$1.00 Ebook deals - World Book Day

[Linda S. Prather Author]

Good morning.  I’ve been on Kindleboards a little less than a month now, and learned some wonderful things from the participants here, both authors and readers.  I’ve asked the moderators to lock my former posts and I will be using this as my sort of home site for interaction with readers and other authors letting you know what’s up with the Jacody Ives Mysteries and me.
Currently I have two books available on Kindle, The Gifts, A Jacody Ives Mystery and Sacred Secrets, A Jacody Ives Mystery.
The Gifts was originally published by Echelon Press in 2006 and was runner up in the International Preditor’s and Editor’s Contest for best novel of 2006.  It was also nominated for The David Award.

Sacred Secrets was published through Amazon Kindle on 7/1/2010 and is the prequel to The Gifts, telling the story behind the creation of Jacody Ives.  I’ll post reviews and reader comments in later posts, and welcome any comments by readers, both good and critical.  It is my hope to improve my craft with every book I write.

A little about me.

My bio is listed on my author page, and will tell you a little about me.  But I thought I’d share a little more related to my characters and how they relate to the real me.

When I was touring with The Gifts, one of the most often asked questions was:  Are any of my characters a part of my own persona.  Well, yes, many of them are.  Let’s take a look at Sacred Secrets, the prequel to The Gifts.

I believe we all have a dark and a light side.  Thus Gavin McAllister a/ka/ Jacody Ives.  Gavin, the “good” personality, and Jacody the “not quite so good” personality.  The deeper, darker, more angry personality.  In Sacred Secrets, I explore the trauma behind the split and the creation of Jacody Ives.  So, yes, I feel a definite connection with both Gavin and Jacody.  Thankfully, I’ve never felt the third “evil” persona of Gavin and Jacody.

Clover is a young girl who reads tarot cards, auras and believes everyone is psychic.  I too believe everyone is psychic, and many of my own characteristics are a part of Clover’s personality.

Katie has lived the majority of her life on “death row”.  Knowing that without a heart transplant she would die.  I too was told early in life that without a pancreas transplant my days were numbered.  After being placed on the transplant list my doctors discovered that I was allergic to the medications I would need for the operation.  The surgery itself would kill me.  So I know what it’s like to “be on death row”.  And my short time on the transplant list is responsible for my interest in cellular memory.

Billy Dawson, the Dream Weaver.  An interesting character.  Torn between what he believes to be right, and his obligations.  Don’t we all feel that same soul searching crisis throughout life?

Miss Charity, my own deep scars and wounds.  Which, I hope you’ll forgive me, I prefer not to share.

Those are just a few of my favorite characters in Sacred Secrets, which I believe are pieces of me.
As Sacred Secrets is the prequel to The Gifts, I did sort of a Star Wars on myself.  In The Gifts Gavin and Jacody are no longer totally separate.  They function as one, although not totally one.

Sarah, the town Sheriff, like Gavin has what her grandmother called “The Gift”.  To Sarah it has always been more of a curse.  Like Gavin, she dreams things.  Things that happen.   There’s no way she can ever know if what she dreamed is real until it happens, and then it’s too late to do anything about it.  What kind of gift is that?

Nikki, Sarah’s five year old daughter reminds me of myself at her age.  Yes, even then I was a little weird in the fact that I sometimes saw things or dreamed things that later I found out really happened.

I would love to believe that I have many of Millie’s charming characteristics.  I know I have her propensity to feel that trust is essential in a relationship, and that without that trust nothing else matters.

When I started writing The Jacody Ives Mysteries I knew I wanted to write traditional mysteries to keep the reader guessing until the very end.  I’ve been told many times that I accomplished this with The Gifts.  The jury is still out on Sacred Secrets and I’ll have to wait for reader’s reviews to know if the twist at the end was enough.  I will have to say it shocked me, as many times my characters go off in directions I had no idea they were going to take.

So now you know a little more about me, and my characters.  Have a question you’d like me to answer?  Feel free to post it below.

[Linda S. Prather Author]

Just posted my first author interview.  Kipp Poe Speicher, Author of "Closing My Eyes Helps Me To See Clearly."

Check it out at www.jacodypress.blogspot.com  or visit my myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/giftofdreams.

If any other authors would like interviews, just let me know.

[Linda S. Prather Author]

Final Review of Sacred Secrets:

Sacred Secrets:
A Jacody Ives Mystery
By Linda S. Prather
Manuscript
365 Pages


I thoroughly enjoyed having a very small part in being a reviewer for a manuscript, especially for the exciting, supernatural suspense novel, Sacred Secrets: A Jacody Ives Mystery, written by Linda S. Prather! This is a prequel to her first novel, The Gifts, which I earlier reviewed; this prequel certainly sets the stage for future Jacody Ives mysteries.

Lydia called to anybody who would listen. She had been planning on going home to her father, had already written him to tell him she was coming, and bringing, Ginger. Even when she was murdered and buried, she still needed, wanted to go home, “Please . . .” she whispered.

Gavin McAllister heard her in his dreams. “Please,” she whispered. Gavin knew that evil had claimed another victim.

Jacody Ives is, of course, the primary character and is a private investigator. Some call him Gavin. Gavin’s brother, Rob, and his partner, Carl, both FBI agents, often aid him in his work. 

Father Michael heard Lydia’s whispers as well; but he knew more than that, and he couldn’t face it, couldn’t live with it. He tried to talk to Father Peter, lamenting that he no longer felt God was with him. Could he find absolution? Could he send Lydia home . . . and still save . . . her? Praying, he finally knew what he must do!

Katie O’Connor had been given a second-chance in life. She had been very ill since she was 12 and knew that, if she didn’t receive a heart transplant, her life expectancy was less than a year. But, out of the blue, she was called to come to the hospital. They had a heart for her! After verification that it would work, she was rushed into surgery and the transplant was successfully completed! But when she woke up, drowsy, she heard “Dig the hole, dig it deep...I like the liver and the hearts. The worms...” and she screamed! “Please . . .get the doctor . . .take it out!” (p.61)

Destiny...this book is about destiny and what it takes to actually have destiny “happen.” Katie O’Connor was caught in a series of events that had started 25 years ago. When she tried to find people with whom she had talked, she learned that they had died years ago. When she tried to find the individual who had given her the new heart, she learned that it was a beloved friend from her past. 

So many things were happening, if one person did not follow what steps fate laid out, then a whole new set of events had to be created. For Katie O’Connor and for Jacody Ives, they were caught within a struggle against an evil that would continue to kill unless they followed the paths of destiny that were placed before them.

Prather has a rare skill in incorporating aspects of the supernatural into her stories. There is rarely a mention of who has those skills—readers just know it by coming to know the various characters.

A supporting activity of placing poetry between chapters, including beautiful, complementary words written by her son, Charles W. Prather, Jr., adds greatly to readers’ enjoyment.

Truthfully? I was hooked with the Prologue! Except for personal breaks, I read straight through, turning page after page, wonderfully surprised by each new step of fate and how each was mystically woven into one of the best novels I’ve had the pleasure to read! Be assured I’ll be keeping track and letting you know when Sacred Secrets is available! It’s a MUST-READ!

G. A. Bixler
IP Book Reviewer

[Linda S. Prather Author]

Excerpt - Sacred Secrets

Your plangent cries permeate my dreams
Lest I forget
That which I have become
Slipping into the verisimiltude
I have created
A myrmidon of evil
Panoply of secrets
Pulling me down
Into the brackish water of my dreams
‘Tis but a simple deed
To expiate my sins
Simple as life
Or death
I chose this cup
Now I must drink.

8

Father Michael felt the chasm widen. A vast wasteland of emptiness. Nothingness. He had nothing. He was nothing.

“Isn’t it beautiful, Father Michael?”

Father Peter’s words were a mere whisper, his hands longing to caress the parchment stored beneath the thick glass.

“Where . . .”

Father Peter turned to him excitedly. “A gift from your sister, Claire.”
Father Michael nodded. He’d recognized the painting immediately as one of John’s beautiful fakes. The Revelations of St. Bridget of Sweden. Two beams of light shone down from the hands of the Virgin and Christ, enthroned on the heavenly plane, joining into one single stream entering the eyes of the seated saint. Images were powerful in medieval times.

Father Michael lowered his head, closed his eyes. “Please . . .,” she whispered.
Images were still powerful.

Father Peter gushed on, his excitement uncontainable. “Of course, I know it’s a reproduction, but its beauty, its message is invaluable.”

A beautiful fake, just like me, Father Michael thought, the riving pain opening, surging. A raging river in which he was going to drown.

The words came from the midst of the chasm. Words he’d not intended to say. “I’ve lost all hope, Father.”

The words echoed in the small study, coming from all four corners, dowsing the sun streaming from the window, fading the colors of the parchment. Gripping the heart of Father Peter with pain.

He turned, excitement of the gift still etched upon his wrinkled face. Gasping as he gazed into open wounds, vivid pools reflecting suffering. Never before had he seen such agony. His hands fluttered in front of him, mind sifting through eighty years of life, searching for words to breach the chasm. Words of comfort.

“There is always hope, Father Michael. God is our hope.”

“I no long hear His voice, Father.” He glanced at the painting. “No longer feel His light.”

“We must pray, my son.” Father Peter walked around the desk, placing his hand on the young priest’s shoulder. “We must pray that God will guide you in your hour of need.”

Father Michael sighed, placing his hand over the knotted arthritic joints of Father Peter’s fingers. “I have prayed, Father. I pray daily that God will take this cup from me.”

Father Peter felt the trembling in the hand covering his. Felt the despair. His words came unbidden. Words he knew not the source. Words he would ponder and regret in the days to come.

“Perhaps you must take the cup and drink from it.”

Father Michael embraced him. He had the forlorn feeling of being alone in the world. And that loneliness threatened to crush him. He whispered the words that sealed his fate. “Perhaps, Father. Perhaps I must.”

[Linda S. Prather Author]

First reader review on Sacred Secrets--Diane Waters on facebook--"It's a real page turner!"

Make me feel good all day.

[Betsy the Quilter]

Linda--

congratulations on the good reviews! 

I posted a welcome letter in your initial thread, but since this is now your official thread, I'm going to post one below so we know that we gave you the official KB welcome!  By the way, we request that reviews not be posted here in their entirety, but that a short excerpt be posted and a link to the entire review be provided.  (Amazon reviews should not be posted at all, not that you've done that.)  All that "stuff" is in the welcome letter. 

Betsy

Welcome to KindleBoards and congratulations on your book now on Kindle!  

We invite you to use your book cover as your avatar and have links to your book and website in your signature.  Although self-promotion is limited to the Book Bazaar, most of our authors have found the best way to promote their books is to be as active throughout KindleBoards as time allows.  This is your target audience--book lovers with Kindles!

You'll want to bookmark your thread so you can find it again--we ask that authors have only one thread per book and update it when they have news.  We ask that you not "bump" the thread more than once every seven days, although you may respond to member posts as they happen.  (The Bump clock is reset at that point. )  Please read the fine print below and the Forum Decorum.  (Note for the future that we ask that reviews not be posted in their entirety here, but that a blurb and a link to the original review be provided.  This and more is in the Forum Decorum.  )

Thanks for being part of KindleBoards!  Feel free to PM us if you have any questions.

Betsy & Ann
Book Bazaar Moderators


The fine print:
Please add to your existing book thread when you have news about your book rather than start a new one, it helps the members who are trying to follow you.  You may have a separate thread for each of your books.   We recommend you bookmark your post so that you can find it in the future.    You may respond to all posts, but if there have been no member posts, we ask that you wait a week before "bumping" the thread by posting back-to-back posts of your own.  And we ask that Amazon reviews not be repeated here as they are easy to find at your book link.  Also, full reviews from other sites should not be posted here, but you may post a short blurb and a link to the full review instead. All this, and more, is included in our Forum Decorum. From time to time our site rules may change; be sure to check Forum Decorum for the current guidelines and rules.  
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[Linda S. Prather Author]

August Contest - Sample some great authors' work and win a copy of The Gifts, A Jacody Ives Mystery - your choice of MobiPocket ebook or the original paperback published in 2006.  For contest details visit:  http://www.jacodypress.blogspot.com or join the authors on facebook at:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=143875585640569&ref=ts

[Linda S. Prather Author]

For one day only, through 8/30/10 you can download a free copy of The Gifts, A Jacody Ives Mystery from Smashwords as follows:
 http://www.smashwords.com/b/21398

Checkout - enter coupon code KL69B

All I would ask is if you would please write at least a one line review.

Thank you, and Happy Reading!

[Betsy the Quilter]

Thanks for the freebie!  Got it!

I'll write a review for sure...

Betsy

[M.R. Mathias]

Hello..........   Nice looking book you have there!

[Linda S. Prather Author]

Got my first five star review on Sacred Secrets. 

[Linda S. Prather Author]

Happy Friday, everyone.  I haven't run a contest in about a month now and was wondering what everyone would like.  A gift card?  Free book?  Okay, I know we all want the lottery numbers (me especially), but I'm looking for something we can do and perhaps continue to do in the coming months leading up to Christmas.

Authors, your ideas are welcome also.

Have a great weekend.

Linda

[Linda S. Prather Author]

When I read on Amazon Kindle that Mr. Fay was reading my book, frankly I was terrified.  He's known pretty much to say what he thinks and isn't a great fan of authors promotions on there.  Finding his review of Sacred Secrets last night  pretty much was a wonderful ending to a long, emotional intense bad day.  Although I truly must confess that I wish he had found no editorial mistakes in the book, I'm glad he pointed them out giving me a chance to correct them in both my kindle version as well as prior to having the book printed.

Four Star Review


This supernatural thriller mystery grabbed my interest in the first few pages. The suspense kept me going, turning pages as fast as I could, right up through the end.

The story revolves around Jacody and Katie, two characters that you'll care about as you learn their secrets. There is a pretty wide variety of characters, and we get to know a little something about all of them and in some cases, wonder about them - why they did what they did or why they are the way they are.

It's interesting that this story could have worked as a straight mystery, with no supernatural elements, with one possible exception - the dreams. With a foundation of real characters going through real events, the supernatural elements seem all the more realistic.

The only criticism I have was that it could have used better editing. I found a total of seven errors, things like:

"It a suitable donor wasn't found . . ."
"Opening the door she let go of him, laughing as he stumbled to the nearest chair, held on for a second and then sat down in the floor."
"Sally puttered around the room, plumping pillows, refilling the water picture."

I'm not an editor. I don't intentionally look for errors. With a total of seven, there weren't so many errors that it started to get annoying. I've read others that were much worse with two to three times as many.

I'd recommend Sacred Secrets as a fun, fast-paced read that will keep you guessing right up until the end.

[Linda S. Prather Author]

For the remainder of October both the Jacody Ives Mysteries are now only 99 cents.  A savings of $2.00 for mystery lovers.



Linda

[Linda S. Prather Author]

My friendly weekly bump, not that we stay on the front page long.

Just had my 100th sale for the month, so I'm celebrating.  Have a wonderful day filled with love, light and laughter.

Linda

[Linda S. Prather Author]

Thanking all my readers for a wonderful October month, and hoping everyone's November is filled with Love, Light and Laughter.



Linda

[Linda S. Prather Author]

My weekly one second of front page fame bump.

If you're interested in writing, my blogs are currently on - Body Language - show don't tell.  Stop by:  http://jacodypress.blogspot.com/ 


Have a wonderful Tuesday.


Linda

[Linda S. Prather Author]

It's Tuesday again and truthfully, I get tired of the same old "buy my book" promo.  Mary glanced around her husband’s study with a sigh of satisfaction.  Everything was almost perfect.  Robert had even called, just as she knew he would.  He had to gloat.  Twist the knife just a little.

Reaching into her purse she pulled out the wad of hundreds and handed them to her brother-in-law.  “Make it real.”
Stuffing the money into his pocket, Blake Torro pulled on the second set of gloves.  “You sure about this, Mary?”

“I’m sorry, Mary, there’s simply no way out of this.”   Her lawyer’s words echoed inside her mind.

“I’m sure,” she whispered.

The first strike cut her lip, loosening a tooth.  “Robert has built an iron clad case against you.”

Mary staggered backwards as the second strike caught her just under the left eye.  A moan escaped her lips.  “The judge is going to award him full custody of the girls.”   A blow to the stomach took her breath.  Blood splattered the wall behind her.

“No way out."

Her knees buckled as she crashed into the credenza.  “Enough,” she gasped clutching her side.  She knew he’d broken at least one rib, maybe more.  She didn’t want to die.

Taking the second pair of bloody gloves from Blake, she did her best to smile.  “Go, he’ll be here soon.”

“Don’t forget the gun.”  Blake pointed to the .22 laying next to the overturned credenza.

Mary picked up the gun, stretched out on the floor praying she wouldn’t pass out.  She was almost there.  But the easy part was over.  Robert would pull up, see her car, the light in his office.  He would be angry.  And Robert was dangerous when he was angry.  He might not pick her up.  Instead he might decide to finish her off.

Minutes ticked by like hours until she heard the door open, his footsteps as he stomped toward the study.  He was on the phone.  “If that bitch has touched a thing in my house I’m gonna kill her.”

“Mary, what the . . . “

He stopped just inside the door taking in the disarray, her beaten and bloody body.  He crossed quickly to her, pulling her up, shaking her.  Her blood splattered his face, shirt, tie.  “Who did this, and what the hell are you doing in my house?”
Mary opened her right eye, staring straight into the black depths of hell she’d lived with for years.  Placing the gun against his heart she pulled the trigger.  “You did, Robert.  You did this.”

Mary could hear the sirens in the distance.  She had only minutes.  Pulling the bloody gloves from underneath her she place them on his hands, pulled the cell phone from his pocket and placed it inside the bloody gloves.  Pulling his body back on top of hers she breathed a sigh of relief as she allowed the pain to take her into the darkness.

“Mrs. Johnson?”

Mary struggled through the pain, opening her one good eye.  “Yes,” she croaked.

“I’m Officer Bridgestone.  I’m really sorry to bother you ma’am, but we need to get your statement.  Do you feel up to answering a few questions.”

Mary nodded, immediately regretting the movement as a fresh wave of pain washed over her.

“It’s pretty cut and dry from the evidence.  The only unanswered question we have is what you were doing there?”

Mary swallowed hard.  “Robert called me, said he wanted to talk about the girls.  Asked me to meet him at the house at seven.”

The officer nodded, scribbling notes in a pad.  “Figured it was something like that.”  Closing the pad he smiled at her.  “You’re lucky to be alive, ma’am.  And you can thank his business partner for that.  He called us after Mr. Johnson called him threatening to kill you.”

“Robert’s dead?”

The officer squeezed her hand, a small gesture of comfort.  “You did what you had to do, ma’am.  And self-defense is not a crime.  You just get better.”

Mary swallowed again, closing her good eye.  “Thank you,” she whispered.

“I’m sorry, Mary.  There’s simply no way out of this.”

There was always a way out.  She would heal and then she’d take the girls on a long vacation.  Somewhere on the beach.  Somewhere they could forget and start over again.This week I decided I would share my first attempt at flash fiction with you.  I didn't quite make my goal of 500 words, but I did keep it under 1,000, topping out at 708.  Perhaps if I edited I could weed out some words, but my understanding was that you had to write a complete story as quick as you could with no editing.  I enjoyed the endeavor, and my admiration for those who can accomplish this easily rose way up the scale.  I hope you enjoy it.  Surprisingly enough, even in short fiction I had to "kill somebody".

[Linda S. Prather Author]

Had a blast with my something old, something new promotion on Amazon Kindle's Facebook on Saturday.  10 lucky people won a $5.00 gift certificate to buy the book of their choice.  Hope to do it again before Christmas, so stay on the lookout for -- something old, something new.

Have a fantastic week.  I'm off to clean and start cooking for Thanksgiving.


Linda

[Linda S. Prather Author]

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Sales for The Jacody Ives Mysteries have been steadily on the rise, so a big thank you to my readers.  May your holiday season be blessed with love, light and laughter--as well as great books to read.


Linda

[Linda S. Prather Author]

Happy Wednesday!  Hope everyone is having a wonderful day.  A group of Indie authors are having an ebook sale through the end of the year.  Multiple Authors/Multiple Genres.  The Link is here:

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Ftinyurl.com%2F2wogl4g&h=69c87

I hope you'll all stop by by a quick peek.  Most of the ebooks are now 99 cents. 

And if you're looking for a great mystery for the snowy days: 

Haunted by dreams he couldn't control of murders he couldn't stop.  Jacody Ives

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003U4WVQ4/

[Linda S. Prather Author]

As part of our Indie Holiday Sale/Gifts - The Gifts, A Jacody Ives Mystery will be free at Smashwords today - Freebie Code - EA26A

If you enjoy The Gifts, I hope you'll check out Sacred Secrets - 99 cents on Amazon Kindle or B & N - www.amazon.com/dp/B003UHVS9C/


And check out out Holiday Ebook Sale:

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Ftinyurl.com%2F2wogl4g&h=69c87


Happy Holidays!

[Linda S. Prather Author]

Well, Happy New Year everyone.  Didn't realize it had been so long since I'd been here.  On a positive note Sacred Secrets is now available on Smashwords, and I had my first Smashwords sale of The Gifts, along with a few B & N and Sony.  So 2010 ended on a really positive note. 

A short excerpt from The Gifts - still $.99 on Kindle and Smashwords.



             Sarah swore softly as the overflowing cup sent scalding coffee over her hand. Ignoring the pain, she focused on the TV, ears straining to catch every word of the morning news. “Richmond Police say there are still no clues in the execution-style murder of Corrine Larson. Larson, whose body was discovered in a dumpster outside her apartment complex early Monday morning was a three-time award winning journalist for the Richmond Herald.
   The story continued, but Sarah stopped listening as the erratic beat of her heart pounded inside her head. Monday. She’d tried to put the dream out of her mind. Rationalized it. Just a dream brought on by the death of Johanna Nelson.
   Rubbing her temples, Sarah brought her attention to the screen just in time to see a pretty young brunette with deep brown eyes smiling at her. “No,” she whispered.

[Dana Taylor]

Hi Linda--

I am intrigued by your character descriptions--I'll have to give your books a look!

Dana Taylor

[Linda S. Prather Author]

Dana, thank you.  I look forward to hearing from you as to what you thought about the book. 

Linda