Let's show Australia some love!

I sent this information out in my Newsletter, but for those of you who haven't seen it, my publisher, The Wild Rose Press, and several editors and authors have produced three volumes of short stories to raise money to help those affected by the terrible wildfires in Australia.

As of this moment, in the state of New South Wales alone, there are 60 separate bushfires burning, of which 20 are out of control. The weather forecast over the next few days is soul destroying as it's expected to be in the low 40's C - about 105 in F with strong winds. In some rural areas, those who have not left their homes have been told it is now too dangerous to move - there is no way out. They must stay and defend their houses.

This is a quote from Rhonda Penders, joint owner of the Wild Rose Press. (slightly amended with updated information.)

"Authors have always been known to help one another but when our own Australian author, Stephen King, asked his fellow authors what could be done to possibly help his beloved Australia during the horrendous wildfires, The Wild Rose Press authors stepped up in a big way.
 
The result of that initial conversation, less than a month ago, is a 3 Volume Anthology.  Over 40 authors donated a short story.  The Wild Rose Press’ editors, artists and production staff donated their time and talents to edit these stories and compile them into an anthology._
 
Volumes 1and 2 have  just released and are available to purchase on our website in print form. Volume 3 will be available shortly.
 
https://www.thewildrosepress.com/product-category/writers-shop-cat/special-release-paperbacks

The ebooks- and volume 1 and 2 print (vol 3 to follow shortly) can be found on Amazon as well as any other distributor where you purchase ebooks. They're available now for pre-order and will be released on 14th February.
 
https://www.amazon.com/Australia-Burns-Show-Some-Love-ebook/dp/B0848W2HQT
 
All proceeds from these 3 anthologies will go to help support the recovery of Australia.  We asked Stephen to decide where the profits would go to do the best work and after much research he continued to come back to The Red Cross.  We can identify where we want the donation to go and we will have it go directly to the efforts of The Red Cross in helping with the recovery effort in Australia."

My contribution is in volume 1, and is an historical western - a departure from my usual SF/Fantasy genre.

I hope you will be able to purchase at least one of these volumes to help with the aid efforts for our friends in Australia. There is a large variety of wonderful stories, something for everyone. Thank you.


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Today is the Release Date for Spooktacular Anthology

Falling in love can be terrifying.
Eight tales of spooky romance brought to you just in time for Halloween.

• Where Angels Tread by Christy Thomas
• Do You Believe in Ghosts by Anne Higa
• Bewitching Gypsy by Linda Carroll-Bradd
• If This Be Madness by Echo Shea
• Encantado by Havva Murat
• Garden of Souls by Michelle Ziegler
• Spooky Hollow Café by Lisa A. Adams
• Ghost of a Chance by Lily Carlyle

Spooktacular Seductions
A Halloween Anthology
Romance
By Various Authors
Release Date: October 31, 2014

Where Angels Tread by Christy Thomas

Blurb: Loralei takes extreme measures to prove her cheating husband has forsaken their bows by seeking confirmation from a fortune-teller. The truth revealed is that she’s been unfaithful in a six hundred year old spiritual marriage.

Samael, the Angel of Death must assist a young girl’s soul in ascending to heaven. An unexpected encounter with his estranged wife distracts him and the precious soul is lost.

Working together to save the endangered soul, they find the price to reach her is higher than they both anticipate.

Do You Believe in Ghosts by Anne Higa

Blurb: Jeff Austin-LeGrange has been fleeing from the remnants of his dark and haunted childhood his entire life. The past always catches up to us, and his is no exception.

Alice Hopkins, Jeff's high school sweetheart, has tried to forget him and tried to move on. You never forget your first love.

When Jeff's mother dies and Alice's father falls ill, the two are forced to confront their mutual history and their deepest desires. One thing is sure: neither of their lives will ever be the same again. Perhaps, the past can be overcome. Perhaps, it is not too late to believe in miracles. Perhaps, more than one couple will be reunited this Fall.

Who can say? With a little magic, anything is possible.

Bewitching Gypsy by Linda Carroll-Bradd

Blurb: Fiona Mikolas is an outcast, branded by her fiery red hair and a purple birth mark—both signs of the devil. Two years earlier, she survived an influenza outbreak that claimed her peddler husband, Gregos, and her baby son, Tito. Now she lives a solitary life, traveling a circuit of southern states in America and selling healing potions. Until the night of All Hallow’s Eve, when her lonely life is changed by the arrival of two strangers in her camp.

Beaten and robbed, rancher Hagan Fletcher stumbles toward the light of a campfire in south Texas, intent on finding a way to retrieve his stolen stallion. When he awakens, he’s forgotten his name and how he came to be in the company of an exotic beauty. Fiona’s ways are a mystery but when her quick-thinking saves his life again, he looks deeper beneath the surface to who she really is.

If This Be Madness by Echo Shea

Blurb: Don’t let me go…

Those are words that break her. When the person you love most is gone, how do you let go?

And, more importantly, who will you be once you do?

Encantado by Havva Murat

Blurb: Spending Friday night in an abandoned amusement park sounded like an awesome idea to motherless, teenage track star, Remy Bordeaux—empty rides with no queues, and time alone with his best friend’s alluring sister, Rafaela, was sure to make for a memorable night.

But Friday night at Six Flags became memorable for all the wrong reasons when the park turned out to not be so abandoned after all. Rafaela goes missing after getting cozy with Remy, and everyone thinks that Remy is responsible, even his best friend.

It will take another trespassing trip to Six Flags for the truth of Rafaela’s disappearance to be revealed and for the riddle of Remy’s birth to be unraveled.

Garden of Souls by Michelle Ziegler
Blurb: Something, or someone, pulled Miranda to purchase the old carriage house. It was a great deal, most likely because of the cemetery or the unexpected resident, Thomas. The ghost she finds within the sanctuary of her new home should have scared her. Instead she finds herself falling in love with him.

Now, a few days from Halloween, Thomas continues to push her to live her life. He wants one night though; the one night of magic for the dead. Torn by her love for Thomas and her need for reality and human contact, Miranda takes a chance with Sean. Someone who’s alive. The guilt is eating away at her. Sean’s nice and he hasn’t run off yet, pushed away by her craziness. Miranda knows she can’t split herself.

Choosing her heart’s desire doesn’t seem possible, but living and loving another seems like a life riddled with pain.

Spooky Hollow Café by Lisa A. Adams

Blurb: Aggie Pierce owns a quaint little spot, the Spooky Hollow Cafe'. Tourist come from all over the nation to her confections diner for the entertainment. Real live interacting ghosts make appearances once a day, you just don't know when.

But, when a ghost's crush becomes an obsession, just how far will a hero have to go to save Aggie's life?

Ghost of a Chance by Lily Carlyle

Blurb: After years of having her college boyfriend Sean as an ex with benefits, Julie believes he is finally, irrevocably out of her life. Forever. And it breaks her heart.

Until one night he shows up at the neighborhood hangout—with a mysterious job, luxurious car, and fabulous digs. Not to mention a new determination to woo Julie.

Even as her mind says no, her heart—and other parts of her body—is saying yes, yes, yes!