New Cover: Fire of the Heart

Well, here it is, my latest cover for my next release! How awesome is it?! When's it coming out? October the 15th! Competition to follow soon so stay tuned...

Oh and here's the blurb, too!

Fire of the Heart is the fourth installment in the Pembroke Eve Chronicles and takes place a few weeks after the Spring Dance.

Jacob, Callum and Zane are packing up for the night in the Food Emporium, when Mr. Barnaby bursts in proclaiming Aloysius is missing. Where could a twenty foot dragon have disappeared to in a small town like Pembroke Eve? And what’s more, when Jacob and the gang go to investigate, they are sucked into a wormhole that so happened to materialise right in the main street of the town. Coincidence? Hell yes!

The vortex is a one-way ticket to the dragon realm, where the problems for Jacob and his friends have only just begun. Why? Well, they’ve walked right into a time when the realm is at its greatest unrest, their leader, Aloysius, no longer there to guide them. If only Jacob could ask Mr. Barnaby for advice. Trouble is, he’s disappeared now, too!

To top it all off, Jacob unwittingly accepts an advance by a dragon shifter warrior named, Nottolu. The warrior claims Jacob as his mate and it’s up to Callum, his fiancé, to claim him back…even if it means his death.

Everything becomes a race against time. The gang must work together to find not only Aloysius and Mr. Barnaby, but to get Callum and Jacob back together, too. All before an all out war threatens to destroy everything, even the hope of ever returning to Pembroke Eve.

Can anything else go wrong? There is no doubt...

Early Release: Time of the Soul

No, I haven't been let out of my asylum early...my next book and the next exciting chapter in the Pembroke Eve Chronicles, Time of the Soul has been!

Click here to get your copy and continue the adventure...this time there's a vampire on the loose, but not as you know them :-)

Postcard Competition

Time for a competition! I have racked my brains and come up with something I think you may all like. Okay, here's the deal...Simply purchase a copy of Light of the Body, the second part of the Pembroke Eve series, and I will send you a postcard featuring a lovely kangaroo/koala/Australian native animal. I live in Australia, so yeah, this is the real deal :-)

Easy hey?

I will write a note and sign the postcard, too. All you have to do is send me the receipt from the purchase and your snail mail address and I will do the rest :-)

Hope to hear from you all soon. Thanks! P.S. my email address is: mark alders at yahoo dot com

Time of the Soul Cover Revealed!

At last, the next installment of The Pembroke Eve Chronicles, Time of the Soul, has a cover! I am thrilled to see that Angela has done such a wonderful job yet again! I can't thank her enough. The series is in full swing now, so here's the synopsis of the Time of the Soul to help whet your appetite for m/m sci-fi and fantasy :-)

Time of the Soul continues the adventure a month after the events of Light of the Body.

This time the townsfolk are celebrating the Spring Dance. An event that will hopefully kick away the worries of past incidents in the town. Although, even an occasion such as the Spring Dance can't remain uneventful for long, especially because this is Pembroke Eve, after all.

Unfortunately, for Jacob things are about to get really weird as a pan-dimensional being whisks him away just as Corey Harrington decides to make a scene at the dance and start throwing punches. The being, who also happens to fall in love with Jacob, shows him a different past, a possible present and a future he must choose. But the consequences of the being's love is more than Jacob can handle or allow to happen. He will lose all of his friends and a life he thought he had if he accepts the being.

Something he knows cannot possibly happen.

Jacob is alone, without Callum or Zane or Suzy this time. Even Mr. Barnaby and his strange friend can't really help in the alternate reality the being has created to woo Jacob into his web. In the end, Jacob must resort to making a deal with the devil--his arch enemy Corey Harrington--and use all of his wits to make sure his life is as it should be before the being discovers his plan and decides that Jacob no longer deserves his affection...or his life.

Light of the Body is HERE!

Click here to get your copy. The adventure in Pembroke Eve continues...this time with Zombies! Zounds!

*hugs* to all my readers that are making my books a success :-)

Inspiration Strikes Back!

Why is it when you're in the thick of writing (I am currently working on part 4 of my Pembroke Eve Series) that I get more ideas for books?

I blame this all on reading, of course.

Lately, with my new eReader by my side and ready to be used wherever I go, I have been immersed in reading. And from that, comes inspiration. At the moment I am reading some excellent sci-fi by David Drake and the classic "Island of Dr. Moreau."

*happysigh* Looks like I have about 5 more book book ideas to jot down :-) One of which WILL be a novelization of my best selling short story: "The Cadet's Officer." There have been many requests for this one to be expanded from many of my wonderful readers, and that was always on my agenda.

There will also be a novel set in colonial Australia. At the time of the First Fleet. I have to do a bit of research for this one, but I know I will have an Irish protag and an aboriginal who become, against all adversity, more than friends :-) It will be my first interracial story and I think it will offer a nice challenge for me. Also, it will be something completely different as there will be minimal speculative content. The only 'magic' that coming from aboriginal belief (Wanjina and the Dreamtime) and what the two will share together.

Aren't reading and writing wonderful :-)


Oh, and here is a really COOL review of my latest, Shadows of the Mind...Oh, and here's another. Gee, love this!

Light of the Body Cover Revealed!

Here is the cover of the second part of The Pembroke Eve Chronicles titled: Light of the Body.

For more details, click here!

Enjoy your day everyone!

Shadows of the Mind a Best Seller!

I awoke to some fantastic news this morning! Shadows of the Mind is a best seller, reaching number 5 on the monthly rankings. Not bad for a book that was released mid month on the 15th! Then again, I didn't think I had a snow balls chance in hell to get into the charts. I had some stiff (no pun intended) competition this month. Stephani Hecht, AJ Llewellyn, DJ Manly, Viola Grace and Stone Richards are just stunning authors and a huge congrats to them for making the charts, too.

Little 'ol me is swimming in a pool of sharks! But I made it...Pinch me :-)

1. Savage Awakenings
2. Enchanted
3. After Arsenic and Rio
4. Taller, Meaner, Darker
5. Shadows of the Mind
6. Pan's Legacy
7. Tryst
8. Paden
9. The Reluctant Escort
10. Dirty Dreams

You can see what all the fuss is about and click here to get your copy of Shadows of the Mind. Don't forget, it's follow up, Light of the Body is coming soon. You won't have to wait long. And yes, there is a surprise in store :-)

A Competition!

If you purchase a copy of Shadows of the Mind I will give you a free copy of The Pauper's Prize or any other book from my back catalog of your choosing, including the two short stories I have done, Mama's Heart and The Cadet's Officer.

How do you get your free book? Email me the receipt of Shadows of the Mind and tell me which book you would like. Simple, hey? Oh, and you can say hello, too. I won't bite...unless requested ;-)

What could be better? Two books for the price of one. What's my email address, I hear you ask? well, click on the snail on my home page, he will take you there :-)

I hope I give away lots and lots of free book to all of my wonderful readers and supporters, I really do.

A Best Seller!

I am pleased to announce that The Cadet's Officer is a best seller over there at eXtasy books. I would like to extend a great big, warmhearted thank you to all of you who have supported me by buying a copy of the book. I cannot achieve success without you, my readers.

Here is the ranking for this month:

1) Tall, Mean and Darkly
2) Pure Sex

3) Saved by Love's Blood

4) The Warder's Elf
5) The Cadet's Officer
6) The Whispered
7) Boo
8) Devil Night
9) Lorelei and Darin
10) Athena's Hunger

So if you want to grab a quick read in the sci-fi genre then give The Cadet's Officer a go! It all ends with a big bang. :-)

I would also like to thank all the other authors who have made it into the top ten, too.

I Need Chocolate

Here is the final push before my next release “The Cadet’s Officer” is released on October the 1st (I believe)!

So please, please buy “The Pauper’s Prize” and make a starving artist (for chocolate) really happy. You can click here to purchase a copy. You won’t be disappointed.

I so need chocolate *giggle*

The Pauper's Prize a Best Seller

I have some very good news today. This week I learned that my latest release “The Pauper’s Prize” has become a best seller, reaching the top ten over at eXtasy. Yes, that’s right…a best seller! WOW!!!

Thank you to those who have purchased a copy, I really appreciate it. For those of you who want a great read and to see what all the fuss is about, click here to grab your copy. The Pauper’s Prize is great for a night in :-)

Sending everyone virtual chocolate~~~~~~~now!

The Lighter Side

A lot has happened recently in regards to my writing.

• Mama's Heart is out
• I have submitted a new FG story "The Cadet's Officer" to eXtasy
• I have begun a new WIP
• I have been working on old WIP's
• I have been submitting my completed fantasy novels to publishers
• The Pauper's Prize will be out soon (September I think)

All I need is a steady flow of chocolate and I'm in heaven!

Thanks to Alisha for her support lately, too. My friend, you are an angel :-)




Talk to you all next week.

Gay Anthology

There was a reminder email from the editor on their forum the other day…well, about 2 days ago to be exact, asking where the submissions were for their upcoming gay anthology. Yes, I had put my name down as one of the participants for the anthology. No, I didn’t miss the deadline, I had a completed story, I just totally forgot about when I was supposed to submit it *blushes*

Lucky my beta reader is an understanding fellow, because last night he was bombarded with my stuff. Thankfully my story was pretty much polished and ready to go. *phew* A few minor tweaks here and there and just then I clicked on the send button. My story is now on its way. It’s a good feeling, that’s for sure.

The story I submitted is titled ‘The Phoenix Rises’ it’s a fantasy short story about a young man that encounters a phoenix while hiking in the forest (as he has done all his life). The phoenix turns into a beautiful man, and of course, the young man falls for him. Events turn when a hunter shoots and kills the phoenix, leaving the young man devastated. We all know the phoenix can rise from the ashes, however, what the young man sees return from the dead is not what he expected. Not at all. Will he be able to love the phoenix in the same way again...

Some News--Finally!

Yes, I finally have some writing news...

Brace yourselves...

*drum roll*

I have a short story accepted for publication by eXtasy books. It's for their Fantasy Garden series and is titled "Mama's Heart."

I am so thrilled about it because it's the first time I haven't written a speculative story. Yep. No werewolves or aliens in this one. I have stuck to a good 'ol story about a young man discovering love...with other men, of course :-) And Mama... well, Mama has to be read about because she's such a great character (both to write about and to read about). I had such a ball writing this story.

It's coming up for a 15th of July release. Sorry, I don't have a cover pic yet. But you can be rest assured, The Wicked Thorn and Roses blog will be the only place you can win copies of it!

Until next Thursday!

Busy? Try Being a Writer

In the writing world its funny how for weeks, even years, nothing happens. Then, all of a sudden everything happens at once. Well, that’s how it has been for me lately, and as a result I’ve had a rather busy week.

First, I have been invited to guest blog at Night Owl Romance (NOR). When Tammie sent me the confirmation that it was all a go the first thing I did was panic! Yep. Me. Panic. I had no idea what to write. Sure, it’s fun, even easy, to write a ‘normal’ blog entry for my own site. If what I write is complete and utter crap then so what. I'd have the next post to redeem myself. Not so with this post I am doing for NOR. I get one shot and one shot only to draw potential new readers into my evil clutches *grin*

I stared for ages at the fresh, clean white 'new document' I had opened, hoping to find inspiration. I needed to be witty. No, I needed to be funny. Wait…hang on…how about if I wrote something intellectual? Oh darn! Me intellectual? That would be like me asking my dog to go hang out the washing. It just ain’t gonna happen.

Then something happened. I had an epiphany. I decided to be myself. Just write what came naturally to me. You know, talk about something I weave into my writing and make it fun, too.

So go check out the result of my first (and hopefully not last) blog at NOR, click here on the 11th of April. That’s when I take over the place! Muhaahaaaaa. I hope they know what they got themselves into.

Second, I have started an all new ‘announcement only’ blog for my writing. A place where I can post news, submissions, rejections, acceptances and anything else that takes my fancy. To check that out click here.

And last but not least, I have been doing a lot of submissions lately. I have about 3 completed novels with another 2 coming to that stage where I need to think of where I’m going to send them. This past week I’ve been editing like mad, writing synopsis’s and generally getting submission packages ready. Phew! Who knew writing was only just the beginning when it comes to being a writer.

Oh, and I just found out that my book "Call of the Hunted" is now available at Fiction Wise right here. Go check it out and grab my book for a great price!

Until next Thursday!



Mark Alders.

Hey there all,

I’m so glad to be a part of the “Wicked Thorn and Roses” blog. But what does that mean? Well, let’s break it down, shall we? According to dictionary.com ‘wicked’ means:

wick⋅ed /ˈwɪkɪd/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [wik-id] adjective, -er, -est, adverb
1. evil or morally bad in principle or practice
2. mischievous or playfully malicious
3. slang: wonderful; great; masterful; deeply satisfying.

I think wicked can mean so much more than what the dictionary states, especially when it comes to writing and being an author. That feeling I get when I’ve placed down a choice word or phrase, or I’ve completed a manuscript, ready to send out into the big wide world is wicked. I think wicked can cover that sort feeling and so much more.

When characters I’ve created come to life, take over and have thoughts and dreams and hopes and love just like they are really living it is amazing. That’s why I love writing so much. I can create anything, go anywhere, and above all, put my characters under so much that I become compelled by how they react and concerned with how their story will end.

So yes, I am a ‘wicked’ writer and pleased to be a part of the Wicked Thorn and Roses blog. My writing centres around the fantasy and sci-fi genres, with a male/male twist…well, okay, there’s plenty of male/male action, you got me on that! Lol But the true essence of what my stories are about is the character. How the character reacts or doesn’t in some cases is paramount for any writing in my opinion.

So what does the ‘Thorn and the Roses’ part mean? Well, that’s simple really.. I’m the thorn (being the male, of course…although one would hope ‘thorn’ didn’t relate to a certain body part. Mine’s waaaayyyy bigger than that *grin*) and the five other authors I share this blog with are the beautiful roses, always in bloom. Naturally.

Anyway, enough of me blathering about what I write. Why not see for yourself. Comment on my post and you could have a chance of winning a free copy of my latest release “Call of the Hunted.” Yep…you heard, for free!

Thanks for listening and I’ll talk to you all next time.
*hugs*
Mark Alders.