Smashwords | Goodreads

I'm not kidding when I say the cover Deranged Doctor Design put together couldn't be more perfect. The colours are what I'd hoped for, the key is perfect, and the metal background is identical to how I picture it. Why is the background so important, you ask? Well, you'll just have to preorder the book and find out!

I wish I were a little more prepared with the media kits and chapter sample, but Real Life and new tactics have made it difficult to keep pace with all I want to do. Rest assured though, I will have more links and an updated Dark Sky page by the end of this week. In a few hours I'm going on a delayed long weekend vacation, but I would love to hear feedback on the cover! Major, massive thank you's to all the blogs that took part and to Janet of En Pointe Author Services for helping set it up. 

Cheers!

Amy

It's been a busy week! I'm posting early because I'm preparing for a long weekend vacation with my friends, a cover reveal in a couple hours (and likely live, depending on where you are in the world!), formatting, completing a first draft of a novel, and planning another series. I'm going a little out of my mind with all I need to do. But, first things first– Weekend Writing Warriors! My 8-10 sentence snippet for this weekly blog hop continues a little while after last week's cliffhanger post, since so many people asked for it to continue. So in this snippet from Damnation's Door, releasing on Tuesday (woo hoo!), main character Constance Ramirez gets into trouble, and has to fight her way out of it...

Admittedly, I didn’t think this whole plan through. Seeing the man who murdered my mentor, kidnapped my sister, tortured and tried to kill me sparked my already short temper. So it wasn’t long before they got their shots in.

The man on my left jabbed his fist into my ribs. I winced, giving the man on the right the chance to loop his arm around my throat. I was pinned to his back, my neck straining painfully as he wrenched it up. I used one hand to claw at the meaty arm on my throat, leaving my front completely exposed to the second man. He grinned, thinking he was going to get some revenge on me for the sake of his employers.

Stupid bastard forgot I was still armed.

Demons are free. Angels are fallen. Hope is dying...

Constance Ramirez and her adopted sister, Andromeda, have stopped Lucifer’s plan– They have closed the Heaven Gate and kept the demons out. But their choice came with brutal consequences, and now every angel on earth is trapped in their mortal body.

All that remains is closing the Hell Gate and establishing a balance once and for all. That means returning to the city of Constance’s nightmares, which has become a haven for murderers and monsters. But even more dangerous than their hunt is that Andromeda’s powers and instincts are turning darker, and this time Constance doesn’t know how to protect her.

Constance is ready to fight for her life, but her enemies have plans she can’t begin to imagine, and they’re prepared to make her suffer...

Trust is lost and hearts are broken in the epic conclusion in Amy Braun’s Cursed trilogy...

Media Kit

Chapter One

Pre-order it here:

Amazon Kindle | Paperback | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | Nook | iBookstore |  Goodreads | Smashwords |

There've been some great reviews of the final Cursed novel lately, including one from WeWriWa's very own Christina Ochs, who just released her own brand new novel that you all need to buy! Seriously, get it, it's freaking amazing! In addition to reviews, One Book Two currently has a giveaway for the whole Cursed series! You can find out more details here, and there's still a ton of signups that all book bloggers are welcome to:

Sign Ups:

Book Blitz for Damnation's Door
Release Blitz and Blog Tour for Damation's Door

Cover Reveal for Midnight Sky

Review Opportunity for Crimson Sky and Midnight Sky

Now, in writing news. While Midnight Sky, the second Dark Sky novel is just about to have its glorious cover revealed to the world, I'm still working on the final formatting for both the printed and ebooks. I'm still working on figuring out Scrivener (the compile feature is what I want to use most right now, hence why I can't get it to format without doing weird things), but I'm hoping to have it sorted out by next week so I can send out all the details for reviewers and bloggers and begin its promotion. 

I'm crushingly close to finishing the second Areios Brothers novel (only half a chapter!), and wanted to get it done today, but I don't know that I'll have time or wakefulness on my side. *cries* That said, I'm taking my laptop with me to my friends cabin (and before you protest about what a horrible friend I am, all six of them plan to play a round or two of Magic The Gathering, a game I know about as much of as I do astrophysics), so I'll get a little more work in during that time. 

Once that's over, it's on to plotting and working on The Iron Gargoyle. I'm expecting a little more edits to return my way and will focus on Damnation's Door and Midnight Sky more than anything (seriously, thank God for blog tour companies and ebook promotion services– I think I would actually have to quit my Real Job if I had to do literally all of this by myself), but I'm going to need something to write when I have a moment or two to spare. 

So yes, that's the big news! Check back in a couple hours for the official cover reveal of Midnight Sky, and be sure to leave some love for the other Weekend Writing Warriors! I'll be posting again on Thursday, so until then, cheers! 
Amy