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Conmergence: An Anthology of Speculative Fiction Oct 16, 2010

$2.99

Tara Maya’s previously published short stories, most of them no longer available in print, are gathered together here for the first time. A number of the tales are short shorts or flash fiction, including the poignant, "Ghosts on Red Strings, " and the biting alternate history, "Best of All Possible Worlds. " Longer stories and two novelettes round out the collection. The emotional timbre ranges across a wide gamut. "Tomorrow We Dance" is a bleak retelling of the fairy-tales Pied Piper and the Emperor's New Clothes. In the more heroic and romantic Painted World stories (two are here), artists are able to bring their paintings to life. For fans of hard sf, there is "A Thousand Blossoms With The Day," which starts from the premise there might have been life in the first fractions of a second after the Big Bang. An Author's Note, and author Comments on the story behind each story, enliven the volume with the author’s own strange journey from homeless street person to published author.

"Ghosts on Red Strings" - Only through forgiveness can she free her ghosts.... But some crimes cannot be forgiven.

"Conmergence" - In a non-Euclidean multiverse, parallel universes can meet.

"Portrait of a Pretender" - A murdered king, an heir in danger and a usurper... but is he as black as they paint? (a Painted World story)

"Refractions from the Neglected Side" - A brain damaged woman suffers from hemi-neglect, the inability to see anything on the left. The cure may be even more bizarre.

"Burn" - In that kingdom, witches burned. (8 of Swords of Tarot Tales)

"The Best of All Possible Worlds" - Money can buy anything, even a universe where you can be happy. Right?

"Public Eye" - To hide from the grid, you have to give up everything. Especially friends.

"Walker" - And yet there are those the grid refuses to see.

"A Thousand Blossoms With The Day" - The universe is less than a second old, and already life struggles to survive.

"You Have Not Forgotten How To Fly" - A faery once defeated an evil war lord, but can she handle a toddler?

"Delivery Status, Failure" - Note to self: don't try to call mom and work on the computer at the same time.

"Grace" - God promised her a great destiny. God lied.

"Tomorrow We Dance" - When the Bone Whistler plays his flute, the whole tribe dances and a new day is just over the horizon...

"The Virgin's Choice" - A princess tests her three suitors and discovers something surprising. (4 of Cups in Tarot Tales)

"Drawn to the Brink" - Her job is to hunt a monster escaped from a painting. She didn't expect him to be so handsome... or to need his help.

(Total wordcount: 47,000 words)

Other Formats: Paperback

Hero & Heroine 2 (Anthology of Short Reads): Paranormal, Fantasy and Science Fiction Magazine (Hero and Heroine Paranormal, Fantasy and Science Fiction Magazine) Feb 13, 2016

by Tara Maya, Keith Henson, Scott Rhine, Rayne Hall, Heidi Kneale, Deborah Walker, Kat Fruchey

( 3 )

$0.99

Magic. Science. Love…

You’ll find three novelettes, three short stories, and one novella, across the spectrum of speculative fiction. You’ll find everything from Hard Science Fiction to Steamy Paranormal Romance, from Steampunk to Time Travel, from High Fantasy to Urban Fantasy. All the stories, whatever the subgenre, have Happy Endings, or at least Happy For Now endings… and although not all the stories include a love story, any that do end Happily Ever After.

Agents of Fortune by Scott Rhine

A social worker is sent to a witch who hears voices. Will he heed the messages the voices have for him?

Genre: Rural Fantasy / Urban Fantasy / Fantasy Romance
6,000 words

The Clinic Seed by Keith Henson

In the year 2041, two men arrive at a remote African village to make an unusual exchange. For the price of one of the local fetish skulls, they plant a clinic seed. Soon a medical clinic grows from the seed and villagers who are hurt or sick go there to be healed and cured. But the clinic does much more than heal them…

Genre: Hard Science Fiction / Future History
8,000 words

Adelaisa by Kat Fruchey

When she agreed to become adjutant to Captain Kallen, Adelaisa made her conditions clear. She would fight side by side with him on the battle field, not serve him on her back. Honorable as well as courageous, Kallen respected that. If only she hadn’t fallen in love with him…

Genre: Fantasy Romance
8,000 words

The Valentine Raffle by Heidi Kneale

Leo and his co-worker Katerina have fallen in love. Secretly, of course. For an office romance is illegal, and all marriages are strictly regulated. In a dystopian corporate future, where women outnumber men four to one, love is no longer a matter of personal choice. There’s only one exception: the Valentine Raffle. But to win at love, Leo and Katerina may need to cheat the system…

Genre: Science Fiction Romance
6,000 words

Ovoids by Deborah Walker

She fights alone. Others might hide in government bunkers, but she has her own plan. The real war is yet to come…

Genre: Military Science Fiction / Flash Fiction
Wordcount: 1000

Dancing for Rain by Rayne Hall

Merida is proud of the opportunity she’s been given to serve her country and help the people of another country by using her magic to end a drought. She’s horrified to learn that those she is trying to help didn’t request her presence and don’t believe in her magic.

Genre: Dark Epic Fantasy
4,600 words

Hood & Fae by Tara Maya

Roxy Hood is just trying to make ends meet, to pay her mom’s medical bills. Sure, Roxy takes on some jobs of, ahem, dubious integrity, like pretending that she can speak to the dead. But hey, that’s harmless. It’s not like a malevolent ghoul is going to attack her. Or a sexy billionaire will show up trying to buy her red jacket. Or a werewolf will attack Granny Rose. Because that would be whacked.

Genre: Urban Fantasy
27,000 words

This title and over 1 million more available with Kindle Unlimited.

Winter Wolf: Wolf Shifter Fantasy Romance (Faearth Novella Book 1) Nov 25, 2015

by Tara Maya

( 13 )

$2.99

Jensi has offered to take the place of her brother as a slave for a year and a day to Paro, a warrior wolf shifter. Though she is furious that the strong, taciturn warrior claims the land that once belonged to her clan, she finds herself drawn to him.

Then Jensi receives terrible news—her cousin Dindi is in danger—and Jensi must decide whether to escape Paro, even if it means breaking her oath… and even if it means breaking her heart.

WELCOME TO FAEARTH…
...where on the full moon after Winter Solstice, Fae join Shifters in the Wolf Dance…

This fantasy romance novella is a short read set in the fantasy land of Faearth, the same world as The Unfinished Song series, but it is an independent, complete story, with no cliffhangers. It is appropriate for young adult fantasy readers, fans of sweet paranormal romance and fans of fantasy short stories. If you’d like to peek into the world of Faearth, this is a good place to start. If you’ve read all the novels and can’t wait for more, this is a bit of Faearth fun to tide you over.

This title and over 1 million more available with Kindle Unlimited.

Hero & Heroine (Anthology of Short Reads): Paranormal, Fantasy and Science Fiction Magazine Feb 6, 2016

by Tara Maya, Rayne Hall, Vashti Valant, Justin Tyme, Heidi Kneale, L.K. Pinaire, Martin Bueno, Deborah Walker, Alex Binkley, Angraecus Daniels

( 3 )

$0.99

Courage & Honor. Exploration & Adventure. Curiosity & Discovery. Romance & Passion.
Magic & Science.

You’ll find four novelettes, four short stories, and one novella, across the spectrum of speculative fiction. You’ll find everything from Hard Science Fiction to Steamy Paranormal Romance, from Steampunk to Time Travel, from High Fantasy to Urban Fantasy. All the stories, whatever the subgenre, have Happy Endings, or at least Happy For Now endings… and although not all the stories include a love story, any that do end Happily Ever After.

* A Lady of Many Charms by Heidi Kneale

Lady Daphne Collister is unimpressed with the other young ladies in Society. These marriage-minded misses have no qualms over using magic to trap eligible bachelors into marriage. She knows their methods are a recipe for disaster. But will her approach of honesty lead her to a successful marriage?

Genre: Fantasy Romance
Wordcount: 8,500

* A Taste of Earth by Justin Tyme

NASA’s Near Earth Asteroid team is tracking asteroid 2027 UX25, which the press has nick-named ‘ Hachiman’, after the Shinto god of war. Hachiman does not behave like a meteorite should. It fragments and impacts across the globe. A team of scientists must discover its composition … and its intentions.

Genre: Hard Science Fiction
Wordcount: 8,600

* Scylla and the Pepper Pirates by Rayne Hall

Scylla will do anything to rescue her True Love from slavery on a distant isle—duel for her right to passage on a ship, outwit a deadly siren, and even put up with the ridiculously vain, yet admittedly handsome, ship’s Captain. But when pirates attack the ship, she may have to choose between the man she’s set her heart on and the man who has set his heart on her.

Genre: Comic Fantasy / Fantasy Adventure
Wordcount: 8,800

* Noah 17 by L.K. Pinaire

To err is human. But in space, there’s no room for mistakes. The last of the human race live on space stations in orbit around devastated Earth.But When Noah 17 experiences a catastrophic collision, technician Pete might need to choose between saving them all…or saving the woman he loves and the secret she’s protecting.

Genre: Hard Science Fiction / Post-Apocalypse
Wordcount: 6,500

* Electric Hatsuyume by Deborah Walker

An android helps her mistress prepare for the Japanese New Year. And perhaps prepares for something more…

Genre: Science Fiction / Flash Fiction
Wordcount: 500

* The Wooden Dragon by Martin Bueno

A young talented sculptor of large wooden carvings is hampered by an Autism disorder but finds an outlet for outstanding creativity.

Genre: Contemporary Fantasy / Science Fantasy
Wordcount: 4,400

* Woods Beyond The Wall by Alex Binkley

Jake celebrates his 13th birthday by venturing alone into the outside world. He discovers there is a serious side to the magical tricks he thinks he has been carrying out in secrecy…

Genre: Science Fantasy
Wordcount: 3,100

* Blightslayer by Vashti Valant & Tara Maya

In a Post-Apocalyptic world, the last Remnant of healthy human beings lives hidden in bunkers. Humanoids, beasts, and plants—all mutated—live in the Wastelands. Vryn is one of the Remnant, and she has the power to connect with the magical machines of the Ancients. On a mission to the ruins to look for Ancient magics, she was captured by mutants.

The Legend of Peter Cottontail: A Holiday Fairy Tale About the Easter Bunny for Children of All Ages Mar 12, 2013

by Tara Maya

( 4 )

$3.99

Have you ever wondered where the Easter Bunny comes from? How old he is? And how he happened to become a talking rabbit with a fondness for chocolate eggs? Here is the legend of Peter Cottontail…

AUTHOR’S NOTE: I figured that there was one thing missing from usual Easter stories, and that was a large army of baby-eating goblins. This is a holiday story in the tradition of Tolkien’s Letters From Father Christmas. Younger children enjoy hearing it read aloud, and the language and length is appropriate for middle grade readers—and adults who have always wondered about the secret epic origins of the hero who became the protector of Easter.

EXCERPT:
Chapter One

Long ago, before light bulbs or sliced bread, people lived in houses made of wattle and daub—which is just a fancy way of saying sticks and mud. They cooked their food over a hearth—which is just a fancy way of saying, an open fire. Dragons and goblins roamed the earth in those days, sowing terror and destroying whole villages. At one point, indeed, the goblins, who usually stayed in their cavern kingdoms below the earth, decided to conquer the upper world too. Armies of pointy-teethed, green skinned monsters poured across the land, burning houses, stealing everything from spoons to horses, and even eating babies.

So it happened that one spring day, a mother and father with a new baby worried how to protect their child. Goblins attacked their village, taking every child they could. The mother and father hid their baby in a basket and ran to the river. They gave him the only gift they had, which was a single egg. They wrote his name upon the egg: PETER.

They placed the basket in the river, and let it float away. They cried and hugged each other. Then goblins arrived with swords and crossbows, and captured them. But their little baby was safe.

Kind river fairies guided the floating basket swiftly past the burning villages of that ravaged land. The basket floated all the way to a magic forest, which was ruled by elves. Even goblins on their bravest days did not dare enter the forest of the elves....

Other Formats: Paperback

30 Day Novel (How to write a book in a month) Nov 15, 2012

by Tara Maya

( 34 )

$3.99

The techniques here are designed to help you streamline your writing...and that includes not wasting your time on false starts or novels with huge, gaping plot holes that torment you during revisions. These are my best No Fail Formulas for starting or re-starting a new or broken novel, for kicking myself out of writer's block, and for making the most of every precious writing minute in a tight schedule.

This book will help you:

- write fast AND fabulous prose
- fix broken plots
- avoid false starts and meandering middles
- create endings that sizzle, not fizzle
- plan your wordcount to fit your book and genre
- painlessly add or cut words
- end writer’s block and recapture you love of writing...even during the tough spots

This title and over 1 million more available with Kindle Unlimited.

The Unfinished Song: The Second Trilogy: (Three Book Set): Root, Wing, Blood (The Unfinished Song Trilogies 2) Oct 13, 2019

by Tara Maya

( 3 )

$8.69

An ancient war between humans and fae brought a terrible Curse to the land. Now the only two who can end the Curse are an untried young woman and an exiled warrior. They must battle High Fae, Deathsworn, and an immortal evil that threatens to devour the whole world…  DINDI MADE A BARGIN WITH THE FAE.
She knows her life is forfeit if she cannot solve the faery riddle of the Unfinished Song. But to do that, she must first unravel the mystery of why the Aelfae hexed her whole lineage long ago.

UMBRAL SERVES THE DEATHSWORN.
Armed with the darkest of powers, he exists for one purpose only: to hunt down the last girl with rainbow magic and kill her.

Three complete books included: Root, Wing, and Blood.

This is a sequel to the first three books in The Unfinished Song series.

Other Formats: Paperback

STRAT (a military science fiction novel) Jun 3, 2013

by Tara Maya

( 12 )

$4.92

In the tradition of Starship Troopers, Forever War, and Live Free or Die.

ABOUT THE BOOK

On a hell-class world where feudal lords joust with mechs and use memetic tech to imprint loyalty onto their vassals and thralls, all Charlie and his people ask is to be left alone, free to think for themselves.

Then, on his wedding day, Charlie's bride is kidnapped to be a thrall. As he fights for his life and her freedom, he discovers the war helm of an ancient and powerful lord. He needs the knowledge in the helm to bring the battle to his enemies. But if he uses it, he risks losing himself... and becoming embroiled in a war that will soon span the galaxy.

EXCERPT

Thirteen helmed Lords escorted me out to the center of the caldera: twelve lords from the legation, and Lord Ivess.

I knew Domany was right. They were unlikely to keep their word; but if there was even a chance I could save Sard from obliteration, I had to try.

We passed the frozen corpse of the woman who had taken her father’s helm and avenged her family during the jousts. All anyone had cared about her act of courage was that she had violated a stifling thousand-year-old code of law. Now I was to share her fate, for the same reason.

The legation offered Lord Ivess the honor of removing the faceplate and breather. My hands were chained behind my back. They forced me to kneel in the sulfur snow.

He leaned close to me, although he did not need to be close to whisper to me over the link.

“You stole my daughter from me, and that embarrassed me,” he hissed. “I will enjoy your death greatly. I’m not going to take off your breather, though. A quick death would be too easy. I’m going to remove everything but your breather. I’m going to let you die slowly, and as you die, you can watch Tears-of-Gold die too.” He laughed. “Did you really think we would spare Sard after you contaminated it with your thralls who think they can be lords?”

“No,” I said. “I expected you to lack all honor, having fought you before.”

He kicked me face forward onto the ground. My jaw smashed painfully against my breather. He grabbed the back of my kit and jerked me back up to my knees.

“Then why did you surrender yourself to us? That was stupid.”

“I’m a Fredder,” I said. “I guess stupid is just a bad habit.”

The other lords stood in a semi-circle around us, a few meters away. They watched impassively as Ivess dismantled my kit piece by piece, until he ripped away the last underlayer, and left me naked in the bitterly frozen acid. As he’d promised, Ivess left on my helm, the cursed Helm of Brin, trailing tubes to my discarded, but functional, air pack, so I could still breath.

It felt as though I had been dipped into fire. My skin sizzled and buckled. Every inch of my body below my neck came alive with pain, raw unbearable pain. I screamed inside my mask. Through my tears, I could see a huge army of mechs, the combined cavalcades of the lords of the “peace legation,” advance toward Tears-of-Gold. They weren’t going to just let it die of neglect, they were going to blast it straight to hell themselves.

82,000 words, around 275 pages, plus a glossary and appendices
DRM is not enabled
Advisory: Strong language

Other books by Tara Maya:
The Unfinished Song Series (Epic Fantasy)
Conmergence (SF&F Short Story Collection)

Other Formats: Hardcover , Paperback

Death and the Detective: An Arcana Glen Paranormal Romance - Major Arcana Series - Book 7 (The Arcana Glen Major Arcana Series) Jul 1, 2022

by Tara Maya

$4.99

Miles Malone died last night.

No one is more surprised than he is when he crawls out of a dumpster this morning, the blast hole in his chest magically healed.

Weird.

He doesn’t believe in magic, though he has no other explanation. The Magician might have more information, but he’ll only share if Miles agrees to do something for him in return... but Miles doesn’t trust the eccentric billionaire who seems to think magic is real.

Meanwhile, Miles has a job to do. He’s a private investigator, and a woman has come to him figure out the mystery of why healthy young men are dying at a local veteran’s hospital.

Miles is afraid it might have something to do with the beautiful woman he invited on a date for the Fourth of July picnic. A nurse that patients call the Angel of Death...

Welcome to Arcana Glen, a magical town hidden in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado....

Here arcanes of all types are free to be themselves... Elves, Witches, Shifters, Seraphs, Dragons and more.

But until the Twenty-Two Guardians are restored to power, the Elven War rages among the arcanes. What’s the solution?

True Love, of course!

Each book in the Arcana Glen Major Arcana Series has a new couple and a stand-alone Happily Ever After. However, the underlying mystery of who killed all the previous Guardians runs through the whole series and will be solved by clues that come together in the last book. If you enjoy the cozy mystery portion of the book, read the whole series in order.

The Shifter’s Best Friend at the Beach Wedding: An Arcana Glen Paranormal Holiday Novella (The Arcana Glen Holiday Novella Series Book 6) Jun 1, 2022

by Tara Maya

$2.99

Her Best Friend is...
When a scandal destroyed Marla’s family, Devon was the only one who stood by her.

He’s good, he’s solid, and he’s been her best friend since they were both kids. But...

Now her best friend has grown up to be a gorgeous, smoking hot man...

...and Marla can’t help but notice.

Devon could have any woman he wants... and that’s fine... perfectly fine...

All she wants is for him to be happy.

So why does the thought of him with another woman tear her up inside?
...His Secret Crush
Devon has secretly loved Marla since High School, but there’s one big problem.

He’s from an ancient Shifter Clan... and she’s from an old-fashioned family of humans who either don’t believe Shifters are real, or think they are monsters who should be chased away with pitchforks and torches.

Since he can never have the woman he loves, it’s better to just stay friends.

Right?

Forced to Share a Room at a Destination Wedding...
When Marla and Devon are forced to share a room as guests at a romantic beach destination wedding, are these best friends fated to become lovers?

A Childhood Friends to Lovers Romance with a Paranormal Shifter twist.

A Vampire Carol (Paranormal Christmas Novella) Nov 28, 2013

by Tara Maya

( 5 )

$0.99

Alex became a vampire at an office party the night before Christmas Eve... and in his blood haze, killed his best friend's brother.

And then his best friend took a revenge so terrible it could break even a vampire's bloodless heart.

Now it's all out war... between rival vampire clans, and between the vampires and their enemies, the werewolves. Alex and the man he once called friends are now bitter foes.

Can there ever be forgiveness between monsters?

PLEASE NOTE: This is a short novella. 12,000 words or about 25 pages long.

This title and over 1 million more available with Kindle Unlimited.

A Vampire Carol and Other Christmas Tales: Magical Holiday Stories Dec 17, 2012

by Tara Maya

( 5 )

$2.99

This is a collection of ten stories--one novelette, one short and eight very short stories, plus a bonus story which is an excerpt from a larger work. Dragons, angels, vampires and elves.... They have one thing in common, the magic and the miracle of Christmas.

From The Dragon and the Angel

“I am actually an angel,” she told them all. She spoke grandly, feeling very important and grown-up, like a real angel. Maybe even an archangel! “And your kindness to me has made it possible for me to give you a treasure, a miracle…”
But nothing happened.
The little angel blushed as pink as a rose. How embarrassed she was to have failed to give a miracle to the kind villagers! Her hosts looked at her curiously.
“What is that child up to?” Fredegund asked Thilderbert.

From The Christmas Palm

“I hope I will be decorated in gold!” said Cedar.
“I hope I will be decorated in silver!” said Fir.
“I hope I will be decorated in red and green!” said Pine.
“I don't care how I'm decorated,” said a voice from far above all the rest, “as long as I can be a Christmas tree.”

From The Captive

Mr. Vorst stomped over to the picnic table. He snatched the toy from Benjamin’s hands.
“Please, Mr. Vorst, it’s not done yet…”
“Another stupid car, cheap plastic, rubber and paint…. I could buy one ten times better at the store. You keep promising me magic, elf. I want magic!”
“Soon, Mr. Vorst, soon! I told you, my magic is strongest on Christmas Day!”

From A Measure of Rice (Inspired by a true story.)

Mrs. Kwon stared at the small amount of food and despaired.
Better at least one of us survive.
As soon as her husband left the room, Mrs. Kwon took one measure of rice from her bowl and added it to her husband’s bowl.

From A Vampire Carol

His thirst had not been quenched. If anything, it was stronger than before. He sensed that the more he drank, the stronger his thirst would become, and also the more powerful he would become. Part of him yearned for that power. Part of him screamed inside.
He rummaged inside his suit jacket, which he still wore from the night of the Christmas office party. The picture was still there, Bradley sitting in front of the tree. Alex stared into those blue eyes. Then he noticed that his thumb left a bloody print on Bradley’s knee. Alex’s hands, his chin, his neck, his shirt, were covered in Gary’s blood. He had more of Gary’s blood on him than Gary had left in him. Alex’s hand shook so hard he dropped the photo.
I can’t go home, he realized. Ever.

Other Formats: Paperback

This title and over 1 million more available with Kindle Unlimited.

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