Spotlight Saturday: Brea Alepou

Welcome to Kira Adams' Spotlight Saturday! Every week I will be featuring a different author in the industry. Indie, trad, small press, etc. The point is to help get the word out about new-to-you authors and books they are releasing. Maybe you will find your next favorite author. Maybe you will find a story that will touch your soul. Whatever the case may be, thank you for being here.

This weeks feature is Brea Alepou!

There will be corresponding posts on my Facebook page, my Instagram page, in the group, and here on my blog!

1.     How long have you been writing?

I’ve been writing for four years now it will be officially my fourth year on November 2021. It’s insane how far I’ve come I still can’t believe I’ve been living my dream of being an author for four years straight.

 

2.     Who is your favorite author?

Oh, this is a hard question for sure. In MM I have three favorite authors: Nicholas Bella, AE Via, and Onley James. In other genres: Patricia Briggs, Laurell K Hamilton, and  Caroline Peckham Susanne Valenti (writing pair).

 

3.     What has been your biggest accomplishment since publishing?

My biggest accomplishment has been writing a gay harem that included eight guys. It was a challenge to myself and I met it head on. I still can’t believe I pulled it off and by far one of my hardest writing moment.

 

4.     What advice do you have for aspiring authors?

Advice, I’d have to say write what you love. Don’t try and jump on a bandwagon if your heart isn’t into it. Find your own specific brand and build on it. Oh and its okay to change for the better of your business. You can start off writing one thing and learn down the line you’re better at another.

 

5.     What is your writing goal you have?

Current writing goal is to finish all ongoing series. I’m hoping to finish all of them by the end of December 2022. (Fingers crossed)

 

6.     Are you a panster or a plotter?

I’m a hybrid. I mostly pants but I semi plot when need be. I do one word a sentence to lead me in the right direction. But my characters have been known to toss my ideas out the window and go their own route from time to time.

 

7.     Do you prefer to write in past or present tense?

Past tense all the way. Present is a little tricky for me and it takes my brain entirely too long to get it together for it.

 

8.     How many books have you written?

I’ve written a total of 23 books and published 21 of them.

 

9.     What is your favorite genre and/or trope to write in?

My favorite genre/trope is paranormal but not just any, I love writing gay harems (reverse harem).

 

10.  Where is your favorite place to write?

I have two place I prefer to write at. One being home at my desk and the other is at a coffee shop with great coffee and a pastry. 

Book title: Addicted to His blood 

Blood Series Book 3

Release Date: September 29 2021

Genre: Dark Paranormal Gay Harem Romance

 

Pre-Order Link: readerlinks.com/l/1813308

Pre-Order Clean link: https://www.amazon.com/Addicted-His-Blood-Paranormal-Romance-ebook/dp/B0948C6ZFK

 

Blurb: 

At one point blood was all they had.

Being a witch in Multicity is hard enough. It’s a vampire run territory but Finnely enjoys his days there… until his ex, freaking prince of the vampires, moves there.

There has been a change in the world recently. Power struggles in the supernatural community and peace is fragile at best.

With Finnely’s coven making him choose a side, he is trapped between two worlds. Does he choose his heart? Or stay with his own kind?

An A-hole prince, a broken werewolf, a cocky vampire, and a wayward witch shouldn’t work, but maybe their addiction to each other can overpower all.

Addicted to his blood is book 3 in the Blood series. It is best understood if read in order but can be read as a standalone. This is a new poly couple within the blood series world but will continue the storyline from Their Blood. Contains plenty of blood and vampire goodness. Read warning before proceeding. 

 

Never before seen teaser from Addicted to His Blood!

Finnely was still trying to figure out if he was pissed off, slightly turned on, or crept out. Was it possible to be all fucking three? 

“Hmm, about a year now since we moved back,” Jacob said. 

Finnely internally groaned. “Wait a damn minute. You’re saying you’ve just been slinking in the shadows following me every Thursday?”

Jacob looked fucking proud of himself. “And one Tuesday out of the month.”

Finnely pinched the bridge of his nose. How the hell was he supposed to respond to that? And it didn’t help that Jacob seemed so happy about it. He sipped his coffee with an all-too-pleased smirk on his handsome face. 

Finnely finally gave in and laughed. “That’s some stalker murder shit. I feel like I’m on one of those crime shows.”

Jacob’s blue eyes twinkled. “Ah, your murder would be a masterpiece. Not a drop of your blood would be wasted.”

Finnely bit his bottom lip. “Have you thought about murdering me, Jacob?”

Death looked back at him through Jacob’s deceptively beautiful eyes. “Yes.”

Finnely’s heart stuttered, and his breathing picked up. 

“My favorite dream of how I’d do it is you tied to the bed on crisp white sheets. I’d sink my fangs into your soft flesh first on your wrist.” Jacob touched the skin, and Finnely swore under his breath, but he didn’t pull away. 

Jacob continued as if they weren’t in a coffee shop amongst humans who would balk at his words. 

“Then I’d bite your shoulder and then just below your carotid artery and do the same to your other side.” Jacob’s fingertips brushed along Finnely’s neck, making him shiver. 

“Before you could bleed out, I’d take out my cock and move between your legs and gather some of the blood for lube.” Jacob’s head tilted to the side, and his eyes glossed over as if he was genuinely getting lost in the fantasy. 

And fuck, Finnely wasn’t that far behind. He wasn’t too much into pain. Of course, little aches added in pleasure were enjoyable. He probably shouldn’t be getting so hot for Jacob’s fucked-up murder sex fantasy.

The man wasn’t done. He licked his lips with such purpose Finnely could vividly imagine it against his flesh. 

“I’d grab my gun from the holster and switch off the safety.”

Finnely’s heart thudded so loudly he was afraid he’d miss the following words that came out of Jacob’s mouth. 

“And just as I line my cock up to your hole, I’d place the cold metal of the gun to your temple with my finger hovering over the trigger and slam into you.”

Finnely’s entire body was on the edge of his seat, and he was painfully aware of how hard he was. Shit, how in the world had Jacob found out Finnely’s morbid addiction to death? Not that he wanted to die or anything like that, but there was something beautiful about the sweet kiss of the afterlife just a breath away. 

Jacob shifted in his seat. “I’d hold your life on the edge of death as I forced you to come on my cock until you’re practically out of blood and can no longer get hard.”

Fuck yes. 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Brea-Alepo%25C3%25BA/e/B07HVW584Y

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author.brea_alepou/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brea.alepou.1

Spotlight Saturday: Mike Salt

Welcome to Kira Adams' Spotlight Saturday! Every week I will be featuring a different author in the industry. Indie, trad, small press, etc. The point is to help get the word out about new-to-you authors and books they are releasing. Maybe you will find your next favorite author. Maybe you will find a story that will touch your soul. Whatever the case may be, thank you for being here. 

This weeks featured author is Mike Salt!

1. What inspired you to write Damned to Hell?

The birth of my first son. I was immediately afraid of my life without him, and that slowly morphed into the story as it is.

2. What has been your biggest accomplishment since publishing?

I've had 2 novels break the top 100 in occult fiction on Amazon and I won the 2018 inkshares horror competition.

3. Do you have anything else in the works apart from your book/series?

I'm literally working on 7 different stories at the moment.

4. What advice do you have for aspiring authors?

Write every bloody day. Doesn't matter. Get an hour with of work in and move on. You'll find it easier each time you sit down.

5. What advice do you have about marketing and promotion?

Don't slack on your social media. I attribute 80 percent of my sales through Instagram.

6. Are you a pantser or a plotter?

Pantser 100%.

7. Are you traditionally published or indie?

Both. My most recent novella was published by Bloodrites Publishing and I've been thrilled with the process so far.

8. How many books have you written?

3 published and a 4th that I pulled from Inkshares Publishing back in 2020. Still haven't released that one yet.

9. What is your favorite genre and/or trope to write in?

Horror. I really don't care what kind of horror, but it will be have a sprinkling of horror at some point.

10. Where is your favorite place to write?

Outside. I feel writing on my porch, when it's night, my best work comes through.

The House on Harlan released September 1st, 2021.

"When reluctant sellout Alex and his family move to Harlan Drive, they soon discover that their idyllic suburban house is not the safe haven it first seems. In fact, there’s nothing safe about The House On Harlan at all…

In this thrilling new novella from Mike Salt, author of The Valley and Damned to Hell, you are invited to step inside the House on Harlan – a house where the things that go bump in the night come out in force. A house that is hungry for blood. A house that will haunt you.

A house with a little black door in the cellar…

A door that opens both ways. And, as Alex is about to find out, the things that come through aren’t all there is to fear in this house. No, the real danger is waiting for him on the other side…"

Blood Rites Horror is proud to kick off the countdown to Halloween with a brand-new novella from Mike Salt. The House On Harlan is a thrilling masterpiece in horror that takes some truly unexpected and subgenre-hopping turns and develops an entirely new layer of Salt's growing literary universe. A family-centred story with tonnes of heart, even more blood, and a shocking new take on some of our favourite folklores, this is one you won't want to miss.

Pick-up your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1919613242

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mike_salt/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Mike-Salt/e/B07T7ZHR6R

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mikesaltmoose

Website: https://mikesaltauthor.com/

Spotlight Saturday: Jennifer R. Jensen

Welcome to Kira Adams' Spotlight Saturday! Every week I will be featuring a different author in the industry. Indie, trad, small press, etc. The point is to help get the word out about new-to-you authors and books they are releasing. Maybe you will find your next favorite author. Maybe you will find a story that will touch your soul. Whatever the case may be, thank you for being here. 

This weeks featured author is Jennifer R. Jensen!

 1. What inspired you to write “The Vice”? 

“The Vice” Itself started as a very broad idea. I was driving home from working out of town and I had this dialog running through my head. It quickly evolved into an idea of a woman in therapy working through issues she was having. It took me about a month to write the first draft. Then it took a billion rewrites to get it to what it is today. Since this was my first novel I had written as an adult, my main character originally was a lot like me. But over time, she became her own person, with her own ways of coping with her circumstances. Which led to the inspiration for the series in general, which is about discussing topics that need to be addressed and that need to be shown in a very realistic manner.

 

2. Who is your favorite author(s)?

I don’t have a favorite author. I like to just look at a cover and if it grabs my attention then I will read it. I don’t care who it’s by or what it’s about. I like to go in blind to what I’m reading because I love to be surprised.

  

3.  If you had to choose a fictional character from one of your books to have lunch with, who would it be and why? 

I would probably say Lizzie, she doesn’t come into the story until the end of “The Vice” but I just really like her and think she is a great person.

  

4.  What has been your biggest accomplishment since publishing? 

The biggest accomplishment since publishing is just the act of doing any of it in general. There are a lot of milestones that one can hit in this industry but as we are all told it is a marathon not a sprint. I am just so incredibly proud of myself every time I release a book because it is a big and daunting process to see through until the end and not everyone makes it.

  

5.  Do you have anything else in the works apart from your book/series?

I have a two part novella (part one has already been released) and I started a book that had nothing to do with my series but I don’t have any plans to work on that currently as my series is my main focus and there are at least five, possible more books that I plan on having in the series.

 

6.  What advice do you have for aspiring authors? 

My advice for aspiring authors is to not give up. You can take breaks, you can give yourself time, but don’t give up. Also, ask for advice. I follow many authors on social media, and also met my best friend there who I literally couldn’t have made it through this process without. Just ask, you never know what great connections you will make.

  

7.  What advice do you have about marketing and promotion? 

The advice I have about marketing and promotions is to do your homework. Marketing is by far the most important part of the publishing journey. I have done some marketing with my book, but not much because I know it will be easier to market my entire series than to go all in on marketing my first book. I have to build up my base and brand.

 

You can have the best book in the world written, and if you market it poorly, it will do poorly. Great content doesn’t just automatically get seen by people. You have to do the leg work.

  

8.  What is a writing goal you have? 

My main writing goal is to turn my book series into a tv series (and be a writer for it).

 

9.  Are you a pantser or a plotter?

I actually fall right in between being a pantser and a plotter. If I try and outline my brain gets very confused and kind of shuts down, but I do like to have a jumping off point. So I tend to just jot down notes each time I finish a chapter for what should come next. That way when I get time to write, I kind of know where to make that chapter go.

 

10.  Are you traditionally published or indie?

I am an Indie author, but have started a publishing company with my best friend, Kaithlin Shepherd, that we will be publishing our books under currently. Then next year will start looking to publish other indie authors as well.

The Victim, book two in the Versions of Me series released on August 24, 2021.

 

Harper had spent the better part of her adult life keeping everyone at arm’s length-fearing they would leave her like others before.

Six months after starting therapy and finally admitting how she really felt about Caleb, she had hoped the sinking feeling would disappear.

But while the reality of her future began to take hold, she found herself questioning just who exactly the real Harper Jones was. Or even more so, who the real Harper Jones could be.

 

Snag a copy of The Vice, book one here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08ZCS58HK

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21394835.Jennifer_R_Jensen

Website: https://www.jenniferjensenbooks.com/

Blog: https://www.jenniferjensenbooks.com/blog

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Jennifer-R-Jensen/e/B08ZYSH12S

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jjensenbooks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jjensenbooks

The Kids Aren't Alright

On August 29th, 2021 my mother passed away. 

She had been suffering with a brain tumor for about 5 months, and while it was anticipated, it was unexpected how quickly everything happened. 

I saw her a couple of days before and while she was in a lot of pain and not moving around as much, we were still able to communicate, to hug, kiss, talk. 

When I got the call on Sunday morning at 4 AM, I worried that it was too late. That my brother was calling me to tell me that she had passed in her sleep. However, instead he was telling me that things had taken a turn for the worse, and that we all needed to get back to the beach to see her because it was uncertain if we would have another chance. 

On the drive there, I was unsure of what to expect. When I arrived, she was basically unresponsive nearly the entire time, only opening up her eyes for a few seconds and then falling back into a sleep. I wasn't even sure she was aware we were all there. 

When she would wake up and we could talk to her for a few moments, she would complain about how much pain she was in before becoming unconscious again. 

I never knew Sunday would be my last day with her. I never expected on my drive that it would be the last time I would talk to her, see her, hug her. 

She used to cry and tell me she was worried about me because she didn't think I would be ready. Oh how right she was. I wasn't ready to not be able to call her. I wasn't ready to not have her in my life every single day. 

Toward the end, I made it a point to go and visit her every single week. I never knew when would be the last time, and I didn't want any regrets. I'm happy to say I don't have any but I still miss her like hell. 

A year ago, a traumatic experience flipped my entire world upside down and I never thought I'd be able to move past it. I had to move, leave all my friends, and start all over in my old hometown. It was a lot for me to go through, and my grief consumed me. 

Looking back on it now, I'm so thankful everything happened like it did. Sure it broke me. Sure it hurt like hell. But if not for that, I wouldn't have gotten the extra year with my mom before she passed. Everything happens for a reason, and the universe knew I needed that time with her before she was taken. 

I never realized that the worst day of my life could be overshadowed by my mother's passing which has now taken full and center stage. 

My mother was like the sun and we revolved around her. She brought us all together. Gave us a safe landing place. Nothing will ever be the same again. I will never be the same again. 

The last thing she said to me that day as I hugged her and kissed her and told her I loved her was that I promised her I would be successful. And that I needed to keep pushing for that for her. I intend to, it's just right now it's hard to have any motivation for anything. I hope it gets easier. I hope one day I wake up and the hole in my chest doesn't feel as big and dark as it does today. 

I don't know how everything will play out but I do know that she was my biggest supporter, my biggest fan. She cheered me on when the rest of the world told me it's silly to have aspirations of being a full-time author or successful musician. She never laughed at my dreams, but rather built them up with me. 

I'm going to miss her more than anything. I already do. 

I'm going to keep writing because it's what I love. Because it's my passion. Because of her belief in me. I'm going to keep pushing to be a better human because she was the best person I knew. 

I hope she's at peace. I hope her sisters and her father were there to greet her when she passed. I hope she's not in pain anymore. 

Life is short so take the time to make sure your loved ones know how much you care. How much they mean to you. Make the most of each and every day. 

Spotlight Saturday: Sarah Delany

 Welcome to Kira Adams' Spotlight Saturday! Every week I will be featuring a different author in the industry. Indie, trad, small press, etc. The point is to help get the word out about new-to-you authors and books they are releasing. Maybe you will find your next favorite author. Maybe you will find a story that will touch your soul. Whatever the case may be, thank you for being here. 

This weeks featured author is Sarah Delany!

1.     What inspired you to write Don't think. Just breathe?

In 2019 I suffered the loss of my dad, sister and a best friend. I was struggling with my grief and on the anniversary of my dad's birthday I started writing him a letter. Then that letter just turned into a story and from there it took off. It's fiction romance but focuses a lot on grief and mental health as well. It's the first book in a now finished trilogy.

 

2.     How long have you been writing?

I've only been writing seriously since 2020 but I used to love enjoying writing and English at school.

 

3.     If you had to choose a fictional character from one of your books to have lunch with who would it be with and why?

It would definitely be Rafe. He is one of the side characters in the TNT Trilogy and was just so easy to write that he became my favourite character. He's easy going and is such a fun character that I'm sure he'd have me laughing over a lunch break.

 

4.     What has been your biggest accomplishment since publishing?

It would probably be that I have over 300 paperbacks floating around the world now. Most are in libraries too. There are libraries in NZ, Australia, USA, and the UK that now have them on their shelves which I think is pretty cool.

 

5.     Do you have anything else in the works apart from your book or series?

I have a spin off of a side character that I am working on and also have a different stand alone that I've started as well. It is looking like it will be a YA romance as well.

 

6.     What advice do you have for aspiring authors?

If you plan to self publish then work on your fan base and promoting your book or books a few months before you release them. Releasing a book and hoping people see it without gaining any interest first is hard. I wish I had known that. And also reach out to other indie authors as it's a wonderful community with a lot of us offering support for each other.

 

7.     Are you a pantser or a plotter?

I like to have a general idea of the main plot points that I want the book to contain and then I usually let the characters have free reign and they direct me where they want to go.

 

8.     What is a writing goal you have?

I want to release at least 2 books next year. Having small kids can be a bit of a balancing act but hopefully can get more books out next year.

Don’t Fade. Breathe Easy. Is the third book in the TNT Trilogy. It released on June 1^st, 2021.

 

How much pain can a heart take before it reaches breaking point?

Why? Why didn’t I see it? I can’t go through this again. I won’t survive another heartbreak…

Dealing with the aftermath of a tragedy is never easy. The ripples of the after effects are felt by all, not just Tate and Tamsyn. Can they survive the experience while it opens old wounds? Can their group of friends remain intact while their foundation is shaken to the core? Is Tate and Tamsyn’s love strong enough to survive outside the realms of high school?

Find out in the epic conclusion to the TNT Trilogy.

 

Check out the first book in the series, Don’t Think. Just Breathe. here: 

https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Think-Just-Breathe-trilogy/dp/0648814408

Website: http://sarahdelany.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahdelanywrites/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sarah-Delany/e/B086QJGDKV

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahdelanywrites/

Just Breathe: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086PT374T/