Silver Dagger Tours + Giveaway + Guest Post:: Holiday Hijinks

Holiday Hijinks
Halliday Theater #1
by Katherine Moore
Genre: Cozy Holiday Romance






It’s Christmas, and this year Emily Halliday is trying something new at the struggling revival movie theater she runs for her great-grandmother. After all, how many times can you show It’s a Wonderful Life?

Emily was hoping to make a little profit on “Holiday Hijinks,” her “counter-programming Christmas” event. What she never expected—plot twist—is that an unexpected guest will turn her own life into a romantic comedy.

Holiday Hijinks is the first in a new series of cozy romances set in the small Pacific Northwest town of Silver Birch, Washington. A short read (15K) for a busy time, Holiday Hijinks introduces a whole new cast of characters while bringing back “cameos” from the “Meredith Manor Hotel” books, which are also set in Silver Birch.

If you love movies and food and romance as cozy as flannel jammies, Holiday Hijinks is the Christmas read for you.

**Only .99 cents!!**

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The Five Books Not to Buy for Christmas

One of the main characters in Holiday Hijinks is Delia, owner of Silver Birch Books, a used bookstore located next to the Halliday Theater. When shoppers come into the store looking for books to stuff into stockings at Christmas, these are the books she steers them away from and why:

The Littlest Angel by Charles Tazewell

For some reason, Grandmothers always want to buy this one. The “Angel” in the title fools them. Originally written in the 30s as a radio script, Tazewell’s book was first published in 1946. It became an instant inspirational classic and remains in print more than seventy years later. But the book is about a dead kid trying to deal with being an angel. A dead kid.

Marley & Me by John Grogan

Most editions of this book feature a photograph of an adorable yellow lab puppy. (And let’s face it, few dogs are as adorable as yellow labs.) The reader will fall in love with the mischievous animal and then he dies. Marley dies!!!  You might as well buy a copy of Old Yeller or Where the Red Fern Grows.

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

So you want to find something for your niece who’s begun publishing poetry in obscure literary journals and you want to show your support. (Because most people are telling her she might as well quit school, take any job she can find, and write her poetry without four years of student debt hanging over her head.) This is not the inspirational read she needs.

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

Shel Silverstein was a cartoonist and song writer and story teller whose children’s books were always packaged as if he was the poor man’s Dr. Seuss. This story about a tree who loves a little kid so much it gives everything it has is meant as a sweet tale of love and devotion but the little kid is a selfish brat who never thinks of returning the affection. It’s kind of depressing.

I’ll Always Love You by Hans Wilhelm

This book should be subtitled: Don’t be fooled by the cover, this is a sad story about a kid who loves his dog and the dog dies. The end. It’s like a warm-up for reading Marley & Me.  If you’re going to write a book about a dying dog, you should at least give it a title like Cynthia Rylant’s Dog Heaven so you know what you’re getting into.

Delia’s #1 Pick for the Season

If you want a short book that will give you all the Christmas warmth and holiday spirit you can handle, the book to buy is: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson. It’s packaged as a kids’ book but adults will appreciate the humor and the hijinks too, as well as the underlying message of inclusion and tolerance.

Born in Washington, D.C., Katherine Moore now lives in a small Pacific Northwest town very much like Silver Birch. She has worked as a food writer, a caterer, and a movie extra as well as a freelance lifestyle reporter and staff writer for magazines in Honolulu, Los Angeles, and Richmond, Virginia.
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Silver Dagger Tours + Giveaway + Guest Post:: Fountain Dead

Fountain Dead

by Theresa Braun

Genre: YA Horror



Mark is uprooted from his home and high school in the Twin Cities and forced to move with his family into a Victorian in Nowhere-ville. Busy with the relocation and fitting in, Mark’s parents don’t see what’s unfolding around them—the way rooms and left behind objects seem alive with a haunted past.

Of course, Mark keeps his ghostly encounters to himself, all the while sinking deeper into the house's dark, alluring, and ultimately terrifying history. As romantic entanglements intensify, the paranormal activity escalates. Past and present come together. Everything is connected—from the bricks in the walls to the hearts beating in their chests, all the secrets of Fountain Dead are finally unearthed.

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Why write a teenage protagonist?

Looking back at myself as a teenager, I realize what a confusing and crazy experience it was. Not that being an adult feels easy whatsoever. I often tell my high school students that grownups don’t grow up all that much, really. We are all kind of big kids. The difference is that most of us have a car payment and a mortgage, and some of us have kids of our own. (Or, pets). Going back to teens, I feel that it’s such a significant time. You’re finding yourself and figuring out what you think of the world, striving to somehow get there on your own terms, despite the fact that you have parents and other adults telling you what to do.

Throw in some ghosts into the mix, and that creates the ultimate recipe for teenage overload. Let’s not forget about the raging hormones. In Fountain Dead, Mark lives in the 1980s with a conservative mother and a super chill father. His sister is kind of like him, willing to rebel against social constraints put upon them by their parents. I wanted to tackle some modern issues, but still set the story in a time that seemed so iconoclastic and repressed all at the same time. We had gender fluid celebrities and musicians, but a culture not ready to fully embrace them. We had people like Madonna who were willing to shock the world with suggesting a sexual revolution, but people were terrified of the AIDS virus.

So I got to thinking, what if my protagonist was coming to terms with his own sexuality? And, what if he was bi-sexual, which made for a more confusing scenario. How does one define sexual orientation in a society that still pushed everyone to be straight? Furthermore, what if a ghost helped this protagonist get clarity? Very off-putting indeed.

Another issue that I spend a lot of time thinking about is social justice. Here we are thirty years later and we haven’t achieved equality in terms of religion, gender, or race. Those things haven’t gone away and need our discussion. Sure, gender comes up in the novel, in addition to sexuality. However, the characters also face racial issues. Since Minnesota has a rich Native American history, I wanted to incorporate that into the story. Whenever we marginalize one group, it definitely affects society as a whole. I hope Fountain Dead helps foster a discussion about that—while at the same time entertaining readers.

Theresa Braun was born in St. Paul, Minnesota and has carried some of that hardiness with her to South Florida where she currently resides. An English teacher and adjunct college professor for over thirteen years, she continues to share her enthusiasm for literary arts with her students. She earned a Masters in English literature with a thesis on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. In her spare time, she enjoys delving into her own creative writing, painting, photography and even ghost hunting. Spending time with her family and traveling as often possible are two of her passions. In fact, her world meanderings are often backdrops for her work. Striving to make the world a better place is something dear to her heart.

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Silver Dagger Tours + Giveaway + Guest Post::Rite to Reign

Rite to Reign

Boxed Set

Genre: YA Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance




Something wicked this way comes...

Willful witches, supernatural sorcerers, cruel queens, and powerful priestesses fall out of favor and rise to rule in this highly sought-after collection of spellbinding stories!

More than 20 award-winning and bestselling authors have come together to curate this bewitching boxed set collection of the best PARANORMAL ROMANCE and URBAN FANTASY books in the genre, each brimming with stories of royal magic.

Journey through worlds of danger and mayhem, where witches and warlocks battle for influence and wizards fight for unrestricted power.

But reader beware: the highly addictive stores in RITE TO REIGN will put you under their spell. One click to secure your limited edition copy today!


Featuring Stories from :
USA Today bestselling author Heather Marie Adkins
Teresa Roman
JJ King writing with Candace Osmond
USA Today bestselling author SJ Davis writing with P. Mattern
Scott Hungerford
USA Today bestselling author Shawna Romkey
USA Today bestselling author Ash Krafton
USA Today bestselling author Christine Ashworth
Anna Santos
Melissa Winters
Colleen S. Myers
Andie M. Long
Alex H. Singh
Sabrina Ramoth
L.C. Ireland
Louisa Bacio
Grace White
Helen Scott
Carma Haley Shoemaker
Kyndra Hatch
Mirren Hogen & Stephanie Barr
E.B. Black
Ella Middaugh
Kat Parrish
Tanya Dawson

**Only .99 cents!!**

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What inspired you to write this book?

Well, I’m co-writing it with JJ King, a first-time adventure for both of us. The co-writing process was intimidating at first but has proven to be so rewarding and really fun. We knew the theme (witches) and started to brainstorm. We wanted to do something we were both good at. JJ writes mostly wolf shifter stuff, but is a mythology genius. I love anything witchy (hence my Wayward Witches series) and just finished a really successful Time Travel Fantasy series (Dark Tides). So, combining everything, we cam up with a Time Travel Paranormal Romance about a Celtic witch princess who is thrown to the future and gets mixed up with modern day gypsies referred to as Travellers.

What can we expect from you in the future?

After this amazing box set is done in December, I’ve got the Special Edition release of my very first series coming out in 2019. It’s called The Iron World Series and centers around the ancient politic of Faerie and an epic romance. I’m pretty stoked about it because my designer is illustrating custom maps of the world, characters cards, etc. and brand-new covers. After that, I’ve got another Time Travel Fantasy Romance series coming out called Kingdom of Sand & Stars. It follows the tale of a young archeologist and how she accidently travels back to ancient Egypt, only it’s not the Egypt we learned about in school. Dun dun dun.

Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in Reigning Magicks?

Sure! Powerful and head-strong, Celtic Princess Ashlynn Kavanaugh only wants to rule her people without having to marry the Scottish sorcerer Bricagos. In an attempt to escape her fate, she performs an ancient spell, but it goes awry, and she’s sent to the future where she meets a handsome Gypsy prince and powerful witch, Cian Boswells. Cian lives a mirrored life to Ashlynn; forced to marry the daughter of a rival clan just to instil peace. His life was laid out in front of him until Ashlynn falls in his lap.

How did you come up with the title of your first novel?

My very first novel? It’s called Iron & Wine and is a Paranormal Fantasy Romance about fairies, vampires, and werewolves with a human girl right in the center of it all. The title represents the two worlds; human and Faerie. A world of iron versus a world of magic and nature.

Who designed your book covers?

The amazing Corey over at Majeau Designs. You can find his stuff at www.facebook.com/majeaudesigns

If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the lead?

Which book? Dark Tides, the leads would be Emmy Rossum and Charlie Hunnam. In Reigning Magicks it would be Rose Leslie and Taylor Kitsch.

Stuff about Writing/ Reading:
What are your top 10 favorite books/authors?

Gillian Flynn, Neil Gaimen, Janice Godin, Ruth Ware, Cassandra Clare, Melissa Marr, Holly Black, Tanith Frost, Sylvia Day, Anne Rice.

What book do you think everyone should read?

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn or Stardust by Neil Gaimen.

How long have you been writing?

Professionally, about 8 years.

Do you read yourself and if so what is your favorite genre?

My three fav, go-to genres are Thriller, Paranormal Romance, and Urban Fantasy.

Do you prefer to write in silence or with noise? Why?

I prefer silence for the obvious reasons but, with two small kids at home, I’ve trained myself to work in just about any noise condition.

Do you write one book at a time or do you have several going at a time?

I usually have multiple projects going at any given time. For example, I was co-writing Reigning Magicks, but while I waited for JJ King to write her next chapter, I would work on my solo title. And when I needed a change of pace I would pick away at some of my 2019 releases.

Pen or type writer or computer?

Pen for initial plotting which is basically just me jotting down and random idea that comes to mind. Then, when I feel like I have a solid idea, I sit down at my laptop and put the pieces together in one, cohesive plot outline.

What made you want to become an author and do you feel it was the right decision?

When I finished high school and all my friends were heading off to college to become engineers and mechanics and accountants, I asked myself what I wanted most. Writing was the only thing that came to mind but back then, that wasn’t really a viable career option. I was accepted to three schools for Creative Writing, but chickened out in the end and went to university for Interior Design instead. I don’t regret that choice, I was very successful and even happy with that career. But with the rise of indie publishing, I made the leap and followed my dreams.

A day in the life of the author?

It’s not as glamourous as everyone thinks haha I wake up with my kids, get them off to school, then plunker down with coffee, snacks, and my laptop. Music blasting in the background. My husband works from home as a Graphic Designer, so that’s always fun to have a co-worker I actually like.

Advice they would give new authors?

Read to recharge your creative batteries. Never compare yourself to another author. Write what you would want to read. That passion will bleed through into your writing.

Describe your writing style.

Deep plotter. Speed writer. I enjoy writing scenes laced with dread and despair the most. I don’t know why. I’m just good at writing pain, I guess LOL

What makes a good story?

A book that doesn’t just TELL me the words, but makes me FEEL them, too.

What is your writing Kryptonite?

Quirky secondary characters. I tend to fall in love with them more than anything.

Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?

I think there’s always a way to do both. You can give ten authors the same writing prompt and you’ll get ten different stories. All original but with a trend or theme that readers want.

How long on average does it take you to write a book?

Depends on how much I have happening in my schedule. But I can easily write a novel in a month.

Do you believe in writer’s block?

I do, and I don’t. I mean, it’s like riding a bike. We don’t forget how to do it, the ability isn’t suddenly gone. But sometimes our lives fill up with so many distractions, it’s hard to sit down and focus. For me, the cure for writer’s block is a change of scenery, reading a good book, and skipping ahead to write a scene I’ve been looking forward to.

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Silver Dagger Tours + Guest Post+ Giveaway: Sidney Rinn Series

The Seer
Sidney Rinn Series Book 1
by Charlie Daye
Genre: Paranormal Romance

My name is Sidney Rinn. Growing up in an orphanage without parents and not knowing where you come from is hard, especially when you have a gift like mine. I’m a seer. I can see the past in any location I enter. Sometimes I see ghosts but mostly what I see is an instant replay of whatever event played out there. If it was important or traumatic to the person at the time then it’s important to me, otherwise I wouldn’t see it.

No, I’m not psychic nor do I claim to be. I’m just your average girl with an above average talent. Unfortunately, that talent had me seeing a murder I was never meant to see, which in turn, led me two of the sexiest men on the planet – Det. Denton Archer and PI Mitchell Caldwell. When Denton asked for my help on the case, I jumped in with both feet not realizing that that decision would change everything. 

Now, I’m in love with both men and the killer is after me. Can my life get anymore complicated?

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Stripped
Sidney Rinn Series Book 2




The case of a lifetime has landed on Mitch's desk and yours truly is the only woman in the world that can solve it!

One of the girls from Para University has gone missing. Her last known whereabouts is a strip club called Tailpipes, owned by the notorious Hellhounds motorcycle gang. My mission... infiltrate the club, become an insider and find out what happened to her.

Easy peasy! Or so I thought. Getting into the club was easy. Getting out alive is the hard part.

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1.What are your top 10 favorite books/authors?

Oh... Not sure that I have ten favorite authors but I do love me some Dean Koontz, Lara Adrian, Simon Green, Lisa Jackson and Heather Graham just to name a few.

2.What book do you think everyone should read?

MINE!!! LOL!! Ok, ok... Umm... Intensity by Dean Koontz.

3. How long have you been writing?

Eight Years

4. Do you read yourself and if so what is your favorite genre?

I am huge fan of fiction but I don't really limit myself to any particular sub-genre.

5. Do you write one book at a time or do you have several going at a time?

Several... I'm currently working on three at the moment.

6. Describe your writing style.

My books are character driven. They tell the story, I just write it down.

7. What are you currently reading?

Ghost of A Dream by Simon R Green.

Charlie Daye began writing at the tender age of thirteen. With an obsession for romance, happy endings and the supernatural she delves into your greatest fantasies and worst nightmares. She will have you laughing, crying, falling in love and getting angry. She will always give you a HEA but getting there is the journey worth taking.

Charlie Daye was born in Lynwood, California. Her greatest passions are music and writing. Her first short story was written at the age of thirteen. At the time her entire class was asked to write a short story for Halloween as part of a homework assignment. Most of the kids in the class wrote one to two page stories... Charlie wrote eight. The short story titled The Haunted House went on to win her district wide awards and was published locally. From their she began writing poetry as means of expression.

Since her writing career began she's has published several titles... The House, The Colonial, The Reservation, The Portrait, The Gypsy's Dance, Mistaken for a Call Girl, Her Last Request and Breeders. Four of which have been nominated for the 2012 RONE Award.

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