12 Days of Christmas: Book Gift Ideas from Ellen~ DAY 3

Welcome to Day Three of Book recommendations. I love to hear what you guys are reading, so some of you may be interested to hear about some books I enjoyed this year.

Today, we are doing a memoir. NYC Entertainer Jerry Castaldo has written a breathtaking, no-holds-barred memoir of his life growing up in crime and mob-run Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. Check out his reviews -- 243 5-star reviews and counting -- everyone is blown away by this book!

IN A HURRY? Most folks read this in one night. It's not filled with dead fluff, but packed with interesting and sometimes very grim stories. "Stab Me Harder, Jerry" and "They Came to Rape and Scarred My Face" are just two of the stories you'll find inside. Available on Kindle and paperback and Nook. My fav chapter is about the Mob, the Bookie and the Leisure Suits... this book will stick with you.


Brooklyn NY: A Grim Retrospective by Jerry Castaldo (purchase at this link on Amazon.com)

12 Days of Christmas: Book Gift Ideas from Ellen~ DAY 2

Hello and welcome to December 13th!

With 47 5-star reviews so far on Amazon, today's book recommendation is for an amazingly creative and unique sci-fi novel entitled "A Star Curiously Singing." I honestly can't imagine anyone not enjoying this book... here is my review that says it all.

A STAR CURIOUSLY SINGING, by Kerry Nietz
In a futuristic world where sharia law is in place and mankind relies on technology to perform the simplest task, DR63 “SandFly” is about to find his life turned upside down. A “Chosen One,” SandFly was chosen as a youth to be implanted with a device that would allow him to speak to all of the machines that run the planet. Even though this would seem to give him incredible, unstoppable power, it does not because those in charge who chose him hold a controller that zaps him if disobeys. SandFly is a tool who belongs to a master, no more, no less. So how can he change the world? And what’s wrong with the world anyway?

I’ll leave that up to you to find out. Let me just tell you how fun this book was to read.

As an author myself, I read lots and lots of books. Some I enjoy, some not so much. This book, A STAR CURIOUSLY SINGING, is one that I hated to put down and I couldn’t get it out of my mind. Because of my work load, I was only able to pick it up an hour at a time, but every time I set it down to go back to work, I thought about it all day. I sympathized and fell in love with the lead character immediately and worried for him as I longed to get back to the book. I can easily say that this is one of the best books I have ever read, and this is my very first sci-fi novel.

A review would not be complete without mentioning the technical aspects of Nietz’s method and style of writing. SandFly speaks in first person, and he speaks often to me, the reader. He calls me a “freehead” (I have no implant, you see!) and through his point of view, I know him very intimately—and I like him! He is such a well-rounded, three-dimensional character that I felt often that that if I released just a little bit, I could imagine he is real and this book is true. I am looking forward to reading the sequel to this story THE SUPERLATIVE STREAM.

Bravo Mr. Nietz!!

Ellen C Maze
Author of Curiously Spiritual Vampire Tales

12 Days of Christmas: Book Gift Ideas from Ellen! DAY 1

 Clean and shiny, Day One will be bringing you a delightfully funny, uplifting and downright un-put-downable novel entitled, "The Garden Key." This is my very favorite book of 2010, and I just can't seem to hush up about it! Below is my review posted when I finished the read.

The Garden Key, by Angela Dolbear, is a book that could literally change the world. I can say with all honesty that if every man and woman on the planet read this book and let its words sink deep into their souls; when they opened their eyes the following day, they would be transformed. Changed into people who love. Really love. And in a real sense, The Garden Key is about real love.

Promos for The Garden Key entice the reader with comical, tongue-in-cheek, real-life phrases, dialogue and emotions. Honestly, I was convinced by one line from the web site which said something about "lust and cheeseburgers," but rest assured, the promises on the back cover can be trusted absolutely. As I read this book, I did indeed laugh often, and I cried with joy aplenty. I wept most when I reached the last page—do you know why? Because the novel ended.

Selfishly, I wanted it to go on and on and never conclude. As a matter of fact, I enjoyed this book so much (it was literally un-put-down-able), that when I got to the last 30 pages, I forced myself to stop reading. I would not pick it up for fear of finishing it. For over a week, I peeked at it next to my desk, carried it to my room to peek at it as I went to sleep—but I would not read on. I was terrified to see the last page. I was horrified that this wonderful, sweet, delightful, insightful and encouraging book was about to be finished. I have never read a book like this and I thank God that he led me to read it now. I have no doubt in my mind that I will read it over again many times.

And thankfully, the author hinted that she would write another. Praise the Lord.

Ellen C Maze, author Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider

 Purchase the Garden Key:  http://www.amazon.com/The-Garden-Key-ebook/dp/B004OC0456/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1322415454&sr=1-1

Lighting the Kindle Fire

Oh, what a glorious surprise when a dear friend sent me Amazon's Kindle Fire as an early Christmas gift. Most of you know that I have owned a Kindle 3G since Feb. 2011, and I used it all the time. I loved the portability and ease of carrying every book I own on a tiny device. When the Kindle Fire was introduced, suddenly my head was turned. This shiny, flashing, and intelligent machine was going to blow my other Kindle out of the water. Lo and behold, the mailman brought me this fantastic device last week and I have never been happier with a toy!

 

The gift card had a sweet note inside (thank you, Santa Jerry Claus!):

I immediately charged it up and began exploring her various mysteries!

Of course, all of my Kindle books previously-purchased showed up as soon as I registered the device. One-by-one, I downloaded the ones I wanted to read on my Kindle, and the others show up with a tiny arrow, reminding me to download them whenever I'm ready.

The device came with Netflix, and I have a streaming account with them -- BONUS! I watched some Law & Order and a couple of movies the first day. The streaming is seamless and the sound is excellent with or without headphones. Happy happy joy joy!

I can play on Facebook and Surf the 'Net with ease. I even added a free mapquest app so this Kindle can help me if I get lost. I do not own any other Smart devices, so I feel like this one will take the place of an iPhone or other such expense. Excited!

Here is a photo album of Ellen and her Fire, and you can see the affection is evident...

Licking the device is not recommended. 

It's okay to love your Kindle, but don't LOVE your Kindle...

I not only read Amazon books on this new toy, but I real PDF files, too. I uploaded a bunch of PDFs -- mostly of my own novels in progress -- and with the Adobe app (free on Amazon), I can read and mark those all day long. I love it!

Okay, so now what? I am busy writing this blog and have my Kindle fire sitting next to me, playing Pandora radio (another free app that came with the device). This is so awesome!

BOTTOM LINE: Extremely tech savvy people will undoubtedly compare this to the iPad or similar tablets, but for the money and the terrific performance, you just can't beat the Fire.

Here is a link to check out this Kindle Fire for yourself: http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Fire-Amazon-Tablet/dp/B0051VVOB2/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Here are my favorite books for you to get for your Kindle:

Brooklyn NY: A Grim Retrospective by Jerry Castaldo (a gritty memoir of growing up in NY mob territory)

http://www.amazon.com/Brooklyn-NY-Grim-Retrospective-ebook/dp/B004GKMJEK/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider by Ellen C. Maze 99 cents special!!

(a freaky vampire trip with nearly 100 5-star reviews so far)

http://www.amazon.com/Rabbit-Chasing-Rider-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B0047GN9DI/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1322415375&sr=1-1

The Garden Key by Angela Dolbear 

(fantastic, humorous, un-put-downable love story, my favorite book of 2010)

http://www.amazon.com/The-Garden-Key-ebook/dp/B004OC0456/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1322415454&sr=1-1

I hope you enjoy your Kindles and have a super week!

Ode to the Writer with Too Many Novels in Her Head and Not Enough Time

May 24th, 2011, my 5th full-length novel (and my 6th book, including my anthology Feckless) was published by TreasureLine Publishing. Damascus Road has hit the ground running at the same time that my personal life took a totally different route-- divorce reared it's ugly head unexpectedly that same month. Odd how good things and bad things can happen right together, eh?

What now? I have so many more novels to write, two of which are finished and just need a month's tweaking; also a fantastic stand-alone novel about a modern young woman caught up in an ancient battle of gods and demons; a stand-alone vampire novel that reaches into the world of witchcraft and satan worship; and bringing up the rear, four totally adorable children's books, that are nearly ready to publish, save for a small amount of illustration to finish. I have plenty to publish, a willing publisher, so what's the problem?

TIME. I have no time!

Being divorced has recalibrated the way I use my time. Now a single-income family with a dependent teen child, 90% of it is now spent working to earn money for the bills, and the 10% leftover is used to promote my books that are already out. What's a woman to do? Answer: Create her own Company.

In July 2011, I officially opened The Author's Mentor, (Facebook page: LINK) a place where first-time authors and beginner writers can come for advice and info about the publishing industry. Asking about everything from "How do I get published?" to "How much money will I make on my first book?", my clients and I are having a blast peeking into this amazing and ever-changing industry. Evolving to favor the self-published author, the Publishing World is a maze that few can successfully navigate without a mentor, and when we come across something I don't know or haven't experienced, we find the answers together.

Business is good. The Author's Mentor now has more than 20 clients, and since July, have helped to publish more than 15 books and short stories, posting them to Amazon Kindle, Barnes&Noble Nook, and print editions through CreateSpace. See this link to see book covers and links of folks we've helped! LINK

Ode to the writer with less time to write. Don't worry, Rabbit Fans (as my readers are affectionately called)... I am still writing, and before long, you will see RABBIT REDEMPTION and TREE OF LIFE, those books you long for, to continue the series' you've already begun. I love to write and I love to share with you.

Let's all have a beautiful week and make something beautiful with the gifts we've been given!

HUGS and smooches from Alabama,

Ellen C. Maze

BOOK LAUNCH! Free stuff! Uber-exciting "Damascus Road" WOOT!

May 24th, 2011
DAMASCUS ROAD, the second book in the Corescu Chronicles launches today with great fanfare and a super-super psychedelic, epic-win CYBER PARTY!! If you haven't attended one of these, you're missing a strange and enjoyable event!

Book characters are coming forward and answering questions, the author is revealing secrets of the trade as well as hints on future installments, and the publisher is giving away FREE BOOKS!!!!

Ya'll head on over to my "like" page on Facebook. Here's the link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Curiously-Spiritual-Vampire-Tales-by-Ellen-C-Maze/222480511111796
to join the festivities.

If you read this blog AFTER May 24th, come on over anyway. We love our readers and have giveaways frequently right on Facebook! This is one bestselling author who loves her readers!

HUGS AND SMOOCHES
ellen c maze

(LEAVE A COMMENT HERE FROM NOW UNTIL 12 NOON CENTRAL TIME FOR A FREE SIGNED COPY!! I will choose at random from the commenters at noon!!)

If you loathe Facebook and still want to play, visit our publishers blog to enter giveaways: http://novellaunch.weebly.com/blog-of-the-day.html

NEW BOOK "Damascus Road" -- "Quirky Vampire Irks Longsuffering Saint"

For all who have read THE JUDGING (Book One of the Corescu Chronicles), the news is good... the second installment in this 4-part series is coming in one week! DAMASCUS ROAD will launch in print May 24th with Kindle and Nook following a week or so behind.


Did you note the cheeky teasers I pasted on the book cover above?

Poor Tony Agricola... he risked life and limb to keep feckless Hope Brannen safe in Book One, and now he feels the need to find Paul Black and try to help him like he helped Mark. Tony's deluded... Paul doesn't want any help. Cover your neck, Tony; Paul's out for blood and he's as selfish and hedonistic as they come.


And Paul? He was such a nice and obedient servant before he became a vampire... yikes! What a pain in the butt he's become. Trust me, following the storyline between Paul and Tony will make you chuckle nearly as much as make you wince.


Hope Brannen? Clueless, feckless, self-absorbed, and nearly worthless. God may have used her to get Mark and Tony together, but what good is she now? Now that it's all over, she will do whatever it takes and go wherever necessary to reunite with the vampire who dumped her in Book One.


Finally, Mark Corescu. Priest-turned-vampire, Dr. Corescu, is gone--missing. Paul's desperate to find him, Tony wants to put him in the ground, and Hope wants a lover... What a crazy mixed up web we weave when we let Ellen write the tale.


Ya'll go buy this book as soon as possible. I have more to write and I can't do it without your help!


Hugs (not slugs),
Ellen C Maze
ellenmaze@aol.com 
 

VIDEO Author Blog--Ellen correcting actual boo-boos in Proof Galley

Yo!
I mean, Greetings, World-Wide-Interweb!
I decided to do a video blog (vlog-LOL) so I could show you my proof galley of Damascus Road, my newest "baby".
This SHORT AND FUN video contains the following:
1. discussion of grammatical and punctuation errors in my manuscript
2. discussion of how I correct them inside my document on Word
3. discussion on the dozens of novels I am writing simultaneously
4. discussion of how to use funny photos of yourself to make friends
and lastly
5. discussion of my dumb sisters and the awesomeness of their sister (LOL--sister humor)

Please TWEET this with my Tweet-This button if you can!
Hugs and blessings
ellen
(the Hebrew at the end was "Barukh Hashem", "bless the name", a blessing like, "Praise God")

SNOOPY DANCING ON READER COMPLIMENTS!

Many of you know that in about 30 days I will release my sixth book, and my fourth full-length novel through my fantabulous publisher, TREASURELINE.

It is entitled DAMASCUS ROAD and is the sequel to last years hit, THE JUDGING. Before any of my novels go to the publisher, I like to run it through as many editors as I can; some are professional wordsmiths, and others are simply dedicated Rabbit Chasers who help me stay on track.

I want to share with you what has me dancing today. I have heard back from one of my pre-readers and she LOVED  LOVED  LOVED the book. Yayyyyyyyy!

Rabbit Chaser and professional artist Gayla Catrett says (look at Gayla's AMAZING artwork here...):

"You know....when you are doing something whether it be art or writing, you are bound to improve with each successive work. I have watched improvement in my own work; I think that each one is a little bit better. Your books though are a prime example of this. Your first book was good. The story was well thought out and the characters were deep without going overboard. It was good....but compared to this one....well there just is no comparison. Your second book was better than the first...you third better than the second....etc. You continue to improve your storytelling, your style and the characters. At this rate, you will be on the New York Times Best Seller List in no time at all."

See why I'm dancing like Snoopy? A writer pours herself onto paper and then pushes the baby from the nest, hoping to God that her baby is loved by somebody out there... My baby found a friend, and because of these sentiments, I feel braver about sending this new baby out there to the cruel world.

Here is the book's awesome cover (photography by UK Photographer, Luke Gee, graphics and design by Elizabeth E. Little):

 And as you will see, the curious "Horse's Eye" theme will run throughout the series. Here is Books One and Two side-by-side:

 

OHMYGOSHICAN'TWAITTOSHARETHISWITHYOU!!

Bear with me...

it's difficult to dance and type at the same time.

God bless,

Ellen

Should I list a Giveaway for my Novel? (real answers from a real person)

WHEW! SHIPPING DAY!

Word of advice, when you have multiple giveaways simultaneously on different sites, be prepared to spend at least two hours in the family shipping department!

Why do giveaways? Where do I list giveaways for the most punch? Can I afford to do it? How much will it cost me in the end? Your friendly neighborhood Author’s Advocate, Ellen C. Maze, is about to answer these burning questions in

THREE---


TWO---


ONE:


WHY DO GIVEAWAYS? 
I’ll begin the answer to that question by asking: Do you have a million-dollar advertising campaign or a $16K-contracted New York publicist behind your book right now? If your answer is “no,” then a giveaway is for you! A giveaway gets your bookcover in front of people, that’s the short answer. Folks who may never have seen your book before, or even read your name before, have the opportunity to do so when they’re attracted by the delightful words: FREE BOOK! Do you love FREE? So do they! If 200 people enter your giveaway, and you have to send 1 winner a book, you have 199 people who came up empty, but learned about your book just for the chance to win one. That's cheap advertising, and that's good.


WHERE DO I LIST GIVEAWAYS? 
My favorite place to list a giveaway is www.Goodreads.com. If you haven’t, you need to sign up as a Goodreads Author to get the most punch from this account, but if you haven’t or can’t, you can list a giveaway with a common account as well. I also list giveaways on my Facebook group (link—join us! http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=96952574559 , and sometimes on my Twitter account (http://twitter.com/#!/ellenmaze), and often on my blog (http://www.thejudging-ellenmaze.blogspot.com/ ) . It would be neato-keen if you would follow that blog and also join my facebook group. Just sayin’.

CAN I AFFORD TO DO IT?  
If you don’t have the aforementioned money behind you, then, YES, you can afford it. How much is your advertising bill with your NY Publicist? Nothing? Then spend whatever you can on grass-roots promotion. It doesn’t have to cost much, and I look for as much free advertising as I can. Besides giveaways, you will need to seek out reviewers, bloggers, and friends to interview you to post all over the internet. Most of this is absolutely free, and your name and book are made known all over the globe!

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST ME IN THE END? 
I’ll give you some good guesstimates. 

• Say, you post a giveaway on Goodreads for 5 copies of your novel. Run it for at least a month for minimum exposure. I run mine 1 month, and usually have around 1000 people enter to win. 

• After it ends, Goodreads chooses the winners and sends you their addresses. You can keep the shipping costs down by selecting only USA or certain countries. Shipping one book Priority Mail to any other country than USA costs arounf $14, so keep that in mind. Shipping one book within the country, Media Mail, costs from $2.77-$3.23 or so (much more affordable!).

• YOUR COST: how much is your novel at-cost? Say it’s $4.77 per copy for you to buy it from the publisher/printer. Multiply by 5 copies, you’re out $23.85. Now add shipping fees, $2.77 x 5 = $13.85. Add the cost of the books to the shipping and you’re out: 37.70, and at least 1000 people have learned about your book. This is such a bargain! It costs less if you promise fewer books, but this is a good formula for getting your brand out there.

Lastly, here is something I truly believe and I want you to let it sink deep down into your subconscious: You have the creative spark, given to you by your Creator. He expects you to use it, develop it, and make the world a better place with it. I don’t know what better is, no one person or group can tell us that with 100% certainty, but I believe in this spark and I believe in you. You think the competition is tough? Well, it is, but that doesn’t have to cripple you. Go write, make it your best work, and get it published. Never give up, don’t listen to naysayers, and surround yourself with a support group of authors and writers who love the craft and have genuinely kind hearts.

I’m done.

Hug me.

Ellen C Maze
Author of Curiously Spiritual Vampire Tales at http://www.ellencmaze.com

What now? FECKLESS doing great, THE JUDGING, too...

So, my first anthology, FECKLESS (link) is smoking up the charts, tickling some, freaking others out--but still bringing in great reviews. THE JUDGING, Corescu Chronicles Book One (link) has 16 5-star reviews so far. It's also creeping people out, but in a good way. They say it is much, much darker than RABBIT:CHASING BETH RIDER (link), but it's hard for me to see, since I wrote the thing. I'm so happy that they love it and can't put it down, but some of them have a hard time sleeping at night. Sorry...

...what now?

Currently, I am helping my husband put the finishing touches on his first novel, WISP (link), and also editing/proofing my daughter's first novel, REIGN OF SHADOW (book one of three) (link), as well as filling art orders that come in periodically.

See, before I was a novelist, I painted portraits of animals for a living. I stopped advertising, but God still sends me clients by word of mouth whenever we need a little extra cheddar (thank You, Abba)... So that's what I'm up to.

Future plans? In March, I'll pick back up on writing Book Three in the RABBIT TRILOGY, this installment is entitled, RABBIT REDEMPTION (link). I'll also be proofing and sending off to the professionals to proof, Book Two of the Corescu Chronicles, DAMASCUS ROAD. And I'm collecting tales from other authors for a new anthology that I plan to publish around Halloween this year...

I have my plate full, so please read my books, write to me, keep me busy, and I promise to create new novels for you to sink your teeth into...

Huggles to all of you!
God bless
ellen

ELLEN CAN'T HELP HERSELF -- I'm giving away 5 books on Facebook!

Join my facebook group, write anything on the wall, and be entered to win one of 5 of my books! Winner's choice of anything I've published. Yay! What are you waiting for? Giveaway runs until Feb. 13.

Follow this link to join, enter, and win!
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=96952574559&ref=ts
FACT: Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider is the #1 Customer-Ranked HORROR novel on Amazon Kindle! Weird, eh? Yay!

FECKLESS TALES, Responsible Authors: THE STORYTELLERS

THE TITLE: Feckless, Tales of Supernatural, Paranormal, and Downright Presumptuous Ilk

THE STORIES: The tales range from the extreme, the paranormal, the supernatural, spooky, creepy, suspicious, unpredictable psychopaths, and even the romantic.

THE STORYTELLERS: The authors come to us from many different genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult, Paranormal, Christian Horror, Mystery/Thriller, Romance, True Crime, and Poetic Prose.

Yet, every single tale features one or more feckless characters; someone who just can't seem to succeed, someone who never gets it quite right, or just can't catch a break no matter how hard they try. This book should tickle fancies across the board, and will frighten the sensitive-hearted, so tell your friends.

Our list of authors:
(click this link to read up on each writer):

► Teric Darken

► Angela Dolbear

► Kat Heckenbach

► Krisi Keley

► Elizabeth E. Little

► Stuart Loudon

► Ellen C. Maze

►Kevin R. Maze

►Pete Turner

Yummy, yummy, to my tummy. Now, I need to get back to editing these things. I love my job.
~Ellen C Maze

FECKLESS TALES making me smile...COMING SOON!

ZIPPITY DOO DAH~~ZIPPITY AY, Feckless Tales is well on its way...

Update: We're in the editing stage and moving into formatting. We're having a little fun with the formatting, and I think you'll love it. You can follow the FECKLESS link to see what I mean...


I've just added to our exclusive club of feckless authors: a terrific Christian Horror Writer by the name of Pete Turner. I love Pete's tagline: "Christian Horror Satan Fears!" His first novel, Whisper a Scream, is making a big splash. One Amazon reviewer writes, "Excellent read.Twists and turns until the end. Innovative mixture of Christianity, horror, mystery and demonic sacrifice. Do not expect anyone in this story to conform to stereotypes. This book brings life in contemporary rural Appalachia into mainstream Americana as professionals deal with sinister secrets in the world of macabre. Warning: this book is scary as hell and should only be read in the daytime."  Pete is bringing two terrific tales to our collection, and you can check him out at http://peteturner.webs.com/

Our feckless line-up is impressive, and in the book, we'll give each author a page for his bio and bibliography. You want to get to know them, right?

The Storytellers

► Teric Darken

► Angela Dolbear

► Krisi Keley

► Elizabeth E. Little

► Stuart Loudon

► Ellen C. Maze

►Kevin R. Maze

►Pete Turner 

We're shooting for a February release, so stay tuned...
HUGGLES ~ Ellen, your feckless Editor

ELLEN'S TOP TEN BOOKS READ IN 2010...*win*

Howdy Rabbit Chasers, Friends, and the Occasional Anonymous Interloper,

Here it is, January, and I am looking back on all of the books I read in 2010. Writing novels is my main hobby, but it is necessary and useful to also read other people’s work along the way. It keeps your creative juices flowing and gives your brain a rest between writing spells.

Compared to some people, I didn’t read that many books. I read a total of 45 books in 2010. Six of those were non-fiction, theology or writing-aids based. The rest of them were fiction—and the genres are all over the map. I read my very first sci-fi novel, as well as my first romance/erotic *blush* novel. I read my first ever space opera and my first natural monster (non supernatural) book. It was a year of firsts, and a year of terrific discoveries. I took something away from every book I read, but the list below represents the books that moved me beyond my reading chair. These books transported my soul, my spirit; they made me laugh, and they made me cry. These are the books I confidently say, ELLEN RECOMMENDS THESE WHOLLY FOR ALL READERS!

Have a look, click the link, and investigate these books. You might find one you like too!

1. THE GARDEN KEY                        angela dolbear  
"O-M-GEE, funny, sweet, touched me deeply"
2. ON THE SOUL OF A VAMPIRE    krisi keley  
"Consummate Vampire fiction, must-read for vampire fans"
3. A STAR CURIOUSLY SINGING    kerry nietz  
"I fell in love at pg 1and couldn't put this down."
4. K-I-L-L FM : MUSIC TO DIE FOR teric darken
"Thrilling and full of reference to my fav. music!"
5. FUTURE HOPE                                david gelber  
"Amazing peek at an alternate Eden, flipped me out!"
6. PORTAL HUNTERS                        david furr 
"Mind-twisting portal technology--fascinated me!"
7. DARK JUSTICE                               donnie light
"Almost had a heart attack from the stress of the chase!"
8. TEETH                                              timothy dean 
"Giant, man-eater lurking with intriguing foreign lands."
9. AFTER EVENTIDE                          catherine olson
"Quirky, original, and downright FUN."
10. 33 A.D.                                             david mcafee  
"He had me at the first word."

2011 should see 4 more books come out from Ellen C Maze (that's me!)
We're expecting:
FECKLESS: Tales of Supernatural, Paranormal, and Downright Presumptuous Ilk (Feb. 2011)
DAMASCUS ROAD, The Corescu Chronicles Book Two (Summer 2011)
RABBIT REDEMPTION, Book Three of the Rabbit Trilogy (Fall 2011)
and
INDWELT, a new stand-alone paranormal adventure (Dec. 2011)

NOW, LET'S GO READ SOME MORE BOOKS!
I have 16 books in my to-read pile already...I better get cookin.

THE JUDGING creates a BUZZZZZ of its own...

READER REVIEW 1/3/11 -- “What a wild concept!!! A priest as a vampire vigilante! How in the world did you figure this one up and run SO WELL with the idea!??? I loved this book. I think it's one that I've read the fastest in a long time!! Ellen, when's the next one coming out! I'm DYING for it!!”

Sweet friend JUST learning about my book...

LaSheeta and her copy. Her name inspired one of the minor characters...

This is a posed photo when I asked the window girl to hold it up and she said YES! sweet!

The author's mom and #1 Fan

Feedback on my newest novel, THE JUDGING, is filtering slowly in. “Slowly,” I say, because I am an impatient person. The novel came out Nov. 29th or so, and here it is a month later, and only 4 people have posted reviews on Amazon. I’ve sold quite a few copies, so I have to be patient and allow folks time to read. I know that I sometimes take months to read a book, so ELLEN--CHILL OUT!

But the truth is, I am so excited to see how the book is received. It has a completely different pace and feel than RABBIT: CHASING BETH RIDER, which was an instant success and bestseller in the first few months, that I do not consider THE JUDGING to be a “gimme” at all. Thankfully, the first few reviews are glowing, and my heart rests a little easier. Let’s face it, I want to entertain folks and I want them to love my book. That’s normal, right?

Goodreads ran a giveaway for 35 days to win a free signed copy of THE JUDGING. 922 folks entered the drawing and the winners were announced today. CONGRATULATIONS!

They were:

GAYLA C. in GEORGIA

MATTHEW C. in MARYLAND

ABBEY S. in ONTARIO, CANADA

WILLIAM R. in ARKANSAS

DANIELLE W. in BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA

I hope everyone who reads this blog will give THE JUDGING a whirl. It is available in paperback, and every conceivable eBook configuration for every machine and device. Get links at www.ellencmaze.com.


HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!!

O-M-GEE!! Coupon to get RABBIT and THE JUDGING 1/2 off on Smashwords!

How fun!

My publisher, TreasureLine Publishing & TreasureLine Books, is offering a 1/2-off coupon for RABBIT: CHASING BETH RIDER & THE JUDGING on Smashwords! If you are a Smashwords customer, or wish you were, use these codes on these links to buy these great books for less than $3.00!!

Remember that we are STOKED to see RABBIT: CHASING BETH RIDER as the #1 Ranked Horror novel on Amazon Kindle several weeks in a row. Folks are really "getting" it and enjoying it a the same time. Yay!

The Judging's Coupon code is TU49R - $2.49
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/32283?ref=TreasureLineBooks
Rabbit's Coupon code is CJ63H (not case sensitive) - $2.49
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/33156?ref=TreasureLineBooks
Don't be shy -- please feel free to contact me anytime via email at ellenmaze@aol.com and/or visit me at my official website, www.ellencmaze.com.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD READ :-)
~ellen

"Hobbit Schmobbit, Bring on the Rabbit!" ~ RCBR #4 on Amazon Kindle!

Fleeting but beautiful, my first novel, Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider, was found to be #4 on the Amazon Kindle / Fantasy Best rated list, based on reader ratings. I can't say that I understand how that all works, but just to be #4 and have Tolkien's The Hobbit #6 is enough to swell a little lady's head. Don't worry, I'll come back down. These ratings change every 24 hours, so tomorrow could be different. But it is still a thrill!

I am sending out a huge THANK YOU to everyone who supports my writing efforts. I am only able to write because of you and I will never forget that!

For those who don't know, my newest novel, The Judging, came out November 29th. It is the first book in a separate series, but readers of Rabbit will recognize it as the novel Beth Rider wrote that got her in so much trouble with the Rakum (vampires). See this (and all my books) here: www.ellencmaze.com

WINNERS ANNOUNCED !! "The Judging" Contest/Giveaway

In September, we ran a Blog Contest/Giveaway
where entrants jumped through a few hoops in hopes of winning one of 5 copies of my newest Christian Vampire thriller, THE JUDGING. The five people who won are listed in this fancy picture and will be receiving their books before the end of the year.

A HEARTFELT THANKS to everyone who participated. It's because of you that I have the nerve to even attempt to write a story.

Hugs to you all,

Ellen C. Maze