Amplifier 0: early reviews

The Amplifier Protocol (Amplifier 0) and the novelette, Close to Home (Amplifier 0.5) have been officially released into the wilds of all the online retailers for one week today! Paperback version coming very soon!

Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed, or tagged me with an encouraging note on social media. You all seem to be enjoying the Amplifier offshoot of the Adept Universe so far! YAY!

Here are a few spoiler-free review snippets for any of you who might not had a chance to read the new book yet:

5 stars – love this– What an awesome wordsmith! Meghan Ciana Doidge has given us a wonderful taste of a continuation of the Adept world. I love Socks and look forward to more of her stories!!!! – reviewer from Amazon USA

5 stars – Awesome job– Always keeps me on the edge of my seat! Another great story from Adept universe! Ms. Doidge never dissatisfies! I am very much looking forward to the next Amplifier!– reviewer from Amazon USA

5 stars – Fantastic!– Absolutely fab. I’ve pre ordered the next as I can’t wait to see where it goes. Brilliant. – reviewer from Amazon UK

5 stars – Great kick off to the new series– Once again MCD has pulled me into her magical world from page one. I am so excited for the ride that this series is sure to be. – reviewer from Barnes & Noble

5 stars – This new series is promising to be outstanding!– This prequel is excellent with action right from page one. I can’t wait for the rest of the series! – reviewer from Goodreads

Cover design by: Gene Mollica Studios
Model: Devon Ericksen

Are you new to the Adept Universe? Book one is Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic (Dowser 1). Click here for the entire reading order.

Amplifier Series: preorder giveaway

The novelette, Close to Home (Amplifier 0.5) falls between the prequel, The Amplifier Protocol (Amplifier 0), and the first book of the main series, Demons and DNA (Amplifier 1), in the reading order of the Amplifier Series.

I have bundled Close to Home (A0.5) with the prequel, which releases on all retailers tomorrow, Tuesday, March 26. But! I also wanted to offer it as the preorder giveaway for Demons and DNA (A1) for anyone who has already read the prequel on my blog and isn’t inclined to purchase it to reread.

Clear as mud? Ha.

To be clear, if you DON’T buy The Amplifier Protocol, but still want to read Close to Home all you need to do is preorder Demons and DNA and follow the instructions below to submit your receipt/screenshot. If you DO buy The Amplifier Protocol, then you get Close to Home as a bonus.

– AMAZON – KOBO – APPLE BOOKS – B&N – SMASHWORDS –

To receive the short story, Close to Home, email proof of preorder of Demons and DNA (Amplifier 1) or library request/reservation as well as your preferred email address to preorder@madebymeghan.ca

Proof of preorder: email a screenshot or forward your actual electronic receipt (with any personal information struck out, if you wish). DO NOT SIMPLY SEND ME A LINK (they don’t lead to anything on my end). Please include your preferred email address, and check your spam folders if you don’t hear back within 72 hours. Email is the only way that preorders will be accepted.

Library reservation/request option: it may take a couple of weeks for your local library to get access to the preorder of Demons and DNA (Amplifier 1) via Overdrive (or wherever else they get their ebooks). If that is the case, please feel free to email proof of reserving/requesting the prequel, The Amplifier Protocol. All my ebooks are available to libraries for free via Library Direct, Baker & Taylor Axis 360, and Odilo. As well as Overdrive (though they charge libraries a minimum price).

Notes/Rules: OPEN INTERNATIONALLY. Every entry that follows the above guidelines will receive an ebook copy of the novelette, Close to Home. One entry per person. Email addresses are not collected for any purpose other than sending the download links. No purchase necessary (see library reservation option).

Each email will be acknowledged within 72 hours. If you do not receive an acknowledgement please feel free to resend.

Giveaway closes TUESDAY APRIL 30, 2019 at midnight PDT.

– AMAZON – KOBO – APPLE BOOKS – B&N – SMASHWORDS –

Are you new to the Adept Universe and/or the Amplifier Series?

Start with: The Amplifier Protocol (Amplifier 0).

Click here for the reading order of the Adept Universe.

Amplifier Series: clarifications and links

I’ve been getting bunch of questions about the Amplifier Series (how/where/when to get/read the various books) and I thought I should try to answer those questions concisely all in one place.

I will also be sending an email to my new release list on Tuesday, March 26 when The Amplifier Protocol (Amplifier 0) officially releases on all retailers. After that, I hope everything will be a lot clearer.

So, to the point:

The Amplifier Protocol (Amplifier 0) releases on all retailers on March 26, 2019. The preorder is now available. This is the SAME NOVELLA that I released here on my blog for free. It is set seven years before the events in the main series.

Close to Home (Amplifier 0.5) will be made available in two ways. The novelette (16k) is bundled with The Amplifier Protocol as a bonus story – for those who waited to read the prequel or those who wish to purchase the prequel to re-read. Close to Home will also be available as a preorder giveaway for Demons and DNA (Amplifier 1).

Preorder giveaway – I will officially launch the preorder giveaway for Demons and DNA (Amplifier 1) on Tuesday, March 26. But! It only really applies if you choose to NOT purchase Amplifier 0. I wanted everyone who read the prequel on my blog to still be able to get A0.5 (without forcing them to buy a book that they might have no intention of rereading). I hope that makes sense.

Demons and DNA (Amplifier 1) releases on all retailers on April 30, 2019. The preorder is now available.

So to sum up, here is the reading order:

  • The Amplifier Protocol (Amplifier 0) – prequel novella, releases on March 26, 2019
  • Close to Home (Amplifier 0.5) – bundled with A0 and/or available through the preorder giveaway for A1.
  • Demons and DNA (Amplifier 1) – preorder available, releases on April 30, 2019
Cover design by: Gene Mollica Studios
Model: Devon Ericksen

RELEASES ON ALL RETAILERS ON MARCH 26, 2019.

PREORDER NOW

– AMAZON – APPLE BOOKS – BARNES & NOBLE – KOBO – SMASHWORDS –

Amplifier 0 – serialization complete!

It’s a gorgeous Spring day here in the Pacific NorthWest – the sun holds a gentle kiss of heat, the garlic is sprouting, and Michael is building three, yellow cedar containers for the two new apples and the second grape we’re adding to our mini orchard.

I’m working on the 1st draft of Amplifier 2 while the proofreader has Demons and DNA (Amplifier 1). The preorder of A1 should start showing up on all retailers next week.

The Amplifier Protocol (Amplifier 0) will ONLY be available in its serialized form on the blog for another few days, then I’ll remove it and officially release it on all retailers on March 26, 2019 (the preorder is already live on all retailers but Apple Books). I’ve bundled the novelette, Close to Home (16k) as a BONUS with the novella (40k), and also included a preview of A1.

Close to Home (Amplifier 0.5) will also be available as the preorder giveaway for A1, if you’ve already read The Amplifier Protocol. More on that when I launch the preorder giveaway.

I’ll send out a new release email on March 26 and include the info about the preorder and giveaways. That Tuesday I’ll also host my traditional release day party on Facebook, and I’ll be giving away an oracle card postcard (they are gorgeous), randomly, to twenty-two people as well as reading from the novel.

Okay! If you haven’t read The Amplifier Protocol (Amplifier 0) yet start here: Chapter One, Part One. You’ve only got a couple more days to read for free!!

If you’ve been reading along with me, thank you for your comments and your encouraging words. It was terribly fun sharing a story with you in this format. I’m glad you were along for the ride. And I hope you’re ready for more Amplifier Series!!

Oracle Series: Audiobook giveaway

To celebrate the release of I See Us (Oracle 3) in audiobook form (finally!!), I’m running TWO giveaways. You can enter the first giveaway by following the instructions below. And, as long as you’re subscribed, you will find the second giveaway in the new release email I’m about to send out. So check your spam/promotions/junk folders please.

I See Me (Oracle 1) audiobook sample

I just adore Jennifer Grace’s narration!! Her take on Beau melts my heart … I might have to listen to all three again (and again).

Are you interested in winning one of the Oracle audiobooks? Yes? Well, that’s cool because I just happen to have three to give away. One each to three winners.

To enter the giveaway simply comment below with your favourite scene or moment from any of the Oracle books.

Fun! Fun!

Likes and shares are always welcomed and appreciated.

Notes/Rules: OPEN INTERNATIONALLY. But you must be able to download the audiobook from Audible.com. One entry per person. Three winners will be selected by random number generator. Email addresses are not collected for any purpose other than to contact the winner. No purchase necessary.

Giveaway closes MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2019 at 8pm PST.

Are you new to the Adept Universe? Book one is Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic (Dowser 1).

Click here for the reading order of the Adept Universe.

When the building contractor is also your husband …

Michael: *knocking on the window of the kitchen door*

Me: *making a hot chocolate, calling through the window* Yes? Did you want to come in?

Michael: Yes.

Meghan: Through this door?

Michael: Yes.

Meghan: Even though you just left through that door? *gestures toward the door on the other side of the tiny cabin* You want me to come over and unlock this door and let you in?

Michael: Yes.

Meghan: *takes three steps, unlocks, and opens door* You just wanted me to do some sort of work today.

Michael: *grinning* Nope. I just wanted to tell you to not use that door. *points* See that piece of wood, blocking the door?

Meghan: so … don’t use the other door?

Michael: Don’t use that door.

Meghan: Like, never again?

Michael: Never, ever again. Is there anything else you’d like me to break while I’m at it?

Meghan *thoughtfully* well … not this door, because then we’d have to climb in and out of the house through the bathroom window.

Context: Michael needed to remove a section of ‘soffit’ so he could ‘check the heel height of the trusses’ … yeah, I have no idea what that means either, but apparently it’s a measurement the draftsperson/engineer needed to draw the plans for the addition.

BTW. In the time is has taken me to write this post, the offending piece of wood is no longer blocking the door. So apparently Michael completely lied about the ‘never again’ thing. 😂

Book Club: Amaskan’s Blood by Raven Oak

The second book in the Kick-Ass Heroine Fantasy Book Club is Amaskan’s Blood by Raven Oak! I will start a discussion thread in my reader run fan group as well, but feel free to comment on this post if you aren’t on Facebook.

FYI – Amaskan’s Blood can currently be found in the 2019 SFWA Fantasy Storybundle but only until Feb 14, 2019 <<< ends tomorrow!

Short Synopsis: Two sisters. Two loyalties. One path together.

About the Author: Award-winning and bestselling speculative fiction author Raven Oak is best known for Amaskan’s BloodClass-M Exile, and the collection Joy to the Worlds: Mysterious Speculative Fiction for the Holidays. She also has several published short stories in anthologies such as Untethered: A Magic iPhone Anthology and Magic Unveiled. Raven spent most of her K-12 education doodling stories and 500 page monstrosities that are forever locked away in a filing cabinet.

When she’s not writing, she’s getting her game on with tabletop games, indulging in cartography, or staring at the ocean. She lives in the Seattle area with her husband, and their three kitties who enjoy lounging across the keyboard when writing deadlines approach. You can find Raven at: Twitter, Instagram, or her website.

MCD’s thoughts/notes (as of Feb 13): again Amaskan’s Blood is a different read for me – a fantasy setting and written in third person POV (that occasionally shifts). But I’m halfway through already and I only started reading yesterday so I’m obviously enjoying the book. The lead character Adelei is engaging and her background/ current situation is intriguingly layered.

Let me know your favourite parts in the comments below or over in the fan group discussion. We have two weeks to read and chat. Also please feel free to chat amongst yourselves!!


Book club: Al-Kabar by Lee French

The first book in the Kick-Ass Heroine Fantasy Book Club is Al-Kabar by Lee French! [Click the link for more information about the book club]. I will start a discussion thread in my reader run fan group as well, but feel free to comment on this post if you aren’t on Facebook.

FYI – Al-Kabar by Lee French can currently be found in the 2019 SFWA Fantasy Storybundle but only util Feb 14, 2019.

Short synopsis: A young woman is chosen by powerful supernatural forces to bring justice to a desert land of oasis kingdoms. 

About the Author: Lee French lives in Olympia, WA with two kids, two bicycles, and too much stuff. She is an avid gamer and active member of the Myth-Weavers online RPG community, where she is known for her fondness for Angry Ninja Squirrels of Doom. In addition to spending too much time there, she also trains year-round for the one-week of glorious madness that is RAGBRAI, has a nice flower garden with one dragon and absolutely no lawn gnomes, and tries in vain every year to grow vegetables that don’t get devoured by neighborhood wildlife.

You can find Lee on her web site: https://authorleefrench.com or on Twitter: @AuthorLeeFrench

MCD’s thoughts/notes (as of Jan 23): I’m only about a third of the way through Al-Kabar, but quite enjoying the world Lee French has created. It’s a different read for me (I tend to read only straight up urban fantasy these day), full of spices and sand and fire layered between tiny intimate moments that really breath life into the otherwise foreign setting (for me at least).

Let me know your favourite parts in the comments below or over in the fan group discussion. We have two weeks to read and chat. Also please feel free to chat amongst yourselves!!

Kick-Ass Heroine Fantasy Book Club

I mentioned the idea of a book club connected to the SFWA Fantasy Storybundle that I posted about last week in my reader run fan group, and a bunch of readers seemed interested. So we discussed the idea, I suggested a schedule, and the ‘club’ officially starts tomorrow.

How it will work: I’ll introduce a book every two weeks (see the schedule below) here on my blog and in Facebook group, along with links and some extra info about the author, etc. If it is a trilogy, we’ll read the first book for the club. The main discussion will take place in my fan group, but if you aren’t on Facebook please feel free to start a discussion on the specific blog posts as well.

A few of the authors might be participating as well. Fun! Fun! But I’ll confirm who and how as we move forward.

The schedule:

  • Wednesday, January 30 – Al-Kabar by Lee French
  • Wednesday, February 13 – Amaskan’s Blood by Raven Oak
  • Wednesday, February 27 – Ashwin by Kit Rocha
  • Wednesday, March 13 – Blade and Rose by Miranda Honfleur
  • Wednesday, March 27 – Catching Echoes by Meghan Ciana Doidge
  • Wednesday, April 10 – Dragon Blood Omnibus by Lindsay Buroker
  • Wednesday, April 24 – Genrenauts by Michael R. Underwood
  • Wednesday, May 8 – Radiance by Grace Draven
  • Wednesday, May 22 – The Arrows of the Heart by Jeffe Kennedy
  • Wednesday, June 5 – The Glass Gargoyle by Marie Andreas
  • Wednesday, June 19 – The Raven and the Reindeer by T. Kingfisher
  • Wednesday, July 3 – The Twenty-Sided Sorceress by Annie Bellet

Some of you might own some of these books already, or prefer to get them from the library, but if you’re interested in purchasing the book bundle you can find more information about it here: https://storybundle.com/fantasy or in my previous blog post.

Also I understand that sticking to a two week schedule might be difficult (for me as well) so if you need to skip books, or pick and choose what you have the time to read, no worries. Please participate as you are able. This is all just for fun.

Let me me know if you have any questions. The book club officially launches tomorrow with Al-Kabar by Lee French! I’m about a third of the way through my read so far and quite enjoying the world Lee has created.

I hope you can join me. It should be fun.

Kick Ass Heroine Fantasy Book Bundle (& giveaway)

LAST DAY TO GRAB THIS OFFER!!! Also the giveaway is closed.

Actually … with the box sets included I think it might be more like 19 full length books!!

I’m so pleased to announce that Catching Echoes (Reconstructionist 1) was selected for the SWFA fantasy book bundle along with eleven other incredibly successful and talented authors. The bundle was curated by author Terry Mixon and you will see his ‘curator’s notes’ for each book in the blurbs below.

You can click here to purchase the bundle – starting at $5 for the primary bundle or buy the full package starting at $15 for all 19 books (move the slider at the bottom of the linked page to pick your price).

Continue reading for more details, the curator’s notes – I adore the blurb and one liner for Catching Echoes – and the giveaway!!

***

A bundle so packed full of fantasy, we needed the elves to assemble it.

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) joins with 12 different Authors in a massive storybundle to twist time and space with magic, blade, and wit. Featuring Annie Bellet, Lindsay Buroker, Jeffe Kennedy, Ursula Vernon, and more.

StoryBundle is a way for people to discover quality books written by indie authors. You know how it’s always hard to find something good to read? StoryBundle can solve that. We take a handful of books and group them together to offer as a bundle. Then you, the reader, take a look at the titles we’ve chosen and decide how much you’d like to pay. We mean it; you set the price that you pay for the primary titles or kick in a little extra and reap the bonanza with all the books!

https://storybundle.com/fantasy

Primary Books included in every bundle purchase:

Blade & Rose by Miranda Honfleur – A perfect blend of fantastic action, menacing intrigue and riveting romance.

Curator’s notes: Miranda Honfleur’s Blade & Rose’s begins with a mismatch romance and blossoms into an adventure that is nothing short of epic. Rielle earns the title of kickass Heroine over and over again despite her flaws.

Amaskan’s Blood by Raven Oak – Two sisters. Two loyalties. One path together.

Curator’s note: A fantasy adventure with a sharp edge. I hope you find Adelei and Ida as compelling lead characters as I did. There’s so much going on, don’t try to skim this book. Read it and savor it like a well-aged single malt Scotch. 

Genrenauts, Complete Season One by Michael R. Underwood – A kickass extra-dimensional adventure through the stories we love. 

Curator’s note: Genrenauts is a tough book to classify. Its heroes don’t simply exist within a story, they travel into series! Trouble is they have to edit them from the inside while dodging bullets figurative (romance world) or real (hello scifi world).  Strap in for a meta adventure to save the Tropes!

The Twenty-Sided Sorceress, Books 1-3 by Annie Bellet – Gamer. Nerd. Sorceress. After twenty-five years fleeing from a powerful sorcerer, a mostly-human woman is finally safe – if she can resist using her magic. Or can she?

Curator’s note: A fantastic deal, the first three books in Annie Bellet’s wildly popular, bestselling Twenty-Sided Sorceress urban fantasy series, this omnibus includes Justice Calling, Murder of Crows, and Pack of Lies. With a deft and original interweaving of role-playing games and magic, this series has delighted and captivated readers. 

Ashwin by Kit Rocha – Can a genetically manipulated soldier be a hero? A healer finds a way to love a man without feelings—and fight for brightness in a dark world.

Curator’s note: Kicking off a new phase in the epic and much-loved post-apocalyptic urban fantasy cycle by Kit Rocha, Ashwin introduces the people of Sector One, and the ragtag collection of misfits seeking shelter there—and absolution following terrible deeds. With a brotherhood of guardian warriors, priestesses and healers, this story takes readers on a blood-stirring ride for redemption. 

Bonus Books included with an additional contribution:

The Arrows of the Heart by Jeffe Kennedy – What do you do when your boyfriend is an animal? Really. An animal.

Curator’s note: This is a beautifully crafted tale of love and sacrifice. The poignant duet between magic and mundane echoes from the first page to the last. I’m not a fan of shifter romance, but this lush fantasy goes so far beyond werewolves that I’ll be watching for the sequel.

The Dragon Blood Chronicles by Lindsay Buroker – A dashing Pilot, a comely Sorcerous and smart mouthed Soulsword all come together in a world intent on killing them.

Curator’s note: A delightfully entertaining tale drawing together the worlds of magic and steampunk into a romantic adventure. The characters pull you into their story and help you lose yourself, as you imagine watching them triumph over adversity, finding love along the way.

Radiance by Grace Draven – A marriage between alien kingdoms – and two “spares” who find beauty in each other, and that heroism comes in many forms.

Curator’s note: Grace Draven’s brilliant, bestselling opening to the Wraith Kings fantasy romance series has dazzled readers with its tale of a human woman married to a Kai warrior. She learns to find a way past his razor sharp teeth and fearsome claws and together they forge an alliance that provides a guiding light for both their peoples. 

The Raven and the Reindeer by Ursula Vernon – A enthralling remix of a classic fairy tale, with a practical heroine who follows her heart to a very different ending.

Curator’s note: Ursula Vernon’s writing under her adult penname T. Kingfisher continues to prove why she is among my favorite authors with the Raven and the Reindeer. This retelling of the classic Snow Queen fairy tale  is equal parts humor and pathos with character that are sheer delight. 

Catching Echoes by Meghan Ciana Doidge – What could go wrong when a no-nonsense witch with family issues is forced to work alongside a powerful and obnoxious vampire to solve a murder?

Curator’s note: Meghan Ciana Doidge deftly manages to create a world with depth and color that clearly shows the stories going on just out of sight, just like the real world. This book is easily one of the most captivating urban fantasy novels I’ve read in years.

Al-Kabar by Lee French – A young woman is chosen by powerful supernatural forces to bring justice to a desert land of oasis kingdoms. 

Curator’s note: Lee French’s Al-Kabar is a rollicking adventure fantasy set in a richly imagined world inspired by medieval Arabia. Fakhira must like the phoenix rise from the ashes of her village and learn to harness the powers bequeathed to her by the mysterious Waters. Action and romance in a unique desert setting!

The Glass Gargoyle by Marie Andreas – A spate of dead patrons forces archeologist Taryn St. Giles to become a bounty hunter. Needless to say, things don’t go well.

Curator’s note: Marie Andreas writes a raucous and exciting world that grabs you by the shirt and drags you into the bar brawl the protagonist’s life has become. This book and the characters in it don’t let up, so hang on.

https://storybundle.com/fantasy

SFWA is an organization for published authors and industry professionals in the fields of science fiction, fantasy, and related genres. Founded in 1965, SFWA informs, supports, promotes, defends, and advocates for its members. We host the prestigious Nebula Awards at our annual SFWA Nebula Conference, assist members in legal disputes with publishers, offer the Speakers Bureau, administer grants to SFF community organizations and members facing medical or legal expenses.

Novice authors benefit from our Information Center and well-known Writer Beware site.  Between online discussion boards, private convention suites, and a host of less formal gatherings, SFWA is a source of information, education, support, and fellowship for its members.

SFWA Membership is open to authors, artists, editors, and other industry professionals who meet our eligibility requirements.

For more information, review requests, or interviews, please email Daniel Potter, the SFWA Self-Publishing Committee chair at danpotter@fallenkitten.com

The storybundle will be available from January 23, 2019 thru February 14, 2019.

GIVEAWAY!!

Interested in winning one of these bundles? Well, cool, because I happen to have one to give away!

To enter: comment below and let me know which of the books in the bundle you are most looking forward to reading.

Fun! Fun!

Likes and shares are always welcomed and appreciated.

Notes/Rules: OPEN INTERNATIONALLY. One entry per person. One winner will be selected by random number generator. Email addresses are not collected for any purpose other than to contact the winner. No purchase necessary.

Giveaway closes THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018 after 8pm PST.