CHRISTMAS REQUIEM (Excerpt)

"She pulled her purse out of the satchel rescued from the trash dumpster. The vinyl was scratched and torn, and the zipper had disappeared long before she claimed it. But it was large enough for her purse and a change of clothes and shoes for her evening's part time job. She dug for the thin billfold buried under several bills marked past due. From one of the slots, she found the purpose of the search. Tears threatened when she punched in the phone number on the card to verify the amount of food stamps available. Not much. But perhaps enough for a decent Christmas dinner. She had tried to prepare her children for a lean holiday this year after her job ended. However, even with the extra work and food stamps, other obligations would cancel a nice juicy turkey and all the trimmings. Boiled chicken legs and stovetop stuffing would be the main course. A can of sweet potatoes were in the cupboard, but there would be no marshmallows or pecans. And pumpkin pie? That was only a picture in a magazine."

Requiem = Sad songs. Little hope. Depression. Misery. Many are feeling the effects of the economy this year. We remind ourselves to be thankful for what we have and pray for better times. However, our thoughts return to the present circumstances hovering to dim the most beautiful of holidays. We wonder if there are yet such things as miracles to save us from more despair?

Christmas Requiem, a holiday short story now on ebook sites with a printed version on CreateSpace. 

http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Requiem-ebook/dp/B006D5OHIC

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Christmas-Requiem-ebook/dp/B006D5OHIC     

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/107975

https://www.createspace.com/4006776

(Or check catalogues on Nook, Sony, Apple, Kobo, and others) 

MISTRESS OF THE KEEP Time Travel Historical Romance

Just released on Amazon.

Has a friend ever disappeared without advising others of a planned trip never be heard from again? It is recorded that past lives is a possibility. Deja vu is a term often used to describe a feeling of being in a certain place in another time, while destiny is said to be the final calling to resolve past life issues and put the matters to rest. Is it probable that time travel is the answer? Mistress of the Keep is a time travel historical romance with characters whose basic needs are the same as others. Should centuries separating them be an issue? Not in this instance. Adult content. Approximately 45,000 words. Please Like my book's page so I will know I have had visitors.♥
http://www.amazon.com/Mistress-of-the-Keep-ebook/dp/B009TWUIV6

Presently, I am working on another historical romance, The Mercenary and the Archer (who has a real attitude). This one has been fun because the heroine is someone the hero must learn to tame or at least convince her to keep her mouth shut. Watch for a December release.

Happy Autumn to All! Really pleasant temperatures in Texas.

THE ABBOTT SAGA - Box Set of Two. Yes, 2!

The Abbott Saga combines two lengthy historical romance novels now under one title. Romance, fantasy, paranormal...they are all there. The reader will receive approximately 200,000 words in e-book form for leisurely evenings or whenever time is found for reading. Adult content. Regional dialect.

Shadows o'er Killarney, set in 1789 Ireland on the heels of the Irish Revolution, begins when a recent young widow travels from the stark Irish coast to live with her aunt and uncle in the lavish garden spot of Killarney. However, trouble soon finds its way to the area. Jenny's fears of the future are quieted when a small creature is discovered in the forest near the lough. His tiny star burst eyes are full of promise as he tells her a treasure is coming by water to endure forever. Gold? Treasures are not always found in chests, Goliath tells her. Jonathan and a close friend are dispatched by England's king to Ireland to do the king's business by asking the Irish to join England's cause and have a voice in parliament. When Jonathan steps onto the Emerald Isle, he is in no way prepared for the chaos from a fiery tempered red head who holds on to her cultural values when he tries to invoke his on her. However, this is a romance, and romance does develop between the two. But an accident threatens the happily ever after when Jonathan thinks he will never again be a complete man. It is up to Jenny to convince him she knows everything will turn into rainbows...of course. Goliath told her so.

The companion novel to Shadows is Pipes in the Mist. Without giving away everything in the first novel, the Abbotts move to England and have a daughter they name Heather. She is special in that she evidently inherited her mother's gift of intuition and sight. An example is seeing swirls of mist whirl around a young man from Scotland and the "voice" assures her 'this is the one.' But her dream shatters and becomes a nightmare. Her world is suddenly turned upside down because of Stirling's problems with his laird father and the clan. It's complicated!
Romance. Fantasy. Paranormal. All with backdrops of  beautiful emerald Ireland, roaming hills of England, and the stark mountain peaks of Scotland. Available on Amazon and Smashwords. Soon on Noon, Apple, Sony, Kobo, and others. Two for one. What a deal for $5.99!
http://www.amazon.com/The-Abbott-Saga-ebook/dp/B009LSMH58

CHRISTMAS REQUIEM

Scheduled to be available in print by the middle of October.

Often a book is read and the wish to be gifted is not always possible if it is an e-Book. Christmas Requiem is be the perfect holiday gift to wrap and put under the tree. Modestly priced for a paperback ($4.99), the storyline is about those who have little to give but have given so much. Watch for the printed version on Amazon and CreateSpace.

http://www.amazon.com/Christman-Requiem-ebook/dp/B006D5OHIC

TIME LOST Paranormal Mystery Short Story

What a wonderful way to begin Fall. A new short story for an entertaining quick read.

The phone call tilts Jennifer’s world. Her father is dead. Possible homicide. She has not seen him for ten years and is appalled at the deplorable changes in his lifestyle. But murdered? For what? Her constant indivisible companion urges her to proceed with care. The young detective continues to find evidence to prove all is not as it seems, while Jennifer yearns to regain years of time lost with her father.

A tender story, there are some sensitive scenes during the crime investigation, although nothing explicitly graphic. The story takes place near Chicago. A short read--about 12,860 words. Enjoy!

http://www.amazon.com/Time-Lost-ebook/dp/B009F7T25S

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/238457

ROMANCES? Love 'em!

Contemporary, historical, time travel, mystery fantasy, paranormal. A variety of e-book romance short stories, novellas, and full length novels are listed on my website, http://sherryboardman.com. Also, seasonal and children's items are available. Best sellers Portal to Loch Doon and The Other Side of Midnight. Links are provided on the site to take you straight to the books' pages on Amazon, Smashwords, or search for them on Barnes & Noble, Sony, Apple, and other noted e-book stores. Check out my new time travel historical romance, The Mistress of the Keep. I think it's another winner. 

The seasons are changing. Get ready for some indoor entertainment!

E-Books vs. Traditional

My whole life I have read. The numbers of bookshelves filled with mostly historical romance paperbacks are almost embarrassing. I must begin boxing them up to donate to nursing homes, hospitals, assisted living...anywhere they might entertain others who have little to do. However, each one of them seems to be an award for taking the time to sit and enjoy myself when the moments came. Reread? Hardly ever. I remember every storyline.

Now, a transition has arrived. Millions of books are online internationally. Mine among them. I am proud to be called an indie (independent writer/publisher). Why the popularity? Convenience is one reason. Browsing is accomplished at one’s own pace. Often, the blurb (synopsis) is more detailed, and, almost always, a portion of the book is available for preview. Plus, the prices are an enticement for readers. I picked up a paperback at our local super-center the other day and was amazed to see it was almost $7.00 for less than 300 pages (maybe 75,000 words). Most of that size sells for $3.99 or less online. The Kindle Fire has set Amazon’s reading audience ablaze. Other vendors who offer e-books now have competitive brands of e-readers available. Most have the capacity of loading up to 500 books with online libraries to store them until no longer wanted. Why should anyone again purchase a traditional paperback?

Many of us are just old fashioned, I suppose. I still enjoy holding a book in my hands, trying to keep the spine creased open enough to read the words on the inside margin, and locating a misplaced bookmark to save my place. But more and more, I’ve looked into the Kindle and other readers. They are becoming more affordable. I’m certainly making the royalties to gift myself. As age and arthritis set in, it might the direction to go. One thing is for certain...I will continue to enjoy reading in one form or the other. However, my writing presently takes precedence while hoping others will choose one of my works to download and read at their leisure. Perhaps you have an enticing story to tell. If so, check out Amazon or Smashwords (or others) for self-publication at no cost to the author.

For my present offerings, including my new time travel historical romance The Lairds of Callaghan, visit http://sherryboardman.com.