One Day Sale: Eternally Enchanted, The Heartbeat Thief Returns

 Usually, my Victorian fantasy The Heartbeat Thief only goes on sale twice a year.

However, it  got picked up for a huge one-day international promo.

So I decided...why not make it worldwide?

THE HEARTBEAT THIEF

One Day Sale...
February 23, 2017

Only 99c

as low as it goes!

Grab it today at any of these distributors:

Amazon US
Amazon CA
Amazon UK

Kobo
Smashwords
Barnes and Noble
Google Play store

Apple store 

"A talented writer can convince a reader that fantasy is real; a gifted author makes it look easy from the opening scene. Such is Krafton's brilliance in The Heartbeat Thief."
USA TODAY Bestselling Author Rachel McClellan

"This is a book that addresses not only the fear of dying, but also the consequences of living. It is beautiful, thought-provoking, heart-ripping, and is so visceral it will stay within your own heartbeats for many years to come."
Michelle S. Willms ★★★★★

"Her writing is sophisticated and tight, just right for the odd but wonderful story she weaves...We have a new heroine of YA spec fic. Welcome to AJ Krafton. Fine writing, this."
Grady Harp, Amazon Top 100 Reviewer, Vine Voice ★★★★★

"...a nice twist to the tired old trope of the vampire... If you are looking for a captivating read that will draw you in and leave you breathless, look no further than The Heartbeat Thief."
Readers' Favorite ★★★★★

"A beautifully enchanting story that will steal your heart one beat at a time."
Cesya MaRae Cuono, author of Elemental Reality (Book One in the Elemental Series)
                
"Krafton not only tells you a story, she makes you experience it with your senses. You can feel the fog moistening your skin as Senza wanders around London. You can smell the city's decay. You can hear the clatter of horses against the cobblestones. And your own heart will anguish along with Senza as she despairs about life--and death--in an era when a woman's beauty guaranteed her a well-matched marriage, even more than her wealth...."
Ronesa Aveela, author of the Mystical Emona series

Happy Unbirthday, Forever Girl: A Victorian Celebration for an historical fantasy

As much as we romanticize Victorian times, life was much different back then—and not always in a good way. Due to sickness and undeveloped medical treatments, many children never had the opportunity to grow up. It is no wonder that birthdays were enthusiastically celebrated—each new year in a child’s life was truly a blessing. A birthday was another year’s victory over Death.

And Death was a huge preoccupation for Senza Fyne, the young Victorian woman whose dark tale is spun in THE HEARTBEAT THIEF. Her seventeenth birthday marked her debut into society…but it did not leave the fear of early death behind. Now of an age to marry, Senza’s mother constantly reminded her that she needed to find her mate before her beauty withered and faded, before her chances of an advantageous marriage was lost.

Senza didn’t want to be set out like wares at a market. She wanted a love-match—but that was one luxury a girl of even her station could not afford. She was trapped in a losing game, each passing day another hand won by Death.

Until she met Mr. Knell, the mysterious man who promised her an escape from all of her worries.

When Senza Fyne makes her dark deal with Mr. Knell, she is freed from the ravages of time and death, and her gives her a special present, a locket in which she must store heartbeats. “A gift on your Unbirthing day,” he said.

And when more than one hundred fifty years, that day was the only day that she remembered. Unbirthdays were remarkable things.

Throughout her long life, Senza forgot to celebrate her actual birthday. Perhaps immortality lessens the importance of another year’s victory over death.

Whom would she have invited, when the loves of family and childhood friends had faded into the past? The world had become a sea of nameless faces, images flickering on a distant screen. Everyone around her would wilt like flowers in late summer, grown brittle in autumn’s chilling wind, and disappear beneath the final snows of eternal winter.

Were there a cake served, a light fluffy delicate creation of sweetness and fruit and frosting, would someone have baked traditional trinkets into it? Would her slice hold the lucky coin? Or would she find a thimble, the harbinger of a life spent alone, unmarried?

And what gift would Knell give her, when he had already stolen her life? His locket hung heavy with memory, with regret, with the pilfered beats of men and women who each lived out their lives in natural order.

No. Mark the day, she would. Remember it, she was thus compelled. But no party. No celebration. Celebrations were for the living.

How dreary! Sometimes my heart aches for Senza Fyne, who, much like the narrator of Poe’s “The Raven” is constantly seeking companionship and release from loneliness. The tapping on her chamber door always yields an empty hall. No one there, and an eternity of it.

Let us give Senza a respite from her fate, and remember her book’s birthday—and therefore her Unbirthday—with a much lighter heart. I, for one, will raise a cup of tea and have a slice of cake and cheer the day I “met” one of my all-time favorite characters: Senza Fyne, the Forever Girl, Death’s Immortal Beloved, the Heartbeat Thief.

This week until June 26^th, THE HEARTBEAT THIEF ebook will be $0.99!

Find it at any of these retailers:

Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon UK 

Amazon FR | Amazon DE

Kobo Apple Smashwords  Barnes and Noble

About the author: Ash Krafton

Ash Krafton writes New Adult speculative fiction under the pen name AJ Krafton. In addition to THE HEARTBEAT THIEF, Ash is also the author of a growing list of poetry, short stories, and urban fantasy novels.

Currently, she’s working on a new series, THE DEMON WHISPERER. First book, CHARM CITY, can be found on Wattpad.com where you can read it free. Find it here: CHARM CITY on Wattpad.com

Find more to love at www.ashkrafton.com

Follow Ash at:

Facebook

Twitter

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Goodreads

Pinterest 

Bad Love, Undying Love: Bloody Valentine Horror Hop 2016 #giveaway

Glad you stopped by my stop on the 2016 Bloody Valentine Horror Hop! I hope everyone has their fill of chocolates and roses and sweet sappy love things. I'm going to help keep you from going into sugar shock :^)

While I am a great fan of almost all things romantic, I also love playing in the shadows. Don't dark sides make the light sides shine brighter? Isn't the dark night merely an omen of the coming dawn? And aren't monsters the most interesting people?

If you like your love stories to have a darker twist, then I hope you enjoy this story... "The Downside of Undying Love" first appeared in Jersey Devil Press. Great mag... check them out for more of the strange and beautiful.

The Downside to Undying Love
By Ash Krafton

We don’t talk much. I suppose not having functioning vocal cords is a big part of that but, honey, I don't blame you for our lack of communication. I just wish our relationship was a little different.
Even if you blinked once in a while to make me feel like we were connecting. Some tiny affirmation that you know I'm here.  I love you to the point of incineration, to the point where I can't breathe because the conflagration steals the oxygen from my lungs. It's why I did this all for you.
Stealing your body was no easy feat. You know I'm a good person, wouldn't hurt a fly (never mind commit a felony) but I did it. I had to. You lived a stony life, chasing death and begging for release but I know you didn't want to die. Not permanently--
So hiring a zombie priest wasn't as big a deal as I might have once thought. It was no different than finding a lawyer or a mechanic or some other necessary evil.
Maybe if I knew you were going to die, I could have interviewed a couple zombie raisers. You know, look into their portfolio, ask about their zombie philosophy, their success rate and refund policies. Stuff like that. Maybe I could have found someone capable of actually putting some animation in the animating. But I was in a bit of a rush and had a limited window of opportunity. It had to be done while you were still fresh. Not that I'm complaining--
Because you're here. I really do like that suit on you and you look so handsome with your hair combed like that. Today we'll do all your favorite things--we'll go for a drive and we'll sit on the front porch and we'll go for a slow walk in the moonlight. I'll even put in that Three Stooges DVD I found in your coffin.
That way you won't mind so much when I change your embalming fluid and scrape the mold from the back of your neck. Curly makes you laugh. I think it's laughing, anyway, that long hollow rasp like a splintering tree. You make that sound whenever the Stooges slap each other. I don't know why that sound upsets the dog so much because laughter is such a beautiful thing in and of itself--

We don't talk much. But I suppose that's still better than not being able to talk at all.

**~**~**

Feeling lucky? Comment to win a copy of
The Scent of His Feathers!

 

Glad you stopped by! A lucky commenter will receive a signed proof copy of The Scent of His Feathers: a collection of dark verses (US only; INT winner will receive ebook copy).

 

Tell me... do you have a favorite monster love story? And the term "love" is way open to interpretation. :) Share your darkest dreams with us! 

The Heartbeat Thief: Happy Dances and Swag For All!

The Heartbeat Thief is coming out on June 12...that's only 15 days away.   And last night, for the first time, the book hit the Top 100 lists on Amazon.

It's officially a BEST SELLER!

Today, I'm celebrating. That means, party favors!

I want to thank everyone who has pre-ordered their copy already... remember you can get a signed poster from me when you email me the deets (for more on that giveaway, see THIS POST)

But today, I'm feeling super inspired. I've been at the swag all morning.

I'll be slipping cameos into random mailers for the people who request their poster. Want one? You know what to do... pre-order your copy and drop me a line. One of these beats can be yours!

I'm also working on gorgeous black lace chokers for the blog tour giveaway... stay tuned for more about the upcoming release tour.

 

So keep those emails coming so I can get your poster and swag to you... and thank you so much for giving THE HEARTBEAT THIEF a chance to become an Amazon BESTSELLER!

Part 2: If Jane Austen Married Edgar Allan Poe...

Back in December, I had posted about my upcoming novel, THE HEARTBEAT THIEF, a New Adult dark fantasy that will be released under the name AJ Krafton. I also encouraged readers to "ship" Jane Austen and Edgar Allan Poe. See the original post HERE.

Well, I also promised to give away Advanced Reader Copies of The Heartbeat Thief to a few lucky people who played along. An announcement was promised, so *DRUMROLL*

First of all, the nickname chosen for our match made in heaven is Scary Jane. (Makes me giggle just typing it.)

Second of all, everyone who played along and provided an email address will get an ARC of the book.

So, yays!

ARCs will begin going out in the next few weeks, along with some tips on how you can help launch this book when it releases.

Which leads me to a third announcement... the release date!

The Heartbeat Thief

By AJ Krafton

~*~*~

Worldwide Release

September 18, 2015
(Kindle-only release June 12, 2015)

 

 

I'm really excited about this book... and I hope you are, too.

 

If you are on Goodreads, please stop by and add it to your "Want To Read" shelf.

 

Also watch for a print giveaway in the near future-- The Heartbeat Thief will initially only release in ebook format but I plan to create a few print proofs specifically for Goodreads giveaways. Talk about uber-limited edition!

 

 

Lastly, I thought I'd share the back cover... since print books need one. Otherwise they're left feeling like they're wearing an open-backed hospital gown.

 

 

Whatcha all think?



The Scent of his Feathers ... Release Day! #Dark #Fantasy #Poetry

I first introduced my latest book during the Bloody Valentine Horror Hop... and it's finally here.

Happy Release Day!

The Scent of his Feathers:

A collection of dark verses

 

About THE SCENT OF HIS FEATHERS:

 

 

"My crow leaps in a sudden sweep of wing and sails past, the scent of his feathers a balm to a soon-broken soul..."

Pushcart Prize nominee Ash Krafton opens this volume with a piece that leaves the reader wondering: Is the speaker victim or victor? Shadows can obscure the details that would cement our perceptions of individuals or events. Sometimes, shadows tell us more than we want to know.

Shadows prevail in each of the poems in The Scent of his Feathers, but Krafton is not afraid of the dark. In this poetry collection, she explores the darkness that surrounds us, dimming the edges of our well-lit worlds. Themes of death, devotion, despair, and desperation are expressed in subtle shades, allowing the reader to determine their own definitions.

How a person interprets these pieces--a collection of tiny everyday deaths--will depend on the reader and the flavor of the shadows within that person’s heart.

Join Krafton as she explores the inherent beauty of twilight. Sympathize with the shadows of a soul. Understand what drives a spirit to desperation.

And remember: without darkness, there can be no light.

Get your copy on Amazon...

 

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Amazon FR

Amazon DE

Guest Post: Greek Mythology Behind PANDORA by Joanna Parypinski

I am a mythology junkie.

Always have been. Since junior high, I've been fascinated by the mythology of the ancient world...Roman, Nordic, Persian, Egyptian...and Greek. Definitely Greek. They had the coolest legends. When the rest of my friends were reading Judy Blume, I had my nose stuck in an encyclopedia.

(It may be hereditary, too, as my eleven-year-old son has a real thing for Greek mythology. Or...maybe it's Rick Riordan's fault. *shrug* He's even trying to learn how to read Greek. Good luck, kiddo.)

I'm not the only one fascinated by the realms of the gods and their cursed minions. One of my author friends, Joanna Parypinski, is just as much of a Greek geek as I am. She's proud to announce the release of her novel PANDORA.

Yep...that Pandora.

Joanna is gracious enough to stop by and share a guest post on the wonderful world of gorgons and gods...specifically, on the myth of Pandora and her infamous box. Read on...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Long ago, in an ancient and magical world of gods and demons, Zeus ordered Hephaestus to create the first woman. The gods gifted her with clothes, beauty, and speech, and they called her Pandora. She was given a beautiful container and told not to open it, but naturally, her curiosity overwhelmed her. When she opened the box, all the evil trapped within it escaped and spread across the Earth.

The legend of Pandora is an iconic one used time and again in books, movies, television, and music—mainly as a cautionary tale. The idea of opening Pandora’s Box is now synonymous with creating some sort of evil that cannot be stopped. But what if there was an actual box, passed down through the ages, that contained all the evils of mankind? That’s the idea behind PANDORA.

Since the book centers around this legend, I decided to delve deeper into the bowels of Greek mythology to create the eerie, supernatural world hovering beneath the surface of the town.

I researched the genealogy of daemons, which are personifications of otherwise lifeless entities like night, sleep, madness, and even death. Nyx, born of Chaos, is the mother of all manner of dark creatures. You might find some of them lurking in the corners of the pages as you read PANDORA. In fact, all the elements of Greek mythology you’ll find in the book are rather sinister.

For instance, somewhere in the Greek underworld are two gates: one made of ivory, and the other of horn. The Gate of Horn produces true dreams, while the Gate of Ivory generates false ones. My interpretation of “false dreams” includes nightmares, which play a significant role in the book—especially with the character of Ben, who has been plagued by nightmares throughout his life. The Ivory Gate becomes important as we trace the ancient history of the box back to its distant origin.

The final bit of Greek mythology in PANDORA involves the creature that appears again and again: the fanged, blank-eyed woman graces the cover of the book, but you’ll have to read it to find out just who, or what, she is…

If you want to read it, why not get yourself a free e-book copy right now? First person to correctly answer this trivia question can get either a PDF or ePub version:

After Pandora opened the box in the Greek myth, what one thing was left inside?

Comment below with your answer, e-mail, and preferred e-book format. First person with the correct answer wins! And don’t forget to check out the big contest where you can win the Pandora prize pack over at axelhowerton.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Stop by Joanna's page at http://joannaparypinski.com/  to read more about her latest book, PANDORA, and be sure to enter her contests. Good luck!

PANDORA by Joanna Parypinski

There’s something in the basement of Maria’s new house—something dark and primeval that made the previous owner commit suicide. It has infected the town of Sickle Falls, giving its inhabitants nightmares of a dark, fanged spirit that thirsts for blood. When Maria finds a mysterious ivory box buried in the bowels of her house, she must unearth its secrets before whatever is inside escapes and destroys them all.

 

Available at:

 

DAMNATION BOOKS

 

AMAZON.COM

BARNES&NOBLE.COM