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Archive for the ‘paranormal fantasy romance’ Category

I’m not sure how the garden is going to do this year. The weather has been so crazy, I’m sure the garden can’t keep up with the changes. When I planted the tomatoes, it was up near 90 degrees and had been pretty dry. A week later, it was back down in the 60’s and raining. And it has been doing this whole seesaw thing for a month. And today, once again, the temperatures peaked in the high 60’s after last week’s 90 degree weather.

Someone find Mother Nature and send her back to Gambler’s Folly with Fate. Maybe they can find another couple of shifters to torture.

So, I’m still editing Scotch and Soulmates. They are a fun couple, our Paul and Sophia. He’s an English lord, doctorate in psychology, and works as a profiler in the London office of Interpol. He’s also an expert on expensive Scotch, which is the reason he’s on Gambler’s Folly.

Sophia is from the Bronx and had a tough time growing up. She’s an agent with Interpol’s Spaggia Sole’s office on Gambler’s Folly and is known as the she-wolf. Having to fight her way up in a world of alpha males, she is radically feminist. And she takes exception to Paul’s high-brow upbringing.

How about a little excerpt?

Morning came early after a few too many drinks the night before. Paul wouldn’t have been as tempted by the Scotch if it hadn’t been for thoughts of Sophia. She was a beautiful woman, especially with her auburn hair down and caressing her shoulders. The green gown–chiffon over some satiny material–smoothed enticingly over her curves. Some men might have found her a little overly curvaceous, but not Paul. He preferred substantial women, especially in bed.

“Dream on,” he told the reflection in the mirror. “Get the job done and get back to London. Plenty of appreciative women there.”

Nagi was at the office when he arrived, so after grabbing some coffee, they sat down to discuss the case.

“I had assumed we’d wait and discuss things together,” he heard behind him.

“Just tossing around some ideas until you arrived. Get some coffee while it’s fresh.”

With a toss of her head, she put her things on the table and went over to the coffee maker. When she returned, Paul stood to hold her chair, out of habit.

“As I’ve told you before, I’m quite capable of seating myself.”

“Of course you are,” Paul answered. “Such a pity you’re incapable of being a lady.”

Had he said that out loud? Must be the headache speaking.

“If you’re talking about those simpering little, hand-wringing, wilting flowers, who need a man to lean on, count me out, “ she snarled.

“No. I’m talking about an intelligent woman, with a strong personality, who has a good sense of self and focus, who has enough confidence to accept social courtesies with ease and grace, without jumping to erroneous conclusions about the intentions of her colleagues.”

So, which one will tame the other? You’ll have to wait and find out! I know… I’m working on it!

Have fun, stay dry, and I’ll write more later.

As always,

Don’t Forget…\

…to Share the Romance…

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Can you help me? I need a little advice from someone on the other side of the reader/writer line.

As an indie author, I do everything myself, not just the writing. The writing is the easy part. Afterwards comes the editing, and it takes time and effort. I am sometimes able to have someone help me with the editing after I’ve been through a book several times myself. And there is a program I sometimes use which helps point out words I over use, or which tone down the emotion of the book.

Now let’s talk about book cover art. I can’t afford to pay someone to put together the cover art. And the few times I’ve tried, I didn’t like the results. So I use an online program, sometimes with AI assist, to create a book cover I feel portrays the story I’m telling inside.

After all the editing is as finished as it can be, and I have the cover art, there is the formatting so I can publish it through Amazon or Draft2Digital–which links all my books to retailers through Books2Read. All the keywords to come up with to help place it correctly for people to locate it. I’m not necessarily the best person to decide this. People who read the books and offer suggestions come up with categories and tropes I would never have dreamed existed in those pages.

And once I get to Amazon or Draft2Digital, I have to decide what price I want to ask for. What is my book worth? There are suggestions in the documentation for each site, which I use to gauge my list price. I don’t want to charge so much people are afraid to take a chance on the book. But at the same time, I don’t want to give it all away for free. I do have sales several times a year. During some of those, I do list a book or two for free, and generally I give away quite a few. While I’m happy when people want to read my books, it is disappointing when they only want them for nothing.

With my last book–Old Flame–I paid several people to help with the promotion and marketing aspects and got absolutely nothing in return. I did just as well by myself. Now with Sultonna Nadine’s new release, Lady Calloway, I am besieged by promoters and marketers wanting to help me get my book out to readers. For anywhere from $200 on up.

I’m not made of money. Never have been. And if throwing money at it worked, you would think Old Flame would have sold like hotcakes.

You might ask why I don’t hire some of this work out. And the answer would be the expense of it. For an editor to do a final editing for me would be over $1000 per book, minimum. Cover art? Anywhere from $150 on up to as much as I want to spend. Formatting? Several hundred dollars. And then there are the book trailers and all the social media posts to put together. Trailers start at around $200 and go up from there. By the time I paid for all that, I would have several thousand dollars invested with no guaranteed return.

So tell me, what am I doing wrong? I get great reviews, when I get them. Most are 5 star reviews. Everyone says the writing is excellent, the tropes are popular, the categories are popular as well. And I’ve reworked the keywords and categories on all the outlets to take advantage of them.

What am I missing? I’m not complaining about the work, except the editing… It’s doing all the work with nothing to show for it, while getting all kinds of emails and reviews with people who love it, but apparently love it only if it’s free.

Go take a look at my author pages and books. And then come back and give me your opinion. Why would you buy or not buy my books? What turns you away?

Amazon Author page for Mellie Miller

Books2Read for Mellie Miller

Amazon for Sultonna

Books2Read for Sultonna

Anyway, enough rant. It has just been a disappointing year. If you’ve read any of my work, please at least rate it for me. A review would be great.

Have a wonderful weekend.

And as always,

Don’t Forget…

…to Share the Romance…

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Lady Calloway has made it to Round 2 in the Book Cover Contest at All Author. While we’re doing well, a few more votes would be fantastic!

Here’s the link for you to cast your support for Lady Calloway

In other news, I’ve been out of town for a week with a dodgy laptop, so I’m trying to catch up on all my correspondence. Not to worry-I haven’t forgotten you!

Have a wonderful rest of the week.

And as Always,

Don’t Forget…

…to Share the Romance…

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Yes, my alter ego, Sultonna Nadine, has been at it again! LADY CALLOWAY will be out on March 1, so if you are a fantasy lover, this is for you.

Set in an alternate timeline in turn of the century London, this fantasy has a strong romantic side as well as religious conflict and political intrigue. Liora Calloway, recently married to Kerrick, was raised believing women must not find pleasure in sex, even in marriage. They must give themselves to their husbands to keep them from seeking outside pleasure. But for the wives to enjoy the act was the same as prostitution. They also said women had no real sexual drive, so it wouldn’t be a problem. They were wrong and she was afraid she would be damned for her evil thoughts.

Kerrick worked for the church and thought his marriage would be fulfilling in every way. But no matter what he did, he couldn’t bring passion into his bedroom. And then he found he was married to a heretic. He was duty-bound to report her to the church, but his heart demanded he protect her from the church he served. Taking a holiday from work, he rushed Liora to the seaside cottage to reason with her over her beliefs.

Her heresy soon became a minor issue when they both began to develop mental abilities the church had forbidden. Not knowing what to do at this point, they receive a message from an unexpected quarter and set out for Wales in the middle of the night to escape a church determined to bring them back to London for questioning.

Can they escape the reach of the church? Are there others, like them, who have forbidden talents? And can their marriage survive the turmoil the face?

Go over and pre-order your copy of LADY CALLOWAY!

And as always,

Don’t Forget….

…to Share the Romance…

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Miss what?

The book sale at Amazon!

This month, being October, let’s get into the spirit of the season with a little paranormal and shifter reading! So, right now, all my books on Amazon are on sale!

You read that correctly.

For Gambler’s Folly books, you pay only $0.99 each, including OLD FLAME my latest release.

For Esperance, it’s only $1.00 per book!

Now you can’t that. For less than the cost of your cappuccino you can get either set. Or splurge and buy all of them!

Whether you prefer shifters on a fantasy world or magical abilities on a frontier planet, you can find your next favorite book here!

The books by Sultonna Nadine are also on sale for only $0.99. So bring a little magic into your life, whether you prefer dark romance or a humorous bit of genie chaos in Londond.

Go on that fantasy vacation–Gambler’s Folly or Esperance. Or maybe even an alternate reality!

Bring a little magic into your October!

And as always,

Don’t Forget…

…to Share the Romance…

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We’re just past the first week after the release of Old Flame, and so far, all the feedback has been positive. I’m still waiting for the print books to be published, but they’re working on it. When they’re available, I’ll let you know.

Old Flame is part of the Gambler’s Folly series. The series is a cross-genre paranormal/fantasy romance set on a luxurious off-world resort known as Gambler’s Folly. Each new installment follows a new couple blending romance, shifter mythology, suspense and adult themes. And Old Flame is no different.

Kort and Liz are a mature couple and bear shifters. In this friends to lovers–with a bit of second chance–romance you’ll become immersed in the world as well as the budding romance. They met at university and then went their separate ways after graduating. When they reconnect on the way to Gambler’s Folly, sparks are struck that become so much more.

What would you gamble for love?

Come with me to Gambler’s Folly, where every love story is a gamble, and Fate always deals the final hand.

Where can you find Old Flame?

For Amazon, follow this link.

For other choices, including Nook and Apple, follow this one!

In the meantime, have a wonderful week.

Happy reading, and as always,

Don’t Forget…

…to Share the Romance…

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It’s that time of year again over at Smashwords–Read a Book Week!

Are you ready?

All the authors at Smashwords have the opportunity to enter this yearly sale and choose how much of a discount you can find on the books you want to buy. And all of my books are included in the sale!

That’s right!

All three books from Gambler’s Folly.

The four offerings from Esperance.

Master of the Fleet from Sultonna Nadine–which is on my publisher’s page.

And all the books from Sultonna Nadine!

When does this all begin?

Sunday, March 2, 2025 through March 8, so mark your calendar!

If you like stories featuring paranormal abilities, check out Esperance.

For hunky shifters and their soul mates on a fantasy world, Gambler’s Folly is your destination.

Alternate universe with magic? Master of the Fleet!

Get ready! The sale is just around the corner! We’ll be waiting for you…

And as always,

Don’t Forget to…

Share the Romance

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Everything out here is beginning to green up in preparation for springtime. The trees have new buds and a few have tiny leaves showing. I just hope they know what they’re doing. Last year we had a late freeze which killed quite a lot of the fruit around here. We had no mulberries at all due to the late freeze.

So what else is happening around here?

I’m about two-thirds of the way through the final edit of Old Flame, the next book in the Gambler’s Folly series. And my editor is nearly finished with Ben of Blackstone’s Forge, the next in line for Esperance. I’ll keep you posted on release dates!

So what are they about?

Old Flame features Kort Behrens and Elizabeth Murphy, bear shifters from the USA. Thirty years ago they were friends at university, but hadn’t met since, until are both on their way to Gambler’s Folly. Kort is now a billionaire, twice divorced, and giving up on love. With his single status and his wealth, he’s a target for women hoping to hook up with a rich playboy and is tired of the hassle. Liz is a widow who lost her husband four years ago and is content by herself with her energy healing practice. They had never really dated in their younger days, but each considered the other a good friend.

But on the way to Gambler’s Folly, a spark begins to grow and these two old friends find there is much more attraction than they had counted on.

Maybe they’ll have a a second chance at love.

Ben of Blackstone’s Forge tells the story of Ben Blackstone and Deborah Wills. They’d grown up together and each had always figured they would marry when the time came. But something happened while Ben was away on his apprenticeship which changed everything. When he returned, Deborah was cold, nearly hostile, towards him and nobody could tell him why.

On top of that, his father was insisting he find a wife. He hoped to retire in a few years and wanted to see Ben settled. Unfortunately, the only woman Ben had ever loved was Deb.

Deborah’s father was pushing her to get married as well. She had younger sisters with beaus, and tradition dictated the eldest marry first. But she couldn’t marry the only man she’d ever loved for reasons only she knew. And she would not marry anyone else.

And then their fathers get together and draw up a contract for an arranged marriage for the two of them, to take place in a month’s time.

Watch for Old Flame and Ben of Blackstone’s Forge!

You can help me out by picking your favorite cover art for Old Flame!

In the meantime,

Don’t Forget…

…to Share the Romance…

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Yeah… Who is she?

She is my alter ego, of sorts.

Sultonna Nadine was the name my parents were originally going to give me, until family insisted I be named after my grandmothers instead. (sigh)

Families, eh?

But part of me always wanted to be Sultonna.

For some reason, when I began writing, it never occurred to me to use a pen name. And after my series got started, I didn’t want to change halfway through. So when I began writing stand alone books, someone suggested I use Sultonna Nadine for those! And since they don’t fit conveniently into my series, and some of them are a bit out there, I decided to do just that.

Sultonna writes of things magical, in alternate realities, or if not magical, at least on far away worlds. Always with at least a hint of romance.

So far, she has published one book, but never fear. Another one should be out this year!

Where can you learn more?

Go over to SultonnaNadine.com. I’m still tweaking the site, so be patient.

If you haven’t read Master of the Fleet, there’s an excerpt in her new post.

In the meantime, if you’re looking for Mellie Miller’s books, go up to my links page or read an excerpt!\

Thanks for reading and remember,

Don’t Forget…

…to Share the Romance…

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After yesterday’s all day and all night rain, today is beautiful outside. Makes me wish I didn’t have so much to do inside, but the Lugnut and I can take a walk in a little while.

Still working away on Tiger’s Tempest in the Gambler’s Folly series. I have nearly 18,000 words down so far and, at the moment, a pretty good idea of where we’re going. Of course, with my characters, the route could change drastically. They are a headstrong bunch. But that’s what I get for writing about alpha male shifters I suppose.

If you could be a shifter, what would you be?

I always thought I would love to be a black leopard. They look so elegant, even if they do seem to have only two attitudes–calm, cool, and collected, or totally pissed off.

So far in my books, including those published and unpublished, I have leopards, panthers, wolves, bears, and now tigers.

What else would you like to see?

From Esperance, the next one in line is Ben of Blackstone’s Forge. As you might have guessed, Ben is a blacksmith. What makes him different is his family’s Talent for shaping iron.

No… That’s enough of a hint. You’ll have to read the book for the rest. But how about a tiny excerpt?

****

Excerpt:

If anyplace could be consider as hot as hell, it was a blacksmith’s forge in midsummer, Ben thought, as he strode to the well. Icy water filled his mug with a cheerful splash, after a couple quick strokes on the pump handle.

The first mugful went down in three healthy gulps. Pulling the folded kerchief from around his head, he rinsed the salt-encrusted cloth in another cold stream of water from the well.

The second mug of water brought a quick gasp as he poured it over his head, but it was refreshing after several hours of heating and hammering steel in the forge, where he worked with his father. Water flew in a circle of droplets as he shook the excess from his wavy brown hair, leaving it spiked in all directions.

Once more he filled the mug. Leaning his tall frame against the pump, he slowly sipped the cool liquid as his dreamy blue eyes scanned the street around the forge.

“Good morning, Ben,” he heard from a familiar voice.

Turning toward the voice, he raised his mug and gave a brief nod to the pretty young woman walking toward him. With her light brown, nearly blond hair, and warm brown eyes, she was a sight to give a man dreams.

“Don’t I rate more than a nod, Ben Blackstone?” she demanded. “You could at least smile.”

“Hardly seems worth the effort, Deborah, when all it will gain me is a snide remark or a new chastisement for some imagined affront.”

“You are the most irritating man I know,” she told him as he took another pull from the mug.

He had no response for her accusation and continued to enjoy the water before he had to go back into the hell known as Blackstone’s Forge. He loved the work, but summers could be downright miserable.

Deborah was still glaring at him, hands on her hips, head tipped to the side, and eyes flashing in anger.

“Did you need something, Deb, or are you just here to annoy me?”

“My name is Deborah, not Deb, and absolutely not Debbie. And yes, I do need something. I’ve got better things to do than make a special trip to annoy you.”

*****

Need something to fill the time until Ben of Blackstone’s Forge is published?

Go on over to Amazon and take a peek!

And as always,

Don’t Forget…

…to Share the Romance…

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