Um...Happy New Year?

I guess all I have to say is have a fun New Year's Eve. Don't drink and drive. Don't drink and have sex with strangers. Don't drink and set yourself on fire. Other than that, have a great time! 

I hope 2014 is going to be YOUR biggest, best year ever.

AUDIO BOOK NOW AVAILABLE! YES, I'M YELLING!

Woot! I'm a bounty hunter. Never join Audible.com? Well, do so today, and get my audio book, Tales of a Texas Boy, for FREE! I need at least three new signups on Audible.com who get my book free as one of the first three they purchase from Audible.

The Fine Print: You need to stay on audible.com for 61 days. If you do that, my producer and I get to split a bounty fee worth way more than the royalty we give up since the book is free. Oh, yeah. You get another book free on signup too.

Audible is a membership thing which costs  a monthly amount (after you get your first month free) depending on how many books you want per month. You can access it quickly through my book link on Amazon.

Tales of a Texas Boy on Amazon (discounted right now)

Tales of a Texas Boy at Audible

Tales of a Texas Boy at iTunes

Discounts and Freebies

Quick! Before the end of the year, pick up some of my ebooks discounted or free. 

Through December 31st on Smashwords. Don't even need the coupon until the end of the month. Just 99 cents until Amazon discovers I'm undercutting their price.

Tales of a Texas Boy 

Eagle Quest

First Duty

Mixed Bag II Coupon TZ72D for a FREE book

On Kobo, SPELLSLINGER is free right now. Why aren't you getting a copy of the prequel short story of the Witches of Galdorheim series? It's a mystery if you don't.

Preditor/Editor Polls Are Open

I only have one book entered for 2013: FAIZAH'S DESTINY. It's getting a lot of mileage lately. Forgot I also entered SPELLSLINGER in the SF/F short stories section. By the way, the short is available on Kobo for free until the end of the month.

Pred/Ed Poll Link: http://www.critters.org/predpoll/ 

The Preditor/Editor polls are starting again. Pop over and nominate your books if they came out in 2013. If you don't have a book to nominate, I'd appreciate your vote for FAIZAH'S DESTINY. It appears in:

* SF/F Novels
* Childrens
* YA
* Ebook Covers

They've got a menu item for the poll categories at the top of the page.

The drill is to vote in a category (for my book I hope), enter your full name and email address (don't worry, this is safe), then try to discern the info they want to confirm you're a human being. After you vote, PredPoll will send you an email. VERY IMPORTANT: Click on the confirmation to register your vote.

If you enter your book in a category mine isn't in, let me know. I'll vote in the other categories if you're the first person to ask for my vote. You can put it in the comments to this post.

Faizah's Destiny Cover in Top 10

Voted by on by the people who happened to drop over on the Friendly Book Cover Contest put up by Erika Szabo. Faizah's Destiny ended up in the Top 10 vote. Cool! See all the covers on Erika's website, Welcome to My World. Erika is a great resource for writers. I'd suggest you follow her on-line magazine "Read With Us". She has a whole page in Hungarian on her site! She also provides information on Natural Medicine. That's neat, Erika. You're truly a Renaissance Woman.

Third Free Book - Faizah's Destiny

And yet another ebook absolutely free. It was going to be on MuseItUp, but weather and other technical and nature-related problems got in the way of that. So, I'll do my own freebie. Just enter FAIZAH in the comments section of this blog post to get 100% off. Be sure to leave a bread crumb trail so I can find you to send your free ebook copy. Also, tell me if you want PRC, PDF, or EPUB.

OR.....You can also get the print edition at a highly reasonable price ($7.34) on Amazon (other places online stores don't discount the book price, so to heck with 'em).

The gods are at war and only a farmer’s daughter can save the world from Armageddon. 

The village magician has gone missing. His four pupils think he has left a clue to his whereabouts in the Magicalis Bestialis--the book of magical creatures. They must seek the help of the elusive Simurgh, the mythical birds who know all the secrets of the universe. However, this is not an easy camping trip into the mountains. Spirits, gods, and demons confront the four friends, who are not aware they’re being set up by otherworldly forces for a much larger task. A farmer’s daughter, Faizah is chosen to lead the humans in the battle. She must persuade a slave, an orphan, and a rich merchant’s son to join in the battle on the side of good. Although divided by Dev, the evil god of war, the teens must band together to find the Simurgh, rescue their teacher, and stave off Armageddon.

Celebrate the Solstice with Midnight Oil!

What if a magical oil can cure a whole tribe of a disfiguring illness? The catch is it can only be used exactly on the moment of the Summer Solstice.

In MIDNIGHT OIL, a young warlock must steal the curative oil from an evil forest elemental and deliver it on time to save the Nenets tribe. But, the endangered Nenets tribe is not the only ones needing saving. A young witch is stranded on a mythical island. Her only hope for rescue is relying on a greedy arctic skua. And to make matters even worse, the forest elemental is holding the witch's boyfriend hostage.

The witch and the warlock have their work cut out for them, and they must do it all before the clock runs down to the exact moment of the Summer Solstice, but exactly when does that happen?

Ebook and Print

MIDNIGHT OIL - Book 2 of the Witches of Galdorheim Series

Shipwrecked on a legendary island, how can a witch rescue her boyfriend if she can’t even phone home?

Ebook:
MuseItUp:  http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/museityoung/midnight-oil-detail
Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006UTL54A
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/midnight-oil-marva-dasef/1109231421?ean=2940033055395

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/133120

Print:
Amazon (best price at $7.19):  http://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Oil-Witches-Galdorheim-Volume/dp/1481226851/
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/midnight-oil-marva-dasef/1117347254?ean=9781481226851&itm=1&usri=9781481226851

Free Until December 31st at Kobo

EXCLUSIVELY FREE AT KOBO THIS MONTH

Here's a free ebook short story available on Kobo. Since it was so short, I included the first chapters of the Witches of Galdorheim series (Bad Spelling, Midnight Oil, and Scotch Broom). Since it's a promo deal, I had to make it free and I did. http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/spellslinger

Excerpt:

Rune looked left and added a stairway going up to nowhere. He plunked a piano with a mustached player under the steps. A tinny version of Buffalo Gals overlaid the background chatter. Glancing at the bar, he added a barkeep with a white apron polishing glasses. On the customer side of the bar, he conjured a few cowboys hefting mugs of beer. Looking to his right, he set up a poker table with more cowboys. One player was garbed in a black suit, black hat, black tie, black hair, a black cigar (unlit), and a black pencil-thin mustache. The villain.

Taking a step, Rune paused, and then snapped his fingers. “Right. The saloon gal.” She appeared standing next to the villain with her arm draped over his shoulders. Nodding with satisfaction, Rune clanked toward the poker table. He had to get the action going pretty soon or he’d run out of play time.

“Black Bart,” Rune said with a throaty growl, “I told ya to stay outta my town. Now I’m gonna have ta bring ya in.”

Black Bart jumped to his feet and pulled a derringer from his waistcoat. Rune liked the brocade vest and quickly added a watch chain. Black Bart obligingly stood still waiting for Rune to complete Bart’s stylish outfit.

Rune drew his own gun from its holster. “Don’t make this any harder than it has ta be, Bart.”

“You’ll never take me alive, Sheriff Rune!” Bart pulled the dance hall girl in front of him as a shield. The girl shrieked and grasped the arm encircling her neck.

Audio Sample #2 from Tales of a Texas Boy

Here's another possibility for the short sample of audio offered where the book is sold. The idea is to tempt the listener into finding out the rest of the story. The first sample is here if you'd like to listen to it. 

So, for your listening pleasure, an excerpt from TALES OF A TEXAS BOY, coming soon as an audio book. Let me know if you prefer the first sample (from "Out of the Chicken Coop") or this sample from "Cage McNatt's Prize Sow."

Would you like a sample?

Turn on your sound or slap on some headphones. Here's one of the potential audio samples a potential buyer can listen and decide to buy or not. I'll post another sample tomorrow. Maybe I'll ask everybody to vote on which to use.

Revised Book Trailer

Since the audio book of TALES OF A TEXAS BOY isn't quite ready yet, here's the revised book trailer instead. I can hardly wait, though, for you to hear the great narration by Donnie Baarns. So, here's the trailer to entertain you in the meantime.

Happy ChriSatGanHanKwaAshAth!

Tis the season, as they say. Say what? Yeah, I made up that combo-holiday greeting. Covers just about everything celebratory throughout the winter doldrums. So, no matter what persuasion you follow, there's got to be something to brighten the soggy/cold season. Today is Friday the 13th for the superstitious amongst us. So don't BLINK!

Christmas: A usurpation of the mid-winter Saturnalia Festival. St. Patrick was big on keeping the frolicking holidays, but bending them to his own purpose. Historical records seem to place the actual birth of Jesus in March or April. Facts don't get in the way of the commercial spending binge. All hail the Almighty (dollar/euro/pound/yen).

The big bruhaha this year in the US was all the stores who decided that Thanksgiving was a great day for their employees to not be with their family in a celebration of thanksgiving. So, they opened their doors and let the crowds rush in. Christians don't have to worry about atheists having some pretend war on Christmas. Christians are their own worst enemies. Ask the Pope.

Saturnalia: The Romans liked mid-winter to celebrate something, so Saturn got the festival. This one was usurped for the Christmas myth. Don't get all twisted. Christmas is not a celebration for Jesus. It's a way to get the Pagans to sign up.

Besides Saturn, other pagan dieties are celebrated for much the same reason. Mithra, Horus, Zeus, even Hercules. Christians didn't steal the celebration until 400 AD. Historical accounts have Christ born in the spring, but that would have interfered with the theft of Oestra, the spring festival of fertility.

Pancha Ganapati: The Hindu solstice celebration lasts five days (the Hindus really know how to party). The celebration is in honor of the elephant god Ganesha, who is the patron of arts and guardian of culture. Each day is celebrated by a different color which have special meanings for Ganesha. Golden Yellow creates a vibration of love and harmony within the family, Royal Blue for love and harmony between neighbors and friends, Ruby Red for harmony with business associates, Emerald Green celebrates art and culture, and the last day (which happens to be December 25th) is Brilliant Orange for love and harmony for all. The holiday is celebrated with lights and tinsel, but with a nice picture of Lord Ganesh rather than a tree.

Hanakkuh: This year, the beginning of Hanakkuh fell on November 27th (the day before Thanksgiving). What a perfect time for the Festival of Lights for those of the Judaic persuasion. Since the Jewish calendar is based on different dates than the western one, liberal Jews can have their Hanakkuh, and still celebrate Christmas and Kwanzaa with their friends. Anyone want a convertible hanakkuh bush? Everybody can party like it's 5775.

Kwanzaa: Created in 1966, Kwanzaa was made up by a California guy to highlight African-American culture. Cool thought, but I'd just as soon we'd say: "What? Obama is black? Wow, I didn't know that." Keeping separate ensures separateness. Hey! Doesn't that look like a Menorah?

More recently, Kwanzaa is celebrated in conjunction with Christmas since many African-Americans are Christian. I suppose those of the Muslim faith can also celebrate Kwanzaa since the major winter holy day for Muslims was way back in November.

Ashura is an Islamic holy day observed on the 10th of the Islamic month of Muharram. That's November 12th this year, so Muslims will be moving on to Mohammad's birthday in January.

As for Ashura, this is a schizophrenic holy day for the two main Muslim sects. Shi'ite Muslims regard it as a major festival marking the martydom of the Prophet's grandson, Hussein. It's a more solemn holiday involving fasting and re-enactments of the martyrdom which includes some pretty nasty self-flagellation. Nothing says holiday cheer like a bloody back.

For Sunni Muslims this is the day that celebrates the release of the Israelites by the Pharoah. Yes, the Sunnis are pleased the future Israeli people were freed from Egypt. Not sure how this squares with the current state of affairs. However, since the Biblical Old Testament is regarded holy by the triumvirate of monotheistic world religions, there has to be some crossover of beliefs.

Atheist/Agnostic/Pastafarian: The godless like holidays as much as the next person. They just don't have an official date for the FSM's birth celebration. FSM, you ask? Flying Spaghetti Monster has become the avatar for folks that think the FSM is just as realistic as any other god.

So, whatever you celebrate around this time of year, enjoy, be happy, and don't drink too much (not a problem with the Muslims).

Second FREE Book at MuseItUp - Setara's Genie

Limited time special at MuseItUp Publishing: Get SETARA'S GENIE absolutely FREE. Add the book to your cart and enter code SETARA to reduce the price 100%.

If you like to buy the kids paperbacks (quit hogging your Kindle), the print edition of SETARA'S GENIE is only $7.55 on Amazon.

Abu Nuwas sits in the bazaar on his threadbare rug; a cup and sign proclaim him a teller of tales. For one small coin, he bids passers by to listen. A poor girl, Najda, sells spices from a tray. Would he, she asks, trade a tale for a packet of spice? Abu Nuwas agrees and begins the epic adventures of a girl and her genie. As did Scheherazade before him, Abu leaves Najda hanging in the middle of each yarn to keep her coming back. 

Between stories, he questions the girl about her life. He discovers that she’s been promised in marriage to an old man whom she hates, but she must wed him to save her sick mother’s life. The rich bridegroom will pay for the doctors the mother needs. Meanwhile, Najda sells spices in the market to earn enough money to keep her mother alive. 

He relates the adventures of the bored daughter of a rich merchant, Setara, and her genie, Basit, as they encounter the creatures of legend and folklore: a lonely cave demon seeking a home; a flying, fire-breathing horse who has lost his mate; a dragon searching for his family; an evil genie hunting for the man who put him in a lamp; and a merboy prince cast out of his undersea kingdom.

Top 100 in Large Print/Short Stories on Amazon

Tales of a Texas Boy, Large Print Edition. (discounted to $7.64 on Amazon)
Consistently in Amazon's Top 100 for Large Print/Short Stories and Large Print/Gift Ideas.

This is a popular gift book around the holidays. I managed to accidentally put a few key words in the title. To whit, Texas, Boy, Large Print. When folks are shopping for a gift for Aunt Minnie or Uncle George, they're looking for something clean (the only sex in the book is by innuendo and mostly to do with equines), with a rural or western setting, and with BIG print. Tales of a Texas Boy qualifies nicely.

The print editions (there's also a standard font size version) are illustrated with old photos. Some are from my own family albums, others I located at the University of Texas history archives.

So, go get a good deal on a book I guarantee will entertain the older folks in your family who have difficulty with tiny print, and do not want to read about fifty shades of anything.

TALES OF A TEXAS BOY: Clean, funny, large print. You can't go wrong. Oh, yeah, it's also continuously discounted at Amazon (the other on-line stores carrying the book appear not to care whether books can be gently hyped with discounts. So, good on Amazon too. I'm glad they'll also be carrying this book in audio format (at audible.com and listed on the Amazon product pages) sometime soon.

One last thing: Buy Tales of a Texas Boy for Aunt Minnie and you can get the ebook for yourself free at Amazon on the Matchbook deal.

Large Print at Amazon: $7.64
Standard Print: $6.29
Kindle Ebook: $2.99 or Free with purchase of either print edition.

CHRISTMAS BOGO SPECIAL

Click this link for details:
https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/our-authors/53-our-authors/authors-d/249-marva-dasef

My dear publisher is setting up BOGO for lots of books if purchased from the MuseItUp Bookstore. Yay! You can BOGO my Witches of Galdorheim books using code MARVADASEF (easy to remember). Here's the linky. Matter of fact, buy 4 and get 2 free. Okay, there are only three books, but remember you can buy quantities.

Select the books you want, then at the Checkout, enter MARVADASEF in the Code. The lowest price book will amazingly become zero!

Click to buy any of the three books:

Book 1: Bad Spelling

Book 2: Midnight Oil

Book 3: Scotch Broom

Free for the Holidays at Kobo

I'm promoting the prequel short story, SPELLSLINGER, to the Witches of Galdorheim series. It will be free on Kobo until Christmas Eve.

The ebook contains the first chapters of each of the books in the series. I'd just like to have folks take a look and consider buying the series for their kids. The books are also available in print format.

Ebook Covers (all available at Kobo, Amazon, MuseItUp, Barnes and Noble, etc.)

Print Covers (available lots of places, but on Amazon for sure)

FREE for a Limited Time at MuseItUp

SORRY YOU MISSED THIS FREE BOOK?

Another one is coming up next week. Now pay attention!

My mystery, "Missing, Assumed Dead," is free for a short time at the MuseItUp Bookstore. Just add the book to your shopping cart, and enter promotion code MISSING at checkout. The purchase price of $5.50 will be set to a big, fat $0.00. I just tried it and it worked! So, I've now got another ebook copy to giveaway at a later date.

When Kameron McBride receives notice she’s the last living relative of a missing man she’s never even heard of, the last thing she wants to do is head to some half-baked Oregon town to settle his affairs. But since she’s the only one available, she grudgingly agrees.

En route, she runs afoul of a couple of hillbillies and their pickup in an accident that doesn’t seem...accidental. Especially when they keep showing up wherever she goes. Lucky for her, gorgeous Deputy Mitch Caldwell lends her a hand, among other things. Her suspicions increase when the probate Judge tries a little too hard to buy the dead man’s worthless property.

Working on a hunch and trying to avoid the Judge’s henchmen, Kam probes deeper into the town’s secrets and finds almost no one she can trust. With Mitch’s help, she peels away the layers of prejudice, suicide, murder, and insanity. But someone in town doesn’t like her poking around, and when they show their intentions by shooting her through the police chief’s office window, the stakes are raised. Kam must find out what really happened to her dead relative before someone in this backward little town sends her to join him.

And she thought Oregon was going to be boring.

My Best Seller

Okay, it's my only seller too. Yeah, a few ebooks appear on sales lists on occasion, but one single book consistently sells more than any others. Notice I have quite a few books available and some of them are pretty good. I'll chalk up the lack of sales to 1) my lackadaisical marketing and 2) none of them are erotica.

So, here's my best seller: Tales of a Texas Boy, Large Print Edition. ($7.64 on Amazon)

It seems to be a popular gift book around the holidays. I managed to accidentally put a few key words in the title. To whit, Texas, Boy, Large Print. When folks are shopping for a gift for Aunt Minnie or Uncle George, they're looking for something clean (the only sex in the book is by innuendo and mostly to do with equines), with a rural or western setting, and with BIG print. Tales of a Texas Boy qualifies nicely.

Cage McNatt's Prize Sow

The book is also almost always in the top 10 on Amazon in the Large Print/Short Stories and Poetry listing. I know people are searching for appropriate large print books. The print editions (there's also a standard font size version) are illustrated with old photos. Some are from my own family albums, others I located at the University of Texas history archives.

So, go get a good deal on a book I guarantee will entertain the older folks in your family who have difficulty with tiny print, and do not want to read about fifty shades of anything.

Twins don't always get along.

TALES OF A TEXAS BOY: Clean, funny, large print. You can't go wrong. Oh, yeah, it's also continuously discounted at Amazon (the other on-line stores carrying the book appear not to care whether books can be gently hyped with discounts. So, good on Amazon too. I'm glad they'll also be carrying this book in audio format (at audible.com and listed on the Amazon product pages) sometime soon.

There's even a story about football.

One last thing: Buy Tales of a Texas Boy for Aunt Minnie and you can get the ebook for yourself free at Amazon on the Matchbook deal.

Large Print at Amazon: $7.64
Standard Print: $6.29
Kindle Ebook: $2.99 or Free with purchase of either print edition.