Wednesday, July 31, 2013

2013 July Reading List

Soft Apocalypse  by Will McIntosh – I have some problems with some of the plot points, but the narration is haunting. 4/5 stars

Under the Dome by Stephen King – This book is way too big, too slow in places, has many characters that left me indifferent, and I didn’t care for the resolution.  4/5 stars

The Midnight Palace by Carlos Ruiz Zafon – I don’t know if it was because of the translation, but I didn’t care for it, neither the story nor the style.  3/5 stars

September Lights/The Watcher in the Shadow by Carlos Ruiz Zafon – The best book from Niebla trilogy. 4/5 stars

Crime on the Links by Agatha Christie – Christie’s books used to be fun when I was a kid but not anymore. I found it terribly naïve, silly, and over the top romantic. 3/5 stars

Too Many Curses by A. Lee Martinez - A funny little book. 3/5 stars

Plus a bunch of trashy novels I won’t bother to list, ha!

Friday, July 5, 2013

A Victory that Counts Excerpt

For those who cannot wait any longer, here's an excerpt from A Victory that Counts, the second novella in The Impaler Legacy series, coming to your ereaders this summer.

Update: Part two added.

2nd Update: Part three added.

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Cover Reveal: A Victory that Counts by Ioana Visan


  A Victory that Counts
(The Impaler Legacy #2)

by Ioana Visan

For the first time in five hundred years, pandurs and vampires need to work together and defeat the new breed of vampires that threaten to upset the current order of things. Liana Cantacuzino travels to New Zealand to find the new breeds and their makers, but even with the help of her friends, Maximilien Hess, Dr. Jesse Carver and Radu Basarab, the task turns out to be close to impossible to accomplish. The enemy is vicious, always one step ahead, and has no respect for any kind of life, including its own.

With a prize put on her head, unreliable informers, exploding arrows, and turned pandurs, Liana has to lead what’s left of her troops through a terrible siege, while struggling to keep Jesse safe and fight for her own survival.

The second novella in The Impaler Legacy series, a vampire saga like no other.

Coming to your ereaders this summer! 

Monday, July 1, 2013

35

It took me a whole ten years after finishing my studies to admit to myself that computer science was not what I wanted to do in life. As time passed and I drifted farther and father away from my line of work, I kept feeling guilty for not using the degree I had worked so hard to get in the beginning of this century.

Well, not anymore! Computers will always be a good distraction, but writing is the way to go for me and I'm well set on this path. I first got published exactly five years ago. Since then over 25 of my short stories found their home in various magazines, and I also contributed to 7 anthologies. I have two Romanian traditionally published books and three self-published English titles with another one on the way. I won a bunch of contests and awards, too. Yes, I think I'm doing all right.

So celebrate with me while I blow out the candles and pop the champagne. And if you buy one of my books and leave a review, you will make my day. No, you can't have any cake. But check this space because there will be an announcement later this week and possibly a cover reveal too. Cheers!