Your Free Goodies Are Here!

I have some goodies for all of you!  The website for the entire Blackburn Chronicles series is now live! And to celebrate, I have FREE downloads available in anticipation of my upcoming release...

Free Downloads

Two Free Novellas - How did the mysterious spy Ashton rise from a beggar child on the streets to the most feared knight of the Order of the Sword and Scroll? What tragedy pushed docile nursemaid, Lizzie Frances to become the violent leader of the rebel group Defiance? What unfathomable secret drove the celebrated scientist Nikola Tesla to risk his life to destroy his own invention?

Of Books and Blades

In this prequel to The Tremblers, we learn of the shadowy Order of the Sword and Scroll, and one boy who will do anything to keep from returning to a life of hunger and fear on the streets.

This Perilous Path

In the years leading up to The Tremblers, the life of those in service was brutal. When the one bright spot in her otherwise dreary existence is unexpectedly and viciously extinguished, it sets Lizzie Frances on a path straight to the heart of the rebellion.

And don't forget to check out The Tremblers on pre-order now.

Charlotte Blackburn—Beautiful, intelligent, a gifted tinkerer—lives in a cloistered world of wealth and privilege beneath the Electric Tesla Dome that shields survivors of The Great Calamity. But when her father is abducted, and a strange sickness starts transforming men into vicious monsters, she discovers that technology is no protection at all.

Ashton Wells has a dire mission: Secure Colonel Blackburn and deliver his research to The Order of the Sword and Scroll. But the plan goes awry, and he is left with nothing but the colonel's daughter who has a target on her back and is willing stop at nothing to rescue her father—including handing over to the enemy the only means to stop the monstrous plague.

Branded as traitors, Ashton and Charlotte brave the treacherous floating sky ports of Outer City to hunt down the elusive inventor, Nikola Tesla—the only person able to activate the strange device that harbors the secret to their salvation. 

With the government closing in, a rebellion brewing in the streets, and terrifying Tremblers attacking the innocent, the two must work together to stop their fragile world from crumbling once more into destruction.

I'm so excited about sharing Charlotte's world with all of you!

Unexpected Adventures

Got to FINALLY meet fellow COTT alumni and Tosca Lee at SCCWC

I was in the midst of a very hot, very busy summer of writing and editing. I cannot believe I survived it, quite frankly. I had no time for play...at least, that is what I told myself.  

Deadlines loomed. Social media called to me. I had all but barricaded myself in my office to get my work done. However, in an attempt to keep the creative juices going, I went to the Southern California Christian Writer's Conference's inaugural event this past July. 

Held at the beautiful Biola University, I had an absolute blast!  I opted to stay in the dorms and eat in the cafeteria because, why wouldn't I? Not only did I get to chat with fellow book lovers, I had the pleasure of meeting some of my own favorite authors.  It was a total out-of-the-blue opportunity and I was so glad I took it.

The best part was the workshop on Writing Fight Scenes in which we acted out specific fist fights with each other while a Krav Maga guy encouraged us how to 'be more aggressive.' I can't tell you how funny a room full of writers looks practicing assault. We are sort of an awkward group. An unexpected bit of adventure...and I loved it!


Book News!

I am so excited to announce that The Tremblers is on pre-order on Amazon! 

And speaking of unexpected fun...I have been working on a surprise for you guys...To celebrate the launch of the first book in the Blackburn Chronicles, my publisher is releasing Three Free Novellas!  I hope you enjoy them!

Of Books and Blades, Ashton's story of how he became a spy for The Order of the Sword and Scroll.

This Perilous Path, tells of Lizzie's rise from nursemaid to leader of the violent rebel group, Defiance.

A Dream of Darkness, Tesla's tale of the strange device that set in motion the dangerous events of The Tremblers.


Recommended Reads and Fun Stuff

This fall we see the release of so many hotly anticipated installments in quite a few of our favorite series. From Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare to Mari Lu's Warcross, the offerings this fall are amazing.

All I need at this point is a cozy cardigan, some coffee, and a quiet crevasse in which to binge read.

This October is the Gaslight Steampunk Expo in San Diego!  This is year they will be having an Escape Room, Grand Ball, and an Ice Cream Social.  Yes Please!

I am so close to buying a corset just so that I can go and take part in all the fun!  Wish me luck!


Until Next Time

I would love to hear about your summer or what you plan to do this fall. With school starting, holidays just around the corner, and work responsibilities nipping at our heels, what unexpected adventures do you see yourself taking? 

Welcome To Disaster

So I've been playing around with gifs and ended up doing this fun collage about my upcoming YA Steampunk, The Tremblers over on my Tumblr. I have to say...it was a lot of work, but such a blast!

I figured out how to add text to gifs so I put some of the quotes from my first book on various scenes that hint at the story...

Trying to capture the danger and awe of a world crumbling into disaster was challenging and really got my creative juices flowing!

What sort of non-writing creative outlets do you turn to when you're seeking that imagination pick-me-up?

Until next time...

My Book Is Free Today!

Due out in January 2013, my newest book, Whispers on Shadow Bay will be pre-released for Free on Kindle for a limited time starting today.

Here is the link: Whispers on Shadow Bay

This promotion is a new thing my publisher is doing, so I had a lot to learn about making the most of this situation. And I have to say...I learned a lot these past few months in preparation for the promotion.

One of the best places to go for advice is an article How to Make the KDP Select Program Work For You by author Holly Robinson. With straight forward, honest assessment of what did and didn't bear results for her, I found her advice awesome.

I will let you know how some of her suggestions worked out for me. In the meanwhile, for the next three days, I'll be working the ether to get my name out there.

If you think of it, please help a fellow author out and retweet my promotion.

Blessings -- rb