crime fiction

15
Nov
2020

New Websites! (The quest for world domination continues…)



So you may have noticed some changes to this site recently… I’ve set up two new genre-specific sites: one for fantasy, and one for mystery/crime fiction. Most of the links and pages on this site now redirect to one of these new locations. I will continue to post the Free Fiction Feature on this site each month (since the stories are a mix of my fantasy and crime fiction titles), and I’ll post about any other cool updates or promotions I get going. (I expect these posts to be mostly cross-genre as well.) Other than that, I’m not sure how much I’ll be blogging–either here, or on my new sites–since I want to concentrate most of my time on actual fiction writing.

In addition to genre-specific websites, I’ve also broken out my Facebook pages by genre, if you’d like to give me a follow:

Fantasy Facebook Page | Mystery/Crime Fiction Facebook Page

Hello from Canada!

One of the cool things about building my new sites was incorporating a list of as many of the retailers and digital libraries I could find from around the world that carry my books. I’ve included this list on the About page for each of my sites with a link to each retailer. I know the tendency is to only pay attention to the largest companies, but there are SO MANY other players out there–especially outside North America–each with their own niche market of readers. Continue reading →

Posted by Jacquelyn in Publishing Updates, 0 comments
13
Aug
2020

New Release News and Promos: August 2020

I can’t believe it’s August… These past few months feel like some weird, alternate reality.

We’re coming onto the last two of the Kira Brightwell shorts I have planned for this run (August and September) before I’ll start formatting and releasing all the existing Kira novels and shorts as collections, with one new collection coming out each month for five months.

On the fantasy side, all of the Lasniniar collections are done (for the moment), and I’m focusing on Fatal Empire now, with the remaining three titles in the quartet planned to come out by the end of 2020. Plus, I’ve also written a fun bonus guide to the Dharakmeni Empire that’s available for free, which you can check out below!

August New Releases

Ring Girl: A Kira Brightwell Short Story

Enemies since high school… Kira and Trevor never expected to end up solving cases together.

Trevor knows that Kira does most of the solving, but he likes to think his raw charm and charisma count for something…

And when the opportunity to prove himself as more than a stunningly handsome sidekick falls into his lap in the form of a beautiful client, how can he possibly refuse?

A short story misadventure of Kira and Trevor from the Kira Brightwell crime fiction series by award-winning author, Jacquelyn Smith.

Get your ebook ONE WEEK EARLY when you buy your pre-order direct from the author!

Retailer Links

Buy Direct from the Author

 

Yarden the Wanderer Presents: A Visitor’s Guide to the Dharakmeni Empire (A Fatal Empire Bonus Book)

Visitor's Guide to the Dharakmeni Empire cover

Assassins, danger, intrigue… The Dharakmeni Empire does not welcome the faint at heart. (Or anyone else, for that matter.)

But fear not, dear reader! The Shining Kingdom’s foremost adventurer, Yarden the Wanderer, knows all the ins (inns?) and outs of the continent’s most reclusive (and reviled) region.

Let Yarden guide you—as only he can—on a journey through the empire’s customs, caste system, and cuisine. Explore esoteric temples dedicated to the endless expressions of the goddess. Meander your way through a myriad of marketplaces. Impress the locals with your nebulous, newfound knowledge!

…Learn just enough to become an adventurer in your own right with this exclusive guide, funded by the Temple of the Keeper of Wonder, and recorded by award-winning scribe, Jacquelyn Smith.

Please note: Yarden the Wanderer and the Temple of the Keeper of Wonder in no way claim responsibility for any harm or mishap that befalls visitors of the Dharakmeni Empire before or after reading this guide—including, but not limited to death or enslavement.

This title is ONLY available as part of the Back Story Sampler Collection, which is FREE when you subscribe to my newsletter group.

Get this book for FREE!

 

Coming September 3rd (Available for pre-order)

Continue reading →

Posted by Jacquelyn in Promotions, Publishing Updates, 0 comments
29
Jul
2020

ONLY 3 DAYS LEFT! Get 2 additional series adventures for FREE: Smashwords Summer Sale 2020, Phase 5

[Free photo 5695776 © Elena Schweitzer – Dreamstime.com]

Time is running out… The Smashwords Summer Sale is only on for 3 more days. Save on tons of ebooks by various authors until until July 31st!

As I’ve already mentioned in previous posts, I’m participating in the sale this year in phases. Today marks the start of the final phase.

NEW! Phase 5 (3 Days Only):

Get 2 additional series adventures for FREE until July 31st!

Continue reading →

Posted by Jacquelyn in Promotions, 0 comments
22
Jul
2020

SAVE 25% on All Remaining Series Novels: Smashwords Summer Sale 2020, Phase 4

Don’t miss out! The Smashwords Summer Sale is still on for 10 more days… Save on tons of ebooks by various authors until until July 31st!

As I’ve already mentioned in previous posts, I’m participating in the sale this year in phases.

NEW! Phase 4:

Save 25% on all remaining novels from the World of Lasniniar and Kira Brightwell series until July 31st!

Continue reading →

Posted by Jacquelyn in Promotions, 0 comments
16
Jul
2020

Behind the Books | Striking Distance: A Kira Brightwell Short Story

[Original version of Striking Distance]

Whenever I start writing a new character or series, an origin story starts to grow in my mind as the character starts to flesh out, to explain aspects of their personality, skill set, reactions to particular situations, etc. When I decided to start writing this self-made, reluctant problem-solver for hire, Kira Brightwell, in her first novel, Split Decision, I knew I had a couple of big questions to answer.

Why would anyone think to hire Kira–a young woman with no formal training or police connections–to help with an abduction case? Why would Kira be motivated to take a lead role in that kind of situation?

Yes, by the start of Split Decision, Kira has spent three years training in MMA. So that makes her a badass, but hardly a crime expert.

…But what if she had a personal experience involving abduction? What if that event revealed skills and tenacity Kira never fully realized she had, and shaped her life going forward in ways she could never imagine? Continue reading →

Posted by Jacquelyn in Behind the Books, 0 comments
15
Jul
2020

SAVE 50% on Mid-Series Novels: Smashwords Summer Sale 2020, Phase 3

[Free photo 5308242 © Marilyn Barbone – Dreamstime.com]

The Smashwords Summer Sale is still going… Save on tons of ebooks by various authors until until July 31st!

As I’ve already mentioned in previous posts, I’m participating in the sale this year in phases.

NEW! Phase 3:

Save 50% on mid-series novels from the World of Lasniniar and Kira Brightwell series until July 31st!

Continue reading →

Posted by Jacquelyn in Promotions, 0 comments
08
Jul
2020

SAVE 75% on Second-in-Series Novels: Smashwords Summer Sale 2020, Phase 2

[Free photo 109891410 © creativecommonsstockphotos – Dreamstime.com]

The Smashwords Summer Sale continues… Save on tons of ebooks by various authors until until July 31st!

As I’ve already mentioned in a previous post, I’m participating in the sale this year in phases.

NEW! Phase 2:

Save 75% on second-in-series novels from the World of Lasniniar and Kira Brightwell series until July 31st!

Continue reading →

Posted by Jacquelyn in Promotions, 0 comments
02
Jul
2020

Free Fiction Feature | Striking Distance: A Kira Brightwell Short Story

Striking Distance Kira Brightwell cover

Kira Brightwell stands at a crossroads. Her college days lie behind her, but her future remains a mystery, waiting to be solved.

A job already awaits her at her father’s office—the easy, parent-approved option. But Kira wants something different. Something more. She needs to get away to figure out what.

Except Kira’s future hangs in the balance in more ways than one…

In the crime-filled cases of the Kira Brightwell series, “Striking Distance” focuses on the event that changes Kira’s life forever, and sets her on the path to becoming an infamous problem-solver for hire.

Now, you can read it for free on this site for one month only. This short story by award-winning author Jacquelyn Smith (originally published under the pen name Kat Irwin) also comes in ebook and paperback format—both on its own, and as part of the First Blood Kira Brightwell Collection.

You can find “Striking Distance” at your preferred online retailer here, or buy it direct from the author. You can find retailer links to the First Blood Kira Brightwell Collection here, or buy it direct from the author.

 

 

Striking Distance: A Kira Brightwell Short Story

Jacquelyn Smith

(Originally published as Kat Irwin.)

This story will be available for free for one month only. If you missed this one, check out the current Free Fiction Feature here. Continue reading →

Posted by Jacquelyn in Free Fiction Feature, 0 comments
11
Jun
2020

New Releases and Promos: June 2020

So in addition to my usual new release news, I also have some cool updates and discount information regarding direct ebook purchases at the bottom of this post. Keep scrolling to check it out.

June New Releases

Puncher’s Chance: A Kira Brightwell Short Story

Puncher's Chance Kira Brightwell cover

Kira Brightwell and trouble seem to go hand in hand.

Still, after escaping her own abduction over three years ago, becoming MMA trained, and solving two major cases in the past few months, most people would consider her above running down the streets of La Valentia with scrambled egg on her shirt to chase down a complete stranger…

But even a local hero has her off days.

A fast-paced, crime fiction misadventure for both new and regular readers of the Kira Brightwell series by award-winning author, Jacquelyn Smith. (This short story takes place between Black and Blue and Low Blow.)

Retailer Links Buy Direct from the Author

 

Void Walker Lasniniar Collection

Void Walker Lasniniar Collection cover

Goddess, trickster, unborn spirit… All these words describe Felara, yet somehow fall short.

Combine her immortal power with an obsession for a certain elf, and things in Lasniniar get even more complicated. Felara will do anything to get her way with Iarion—whether he likes it, or not.

This fast-paced, epic fantasy collection of elves, dwarves, and magic contains one novel and two short stories from the World of Lasniniar series by Writers’ Journal winning author, Jacquelyn Smith: Void Walker, Quicksilver, and Goddess Almighty. Void Walker is the seventh novel in the series. (All adventures in this collection take place between Wave Runners and Harbingers.)

Retailer Links Buy Direct from the Author

 

Coming July 2nd (Available for pre-order)

Continue reading →

Posted by Jacquelyn in Promotions, Publishing Updates, 0 comments
28
May
2020

Writing Roundup: May 2020

Xena: “Wake me up when this is all over.”

This whole quarantine thing has really blurred my months together… I mean, it’s May, but I feel like I barely remember March or April. AND it’s snowed in the last two weeks. (I know, this is Canada. But the week before, we were wearing shorts!) My sense of time and seasons is all messed up.

The only thing that helps me (sort of) keep track of the passage of time is what projects I’ve completed and what still needs to be done.

In addition to preparing the Void Walker Lasniniar Collection for release in June, I also finished writing two new Kira Brightwell shorts this month (“Puncher’s Chance” and “Seeing Stars”). Just waiting on some copy edit feedback. Even though they’re both from the same series, they turned out to be quite different stories. Continue reading →

Posted by Jacquelyn in Writing Updates, 0 comments