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Upcoming Books: Betty Bites Back – Horror Stories for Young Feminists

bettybitesI’m thrilled to announce that my short story, GOOD SISTER, BAD SISTER is going to be included in the upcoming anthology Betty Bites Back – Horror Stories for Young Feminists (coming out October 2019). This anthology is put together by award-winning badass authors, Demitria Lunetta, Mindy McGinnis, and Kate Karyus Quinn.

Here’s a little teaser of what my story is about:

GOOD SISTER, BAD SISTER by Azzurra Nox

Puberty comes with many changes, but after being bitten by a mysterious animal in the forest, Dilay finds out that some changes may just give her a certain edge she didn’t have before.

Until then, support me and the amazing authors that are going to be included in this awesome anthology by stopping by the Kickstarter Page for it (even if you can’t contribute monetarily, forward the link on your social media so we can spread the word!).

Let’s get social:

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My American Nightmare – Giveaway & Book Launch!

My American Nightmare 2

October had me uber busy between Halloween events (I was at a new event every weekend cause I LOVE Halloween) and launching my horror anthology MY AMERICAN NIGHTMARE – WOMEN IN HORROR ANTHOLOGY.

This anthology is a bit of a passion project where I selected short stories from a vast amount of entries to bring readers the very best of horror (and all the nuances of the genre) and incredible new voices that I wish to showcase.

For two weeks now the book has been featured on Amazon’s bestselling list in short stories, and I couldn’t be more proud of these ladies that helped my dream of compiling an anthology come true!

So support women writers by purchasing a copy of the book: HERE (or if you have Amazon Kindle Unlimited you can read the book for FREE!).

ALSO: Don’t forget to enter the giveaway I have for my book launch HERE where you have a chance to win a $15 Amazon Giftcard & amazing book themed sway!)


Coming Soon! My American Nightmare: Women in Horror Anthology

As a reader, I’ve always been an avid fan of horror anthologies and short story collections, because it has always allowed me to discover new authors without committing to a full-length novel. As a writer, I’ve always wanted to put together an anthology and seeing that I prefer the darker side of life I thought that going with horror short stories would be my best option.
Female representation in the horror genre is still very scarce. The horror literary market is filled with male authors. So with my anthology I decided to showcase the talent of female authors. This is how the concept for MY AMERICAN NIGHTMARE: Women in Horror Anthology was conceived.
The anthology will be available TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2017.

Fans of Joe Hill, American Horror Story, and Stephen King will love these dark and twisted stories!

Excerpt from “The Girl & The Yellow Wallpaper”
The faces in the flowers were more pronounced than usual that night. Big eyes, gaping and expectant, seemed to blink back at her. Lizzie dismissed the idea immediately. Paper did not blink. Nothing could move in the room, except her. But the yellow faces had a more human quality the more she looked. They were women’s faces. Lizzie found something feminine in the shape, warped as it may be. The heads in the wallpaper appeared to tilt to the side, violently, like their necks had been snapped.
*
Excerpt from “Perle”
A muscle flickered in that clean-shaven jaw. “Step out of the vehicle.”
I hesitated. Another bang.
“I said step out of the vehicle.” Singer popped the snap on his holster. “I’m not gonna ask you again.” Dog whimpers urged me to comply.
My shoulders slumped. I released the latch and fought open the stiff door. It protested with a loud, long squeal.
“Now what is in the back of this truck?”
Still I hesitated, puckering my lips in a coy attempt at innocence.
“My stepdad.”
*
Excerpt from “Whatever Happened to Peyton Rose?”
“Jesus,” she whispered, not sure if anyone could hear her. The dolls made her feel unsettled as they stared back at her with vacant eyes. Peering down, a scream escaped her throat when she realized that their plucked eyes were scattered on the bed. She pushed the comforter off of her. The eyes fell down, making a sound similar to marbles crashing to the floor as she ran for the door.
Frantic, she opened the door and stood upon the landing. She looked to and fro, not knowing what direction to run to next.
Don’t panic! She told herself. And yet, her hands were shaking.
*

My American Nightmare 2

The author lineup is the following:

Angela Sylvaine – “Ballad of Sorrow and Lily”
Amelia Kibbie – “We Kill The Skull Man”
Roberta Goli – “Mr. Buttons’ Tea Party”
Jamie Kahn – “The Poison & The Ivy”
Rachel Bolton – “The Girl & The Yellow Wallpaper”
Hillary Lyon – “Boys’ Night Out”
Nicky Peacock – “She Looked Like Krystal Sparkle”
Spinster Eskie- “Angie’s Change”
Sheri Kreitner – “The Pickman Sisters of Salem”
Sierra Ryan – “Volunteer”
Kara Nelson – “The Eye”
E.F. Schraeder – “Night Moves”
Andrea Teare – “39 Days”
Heather Miller – “The Stars”
Marnie Azzarelli – “When Evacuating Pennsylvania”
Erica Ruhe – “Perle”
Phoebe Jane Johnson – “Ruby”
Azzurra Nox – “Whatever Happened to Peyton Rose?”
Kara Dennison – “Billson”

If anyone would be interested in receiving an ARC of the anthology for review purposes, please get in touch with me at: azzurranox[@]yahoo.com or leave a comment below!

 


Twisted Love Book Blog Tour

Both my books, CUT HERE and Doll Parts: Tales of Twisted Love are going to be featured in a two week Book Blog Tour,starting tomorrow! You can follow the tour here:

Nov 17thTurning Another Page

Nov 18thCelticLady’s Reviews

Nov 21stThe Reading Spot

Nov 22ndVampyreLady’s Lair

Nov 23rdMJ’s Book Blog and Reviews

Nov 23rdHike2Forty and Beyond

Nov 24thThe Author’s Blog

Nov 25thBook Giveaways

Nov 29thMello & June

Nov 30thJazzy Book Reviews

Dec 1stTeatime and Books 

Be sure to check them out for an giveaways and awesome sales/freebies: Doll Parts is currently 99 cents on Amazon & CUT Here will be FREE to download on amazon for FIVE days, starting the 17th!


My Life in Books in 2015

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Rating System: 5= the best 1= the worst

  1. The Blood Vivicanti Part I Mary Paige – Becket This was a new genre of vampires, where they had stingers on their tongue. 4 out of 5.
  2. The Blood Vivicanti Part II Wyn – Becket This was a sequel to the first book, and you got to know some of the characters better. 4 out of 5.
  3. The Blood Vivicanti Part III Theo – Becket Theo was my fave character in this series, so getting to know him better was a pleasure. 4 out of 5.
  4. The Blood Vivicanti Part IV The Origin Blood – Becket I didn’t enjoy this part as much as the others. Actually I think it’s around this time that the series started to go downhill for me. 3 out of 5.
  5. The Blood Vivicanti Part V Lowen The Dark Man – Becket This is when the series started to get really sci-fi and I’m not a fan of that genre, really so I didn’t like it as much. 2 out of 5.
  6. The Blood Vivicanti Part VI The Locomotive Deadyards – Becket Despite this book being really short, it was just painful for me to get through. It went from sci-fi to steampunk and left me wondering WTF?! 1 out of 5.
  7. Sharp Objects – Gillian Flynn Camille Preaker, former cutter and now Chicago newspaper journalist goes back to her hometown to try to shed some light into the disappearance of a little girl. Highly twisted story, although I figured out who the killer was. 4 out of 5.
  8. Dark Places – Gillian Flynn A girl gets back in touch with her brother who had been accused of killing her mother and sisters after she encounters a group of people who think that he’s innocent. Very fast-paced. 4 out of 5.
  9. Pure Evil – Jesse Bastide Devon begins hearing the voice of an evil spirit, and chaos ensues. The story was told in a very Stephen King kind of way, but didn’t have an impactful ending. 3 out of 5.
  10. Evangeline – E.A. Gottschalk I really enjoyed this book about a girl with multiple personalities who seeks revenge on the men who have done her wrong. Extremely violent, but hilarious at times (I mean that in a good way!). 4 out of 5.
  11. Il Peccatore – Germano Dalcielo A monk finds a manuscript of an apostle that’s been hidden for 2,000 years. What’s written in this manuscript could radically change the image of Jesus and the power of the Catholic church. The author has a disclaimer that says if you’re Catholic not to read this book as you may be offended. I’m Catholic, but didn’t find the book offensive, but rather original and ballsy. Good job. 4 out of 5.
  12. 13 Reasons Why – Jay Asher A girl committs suicide and leaves behind audio tapes of reasons why she did what she did. It felt like the author read a manual about suicide and then made sure to put every tell-tale sign as a reason for his protagonist to kill herself. A bit dramatic and unrealistic at times. 3 out of 5.
  13. My Takeaway Vampire – Derek Haines A teen befriends Agatha, an ancient vampire at a fast food joint and his life takes a whole new twist. Entertaining. 3 out of 5.
  14. Supernova – Isabella Santacroce A heartbreaking story about Dorothy and her two friends that become teen prostitutes in Milan for a rich lady. Beautifully written, Dorothy’s realization of the adult world will break your heart. Must read. 5 out of 5.
  15. Sogno di Volare – Carlo Lucarelli This was part of the series of Almost Blue trilogy. Grazia Negro is back, and this time she’s got a new case dealing with a new serial killer who’s more violent and angrier than the ones she had in the past. Gripping. 5 out of 5.
  16. Girl On The Train – Paul Hawkins A recently divorced woman taking the train into London every day daydreams about the perfect couple she sees on their porch every morning. But then the woman goes missing and she becomes obsessed with finding out the reason behind it. Usually I don’t read bestsellers cause the more someone hypes up a book, the more I usually don’t like it. But this is the exception to my rule. This book deserved all the hype it got and more. One of my absolute favourite books of the year. 5 out of 5.
  17. The Doll – J.C. Martin The Island of the Dolls is a strange and eerie tourist attraction in Mexico. When a mother and daughter return from their trip, strange things begin to happen. Is a ghost involved? I absolutely loved this story. Then again, one of my favourite horror movies is Dolls and Child’s Play. 5 out of 5.
  18. Under Your Skin – Sabine Durrant I got this book thinking it would be a fast-paced thriller as Girl On The Train. Boy was a I wrong! The protagonist was a total twat, and a lot of the book was spent having her do everyday boring things. The twist at the end wasn’t even worth the boredom I had to survive through to get to the end. 1 out of 5.
  19. Wreckage – Emily Bleeker Lillian is a liar. On the surface she looks like a brave survivor of a plane crash, but the truth of what really happened on that island haunts her everyday life. A compelling read but weak ending. 4 out of 5.
  20. Horns – Joe Hill Ig Perrish wakes up one morning with one hell of a hangover and discovers to have grown horns on his head. These horns makes people become explicitly blunt and truthful, as he tries to figure out who truly raped and killed his girlfriend, despite the whole town thinking he’s the culprit. A truly wicked ride. Must-read. 5 out of 5.
  21. Asylum – Madeleine Roux Chronicles the summer of a teen who stays in a dorm that used to be an Asylum. Of course strange incidents and mysterious deaths ensue. Creepy but could’ve been better. 3 out of 5.
  22. Butterface – Gwen Hayes Beth has a facial deformity that makes her think that no man could love her. So when the most popular boy in school falls for her, she does everything to resist him. Cute short read. 3 out of 5.
  23. Girl Over The Edge – Amy Kinzer Another story about slut shaming that leads to suicidal tendencies. An enjoyable, yet turbulent ride. 4 out of 5.
  24. Sacrificed: The Last Oracle – Emily Wibberely Clio tries to avenge the death of her sister, as she tries to come to terms with her new powers as an oracle. Action packed, although for being a historical novel there’s very little about history about ancient civilizations. 3 out of 5.
  25. Sanctum – Madeleine Roux Sequel to Asylum sees Dan, Abby, and Jordan return to Brookline Asylum. Again, strange things begin to happen as the three of them try to solve the new mystery surrounding the asylum. 3 out of 5.
  26. The Truth About Alice – Jennifer Mathieu Another teen book about slut shaming told in alternating points of views. Entertaining, and eye-opening as to how it’s so easy for a girl’s reputation to go downhill when she pisses off the wrong people in high school. 4 out of 5.
  27. The Scarlets – Madeleine Roux This was a book about a group discussed in Sanctum, The Scarlets, a secret society that brainwashed students to commit hideous crimes. This book had potential to be so much more if the author had actually focused on the cult rather than focus on the character’s issues with his sexuality. 2 out of 5.
  28. Weird War One – Mat Devine Leadsinger of Kill Hannah gives advice about love, self-esteem, friends, and work. Hilarious and inspirational at times. 5 out of 5.
  29. Twisted Wing – Ruth Newman Cambridge is home to 18,000 students, 1,500 academics – and one serial killer. Forensic psychiatrist Matthew Denison is sure that his traumatised patient, student Olivia Coscadden, has the killer’s identity locked up in her memory. That within the little clique she belonged to lurks someone with a grudge. Compelling, very fast-paced, and at times gives you the feeling that you’re truly experiencing the Cambridge student life. Although I figured out who the killer was before the grand reveal, I’m sure most readers will be surprised by the ending. 5 out of 5.
  30. The Giver – Lois Lowry This was a book my dad had bought me to read when I was 12. I never read it until now because I was convinced that the book wasn’t really for me. And I was right. Maybe futuristic societies that have a slight evil edge to them really isn’t my thing. Either way, I’m not compelled to read the sequels. 2 out of 5.
  31. The Good Girl – Mary Kubica Mia gets kidnapped and slowly begins to fall in love with her kidnapper. Classic Stockholm Syndrome. This book was painful to get through. A real drag. Many people seemed to have written awesome reviews for it, but it just didn’t work for me AT ALL. ½ star out of 5.
  32. The Silent Wife – A. S. A. Harrison Jodi and Todd are at a bad place in their marriage. Much is at stake, including the affluent life they lead in their beautiful waterfront condo in Chicago, as she, the killer, and he, the victim, rush haplessly toward the main event. He is a committed cheater. She lives and breathes denial. He exists in dual worlds. Told in alternating voices, this book will leave you rooting for the killer, because in such a twisted novel, sometimes the bad guy, is actually the good guy. 5 out of 5.
  33. Prince Lestat – Anne Rice Lestat is back! After almost a decade of not seeing the Brat Prince, it was refreshing to see him back in a new adventure. Too bad that this book focused more on the ten thousand other bloodsuckers around the world than focus on Lestat himself. Kudos for the most uninteresting vampires to finally be killed off. 3 out of 5.
  34. Go Ask Alice – Anonymous This book was toted as a true diary of an addict teen in the ’70’s. Finding parts of it unrealistic, I did some research and discovered that the author of the book was an older Mormon woman who made stuff up to scare teens away from drugs. Not sure if she accomplished that. 3 out of 5.
  35. Suicide Notes From Beautiful Girls – Lynn Weingarten Gone Girl meets 13 Reasons Why in this stylish, sexy, and atmospheric story about friendship packed with twists and turns that will leave you breathless. This story was INSANE in the best way possible. 5 out of 5.
  36. Werewolf – Ed & Lorraine Warren A British man is convinced of being a werewolf, and soon the two demonologists discover that he’s been possessed by the spirit of a wolf. Interesting but doubtful. 3 out of 5.
  37. An Abundance of Katherines – John Green Colin is obsessed with dating girls exclusively named Katherine, and they all end up dumping him. Nineteen times to be exact. So his bestfriend suggests a roadtrip where they learn more about themselves and love than they thought they would. A hilarious and heart-felt read. 4 out of 5.
  38. We Are Water – Wally Lamb Wally Lamb is one of those authors that excels in writing compelling family dramas. Beautifully written and utterly heart-breaking. Must-read. 5 out of 5.

Let me know if you’ve read any of these books or if you can suggest me some books for 2016!

Happy New Year, darklings. Let’s make it an awesome one.


DOLL PARTS Giveaway!!

To kick off the launch of Doll Parts : Tales of Twisted Love there’s going to be a giveaway that will run from December 8-January 8! One winner will win a $15 Amazon Giftcard! This is an international giveaway, so don’t hesitate to participate!

CLICK HERE FOR GIVEAWAY


“DOLL PARTS: Tales of Twisted Love” Goes on Tour & Inspiration behind the book

Forgive me for my four months of silence, but I’ve been busy reading, writing, & living. On Tuesday, December 8, 2015, I’ll be releasing a collection of short stories entitled, “DOLL PARTS: Tales of Twisted Love.”

Each short story was inspired by various song titles. Below are the songs and the story they inspired:

APARTMENT STORY – THE NATIONAL

SCARED OF GIRLS – PLACEBO

POST ORGASMIC CHILL – SKUNK ANANSIE

(Granted, the album was called that and not a song, but here’s one of the songs from that album that was the mood of my short story).

Below are the blog tour dates for DOLL PARTS! Check it out & stay tuned for an exclusive giveaway coming soon!

doll parts tour banner

Blog Tour Schedule

December 8th

Mythical Books http://www.mythicalbooks.blogspot.ro/ Promo Post

My Nook, Books & More http://mynookbooksnmore.com Promo Post

Paper Skies http://www.paperskies.org Promo Post

The Readdicts http://thereaddicts.blogspot.in/ Review

December 9th

the Blacksheep Project http://theblacksheeproject.blogspot.com/ Review

CBY Book Club http://cbybookclub.blogspot.co.uk Promo Post

Novel Ink http://novelinkblog.com Review

Kimber Leigh Writes http://kimberleighwheaton.com Review

December 10th

Bibliophilia, Please http://www.bibliophiliaplease.com/ Promo Post

My Book Fairy http://mybookfairy.blogspot.com/ Promo Post

Booknista http://www.booknista.com/ Review

Live Laugh & Love Books http://livelaughandlovebooks.wordpress.com Promo Post

Comfy reading Www.comfyreading.wordpress.com Review

December 11th

Crystal’s Chaotic Confessions http://crystalschaoticconfessions.blogspot.com/ Promo Post

Books Babies Being www.booksbabiesbeing.com Review

Books Direct http://booksdirectonline.blogspot.com.au/ Review

The Voluptuous Book Diva http://voluptuousbookdiva.blogspot.com Review

December 14th

This Girl Reads A lot http://www.thisgirlreadsalot.blogspot.com Review

Galleywampus http://galleywampus.com Review

Cover2Cover https://chocomeiske.wordpress.com Promo Post

Around the World in Books http://www.aroundtheworldinbooks.ca/ Promo Post
A Book Addict’s Bookshelves http://www.jesswatkinsauthor.blogspot.co.uk Promo Post
Tine’s Reviews http://tinesreviews.wordpress.com/ Promo Post

Pre-Order DOLL PARTS!


CUT HERE available for Pre-Order!

Forgive me, but this update will be full of shameless self-promotion.

In less than a month, CUT HERE will be available to readers! Pre-order now and you’ll get the book the day it releases 13.02.15, and if you’re a member of the Kindle Unlimited, you have the chance to read the book FREE!

Pre-Order CUT HERE today!

Add me on Goodreads and check out an excerpt of the book! Remember to put it on your “want to read” list to get updates and such!

CUT HERE on Goodreads.

And last, but not least: I’ll be doing a blog tour during the week of February 16-20! I’ll be posting where you can check me out during my stops.

Also, keep your eyes peeled for a very special (and limited edition) giveaway!