Booked for the Weekend Promotion!

Do you have anything planned for this weekend? If not, then why not book in a book? As a special promotion to celebrate the Labour Day weekend (and the AFL grand final if you are in Melbourne) in Australia, a group of Aussie author's are getting together and offering their books for 99 cents this weekend.

For those of you who picked up Emeline and the Mutants for only 99 cents last weekend, you can pick up my other book, The Ring of Lost Souls for the discounted price also. While you're there, why not check out the other great authors and their books too!

The details are below:

This Long Weekend eight Australian authors have come together for an exciting promotion...each is offering one or more of their ebooks at 99c.

Azra Alagic 

Not Like My Mother

In Yasna's family, violence is an heirloom passed down from generation to generation along with the richness of tradition, recipes, love and land.

After the German invasion of World War II, supported by Serbian Chetniks, has massacred Bosniaks in the Balkans, leaving damaged homes, bodies and hearts in its wake, Samira’s marriage is arranged for her, and she leaves her childhood home with her new husband, Azis.

Samira struggles to retain her identity and dignity in her marriage with Azis, a bitterly angry man with dark secrets that have consequences for everyone around him. When Samira realises her son, Muhammed, will always be the target of Azis’s anger and aggression, she makes the painful decision to evict him from the house to save his life.

Muhammed joins Anika and her family, who are fleeing the oppression of Tito’s Communist Jugoslavia across the Austrian border. The pair immigrates to Australia where they face a new oppression in the guise of racism. But Anika faces an even greater danger in simply trying to survive her husband’s beatings and emotional torment.

Depressed and desperately needing help, Anika attempts to take her own life on several occasions, trapping her daughter, Yasna, into the premature responsibilities of adulthood.

Unable to shake the emotional and psychological shadow of its past, the family struggles to find new ways to love and respect each other’s differences, but religious conflicts and another Balkan war have devastating consequences on their fragile domestic peace.

Not Like My Mother is a poignant story about the patterns of violence and lost identity passed down through generations. Tracking the pain and anguish of three women and their families over two continents, as well as the divide between three religions that have torn apart a country and its people. The novel exposes and explores the links between cultural and personal histories of conflict.

Purchase for only 99 cents here.

*

Karly Blakemore-Mowle

Operation Swift Mercy

She needed help…someone brave…someone tough…someone like a rough and ready Marine.

When Mercy D’Silva, discovered her ex-boyfriend was behind an elaborate people smuggling movement, life as she once knew it, ended abruptly. 
Finding herself on the run with no idea who to turn to for help, her days seemed numbered.

For Chase Maloney, everyone around him seemed to be moving on, while he was simply marking time. When he decided to take a short break from groomsmen duties to go fishing, the last thing he expected to catch was a beautiful woman!

It wasn’t in his nature to turn his back on anyone in distress—especially not a woman… and especially not one who made him want to rethink his entire future. But protecting Mercy would prove somewhat difficult when she fought him every step of the way to keep him from getting mixed up in her problems.

Can they outrun a vicious killer, and hand over the evidence to convict him, in time? Or will he find them first and inflict swift vengeance?

Purchase for only 99 cents here.

*

Anna Hackett

Time Thief

Enter the world of the anomalies in the first short story of Anna Hackett’s series, The Anomaly Trilogy.

Hunted for her ability to steal time, Bay North lives a life on the run. All she wants is to make the crime lord who slaughtered her family pay. But now he’s set the ultimate hunter on her trail and Bay will need all her skills to carry out her revenge and survive.

Ex-Navy SEAL Sean Archer saw his team killed by a time thief in Afghanistan and came back a broken man. He’s made a dark deal with a criminal to hunt down all time thieves and now Sean’s tracked the wily Bay North to Denver where he plans to rid the world of one more dangerous mutation.

But during a shootout, hunter and hunted find themselves depending on each other for survival. Joining forces to exact payback by stealing a priceless treasure, their reluctant alliance shatters both their defenses. Can Bay find the courage to trust? And can Sean convince a woman honed in revenge that she can have more than vengeance, blood and killing? 

Time Thief - paranormal/sci fi romance
Short story - 25,500 words

Purchase for only 99 cents here.

*

Monique McDonell

Mr Right and Other Mongrels

Blissfully happy in her own universe Allegra (Ally) Johnson is the sweet best friend everyone wants to have. Quietly and independently wealthy she runs a charming second-hand bookshop in beachside Manly. Heck, sometimes she even goes downstairs from her flat to run the shop in her Chinese silk pyjamas. It sounds like bliss. But is it enough? 

When dog-phobic Allegra is rescued from an exuberant canine by the chivalrous Teddy Green, Australia’s hottest TV celebrity and garden make-over guru, her life begins to change. Dramatically! 

Unaware of Teddy’s fame Allegra finds herself falling for him, despite her best attempts to resist his charm. Supported by her eccentric family and her fabulous gay friend Justin, Allegra embarks on an on-again off-again romance with Teddy, complicated by his jealous ex-girlfriend, fashionista Louisa and her own narcissistic hippy mother Moonbeam.

Will Ally be able to overcome her insecurities and find happiness with this possible Mr Right or will Teddy’s celebrity lifestyle prove to be too much? Mr Right and Other Mongrels is a light-hearted story about how one chance encounter can change your life.

Purchase for only 99 cents here.

*

Ainslie Paton 

Producing Real

How do you live with yourself when you killed your own mother?

Rielle Mainline is a rock star with a hardcore image and a troubled heart. She's set to embark on a twenty-five city global tour with her band, Ice Queen. She should be ecstatic.
But the tour starts in Sydney and Rielle has spent years trying to wipe out what happened there. 


Roadie, Jake Reed, is excited about being tour manager for the Australian leg of Ice Queen's tour but he knows Rielle's reputation as a prize bitch will make it a challenge.  Jake's  comfortable he can handle whatever she demands, until he meets her and then he's not sure how he's ever going to live without her.


Can the rock star face the tragedy that shaped her life? 


Can the roadie reach the real girl and help her come home?


Producing Real is a story about crippling fears, making music, and learning to be true.

Purchase for only 99 cents here.

*

Shelly Pratt

Switch

The disappearance of Matt’s sister stirs old wounds still raw from the death of their parents in a freak accident years before. When police contact Matthew to notify him of the mysterious events surrounding her kidnapping, he can’t help but feel that his introuvable ways hold him partly to blame. 

As Matt tries to track Dree down, he’s plunged in to a world where everything in not quite what it seems, and as he struggles for the truth, it brings him one step closer to the demons of his past, present and future. 
As police move to find the kidnapper of a wealthy heiress, they ultimately stumble upon a killer without compunction. 
With Detective Scott Balen on the case, he finds the deeper he becomes involved with trying to catch the killer everyone is looking for, the closer he comes to finding love with the one woman he should perhaps stay away from. The hardest questions will only be answered after the killer has his day in court. 
From the Australian landscape to the hills of Italy, iconic landmarks provide the backdrop for a family in tatters searching for answers, a psychotic killer you’ll love to hate and an eclectic group of hit-men on a mission. 
As old habits die hard, the game of life will prove there can only be one winner.

Purchase for only 99 cents here.

*

Mel Teshco

Identity Shift

This big cat has claws and knows how to use them...

Alexia Leigh is determined to prove big-cat shape-shifters exist. But she never expected Blake Powell, the key to the shifter race, to rescue and seduce her--never expected to want him like he's her last damned breath! She's never experienced such raw pleasure, has forgotten what it is to truly feel alive. And now she is torn between him and the proof she needs to exonerate her dead father's once great name.

Purchase for only 99 cents here.

*

Rachel Tsoumbakos

Emeline and the Mutants

What would you do if your whole family mutated into hideous creatures? 

Would you have the courage to do what had to be done when they threatened you life?

Emeline Hart is faced with this horrifying decision when the miraculous Haum vaccine changes into something monstrous. When the mutations start, there is no way to hide the fact that the world is now filled with people who are no longer dying of cancer, heart disease or diabetes. Instead, they become werewolves, vampires and trolls.

In the midst of this, Emeline must search for her missing brother and unravel the conspiracy of events surrounding his disappearance.

The heart pounding action intensifies as medical science goes wrong in EMELINE AND THE MUTANTS. 

Purchase for only 99 cents here.

*

The Ring of Lost Souls

What if fairy tales were real?

"The figure was dark with jagged little edges. While it was an image only caught fleetingly out of the corner of her eye, it was possible to make some distinction in regards to its identity, which was not unlike a raven in appearance."

Larundel - A place plagued by lost souls.

A ring that has claimed a few of them.

And a woman who is about to collide with a world she has forgotten about.

When an abandoned mental asylum is set to be redeveloped, sinister events unfold in the community surrounding it.

Isobel moves into the neighbourhood looking for a new future only to find a past she never knew belonged to her. Is she a sane person living in an insane world or a crazy person trapped in reality?

Set in an actual abandoned mental institution on the outskirts of Melbourne, Australia, THE RING OF LOST SOULS is a fast-paced fairy tale weaving together a believable blend of fantasy, urban legend and pure insanity.

Purchase for only 99 cents here.

*

Book Trailer Reveal: Heart Search by Carlie M.A. Cullen

I'm SO excited! As I mentioned in an earlier post, the novel, 'Heart Search' by author Carlie M.A. Cullen is about to be released. Before the book is released for sale, why not enjoy the beautiful trailer?

Make sure you share the love and pass it around all your favourite social medias.

The History of Larundel: Part 1 (1938 - 1950)

When I was writing The Ring of Lost Souls, I used an actual location for inspiration. Larundel is a now defunct mental facility based in Bundoora, Australia. This institution is renowned for being the home of some of the meanest, criminally insane people in Australia. Heinous serial killer Peter Dupas served time there, so did many unnamed men and women who were considered a threat to society. It is also known as the birthplace of the drug Lithium.

All the urban legends and ghost stories migrate towards the mentally incapacitated tenants of this institution in The Ring of Lost Souls and I used many of these myths to create the fabric of my story. Some of these stories, I even expanded upon. The small girl who was fond of her music box and died in Larundel was the inspiration for my ghost Maisy, who is an adult, but small in size. The music box turns out to be crucial to my main character, Isobel, who needs it to discover her past. Incidently, the name Maisy was actually inspired by another ghost story; Nelly, who is the only ghost wanting people to know her name. And, with all the speculation over whether a morgue ever existed in Larundel was the very reason I had to place one in my story! However, none of these stories tell of the other people who inhabited Larundel. People who were not considered disabled in any way. In this first part, I will be dealing with these forgotten groups.

The ground plans of Larundel

Mont Park was originally built at the start of the twentieth century. It was designed to provide a self-sufficient environment that was less 'instituted' than what was currently available. Larundel is a smaller part of Mont Park and was developed, originally, to replace the outdated Kew Mental Hospital.

Work began and by 1938, the administration building (while this building is the oldest of the Larundel group, it no longer exists, having been burned down in 2005), four wards and the main hospital building were erected. However, there was no power or sewerage connected yet. Even with these shortfalls, there was a rush to finish the works since the Children's Welfare Depot and Travancore Departmental Centre both wanted to use the premises. Both departments were concerned that, since World War two was occurring, and these two buildings were situated near possible military targets, the children needed to be evacuated. Other government departments also wanted these two buildings for munition workers.

For several years, while work was still being completed on Larundel, there were see-sawing opinions on who would use Larundel and why. By 1942, it was decided that Larundel was too far away from the court system used by the Children's Welfare Depot, so these children were no longer considered for the first inhabitants of Larundel. There were still all intents to use the buildings for the mentally incapacitated at Kew Cottages, but until all the buildings were complete, this was considered impossible.

The R.A.A.F. were the next to consider Larundel. Air Vice Marshall V. Hurley wanted to use the facility as an R.A.A.F. hospital. The government agreed, but by the end of 1942, it was decided the No. 1 W.A.A.F. Depot (Training Depot) would in fact use the buildings until the war ended, and possibly for up to a year afterwards.

So, in 1943, Larundel got its very first inhabitants. Between 1943 and the end of R.A.A.F. control in December of 1945, five thousand people trained at Larundel. Paul Savage, a medical orderly, remembers this time fondly:

"The area around was basically rural...The young trainees would often walk from Preston across the paddocks. Their 'return from leave' route would take them past the Preston cemetery, the Mont Park vegetable garden and the marshy area of the Mont Park farm. Trainees returning to camp late on a Sunday evening would encounter horses grazing. The horses were inclined to follow their human visitors and many a city lad got the fright of his life in the darkness near the cemetery at the sound of hooves to his rear."

A group of WAAAF airwomen doing rhythmic exercises during a physical training class which is part of the first Advanced Physical and Recreational Training Course given to WAAAF drill instructors at No. 1 WAAAF Depot, "Larundel" Preston.  (From website: http://cas.awm.gov.au/photograph/VIC0642)

The same room in 2011

 Now the Netherlands Indies Welfare Organisation for Evacuees wanted to use Larundel to house refugees from the Dutch East Indies. This possible use was quickly rejected since the logistics of shipping and arranging evacuation from the war-torn area was proving difficult. So, in 1946 the acting superintendent of Mont Park, Dr. L.L. Lovett was told the site would be used for emergency housing. On 26 April 1946, the first civilian moved into Larundel.

Larundel was partitioned off inside the existing building and flats were created. Two rooms were also set aside for Bundoora State School No. 4631, although its exact location within the complex is unknown. This school operated between 1947 and 1949. While people were now leasing rooms, the facility was still being built with the intention of it being used for mental illness. While only existing wards could only bed 320 patients, it was envisioned to eventually have enough buildings to house 1000 patients.

The most famous real building of Larundel is probably the main hospital ward. Many people believe that Larundel housed a morgue. While there is much speculation, and one was supposed to be built, the morgue actually existed in the Mont Park section. The hospital is most often remembered as the building that held many of the sickest people. It did indeed do this, but what a lot of people don't realise is the fact that one floor of the building was originally designed as nursing staff quarters. By 1947 this floor could accommodate up to eighty nurses.

In 1948, the decision to move people from Kew Mental Hospital, was bought to the forefront again. People were now being shipped out of Larundel and sent to Warrnambool Mental Hospital for emergency accommodation. More buildings, including a church, were proposed for Larundel, although some of these were never built. The existing buildings were relegated as such:

A block - Administration
B block - Hospital Block (80 patients on ground floor/ 80 nurses on first floor)
C block - 40 bed Sub-receiving female ward
D block - 40 bed Sub-receiving female ward
E block - 20 bed Receiving female ward
F block - Kitchen block
G block - 20 bed Receiving male ward
H block - 30 bed Sub-receiving male ward
I block - 40 bed Sub-receiving male ward
J block - 60 bed Sub-receiving male ward

Many of these buildings still remain today and are listed on the Victorian Heritage Database. These buildings are now safe from demolition.

The start of 1949 saw only fifteen families living in Larundel and by November of that year (21st to be exact, ten days after the proposed opening date) these people were moved out and the first mentally ill patients moved into Larundel. Even at this stage, there was still work to be done. A lack of airing courts, staff accommodation, laundry and mortuary services had still not been addressed. A lack of fencing was also a concern, so Larundel was temporarily re-named Mont Park and 30 male patients who were considered to be 'suitable reliable' moved into the facility.

Sources:

Bircanin, Iliya and Short, Alex. Glimpses of the past. Mont Park, Larundel and Plenty. 1995

Public Records Office Victoria - Larundel Mental & Psychiatric Hospital & Kingsbury Training Centre
Victorian Heritage Register Website - Larundel Mental Hospital (Former)
Australian War Memorial Website - VIC0642
Wikipedia - Peter Dupas
The Paranormal Guide - Forum Topic: Larundel Mental Asylum, Bundoora
Photo of Larundel circa 2011 used with kind permission. Name withheld to protect identity.

"Emeline & the Mutants": only 99 Cents on Amazon!

In celebration of Emeline and the Mutants exciting new makeover, I am offering it at the heavily discounted price of 99 cents until next Monday 24th of September! Available only on Amazon.com

The new content included in the book comes in the form of journals by the characters you love the most, news articles from before the Haum vaccine mutated and turned everyone into zombies, vampires, werewolves and trolls, and propaganda leaflets.

Make sure you get in quick before the sale ends. If you have the old version, you are still able to purchase this new version in addition to the previous one. Why not compare the two and let me know which bits you like the most?

Quick, you can purchase Emeline and the Mutants on Amazon.com here for only 99 cents - but hurry, before time runs out!

As a teaser, here's one of Emeline's journals.....

________________________________________________________________

Emeline Hart’s Journal.

(Found in the roof cavity of the abandoned Hart residence)

January 8

Things I never want the world to forget about Angus:

• He’s smart, but studies for fun
• I met him at Uni. We were both studying ancient cultures
•  His father expected him to follow in his footsteps and become a media tycoon
•  He’s stinking rich, but he’s not pretentious about it, not one little bit
•  When he eats ice cream he always ‘accidently’ gets some on his face - just to shit me
•  His favourite pet was a dog named Minnie
• His hair is brown and curls up over his ears when he needs a hair cut
•  I love him

January 9

I met Angus after work today. I needed a beer something fierce! Right from the moment he walked into the bar, I knew something was up. He looked like crap, that’s for sure and if I didn’t know any better, I would think he’d already started drinking without me. I quizzed him, but other than saying he had a headache, he insisted he was okay.

January 10

I’m hiding in the roof cavity of my house.

I should have known better last night. Angus was sick, not drunk. But not good sick - Haum sick.

This is my first encounter with zombies. Sure I’ve met a whole bunch of vamps and weres - most of them being my family - and I even know a bit about merpeople (well, actually ‘people’ is no longer correct since all the mermales seem to have been eaten by their spouses), but zombies are new to me.

I am peering down through a small hole I punched in the ceiling with my biro. Angus can smell me, but he can’t work out where I am. I wish I didn’t have to do what has to be done. I wish Angus was like me - immune.

I don’t want to shoot him.

I still love him.

_______________________________________________________________

Carlie M. A. Cullen's 'Heart Search' Blog Tour Starts......Now!

I am very excited to announce that I am to be part of a Blog Tour! The book on offer is the very first novel published by author Carlie M. A. Cullen, entitled Heart Search. I have had the pleasure of being able to preview this book before publication, so make sure you hang about for my review on Heart Search later in the month!

But first things first...here is the official reveal of the gorgeous cover, designed by the equally wonderful Nicole Antonia Carson:

Zombie Apocalypse Now!

You'd better run. If you can't, you need to trip the person next to you in order to save yourself from the zombie apocalypse!

Starting from this week, you will be able to view my new weekly serial entitled 'ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE NOW!' on Wattpad. It is entirely free to read and the whole Wattpad universe is completely addictive! There are so many fabulous stories on there.

You have the chance to meet Rosalyn in my first episode. She seems to have lost someone dear to her during the zombie apocalypse and now she is making the terrifying decision to flee her house in search of food. But will she make it past the zombie at her door?

This series will revolve around four women: Rosalyn, Berta, Pip and Tatiana.

Be warned, one of them will be a crazy cat lady. Another will be pregnant.....

Make sure you add ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE NOW! to your reading list on Wattpad and vote on my first part so you can keep up to date on the lives of these four women.

And if one week is too long to wait, you can check out excerpts from THE RING OF LOST SOULS and EMELINE AND THE MUTANTS. I will also be adding a snippet or two from my upcoming trilogy that I will be writing for National Novel Writing Month in November.