Official Upcoming Release Schedule!

Due to changes in how my publisher assigns dates, I won't have release dates until I finish the book. I'm currently working on:

Taking the Realm which is book 3 of Sha and Connor's trilogy (previously titled Shaking the Balance)

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Kissing the Devil by Shannon Eckrich

New Release: Kissing the Devil by Shannon Eckrich


There are three rules in the small town of Leeds Point, New Jersey:
Never stay out after dark.
Never go into the Pineys.
And, more than anything, never speak of the Jersey Devil.


Serenity Cantwell knows all too well the Jersey devil exists. The recurring nightmares of his glowing green eyes make their way into her dreams, causing her to relive her encounter with the beast every single night. But as people she knows start to disappear, and end up dead, in the middle of the Pine Barrens, she pushes away her fear of the forest in search of answers.
What she finds will change her life forever. Secrets will be revealed, a curse will be set in motion, and friendships will be tested. But most of all, love could prove to be deadly.


Author Bio:
Shannon Eckrich is a YA paranormal author with Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing. Her novel, Haunting Lia became an Amazon International Bestseller shortly after its release in October 2013. The first installment of her Elemental Short Series, Goddess of Fire: Burn, quickly followed suite when it was released in June 2014.


Check out these other books by Author Shannon Eckrich:
Goddess of Fire: Burn: http://smarturl.it/goddessoffireburn
Goddess of Fire: Smolder: http://smarturl.it/goddessoffiresmolder
Goddess of Fire: Ignite: http://smarturl.it/goddessoffireignite
Goddess of Fire: Inferno: http://smarturl.it/goddessoffireinferno
Goddess of Fire: Fire and Ice: http://smarturl.it/goddessoffirefireice



Friday, December 19, 2014

Rules for Riders Spotlight



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After a near fatal riding accident, Bebe Barkley is banned from riding and sent off to boarding school. There, she meets her roommate and fellow equestrian rider, Finn Foxley. The girls devise a scheme to get themselves kicked out of boarding school in order to return to the world that they love. Once back on the circuit, former friends become deadly rivals. 

Bebe's handsome trainer, Billy O'Reilly, gives her seven rules to follow in order to successfully compete. Through a series of tragic events, both girls are forced to abandon their dreams of Olympic gold. Bebe ventures down a dark road of self-destruction as she breaks every rule Billy taught her, only to be forced to relearn them in order to reclaim her life. Rules for Riders is a tale of lost dreams and the struggle to create new ones.





KING
CHAPTER 1


I can still remember the first time I saw him...


He’s seventeen hands high, a dark bay, almost black, a white star on his forehead, and four white socks on his hind legs. I’m fifteen years old when I spy King bucking and rearing and giving the grooms a terrible time. I think he’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.


I point straight at him, “I want that horse.”


My father (otherwise known as the Colonel) rolls his eyes. “No, he’s wild. You just want him because he’s difficult like you.”


We’re at our neighbors, the O’Rileys, on a crisp Sunday morning. Jim O’Riley owns Starlight stables and is one of the best horse trainers in Connecticut. Jim winks at me. “For God’s sake, Colonel, everyone knows you made a ton of money in the stock market. Let her have the damn horse.”


“I said no,” shrieks the Colonel, remaining unconvinced. “Besides, who’ll train her?”


“I will,” Billy O’Riley, Jim’s oldest son, steps forward. His clear green eyes stare straight at King. “He’s a warm blood, sir, from Holland. We just bought him.”


The Colonel growls at Billy. “Listen son, I don’t care if he’s from friggin’ Japan! For God’s sake you’re only a couple of years older than my daughter.”


We all stand there watching, while his face turns bright red with rage. There’s no way in hell he's going to let me have this horse now. That would be too perfect. Instead, he shocks the pants off of me!


“Fine, but if you break your neck, don’t blame me.”


First thing the next morning I race over to the O’Rileys. By the time I reach the stables, I’m out of breath. Billy’s busy brushing down his horse, Stargazer. I walk over to King and stroke his mane. Then I pull a sugar cube out of my pocket. “Hey, boy.”


Billy looks up. “That’s funny, he doesn’t usually take to people so quickly. So let me guess, you want to take a ride?”


God, I’ve been riding since I was six! Okay, I admit it— Billy’s a hottie. I’ve had a crush on him forever. But it makes me crazy the way he still treats me like a little kid. He leans closer and places his hands firmly on his hips.


“Bebe, if I’m going to train you, there are rules for riders. The first one’s commitment. Without it, none of the other rules exist. If I agree to train you, you’ve got to give me 100 percent.”


I stare right back at him, giving him my best killer smile. “I’m all yours!”


For the next few weeks, he insists I do nothing but flat work. He hardly lets me ride across the yard without making sure I am doing it properly. Unlike the Colonel, Billy brings out the best in me and plays down the worst. Whatever I lack, he teaches me with infinite slowness; guiding King and I so we both gain confidence.


“That’s right. Keep your back straight, hold your head up, shoulders back.”


I learn from Billy that difficult horses become easy once you know how to handle them. With Billy’s training, I’m right on course. The Colonel’s threats don’t scare me. Instead, they fuel me, making me even more determined to succeed.


A few days later, I get to the stables early for some quiet time with King. Billy sneaks up behind me. I can feel his breath against my neck.


When I turn around, he has an amused look on his face. “So, do you finally want to take a ride? Isn’t that what you’ve been dying to do—jump every fence this side of Connecticut?”


I have this wild urge to hug him. Instead, I saddle up King. “C’mon, boy.”


King and I take off.


“Tell me what you’ve learned when you get back!” Billy shouts.







About the Author:


Natalie Scott grew up in Melbourne, often referred as the cultural capital of Australia because of its great restaurants, trendy cafes and great shopping! Natalie developed a love of books when her fourth grade teacher read the book Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S Lewis.


Displaying NATALIE SCOTT HEADSHOT 1.jpgIn high school Natalie devoured the classics, her favorite being Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger. At University she studied English Literature and Communications, though she will openly admit to spending a lot of time at the college pub where she liked to make up outrageous stories before traveling extensively through Europe and the United States.


Throughout her travels, she fell in love with sunny California where she attended classes at UCLA Writer’s Program. Natalie also attended numerous writers’ conferences including Santa Barbara, San Diego State and Grubstreet. She was the recipient of the Outstanding Fiction award given at the Southern California Writers Conference. In her spare time, Scott worked as a spokes model for companies including the AMC Network,, We Entertainment, Hasbro, Adobe and Sony.


The Aussie gal is a foodie who loves Vegemite and currently resides in Scottsdale, Arizona where she enjoys sharing her passion for food, enjoys exploring new restaurants, happy hour, traveling, and a passion for books and fashion.


Natalie Scott’s debut novel Rules for Riders was published in August 2014.


Connect with Natalie on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.


To learn more, go to http://www.nataliescott.com/




Sunday, December 14, 2014

Resolutions



As we get closer to the end of the year, I started naturally thinking of the New Year's Resolutions.


Let's face it, most people who make them don't actually keep them. Every year you make a resolution, you may try to keep it (or you may have forgotten it in a drunken haze), but after a few weeks you move on. Gyms make me laugh so hard at the beginning of the year because they are PACKED with hopefuls. Take a look around March? It's back to only the die hards.


Anyway, since my release day was an epic one (12/13/14 for you Americans), I'm going to make my resolution now. Consecutive days won't happen again for a long time and I'm a little OCD so I've decided it's fitting.


Starting new things TERRIFIES me. It doesn't matter if it's writing a new book, a new coding project, a new pretty, whatever. I can't explain the overwhelming anxiety that hits me and makes me run. So here's my resolution: When I'm terrified to start something new, I'm going to force myself to push through it. Even if I literally write gibberish, if I want to start a book, I'm going to start it.


It's a small thing, but it's not going to be easy. The way I figure it though, I've already come much farther than I ever thought I would. I wake up in the morning able to just role out of pain without feeling like I'm 80. I don't have to spend an hour working my hands until I can comfortably move them enough to really get down to business. I'm no longer in constant pain and afraid nobody will believe me.


I'm no longer trapped by my body and the ravages of my anxieties. I still have them, don't get me wrong. I do ache still, especially at night when it's getting time to take my Celebrex. I still get scared in groups of people, but I'm pushing past it instead of cowering.


So there you go. My resolution is a simple yet difficult one: Start something WHEN I want to. Don't make excuses, don't say I can do it tomorrow, don't let fear hold this one last major part of me.


You've heard mine, what's going to be your resolution?

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Song of the Abyss ~ Cover Reveal!!



Coming Dec13th from Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly...

Song of the Abyss


Her wedding day should have been a joyous occasion for the selkie Princess Nerissa. Instead, it was a nightmare. When the man who'd pledged to honor and love her attempts to murder the Princess, she flees for her life. Although she escapes, she finds herself trapped between skins, neither human nor seal. Consumed by hatred she waits, taking refuge in the sea and compelling men to come to her as she searches for revenge.

But will her thirst for vengeance cost her a chance at true love?
*** Previously publised in the Once Upon A Twisted Time anthology, this is NOT your average fairy tale. Newly revised with added content, don't miss the twisted take on a classic fairy tale! ***