Tour Stop/Giveaway; Mortal Escape by Amanda Murr

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Amanda Murr will be awarding a $25 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Lily is a conscientious college student with a gift for songwriting and a passion for music. Life on Ember Island is pretty conventional until the morning Lily wakes up to a transformed world. As she begins to discover her roommates and entire campus have been impacted by some sort of fiendish disease, Lily finds herself all alone and heads for the city in an attempt to understand what is going on. In the scramble for survival, Lily meets the charming yet unpredictable Halen, and comes to understand they are now living in a dystopian society.

Although the quick-tempered Halen has a distrust for almost everyone she encounters, she seems to make an exception for Lily. They have an instant attraction to each other, which Halen is more forward about and finds enjoyment in making Lily nervous by this sudden attention.

With only each other to depend on, they face dangerous obstacles to escape the island. As they fight for their lives, Lily finds herself fighting her feelings for Halen just as much while Halen develops a strong urge to protect Lily. Will the two be able to trust their connection and find refuge on the mainland and within each other?

Read an Exceprt

I go to another place for a while on my drive to the city. I think I’ve hit my max of what I can process, and it all still feels surreal. As I turn off the highway, I begin to look for any signs of life. Nothing. Not even bodies. I turn down the narrow street where my grandma lives, park my car, grab my backpack, and head to the gate. Three men stumble toward me in the parking lot, their pale skin glinting in the dim light. I quickly close the gate behind me as more stagger my way. I take off running through the alley, hoping to get inside the building, when I slam into someone.

She’s standing there, emerald specks in her eyes. “Are you a being?” she asks. I barely have time to respond before she yells, “Then we need to go. There’s a swarm on this side.” She boosts me onto a dumpster, guiding me toward the fire escape. My arms strain as I grab the ladder, her strength helping me up. Heights aren’t my thing, and panic sets in when one of them grabs my shoe. Suddenly, a loud sound erupts, dampness splashes over me, and their grip loosens. I look down—blood, but safety above.

On the rooftop, she trains a gun on me. “Did he scratch you?” she asks coldly. “No!” I stammer. Satisfied, she puts the gun away. Then we hear them shaking the ladder below. She tucks her curls behind her ears. “They need to feed,” she states. My heart pounds as I watch her flip a body over the ledge to distract them. Chaos, blood, survival—this is my new reality, and I can’t catch my breath.

Talking with Amanda Murr

What is your latest book about?

Mortal Escape is a sci-fi sapphic romance set in a world that collapses almost overnight, as people begin turning into zombie-like creatures and society falls apart under fear and chaos. Lily wakes up in the middle of it with no answers and no one to call for help, and when she leaves her university to search for safety, she discovers the danger is everywhere. That’s where she meets Halen, who has already learned the hard way not to trust anyone. At first their guard is up, but as the world around them keeps crumbling, Lily and Halen realize they have to rely on each other to survive. What begins as survival slowly grows into connection, and together they find love and trust in the one place they never expected it: the end of the world as they once knew it.

Taking the story from a concept to a published book is a long and involved process. How does that usually work for you?

For me, a story usually lives in my head for months before I ever start writing. During that time, it plays out almost like watching a movie unfold, scene by scene, until the entire world feels real in my mind. The characters, the setting, and the emotions all settle into place and stay there. I have a photographic memory, so my brain naturally holds onto these details and organizes them into clear chapters before I even open a document. Then, when the moment hits, I write fast because the story is already fully formed in my head. After that first draft is out, I focus on shaping, editing, and polishing it into something ready to share with readers. For example, I wrote Mortal Escape in 3 days, but the idea was living rent free in my head for a few months prior.

Which of your books would you recommend for readers to choose first if they’re new to you and your books?

If you’re new to my books, I would recommend starting with To the Bones or Emery Ever After. They’re both novellas, so they’re quick, easy reads but still packed with emotion, adventure, and sapphic romance. They’re a great way to get a feel for my writing style without committing to a full-length novel. If you’re more interested in sci-fi romance, then I’d suggest starting with Mortal Escape and then continuing with its sequel, Mortal Reckoning. Together, they dive deeper into the apocalyptic world, and the sequel also brings another sapphic romance into the story.

Do you have a favorite personal development or writing book you would recommend?

I actually don’t have a specific personal development or writing  book that I recommend. Instead, I really enjoy reading other sapphic romances. Spending time in those stories helps me tap into my romantic side and stay connected to the kind of love and emotion I want to bring into my own writing. It keeps me inspired in a way that feels natural and authentic to the stories I tell.

Tell us something fun or interesting about you.

I have a really big imagination and have been creating elaborate worlds in my head since I was a kid. I’ve always loved thinking about different places, characters, and adventures, and that habit naturally turned into writing. For me, imagining new worlds is just as exciting as exploring them on the page.

What have you learned throughout your writing process?

Having patience with the process. Sometimes the story needs to live in your head for a while before it’s ready to come out on the page. Also, vulnerability connects readers. Including your own emotional experiences, even subtly, makes the story resonate more with readers. There’s not one story I have written which doesn’t contain multiple easter eggs throughout of my own life and experiences.

What has inspired you to become a writer?

I was inspired to become a writer because there simply wasn’t enough WLW content in the world. I wanted to create stories that filled that gap and to tell love stories in my own way…ones that are heartfelt, hopeful, and celebrate sapphic women in the center of their own adventures. Writing gives me the chance to contribute to that representation and to share the kind of love I wish I had seen more of when I was first coming out.

How do you keep your ideas fresh and avoid traveling over well-worn territory?

I keep my ideas fresh because my brain naturally works in quirky and unconventional ways. I don’t try to force originality, it just tends to happen because I approach storytelling from my own perspective, and I’m not afraid to explore ideas that feel a little strange or out of the ordinary.

What trope have you not written yet but want to?

I’ve explored tropes like forbidden love, second chance romance, and friends to lovers in my stories, but I haven’t yet tackled a true enemies-to-lovers or fake-relationship storyline. Those are definitely tropes I can see myself exploring in the future, as they offer a lot of tension, humor, and opportunities for characters to grow in unexpected ways. 

Do you have a specific writing process?

I don’t follow a rigid writing process, but I do have a rhythm that works for me. Most of my stories live in my head for months before I ever write a word. I visualize the world, the characters, and the plot, then I begin writing the dialogue.

Do you have a favorite author and/or favorite book?

Some of my favorite reads have been The Honey Witch by Sydney Shields and Payback’s a Witch by Lana Harper. If you’re looking for holiday-themed sapphic romances, I’d recommend Make the Season Bright by Ashley Herring Blake for Christmas and A Hexcellent Chance to Fall in Love by Ann Rose for Halloween. I love these books because they combine heartfelt romance with fun, seasonal vibes and strong wlw characters.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

By day, I work as a People Development Manager, but when I’m not at work, I love exploring local coffee shops and bookstores, going on adventures with my daughter, reading sapphic romance books, growing herbs and cooking. Lately, I’ve also been spending more time on yoga and hiking, which helps me recharge and stay inspired for new stories.

About the Author:

Amanda is a sapphic romance author based in Westminster, Colorado, where she balances her love of storytelling with her role as a People Development Manager and devoted mom to a spirited little girl. When she’s not writing about the supernatural and soul-deep love, she can be found exploring local coffee shops and bookstores, experimenting in the kitchen, or going on various adventures with her daughter. Known for her warmth, humor, and passion for human rights, Amanda brings equal parts compassion and imagination to everything she does—both on and off the page.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanda.murr.sapphic.author
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amanda.murr1985

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Mortal-Escape-Amanda-Murr-ebook/dp/B0CJ2DWP73/ref=sr_1_1

New Release Spotlight: Sapphic Seduction

 

NEW RELEASE: Sapphic Seduction Vol 2 by Lucy Felthouse (@cw1985) #lesbianerotica #erotica #lesfic #eroticromance #shortstories #anthology

 

Blurb:

If you enjoy short, steamy tales of women getting together, then check out this collection from the pen of award-winning author Lucy Felthouse.

From Sapphic fun at the seaside to showing off by the pool, clearing out an old shed to getting the hots for musicians, and even a spot of voyeurism, this book has F/F goodness in spades. There’s something for everyone, and will have you eager to turn just one more page.

Enjoy fifteen titillating tales, over 50,000 words of lesbian lusciousness.

Please note: The stories in this anthology have been previously published.

 

📚Universal link: https://books2read.com/sapphicseductionvol2

Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62080394-sapphic-seduction-vol-2

Add to BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/sapphic-seduction-vol-2-a-lesbian-erotica-collection-by-lucy-felthouse

 

*****

Excerpt:

Hardware

Caroline and Della walked up to the shed door, paused, and exchanged a nervous glance.

Taking a deep breath, Caroline straightened her spine and pushed back her shoulders. “Come on, Dell, we’re almost there. This is the last big job we’ve got to do. Then we can move on to the fun stuff. Like decorating and building furniture.”

“I know,” Della replied, eyeing the wooden storage space with distaste, “but it’s also the most terrifying. We haven’t got a clue what’s in there. Could be dead bodies or rotting body parts for all we know.”

Rolling her eyes, Caroline replied, “It is the most terrifying, but you might be letting your imagination run away with you a bit. I don’t think the old boy was a serial killer, somehow. He was ninety, for Christ’s sake!”

“He wasn’t always ninety. He was our age once.”

“True, but if he’d been hiding bodies or body parts in his shed for decades, someone would have noticed. The smell, for starters. And flies. Rats.”

Grimacing, Della said, “Guess we’ll soon find out.”

Caroline twisted the key in the lock, then opened the shed door with a sense of trepidation. Unlike her girlfriend, she wasn’t expecting anything sinister to be lurking in the gloom. More a whole bunch of stuff they wouldn’t have a clue what to do with. They’d bought the property—their first, after renting for years—from the family of the old boy who had recently passed away. None of the family was local, so they’d offered a hefty discount on the house to compensate Caroline and Della for cleaning it out.

It hadn’t been all bad—they’d made a tidy sum from selling some of the stuff they didn’t want; including antique and handmade furniture, collectibles, and a considerable book and DVD collection. The latter, as well as piles of old photographs, which they’d forwarded on to the family, had given them a real insight into Ted’s life and the type of person he was. Which was why Caroline wasn’t worried about finding anything nefarious in the shed. He had been a nice bloke, by all accounts, fond of his family, his friends, and his work. Carpentry had been his vocation, not just his career—hence the handmade furniture they’d sold on. So, Caroline’s common sense was telling her the scariest thing they were likely to find was spiders.

She reached inside to undo the bolts holding the other door closed. After a little wrestling, but not too much, she pulled them free. It seemed old Ted had maintained the shed right up until his declining physical health had made it impossible. It must have driven him crazy to not be able to do all the things he used to. She flung both doors wide to let the light flood in and stood back.

Gazing into the cavernous space, both girls were silent for several long moments. Then Caroline turned to Della with a grin. “Well then, should we get started?”

Wide eyed, Della looked back at her. “Where the hell do we start? What is all this stuff?”

“God knows.” Caroline squinted at the piles of chaos. “Carpentry tools, at a guess. And, er, decorating stuff, and… just stuff. Normal shed stuff, see? Nothing dead or decaying in sight. It’s just a little bit dusty and very untidy. Looks like he was a hoarder. We may as well do what we did with the rest of the house—empty everything out and sort through it as we go. Figure out what we want to keep—if anything—what needs throwing away, and what we might be able to sell.”

“Not sure we’ll get much interest in ‘thingymajigs’ on eBay.” She pointed at a metal contraption with a circular blade. “I mean, what the fuck is that thing?”

Caroline stuck her tongue out at Della and stepped into the shed. “Don’t be so defeatist. Come on! The sooner we start, the sooner we’ll finish.”

Reluctantly, Della joined her girlfriend. “Okay, let’s get going.”

An hour and a half later, they stopped for a tea break. “Fucking hell,” Caroline said, blowing on the surface of her tea, then taking a sip as she surveyed the three piles—keep, sell, dump—they’d created. “There seems to be a ton of stuff out here, and yet looking in there,” she jerked her head towards the shed, “it looks as though we’ve barely scratched the surface.”

“It’s like the fucking TARDIS in there, isn’t it?” Della replied, shoving at a plastic paint tray with the toe of her shoe.

“Hmm…” Caroline regarded the insanity, then gave a wry smile. “But it’ll be worth it in the end, though. The shed itself seems sturdy enough, so we’ll have plenty of storage space for any tools we keep, plus any gardening paraphernalia we buy…” She tailed off, letting her words sink in. Given they’d only ever rented flats, gardening hadn’t been high on the agenda, and Della had often lamented the lack of having a green space of their own.

Narrowing her eyes, Della took a couple of gulps of her drink. “Yeah… I suppose you’re right. We’ll need a lawnmower, and a strimmer, a spade, a hoe—”

“We’ve already got a ‘ho’,” Caroline quipped, wiggling her eyebrows theatrically and pointing at Della.

“Hey,” Della exclaimed, punching Caroline playfully on the arm. “Bitch. That’s not very nice.”

Chuckling, Caroline shrugged. “What can I say? I’m not very nice.”

“True.”

Smirking at each other over the rims of their mugs, the pair finished their drinks in silence.

“Done?” Della asked, holding out her hand. “I’ll stick these in the kitchen.”

Caroline passed her empty mug to Della. “Thanks. Right, I’m going back in…”

Picking her way across the clear part of the floor, Caroline looked around, wondering what she should tackle next. Just then, she spotted a wooden stool with a coil of rope sitting on top of it.

All thoughts of clearing out the shed flew from her mind as a grin crept onto her face. She had a much better idea.

*****

Author Bio:

Lucy Felthouse is the award-winning author of erotic romance novels Stately Pleasures (named in the top 5 of Cliterati.co.uk’s 100 Modern Erotic Classics That You’ve Never Heard Of), Eyes Wide Open (winner of the Love Romances Café’s Best Ménage Book 2015 award), The Persecution of the Wolves, Hiding in Plain Sight, and The Heiress’s Harem and The Dreadnoughts series. Including novels, short stories and novellas, she has over 170 publications to her name. Find out more about her and her writing at http://lucyfelthouse.co.uk/linktree  

 

Release blitz organised by Writer Marketing Services.