How would you like to download Book 1 of the Mistresses of the Board Room series for FREE while waiting for Abby and Neil's book to release on November 30? At Her Command is Rosalinda and Lawrence's story. We meet Abby and Neil in their book as secondary characters, but they came through so strongly, there was no doubt in my mind that they were going to be the main characters of Book 2. Here's the BookFunnel link for easy download of At Her Command to your preferred device. I've included the Chapter One sneak peek of Neil and Abby's story at the end!
NOTE: At Her Command and At Her Service are both standalone love stories about two different couples, so you don't have to read Book 1 to enjoy Book 2. As I said above, Neil and Abby do meet briefly toward the end of At Her Command, and don't forget the FREE bonus novella, The Barbecue, gave us some key early scenes between the two of them. Again, nothing that will lose you if you choose to read At Her Service by itself, but since At Her Command is free in November, and The Barbecue is permanently free, why not treat yourself to them while waiting for November 30?
When one of my beta readers sent me that feedback about At Her Service, it gave me a special charge. Two additional members of the five-person review team for Neil and Abby's story were a therapist and a caregiver to a spouse with a severe mental illness like Abby's, and they also gave the book high marks. All of which makes me eager to share the book with you all.
I feel so strongly about these two characters. Every book I write pulls me in. Every book gives me characters to love. If it didn't, I wouldn't be writing their story. But there was something very special about Neil and Abby to me, something that reminded me of my enduring bond with Tyler and Marguerite of Ice Queen/Mirror of My Soul. This is a story about two Dominants as well, so at the outset, I thought Abby and Neil's power dynamic would be somewhat like Tyler and Marguerite's (Marguerite remained a Domme, but decisively switched for Tyler), or like Janet and Max's of Willing Sacrifice (Max wasn't a sub, but had a strong service bent). Instead, as usually happens if I get out of the characters' way and let them choose the identity they're meant to embrace, they went a whole different direction. Did I mention I can't wait to share their story with you?! Be sure and pre-order your copy so it will be waiting for you on release day!
PRE-ORDER LINKS FOR AT HER SERVICE
Amazon US * Amazon Worldwide * iBooks * Kobo * Nook
Print format will go up for sale about a week ahead of the release date as usual. Google Play has changed their pre-order format in a way that doesn't gel with our process, so we'll also load up that format close to the release date. No audio book at this point, but maybe later on down the road (see audio book update later on in this issue).
RELEASE DAY FUN - I'll be having a day's worth of posts and giveaways on my JWHMembersOnly FB page on November 30, followed by an author party from 6-8pm EST at the Social Butterfly Party Room on December 1. Come out to either location to celebrate the release!
I've posted a lot of the same status info from last month below to be sure everyone sees it, but here's the latest. Preorder links ARE going up at the vendors. While it will take a few weeks for them all to get in, below is what I have so far. Eventually I'll have one link that will take you to a full list. And make note of the varying prices. For those that are straight out purchase offers (versus subscriptions/credits), I have a 30-day launch price of $9.99, after which it goes up to $12.99. The book is a 13+ hour read. Some vendors can set their own prices, and as you can see, Apple is actually below the launch price at this time. So choose what works for you! The book has been submitted to 43 vendors for distribution, so if you don't see your preference yet (I know many of you are Audible subscribers, and their process takes longer), I'll keep you updated as more links go live.
Google Play - offering promotional price
Libro FM - not offering promotional price
Binge Books - not yet showing a price
Apple - showing a 7.99 price
RECAP FROM LAST MONTH:
Keira Grace, our fabulous narrator for the audio version of Vampire Queen's Servant, did such a great job with the book. I think she really nailed Lyssa's essence. Since Keira is a female narrator, of course the male voices won't sound like we imagine them for Jacob, Mason, Thomas, etc, but by the time I hit about Chapter 3-4, I didn't even give it a thought - I was caught up in Lyssa and Jacob's story.
Would you like to hear the retail sample clip for the book? It's about two-and-a-half minutes, and it's from that scene in the Eldar Salon when Jacob and Lyssa first formally meet. Click here. The audiobook will be coming out December 15. In the next newsletter, I hope to be offering some giveaway codes!
Keira's already agreed to read Mark of the Vampire Queen, so we'll have continuity in the character voices for Jacob and Lyssa in Part 2 of their story. Since I'm going to use money from the sales of each audiobook to fund the production of the next, anything you can do to help me spread the word and enthusiasm about VQS in audio will be appreciated!
JULIA KENT brought our guest author series on the JWHMembersOnly Facebook group to a close for the year on October 30. Given how much fun her books are, it was no surprise to find she had a delightfully genial, upbeat personality on her FB Live. She was also very generous on the day of her visit, offering free downloads of a couple of her books to all, plus some giveaways. If you didn't get a chance to see the Live, here's the recorded video.
I've immensely enjoyed hosting all these talented ladies on the group this year, and hope you all liked the chance to talk to some of your favorite authors as well. I won't be continuing it in 2022, because outside of the writing of the books, there are other marketing efforts that are going to be consuming my attention, but thanks so much for all your help and input in making the series a success!
Last month, I told you the title I was thinking about for Ramona and Silas's story was Where Witches Dare to Tread, but that was not the title I really wanted for the book; in fact, if I had my druthers, I'd change all the titles in the Arcane Shot three-witch trilogy to the ones I originally wanted them to have - Arcane Shot, Arcane Madame and Arcane Chaos. I recently attended an industry conference where I learned this wouldn't be as impossible or confusing as I feared it would be, so I may be rethinking it. I'll keep you posted on the final decision.
In the meantime, when I was on vacation, doing my daily walks on Seabrook Island, I couldn't stop scribbling notes for the Ramona and Silas's story while I walked. Opening hooks are not my big forte, but I liked this draft one I'm sharing with you all below. It will likely change, but I think it gives a hint of how absorbed I'm already feeling by this story:
_____
“You’d have the greenest eyes I’ve ever seen, if they weren’t blue.”
Before Silas turned to face the woman who’d spoken, he knew three things about her.
She was a witch. She carried the magic of chaos. And he would let his eyes be whatever color she wanted, if she’d keep talking to him.
His eyes were in fact green, though most people saw blue when he was in this form. Or gray. Or brown. It depended on what was in someone’s heart. What they needed to see. The soul, which protected everything, would shield those that viewed him. His true form brought the heart face-to-face with mortality, and that often didn’t go well.
He turned around, and saw large lavender eyes and blonde hair. She had dubious fashion sense, but the zebra striped canvas sneakers under a velvet skirt, and glittery purple shirt that clung to her pretty figure, seemed to work for her. She also was the proprietress of the store behind her. Toys, Tea, Herbs and Magic.
He had some time to indulge his curiosity, and he certainly wasn’t averse to being around a beautiful woman, or pursuing where that might lead. Sex was important. It maintained vitality, kept the bonds between him and the rest of the world strong. A reminder that, no matter that he was a member of the most isolated race in the universe, he was still connected to all life.
Perhaps more than most, since a soul was never closer to life than on the cusp of death. All in all, a decent excuse for deciding he wanted to partake of her. Put his mouth on her skin, hear her gasps, take her over, plunge deep in her so her soul would open and see his.
A Grim Reaper who lost his ability to connect to another soul was not a good thing.
______
I'll be working on this book at the beginning of 2022, with the hopes of having it out by late springtime. In the meantime, if you haven't read the other Arcane Shot books, I hope you'll give them a look!
Find me online through my website email contact link (little envelope under Follow Me on the right side of home page) or email me directly at storywitch@storywitch.com. You can leave a question for me under my Author Profile on GoodReads. I'm on Twitter and Facebook (Author Page), and regularly stop in at the JWHMembersOnly fan group. I'm also on MeWe, if you prefer that platform to Facebook. If you'd like to see the pics that inspire my books, visit me on Pinterest, or check out my handful of videos on YouTube.
Finally, I'd love it if you followed and reviewed me on Bookbub, Amazon or both, since that helps my books get increased visibility and marketing considerations on the sites. And in return, you get heads up about releases and sales!
DIDN'T GET A RESPONSE? Responding to my readers, and doing so in a very timely manner (within 24-48 hours), is extremely important to me. So if you have sent a communication to me in any medium noted above and have not received a response, a technical glitch has occurred. Either your communication did not get through to me, or my response did not reach you. If you suspect that's the case, use one of the alternative methods to send me a "Hey, Joey, I sent you a note through email (or social media platform, etc). Did you get it?" message, and we'll make sure we sort it out. I will never intentionally ignore my readers!
HAVING PROBLEMS GETTING MY NEWSLETTER PAST YOUR SPAM FILTER? - Whenever I issue a newsletter, I will post about it on the social media platforms mentioned above, to ensure it reaches the widest number of people possible. So if you're following me on any of them, you'll get a heads up. Or you can put https://storywitch.com/newsletter/?latest as one of your Favorite links. You can click on it anytime to see if a new newsletter has been released. I try to get a new issue out during the first 7 days of every month.
Thank you so much for your support of my work!
12/15/2019 - Vampire Master - Book 16 of the Vampire Queen series
08/2019 - Naughty Bits - re-release as a self-published title in print and ebook.
07/2019 - Vampire Queen's Servant - re-release as a self-published title in print and ebook.
6/30/19 - The Problem with Witches - A Crossover novel of the Arcane Shot and Knights of the Board Room series
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Spring/Summer 2022 - Where Witches Dare to Tread (tentative title), an Arcane Shot Series novel
11/30/2021 - At Her Service, Book 2 in the Mistresses of the Board Room
06/15/2021 - Vampire Guardian, Book 17 of the Vampire Queen series
12/15/2020 - Re-release of Submissive Angel Christmas story with expanded content
GoodReads Blog - Whenever I have something half-way interesting to say (hopefully), I post it on my blog. Check out the latest, as well as the backlog of over 80 posts!
For my most up-to-date appearances info throughout the month, follow me on Twitter or "Like" my Author Page on Facebook - I'll keep you in the loop as things happen!
GoodReads Blog - Whenever I have something half-way interesting to say (hopefully), I post it on my blog. Check out the latest, as well as the backlog of over 80 posts.
For my most up-to-date appearances info throughout the month, follow me on MeWe, Twitter or "Like" my Author Page on Facebook - I'll keep you in the loop as things happen.
SEXY AND SASSY SIGNING 2020 - July 9-12 - next year's popular reader/author event will happen in Norfolk, VA. The theme is Sinful Fairy Tales! Click on the link above to find out more. You can also join the SASS Attendee group once you've registered.
2022 SASS CONFERENCE - JULY 28-31, 2022 - NORFOLK, VA - Be sure and go join the FB page so you can register, make hotel reservations, etc. I'll look forward to seeing you all there!
In the meantime, in lieu of conference appearances, look under "EXTRA STUFF" below to find out how you can get some of the perks that meeting authors at a conference would offer - signed books, swag, etc.
Want a Kindle signature? My books are listed at the Authorgraph site, so if you'd like a "Kindlegraph", send me a request! Just go to Authorgraph.com, put Joey W. Hill in the search line, and it will pull up my books, with a "Request Authorgraph" button beneath each.
Want a signed bookplate for your print book and a bookmark? No need to be bummed about not seeing me at a book signing. Just shoot me an email at storywitch@PROTECTED with your mailing address and the title(s) of the book(s) for which you want a signature, and I'll send you personalized bookplates anytime, free of charge. And I always send it with a signed bookmark!
HAVE YOU CHECKED THE AUTHOR'S WEBSITE?
I am ALWAYS delighted to hear from my readers, and I never mind answering your questions. However, about 90% of the general questions I receive on email can be quickly answered on my website, www.storywitch.com. And the cool thing is you get your answer in the time it takes you to do a couple clicks, versus having to type up your question and send it to me, then wait for me to emerge from my writing cave and check my email.
A lot of authors experience this now. Because we have so much more of a presence at FB, Twitter, and the like, it's easy to forget that most authors still maintain a website where you can quickly get info. On my site, you can not only find BLURBS and FREE EXCERPTS for every book I've published, you can find SERIES ORDER, including recommendations on which ones can stand alone or need specific titles to be read first. Under the In the Works page, you'll find information about UPCOMING RELEASES and what's percolating (the popular "will you ever write a book about so-n-so" question would be answered there).
Just go to my website, storywitch.com, and enjoy your visit. It is specifically and deliberately designed not to be flashy or confusing. Just look at the drop down menus at the top for what you're seeking.
Want a SIGNED BOOKMARK? I have six beautiful bookmarks, each design representing one of my series: Knights of the Board Room, Nature of Desire, Vampire Queen, Arcane Shot, Daughters of Arianne and Naughty Bits. You can look at them here (click on the one you like for a larger view). Just shoot me an email at storywitch@storywitch.com with your mailing address and tell me which bookmark you want. I'll send you two of that design - one for you and one to share!
Want a SIGNED BOOK? Bummed because you can't make it to a signing? Just email me at storywitch@storywitch.com with 1) what book you want, 2) your mailing address, and 3) if you want me to personalize it to a particular name (Mary, Marie, Marissa, etc), or no personalization, just a signature and a cheery note. I'll shoot you an invoice and, once that's squared away, the book will be on its way to you!
Want a SIGNED BOOKPLATE? Want a bookplate for your favorite JWH book(s)? Just shoot me an email at storywitch@storywitch.com with your mailing address, the title(s) of the book(s), and I'll send you personalized bookplates anytime, free of charge. And I always send it with a signed bookmark!
Want a KINDLE SIGNATURE? My books are listed at the Authorgraph site, so if you'd like a "Kindlegraph", send me a request! Just go to Authorgraph.com, put Joey W. Hill in the search line, and it will pull up my books, with a "Request Authorgraph" button beneath each.
Want to read BONUS CONTENT STORIES revisiting Joey's characters? She has over a dozen FREE novellas/shorts with easy BookFunnel download links. You'll find them all under the Cantrips (Vignettes) menu item on her website.
Want Joey to visit your BOOKCLUB? She is available for online bookclub meetings and even sometimes in-person clubs, within a reasonable geographic range. Don't hesitate to ask! Just email her at storywitch@storywitch.com.
"I have a question."
Answer: "Have you checked my website?"
I am ALWAYS delighted to hear from my readers, and I never mind answering your questions. However, about 90% of the general questions I receive on email can be quickly answered on my website, www.storywitch.com. And the cool thing is you get your answer in the time it takes you to do a couple clicks, versus having to type up your question and send it to me, then wait for me to emerge from my writing cave and check my email.
A lot of authors experience this now. Because we have so much more of a presence at FB, Twitter, and the like, it's easy to forget that most authors still maintain a website where you can quickly get info. On my site, you can not only find BLURBS and FREE EXCERPTS for every book I've published, you can find SERIES ORDER, including recommendations on which ones can stand alone or need specific titles to be read first. Under the In the Works page, you'll find information about UPCOMING RELEASES and what's percolating (the popular "will you ever write a book about so-n-so" question would be answered there).
Just go to my website at storywitch.com, and enjoy your visit. It is specifically and deliberately designed not to be flashy or confusing. Just look at the drop down menus at the top for what you're seeking.
HAVE YOU CHECKED THE AUTHOR'S WEBSITE?
"I have a question." Answer: "Have you checked the author's website?"
I am ALWAYS delighted to hear from my readers, and I never mind answering your questions. However, remember a lot of questions can be quickly answered on my website. Just look at the drop down menus at the top for what you're seeking. You'll find BUY LINKS, BLURBS and FREE EXCERPTS for every book I've published. You can also find SERIES ORDER, including recommendations on which books can stand alone or need specific titles to be read first. Under the In the Works page, you'll find information about UPCOMING RELEASES and what's percolating (the popular "will you ever write a book about so-n-so" question would be answered there).