Elmer Kelton’s The Familiar Stranger Blitz

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A Hewey Calloway Adventure, Book 5

Western Adventure

Date Published: 12-03-2024

Publisher: Forge Books

 

Elmer Kelton’s Hewey Calloway, one of the best-loved cowboys in all
of Western fiction, returns in this novel of his middling years, as he looks
for work―but not too much work―in 1904 West Texas.Hewey Calloway had
intended to pass straight through Durango, Colorado, en route to visit a
friend several miles northeast of the city. He had left his home range about
a year before, with a herd of young horses. It was supposed to be a
relatively straightforward affair; deliver the horses, collect the payment,
and return home with the money. Things got out of hand, however, and there
he was in Durango a year later with plans to go north rather than south. Oh,
well, he thought, he had always wanted to see new country.

It isn’t long before his travels lead him to a cabin on a rainy night.
There he meets a young man, sick as a dog, who weakly tries to send him off.
And for good reason: the man has smallpox, and soon enough, Hewey catches
the deadly disease. The man cares for him in turn, and it’s just as he is
feeling better that the man disappears. The next morning a Pinkerton
detective turns up with posse, looking for a wanted bank robber.

As he travels north, Hewey seems to run in with both the young man who
tended to him, as well as the detective. But something seems off about the
Pinkerton detective, and Hewey keeps his mouth shut. When he reuinites with
his friend Hanley, they do everything they can to get to the bottom of the
mystery that threatens both theirs and this young man’s life.

About the Author

John Bradshaw

John Bradshaw is a native of the small town of Abernathy, Texas. He is an
award-winning journalist with well over a thousand published stories. Elmer
Kelton’s The Familiar Stranger, co-authored with Steve Kelton, is his
first book.

Bradshaw attended South Plains College followed by Texas Tech University.
He spent several years shoeing horses for a living as his writing career
progressed.

While the desire to write books was always there, Bradshaw first pursued a
career in journalism. He wrote numerous stories for ranching, horse and
horseshoeing magazines.

Growing up, Livestock Weekly came in the mail once a week, as it does for
most in the livestock industry. Writing for Livestock Weekly was always a
goal, and in 2005 Bradshaw’s first story was published. It was a
profile of Brownie Metzgar, a humorous cowboy still working in a feedlot
while in his late 80s.

In 2007 Bradshaw accepted a fulltime position with Livestock Weekly. While
with the paper he had over a thousand stories published, as well as enough
market reports to give him permanent nightmares.

Horses have always played an important role in his life. The son of a
horseshoer, he has spent a significant amount of time either on or under a
horse. He still shows in both ranch horse and reined cow horse
competitions.

He and his wife, Sara, live outside Abernathy. Sara owns an architecture
firm, SK Architecture Group, and they raise Spanish goats, hair sheep and
cattle.

In 2013 the couple had a stillborn son, Fox Joaquin Bradshaw. After several
years of heartbreak they adopted an infant boy, whom they named Julian Boone
Bradshaw. Boone died in his dad’s arms following an accident at the
barn five days before his sixth birthday.

 

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Fate of the Storm Blitz

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Demon Storm, Book Eight

Young Adult Fantasy

Date Published: 05-13-2025

Publisher: Shadow Spark Publishing

 

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The shadows have retreated with Raven’s downfall, but darkness still curls
at the edges of the world. For a moment, though, Kari and Ari have a moment
of peace. There is a glimmer of light that threatens to wash away the
darkness as they finally bind their fates together in a formal
ceremony.

But Raven hasn’t given up, and there’s an older, crueler foe who hasn’t
forgotten Kari – the Lord of Demons, the very one who crafted the Catalyst
which Raven sought to control, still trapped in an ancient Tree.

Kari’s moment of joy comes to a halt as the world shakes and Taris is
ripped apart.

Velthas has risen.

 

 

 

About the Author

Valerie Storm
Valerie Storm was raised in Tucson, Arizona. Growing up, she fell in love
with everything fantasy. When she wasn’t playing video games, she was
writing. By age ten, she began to write her own stories as a way to escape
reality. When these stories became a full-length series, she considered the
path to sharing with other children & children-at/heart looking for a
place to call home.

 

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BEING Blitz

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Guidance in How to BE rather than how to DO

Self-change, Self-empowerment, New Thinking, Communications Skills,
Change Management, Conscious Living

Date Published: 5/15/2025

Publisher: Serapis Bey, Arizona, USA

 

 

In this age of ‘busy-ness’, stress, anxiety and the constant
feeling of having to do, this book will help you to remember that we are
human BEings and not human DOings.

You will find perspective, and guidance to be, and all the ways that being
can enrich your life and bring calm and peace. This book will help you to
quieten your mind and live according to your most important ways of being.
It is full of personal anecdotes and real-life experiences to give you
practical help to be. There are uplifting affirmations and life lessons to
support you as you find your way to being and no longer feel compelled to be
doing. You can find your raison d’etre through the guidance contained in
every chapter.

About the Author

Alicia Sedgwick
Alicia Sedgwick is an English professional corporate trainer, communication
coach, international bestselling author, speaker and Master of Ceremonies
based in the Principality of Monaco, with an extensive background in the
entertainment and events industry.

She has been featured in international webinars, podcasts, blogs and
e-zines from India to Australia, and from the US to Vietnam. Her
communication and confidence-building training clients, include corporate
CEOs, non-profit associations, foundations and educational institutions. Her
private training initiatives range from providing communication skills to
international refugees from war zones and countries in conflict, to coaching
seasoned executives in confrontational situations before key shareholder
groups.

Her first book Communicating Through Change (2021) has been described as
‘life-changing’ and shows readers how to communicate through
major changes in their lives. It is packed with real-life stories, practical
exercises, insightful tips and uplifting affirmations. Addressing relevant
challenges, which everyone meets at one time in their life, this book gives
hope, resilience and clarity about how to move forward.

Alicia is known globally as The Communication Coach and Expert and leads
Team Alicia to help people to cope with and share their experiences of
change, as well as to learn how to express themselves with confidence and
power. Alicia has been through many unexpected and traumatic changes in her
life, which she shares in her first book in intimate detail, to help people
know that they are not alone and there are ways to embrace change and
thrive.

She delivers training about soft skills development and communication
skills for numerous private companies and non-profits. She has created
public speaking and communication curriculum for the International
University of Monaco and also teaches undergraduate and Masters level
students. She designs and executes public speaking training courses for the
International School of Monaco, and she oversees their annual TEDx Youth
Event.

Alicia has moderated international press conferences at the Olympics,
hosted three TEDx conferences, and managed red carpets for the Laureus World
Sports Awards. She has managed Talent Relations for the BBC Chelsea Flower
Show in London, and in the “Green Room” of the World Music
Awards.

A London city-trained lawyer, Alicia has worked as a professional mediator,
specialised in conflict management. She was also co-founder and managing
director of Absolutely Monte Carlo, an Event Management company, and Monte
Carlo Media Inc. A professional blues singer and stage performer for more
than 25 years, Alicia has hosted her own Internet TV Show and international
Radio Show. She has a very high level of energy and is caring, motivating
and inspiring.

 

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The Dark Side Blitz

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LGBTQ+, BDSM, Paranormal Romance

Date Published: May 16, 2025

 

 

Welcome to The Dark Side, where the line between love and lust blurs with
dangerous passions.

The Dark One by Angela Knight

Matia of Ruza is one of the legendary Battlemaids — a woman warrior who
has taken an oath of celibacy in service of the Maid of Light. Kaska intends
to make Matia the centerpiece in a sizzling erotic ritual in honor of his
god.

Chain of Thorns by Will Okati

Riven finds himself trapped and enslaved by a powerfully seductive alien.
Where is the line between fantasy and reality — slavery and love?

BloodWolf by Sierra Dafoe

Centuries ago an ancient evil turned Baudouin Delacor into a beast for
which there had never before been a name — the BloodWolf. Delacor has only
one hope left: that by destroying the succubus, he can free himself of its
curse.

 

The Dark Side paperback

 

EXCERPT

Excerpt from The Dark One (Angela Knight)

 

Kaska of Artane slowed his stallion to an easy amble. Prince Britar’s
fortress lay a full day away, and he’d ridden poor Warbringer hard this past
month. He knew the Prince awaited the intelligence he’d gathered as a spy in
neighboring Trovan but laming his horse would serve no purpose.

Particularly with war on the horizon.

Besides, the last time Kaska had come this way, he’d had to battle the
local brigands. Two fell to his blade before the rest fled, but that left
five. And they might be in the mood for revenge. I don’t care to ride
headlong into an ambush.

“Whoreson bastards!” A woman’s roar of fury brought Kaska’s head
up. He drew Warbringer to a prancing halt.

Swords clashed, interspaced with male taunts and laughter. The laughter had
a distinctly ugly note. The woman swore again, an edge of grim desperation
in her voice.

The thieves had found a new victim.

Kaska set his heels to Warbringer’s flanks and thundered up the road toward
the sound. Rounding the bend, he saw five men fighting a lone female
traveler they’d managed to unhorse. He recognized the dented, rusted armor
and unshaven faces; it was indeed the same band of thieves.

But their victim was no common woman. Her armor and sword marked her as a
follower of the Maid of Light — a female warrior. She was tall for a woman,
with a lithe, muscular build and pretty breasts barely contained by her
intricately embossed breastplate. Long black hair swirled around her face as
she spun and hacked at her tormentors with a slim sword designed for a
woman’s hand.

One of the brigands already lay dead at her feet, but four others remained,
odds too great even for one of the legendary Battlemaids.

A grin of sheer, savage joy spread across Kaska’s face. With a howl, he
drew the blade sheathed across his back and kicked Warbringer into a
thundering charge.

The nearest of the brigands whirled too late. Kaska took his head with a
single stroke.

Another of the men jumped at him, hacking for his thigh with an axe, but
Kaska spun Warbringer aside and thrust his blade into the thief’s chest. The
man tumbled off the lethal point, gurgling out his life.

Meanwhile, the third brigand fell to the Battlemaid’s sword. His head
tumbled from his shoulders.

The fourth man looked from Kaska to the thieves’ would-be victim,
calculated the odds, and took to his heels.

Kaska snatched a dagger from his thigh sheath and hurled it at the coward
with an expert flip of his wrist. The man went down, the blade buried to the
hilt between his shoulder blades.

Scarcely breathing hard, Kaska turned to the maid. “Are you
well?”

“Well enough.” She studied him, her dark eyes level. There was a
sharp and elegant beauty to her face, with its broad, high cheekbones and
square little chin. Her lush mouth could inspire a monk to carnal
fantasies.

“My thanks, warrior,” she said at last in a low, husky voice,
pushing the long black hair out of her face. “There were too many of
them for me to best alone.” She considered him, appraising the width of
his chest and the strength of his sword arm. Female appreciation lit her
gaze, mixed with a warrior’s caution.

She had reason for that caution, for he meant to challenge her himself. He
worshiped the Dark One, and his god relished nothing as much as the moans of
a defeated Battlemaid.

Imagining the tight grip of her virgin ass, Kaska felt his cock swell
behind his loincloth.

Give her time to rest, and then…

Of course, the maid might well kill him instead, but looking at her long
legs and full, sweet breasts, Kaska thought it a chance well worth
taking.

But as he opened his mouth to warn her of his intent, all color left the
Battlemaid’s face. Her eyes rolled up. Kaska threw himself from Warbringer’s
back as she collapsed in a heap.

Two long strides carried him to the maid’s side. Dropping to one knee on
the dusty road, Kaska began an anxious examination. He found no wounds on
the front of her body, so he rolled her onto her back.

The maid groaned and lifted her head. “Wha –?”

“Seems one of your cur attackers landed a blow after all,” he
told her grimly. “There’s a stab wound in your back just under your
backplate, over your left hip.”

“Aye,” she said, letting her head fall. “One of them had a
dagger.”

“‘Tis not deep, but it bleeds still,” Kaska said. “I can
treat it, if you permit.”

“Aye,” the maid said, breathing now in shallow pants. “My
thanks.”

Kaska nodded and rose to retrieve his pack of battlefield medicines from
Warbringer. Well, he thought as he walked to his horse, I won’t be
challenging her any time soon. Not with that wound.

Later, perhaps. When he’d examined her, he’d noticed she had a truly
delicious ass.

He wanted it.

 

About the Authors

 

Angela Knight:

New York Times best-selling author Angela Knight has written and published
more than sixty novels, novellas, and ebooks, including the Mageverse and
Merlin’s Legacy series. With a career spanning more than two decades,
Romantic Times Bookclub Magazine has awarded her their Career Achievement
award in Paranormal Romance, as well as two Reviewers’ Choice awards
for Best Erotic Romance and Best Werewolf Romance.

Sierra Dafoe:

An award-winning author who received three CAPA nominations in her first
year of publishing, Sierra Dafoe has gone on to receive numerous awards and
recommended reads for her work. Check her website for free stories, a link
to her readers’ group, sneak peeks, and all her latest news. Sign up for her
newsletter to be entered in her monthly contest, and reach out through the
“contact” page — she loves hearing from her readers!

Will Okati:

Will Okati (formerly known as Willa) has lived through a few Interesting
Times, but come out the other side a little grayer, a little wiser, and
ready to get writing. Still as passionate about coffee, cats, and crafts as
ever, but knowing that to your own self you must be true. Also still one of
the quiet ones to watch out for, but life — like storytelling — is always
a work in progress.

Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok:
@changelingpress

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HAWK Blitz

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(Kiss of Death MC 3)

Motorcycle Club Romance

Date Published: May 16, 2025

 

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May God have mercy on Carrie’s enemies, because I have none.

Carrie — When I stumble out of the fog into a motorcycle club compound,
the guys seem more freaked out over my name (something about an old movie?)
than the fact that I’m covered in blood and asking for a jug of
sulfuric acid. Not my best moment. Then Hawk steps in. His smile and the
careful way he takes care of me steal my heart. I’m asking for
heartache, but my whole life has been nothing but pain and disappointment.
Just this once, I want to take control, take what I want. And I want Hawk.
No matter what happens when my family finds me.

Hawk — I knew Carrie was trouble the second I laid eyes on her. Of course,
she was covered in blood, so, easy call. What I didn’t count on is how
completely and quickly I fell under her spell. I might not be ready to admit
it, but my brothers know and plan accordingly. Carrie is mine. Even though
she’s proven she can take care of herself, whatever trouble she has
coming for her will have to go through me.

Warning: Graphic violence and adult content which may be triggers for some
readers. As always, there is a happily ever after with no cheating.

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Excerpt

Copyright ©2025 Marteeka Karland

 

The family reunion continued. Unfortunately, the women weren’t here.
“Unfortunately” because I really wanted to see some fireworks
tonight. Probably just as well because that feeling I had before was
becoming an itch between my shoulder blades I couldn’t ignore.

I stood, acknowledging my brothers as I passed them on the way to the door.
I stepped outside and took a deep breath. It was barely summer and already
the air was humid and thick with moisture. I welcomed it, though. Inside our
little corner of the city we’d created a haven of sorts. One whole
city block in the center we turned into a small forest. In the center of
that, was a park of sorts where we had a couple of vegetable gardens and
several flowerbeds. Wasn’t a very “biker” thing to do, but
it was peaceful. At one time or another, after getting out of prison, we all
needed the relative quiet and solitude.

“What’s goin’ on, Hawk?” I looked over my shoulder
to find Chains. He’d been my cellie for a while, and after I’d
gotten out, he found me and brought me to Kiss of Death. We’d helped
clean out the trash in the club when they’d picked a fight with the
wrong club.

“Don’t know. Somethin’.”

Chains nodded as he stepped beside me. He leaned against the rail in front
of the main clubhouse. Crumbled concrete, gravel, and dirt lined the paths
that made up the “roads” in our territory. It looked exactly
like what it was. A prison of our own making. Only this one was to keep the
rest of the world away from us instead of the other way around.

“You got that feelin’ again?” Chains lit a cigarette, the
flare of his lighter briefly illuminating the hard planes of his face.
He’d been with me long enough to recognize when my instincts kicked
in.

I nodded, scanning the perimeter of our compound. “Yeah. Like
somethin’s comin’ our way.”

“Something or someone?”

“Fuck if I know.” I rubbed the back of my neck, trying to shake
the sensation. My instincts had saved my ass more times than I could count,
both on the inside and out. When they started screaming like this, shit was
about to go down.

We stood in silence for a few minutes, Chains smoking and me just watching
the night. Our guard posts on top of each building were manned. Security
lights flooding lights flooding the area close to our fencing provided a
little extra protection for the buildings around us. If nothing else, the
extra lighting made it easier for their own security cameras to get good
imaging of whomever was trying to rip them off.

The sound of laughter and music drifting from the clubhouse behind us
usually filled me with contentment. Tonight, it was an irritation. I needed
to hear the night around me, to get an idea what was about to hit us.

I ducked under the railing and walked down the gravel path, not sure where
I was going but needing to get away from the noise and light. Though the
area around our compound was well lit, the interior was dark except for
inside the various buildings. The paths between buildings and everything
other than the center garden were covered in camo netting. We were as
protected as we could be here. So why were my instincts screaming at me? The
feeling got worse with each passing moment.

“Hawk?” Chains fell into step beside me, his gaze sweeping the
area above the fence line. “You see somethin’?”

I didn’t answer. Wasn’t sure I could because with every second
ticking by, my anxiety increased. It wasn’t late, but the high
humidity and milder temperatures made the fog coming off the Cumberland
River roll in thick as pea soup. Every breath in was heavy and wet, the
water vapor tickling my nose. The security lights reflected back, making
visibility very far outside our walls nearly impossible.

The moment I saw the small figure emerge from the thick mist, it felt like
all the hair stood up on my body. It was definitely a woman, but there was
something off about her. I took a step forward. Then another. I was stopped
when Chains grabbed my arm.

“Easy, brother. That’s creepy as fuck and I don’t
fuckin’ know…” He trailed off. Which is when I got my
first good look at the woman, courtesy of the flood lights as she came
closer. No mistaking she was heading straight for us with a purposeful
stride. “Why’s she covered in mud?”

“Don’t think that’s mud, Hawk.” Chains puffed his
chest out and called out to the would-be intruder. “Stop there, little
miss. Private property and all that.”

She stopped directly in one spotlight so there was no mistaking her
appearance and physical state. “That your blood?” Private
property or not, need for secrecy and privacy or not, I absolutely would not
deny a woman help who’d lost that much blood.

“What?” She had a confused look on her face, then looked down
at herself. “Oh! That. Nah, not my blood. I’m good.” She
gave me a bright smile and a big thumbs up. “But I’m kind of in
a bit of a bind?” She actually looked like she was genuinely sorry to
take up our time. Like she wasn’t covered in blood looking like
something out of a horror movie.

I glanced over at Chains. His fists were clenched at his side, his eyes
wide. Guy was superstitious as fuck, but I’d never seen him like this.
Looking back to the woman, I started to answer when a light flashed over her
blood-splattered face and I had to fight off a shudder. Never show weakness.
It was a mantra that had served me well. Yet, here I was about to piss
myself because of one tiny woman with a little blood on her. OK, so a lot of
blood, but how did I know it was even blood? Might be fake blood. Might be
animal blood, which was disturbing in itself. Maybe it was mud after all,
and the lighting and mist were distorting the colors.

“Yeah, small bind.” She winced and held her thumb and finger an
inch apart. “Very small. Almost nonexistent, except it’s
not.” Her expression fell slightly. “Um, anyway. I gave the guys
every chance to walk away. I swear.” Her eyes were almost comically
wide. Like she was a kid trying to talk her parents out of a punishment for
something she’d done.

“Gave who a chance to walk away?” The question tumbled from my
lips without my consent. I didn’t need to know. Didn’t want to
know. The less I knew the better. Ex-con and all. I saw Chains out of the
corner of my eye. He gave me a sharp look, but didn’t say anything,
either unwilling to show division or to stop the carnage he knew would
follow. Yeah. We were sick bastards like that.

“Oh, the guys I stabbed.” She gave a slight, nervous laugh.
“I wouldn’t have hurt either of them if one of them hadn’t
pulled the knife after I broke the other guy’s leg. And I
wouldn’t have broken his leg if he hadn’t tried to hit
me.”

“Tried to hit you.” Could I sound any more stupid?

“Yeah. They were trying to rob me and I took exception.”

 

About the Author

Marteeka Karland is an international bestselling author who leads a double
life as an erotic romance author by evening and a semi-domesticated
housewife by day. Known for her down and dirty MC romances, Marteeka takes
pleasure in spinning tales of tenacious, protective heroes and spirited,
vulnerable heroines. She staunchly advocates that every character deserves a
blissful ending, even, sometimes, the villains in her narratives. Her
writings are speckled with intense, raw elements resulting in page-turning
delight entwined with seductive escapades leading up to gratifying
conclusions that elicit a sigh from her readers.

Away from the pen, Marteeka finds joy in baking and supporting her husband
with their gardening activities. The late summer season is set aside for
preserving the delightful harvest that springs from their combined efforts
(which is mostly his efforts, but you can count it). To stay updated with
Marteeka’s latest adventures and forthcoming books, make sure to visit her
website. Don’t forget to register for her newsletter which will pepper you
with a potpourri of Teeka’s beloved recipes, book suggestions, autograph
events, and a plethora of interesting tidbits.

Author Contact Links

Author on Instagram & TikTok: @marteekakarland

Author on Facebook

Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok:
@changelingpress

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