In Miniature Style II Sales!

Buy a PRINT version of IN MINIATURE STYLE II this weekend (March 9-12) get a free Valentine's screen kit. See CAV Miniatures at online mini show page.

* The ebook version is also 50% off to March 10 at Smashwords.

* Don't forget to vote for IN MINIATURE STYLE II for Best Miniatures Product at Miniatures.About.com Voting ends March 21.

Do Knights Exist? Yes, says Jan Fischer Wade...

Today I welcome Jan Fischer Wade, author of the tantalizing VEILED VIRTUES.

One question: Do Knights Exist? Fischer Wade is quick to answer:

Yes, modern day English knights do exist...

and Paige desperately needs their protection to survive!

When Paige Stewart left America to house-sit in England, her only thoughts were to get away from her controlling mother and to have fun. Little did she know that her working holiday would turn into a battle between good and evil, or that she would be the epicenter of that battle. She certainly didn’t expect to be swept off her feet by a modern-day English knight. But when blood appeared on her keyboard and she discovered her childhood scars bleeding, her holiday took a turn for the eerie and dangerous, and when she ventured into the metaphysical shop run by Nathaniel Brightmore, she found much more than tarot cards and crystals.

Excerpt of VEILED VIRTUES:

Part One

Paige

“The greatest virtues are those which are most useful to other persons.” – Aristotle

Prologue

I remind you, Brothers, our entitlement is clear. Long ago, vast lands were unjustly taken from our forefathers by an insufferable monarch whom they unsuccessfully sought to remove from power. As punishment, their blood was spilled, and their property given to loyal members of the royal court. Our duty to our ancestors to reclaim our rightful wealth and power remains to this day. It is our destiny.

The Brotherhood’s destiny depends upon our skills and power, bestowed upon us by the Dark Master. He gifted those with the power of a third eye to see beyond present reality, those with the talent to harness the energy of the spirit world, and those endowed with commanding and formidable physical prowess. The fortunate ones who possess these talents are obligated to craft their skill to its highest potential for our uses, ensuring our power grows stronger with each decade.

To fulfill our destiny, we have the power to claim others as our own whom we, by blood-given right, must seek out and use for our empowerment. We live among the weak only to identify those for whom our Brotherhood has a use, and those whom we must suppress. Our rights supersede the insignificance of a life that does not further our goals. Each of our Brothers maintains the responsibility for protecting the confidential nature of the obligation our existence and purpose has placed on us. Society knows there is power in numbers. Thus, to disguise our numbers is to veil our power. May the dark master bless us with the forces to secure our destiny.

Written in the Scroll of Dominion in the year 1787 in Badenfield, England By Robert F. Shickley, Eighth Red Lord of the Brotherhood of Cerberus

Chapter One

A picture is worth a thousand words. At least, that’s how the old saying goes. But the uninvited pictures which invaded my mind usually left me speechless. Often of unknown persons and places, they are a constant reminder that I’m different. I wasn’t always like that, though.

The morning after my high school graduation, I wandered around our house, trying to figure out what to do with myself. I sauntered into the kitchen, where my mom poured coffee into her travel mug before she left for work.

“Quit moping around the house. Why don’t you call one of your friends to come over for a slumber party?”

“Mom, I’m almost nineteen. We don’t call it a slumber party anymore.” I rolled my eyes. “And besides, all of my friends are on the campout you wouldn’t let me go to. Remember?”

She simply sighed and then left for work, closing the front door quietly behind her.

Why did my mom have to ruin everything? She made her way onto my shit list the previous day, and my annoyance with her had not waned.

Even a well-planned-out appeal to my dad about the camping trip didn’t work. I was leaving in a few short weeks to house sit in England by myself for the rest of the summer. Who was she to tell me I couldn’t go be with my friends in a tent for one harmless night?

I couldn’t wait to get out of Charlottesville and away from my mom. Two whole months of peace from her would be refreshing. It seemed like her life revolved around keeping tabs on my life. I don’t know why she didn’t trust me. It was essentially a miracle she’d finally agreed to my England trip, because generally, only divine intervention would have made that happen. It was as if my mom was scared for me to be out of her sight and control.

Thankfully, my dad came through for me on the England trip and basically put his foot down. He insisted it could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity I shouldn’t miss out on. I definitely looked forward to so much independence away from Mom’s suffocating presence.


** Watch the trailer:

In Miniature Style II Sale! And don't forget to vote!

I just noticed that the IN MINIATURE STYLE II eBook is part of Smashwords' 50% off sale. Sale ends March 10. Please be sure to add a review after you purchase. Thanks!

And don't forget to vote for the book for BEST NEW MINIATURES PRODUCT at Miniatures.About.com - voting ends March 21.

New Artisans in Miniature (AIM) 40th Ruby Issue!

The beautiful new issue of the Artisans in Miniature (AIM) Magazine is now available.

The "Ruby" 40th issue offers a variety of beautiful projects and miniatures, especially red items for Valentine's Day!

Included are photos of my two new screens, a 1" scale and a tabletop version featuring vintage Valentines based on the pattern from my book, IN MINIATURE STYLE II.

** Download the issue via the AIM blog.

Farewell, Davy Jones!

What a shock to hear that one of my favorites, Davy Jones of The Monkees died today of a heart attack at 66. (Hard enough to think of so many of these guys at that age!)

So glad I got to see them last June, 2011 before they cancelled their reunion tour! (Photo: (c) C. Verstraete 2011)

In Miniature Style II Finalist Voting

The finalists are up for Best New Product at Miniatures.About.com. Love to get your votes! The online poll is open until March 1.






See details for In Miniature Style II Available in print and various ebook formats (PDF, Nook, Smashwords/Kindle, iPad, etc.).

IN MINIATURE STYLE II Finalist at About.com Readers' Choice Awards!

In Miniature Style II (available in print and ebook) was chosen as a finalist for the About.com Readers' Choice Awards for Best Miniature Product!

The next round of voting begins on Feb. 22 to March 21. Stay tuned for details!

2011 Agatha Awards

The 2011 Agatha Awards honoring "traditional mysteries" typified by the works of author Agatha Christie and others are given to books and ebooks published in the US. The winner from among the 2011 entries will be awarded at the annual Malice Domestic convention, April 27-29 at the Hyatt, Bethesda, MD.

Agatha Award Nominees 2011

Best Novel:
The Real Macaw by Donna Andrews (Minotaur)
The Diva Haunts the House by Krista Davis (Berkley)
Wicked Autumn by G.M. Malliet (Minotaur)
Three-Day Town by Margaret Maron (Grand Central Publishing)
A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny (Minotaur)

Best First Novel:
Dire Threads by Janet Bolin (Berkley)
Choke by Kaye George (Mainly Murder Press)
Learning to Swim by Sara J. Henry (Crown)
Who Do, Voodoo? by Rochelle Staab (Berkley)
Tempest in the Tea Leaves by Kari Lee Townsend (Berkley)

Best Nonfiction:
Books, Crooks and Counselors: How to Write Accurately About Criminal Law and Courtroom Procedure by Leslie Budewitz (Linden)
Agatha Christie: Murder in the Making: More Stories and Secrets from Her Notebooks by John Curran (Harper)
On Conan Doyle: Or, The Whole Art of Storytelling by Michael Dirda (Princeton University Press)
Wilkie Collins, Vera Caspary and the Evolution of the Casebook Novel by A. B. Emrys (McFarland)
The Sookie Stackhouse Companion by Charlaine Harris (Ace)

Best Short Story:
"Disarming" by Dana Cameron, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine - June 2011
"Dead Eye Gravy" by Krista Davis, Fish Tales: The Guppy Anthology (Wildside Press)
"Palace by the Lake" by Daryl Wood Gerber, Fish Tales: The Guppy Anthology (Wildside Press)
"Truth and Consequences" by Barb Goffman, Mystery Times Ten (Buddhapuss Ink)
"The Itinerary" by Roberta Isleib, MWA Presents the Rich and the Dead (Grand Central Publishing)

Best Children's/Young Adult:
Shelter by Harlan Coben (Putnam)
The Black Heart Crypt by Chris Grabenstein (Random House)
Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby (Scholastic Press)
The Wizard of Dark Street by Shawn Thomas Odyssey (EgmontUSA)
The Code Busters Club, Case #1: The Secret of the Skeleton Key by Penny Warner (EgmontUSA)

Best Historical Novel:
Naughty in Nice by Rhys Bowen (Berkley)
Murder Your Darlings by J.J. Murphy (Signet)
Mercury's Rise by Ann Parker (Poisoned Pen Press)
Troubled Bones by Jeri Westerson (Minotaur)
A Lesson in Secrets by Jacqueline Winspear (Harper)

Happy Valentine's Day and Valentine's Blog Hop!

Happy Valentine's Day!


Today, I'm sharing two passions - miniatures and writing. Here is a small scene containing some items made by my friend, Kitty. I made the larger cakes and small red Valentine box (yes there are cards inside!)


To celebrate as part of the Valentine Day Blog Hop, comment to be entered to win a copy of my light horror ebook, THE KILLER VALENTINE BALL.

Jess reluctantly goes out on a blind date... a date that ends up being a night she'll never forget...
Light horror with a touch of humor!

Valentine's Day Miniatures

A few of the minis my friend Kitty made and sent to me for Valentine's Day. She's so great at making all this dainty stuff!