Blog Reviews!!!

A friend of a friend put me together with Blog Friendly PR. Basically the PR rep Nina Say, set up a bunch of bloggers who were interested in reading my books, and I sent them all a copy to read and review. So far, I've found only a few of the reviews, but each one is different and very helpful.

The thing I've found that almost all are saying, and breaks my heart, is that there are grammatical errors a plenty. Of course I knew this, I'm a self-published author, unless you have a couple grand to spend on an editor, editing yourself, and having friends help is the only option.

Sadly this option leaves for many mistakes. I apologize to the bloggers that took the time out of their lives to read my messy stories.

Now for the good part. Everyone had nice things to say regardless of the grammatical errors. They enjoyed the stories, and the mythology. (I heart mythology) Needless to say they are all sweet little fairies of information. I'm so glad Nina helped me reach them, and I'm so glad to read their words. I really hope that time, and experience will fix the problems with my errors. Maybe an editor guardian angel will swoop in and offer to clean them up for free. I won't hold my breath though!

An extra set of eyes is always a good thing. I can't say enough good stuff about this experience and I don't even have all of the reviews yet!!!

Here is a list of what I've found so far.

For The Wild Hunt:

http://citycynic.com/2013/08/11/review-the-wild-hunt-by-ashley-jeffery-giveaway/

http://thebreezymama.com/the-wild-hunt-by-ashley-jeffery/

http://supermomsreview.com/?p=1166

and http://indiefantasy.com/the-wild-hunt-by-ashley-jeffery/
which was one of the first and not related to Blog Friendly PR.

For Lilith:

http://shoppingwives.com/lilith-book-review-and-giveaway/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ShoppingWivesshoppingWives+(Shopping+Wives)

http://thenewmomma.com/lilith-book-review-giveaway/

http://thismuseistaken.com/lilith-book-review-giveaway/#.Ug7hlEnn85s  <----My favorite so far!!!

http://www.coffeeaddictedwriter.com/2013/08/lilith-by-ashely-jeffery-review-giveaway.html

Again I want to thank the Bloggers. I know how hard it is to set aside time to read, and to give it to Self-published writers is even harder. You never know what you're going to get when you crack open that book.

Scent Hound Book Trailer

Usually I make these things before a book release. Usually....for some reason on top of my formatting problems, My Movie was giving me hell as well. Every time I tried to open the file and make changes, move text boxes etc. My Movie would freeze and then shut down.....without saving my changes.

So in an attempt to adapt to my pain in the ass book trailer making software I started saving after every change, and I do mean EVERY. CHANGE.

About every ten seconds I hit the save button. It took forever but eventually it got done. I'm nothing if not adaptable. So screw you My Movie I won.....haha. No amount of annoying freezing was going to hold me back. And in the words of someone far smarter and more eloquent, Adapt or Die.

So without tooting my own horn anymore and becoming increasingly obnoxious here is the book trailer for Scent Hound.

Scent Hound Giveaway!!!!!!!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/ODI0YjM2MTU2MGExOTdjNWViODdhMDEzZWI1ZmVjOjE=/


Above is the link to the giveaway, but I thought I'd post what you'll be getting if by chance you enter and win.








1 Signed copy of The Wild Hunt




















1 Signed copy of Lilith











1 Signed copy of Scent Hound











1 Be Fearless Tagged Necklace

 

Ultimate Prize, signed copies of The Wild Hunt, Lilith and Scent Hound with a Wild Hunt inspired Living Locket!!!!

It will be filled with lots of things that remind me of Lo, and The Wild Hunt, ghost, motorcycle, paw print, crystals, etc.

Don't forget to enter!!!!

 

 

 

Done.

I am so ready to not self-publish.

The reason I feel this way, is because all day I dreaded the ugly task of formatting my book for ebook. This shouldn't be so hard now that I've done it three times, but for some reason today it gave me hell.

Createspace the lovely website I use for my paperback copies was supposed, and I use that word in a dripping with venom and as sarcastic a way as possible, supposed to have a formatted copy available after I published in print. This worked fine after Lilith for some reason unbeknownst to me the author, but for Scent Hound, no no no no way was that going to happen.

I pushed that fancy little button and saved that nifty little file. Uploaded to kindle direct publishing and..........bam, utter and complete shit.

It was unreadable, awful, just NO!

I know that I am a really picky over the top perfectionist. I know because hello I live with myself and I actually do not live in denial.

I am a perfectionist and I am SO not perfect.

There I admit it.

But oh my God am I sick of freaking formatting. It was awful, everything that could go wrong did go wrong. The image wouldn't load, the file itself wouldn't. I couldn't get that stupid button to upload a file on kdp to even work.

Wow.

Today was not the day for formatting. After hours of refreshing Internet pages, and re saving, reformatting, and reloading, I am done....for now.

Who knows what the hell else will go wrong.

I hate you formatting you are a cruel cruel bitch. I hope you step on a lego!

End of Rant.




PS: Scent Hound is now available on Amazon and Smashwords, I should be happier about that little nugget of wonderfulness but alas I am not, I was raped by formatting today, so I'm a little messed up and pre-PTSD-ee. I know I will be fine, there are support groups out there for these kind of things. But don't be surprised if I get arrested for putting a bullet through ugly formattings head. The bitch has it coming.........I'm just sayin'.









AMAZON:
http://www.amazon.com/Scent-Hound-Wild-Hunt-2/dp/1482677555/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1375332853&sr=1-2


SMASHWORDS:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/342887











PPS: I am in no way crazy enough to believe that formatting actually exists, but as I said before if she did she would definitely be a chic. A PMS, Midol popping, life ruining bitch. Again....just sayin'

Natural Highs

There are lots of things out there that give you natural highs...laughing, sex, a great book, or a good movie. I myself have found that the best natural high is the one I get after I finish a story. There is something awesome and indescribable about the way it feels, a numb intoxicating blanket that settles over your body and senses. That feeling you get when you ride rollercoasters. It's just amazing. The reason for my most recent high is below.....

Scent Hound is done!!!

 

 

 

 

Available July 31st, 2013!!!!!

Character Profiles: Scent Hound

 

Arlington Loretta Dufrey

 

 

 



 1. Name: Arley

  2. Age: 30
  3. Hair: Brown

  4. Eyes: Blue

  5. Build: Thin/Petite

  6. Height: 5'1'

  7. Personality: Harsh, passionate, contemplative

  8. Likes: Bourbon, BBQ, her mama's home cooking, fast cars, honesty

  9. Dislikes: Liars, prejudice, weak lazy people, old laws and men too scared to change them.

10. Music: Country, blues, folk

11. Movies: Who has the time?

12. Actor whom my character resembles:  Evangeline Lilly

13. Clothes: Jeans t-shirts, cowboy boots

14. Job: Private Investigator, scent hound

15. Song: "Kiss Me"---Ed Sheeran

 

 

 

 

 

Raylan Davenport-Crawford

 



 

 

 

 

1. Name: Raylan

  2. Age: 31

  3. Hair: Brown

  4. Eyes: Brown

  5. Build: Muscular/athletic

  6. Height 6'0'

  7. Personality: Smart, ruthless, demanding, aggressive

  8. Likes: Arley, puzzles, the chase.

  9. Dislikes: Drama, anything too easy

10. Music: Rock, Country

11. Movies: Anything with action or a mystery

12. Actor whom my character resembles: Theo James

13. Clothes: Jeans t-shirts, shit kickers

14. Job: Private Investigator, beta for the Alabama pack

15. Song: "Hold On"---Alabama Shakes

 

 

 

 

Peter Reginald Bartholomew Prather III

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Name: Peter

  2. Age: 31

  3. Hair: Blonde

  4. Eyes: Blue

  5. Build: Muscular/athletic

  6. Height 6'2'

  7. Personality: Reserved, strong, poised, well-mannered.

  8. Likes: Precision, order, rules

  9. Dislikes: Chaos, messes, rudeness

10. Music: Classical, country, folk, acoustic

11. Movies: Can't sit still long enough to watch one.

12. Actor whom my character resembles: Trevor Donovan

13. Clothes: Suits, ties, business attire, always designer.

14. Job: Family money, investments, alpha of Alabama pack

15. Song: "No Moon"---Iron and Wine

Not exactly newbies, but they are in Scent Hound.

Agent Shawn Greene

 

 

 

 

 

 1. Name: Shawn Greene

  2. Age: 23

  3. Hair: Black

  4. Eyes: Hazy Blue

  5. Build: Tall and Slim

  6. Height: 6'1'

  7. Personality: Reserved, professional, follows decorum.

  8. Likes: SOP's, helping people.

  9. Dislikes: People who break the rules.

10. Music: Rap, rock, pop.

11. Movies: The Bourne Trilogy.

12. Actor whom my character resembles: Andrew Garfield

13. Clothes: Suit......always......(probably showers in one)

14. Job: Special Agent of Investigations.

15. Song: "Secret Agent Man"-Johnny Rivers

Scent Hound: Sneak Peak at Chapter One

My latest project Scent Hound, is basically a Novella, that bridges the gap between The Wild Hunt and The Otherside. Why I didn't combine it with The Otherside is because its told from a different and new characters prospective.

Arley Dufrey is a scent hound and a shifting female Cwn Annwn. Being a shifting female is rare enough, but her abilities make her even more so. She is a powerful hound. A force of nature with a gentle upbringing, and a bad mouth. She likes BBQ and bourbon, her step dads Charger, and knows how to throw a punch.

Scent Hound is about half finished. Hopefully within the next month it will be done. What I like the most about this book is her ability, and being able to tell a story from a shifters perspective. She isn't on the outside looking in like Pacey, she isn't even finally aware of what she is like Lo. Arley has been raised around hounds and bites. Her world is a huge leap inside the inner workings of the Otherside creatures.

As a nice little treat I decided I'd share a bit more of Scent Hound, here's the first few pages of chapter one.

Scent Hound

 

 

 

By Ashley Jeffery

 

A Wild Hunt Novella

 

 

 

 

Chapter One

 

Ex-static

 

 

Ever wish that your ex would just drop dead? I know I’m not the only girl that’s had that fantasy. Over the years, I’ve seen plenty of failed relationships result in deathful thinking. They say if only they’d known, or if only they’d pressed down the pillow, or shoved them down the stairs…

I don’t believe in murder, but that doesn’t stop me from wishing for a freak accident or two. A piano falling on top of his too attractive head or a car crash caused by a banana peel, cartoonish in nature but I always take it back in the end. I send too many souls of the dead to The Otherside to wish that on anyone.

I’ve never been to the Otherside, but I wonder, as I sing their souls away, as I howl for the dead’s release from the mortal side of the world. What’s it really like to die? Is the Otherside the paradise the descendants of the Cwn Annwn believe, or is it hell, a prison cell you’re stuck in forever?

Death aside, I can’t help but wish that my ex would disappear. Most girls end a relationship and never have to see the lousy son of a bitch again. The city swallows them up and like that, a snap of the fingers, they’re gone.

As I stare into his familiar pale brown eyes, I can’t help but wish that I were that lucky. He’s the reason I no longer date fellow hounds, because even in a city the size of Montgomery, hounds are few and far between. Every pack meeting, night run, and soul singing makes anonymity impossible.

“Hey Arles.” Raylan’s deep southern voice drawls.

I ignore the tingling that settles in my stomach. We haven’t been together for years and he still affects me. My heart and brain know he’s my ex, but my body still betrays me. His touch is burned into the memory of my skin cells. It doesn’t help that he’s damned good looking. Corded arms and lean muscles, he has one of those bodies meant for water. Despite all the pretty trimmings, he’s still an asshole, a cheating asshole to be specific.

“Lanie.” I say in my most contemptuous voice.

He reddens but slips beside me, his hand inches from the slight curve where my back meets my butt. He can’t help but lead me forward across the wooden floor, unable to suppress those southern manners even when it’s not necessary.

Too bad those manners didn’t help him keep his pants on. The truth is I could grab that hand and flip him onto his back in no time at all. Being a licensed P.I. requires more than just a piece of paper. I shoot once a week at the local range, and practice self-defense and boxing as often as possible.

“How’s the business?” He asks.

I swallow down my annoyance. He outbid me on my last job, taking him from a regular annoying ex to competitor and job stealer.

“Great.” I lie, the truth is that job was the first bid I had all month. I needed the work badly and he knows it.

“You know.” He says shifting closer so he can whisper. “I could always use your nose around here; The Firm is always looking for new trainees.” Trainee is a nice way of saying bitch.

I swallow down my sigh and ignore him. I can smell his anxiety. Yes, he’s gloating, and fishing for a reaction, but underneath that conceit and ass-holery, is the rosy sweet smell of desperation. I’m not sure if it’s my nose he misses or me. If I’m being honest with myself, it’s probably a combination, but Raylan cheated, end of story.

“I’m good.” I say.

He nods and opens the darkly stained wooden door. I can hear the laughter die down as they see me approaching. Eleven pairs of eyes swing my way. I’m the only female in my pack of thirteen. The only shifting female in three states actually, shifting female Cwn Annwn are rare. A daughter born to two hounds is nine times out of ten only human. She can birth hound males if she breeds with another hound, but for some reason, actually shifting, or having gifts is a rarity.

That makes me a hot commodity, it also makes them hate me. Especially one male in particular, Doyle Thomas is over twice my age but half as intelligent. He can smell lies like bites, and the occasional emotion. But my ability is something he and every man in the room would kill to have.

Hounds are behind the times when it comes to sexual equality; their pack mentality makes it even worse. Women are to be protected, and cherished. They are to breed more pups and wash dishes. My place in the pack is far beneath that of an omega. I am the unwanted, the unneeded, and the mutual wish that I’d get the hell out of here.

A sour lemony scent assaults my nose. I push down the urge to gag and step forward, conscious of the whispers, and the warm hand that never once moves forward to make contact with my body. Every one of my skin cells is concentrating on that almost touch. Part of me wants to stop dead just to feel the warm impact of his hand through my shirt. Would it feel the same, my body sings, or is the heat and sizzle just a twisted memory?

 

“Arley, it’s good to see you again.” Peter says the words but his pale green eyes are on Raylan. The smell of his lie is so strong I can taste its coppery flavor on my tongue.

“Peter.” I say with a nod.

The seven men including my ex ignore me and take their seats around the room. Peter moves forward towards the podium. His tall body towers over us, thick shoulders meet a slender waist. He’s always in a business suit, silk ties, and a platinum Rolex, my mother would say he smells like old money. She doesn’t know how right she is, old money, has a particular smell, just like everything else.

I settle in a leather wing backed chair. The room is overtly masculine; maps of the city and state cover one wall. A dry erase board lists the rogues in the area, the ones under close watch. A different more permanent list is attached to a black board.

Besides each name are pictures and addresses, including lists of employment and other information. At the top of the black board is the word mutt, it’s a derogatory term for another type of shifter most commonly called bites. They are more like the werewolves of modern folklore than we are.

Infected by bite or blood, hence the name, a human transforms into a monster. They aren't swayable by the moon, but change whenever they want, or whenever they are emotionally unstable. This makes them a risk to creatures of my kind. They are our enemies by nature, but I have a few I call family and friends, and this puts an even larger distance between the pack and me.

“Some of you have heard that a new othersider is among us. I am here to put those rumors to rest. This morning I got a call from one of the western pack betas. Some of you no doubt remember Sutter, some of you.” Peter stalls to meet my eyes. “Are even related.” I roll my own. Sutter is my half-brother; we share the same deadbeat father. He’s not the only one out there either. My lovely dad has a dozen fatherless children all across the South.

If Sutter were any other hound, he might have ended up in my mom’s home for wayward cousins. My mom has taken in quite a few cousins over the years. Cousin is just her easy way of explaining away random troubled children. Almost all of them are hounds suffering from broken homes or problems. My step dad, a bite, helps them learn to control themselves. Our house is a sort of halfway home for the second natured.