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Free Fiction Feature October 2022 | Tale of the Tape, PLUS The Devil You Know

This month, you enjoy two fun short stories with strong female leads–one murder mystery, and a fantasy adventure featuring a dwarf and her demon sidekick:

Tale of the Tape: A Kira Brightwell Short Novel (Mystery)

Tale of the Tape Kira Brightwell coverA bootleg Nine Inch Nails cassette tape.

Weird thing for Kira to find abandoned by a sewer grate on her way to school.

The hand-drawn NIN logo in marker catches Kira’s eye. Who tossed the tape? And why?

Kira pockets it, of course. Seems a shame to leave it in the gutter. Who knows what kind of extra tracks she might find on it?

…Now she only needs to figure out a way to play the thing.

A twisting, short novel of Kira’s high school past from the Kira Brightwell mystery series by Jacquelyn Smith.

Now, you can read it online for free for one month only:

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Legends of Lasniniar: The Devil You Know (Fantasy)

Legends of Lasniniar The Devil You Know coverMerchants peddle fear in Belierumar.

Mothers cling to their children as they walk through the crowded marketplace. Eyes dart as people hurry to make their dubious purchases.

Demon-warding amulets. Herbs guaranteed to help victims of possession. Paige inspects them all with a jaundiced eye.

The young dwarf woman knows how to deal with demons. Probably better than anyone else in Lasniniar.

…With good reason.

In the aftermath of war, a new era begins in this stand-alone story from the World of Lasniniar epic fantasy series by Jacquelyn Smith.

Now, you can read it online for free for one month only:

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Free Fiction Feature September 2022 | Legends of Lasniniar: By the Light of the Moon

This month, check out a fun, fall-themed fantasy adventure, with a hint of mystery:

Legends of Lasniniar: By the Light of the Moon (Fantasy)

Legends of Lasniniar By the Light of the Moon cover

No matter where their journeys take them, Barlo and Iarion always seem to find trouble.

The eve of the Harvest Festival. The dwarf and elf pair find themselves potentially lost on the way to the closest human village. A blanket of mist drifts from the nearby hills to obscure the dirt road as night closes in.

Barlo remains content to let Iarion lead the way. At least then he can blame his elf friend if—no when—things go wrong. Still, Barlo’s hand stays close to his ax.

What danger lurks in the darkness beyond the mist?

The infamous duo of Barlo and Iarion return in this spooky, stand-alone misadventure story from the World of Lasniniar epic fantasy series by Jacquelyn Smith.

Now, you can read it online for free for one month only:

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Free Fiction Feature July 2022 | Lucky Punch, PLUS Prevailing Wind

This month, enjoy two short story adventures that feature a strong female protagonist:

Lucky Punch: A Kira Brightwell Short Story (Mystery)

Lucky Punch Kira Brightwell cover

A nice, relaxing vacation. After all the mystery and mayhem over the past several months, a tropical getaway seems like just what Kira Brightwell needs.

With only her best friend for company and no one back home aware of their location (detective friend, persistent sidekick, and nosy reporters included), Kira can finally unwind and try to forget. Maybe enjoy a cool, refreshing cocktail on the beach.

But wherever Kira goes, trouble always follows only a step behind.

A stand-alone story from the Kira Brightwell mystery series by Jacquelyn Smith. If you enjoy a fun, tropical escapade, grab this book. 

Now, you can read it online for free for one month only:

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Legends of Lasniniar: Prevailing Wind (Fantasy)

Legends of Lasniniar Prevailing Wind cover

Arinwyn leads the Tribe of Hawk across the vast dunes of the Shifting Sands. A lone elf among humans.

The sun beats down on her head scarf like a hammer while the jingle of harnesses fills the dry air. A single shadow falls across the land from overhead in a ripple of movement.

A dragon.

Arinwyn knows the tribe cannot stand against it. But none of the tribe’s warriors want to lose status by fleeing.

Arinwyn must rely on her human companion Nasir to convince them otherwise while she tackles a much bigger problem—how to hold off the dragon.

…And what its seemingly chance presence might mean.

A short story adventure from the World of Lasniniar epic fantasy series and a follow-up to “Legends of Lasniniar: Without Wings” by Jacquelyn Smith.

Now, you can read it online for free for one month only:

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Free Fiction Feature June 2022 | Legends of Lasniniar: Without Wings

This month, enjoy a magical story of an outcast elf who must go on a dangerous journey to embrace her secret heritage:

Legends of Lasniniar: Without Wings (Fantasy)

Legends of Lasniniar Without Wings coverGround walker. Wingless worm. Freak.

The only Sky Elf ever born without wings, Arinwyn does her best to ignore the taunts and slurs. Bad enough she can never know the thrill of flying. Must she suffer the cruelties of her own kind as well?

But the winds of change blow from beyond the elven wood as the Fallen One stirs.

…And more than Arinwyn realizes lies hidden within her wingless heritage.

A stand-alone origin story from the World of Lasniniar epic fantasy series by Jacquelyn Smith.

Now, you can read it online for free for one month only:

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Free Fiction Feature February 2022 | Legends of Lasniniar: Bond Forger

Legends of Lasniniar Bond Forger cover

Barlo guards a secret. Only his best friend Iarion shares it, along with the rest of the Light Elves.

No one else can ever know.

Barlo’s secret keeps him apart from other dwarves. Even his own family. Memories of another time haunt him. He longs for a way to claim his identity. To be himself.

…A hero of Lasniniar, capable of leaving Dwarvenhome to go on adventures. (With Iarion, of course.)

But his secret acts as both a blessing and a curse. And the call to adventure proves too strong to deny.

A stand-alone story of the infamous friends Barlo and Iarion from the World of Lasniniar epic fantasy series by Jacquelyn Smith.

Now, you can read it online for free for one month only:

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Free Fiction Feature December 2021 | Legends of Lasniniar: A Solstice Tale

Legends of Lasniniar A Solstice Tale coverSolstice Eve. An unexpected side trip. Barlo and Iarion find themselves looking for a room in the human city of Nal Huraseadro to take shelter from the snow.

During their journey, Barlo only seeks the answer to one question. What did his elf friend get him for Solstice? His endless guesses border on harassment. Iarion refuses to budge.

Despite the approaching holiday, not all remains peaceful in the city.

…And Iarion’s present soon becomes the furthest thing from Barlo’s mind.

A stand-alone story from the World of Lasniniar epic fantasy series by Jacquelyn Smith. If you love a lighthearted holiday misadventure, grab this book.

Now, you can read it online for free for one month only:

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Writing/Publishing Roundup: A new mystery series has arrived

This second publishing update of the month is mystery-based (in case you couldn’t tell from the title, lol).

Kira Brightwell’s cousin is on the case.

Two short novel (mis)adventures are now available in the Mackenzie Quinn Canadian cozy mystery series:

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Free Fiction Feature November 2021 | Legends of Lasniniar: Mum’s the Word

Mum's the Word Legends of Lasniniar coverA dwarf and an elf. As friendships in Lasniniar go, most people find Barlo and Iarion an odd pairing.

Wherever the unlikely duo travel, adventure follows close behind. Barlo and Iarion fall in and out of trouble on a regular basis. But even as they perform heroic deeds, they find time to bicker and banter.

The straightforward journey Barlo plans for them now should prove no problem—a piece of cake.

…Or so he thinks.

A stand-alone misadventure story from the World of Lasniniar epic fantasy series by Jacquelyn Smith.

Now, you can read it online for free for one month only:

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Free Fiction Feature October 2021 | Her Rightful Place, PLUS Puncher’s Chance

Two stories are available to read for free this month–a dark fantasy adventure featuring elves and vampires, and a fun mystery misadventure featuring kickass amateur sleuth Kira Brightwell:

Legends of Lasniniar: Her Rightful Place (Fantasy)

Arinmalia holds herself above the rest of her Wild Elf tribemates. With good reason.

Few can match her fighting and tracking skills. She needs no friends to watch her back or distract her with their tiresome company. She prefers to walk the forest paths alone, with only her own thoughts as companions.

Arinmalia knows in her heart a great destiny awaits her. Something beyond the modest village life of her tribe. She dreams of finding it. She hungers to make her tribemates understand.

She needs them to acknowledge her rightful place.

A stand-alone story from the sprawling history of the elves in the World of Lasniniar epic fantasy series by Jacquelyn Smith.

Now, you can read it online for free for one month only:

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Puncher’s Chance: A Kira Brightwell Short Story (Mystery)

Puncher's Chance Kira Brightwell coverLocal hero and problem solver for hire, Kira Brightwell finds herself on the run. Again.

Her running shoes pound the crowded sidewalk. A trickle of sweat slithers down her back in the California heat. And the damp remains of scrambled egg spatter the front of her favorite Nine Inch Nails T-shirt.

The egg stain earns her a few looks from passers-by. That and her breakneck pace.

Kira’s quarry remains two blocks ahead of her. She needs to haul ass if she wants to catch him.

…Because when a bad guy messes with her favorite shirt, the case gets personal.

A stand-alone misadventure story from the Kira Brightwell mystery series by Jacquelyn Smith.

Now, you can read it online for free for one month only:

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Free Fiction Feature August 2021 | Legends of Lasniniar: What the Cat Dragged In

Whoops, I’m a little late sharing this month, but this fun adventure featuring Barlo the dwarf is available to read for free until August 31st. (I remembered to link it on the home page at the beginning of the month, but somehow forgot to post a blog update…)

Legends of Lasniniar What the Cat Dragged In coverDeath stalks Narilga through the underground city of Dwarvenhome. Sinstari can smell it.

The wildcat’s nose never lies. But no one understands his warnings. Not even his longtime dwarf companion and Narilga’s mate, Barlo.

And only Barlo stands a chance of saving her. (With Sinstari’s help, of course.)

What can Sinstari do?

How can he make Barlo understand, before Narilga’s time runs out?

A stand-alone story from the World of Lasniniar epic fantasy series by award-winning author, Jacquelyn Smith. If you love cats and adventure, grab this book.

Now, you can read it online for free for one month only:

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Posted by Jacquelyn in Free Fiction Feature, 0 comments