Novelette Review: The Town Santa Forgot from Writing to Be Read

Writing to Be Read's Kaye Lynne Booth published her review of The Town Santa Forgot. 

"Not to give too much away, but The Town [Santa Forgot] : A tale that will tickle the whole family’s fancies. The perfect holiday gift, but would be fun to read year round. As with most Christmas stories, this one is filled with love and hope." 

This Yuletide Carol is a history-mystery tale with added supernatural occurrences and a love-lost romance. Move over holiday romcoms, The Town Santa Forgot has arrived!

For the rest of the review and quill rating, visit Writing to Be Read. 

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The Town Santa Forgot is available as an eBook at Amazon, Barnes&Noble, AppleBooks, Smashwords, and other fine retailers.   

Grab your copy today! 

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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.

For news and updates, subscribe to the Undawntable Newsletter. 

Cover Reveal for The Town Santa Forgot

It is with glad tidings that Undawnted's DL Mullan reveals the cover art for The Town Santa Forgot: 

I had a fun time creating this book cover, and I had even more fun teasing my readers about it. I create my own covers. Digital art is one of my passions. I began producing my own line of digital art called: Spacescapes, circa 2000, and winning awards at Science Fiction Conventions as well as the Arizona State Fair.  

Over time, this art form went from art shows to the cover of many publications, not just my own. One of my first pieces of art won the best Western cover during an online book event. That was thrilling.

Today, I want to reveal to the general audience my creation for The Town Santa Forgot. I hope you find the art compelling, intriguing, and purchase-able! 

The Town Santa Forgot has its publication release party on my Undawntable Newsletter on December 18th. Please join us! It's free. It's fun. You could win your own copy of the novelette, The Town Santa Forgot. 

Cheers!

Have a great rest of your holiday season.

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A writer at heart, Undawnted's own creative spark, DL Mullan, began writing short stories and poetry before adolescence. Ms. Mullan showcases her literary talents by publishing her creative writing. She has short stories and poems published in digital and print collections, from academia to commercial anthologies. In addition, she writes novels, designs apparel, and creates digital art. Ms. Mullan produces her own book cover designs for herself and others. She is an award-winning digital artist and poet.

Currently, she has embarked on writing her multi-book Legacy Universe, Supernatural Superhero Series.

Join her Undawntable Newsletter for news and updates.

Movie Review: The Shrimp on the Barbie... Have Shrimp? Will Travel

Australians will tell anyone that shrimp in Australia are called prawns and barbie is slang for barbecue. So, for American audiences, the title of the film became “The Shrimp on the Barbie.” Except in Europe, where the title was changed, since Mattel owns the brand: Barbie. If you want to sound cosmopolitan, be sure to say when visiting Australia to "throw another prawn on the barbie."

In this movie, the shrimp, or prawn, on the barbie is Carlos, an American transplant in Australia, who jumps from one fire to another in this romantic comedy.

*****

The Shrimp on the Barbie

Down on his luck and working in a Mexican restaurant in Australia, an American tourist is hired by an icy heiress to pose as an obnoxious new boyfriend in an attempt to make her father accept her current boyfriend.

IMDB

*****Spoiler Time*****

The Breakdown

Poor Carlos (played by Cheech Marin), he moves from America to Australia to hit it big: financially. His girlfriend stayed behind as he chased his dreams to become stable and secure, in order to marry her. After he flies Downunder, he discovers that his prospects go from bad to worse. Not only is the mansion that was supposed to be awaiting him a bust, but so is the Mexican restaurant he is employed at as a waiter. Soon, he receives a Dear John letter from his girlfriend, who is set to marry his best friend. To top it all off, he screws up a high-profile birthday at the restaurant.

Depressed, Carlos is desperate to help his boss save the restaurant from foreclosure, he ends up taking a deal from Alexandra Hobart (played by Emma Samms), a rich, entitled woman whose only goal is to marry Bruce. Her father sees that her taste in men has declined, but drives a hard bargain with Alexandra: give up Bruce and the next boyfriend, no matter how terrible, he will approve. This sets into motion Alexandra recruiting the bad waiter, Carlos, from her father’s birthday party for assistance for the sum of five thousand dollars.

Carlos sees a way to save the restaurant. Alexandra sees a way to beat her father at his own game. On the periphery, her father (played by Terrence Cooper) overhears a conversation between Carlos and Alexandra about their deal, and sets them up as well as Bruce.

In the end, Alexandra realizes that the sensitive Carlos has more redeeming qualities as a man than the exuberant and crude Bruce. With her new perspective, she admits to her father what she had done. He in turn hands her the photographs that show the real Bruce in action: sleeping with her best friend and beating up Carlos.

After showing their mutual friends the photos at Bruce’s birthday party, Alexandra rushed to the Mexican restaurant to apologize to Carlos. Unfortunately, Carlos packed his things and bought a return ticket to American. Alexandra rushes to the airport, but the plane has already taxied out. Her father calls the president of the company and has Carlos escorted to the terminal.

The pair is reunited. With the help of her father’s investment in the Mexican restaurant, it is saved. Carlos sees his dreams of helping his friend, gaining financial improvement, and finding love come true.

*****
The Review

Carlos: Who died and made you Darth Vader, huh?

The Shrimp on the Barbie is an underrated and understated film. It will never win an Academy Award, but this 90s film has its merits. The characters grow and change into better people, except for the two antagonists, of course.

The protagonists come to some personal revelations. Carlos learns that with perseverance he can achieve his goals. Alexandra learns that not everything that glitters is gold. Diamonds in the rough can be more precious. Her father learns that his daughter is a grown woman who may need guidance, but not his manipulation, and refried beans are good!

And, watch out for Joeys! They pack a mean punch.

Purchased from Prime Video.

Note: This film was released at 86 minutes with a PG-13 rating. The video version features a minute of additional footage (including nudity) and is rated R.

*****

The Tally

My review will be posted on Prime as well as IMDB.

Prime... 4.5 (4) out of 5 stars

IMDB... 8.5 (8) out of 10 stars

Have a great and wonderful day.

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Learn. Grow. Master... with Undawnted. 

 

Ignite Your Imagination with the Saint Trilogy

August 2022 has been a busy time for Eavanlee Lewis, she defeated the Devil of the Damned, learned about the Order of the Pure, and battled against a Damned Army. 

What did you do this summer? 

In this three-part novelette series, Eavanlee learned how to navigate her personal relationships while tending to her Saint duties. She broke up with a cheating fiancé. She found love again, as well as a community in Communion, Louisiana. 

It seemed that this character found her path by becoming the change she wanted to see in the world. That is how the Hero's Journey works!  

Ignite Your Imagination by falling in love with Saint!

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The Saint Trilogy is now available, with all three books in this series downloadable as PDFs from Lulu via Sonoran Dawn Studios Fiction Author Spotlight page.

Visit the Saint Trilogy dedicated pages for more information, downloadable freebies, and links to their individual download pages. 

• Saint in the Big Easy
• Saint in Communion
• Saint in the Devil You Know 
  

 Saint is a part of Undawnted's Exclusive Legacy Universe.

 

Saint (III) in the Devil You Know Release Party

A Novelist Idea Newsletter has a variety of information on a monthly basis to assist creators use different tools in order to grow their imagination. Another one of the advantages to Undawnted's community is the exclusive release parties. This month, the Saint Trilogy is being published. 

The summer of 2018 saw the original story: Saint in the Big Easy released. With the conclusion of the series this month, DL Mullan has decided to re-release this summer adventure. Here's the scoop on the third installment, Saint in the Devil You Know:

Eavanlee has many troubles, a rogue Cardinal and the Devil of the Damned, just to start. As a newly wedded woman, she would love to spend all her time with her husband, Girard Algernon, in their Saintuary. The only problem is that her problems keep on mounting, leaving little time to be content with her life. 

She is faced with the knowledge that in the coming battle between good and evil, both sides are playing their moves and countermoves to the middle. Eavanlee is the convergence for the entire melee. That leaves Saintuary hanging in the balance.

Will she and Girard find a way to end the stalemate, and the war, without losing themselves in the process?

It's always the devil you know.

Peruse the other goodies on the Saint dedicate pages here on Undawnted.   

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There's more to this party!

Saint III Mini Book Trailer for Undawnted’s Youtube channel is set to premiere tonight, August 30, 2022 at 8pm (PST).

Follow Undawnted’s Twitter feed or Youtube channel to be the first to see videos. 

There is also a scavenger hunt for a free ebook.

This Release Party is the last book of the series to be published. Subscribe to Undawnted's A Novelist Idea August 2022 Newsletter for each date! 

The Saint Trilogy was written for Undawnted's Summer Time Seasonal Reads Program. The book series was intended to be read by the pool, relaxing on a summer vacation. This story is light, but emotionally fulfilling. 

Don't take our word for it! Order your copies before summer is gone!

Have a great and wonderful day, 

Team Undawnted 

 

 

Saint (II) in Communion Book Release Party

A Novelist Idea Newsletter has a variety of information on a monthly basis to assist creators use different tools in order to grow their imagination. Another one of the advantages to Undawnted's community is the exclusive release parties. This month, the Saint Trilogy is being published. 

The summer of 2018 saw the original story: Saint in the Big Easy released. With the conclusion of the series this month, DL Mullan has decided to re-release this summer adventure. Here's the scoop on the second installment, Saint in Communion:

Saint has been drawn into the age-old battle of good versus evil. Between devils, angels, and guardians, Saint has a lot to learn about her newfound reality. Her motto has gone from love me, love me not to: damned if she does, damned if she doesn't.

With the local Catholic Church's Cardinal Randolph taking an interest in her abilities, Eavanlee -with the help of her guardian Girard- discovers a world hidden behind the one she knew. 

 

A secret sect of religious zealots, who call themselves: The Order of the Pure, has sought over the centuries to rid humankind of the Saint phenomenon. Their philosophy is that the Church is god's power on Earth, which to their egos makes them infallible in their assessment, and disbandment, of Saints. 

Alone with knowledge that could kill her, Eavanlee discovers that her options maybe to trust those individuals whom she shares Communion.

Peruse the other goodies on the Saint dedicate pages here on Undawnted.   

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There's more to this party!

Saint II Mini Book Trailer for Undawnted’s Youtube channel is set to premiere tonight August 22, 2022 at 8pm (PST).

Follow Undawnted’s Twitter feed or Youtube channel to be the first to see videos. 

There is also a scavenger hunt for a free ebook.

This Release Party is the second of three for the month of August. Subscribe to Undawnted's A Novelist Idea August 2022 Newsletter for each date!

The Saint Trilogy was written for Undawnted's Summer Time Seasonal Reads Program. The book series was intended to be read by the pool, relaxing on a summer vacation. This story is light, but emotionally fulfilling. 

Don't take our word for it! Order your copies this month!

Have a great and wonderful mid-August, 

Team Undawnted 

 

 

Saint Book Series Release Parties for August Begin!

A Novelist Idea Newsletter has a variety of information on a monthly basis to assist creators use different tools in order to grow their imagination. Another one of the advantages to Undawnted's community is the exclusive release parties. This month, the Saint Trilogy is being published. 

The summer of 2018 saw the original story: Saint in the Big Easy released. With the conclusion of the series this month, DL Mullan has decided to re-release this summer adventure. Here's the scoop:

After a relationship breakup, Eavanlee Zilpha Lewis finds herself wandering in the Saint Louis Cemetery No. 1 in New Orleans. In the evening, she makes a wish on Marie Laveau's tomb. Will she, will she not... find love?

Little did Eavanlee know that her answer lies in the adventure of the heart and soul. A dark, mysterious stranger leads her on a journey past her preconceived notions and straight into the heart of the matter.

Eavanlee did not need the help of spirits, she was born a Saint.

What happens when you discover the only person who can save you is you?

Peruse the other goodies on the Saint dedicate pages here on Undawnted.  

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There's more to this party!

Saint I Mini Book Trailer for Undawnted’s Youtube channel is set to premiere tonight at 8pm (PST).

Follow Undawnted’s Twitter feed or Youtube channel to be the first to see videos. 

There is also a scavenger hunt for a free ebook.

This Re-Release Party is the first of three for the month of August. Subscribe to Undawnted's A Novelist Idea August 2022 Newsletter for each date!

The Saint Trilogy was written for Undawnted's Summer Time Seasonal Reads Program. The book series was intended to be read by the pool, relaxing on a summer vacation. This story is light, but emotionally fulfilling. 

Don't take our word for it! Order your copies this month!

Have a great and wonderful August, 

Team Undawnted

 

Mirror, Mirror Submission: The Reality Hackers for a Fairy Tale Short Story Competition Completed

How would you write your own fairy tale? 

That is what one anthology asked writers to write about and DL Mullan obliged. A 5000 word limit and an imaginative narrative to create. As of September 20th, the author of Undawnted submitted her version of a fairy tale called: The Reality Hackers. 

Mirror, Mirror on the wall who is the most cunning of them all? 

We won't know until acceptance/rejection letters go out in the November/December time frame. 

Hopefully, this time traveling, scifi, fantasy, romance will gain a place in this unique anthology. We will let you know.

What is your version of reality? And, what would you be willing to do to keep it? 

Have a great and wonderful day.

 

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The Reality Hackers Novelette is now available! 

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Want to bring more reality into your life? 

Visit Undawnted's Zazzle store!

Storytelling: What is Love? Can We Read Our Way to Fulfillment or Should We Demand a Refund?

As a writer, I am faced with making life choices for my characters and how love affects their lives. 

Do they have Eros, or erotic love? A fancy, an admiration? Or is their love quest something deeper? Perhaps even unrequited? 

How a writer views love in their own reality often reflects how characters in their imagination view the concept. Have you been thwarted by love? Been love sick? Maybe even a hopeless romantic? 

Eroticism can be written and sold like an old hooker in the night. No one sees. No one cares. The reader just needs a fix like an addict. Sex, please. Served in fifty shades of something.

RomComs are always fun to watch on the screen. For some reason, we [the audience] do not get tired of the retelling of Shakescpeare's Taming of the Shrew. 

Then there is the unrequited variety. We see someone from across the room we would like to hold and cherish but never do. We sit in our own delusion while life passes us by. That can be so dissatisfying to the audience. 

The next category is my favorite one besides the Taming of the Shrew, and that is the hopeless romantic. I agree with Jane Austen's assessment that every girl should marry up. I qualify that statement with a handsome, generous soul with means and connections. If a girl is going up in the world, she might as well go all the way. Shouldn't we say? 

No matter the love genre, a writer needs to write the characters as people and not as literary devices just for a boring sex scene. We want the meat and potatoes! The audience expects a well rounded couple for a good old fashioned romp! Ups and downs, heartache and pain, finally the reward for the faith and fidelity of their hearts. 

Unless of course you just want to stare at him or her from across the room for the rest of your life?

If you want to experience the beginning of a budding romance, then check out my first book in the vampire series, Nocturnal Redemption: In the Eye of the Beholder. 

Ryan Blackburn is a mythology professor. She has studied and built her life around her family legend: the protectors of humanity from the creatures that walk the night. One slight catch: she actually meets a pack of werewolves and a lone vampire on his nightly rounds. Her legends weren't so mythical after all.

In the coming days and weeks, Ryan is lured into the vampire's world called: The Lair. A slow but strong bond is formed between the vampire captain, Jeremy, and Ryan. Just as the politics that brought them together could easily tear them apart. 

Will Jeremy and Ryan choose each other? Or, will they go their separate ways? 

So when you write about love in your stories... what color of love are you? Black and white? Gray? 

We have to remember when we write about the heart, that we must write that the love story is the heart of the matter. And what matters is how the readers see us reflected in our respect for the affairs of the heart. I want to mirror the hopeless romantic in all of us. Love is a gift. When two people find love then we should nurture their inquisitiveness. No one is ever satisfied with a love that is unrequited. 

We as writers have to be the love Santa for a love starved populace. We have to write that great love story to keep our love Santa from getting stuck in the chimney of life. What did you expect? Cupid wasn't helping this along anyway...

Speaking of which, Valentine's Day is only 46 more days away!

Have a great and wonderful day.

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Saint's Arrival in July

As apart of Undawnted's Summer Time reading program, Saint will be available in July 27, 2018.

This novelette combines adventure and supernatural elements for a unique story you will find nowhere else.

So buy your copy as soon as the book comes out!

To read more, visit Saint's dedicated book page here on Undawnted.

Have a great and wonderful day!

Nocturnal Redemption Moves Into the Final Edits Phase

The final push until the January 31st release has begun!

Nocturnal Redemption:

When Ryan is attacked by werewolves, she is rescued by the hidden Regent of the Vampire Nation, Jeremy Hampton. This event sets a domino effect in motion that Chloe could not foresee. The future of the vampires lies on a knife’s edge: matters of the heart.

Could the love that betrayed the gypsy witches into cursing the vampires three hundred years ago be the one thing to end their immortal suffering and bring peace between these two ancient factions?

Love is always In the Eye of the Beholder.

Visit the Nocturnal Redemption page for more great information! 

Updated Synopsis for Nocturnal Redemption

I have been creating promotional pieces for my various publications. Since I want to release Nocturnal Redemption as soon as the novel is ready, I revised the old synopsis in lieu of a more accurate teaser. 

If you would like to read about this paranormal adventure/romance, then please visit the dedicated page for Nocturnal Redemption. 

The promos will be added to the page once the novel has been published. 

Have a great and wonderful day! 

Delilah is a Winner!

The book cover art I did for the novel. Delilah by Kaye Lynne Booth did not make it into the Final Round of the Summer Loving Book Cover Event, however...

...that does not mean, the book cover art I created was a bust. Delilah still walked away with the most votes in the Western category. 

What a feat! 

I am very proud of this cover. It's art. It encompasses the theme of the novel. The cover art does not rely on cheap marketing tricks to be a winner. 

THANK YOU to the person who nominated my cover for this event, the author Kaye Lynne Booth for the support, and ALL the Voters! 

You made the book cover art a success!

If you would like to peruse my other digital creations, please stop by the Art, Cover, & Prints page on Sonoran Dawn Studios for examples. 

Thank you! I cannot wait for more opportunities like this one in the future.

Have a great and wonderful summer!

Love is in the Air

When I first began writing Nocturnal Redemption, I knew a love story was being built. 

All the elements were there. Still, I wanted a story that was more than a romance novel. I wanted the story to be about something concrete. 

So I added into the story a subplot about politics. It's interesting that I began writing this novel way before a woman had ever run for President of the United States. 

Nocturnal Redemption will be out soon...  I hope you enjoy the first book of the series as much as I am enjoying writing the complexities of political life.

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!