Press Release: Introducing A Salt Pine Mystery Series: Want to Read about a Multigenerational Curse?

Hosting the interview portion of the Curses anthology blog tour was hexifying! 

 

Even more invoking, the book cover was created by Undawnted's DL Mullan through a Sonoran Dawn Studios collaboration.  

_____

What is a curse? 

1. : a prayer or invocation for harm or injury to come upon one : imprecation
2. : a profane or obscene oath or word
3. : something that is cursed or accursed
4. : evil or misfortune that comes as if in response to imprecation or as retribution
5. : a cause of great harm or misfortune : torment
   His fame turned out to be a curse, not a blessing.

_____ 

A Salt Pines Mystery  

My short story, Kurst, published the year prior in Midnight Garden is based on an ancient curse. This submission cycle, I decided to be a reader and not a participant, since I wrote a story about the theme last year. I don't want to bore anyone! 

Funny thing is, the initial story took on a life of its own. Now, Kurst is part of A Salt Pines Mystery trilogy of novelettes/novellas... so, altogether does that make a full novel then? We're going to find out! 

The first story is Wallen. It's about Karen Kurst's ancestor, who started on this journey to solve the homicidal monster mystery. Next, is Kurst, about Karen, who you all met in Midnight Garden. The last story is Bear. The intrepid guide of the mystery.  

Or, is he? 

Just adding to the mystery! 

______

About Kurst

Karen Kurst comes into the legal possession of her deceased grandmother's cabin in Salt Pines, Arizona. As she delves into the secrets of the quaint mountain village, she discovers that there is more than meets the eye. A mysterious creature roams the woods, a blended cryptid: Elemental, Sasquatch, and Skinwalker. The only way to contain this entity is through a magical spell passed down by her ancestor, Ralph Wallen II. Teaming up with the local indigenous sheriff, Karen is determined to break the family curse. 

However, the question remains - will she have to sacrifice her own life to protect her newfound community?

__________

Support Great Artists 

Writers spend time and care to give you much needed respite and entertainment, please avail them with your appreciation by buying their books.

 

Amazon 

Make a purchase at this and other fine retailers. 

 

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This post is sponsored by: 

 

Available at these fine retailers:

 

Book:
http://www.undawnted.com/p/in-name-of-blood.html

 

"All right, the pitch has vampires in it but they're grown up vampires for grown up people, one of the few on this [Authonomy] site."

"I like the classic feel of a crime novel in a vampire story."

"Seriously hot stuff. These are vampires the way they were meant to be."

"What I did like most about this is your ability 

to bring something new to the vampire genre."

"I enjoyed you taking me through this classic tale with a great spin on it."

"Excellent opening. Your dialogue flows naturally 

(I appreciated the Munsters reference ;D)."

 

Welcome to Autumn Cider 2025 on Undawnted!

Autumn Cider Seasonal Reads program has begun!

Let's get our party on.

Undawnted has some great reads from prose, poetry, and nonfiction, as well as listening to original poetic electronic music for our book soundtracks!

Grab your sweater and hot cocoa. It's time to relax in front of the campfire. Bring your ghost stories too.

Begin believing in yourself here:

Fiction
Novels  
In the Name of Blood: Vampires are Relative
Some people have a supernatural lineage unlike any other.

In the Name of Blood: Vampires are Reactive
When you are put to the test, will you stand by your convictions?

In the Name of Blood: Vampires are Receptive
If you knew the beginning, would it justify the ends?

 _____ 

Short Stories
The Story of Ophlupin  
How the mythology and origin of werewolves began: anger the gods, pay the price.

12 Angry Dead

You can't outrun a past life.

*****
Poetry
Chapbooks 
The Descent: a darker breed of poetry  
Haunting... paranormal... cryptic... literary and contemporary fantasy.

__________

Support Great Artists 

Each link to Undawnted's publications have ways to purchase from our fine retailers.

 

 Buy your copies today! 

 

 

___________

About DL Mullan:

A writer at heart, Undawnted’s own creative spark, DL Mullan, began writing short stories and poetry before adolescence. Over the years, Ms. Mullan has showcased her literary talents by self-publishing several collections of her poetry. She also writes novels, designs apparel, and creates digital art. Ms. Mullan‘s creative writing is available in digital and print collections, from academia to commercial anthologies. As an independent publisher, she produces her own book cover designs as well as maintains her own websites. She is an award-winning digital artist and poet.

Currently, she has embarked on writing her multi-book Legacy Universe, Supernatural Superhero Series, as well as soundtracks for her publications and independent electronic music albums, featured on SoundCloud and YouTube.

For news and updates, subscribe to the Undawntable Newsletter. Find DL on Amazon, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

As always: Like, Comment, Follow/Subscribe!

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Become an Undawntable

Keep up-to-date with everything Undawnted through Substack: Undawntable Newsletter. 

 

Join today!

 

 

Believe in Magic with Undawnted's Imaginative Poetry and Prose

Autumn is a magical time of the year. 

Our temperatures moderate from the summer heat waves. The evenings turn crisp as we reach for our sweaters and hot cocoa. Ghosts and goblins haunt our steps... for candy! 

And, our ancestors await our recognition. 

Nights grow longer. Do you add more to your DVR? Or, would you like to curl up with something new? A book, perhaps? 

Poetry and prose are great ways to spend time with yourself. Inside your imagination, let the characters and stories swirl around and create images in your mind. What do you see there in your mind's eye? 

Reading is another great mechanism to expand your creativity by living in someone else's world. That energy can be used to fuel your own innovations.

What are your fiction favorites? Genre topics like vampires and werewolves?

Or, how about rhymes that are sublime to elevate the uneasy factor?

How about some satire? 

 

Take the time to Believe in Magic along with Undawnted. Autumn Cider begins this magical time of year of holidays, celebrations, and parties. We have those get togethers scheduled throughout the rest of the year.

Join our community by bookmarking this site, commenting on our social media and video posts, follow us on Twitter and Youtube, liking our posts, as well as subscribe to Undawnted's A Novelist Idea newsletter. 

You, too, can experience the wonder of the changing seasons.

Have a wonderful and magical day, 

Team Undawnted

 

Have You Gotten Your Autumn Cider? Undawnted's Seasonal Reads Program Guide

As the evenings turn cool, fire pits are decorated with people cooking marshmallows and wearing sweaters.

The holidays are close at hand. First, we get to enjoy the descending darkness into longer nights. We get costumes and candy... and fireside stories from beyond.

How do you get your fall fill? Well, read, of course!
Here are some of my reads for your reading list:

Fiction
Novels  
In the Name of Blood: Vampires are Relative
Novel about the supernatural ties that link people between the ages.

Poetry
Chapbooks 
The Descent: a darker breed of poetry  
Haunting... paranormal... cryptic... literary and contemporary fantasy. 

 

Autumn Reads and Workshops runs September 1st to November 30th.

 

 

 

Autumn Cider Seasonal Reads: In the Name of Blood

 Ready for a haunting read? Try In the Name of Blood:

Riley Austin believes life is predictable. That is until she helps her friend, Tony, catch the kidnapper of three little boys. While using her sixth sense to find the missing kids, she and Tony are attacked and Riley is taken by Julian, a vampire, who wishes to use her gift for his own purposes.

When he asks for her assistance, Riley discovers a kindred spirit in Julian. Moreover, she discovers that an insane, power-hungry vampire called Wilhelm is at the center of many disappearances. A bond grows between Julian and Riley and is strengthened when she saves his life. For her own protection Julian returns her to the safety of the mortal realm.

What Julian does not realize is that Riley was never going to remain safe...

Buy In the Name of Blood on Lulu. 

Bring this vampire crime drama to life in your imagination.

 

 

It's Time for Some Autumn Cider 2020

As the evenings turn cool, fire pits are decorated with people cooking marshmallows and wearing sweaters. 

The holidays are close at hand. First, we get to enjoy the descending darkness into longer nights. We get costumes and candy... and fireside stories from beyond.

How do you get your fall fill? Well, read, of course!

Join Undawnted on her Autumn Cider Seasonal Reads. 

Autumn Reads and Workshops runs September 1st to November 30th.

Autumn Cider Seasonal Reads 2019

Welcome to our seasonal reading program!

It's September... you know what time it is? Autumn Cider!

As the evenings turn cool, fire pits are decorated with people cooking marshmallows and wearing sweaters.

The holidays are close at hand. First, we get to enjoy the descending darkness into longer nights. We get costumes and candy... and fireside stories from beyond.

How do you get your fall fill? Well, read, of course!

Check out our Autumn Cider Seasonal Reads program on our menu and featured novels, chapbooks, and more!

Creative Publications Then and Now... and Now What?

Creative publications to date include for novels, two chapbooks, and two long form poetry:

The Descent: a darker breed of poetry
September 16, 2016

In the Name of Blood
October 16, 2016

Effloresce
May 10, 2017

The Rain: Monsoon in the Desert
April 10, 2017

Memoirs of a Psychotic Painting Elephant
June 4, 2017

Nocturnal Redemption
January 31, 2018

Hode: The Legend Lives Again
April 29, 2018

Saint in the Big Easy
August 29, 2018

What should I take on next? All my notes, writings, and designs are gone. So whatever comes next has to be from scratch.

Any suggestions?

Take the Poll...

On Its Way Feels Pretty Good

We should always do something nice for ourselves. When I decided to create the print book version of In the Name of Blood, I knew that that was my gift to myself this summer. 

So it is official:

What have you done for yourself lately?

Have a great and wonderful day.

First Print Mockup for In the Name of Blood is on the Way

As I have been creating new marketing materials, I decided to create the back page for my novel. 

I have had the item on my to-do list but I have always had some other task before it. Not that I crossed off the other tasks, I just made the move to finish what I started a year ago. Now the back page jacket looks pretty good. 

What do you think? 

In the Name of Blood Official Full Book Jacket

After it was done, I then added a table of contents to the book itself. That as they say was that! I had created the full version of the print edition to In the Name of Blood. I will also update the ebook to have a table of content as well.

I have put in an order for the mockup. When it arrives in the mail by next weekend, I will be able to correct any issues that may have arisen. Then I will begin to offer my ebook in print form. 

Hooray!

It is about time I hold my handiwork in my hands. I have a place on my bookshelf for my creative fiction and poetry, but being disabled makes my timetable a little longer than most. Plus the lack of funds does not help my timetable either. 

Now, more positive routes are in motion. It's not the destination, but the journey. Mine just happens to be in the slow lane.

Have a great and wonderful day! 

Pondering the Possibilities

With my book cover work for Delilah nominated this year, it got me thinking. Should I wait to publish my next novel until the start of 2018 so that I can enter into book cover events and competitions spring through autumn? 

In the Name of Blood published in October 2016.. too late for events. 
 

Or is that tacky?

Could be smart. If no one knows you have written a book, then how are you supposed to get any readers? Events and promotions could be a sensible way on a no-string budget to get noticed. 

Readers will be better prepared to come to you.

It appears that events, promotions, and competitions are the mainstays of online, independent authors.  I am in many different kinds of forums for independent authors, but nothing that says: Readers Apply Here. 

The question then comes down to: is the work you have written worth all the fuss?

 Have a great and wonderful day!

New Book Marketing Design

How is this for showing off?

More like inspired by. Not too shabby. I think this new design feature will only be available to those publications which have been previously released and leave the soon-to-be released as the normal two-dimensional design. 

So be on the lookout for my publications (with a link to Lulu through Sonoran Dawn Studios) when you see this neat three-dimensional design here on Undawnted.

Have a great and wonderful day!

Summer Reads... 2017

Visit our Summer Reads sections for some great links to my Author's Picks.

We have a growing inventory of reading material in Ebook PDF form in a variety of subjects as well as in fiction and poetry. If you would like to see more, please visit Sonoran Dawn Studios' Author Spotlights.

Autumn is Closer Than You Think

With approximately 144 days to go until the Autumnal Equinox, the change of seasons into the latter part of the year seem so far away. 

We are still in the middle of spring. Summer is about to begin. Hot nights and even hotter days are gearing up for their time. 

All we have is time. 

So while you are out by the pool or relaxing under the air conditioning, why not enjoy the first book in my series: In the Name of Blood? 

Available in ebook form on Lulu.

Enjoy your recreational time.

Have a great and wonderful day! 

In the Name of Blood Book Cover Art

The vampire, crime-drama, In the Name of Blood is out in PDF, ebook form. The next books in the series are due out every year in October 2017, 2018 respectively. 

With a book series, cover art is essential for readers to recognize the set.

So the author came up with these covers:

Simple, but concise.

If you would like to start at the beginning, In the Name of Blood is available on the Sonoran Dawn Studios' Lulu Spotlight. 

Have a great and wonderful day!

Just Leaving It Hanging

A fellow writer had brought up the subject of using cliffhangers for novel endings. 

My response was to use cliffhangers if you are going to answer the question in the next book of a series, but if you only write one book, then make sure to resolve everything by the end. 

My stories are not long as a full length novel. I write shorter novels, but not less complex ones. 

I make sure there are subplots and character developments. In the end the stories are completed and the reader feels they have taken a journey with my protagonists. Yet, to spur on interest for the next book, I give a little taste of what is to come... with a cliffhanger in some, but not all cases. 

Someone reacted indignant to this use of cliffhangers as disrespect to readers and to yourself as a writer. I do not agree. If you have everything pretty much sewn up and there is a last minute act or realization, then the reader can decide if the next book will be for them or not. 

I am upfront that I am writing a book series, not a stand along book. So the reader has to expect something to cross over into the next story line. Or why would it be a book series? 

So In the Name of Blood had the main character, Riley Austen, have an epiphany at the end of the book... to be carried on in Book II. Will this series go to Book III? I am letting the characters decide. Many times the characters also decide the end of the novel. Riley sure did. That ending even surprised me!

With Nocturnal Redemption, I can go either way: a clear cut ending or a cliffhanger... 

As writers, should we not tease our readers a bit? 

Have a great and wonderful day! 

On Holiday Schedule for the Rest of the Year

It is time to kick back and relax! 

Oh, who are we kidding? I am busy editing and writing Nocturnal Redemption for a winter release. As well as I have updated Sonoran Dawn Studios, Poetry, and Publishing sites. My personal site has also seen a good scrub. 

With the temperatures decreasing, it is time to bundle up and write! Winter is always a fun time to sit and write. At night, when all the shows are repeats due to the holidays, I have dedicated nights to polish for next year's release. 

2017 appears to be going to the fictional side of writing. 2016 was nonfiction essays and recipes for the most part. This new year should see two new chapbooks as well as one novel plus the second book to In the Name of Blood series. 

By the end of December, I should have a great list of publications ready for their debut. Then Sonoran Dawn's Schedule page will be updated. 

But for now, I will write and create and edit. So I will update the blogs in between this last push of the year. No more releases are expected until 2017. 

As you can see my vacation has been all work and lots of play! 

Have a great and wonderful day! 

Love is in the Eye of the Beholder

When you have written a novel, editing the story into manageable parts can be a challenge. 

I am working on two different novels but I will only publish one this coming February. I haven't decided on which one yet... but I bet you have already guessed it these are loves stories. My stories have plenty of action and drama but Nocturnal Redemption and Gibbous are driven by the relationship of these people instead of a crisis like in book one of In the Name of Blood. 

One is pretty much done for a first book release and to finish the rest of the story episodically in a series instead of all at once. Trouble is the story is under 40K words. I like my novels around 45K words. 

Gibbous is done at 60K words but I want to expand the story so the adventure is smoother and the characters are perfected. 

After worrying all this time about releasing a novella instead of a novel, I remembered: I am the publisher! I can do whatever I want. Then all the stress and worry dissolved. 

I feel much better now.

...but you will have to wait to see which one I publish in February 2017. Is it the vampire, supernatural romance of Nocturnal Redemption? Or the werewolf saga of Gibbous?

Who wants to guess?

Have a great and wonderful day!  

In the Name of Blood Trial by Fire Ending

Want something to get you into the mood... for Halloween? 

In the Name of Blood is still available for free until 11:59pm on Halloween! Action, suspense... of a crime drama. So it's not your typical vampire novel.

Riley needs a life makeover but when she crosses into the supernatural, she realizes her boring life may not have been so terrible after all.

Have a fright filled night!

In the Name of Blood Released

Finally! 

In the Name of Blood, the vampire crime-drama has been published by Sonoran Dawn Studios. 

This ebook pdf will be free until the last minute of Halloween. So be sure to grab your copy before the free trial fortnight is up. 

I am so excited to finally have one of my stories published in book form. The print version will be available this coming summer with the second installment of the book due out in October of 2017. 

Thank you to everyone who has made my dreams possible!


__________

 

Support Great Artists

Each link to Undawnted's publications have ways to purchase from our fine retailers.

books2read.com/IntheNameofBlood

 

 Buy your copies today! 

 

___________

 About DL Mullan:

A writer at heart, Undawnted’s own creative spark, DL Mullan, began writing short stories and poetry before adolescence. Over the years, Ms. Mullan has showcased her literary talents by self-publishing several collections of her poetry. She also writes novels, designs apparel, and creates digital art. Ms. Mullan‘s creative writing is available in digital and print collections, from academia to commercial anthologies. As an independent publisher, she produces her own book cover designs as well as maintains her own websites. She is an award-winning digital artist and poet.

Currently, she has embarked on writing her multi-book Legacy Universe, Supernatural Superhero Series, as well as soundtracks for her publications and independent electronic music albums, featured on SoundCloud and YouTube.

For news and updates, subscribe to the Undawntable Newsletter. Find DL on Amazon, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

As always: Like, Comment, Follow/Subscribe!

------~o0o~---oOo---~o0o~~-----

Become an Undawntable

Keep up-to-date with everything Undawnted through Substack: Undawntable Newsletter. 

 

Join today!