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From Black Magic Reviews:

Sin Eater, by Alesha Escobar and Samantha Lafantasie is a supernatural mystery that reflects the various perceptions of good and evil, and whether or not humanity can be saved.

In a world where humans threaten wizards, and wizards and vampires abandon their own conscience to try and seduce their demons, it's as if Aria is a fairy godmother, simply waiting for the right moment to come out and save everyone. Though Aria might not fit the goody-two-shoes mold of a fairy, nonetheless the theme was well done…The book was like a modern take on the fairytale genre, but without the gore of the Grimm Brothers. I would recommend this book to fans of J.K Rowling, [and] mystery…





Aria Knight has an unusual set of skills: she will hold back the hounds of Hell so that you can fly toward the Pearly Gates, and she will wipe your slate clean so you don't become karma's bitch…for a price.

A Sin Eater has to make a living in today's world somehow.

But when she's called in the dead of night to perform her rite for a recluse billionaire, she stumbles upon a murder scene, and the evidence points to her.

In an attempt to clear her name and uncover the true culprit, Aria is forced to team up with a private investigator who's possessed by three spirits and a handsome wizard who would rather see all Sin Eaters like Aria go extinct.

Aria knows her job is never easy, but now it’s become downright deadly.

SIN EATER is the first book of the Aria Knight Chronicles by USA Today bestselling author Samantha LaFantasie and Alesha Escobar, author of the bestselling Gray Tower Trilogy. 

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Wizards are cool.

 But Alchemists are amazeballs!

 The Ultimate Alchemist Giveaway is your chance to score all six e-books (a $22 value) and brush up on those elixirs. If you love fantasy fiction, then these stories are a *must-have*


Love fantasy stories like AMERICAN GODS which blend mythological pantheons and intriguing battles? Well, this 0.99 cent book promo is for you!

 The Gods and Monsters promo features fantasy stories involving gods, monsters, or both, and they are all 0.99 cents each.

 There's also a giveaway going on, where you can win a copy of Neil Gaiman's American Gods (ebook) as well as a $10 Amazon gift card. Sweet!


http://www.aleshaescobar.com/promo


Masters of Time authors Alesha Escobar, Devorah Fox, and H.M. Jones have contributed stories to this stunning boxed set. Featuring heroines who are rocking rebellions, battling shadow gods, and bending the wills of kings, the Daughters of Destiny collection will keep you turning pages and rooting for these leading ladies.

 Over 3,000 glorious pages of fantasy and sci-fi fun, and ON SALE FOR 0.99¢ THIS WEEK ONLY, this is definitely a must have!


books2read.com/destinynovels

Starting today, get your hands on addictive science fiction and fantasy ebooks for free or at discounted prices! Among them are award-winning and bestselling books.

 Some of the deals will last until the end of the year, while others are Black Friday only. So get them while you can!


http://bit.ly/FMMPromo


Magical Realism Anthology


Last year, Time fell into unlikely hands. Now some of your favorite Masters of Time authors are back to unveil a magical world alongside ours.

 Magic Unveiled releases October 13th, but you can pre-order it now at a special price-- 0.99¢

Book Description


 Either the wondrous or the perilous awaits us when we play a hand at magic.

A hard boiled detective chases the supernatural, unveiling a frightening world right alongside modern man's. A mother, able to grant wishes, shows us we must be careful what we wish for. An African Orisha might just pass you in downtown Los Angeles, eager to siphon some of your energy so that he will not fade out of existence.

From heart wrenching, ghostly goodbyes to relatives, to discovering sparks of otherworldly magic permeating contemporary society, these nine tales of magical realism and paranormal fantasy come together to form this enchanting and gripping anthology.

Magic Unveiled is presented to you by USA Today bestselling author Samantha LaFantasie, Seattle Times and Amazon bestselling author Raven Oak, Amazon bestselling authors Alesha Escobar and Devorah Fox, NIEA Finalist H.M. Jones, Alice Marks, Jayme Beddingfield, Ronovan Hester, and Keith Goodno.
Pre-Order Today!





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Today, Time falls into unlikely hands. The stories we're sharing with you are dangerous, beautiful, awe-inspiring, and downright freaky. The Masters of Time sci-fi & fantasy short story collection features imaginative and addictive time travel stories from bestselling and talented authors, and I'm inviting you to grab your copy today at Amazon for only 99¢ before it goes up to regular price!  

MASTERS OF TIME

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My first clue time travel could be possible was in the barber's chair the day before my girlfriend's funeral.
--Staring Into, Timothy C. Ward



  
Lifting my hands from the keyboard, I fold them in my lap and tilt back my desk chair. I think, I could do it. I could turn back time.
--Turning The Tide, Devorah Fox


MOT-Avi Sometimes he’d dream of hunting for Adam the Usurper twenty years in the future, or of Doctor Simmons sending Aero to burrow into his head and steal his most secret thoughts and desires.

--Logan 6, Alesha Escobar



   



10866217_10204767249679315_7730593836720523250_oJanuary took a breath, realizing it had been a cause from her holding it in, trying to work through the puzzle she faced. If he’s a Ghost, why was she sent on a mission to kill him? --Ghosts of Time, Samantha LaFantasie    






11037780_10204780433408900_5729915344050142254_o-1But nothing compared to the reality of the magnificent Light Storm of 2015, nothing, that is, except the almond shaped emerald eyes of his passenger.
--Light Storm of 2015, H.M. Jones




Madison, or “Maddie,” as she preferred, wondered what could be at the end of that road.
--End of the Road, Alice Marks

 

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Sci-Fi & Fantasy Time Travel


Although our dear authors can't provide you with a time machine to hop over to July 13, 2015, they can certainly offer you an early peek at the Masters of Time anthology--and an amazing opportunity to pre-order!

 Once Masters of Time releases, it will only be 99¢ for a day or two. So snag this deal with a pre-order to guarantee this price before it's gone.

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What Makes It a Fantasy? Further Thoughts

© 2015 by Devorah Fox (Published with permission)

  Last year as I prepared for the launch of The King’s Redress, Book Three in The Bewildering Adventures of King Bewilliam epic fantasy series, I ruminated on what makes a story a fantasy as opposed to general fiction. 

Fiction is about made-up stuff. That’s why it’s fiction and not nonfiction. I asked myself, is a work considered Fantasy simply by virtue of the degree to which the fiction is imaginative? This year, my short story Turning the Tide was accepted for publication in Masters of Time. 

It’s a Sci-Fi and Fantasy anthology and I found myself pondering the difference between the two genres. I’ve seen the proposition that Science Fiction explores the possible, albeit improbable, while Fantasy explores the impossible, but I wouldn’t agree. I don’t see a clear distinction between imagining a world that includes aliens versus one that includes werewolves. Ray Bradbury, whose work falls into both genres, suggested that science fiction is a logical projection of the future.


READ MORE...



Hone the untapped powers of your mind to rewind time and save the love of your life.
Step through a painting and explore an eerie past.
Jump into the future with a clone who will usurp his destiny...

July 2015, Time will fall into unlikely hands

 

Masters of Time: A Sci-fi & Fantasy Time Travel Anthology will be released July 13, 2015. These high-impact short stories are brought to you by USA Today bestselling author Samantha LaFantasie, Amazon bestselling authors Devorah Fox and Alesha Escobar, and the exceptionally talented authors Timothy C. Ward, H.M. Jones, and Alice Marks.

Enter the Giveaway!

More About The Authors

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Samantha LaFantasie stops by Fantasy, Mash-ups & Mayhem to share how she uses cool images, Pinterest, and Google Maps to plot, lay out, and inspire her stories.

 Read the Full Post...
Staring Into is my story.

One way people may connect is in the sense that my main character is confronted with the idea of changing the past, no matter how it affects his future.

Is there something you would sacrifice yourself for in order to have back, for the good of others? 

As he [the protagonist] gets closer to the moment of change, will he feel up to the challenge based on how he's failed in the past? That last sentence sums up so many of my life's struggles. I hope to bring the heart of my experience into a story that will connect with yours.

How close do you think we are to actually achieving time travel (if at all)?

Haha, not close, but I believe time is beyond our current understanding. Who knows what will happen in the future. It sure is fun to think about.


Where did you look for inspiration while writing your time travel short story?

I like to take circumstances I'm dealing with and insert them into the character aspect of my stories. In "Staring Into," I thought, what the heck is the point of my life sitting here at this job staring at monitors?

The biggest challenge I have is enduring boredom. I thought, what if a security guard reached such an elevated level of focused boredom--where he stared at one spot on the monitor for so long--that he was able to travel in time. After I had that idea, I had to find a way to connect to his heart and why traveling in time would be exciting and affect his heart.

If you stumbled upon the secret to time travel, would you share it with others (why or why not)?
 
No. Chaos would be inevitable. It hurts my head to think of how much could change if you accepted the butterfly effect principle.

What was the best part about writing a time travel tale? The most challenging?
 
I just love writing stories. I suppose this one was especially cool because I've loved time travel ever since Quantum Leap and Time Cop. To publish a story in that genre is amazing and makes me thank God. The most challenging is the fact that I majored in English and Philosophy. I know very little about the science behind time travel. If there is any, haha.

Where can we find out more about you?
 
I hang around on Facebook more than anything else online, but you can also catch me at Adventures in SciFi Publishing and timothycward.com. 

Aside from buying my other stories, signing up for my newsletter would be the best way to connect and support my writing career. 


My debut novel, Scavenger: Evolution is a Dune meets Alien thriller in a future America covered in sand, where sand divers discover a buried military base that should have remained so.

 
 Logan is a clone in a future United Americas, but one day he wakes up and experiences something he had never encountered before, and it turns his world upside down.

As he begins questioning his own emotions and humanity, he also questions his makers--and then it gets dangerous. 

I think readers will connect with it because we all ponder from time to time questions and theoretical situations such as what to do with the power to control time, or what is it that makes us truly human? 

There's a super-cool science fiction bent to the story, a bit of humor, as well as action and suspense. You're going to love it!


How close do you think we are to actually achieving time travel (if at all)?
 
I've recently come across several scientific articles tackling the question. Some say it's possible, and some say "you'll paradox yourself and blow up." It's all very fascinating. 

I have to admit, it's hard to wrap my mind around it being a possibility. Could you imagine? Who would be in control or in charge of Time Travel if it were ever possible? It sounds adventurous and amazing, but at the same time, humanity doesn't have the best track record, so we more than likely would mess some things up.

But goodness, the selfish part of me is like, "Heck yes, time travel!" because if I could do that, then I would go back and try to fix so many things from the past.

Where did you look for inspiration while writing your time travel short story?
 
I'm a huge fan of Dr. Who, and I love the idea of time travel, going to different worlds, etc. but you know when you sit down to watch an episode, there's (often) going to be a moral to the story, or a hard decision that has to be made, wars fought, and sometimes laughter and tears. I wanted my time travel story to have a secondary layer that brings up some of the "big questions" in the context of a future world and time travel. I couldn't tell you how I settled on my protagonist being a clone--but it worked out great, so I won't complain.

If you stumbled upon the secret to time travel, would you share it with others (why or why not)? 

Geez, it's hard for me to keep a secret. Don't make me answer this!

What was the best part about writing a time travel tale? The most challenging?
 
The best part was getting into the groove of writing sci-fi--I've just finished a fantasy trilogy and did another fantasy short story, so this time, I decided to go the science fiction route. This was a great experience. The most challenging part was doing the research and making sure the "science" of my story made sense to me.

Where can we find out more about you?
 
 
If Samantha LaFantasie has created a world for you to step into, you'll probably want to be prepared for a wild (and addictive) ride. 

She has penned the USA Today bestselling fantasy, Heart Song, as well as the action-packed, futuristic Nepherium novellas.

 For the upcoming Masters of Time collection, Samantha has crafted Ghosts of Time, a time travel story that will keep you on the edge of your seat and wanting more. We caught up with Samantha to ask her about her story, her thoughts on time travel, and what inspires her.


 How close do you think we are to actually achieving time travel (if at all)?

I don't know, it's neat to think about. I know we've obtained some pretty stellar advances in just my time and I know that the technology scientists are mastering right now is getting closer and closer to understanding the more complex ideals such as time travel and space travel, so who knows? I think it's possible. Whether that's something that will actually happen or not remains to be seen.
 

Where did you look for inspiration while writing your time travel short story?

Shows like Continuum, Dr. Who, Time Cop, The Time Machine, etc., plus my own fascination with time travel and science fiction.

If you stumbled upon the secret to time travel, would you share it with others (why or why not)?
 
I am not sure. Ideally, yes. But people are easily corrupt, and the power that would time travel, especially in the wrong hands, could eventually destroy the world or change it in ways that would benefit only certain people than humanity as a species.
 

What was the best part about writing a time travel tale? The most challenging?

The best part was getting to know new characters and what they had to say. The hardest part was figuring out how to fit such a detail-rich story in a short story.
 

Where can we find out more about you?

I'm EVERYWHERE! *belts out evil laugh*

You can find me on:

Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Tsu  |  Triberr  |  Google+  |  Goodreads  |




 As always, Samantha, it's been fun chatting! Folks, don't forget to check out her other books which are now available at Amazon, and if you haven't entered our massive giveaway, do it today!



 Devorah Fox has already shared with the world an Amazon bestselling Medieval fantasy about a king losing his kingdom and fighting to regain it. Now, for the Masters of Time anthology, she's tackling something else many of us wouldn't hesitate to regain: lost loved ones.
"I think 'Turning the Tide' will resonate with anyone who has lost loved ones and wishes there were a way to bring them back."

Time travel is tempting. We can't discuss it without discussing what we would do to either fix a past injustice or to save someone we care about. In "Turning the Tide," Devorah promises an intriguing glimpse of what this would look like, if it were to be carried out. So what else did she have to share with us? Find out below!

Thanks for joining us today, Devorah. How close do you think we are to actually achieving time travel (if at all)?
 
Not to get too metaphysical, but "time" isn't real, it's a concept that can be manipulated. I know enough about other cultures to know that there are many ways to measure and experience time. Time travel would be an extension of thinking about time differently.

Where did you look for inspiration while writing your time travel short story?
 
It wouldn't be a surprise to anyone to learn that I used my own feelings of bereavement as a point of departure. The story began as a journal entry some years ago. I'm grateful to be a writer and to have that outlet to imagine my way out of bewilderment, indecision and heartbreak.
 
If you stumbled upon the secret to time travel, would you share it with others (why or why not)?
 
If I stumbled on the secret to time travel I would definitely share it. I'm no megalomaniac and have no interest in ruling the world. Also a technology as awesome as time travel would need to be managed by people with a high degree of intelligence, sensitivity and insight.

What was the best part about writing a time travel tale? The most challenging?
 
I convinced myself that it was possible to reach back in time and change it. In writing the story and dredging up memories, for a moment I got to spend time again with loved ones that I had lost. That's the healing power of writing. The biggest challenge was finding a succinct way to describe the approach taken to manipulate time.
 
Where can we find out more about you?


 Keep up with me, at least in the dimension of cyberspace, at
http://devorahfox.com and sign up for my newsletter at http://eepurl.com/LrZGX

Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Google+  |  YouTube









What will draw readers to Alice Marks's "At the End of the Road" is the fact that her protagonist, Maddie, is the only child time traveler of the collection's characters.

To an adult, the idea of time travel is fascinating yet frightening, wrought with what-ifs and had-better-nots. Alice's tale gives the concept an interesting spin when looked at through the lens of youth and innocence.

So, let's find out what made Alice choose her character Maddie, and what else she may have in store for us.

Say hello to author Alice Marks! 

How close do you think we are to actually achieving time travel (if at all)?

The possibility of time travel is limited only to imagination. So many things once imagined are today's reality. I do expect it in the lifetime of my grandchildren.

Where did you look for inspiration while writing your time travel short story?

When I see landscape painting, I always imagine living in the era illustrated. That is why a perspective painting of a dirt road bordered by trees had to be in my story.

If you stumbled upon the secret to time travel, would you share it with others (why or why not)?

I would share it only with two agencies [whom] I prefer not to disclose, so that people much wiser than I can make certain of the safety and authenticity of time travel before sharing my secret with the world. I will expect royalties from all entities that begin offering time travel opportunities. I wouldn't mind sitting on the board of an agency that specializes in time travel through the past.

What was the best part about writing a time travel tale? The most challenging?
 
The best part was being a part of this endeavor and having Alesha [Escobar] to help me improve my story. Researching the era about which I have written also was enjoyable.

The most challenging was adding more suspense without spoiling the integrity of the piece. What I first wrote was more political science than science fiction, so with the help of our incredible editor, I rewrote part of the story to make it more in keeping with time travel.

Where can we find out more about you?

To find out more about me, you'd have to follow me around in Duluth, Minnesota to attend the community ed writing classes I teach, or the writers group I have just started!

Otherwise, I have been part of two Chicken Soup for the Soul anthologies (I Can't Believe My Cat Did That! and The Power of the Positive), Texas Island Style (Richard Mueller), and Second Read for the Animals (Erika M. Szabo). I also have been published in poetry anthologies and by an on-line humor website, NCV. I plan to have a mystery novel in print.

Thank you, Alice! 

 Dear Readers, if you haven't already, enter our Masters of Time Giveaway which will be on-going until July 13th. You'll have the chance to snag some amazing canvas tote bags, signed paperback books, "time travel" writing journals, and other cool prizes.

 Keep in touch with the Masters of Time gang over at Facebook.

 We look forward to seeing more of you!
We caught up with Masters of Time contributor H.M. Jones and asked her a few questions about her story (and where we can stalk her online). If you're just now hearing about our upcoming short story anthology, thank you for visiting, and welcome! Please like our Facebook Page and stay in touch, as we will be updating you about the collection, and don't forget to enter our giveaway today.

 Well, besides the giveaway, we're excited about the launch of this sci-fi & fantasy time travel anthology because of the insanely talented authors who are contributing to it. One of them is H.M. Jones, and we wanted to share the title of her short story, her thoughts on time travel, and what other books she has available.

Author Interview: H.M. Jones



Thank you for joining us today, H.M. What story did you contribute to the Masters of Time anthology, and why do you think people will connect with it?

My contribution to this wonderful anthology is entitled "The Light Storm of 2015". My story will most likely draw readers who are interested in tales of a personal nature. Ben and Gina's story is a time travel story, yes, but it's primarily about their burgeoning feelings for one another and the ways in which they struggle with issues of love, loss and mourning.

How close do you think we are to actually achieving time travel (if at all)?

I'm a much better writer than astrophysicist, but I'll take a stab at the question anyway. At the moment, humans are unable to travel at the speed of light, so I think we're probably a long way off from time travel. That said, we now have the ability to channel our inner James Bond and communicate via a watch, so maybe technology will move faster than I imagine.

Where did you look for inspiration while writing your time travel short story?

I'm so happy you asked this, so I can give proper credit to the inspiration of my daily exercise in writing. I am a part of a wonderful Google+ social community called Geekscapes. In this community, our moderator shares daily pictures from some of the most talented geek artists of today. Our community has many avid sci-fi and fantasy geeks who write stories about some of the pictures, myself included. 

Ben and Gina's story started as a mini tale about a lovely piece of art that showed a yellow crop duster facing a brilliant display of swirling lights. After writing what is now the first four paragraphs of my short story, my fellow Google+ geeks democratically decided that I was not done by tagging me several times asking, "What happens next, +H.M.Jones?" I tend to listen to my geek friends' insights, so I figured out what happened next for this anthology.

If you stumbled upon the secret to time travel, would you share it with others (why or why not)?

I would share it with my best friend and husband, Mr. Jones. He's a very smart man, who is highly interested in space and time travel, but not for the story aspect of it, as I am. He is more interested in the science behind it all. He would likely be the one to keep me from jumping willy-nilly into various time periods to meet my favorite authors. I imagine more people are the type to do as I would do and ruin lives across the space-time continuum, so it might be best if that secret were kept between the two of us.

What was the best part about writing a time travel tale? The most challenging?

For me, the best and most challenging aspect of writing time travel is the same: writing science fiction. I'm primarily a contemporary fantasy writer and lean towards reading contemporary and high fantasy. However, Ben and Gina's story had a life of its own, and that life included time travel and wormholes. Who am I to deny my story its chosen path? It was a nice challenge to wear the hat of science fiction author, and I hope I did it justice.

Where can we find out more about you?

After writing my debut novel, I went crazy with the social networks, so you will find me smattered across the web on almost ever imaginable social network.

However, the social sites I use most are:



 
I also have an author website, which I update regularly: hmjones.net. I love hearing from readers and fans.

 
MASTERS OF TIME


I'm guilty of being a little selfish and will say that the first thing I'd do is un-do some of the mistakes and heartbreaks of my past. Don't get me wrong, traveling through time in order to prevent atrocities and cataclysms, or make others believe you've got some crazy prescience going on, are all interesting, but it struck me while reading the submissions for the MASTERS OF TIME anthology how some of these wonderful stories centered on: I want to save someone I loved and lost. I want to avoid that tragic day.

 Whether it's through a fantastical power given to us, or future technology that makes leaps and bounds, the concept of time travel in a story isn't new, but I'm certain you will find each unique story in the anthology entertaining and thought-provoking.

 Welcome to our blog! We'll be updating with posts, updates on the book, giveaways, and contests. Please bookmark us, subscribe and visit.

MASTERS OF TIME will be released this summer.

--Alesha Escobar