I experienced release day number two today...it felt exactly the same as the first. The same rush of excitement, the same overuse of checking the amazon site to see where our anthology ranked. I hope it's the same every release day, even there were points I was obsessively looking to see how we were doing. Well are you curious? I just asked to be nice, I'm bragging anyway! We ranked in 3 categories, in 3 countries by midnight day 1!! Congrats to everyone, especially the amazing Catherine Stovall who not only edited and chose our submissions but put hidden goodies inside the book that you'll have to buy to check out!

Here's the most recent U.S. stats!

Step into the realm of the fairies, where darkness and light come together to create a world full of mischief and magic. A place where pixie dust and brownie favors are often counter balanced by the sinister temptations and mad schemes of the darker side. Here, you can choose to walk with the heroes or be carried away by the fairy lover of your dreams. Just be careful not to fall too deeply, you may never come home. 

In this collection, ten talented authors have come together to bring you sixteen fantastical stories of the lighter and darker sides of the fae. The product of this collaboration is an incredible journey into a world that will whisk the reader away on gilded wings, but might not let them go

About the Authors:

Shannon Eckrich ~ Born and raised in Delaware, Shannon Eckrich lives with her husband, two children, and chocolate lab, Chewy, along with her newest addition, Taylor, a spunky little kitty who loves to terrorize her while she’s writing. Shannon’s second love is the paranormal. Ghosts, angels, vampires, aliens, immortals, it doesn't matter, she’s obsessed with it all, which is why she’s compelled to write stories in the paranormal genre.

Cecilia Clark ~ Cecilia Clark has had a number of short stories and flash fiction published over the last year along with numerous art works. She writes everything from mild horror to children's tales and is especially fond of fractured fairy tales. Her recent works can be found on her Goodreads and Amazon author profiles and her daily ramblings can be seen on her blog http://ceciliaaclark.blogspot.com.au Cecilia has previously had one story and one piece of art published with Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly.

Shebat Legion ~ Shebat Legion's many stories include "Dree, On Wednesday," for Hoblin Goblin; Sha'Daa Facets: I Am Anastasia's Bracelet, written in collaboration with Michael H. Hanson; "Ophie and The Undertaker," for Dreamers in Hell, the latest volume in the award-winning Heroes in Hell series and "The Cast Iron Skillet" published by CHBB. She is the author of Vampire Therapy: Chronicles of The Cat's Ass Boutique, which includes "A Cat's Ass Christmas," "A Cat's Ass Valentine," and "Lilly Brings Home A Leprechaun." She is the producer of the anthology Klarissa Dreams: The Art of Klarissa Kocsis. Shebat Legion is the author of Vampire Therapy: Jackson and Eva, and is presently at work on book two of the Vampire Therapy series called "Elizabetta."

Catherine Stovall ~ Catherine Stovall is the author of Faire Eve, The Requiem of Humanity Series, Arcana: The Maiden, and the short stories, Fearful Day, Bloody Freedom (Broken Mirrors, Fractured Minds Anthology), Condemned to Die, and The Freak (Cirque D'Obscure anthology). She also has the privilege of being the editor and a contributor to the Cogs in Time Anthology--where you can find her short story, Wren City, and a poem entitled The Cogs in Time, and the Rise of the Goddess Anthology--where you can find her story, A Goddess's Revenge. Catherine is a fearless creature who surrounds herself with the joys of life both in and out of her fictional worlds. She lives in Southeast Missouri with her husband, three children, and pets. When not writing, she spends her time riding motorcycles, wearing elaborate hats, and genuinely enjoying the oddities in life.

Mariana Thorn ~ Fueled by Coffee, Mariana Thorn creates worlds that are action packed and full of snark. With her little dog, Tony Stark, by her side she tortures her characters. Fur, Fangs, and Fairies is her first published series. It’s filled with everything that goes bump in the night and then some. Urban fantasy is Mariana’s main genre but she also dabbles in fantasy and mystery. She looks at her story and goes, well how can I make this worse for my characters. Mariana’s love of writing hit at a young age. She was always writing stories and never dreamed of publishing them. Then one day not long ago, she looked at her books and went: I need to share these with the world. Lillie J. Roberts ~ Lillie J. Roberts is a multi-published author who loves to read as much as she does to write. You can most often find her lost in her favorite genre or maybe she's writing one. She writes Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, Chillers/Thrillers, Suspense from Modern Contemporary to New Adult and YA. She lives in central Illinois with her husband, three children, one wild Westie, and a wicked cat. She loves movies and listens to them while she writes, as well as all kinds of music. Some of her favorites are mentioned in her books.

Andrea L. Staum ~ Andrea L. Staum is author of the Dragonchild Lore Series, The Attic's Secret and contributor to several anthologies. She holds an Associates in Supervisory Management, is a certified motorcycle technician, and an amateur house renovator. She lives in Southwest Wisconsin with her husband and three 'unique' cats.

Lexi Ostrow ~ Lexi Ostrow has been in love with the written word since second grade when her librarian started a writing club. Born in sunny southern California she's spent time in various places across the country and can't wait to settle down somewhere in the French Quarter when she's able too. Lexi has been a writer ever since the second grade in some form or another. Getting her degree in creative writing and her master's in journalism she couldn't wait to get a chance to put her fantasies down on paper. Her debut novel, Torn Between Two Worlds is something that was simmering in her mind since middle school and she's so grateful to put it out into the literary world. From paranormal romance to thriller there isn't a genre she doesn't love to spend her time reading or writing. Reading and writing are her first loves but her passion for shopping, love for yummy food and her love for all her many pets. She hopes to one day help other readers fall in love with writing as she did.

Zoe Adams ~ Zoe Adams hails from a seaside town on the east coast of England. Books and writing are her passions, and this has led to her gaining a degree in Professional Writing. Zoe takes inspiration from different cultures and their rich mythology. This is evident in the Shōjō series, beginning with Best Served Chilled. When not reading or writing, Zoe indulges in a healthy obsession with anime, spending time with her family, and listening to a wide variety of influential music. Amongst other things anyway. With her alternative mind, who knows what she will write next?

K.R. Wilburn ~ KR Wilburn has traveled the world with her family but currently calls Fairbanks Alaska home. When she isn't writing, she is reading everything she can get her hands on. She is the mother of six crazy, creative and hilarious children and married to her childhood best friend and hero Ben. When she isn't busy with family you can find her counting down the moments until she can find inspiration capturing the perfect Aurora through the lens of her camera.

As you know I've gotten my Alliance series signed and all set up for release. Demon in Steam marked the prequel to the series and the cover for that was difficult because sexy steampunk couples are exactly 0 in the stock market and I couldn't get any photographers responses. So while I LOVE the cover I made to bits, I knew it wasn't going to work thematically for the stand alone novels in the series.

With Nightmare In Steam almost fully written and 9 months until I need to do a cover reveal I decided I needed to get to it, knowing how hard it would be. The amazing lady behind the beautiful covers at Dreams2Media turned me onto a very special website, Period Images. This site is absolutely stunning. From the models to the chemistry between the models and the costumes I was drooling. Very soon I looked at my cart and I'd added over 15 images, none of which were actually Steampunk in nature but they were period specific and my brain came up with a nifty idea for how to make the cover work. Well as I was going I realized something - my brain was creating stories around the beautiful photos. Take a look at some of the ones I saved to my computer simply to look at them for outlining purposes and purchase later!

Now absolutely nothing has been outlined yet but awhile back I got the idea to do a Revolutionary War themed romance and this website provided me with so many cover options I think I was giddy just scrolling through them. What else came out of this? I don't know when I'll get to it since my muse has literally lined up 5 other series and 3 standalone ideas that I should probably conquer first, but I am obsessed with the idea of a time travel series now! So obsessed that my muse has already worked out the first story in the series and it would be the first series I've "thought up" where there will be no connecting thread other than the idea of time travel! Scary thought for me because I'm used to dreaming up stand alones that link up together in plot.

All that aside I think Nightmare in Steam may just be my favorite book yet. I've fallen in love with the main villain and Lucius has somehow managed to seduce me! I can't wait for you guys to get it in 2015! How about a quickie sneak peak at Seraphina, the mistress of all things evil for the entirety of the Alliance of Silver in Steam series.

© Lexi Ostrow, Nightmare in Steam (publication date April 8th, 2015)


The brush passed smoothly through the dark red strands of her hair. It always did. Even as a fallen her hair could never tangle, her looks could never be anything but perfection. Angels were always perfect, always beautiful and always masters of seduction. There were rumors that she’d heard from the humans; rumors that angels were chaste and pure. A smile curved on her lips at the ridiculous thought. Even when angels weren’t fallen they were anything but chaste. There also wasn’t a supreme deity pulling their strings. They simply existed. Just as demons did. They fought to keep demons from hurting humans simply because they felt it was their duty to protect those that could not protect themselves. But sex and seduction were always something they were known for. Along with the ability to be the perfect bed partner to whom ever they were with. Because again, they simply were perfect. A fallen angel was no different in their sexual habits. They just felt no love towards the humans and wanted them dead. 

Seraphina was no exception.

She’d fallen over a hundred years ago, at the turn of the seventh century and she would never feel shame in her choice. She was never the most in love with the idea of protection, even before she fell. She’d wanted the angels to make the other, less important races their slaves. There had been no reason not too but she’d held her tongue for the sake of her lover, Demetrious. He was head of one of three battle sects- angels that specifically sought out demons acting out. Seraphina closed her eyes and briefly thought about Demetrious. His large, white wings were the first thing she pictured. Then the strong pectoral muscles, the way his purple eyes had looked at her while he pounded his body into hers, or the way he’d looked when he laughed. The jar of sleeping powder she held in her hand shattered as the images brought pain and hatred flowing through her. Her face morphed into an ugly snarl and she threw the glass pieces at the mirror, not bothering to move as one bounced back and slashed across her cheek. The blood was as dark as her hair as it dripped down her pale cheek. She kept watching as the skin stitched itself back together, but not before a drop of blood splashed near her feet on the floor. Angel blood was decadent, even the smallest drop could intoxicate someone and even as fallen they were careful to spill their own blood.

Demetrious had shared his blood with her often, not in a vampiric way but a few small drops before battle. It strengthened their communication while fighting and gave her a boost of strength to her own. But that connection came with a price. She’d felt as the human’s stupid knife slammed into his stomach as if it had been her own. Her knees had given out and a scream had torn past her lips so loud that many of the combatants near her had ceased to fight. She couldn’t get to him, couldn’t force her legs to move. The pain ran lines up and down her body and she could only have guessed the assholes had continued to jab their weapons into them. She’d felt the life drain from her lover just as the will to stay conscious left her body. When she’d awoken he was gone. Dead. When angels died they went to hell, a special section carved out just for angels like in the nasty underworld. They simply didn’t remain long. Once their energy drained from their soul they simply ceased to be, in any fashion. 

So she’d fallen to find him and restore his soul in another’s body. Tore her wings from her back that very morning after seeing his body bloody and broken from a bar fight that demons had tricked humans into participating in. The pain as she tore each and every feather from her back during a six hour period was always with her. Always a source of motivation to go on when things felt to hard. Nothing was harder than falling by choice. And she’d done so for love. When she’d found Demetrious he’d been disgusted. Told her she was unclean and he would never touch her again. Rage had consumed her. She launched herself at him, had strangled him trying to wring the last life out of his soul. She’d succeeded and when her body had crashed into the ground because his had vanished, she’d sat there for what felt like days. Sat there and plotted. She was going to take humanity down for what it had done to her. And the only way she could do that was to get rid of Lucifer and make all angels fall so they couldn’t stand in the way. A century had passed before she’d managed to seduce the idiot to his death and she commanded all the demons in hell and above ground now. It wouldn’t be long until she took down the Alliance and began her reign of terror on the humans as she slowly killed every one of them on the planet.

A snore passed over to where she stood and Seraphina looked up at the mirror and smiled wickedly. Her latest bed partner, an ice demon, lay exhausted on the bed, snoring. The pleasant thrum in body from a delicious round of sex was the only reason she hadn’t slaughtered him when she’d finished coming. He’d been a willing partner as so many are for a taste of angel blood. She would let him live for his accomplishments, but only after she woke him and his tongue pleasured her from inside out to stop her from worrying if the coward Lucius was doing as he was ordered.

Her heart was torn differently than others, between two worlds. Her choice would affect her position in each.

Ciara Miller was born the same as others, but she got a little something extra. On her 14th birthday she learned she was a Word Speaker, someone who could create life from stories. Her gift is incomplete until her 27th birthday, before then all she can create is things she, and others like her can see. Evil wants her gift as well and the characters she choses to create become her Guardians against the unseen attackers that want to use her skill.

Stryder is a demon, created to be a backup plan for the Horseman of the Apocalypse, War. Since the day he learned he was nothing more than pawn he and his brothers had been seeking a way to betray hell and fight on the side of the angels. His world is torn apart again when he finds out he's nothing more than a story and given the option to protect a human female, Ciara, or die.

Ciara hates Stryder for replacing her former Guardian. But she cannot deny the lust and connection that rocked through her every time they touch. She could deny it all she wanted, but she belonged to Stryder and when they find themselves thrown into a war bigger than them both she must choose between her reality bound heart and her fantasy bound soul to save them.

Excerpt:  She jerked her head side to side and lifted her hand. A streak of fire licked down the tunnel, skimming over the glass and slamming into both men across from her. Three down, three to go. He didn't need War for this so he didn't bother accessing the link in their DNA.

“I really really fucking hope this shit can't be seen or melt that glass.” She was pale and he didn't blame her. But based on the reactions all people had seen was her raise her hand. Her sentence drew a startled look from the man next to her and he shoved her out of the way.

“Damn it Ciara!” He grabbed the female coming to him by the collar and slammed her head into the tank. Red spilled down her face and she dropped to the floor, alive but not an issue.

It wasn't until he was rounding on the final two that he felt the ground shake. He turned to Ciara and saw her just staring at the ground. The people around them were completely unshaken. Whatever was going on was only happening for them and he was a little tired of not knowing all the rules.

A second later he felt the heat behind him as he turned and saw Ciara, tears sliding down her face and a ball of fire the size of his head resting on her hand before she flicked her wrist and it flew at the last of their enemies. Sizzling and screams echoed because of the glass tunnel they were in.

I'm normally a fairly decent secret keeper - mainly because I don't have too many. I'm an open book that way but I'm so being tested right now! I'm sitting on the most amazing cover  for Torn Between Two Worlds. In fact, I've had it for a little over a week.

AND I'M DYING TO SHARE IT!!!!

That being said, I've learned so much about marketing and presenting myself and my work the last 4 months. So I know the value in the cover reveal and I'm waiting until one month prior to unveil the beautiful image. But i'm absolutely twitchy with the need to show it to someone. Thankfully, I was able to share it with my awesome lit family and that took some of the edge off. I also may have cheated and showed it to my very best friend in the world and my mom. But other than that I've been keeping the little beauty locked away.

Instead I've done everything else I possibly can with the cover. I made bookmarks and bottle caps for giveaways. I made a round of promo posters for the book that include the cover **note I didn't share one with the cover here LOL**. I've signed people up for a cover reveal tour and pestered friends and family to put it on their pages once it's time too. So now all that's left to do is wait...and patience has never been my strong suit!

On with the secret! And on that same note, I've been dropping teasers for a while now that I've set up some awesomeness with dates for the Guardians and the Alliance series. But that would be revealing a secret and I've learned the importance of hanging on to them ;) So I'll leave you with this info - books 1.5-4 of the Guardians are scheduled and cover images dreamed up already. The Alliance of Silver and Steam is scheduled all the way through the end! 2015 and 2016 are filled with some steamy series and hopefully a lot of antho's and stand alones once I can get all the move stuff sorted and attack the computer more vigorously! 

So what can I share? What secrets am I willing to break? How about antho subs I'm working on. I submitted a steamy first time story called Irish Sweets and am working on a title (its in edits) for Fractured Fairy Tales. I am IN LOVE with Irish Sweets and crossing everything the wonderful antho editor feels the same because I have to say, they have one heck of a hot first! Mix a charming Irish interpol agent, devious American pastry chef and a storm that leads to a lot more getting wet than just the roads! Plus, that teaser photo counts as a secret broken, doesn't it?