Category Archives: Dayle A. Dermatis

Have some music with your ghosts

By Dayle A. Dermatis, Fantasy/SF, Novels, Soul's Road Press, , , ,

I don’t make playlists for all my novels. Some just don’t seem to need them. Or I just find myself wanting to listen to one song, which gets me in the mood for a particular novel or story.

Other novels demand them. Once while listening to Florence + the Machine’s Ceremonials, I thought, Woah, this song perfectly fits that gothic I’m planning to write! Wait, this one does too. And this one! In the end, I realized the album is the soundtrack to the novel (along with some Welsh music and a few other songs). (That novel, With Soft Whispers Laden, is on the To Do list, but not before Shaded and Spectered, the next two Nikki Ashburn books.)

But I’m here to talk about music and Ghosted.

Ghosted is set in Hollywood and nearby environs, an area saturated in music throughout its history. Recording studios, concert venues, the sunset over the gleaming blue Pacific providing inspiration…. So the playlist for the novel is full of California songs, as well as ghost songs and…well, just check it out. Maybe listen to some of the songs while you’re reading the book?

And if Ghosted makes you think of any other songs, let me know!

Ghosted Playlist

California Dreamin’ – Shaw/Blades
Caroline – Concrete Blonde
Celluloid Heroes – Blackmore’s Night
City of the Angels – Gowan
Come To Be My Friend – Shaw/Blades
Estonia – Marillion
Free Fallin’ – Tom Petty
Going to California – Led Zeppelin
Haunted – Evanescence
Hello (Turn Your Radio On) – Shakespear’s Sister
Lonely in Your Nightmare – Duran Duran
Nothing Compares 2 U – Sinéad O’Connor
Our Farewell – Within Temptation
Relax – Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Road to Dead – Paula Cole
Say Hello, Wave Goodbye – Soft Cell
The Smile Has Left Your Eyes – Asia
Stay – Shakespear’s Sister
Ventura Highway – America
Walking on Broken Glass – Annie Lennox
Watching You Without Me – Kate Bush
Welcome to the Jungle – Guns N’ Roses
Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses – U2
Why – Annie Lennox

And a reminder: if you’ve been waffling about getting the Sorcery & Steam bundle containing Ghosted and nine more fantasy books by amazing women writers, the offer is ending very soon. Help our project go out with a bang, and while you’re at it, help support our charity, AbleGamers.

Click here for more info!

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Sorcery, steampunk, ghosts, and magic

By Bundle, Dayle A. Dermatis, Fantasy/SF, Novels, Soul's Road Press

My new urban fantasy novel Ghosted is not yet available in stores, but it is available in this amazing bundle! I’m overwhelmed to be included in a bundle with these incredible authors.

Here’s the deal: You pay how much you want for the first four books. If you pay $15 or more, you get a bonus of six more books, including mine. That’s a steal.

You can also choose how much goes to the authors and how much to a wonderful charity, AbleGamers.

From Curator Kristine Kathryn Rusch

Sorcery. Steam. Ghosts. A touch of romance. Mythic creatures. Some truly violent bad guys. And one little black cat.

We have everything in this bundle that a fantasy reader could want.

Including magic.

We have magic in all forms, from the magic that gods use when they come to Earth to magic that a familiar inspires when she helps a man with limited ability keep his spells fresh. We have vampires and werewolves. We have parasols and tea and lovely chocolates. We have FBI agents facing killers and assassins who can kill with a blink.

A fantastic story for every mood, and steampunk. Not enough to call this a steampunk bundle, but enough that we could add “steam” to our subtitle. (We can also add “steam” for another reason. One or two of these books have steamy scenes, that have nothing to do with engines and everything to do with heat between humans.)

We also have new releases in this bundle. Usually writers contribute the first books in a series or a book that fits the theme but has been published for a long time. Four writers—Dayle A. Dermatis, Catherine Banks, Michelle Fox, and me—decided to put their most recent book in the bundle. In fact, Catherine and Michelle have contributed books exclusive to StoryBundle. You can’t get those books anywhere else!

(Note: This bundle offer ends on March 15, so you have a limited time to grab it.)

The Books and Authors

  • Alchemy and Steam (anthology)
  • Blood and Magic, Ann Gimpel
  • Poison or Protect, Gail Carriger
  • Familiarity, Kristine Kathryn Rusch
  • Rare Stakes, Michelle Fox
  • For Love or Vengeance, Caridad Pineiro
  • Ghosted, Dayle A. Dermatis
  • Specters in the Storm, Pauline Baird Jones
  • Valkyrie’s Vengeance & Hunger Moon (Ragnarok: Doom of the Gods 1-2), Melissa Snark
  • Alys of Asgard, Catherine Banks

How do you get your mitts on all these ebooks. Click right here to go directly to the bundle’s page!

About Ghosted

After former party girl Nikki Ashburne accidentally overdoses and briefly died, she wakes up able to see ghosts.

A good thing, because she lost all her other friends in the process. Now she runs ghosts tours of Los Angeles with her spirit-friends’ help.

So when someone starts exorcising the ghosts of Hollywood, Nikki scrambles to find the perpetrator before her livelihood—and her only friends—vanish forever.

Come for the ghosts. Stay for the snark.

Just keep your mitts off Nikki’s friends.

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Let’s take a ghostly Ghosted tour!

By Dayle A. Dermatis, Fantasy/SF, Novels, Soul's Road Press

I thought it would be fun to pull together some information about a few of the locations in Ghosted. Enjoy!

Views of tombs in Hollywood Memorial Park in Los Angeles.

Hollywood Forever Cemetery

I love old cemeteries, and even though the Hollywood Forever isn’t the moss-encroached, ancient graveyards of Britain (where I’ve spent much happy times wandering about), it’s got a rich history and is wonderfully quirky. Not to mention being one of the most iconic cemeteries in the world, with a star-studded cast of permanent residents.

I mean, I’m writing a series about a woman who sees ghosts, and where are ghosts but at a cemetery? Except, maybe not in the way you think. Aaron Schwabach, for example. He’s not nearly famous enough to be buried there…

Los Altos Hotel

Fans of Buffy and Angel will recognize this as Angel’s Hyperion Hotel, which was featured in many episodes. I’ve never been inside (it’s an apartment building now), but there’s a wonderful courtyard just outside the front door, with a rectangular fountain that’s featured in the book.

Built in 1925, it was the home to many famous people of the time. It fell into disrepair, then was revived in the 1980s. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. A place with a history like that just has to be haunted, doesn’t it? With ghosts from various decades? That’s why it became my model for the Ballington Hotel in Ghosted.

Roosevelt Hotel

The Roosevelt Hotel is one of the surviving Art Deco hotels in Los Angeles, and although it’s not much to look at from the outside, the interior is gorgeous, especially the Spanish Colonial-style lobby. I’ve attended a couple of shows in the Cinegrill bar, where part of The Fabulous Baker Boys was filmed. You know, that scene with Michelle Pfeiffer on the piano.

Allegedly, the ghost of Marilyn Monroe haunts the Roosevelt. Or is it Marilyn…? You’ll have to read Ghosted to find out what my answer is.

Santa Monica Pier

When I lived in Southern California, the best route to LAX from home was down PCH—Pacific Coast Highway, aka Highway 1. It’s an amazingly gorgeous drive, and one I’ve spotted in commercials and TV shows. Once, was delayed because they were filming something along the stretch near Mugu Rock in Ventura County. Speaking of Mugu Rock, I can’t remember which Iron Man movie it was in, but Tony Stark leaves his mansion in Malibu intending to head into LA, and then we see him blasting north past Mugu Rock. I fell out of my seat in the theater laughing. Um, no…that’s a hell of a useless detour!

Anyway. Driving to LAX, it was always a thrill to see the Santa Monica Pier, which has been featured in movies, TV shows, music videos…. In Ghosted, Nikki rides the iconic roller coaster. Ever wonder why there’s always one seat nobody sits in? Nikki knows.

I lived in Southern California for about 20 years, and other sites in Ghosted (and Nikki short stories, and future books) are ones I’ve visited, wandered about in, and experienced. If you have questions about other places in the book, let me know!

Aaaand remember, if you haven’t picked up the Sorcery & Steam bundle that contains Ghosted, it’s around only until March 15. $15 for 10 books, including two exclusive to the bundle. I’m overwhelmed to be in the company of these authors!

(Photo sources: Hollywood Forever, © Alessandro Campagnolo | Bigstock; Los Altos Hotel, Wikimedia Commons; Roosevelt Hotel, Jason Chang via Wikimedia Commons; Santa Monica Pier, Evasion Photography via Wikimedia Commons)

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Uncollected Anthology: Heart’s Desires

By Dayle A. Dermatis, Fantasy/SF, Short Stories, Soul's Road Press, Uncollected Anthology

Heart’s Desires, the latest issue of Uncollected Anthology, is available now!

Discover how a vampire learns to love baseball, how a heart transplant starts some odd conversations, the perils of an ill-fated love spell, finding the perfect footwear, and learning to control awakening power.

Explore your heart’s desire.

Stake Me Out to the Ball Game – Guest Author Mindy Klasky
The Perfect Shoes – Leah R. Cutter
Heart Talk – Rebecca M. Senese
Love Flu – Dayle A. Dermatis
Real Girl – Leslie Claire Walker

 

Here are the deets on my story, “Love Flu“:

Isa juggles being a nanny to tween Gretchen, studying for her MBA, and honing her magical cooking skills. Time for romance? Hah!

Then Gretchen casts an ill-advised love spell, and Isa’s world gets turned upside down.

In ways nobody—including Isa, Gretchen, and Gretchen’s divorced parents—expects.

Sounds like everybody’s going to be in need of Isa’s special hot fudge sauce…

Remember, you can sign up for the Uncollected Anthology newsletter and get the full story descriptions and links well before I get around to sending them!

Explore the universes between…

By Bundle, Dayle A. Dermatis, Novels, Romance, Soul's Road Press,

As I’ve said before (probably enough time that your eyes are starting to roll into the back of your head), I love portal fantasy. I love doorways, garden gates, secret passages, moss-covered stone steps curving away into the mist, you name it. I think it’s about the potential for magic. What special secret thing awaits, just out of sight? Come with me, take my hand and we’ll go find out…

I love portal fantasy so much that I’m editing a volume of it for Fiction River. I can’t say much until the contracts are signed, but the lineup of authors is stupendous! I’ve just figured out my own story—I just need to find the time to write it!

To keep me (and you) satisfied until then, check out the Universe Between bundle from Storybundle. If I wasn’t in this bundle, I’d be making grabby-hands at it. (I still made grabby hands at it. The bonus was that I got a free download for having a novel in the bundle. Mine!) Some of my favorite authors are in this bundle: Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Annie Reed, Leslie Claire Walker, T. Thorn Coyle… (I had the pleasure of copyediting both Leslie’s and Claire’s novels, so I can attest to their marvelousness.)

Here’s the deal: for $5, you get four novels, including mine. For $15, you get five more novels and an anthology of “between” stories. Plus, you can choose to give a portion of the money to an amazing charity, Able Gamers, which helps people with disabilities enjoy the imaginary worlds of video games.

My novel, What Beck’ning Ghost, is an atmospheric gothic romance.

For more information, and to purchase this bundle, visit Storybundle.

But do it soon…this will be available only for eight more days!

If you’d like to get this sort of information—and more!—directly in your In Box each month, you can sign up for my newsletter. Each issue has publication news about stories, collections, novels, and other fun stuff. BONUS: you get a free short story every month! What are you waiting for? Subscribe today!

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Thrilling…

By Bundle, Dayle A. Dermatis, Fiction River, Mystery/Thriller, Short Stories

A few years ago I wrote my first thriller story to submit to an anthology called Pulse Pounders, edited by Kevin J. Anderson. To my delight, he purchased the story. To my astonishment, Publisher’s Weekly called the story “a nail-biter,” and then I was gobsmacked when the story was shortlisted for The Year’s Best Crime & Mystery 2016.

Now the follow up volume, Pulse Pounders: Adrenaline, has come out, containing a new, but very different, thriller story by me. The first story was about a mother saving her child, present-day. The new story is set in space, near future, and there are more lives at stake. But it’s also a very personal journey for the heroine…

It’s a story I’ve had in mind for nearly 10 years, but finally felt I had the chops to write. I hope readers enjoy it. (And I hope it’s another nail-biter!)

Right now, the only way to get Pulse Pounders: Adrenaline is part of The Bump in the Night Thriller Bundle (curated by none other than Kevin J. Anderson himself), via Storybundle.

For $5, you get the following novels:

• Cold Hard Steele by Alex P. Berg
• The Demon in Business Class by Anthony Dobranski
• The Devil’s Churn by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
• Lady Sherlock – Circle of the Smiling Dead by Brooks Arthur Wachtel
• Prospero Lost by L. Jagi Lamplighter
• The Daredevil’s Club Artifact by Janet Berliner, F Paul Wilson, Kevin J. Anderson and Matthew Costello

For $15 or more, you get these, too!

• Grave Beginnings by R.R. Virdi
• The Deep Sunset by Dean Wesley Smith
• Unnatural Acts by Kevin J. Anderson
• Pulse Pounders: Adrenaline by Fiction River
• Into the Fire by Patrick Hester
• Living Dead Girl by Susan Sizemore
• Death Wind by Travis Heerman and Jim Pinto
• Night Terrors by J.A. Pitts
• Whack Job by Mike Baron

That’s 15 ebooks for $1 each. That’s an amazing deal. I cannot wait to read these!

Click here to buy!

A bundle of bundles for your summer binge-reading pleasure!

By Bundle, Dayle A. Dermatis, Fantasy/SF, Short Stories

It’s summer, and when you’re lounging by the pool or on the beach, or hiding inside in blessed air conditioned comfort (because the sun, it burns, my precious), what do you want to do? Read!

Read all the things!

And now, if you’re a fan of fantasy and science fiction, you can!

StoryBundle’s latest offer is a bundle of bundles. Mmm hmm, you read that right. In total, you get 19 novels and 7 anthologies (I’m not counting up all the short stories in those anthologies), for the low low price of $15. That’s less than a dollar per book. With all that savings, think how many mocha frappacinos you can enjoy.

With the novels, you get the first three to four books in a series, for your binge-reading pleasure. These’ll last you all summer long—or a couple weeks, depending on how fast you read. 😉

There’s rousing space opera, light and funny romantic fantasy, gaming fantasy, Western time travel, and so much more.

I’m delighted to have stories in several of the anthology bundles, including Uncollected Anthology: Year 1 and The Faerie Summer Bundle. There’s also the Fantasy Bundle from Fiction River, and I know I have stories in a couple of those anthologies, too. Holy moly!

The list:

• The Digital Sea Complete Box Set by Thomas K. Carpenter
• Uncollected Anthology: Year 1 by Uncollected Anthology
• The Fates Trilogy by Kristine Grayson
• The Faerie Summer Bundle by Jamie Ferguson
• The Washington Witches Series, Volumes 1-3 by Mindy Klasky
• The Diving Series Starter Bundle by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
• Fantasy Bundle by Fiction River
• The Thunder Mountain Starter Bundle by Dean Wesley Smith
• The Science Officer Omnibus 1 – Volumes 1-4 by Blaze Ward
• Feyguard Books 1-3 by Anthea Sharp

This crammed-full-of-ebooks package is available only until August 9, so binge while the binging is hot (and so is the sun).

As a bonus, you can choose how much money you want to give to the attached charity, AbleGamers, which tailors game equipment and systems to help disabled gamers join the large online community of gaming, providing social outlets and entertainment for folks who usually struggle to participate.

Seriously, what’s not to love? You can get more info and buy it at StoryBundle to read on your favorite device, by the pool or hiding from the evil sun.

 

Two fantasy stories and a romance (and a cherry on top!)

By Dayle A. Dermatis, Fantasy/SF, Fiction River, Romance, Short Stories

I’ve been remiss in announcing some new publications, so here are three—two fantasy stories and one romance story—for your reading pleasure.

Still-Waking Sleep by Dayle A. Dermatis
literary alchemical fantasy short story

Fiction River’s latest anthology contains my story “Still-Waking Sleep,” which is one of the more unusual stories I’ve written. The editor of the volume said I created a new subgenre: literary alchchemical fantasy. Okay, I’ll take that!

Tangent Online reviewed the issue and said of “Still-Waking Sleep,”

“Dermatis has a love of lush language…that fits well into the story.”

(I recommend you read the issue before you read the review, because it contains some minor spoilers.)

Here’s what the issue is all about:

Humans prove great fodder for fiction. But what about the universe of possibilities offered by the nonhuman protagonist? The eighteen daring humans of Fiction River’s latest volume explore just that. From a goblin who must choose whether to risk everything for love to a heroic rat adventuring at sea to sentient underpants (yes, underpants), these nonhuman tales demonstrate why Adventures Fantastic says: “If you haven’t checked out Fiction River yet, you should. There’s something for everyone.”

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks
and in print: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

You can also check out the book’s product page here and learn more about the entire Fiction River series.

Girls That Glitter by Dayle A. Dermatis
urban fantasy short story

Fans of my Nikki Ashburne/Ghosted series, rejoice! For here is a new Nikki story. It has drag queens in it. It has a search for missing paperwork. And it’s my homage and fond farewell to the Sunset Strip House of Blues.

Here’s what the issue is all about:

Think you know a tavern tale when you hear one? Think again. The seventeen stories in this volume run the gamut of genre and mood. Bars filled with glitter and ghosts stand alongside taverns filled with orcs and adventurers. Exclusive members-only drinks served at the end of the universe war with coffee bars with strange employee policies in the Pacific Northwest. Dive bars, afterlife bars, gay bars—you name it, and you’ll find it in Tavern Tales. So, grab a drink and get ready for one of the most entertaining Fiction River volumes yet.

I love every story in this issue.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks
and in print: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The book’s product page
More about the entire Fiction River series

Leave a Candle Burning by Dayle A. Dermatis
romance short story

The second issue of Heart’s Kiss is out now, with my story “Leave a Candle Burning.” Hurrah!

About my story:

Claudia lives a vagabond life, crisscrossing the country doing research for a reality show about American myths and legends. Christmas finds her in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York, at a small hotel allegedly haunted by the Lady in White, who leaves a candle burning for her husband, lost in the snow.

The ghost might not be real, but Claudia’s attraction to the mysterious Reese, who once lived in the Victorian house, definitely is. Will he be what it takes for Claudia to change her wandering ways?

You can buy the issue on Amazon or Barnes & Noble in ebook or print form, from Kobo in ebook, or purchase directly from the website. You can also subscribe to the magazine, which might not be a bad idea, because I have a story in issue #3 coming up, too…!

emagazine: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
print: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Heart’s Kiss website

If you’d like to get this sort of information—and more!—directly in your In Box each month, you can sign up for my newsletter. The May newsletter has publication news about three additional new stories plus an upcoming novel! BONUS: you get a free short story every month! What are you waiting for? Subscribe today!

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Heaven Has Eyes

By Dayle A. Dermatis, Fantasy/SF, Short Stories, Soul's Road Press, Young Adult

Cassie suffers from a chronic disease and hides her sexuality from her family.

Feeling alone and adrift in her new home in Southern California, she turns to crafting little white lies—and maybe little white spells.

But when her only friend disappears, Cassie discovers a deeper magic than she ever thought existed…and must choose whether to come clean once and for all.

Especially to herself.

“Heaven Has Eyes” combines myth and reality in a touching YA short story.

Buy it at any of these fine online retailers:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Smashwords | iBooks

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The Faerie Summer Bundle

By Bundle, Dayle A. Dermatis, Fantasy/SF, Short Stories

The Faerie Summer Bundle
20 faerie stories

The summer sun bathes the earth in warmth and light
Faeries dance under the moon at night.
Cross through the portal into a land ancient, beautiful, and wild.
See the wonders that enticed the stolen child.
Come away, O reader! To the Realm of Faerie.
But if you want to make it back home, you had better be wary…

This collection includes twenty tales of faeries and magic set in our world – and in others.

THE FLAT ABOVE THE WYND by Alexandra Brandt
SILVER DUST by Leslie Claire Walker
UNICORN MAGIC by Roz Marshall
BENEATH THE KNOWE by Anthea Sharp
LEXIE’S CHOICE by Deb Logan
FLOWER FAIRIES by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
PAULALEENA by Leah Cutter
ROLO THE GREAT by Annie Reed
THE FAKE PATH TO TRUE MEMORY by Brigid Collins
PROOF OF DEVOTION by Dayle A. Dermatis
BY DAWN’S BLOODY LIGHT by DeAnna Knippling
ONDINE by Brenda Carre
SNAP A TRAP, INC. by Louisa Swann
THE FAERY’S CHOICE by Jamie Ferguson
THE QUEEN OF MAY by Linda Jordan
SKYWALKERS by Marcelle Dubé
STORMRIDER AND THE LADY OF SOUL by Karen L. Abrahamson
THE BODY PLOT by Rebecca M. Senese
THE WISHING RING OF OLD QUEEN MAAB by Steve Vernon
HAWTHORN & WILLOW by T. Thorn Coyle

Buy it at any of these fine establishments: