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Dina James

Chronicler of the Paranormal

The Back Side of Daylight

We made it, Darklings!

We made it to the back side of daylight! The June Solstice has come and gone, and with it the days grow incrementally shorter (in the Northern Hemisphere; my condolences to our Darklings south of the equator). It’s not much, but it’s a tiny sliver of relief from the bright thing in the sky. Only 90 days until this nonsense is officially over (YES I AM COUNTING), and I can breathe again.

But I digress. 90 days.

I have something that might lift the spirits of those in the Southern Hemisphere lamenting the return of the light, and that is the Read The Rainbow Sale over on Kobo. (I’m there with The Silverthorn Protocol on the Orange carousel with Chuck Tingle, Sarah J. Maas, and Hugh Howey.) This Kobo sale is also for those across the pond in the UK, and it runs through June 30. A lot of the books in this sale are also part of the Free books for Kobo Plus members (I’ve talked before about Kobo Plus), so if you’re in Australia, New Zealand, or the UK, head on over there and see what strikes your fancy! Also, Happy Pride to those who celebrate! (P.S. If the link above doesn’t work for you, click the little flag icon at the top of the page and change the country to AUS, NZ, or UK.)

And speaking of Kobo sales, that huge science fiction/fantasy promotion over on Bookfunnel I’m participating in is also going through the end of the month, so if you haven’t hit that one up yet, there’s still time! If you miss out, don’t worry. The promoter has invited me back for the July/August sale, so you’ll have another chance to check things out. That sale likely won’t be the exact same authors available as the one going on currently (also through June 30), so I’ll keep you posted when that one goes live.

For those looking for just science fiction and are in a “try before you buy” mood, the Bookfunnel promo I told you about earlier this month is still up, also through the end of the month. I have a sample of Silverthorn available there, and everything else on offer there is FREE, so if you need something new to read to celebrate (or mourn) the Daystar shifting it to the South, head on over there and grab a few things.

The last thing I have for you today isn’t mine, but it’s a really great project done by some fantastic people, some of whom I know personally, so if you like horror (and I know some of my paranormal Darklings like a little bite to their night), head on over to Kickstarter and toss a few pennies at the Hauntings & Hoarfrost Winter Gothic Anthology. As I said, I’m not in it, but some great award-winning authors are, and both the publisher and editor of the anthology produce some amazing work. Check it out and cool off with thoughts of ice and snow. (Also please back them; you really want the nice things that come with the stretch goals.) There’s only 9 days left to support this project, so go now.

NOW I said.

Until Next Time,
Dina

90 days. We can do this.

Summer Shenanigans

Ugh, Darklings.

Ugh.

Here we are, approaching the cruelest part of the year here in the Northern Hemisphere.

Summer.

Oh, how I loathe thee, days of light and heat.

But! There is hope!

The June Solstice!

In 19 days, Darklings, we take back the night from the daystar! (A day of mourning for those Darklings in the Southern Hemisphere as they return the darkness to those of us here in the North; your sacrifice is not in vain. We see you, and acknowledge your woe.) On June 20, my beloved darkness returns in tiny sips each evening as the sun sets incrementally earlier.

I can hardly wait. It’s not September, but it’s a quick breath of Goth night air until that month’s equinox marks the official end of summer. (And we all know how I feel about September.)

To either soften the blow to those below the equator or aid those above it in celebration of its return, I have some shiny things for you all!

Last time I told you I’ve been busy with school and haven’t had time to participate in any sales or promotions, but I’d have some for you soon, and today is the day!

First, we have a great bunch of FREE science fiction titles over on Bookfunnel. This promo is all about space and alien worlds, and there are some excellent options there for your (FREE!) reading pleasure, including my first science fiction novel, The Silverthorn Protocol. Some of them (like mine) are samples, others are complete series. If you’re all about starships or just wondering if anybody’s out there, check this promotion out and see what you discover.

Next I’m participating in another Kobo sale promotion for both science fiction and fantasy, and it’s huge with over 100 titles to choose from, including several free reads. This one also offers The Silverthorn Protocol, and while you don’t have to be a Kobo customer for many of the titles (most offer alternate retailers), some are exclusively available through them. (If you’re not a Kobo member, they have a free trial, and I have to say they have some excellent monthly promotions that are worth the subscription!)

Now this next promotion I’m not participating in, but several of the authors in it are friends or friends of friends, and if you’re over on Bluesky, you really need to check out the Meme War between a couple of them that’s been going on to promote this sale. It’s a collection of 11 supernatural detective stories for $20 from Storybundle, and if that sounds like your jam, head over there and treat yourself to a little spooky mystery or eleven.

If you haven’t heard of Storybundle, it’s an amazing “pay what you can” tiered system. $5 gets you the first four books, while larger amounts get you more, culminating in all eleven books for $20. For those playing along at home, that’s $1.82 per book, with bundle buyers offered the opportunity to donate to World Central Kitchen. Read more about how it works here (scroll down). Buy books AND help those in need of a hot meal! You’ve got to hurry, though, as this bundle is only available for the next 12 days.

That’s all I have for you for now, Darklings. It’s finals week and I am very much looking forward to taking the summer off school. I have several things planned offline (more home improvement and work with my animal rescue organization; kitten season has exploded with a vengeance this year and we are all struggling to keep up–please consider a donation to your local animal shelter to help them cope with the influx if you’ve got any pennies left after buying all these awesome books) along with work on projects I’ve only been able to tinker with in the last six months, such as my quilting.

Summer break. Huh. I guess this horrid time of year has a use after all.

I still hate it.

Until Next Time,
Dina

For The Commonwealth! (Mostly)

Hello, Darklings!

I know I’ve already sent you a newsletter this month, and I try not to bug you unless I have news, so guess what?

I have news!

Kobo does a lot of promotions, and in order to be in them, you need to submit your book for approval. They receive countless submissions for their promos (as I said, there are a LOT of them monthly), and most of the time you don’t make it in.

But sometimes you do.

I’ll bet you’ve already guessed what I’m about to say next.

I’m in a HUGE Kobo promotion! The Silverthorn Protocol was accepted for the New Year, New Worlds promotion over on Kobo!

Now, before you clicky the linky and get mad at me because it takes you to a 404 page, let me say that this sale is exclusively for UK, Australia, and New Zealand readers.

From the Kobo email:

Visit the following link(s) to see the promotion: https://kobo.com/p/new-year-new-worlds! If you live in a country that isn’t included in this promotion, you may have trouble accessing the sale link. If this happens, change the flag at the top of the Kobo homepage to one of the included countries to see the sale link properly.

So, if you’re one of my international readers, there’s a fantastic sci-fi sale for you over on Kobo! Act fast though! It ends on the 28th (Sunday)! (Sorry, I was a little late getting this announcement out! It’s been a bit busy around here lately!)

For those outside the Commonwealth, don’t despair! Silverthorn is still in the Kobo Plus promotion over on Bookfunnel. I talked a little in the last newsletter about Kobo Plus and the benefits of the program, and honestly, it’s a fantastic deal if you’re a voracious reader (you know who you are and you are my favorite).

For more science fiction fun, the Bring It On Bookfunnel promotion is still going on through February 7. If you haven’t stocked up on your alien encounters, there’s still time!

If you’re not sure about getting involved with my space vampires and werewolves (they won’t bite…hard), there’s a “try before you buy” sample available here. I promise it’s not “hard sci-fi” for those who aren’t fans of science fiction. It’s still me, just now my characters are in space. So I’ve taken the step from “otherworldly” to “out of this world.” Come visit! It’s fun!

That’s all I have for now, except a shout-out to Gary Graham. I mentioned in my last newsletter that I loved Alien Nation growing up, and he was one of the stars, along with Eric Pierpoint. He was also in several Star Trek episodes. Gary passed away yesterday at age 73. RIP, Gary.

Until next time.

-Dina

New Year, New Series

Happy (Gregorian Calendar) New Year!

Wow. 2024. There’s a lot going on this year. (Looking at you, Ireland.) There’s a lot to look forward to, including the class warfare riots in September that spark the groundwork for establishing the United Federation of Planets–

Wait a minute.

I’m thinking of Star Trek again. Whoo boy. Maybe it’s because the entire series of Babylon 5 on Blu-Ray was one of my Sithmas gifts, or Mr. James working his way through the LEGO space collection that’s gotten sci-fi stuck in my head, but whatever it is, I’m okay with it.

I’ve always loved science fiction. I’m Gen X and grew up watching Aliens and John Carpenter’s The Thing, Alien Nation (I also have this series on disc), and V (the original). The neighbor boys were obsessed with Star Wars and had all the action figures and play sets. Later I learned about “the Roswell incident,” and when I found out my dad was born in the summer of 1947 I gave him the side-eye for months (look, I was eight or something; it made sense at the time). Later still, when I was in high school, The X-Files debuted and I was hooked. About the same time, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine aired, and though Trek was “dad’s show,” I watched it anyway and loved it. I went to my first convention in 1993 and that was it. Little Dina was One Of Those People. (I have all the specs and diagrams at home!)

Over the years, there have been countless science fiction shows and movies. Some good, some not so good, some horrid, and some amazing (AND UNJUSTLY CANCELLED YOU MONSTERS). I’ve cosplayed Star Trek, Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica, and more, and thank God most of it was done before social media was a thing and film was expensive, because no one needs to see High School Dina in a Starfleet uniform (which I still have, BTW). I even joined my local chapter of Starfleet, and that was a lot more work than any teenager should commit to their senior year. (Boy, have they grown!)

Now, you all know me as a paranormal writer (The X-Files was more than aliens and conspiracies). I love my fangs and fur and things that go bump in the night and want to buy your soul, and long-time readers will understand when I say that writing sci-fi was not something I thought I’d ever aspire to. (Welcome to all the new folks! Ten cent tour here!) I have loads of books, both franchise tie-in and independent series (if you haven’t read The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells, REMEDY THAT IMMEDIATELY), and now, I have one of my own on the shelves, with my name on the (gorgeous!) cover. It’s wild!

The Silverthorn Protocol is out now, and in celebration of the New Year, I’ve joined a Sci-Fi & Fantasy promotion over on Bookfunnel with over a hundred other authors to bring you new reads! This one is a sale, with each author offering up to three books! If you’re in need of new books for your TBR pile, this is an excellent place to look. As I’ve only got the one book that qualifies, there’s only one title from me and it’s the free preview version, but take a look around and see what you discover!

Also, for Kobo readers, there’s a massive collection of sci-fi/fantasy books available on Kobo Plus. If you’re not a member of Kobo, their app is free for all devices (including laptops) and platforms, and every month they have different free reads available depending on their genre. For as little as $7.99, you can read as many books as you want, regardless of the sale price. As long as a book is enrolled in the Kobo Plus program (like Silverthorn is), you can read it for free as long as you’re subscribed. If you’re not sure about yet ANOTHER subscription program, they offer a 30-day free trial so you can see if it’s something you’ll use. This link here will take you to OVER TWO HUNDRED books that are participating in Kobo Plus. I highly recommend it if you’re a big reader. You can also click the pic below to see the titles. Enjoy!



That’s all I have for you this month! Whatever your plans are for 2024, I hope you accomplish your goals and don’t get caught.

Live long and prosper.

-Dina

New Release and Holiday Tea

Hello, Darklings!

Here we are, at the end of all things.

Wait…that’s not right.

The YEAR! The end of the YEAR! (Sorry, my sense of time is off these days. The end of all things isn’t for another—never mind.)

ANYWAY!

Like I was saying, here we are at the end of the year, and I don’t know about you, but it got here a lot faster than I was prepared for. I was going to do kind of a retrospective thing as this will very likely be the last Little Bitty Pretty One newsletter of 2023, but you all don’t need me to rehash what all I did (and didn’t do—shut up) this year. All my eviltry is laid out on my website or my Patreon for anyone with questions I don’t answer here (shout-out to those Darklings new to the Lair—ten cent tour here for those just joining us).

I know you’re all busy with holiday nefariousness or hiding from the family (or the law—I don’t judge) or putting the finishing touches on your own lair in preparation for hibernation, so I’ll make this quick.

Today is release day for The Silverthorn Protocol.

My first foray into sci-fi (with space werewolves and vampires because that’s what I do) which I affectionately bill “Underworld meets Grey’s Anatomy. In Space.” is finally ready for your reading pleasure, just in time for the end-of-year holiday season.

It’s currently available in ebook form at whichever platform you prefer to purchase your reading material. (Amazon might be a little behind, but if that’s your evil empire of choice, you might have to check back a couple times. It’s not my fault it’s having issues with their platform calendar. I blame the holidays, because why not?)

If you like to try before you buy /aren’t sure about a possibly new-to-you genre, there’s a free sample here you can check out.

This project has been a long time coming (roughly two years from NaNo project to polished novel), and though we’ve had some setbacks and behind the scenes chicanery, it’s here. (And believe me when I say that up until yesterday, I really wasn’t sure it was going to happen this year. But that’s not a story you need to hear.)

Though currently only available in e-format, the paperback will be along soon, and possibly a hardcover if things go well.

Early feedback from those who have seen in-progress versions or snippets have been encouraging enough to prompt a second book in the same world, so there are very loose plans (and some notes, and maybe the start of an outline) for Book II, which I guess means it might be a series now?

Baby steps.

Now we come to the “also in the works” portion of this missive. Bear with me if you’re a long-time reader, subscriber, or Patron, as this is likely to be repeated information, but we have some people new at the Lair (again, welcome), and I cross-post a lot of places.

The big December Free Reads promotion over on Bookfunnel is still going on through the end of the year, and if you haven’t checked it out yet, go do that by clicking here. There are nearly FIFTY participating authors, and some of them are offering more than one book for free, so head over there and fill your stocking with all things urban fantasy, sci-fi/fantasy, paranormal, and more. I’m offering All Wounds, which you may or may not already have, so pass the link on to those you think might enjoy some vampires, hellhounds, werewolves, aliens, elves, or witches and cross a few people off your last-minute holiday gift list.

Other things going on at the moment (not so much a project, just something I’m involved in) is a livestreaming D&D game over on Twitch. It’s called Tal’Dorei South (for the moment—we’re still workshopping a group name), and you can find it every other Sunday at Border Kingdoms Adventures.

While I am a Dungeonmaster myself, in this game I’m a player (Tabaxi rogue), and shenanigans are afoot with our all-female game run by AD&D League Dungeonmaster Joe Alfano. Our next game is New Year’s Eve, so if you don’t have other plans and want to ring in the New Year with some very bad dice rolls (mine…they’re always mine), put us on your calendar.

There are archived episodes on his YouTube channel, so if you’d like to start from the beginning (where I taunt an evil baddie and pay the price), you can watch Tal’Dorei South Episode One here.

Also, if D&D is your thing, here’s a reminder that Skyla Dawn Cameron is offering YOU a seat at MY gaming table (you’re so lucky—they’re invitation only), when she meets her goal of 100 Patrons.

From January’s Newsletter: “When Skyla makes it to 100 Patrons, she’s planning on holding a contest where one lucky winner gets to play in a D&D one shot with her (I’m the Dungeonmaster) at our usual Friday game, so if that’s a thing you’d be interested in, there’s another reason to support her there. Shenanigans may include TNR of an owlbear, the murder of red-headed children (don’t ask), seducing a lich (really, don’t ask), or helping a kitten out of a tree. Or maybe overthrowing a local fascist dictator. Who knows?!”

So, if you’re not already one of her Patrons, remedy that now for as little as $1. If you’re already her Patron, give a signal boost and get people signed up so YOU have a chance at winning that seat.

Speaking of Patreon, I have stuff over there you might be interested in.

If you’re a Darkling of the CHECK FOR TRAPS tier or higher, you get to read excerpts of my works-in-progress when they come out. Otherwise you’ll get to read them a few months later when I make them available to all subscribers. (All snippets posted in 2023 are now available to Patrons of all tiers. Merry Sithmas!)

That goes for all the works-in-progress. I post random snippets every so often (I aim for once a month) of things I’m working on, so if you’re interested in those things and don’t already support me there, that might be something to think about.

If you want more than the occasional public post or missive like this, such as an Infrequent Newsletter that talks about stuff like my studio renovation and kitten fostering escapades, toss me some pennies and all the shiny things can be yours!

Now, it wouldn’t be Sithmas if I didn’t have a gift for my Darklings. I wrote a little something earlier this year that until now has only been available for my Patrons, but now through midnight on Christmas Day (Sunday, December 25), it’s free for everyone. It’s a short story called Prom Fright, and all you have to do is head over to Payhip, put it in your cart, and enter coupon code TEAFORME at checkout. I’m going to do my best to include a clicky button for it below, but technical things and I don’t play well together, so it’s linked above in the title as well.

That’s all for now, Darklings. I hope your holiday season is as stress free as possible, and that your New Year is all you’d like it to be.

Until next time,

Dina