Anthologies – Page 2 – Natalie J. Case

Posted on January 9, 2018 by Natalie J Case — Leave a comment

a bridge of shadow

Recently we finished up our second Creativia anthology. Like the first one, all of the writers started with the same prompt, and had about four months to write. This time around, their prompt was “The letter/email/missive/message was ominous, if a little vague in the details. “Midnight, on the bridge. Come alone.””

The finished product is an unusual mix of genres and subjects. Each writer really set off on their own path from the prompt. As usual, they are give a fair bit of leeway in interpreting the prompt as long as they kept the heart of it the same.

As a result, you’ll find colonial America, Victorian London and fantasy worlds alike. There are love stories, cautionary tales, and fantasy. You will find paranormal creatures like wendigos, vampires, Shades, sentient shadows or talking animals.

The six authors represented here took our prompt and each of them headed off in a different direction, and that right there is half the reason I do it! I love the way creative minds work, and it is a thrill getting to edit (and contribute) to this collection.

Now available on Amazon in kindle and paperback formats, get your copy of A Bridge of Shadow today!

Posted on November 21, 2017November 21, 2017 by Natalie J Case — Leave a comment

giving thanks

I realized this morning that it’s been a while since I posted here. The reasons are many: the continued issue with the pinched nerve, getting back to work full time, taking on an editing job, plus working on a new anthology, plus two novels currently in progress…all of which means I haven’t really had much free time to do promo work or write up blog posts!

When you’re surrounded by what feels like insurmountable debt, it’s hard to find your way to being thankful about much. It is insane that a grown woman with a good job and decent insurance should be this deep in medical debt, but it is what it is. You either suck it up and get the work done, or you continue to suffer. (I have a fundraiser set up to help me cope with the unexpected medical bills, if you’re interested: You Caring Fundraiser)

But, even with all of the doctor visits and the pain and the physical therapy, and the bills and prescriptions that come with that, I am blessed. I’m living a dream I have had since I was pretty young, I’m a published author! And I get to make a living working with words.

Not everyone gets to live their dream. You can’t help but be thankful when you see a lifetime of learning and crafting become an actual reality. My first book, Forever, took me years to bring to fruition and I learned a lot along the way.

Currently I am working on two different novels, the ending of the Shades and Shadows series and a new one that jumped up out of the abyss that is my mind a few weeks ago and took up residence in the front part of my Brain where it will not leave me alone.

And do you remember the anthology we published a few months ago? Once Upon a Broken Dream was the first in a series of anthologies from Creativia Publishing. Each anthology begins with a prompt and writers are invited to submit stories using that prompt. Well, the next one should be ready in December, so keep your eyes open.

So yeah, I’m pretty blessed and living a life that’s pretty amazing. Even if I’m struggling in some areas. I hope you can say the same.

Oh, yeah, and if you want autographed copies of my books this holiday season, hit up my facebook page or email me at natalie@nataliejcase.com.

Posted on October 10, 2017October 10, 2017 by Natalie J Case — Leave a comment

early morning coffee

Lately, the pain from this pinched nerve gets me up and out of bed around 3am every morning. Today it’s the tightness in my shoulder muscles and my forearm muscles. Some mornings it’s the searing, stabbing pain in my neck and shoulder joint.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s much better than it was a week ago.

I’ll wake up, possibly needing to go to the bathroom around 1 or 2 am. I’ll shift around, take the middle of the night pain pills, then toss and turn and doze a bit until I give up because I just can’t get comfortable. That’s almost always right around 3am.

I get up, get the cats their morning treats and start a pot of coffee. Then I sit and play silly Facebook games with my left hand working the mouse while I let gravity help loosen up my right arm. Usually by the end of the first pot of coffee, I’m mostly functional, though typing isn’t usually on the agenda this early.

Because I’m on limited duty for work, and am largely working from home, this means I have a little time to kill before I start my work day. Yesterday that meant working on my short story for the second anthology, and that’s probably what I’ll do today too. Either that or I work on the third book in the Shades and Shadows series.

Speaking of which, have you gone to get your copy of In Gathering Shade yet? The kindle version is available now. Paperbacks coming soon!

You can also get Through Shade and Shadow and In Gathering Shade together as a bundle on Kindle.

Once you’ve read them, I’d really appreciate a review. It only takes a minute. You don’t have to say much. I really hate how much we rely on them to get our books into recommendations, but we do.

I’m putting together a giveaway package that I’ll probably award in December. It will include autographed copies of both books in the series, as well as some fun things you’re going to love, so stay tuned!

On that note, my coffee cup needs refilling and my arm needs a rest. Happy Tuesday, Readers!

Posted on October 6, 2017October 6, 2017 by Natalie J Case — Leave a comment

in search of…

Are you a book reviewer? A reader who loves books? I’m looking for folks who will provide honest reviews of my books. I can provide electronic ARCs if you are a book blogger or reviewer.

I know my work isn’t everybody’s cup of tea, but if you’re interested in vampire stories that go beyond the modern teenage love story, you might enjoy Forever, the story of Amara: born to a vampire mother and raised in a clan of killers, Amara finds herself at odds with her family and drawn toward the world of man.

Once Upon a Broken Dream is an anthology of short stories that all emerged from a single prompt. Two of my own stories are in there and I edited the overall anthology. The stories cover a broad spectrum of genres. My two offerings are an introduction to a sci-fi story I hope to introduce next year, Jericho Jordan and a fairy-tale fantasy called Red-Belly about a world once governed by dragons.

Through Shade and Shadow is the opening salvo in a series filled with danger, secret government agencies, psychics, healers and shape-shifters and a world on the brink of war. Meet Mason Jerah, a Shade, who we meet as his world dies, goes from a backwoods, sheltered boy to government agent at the focal point of the coming civil war and Alaric Lambrecht, a Shadow who just wants to keep his people safe. When they finally come together, it could signal the beginning of the end.

In Gathering Shade picks up where Through Shade and Shadow left off, joining Mason and Alaric on a daring escape and meeting a few new players. Raven Ivany is a government agent, working for the same agency as Mason. She too is a Shade, and while investigating what seems to be a Shade serial killer, she happens across Zero, a teenager with the abilities of a Sage and a Shadow, together with Evan Chayton, they find themselves caught up in the machinations of a Shadow who has been manipulating things from behind the scenes.

Anyone interested in reviewing any of these, please reach out to me at natalie@nataliejcase.com.

Posted on August 31, 2017 by Natalie J Case — Leave a comment

free on kindle

I almost forgot to let you know that Through Shade and Shadow is currently free for kindle, now (well, starting yesterday) through September 3rd!

You read that right! FREE!

Just in time to be ready for In Gathering Shade, get Through Shade and Shadow for your kindle, and if you’re up for it, write a review.

Remember that any NEW reviews will be entered for a chance to win a copy of In Gathering Shade!

And while you’re at it, you should pick up a copy of Once Upon a Broken Dream too! Just $.99 for your Kindle!