| Amber Argyle

How do you say "Witch Song & Witch Born" in French?

Posted by amberargyle at 7:11 AM Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Because foreign rights for both books have sold to Lumen Publishing in Paris! I'm so excited! They've already been great to work with, very accommodating and helpful. And just look at the font they chose for the cover!!! I actually like it better than the font we're currently using. Might have to rethink that a little.

They will publish both Witch Song and Witch Born, and they have plans to acquire Witch Rising and Witch Fall in the future.

That means Witch Song will be published in 3 languages (Indonesian, English, and French!). It brings me so much joy to know that something I created can be shared with so many people, whom I could never touch any other way.

Also, does anyone know what the phrase below says?

Update on my son's noncancerous bone tumor

Posted by amberargyle at 10:36 AM Tuesday, July 8, 2014

After over a year, Connor's leg has finally started to heal! The 3 inch hole on the outside of his bone has closed and the toothpick sized bone on the other side has thickened. The cavity is obviously still there--the doc said it would take 2 years for it to completely fill in.

But for a leg that showed no measurable healing in 16 months, this is a major improvement. He is allowed to walk and run with a leg brace, but his knee and ankle were locked in place for 13 weeks, so they're very stiff and his muscles atrophied.

It's been very painful getting that knee to bend, and he walks with a major limp. He hurt himself yesterday so now he's back to refusing to use his leg again.

Emotionally, he's still struggling. He still can't keep up with the other kids, and he gets very frustrated when he can't do the things he wants to do. We put him back in swimming lessons.

All in all, we've left that horrible place we were in two months ago (since January, my husband had mono, I had whooping cough, Connor had two major surgeries and was in a wheelchair, we had 10,000 in medical bills, we put our house up for sale, my husband got a new job and is now only home on weekends, and my heart started having palpiations to the point I was getting dizzy and tired). Yes. We've left that horrible place (for the most part), but we still have a long climb ahead of us (I hate moving).

I want to thank all of you who supported my family during this difficult time. I don't think you will ever realize how much it meant to us. So many of you sent gifts and letters to brighten his day--we made them into a scrapbook and when he struggles, we pull it up to show him how much he's loved.

Thank you.

*update 7-10-14*

Looks like a spoke too soon. Connor broke his ankle on Monday and he'll be in another cast for 6 weeks. He was just walking in the living room and his ankle rolled when he stepped on a blanket. That was all it took. Apparently not using your bones makes them weak.

*update 7-13-14*

And now I've broken my ankle. I need surgery because I've discolated it and ripped out all the ligaments and a tendon, plus they need to clean out the chips of bone. It's going to have to wait until we've moved. I can't be down for 6 months with a kid in a cast, my husband in another state, and trying to move. God help us.

{Guest Post} Lee Strauss

Posted by amberargyle at 10:25 AM Monday, July 7, 2014

Introducing

Heart & Soul

Heart & Soul is the third book in The Minstrel Series

(This is a connected book series - while each book can stand alone, they are best enjoyed in sequence.)

ROMANCE. SUSPENSE. MUSIC. DANGER. HOT BRITISH GUY

She's heartbroken. He's heartless.

Gabriele Baumann-Smith is deliriously in love with her young husband Lennon.

Except, it turns out that Lennon Smith isn't his real name. In fact, he's full of secrets: a cottage on the southern British coast, an old girlfriend and... an identical twin brother.

Callum Jones—not his real name—can't believe his brother's widow came to England. He'd warned Mick—Lennon—that an inheritance could put the girl's life in danger, and he was right.

“Mrs. Smith” is the last thing Callum needs to worry about right now. She's beautiful, sure, takes his breath away at times. But when she looks at him, who does she see?

Gabriele's heart is battered and bruised. Can one brother fix what the other left behind? And will they live long enough to find out?

BUZZ for Heart & Soul

"...this took a turn for the spy/thriller genre, which surprised me, but still carried the strong romantic flavor and wonderful accompanying music, like the first two books. I think this is a great series and would recommend it to contemporary romance fans." Denise Jaden, author of Foreign Exchange

"Another great book by Lee! This one had action, wit and a forbidden love! Love the characters and their interaction with each other! Can't wait to see what she has in store for us next!" Tressa Sager, Amazon reviewer

"I don't want to give away what the danger is, but suffice it to say, it's a real and plausible threat. Gabrielle is a good leading lady. She doesn't back down from anything or anyone in this book, but she's still vulnerable, making her well-rounded and likable." J Harrell, Amazon reviewer

AMAZON | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | itunes | Google Play

Heart & Soul in Print

Createspace

The Music fromThe Minstrel Series Volume 3 Heart & Soul

Amazon

Featuring the author's daughter, Tasia Strauss!

Lee Strauss' thoughts on The Minstrel Series and Heart & Soul:

"My musician husband and I just randomly started talking about the idea of working on a project together - wouldn't it be great if we could collaborate and merge our two artistic worlds? Writing and Music? That was the seed that started the muse talking, and soon afterward The Minstrel Series was born!

For Heart & Soul, I knew I wanted to move the series from Germany to England (next to Ireland and Boston!) and that I needed a small coastal town not far from London. I used Google Earth to examine the British coastline to search for the perfect town and found it in Emsworth. Living in Germany part-time has its advantages and one of them is its proximity to England. My husband and I did a quick five day research trip. (It also came in handy for the next book, a Christmas novella set in London - stay tuned!)

Because of the musical aspect of this series, I'm always on the prowl for songs and singers. My connection to the singer-songwriter world via my musical husband has been a big advantage. My husband's musical genes have also been down to our kids, so it's exciting to involve my daughter Tasia in the project to be the singing voice of Gabriele."

Click HERE to read the first chapter of Heart & Soul.

**One of the entry options will ask a question from the above chapter.

About The Minstrel Series:

The Minstrel Series is a collection of contemporary romance novels set in the singer/songwriter world. The books are companion novels, with shared settings and characters, but each is a complete stand-alone story with a HEA (happily ever after) and no cliffhangers!

The books include MP3 links to original music by talented Indie Artists, so you can hear the characters sing!

#1 Sun & Moon

#2 Flesh & Bone

#3 Heart & Soul

#3.5 Peace & Goodwill (Christmas Novella coming Fall 2014)

It also has its own FACEBOOK (link) page and its own BANDCAMP (link) page where you can listen to the original music associated with the books. Albums are also available on AMAZON.

About Lee Strauss:

Lee Strauss is the author of The Minstrel Series (contemporary romance), The Perception Series (young adult dystopian) and young adult historical fiction. She is the married mother of four grown children, three boys and a girl, and divides her time between British Columbia, Canada and Dresden, Germany. When she's not writing or reading she likes to cycle, hike and do yoga. She enjoys traveling (but not jet lag >:0), soy lattes, red wine and dark chocolate.

EASY TWEETS:

New Release! HEART & SOUL, bk3 in a connected series by @leestrauss #Romance #Thriller #suspense #music #musicians http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Soul-contemporary-romance-Minstrel-ebook/dp/B00LBFETFU/ref=as_sl_pc_ss_til?tag=ellestra-20&linkCode=w01&linkId=3D6K75PVF2Y62FBT&creativeASIN=B00LBFETFU

Love #Romance and #Suspense? #Music? HEART & SOUL, bk3 in a connected series by @leestraussbooks http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Soul-contemporary-romance-Minstrel-ebook/dp/B00LBFETFU/ref=as_sl_pc_ss_til?tag=ellestra-20&linkCode=w01&linkId=3D6K75PVF2Y62FBT&creativeASIN=B00LBFETFU

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10 books. 1 Buck. Can I have a Booyah?

Posted by amberargyle at 2:49 PM Monday, June 16, 2014

Okay, so 10 Dauntless authors have put their books together into one amazing boxed set: GIRLS ON FIRE.

Here's what the boxed set is about: Ten powerful YA heroines kicking butt and fighting for love.

10 novels. 1 buck.

Get your copy today!

Amazon | B&N | Kobo

Click on each author's name to learn more about them and their individual books.

Amber Argyle

{Cover Reveal} Girls on Fire Box Set

Posted by amberargyle at 5:30 AM Monday, June 9, 2014

What happens when you bring together 10 award-winning, critically acclaimed authors?

The GIRLS ON FIRE boxed set, coming on June 16! And now we'd like to present you with the cover, designed by our very own, Rachel Morgan

Here's a little about each of the stories included in Girls on Fire:

WITCH FALL – Amber Argyle

High Fantasy

Supreme in their dominion over seasons, storms, and sea, the witches have forgotten the unmatched destructiveness of mankind. And among the weapons men seek are the magical songs of the witches. Born of witches but raised among their enemies, Lilette searches for a way to heal the rift between mankind and the witches. But it may be too late to save either. For if there is one thing Lilette has come to know for certain, it’s that all things fall.

ETERNAL STARLING – Angela Corbett

Paranormal Romance

For centuries, Alex Night and Emil Stone have yearned for Evie Starling. When both men claim to be her soul mate and tell her about an unbelievable past, Evie learns that she’s not the person she thought she was, and her soul is about to become the rope in an eternal tug-of-war.

AWAKENING – Christy Dorrity

Fantasy

When an ancient curse threatens McKayla McCleery's family, she must decide what in her life is real and what is fantasy. Based in Celtic mythology, Awakening is a gripping young adult fantasy that is rife with magic, romance, and mystery.

INEVITABLE – Tamara Hart Heiner

Suspense

Visions of death plague Jayne, who thinks watching her sister die is the worst that could happen to her. But when she witnesses a murder, Jayne realizes that the next death she sees might be her own.

WATCHED – Cindy M. Hogan

Romantic Suspense

Change. She longed for it.

A murder. She will never be the same.

THE FORGOTTEN ONES – Laura Howard

Fantasy

Allison O'Malley's plan is to go to grad school so she can get a good job and take care of her schizophrenic mother. She has carefully closed herself off from everything else, including a relationship with Ethan, who she's been in love with for as long as she can remember.

What is definitely not part of the plan is the return of her long-lost father, who claims he can bring Allison's mother back from the dark place her mind has gone. Allison doesn't trust her father, so why would she believe his fairy tale about a long forgotten Irish people, the Tuatha de Danaan? But truths have a way of revealing themselves. Secrets will eventually surface. And Allison must learn to set aside her plan and work with her father if there is even a small chance it could restore her mother's sanity.

ELEMENTAL HUNGER – Elana Johnson

Futuristic Fantasy

Sixteen-year-old Gabriella Kilpatrick can shoot fire from her hands, which would be great if she didn’t get blamed for a blazing inferno that kills 17 schoolmates. Gabby will have to learn who she can trust, how to control her own power, and most of all, how to lead a Council of Elementals, most of whom have more control over their power than she does. If she can’t, she’ll find herself just like those 17 schoolmates: burned and six feet under.

THE FAERIE GUARDIAN – Rachel Morgan

Fantasy

Kickbutt faerie Violet is about to graduate as the top guardian trainee of her class, but when an assignment goes wrong and the human boy she’s meant to be protecting follows her back into the fae realm, a dangerous plot is set in motion.

PERCEPTION – Lee Strauss

Dystopian/Romance

Eternal Life is to Die For.

A spoiled genetically altered girl needs the help of a jaded “natural” boy to find her missing brother.

INTRINSICAL – Lani Woodland

Paranormal

The gene that allows the women in Yara’s family to see and communicate with spirits seems to have passed her over. Until the night she rescues a local hottie from an attacking ghost. Her act of heroism attracts the attention of the evil spirit, and she finds herself entrenched in the middle of a sixty-year-old curse that haunts the school, threatening her own life as well as that of her friends.