Val’s House of Musings: A Mixed Genre Short Story Collection
by Valerie Willis
November 1, 2023
Short fiction, featuring Florida and the Fantastic!
Throughout her career, award-winning, paranormal fantasy romance author Valerie Willis has been collecting her thoughts in short fiction. Some of these tales you may know, published in anthologies, blogs, or even featured as contest winners. Others are hidden gems that are no longer satisfied to collect dust, including some deleted scenes from The Cedric Series.
Readers will encounter myths and monsters from all over the world before being pulled back close to home, or in this case, Florida. If that wasn’t enough, find love in unusual places from the sea to cemetery.
Val’s House of Musings is the first short story collection pulled together for fans and new readers to savor a little at a time.
The General Worldbuilding Guide
by JM Paquette
November 1, 2023
As a writer, I like to think I know everything about my characters and the world they inhabit.
But do I? I certainly don’t always recall those details—and definitely not when I need them most. Cue the dive down an internet rabbit hole for the next hour instead of continuing to write my draft. There’s a time for writing, and there’s a time for worldbuilding—and they aren’t the same!
Use this book to build your world in all its glory, so that the next time those townsfolk are suspicious of strangers, you know what happened the last time they trusted someone who walked into town from the world beyond. Just imagine, when you sit down to write, already knowing the answers to questions like:
What is that song on the radio at the bar?
How long does it take to drive from Town A to Town B?
Who established that law about bathtubs in the street?
Where is the best place to get a burger in this town?
When did that family take over the monarchy?
Tackling everything from creation myths and cultural practices to building relationships and measuring time, this worldbuilding guide has the questions and activities you need to help you craft a believable world for your story.
The Prisoner of the Dead
by Megan Mackie
November 5, 2023
Only when he loses his freedom does he find hope…
Baron is a man from nowhere in a land that has forgotten its name where the dead walk. After killing a strange man in cold blood, Baron finds himself imprisoned—and inextricably tied to an even stranger woman, Thalia.
Thalia harbors a terrible secret. The daughter of immortal scientists, she knows that the zombie outbreak is cyclical; those infected will live again, and generations later, a new outbreak will run its course. And she alone might hold the key to ending the vicious cycle once and for all.
But only if this unlikely pair can survive the next outbreak…
Someone to Marry
by Robert Lewis
November 6, 2023
A saboteur is somehow the least of this wannabe wedding planner’s problems.
Mark and Hunter have their hands full filming adult content, rebranding their website, and deciding whether to join Lexi Luscious in her latest project. Oh, and they’re getting married in one week. Thankfully, they have their dutiful assistant Paris to keep them on track and ensure their wedding goes off without a hitch.
When it comes to the menu, Paris enlists the help of Daniel, the sexy and flirtatious house cleaner. Daniel is a talented cook, but it turns out he is also adept at saving Paris’s life—both figuratively and literally.
As seemingly random events jeopardize the wedding, an ominous note and flash drive arrives from Daddy Twink. Paris wonders whether it is truly a coincidence or an act of sabotage. As the wedding falls apart, Paris must pull off the impossible by gathering all the grooms’ friends and family together to ensure they have the dream wedding they deserve.
Severed Squadron
by PC Nottingham
November 11, 2023
Even badass vigilantes need mechanics.
Joka Bunear is just a lowly grease monkey in a gang full of bigger and stronger alien vigilantes. Not to mention a human. To level the playing field, she invents a spacesuit and is finally invited on a field mission … as a joke. After the mission is sabotaged and the gang goes into hiding, Joka intercepts a message meant for her boss regarding a kidnapped scientist, but the leader refuses to pursue the lead.
Joka joined this gang because she believes in helping the galaxy’s downtrodden. With the most annoying crewmate tagging along, Joka steals a ship to pursue the lead. A simple stop to refuel turns into a terrorist encounter when they realize they are not the only ones pursuing the scientist. Little does Joka know, the scientist’s research has garnered dark fruit that will endanger everyone.
Joka will return to the gang a legend or not at all. Fans of spaceship dogfights, sci fi horrors, and galactic exploration will love SEVERED SQUADRON. It’s like Calamity Jane vs. ISIS amidst Dr. Frankenstein’s fever dream—if he’d dreamt about aliens.
I’m Engaged to Mothman
by Paige Lavoie
November 13, 2023
He’s a cryptid and faerie prince, but she’s just Heather.
When 23-year-old Heather started dating Mothman, she knew she was in for some surprises. Getting transported to the faerie realm he was banished from? Yeah, that was not what she expected. Turns out those moth wings belonged to a faerie prince with a dark past.
The former influencer must trade her quiet #cottagecore aesthetic for a lavish #royalcore week, full of lavish social functions, ballgowns, and secrets. Plus, she’ll have to bond with Moth’s mother, the queen of Eclipsica_,_ and Moth’s sister, who’s … scary.
With Moth’s old friends resurfacing, and his memories returning, Heather begins to question their future. As he sneaks out of bed each night, she starts to wonder whether their cozy cottage in the woods can compete with a castle.
The Secrets of Water
by Shoshana Edwards
November 14, 2023
“With The Secrets of Water, Shoshana Edwards takes us deep into the darkness of American folklore while creating genuine, contemporary thrills. Absolutely terrific!” —Jonathan Maberry, NY Times bestselling author of Ink and V Wars.
“Shoshana Edwards has a lot to say, and she says it with meticulous insight and evocative language.” —David Gerrold
The tranquil waters of Harper’s Landing hide an ancient evil.
Jim Burch, Sheriff of Harper’s Landing, must solve a deadly mystery in his once-quiet town. Animals and pets, a visitor, and many children have been killed under mysterious circumstances. Sheriff Burch loves Harper’s Landing; the townspeople help each other through the good times and the bad—bringing food, lending a hand, and showing up for each other.
Jim knows how to be a detective. He is trained to remain calm and search for clues and evidence in order to solve cases. Except, the circumstances of the deaths defy logic. It will take all of his knowledge—and faith—to solve the secret hidden in the water of Harper’s Landing.If you love whodunits with a twist and stories rich with complex characters set in a town rife with magic and mystery, The Secrets of Water is the book for you!
The Vampires’ Curse
by Travis Richey
November 15, 2023
“I thought love was more powerful than nature.”
Since he was turned centuries ago, Joseph has watched the world of man change, grow, and decay. He grieves human lovers as they grow old and die, but the curse of Decimus keeps him from turning them. The odds are against him; more often than not, the vampire’s kiss only hastens death, and Joseph is no murderer. After inadvertently turning Alexander, who basks in human destruction, Joseph swears he will never love again… and he certainly will never consume human blood.
Joseph’s oath is tested by a chance meeting with David, a young human man for whom his heart unexpectedly yearns. However, their passion is threatened by a blood-crazed Alexander, who finds Joseph’s burgeoning relationship repulsive. When David is threatened, will Joseph risk Decimus to save him?
Roselia and the Ancient Warriors
by J.B. Moonstar
November 24, 2023
“The rescue must be tonight!”
When horseshoe crabs were stolen from a protected wildlife area, mermaid Roselia knew she had to do something—and fast! Seeking help from a large dragon and a human friend, she created a plan to save them.
Join our trio in a race against time to find the captured horseshoe crabs, help them escape, and lead them on a journey back to the ocean. After all their efforts, they find the poacher waiting at the finish line to recapture the crabs! Will they be able to make it back home after all?
Orenda
by T.S. Simmons
November 27, 2023
What do YOU value above all else?
Orenda is a First Nations Iroquois belief that all natural objects and people possess a mystical energy. It is the force that allows us to effect change in the world and manifest transformation.
In this gripping sequel to The 45th Parallel, Caitlin and her husband Gio travel to Canada to take on new roles as ambassadors for the ACC. Inclusive, intelligent, and aware, Caitlin proves herself a natural leader. Respected by her people, she endeavors to bridge the gap between the communities, offering them new opportunities that will benefit generations to come.
But as Caitlin and Gio build their new family, an old enemy resurfaces, threatening their newfound security. Loyalties are challenged, betrayal leads to unspeakable tragedy, and the ultimate act of revenge forces Caitlin to draw on her orenda before it threatens to destroy them both.
