Happy End of 2023!

Happy December! I hope the season is treating you well and that if you celebrate any of the various holidays this month, those have been joyous and festive.

I have two things out this month, and then a little news and update below about what to expect for next year.

First, this month, I have the digital box set for the first three novels in the Seven Families series. WOLF IN STONE gets you all three eBooks in this spooky paranormal romance trilogy for the price of two! All in one file. This is an eBook box set only. As soon as someone enables me to put together a physical books box set, I will jump into that. (Wouldn't that be fun!?)

The second release is one of the short stories from HAUNTS AND HOWLS WHERE DEMONS DWELL. Burning Inside a Stone Circle slides right into this month as it takes place on Winter Solstice! (Okay winter solstice up here in the Northern Hemisphere, but you get the idea.)

This is the last story from the collection to get its individual eBook release. So if you're interested in some of the stories, but don't want to buy the entire collection, they are all available as standalones in eBook now. For my print readers, the full collection is still the best way to go.

WOLF IN STONE
A Seven Families Box Set, Books 1-3

BUY DIRECT
All Other eBook Vendors

Meet the Wolf Family…

In a world where monsters created by an ancient god hunt for human victims, heroes from the Seven Families must fight to hold back the darkness. Waiting for the love of their fated mates to save them from a god-cursed doom.

This box set collects the first three, full-length novels in the Seven Families series, following the battles and loves of three of the Logan siblings. Don’t miss a minute of this sexy, spooky, paranormal romance series.

DARKNESS IN STONE

When Katie Donovan enters the dark, mysterious world of billionaire Eric Logan, she finds more than she bargains for. Because Eric Logan is not what he seems. And his world teams with supernatural monsters. Eric must win the heart of his destined love, but convincing her they’re meant for each other proves complicated when monsters threaten his home. If they can face the horrors, and overcome the monsters, Katie and Eric might find their future. And a love that defies everything.

REDEMPTION IN STONE

Rebecca Logan never expects to find her fated mate, the one person who can save her, her destined love…just as she uncovers a new monster on a killing spree. Adam Walsh left his werewolf pack a disgrace, becoming a dreaded rogue. He has nothing to offer Becca except exile and danger. As they hunt the new monsters and fend off a hostile werewolf pack, Becca and Adam resist the pull of the consuming passion building between them. But if they can’t learn to trust each other, their natures will destroy them both.

FATED IN STONE

Meeting his destined mate in the middle of a deadly battle with a monster topples years of Ben Logan’s plans and expectations. To save the woman destined to save him, he makes one of the biggest mistakes of his life. A mistake that could cost him everything. When Elle Barker discovers the world holds terrifying monsters unlike anything she’s ever seen, she turns to the one man she thinks she can trust, only to find out, he’s not what he seems either. To save their future, they must learn to trust each other. But first they have to survive the monsters.

~~~

BURNING INSIDE A STONE CIRCLE

BUY DIRECT
All Other eBook Vendors

Winter brings a dangerous transition for this witch.

As the winter solstice approaches, Riana faces the final of three transitions. The ceremony brings a wealth of dangers. All necessary for a practicing witch. If she makes her way through a lifetime of heartaches and triumphs and disasters, she’ll come out the other side to a new life.

But if she fails, she risks unleashing banked power. Power always burning inside her. Power that could destroy everything, and everyone, she holds dear.

A quiet cabin alone, with only the spirits of her past and present to accompany her into the future. Facing personal demons. Riana risks everything to keep those she loves safe.

Author’s Note: This story is also published in the collection HAUNTS AND HOWLS WHERE DEMONS DWELL.

______

News and Updates

As December brings the year to its end, I'm setting up my schedule for next year. And I'll have two new things happening in 2024 that should be exciting--and terrifyingly scary for me in one case!

First, I have a novella paranormal romance series releasing over the course of next year that should be very fun. Unlike most of my paranormal romance and urban fantasy stories, this one takes place in a completely different story "universe" It's set in New York City, mostly, but the world in this story is aware of the more magical side of things. So this isn't something that could cross over into the Cary Redmond or Tiger Shifters world, for example.

I do like good crossovers, but this one came to me as a standalone originally, and I like it that way.

The series is called the DRAGON THIEF series, featuring a magical thief and a dragon shifter prince. And boy are they fun together! The first novella will release in February 2024. For regular readers, this story is actually already published in WHO STEALS A DRAGON. The standalone version may have a few tweaks to it to accommodate the expanded world building I'm doing for the series, though.

My vision for this series is to make it a bit like a TV series. Shorter books, released frequently (every other month in 2024 as a start), and an ongoing story arc, though each individual story will be a complete story itself. No cliffhangers! The romance will be slow burn over the course of several books, so be prepared for that. But the chemistry between these two is pretty hot, so I think the burn will be worth it. (Burn. Dragon shifters. Ha! Unintentional pun, but I'm amused by it.)

If you'd like more about the series, I'm giving all my newsletter subscribers a sneak peak at a short story in the series that won't be released until closer to the end of 2024. This was written as a standalone, and by the time it's published will probably have some tweaks for worldbuilding purposes as well, but it can be read on its own now, without even having read the first story from WHO STEALS A DRAGON.

Any new subscribers between now and the end of the year will get the story. If you subscribe in January, I'm afraid you'll have to wait until the end of this year for this one. BUT don't worry, I'll have other fun stuff for you. (And also, already, I have two exclusive stories for new subscribers that you get when joining the newsletter, so there's that. *grin*)

~~

The next big thing for next year, the thing that terrifies me, is I'll be running my first Kickstarter! 

I'm still in the planning stages, but I'm looking to run this during March 2024, and it will be for the newest Cary Redmond novel, book 8 in the series! Kickstarter backers will get the book two months before it releases wide, and a month before it releases in my store. So if you've been jonesing (ha! another pun--Deacon Jones, get it? I may be watching too much Black Adder these days.) for more Cary and Deacon, this will be something to look out for.

Book 8 is a super fun novel, too, that takes Cary and Deacon to Scotland on a very interesting adventure where we get to see a little more of Deacon's family history. And we meet his grandmother! Oh boy is that interesting. *grin*

There will be much more about this in January, including a link to the campaign prepage where readers can sign up for notification when the project launches, but it's one of the big scary things I'm trying in the new year, and I wanted to give readers a heads up.

~~

The rest of 2024 will also bring a bunch of fun reads, including a new Joan of Kerry novella in January, so please drop by next month for more news.

Until then, I hope 2023 treated you kindly, and if it didn't, I hope 2024 is gentler with you. If you had a great year, I hope next year is even better. And for all of us, I hope 2024 brings good things.

via GIPHY

Image: gif of Sandra Bullock in Miss Congeniality
crying and saying "I really do want world peace."

Happy Holidays! Happy New Year! And Happy Reading!

~Kat

Holidays and Happy New Year!

Well, not quite the new year yet. First, we have to do all this other celebrating -- or avoid the other celebrating as the case may be! Whichever it is for you, I hope this month brings you peace and some joy and some good books to read.

This month, I have a long short story/novelette contemporary romance "meet cute" releasing. It's set in Hawaii around Christmas, and if you're looking for something quick and fun and a little sweetly sexy and maybe even a little suspenseful, I hope you'll try Poinsettias and Possibilities. I spent a few Christmases in Hawaii over the years (went to college there), so I can say it's a lovely place to be for the holidays.

POINSETTIAS AND POSSIBILITIES
eBook 

Christmas in Hawaii is just what she needs…

When a disaster with her former boss sends Jessica Warwick to Hawaii to dog-sit for a college friend, she expects to spend a few months escaping her past and working out her future. And Christmas on the North Shore in Hawaii definitely qualifies as a nice consolation prize after her frightening Thanksgiving. She doesn’t count on the sexy firefighter next door disturbing her peace.

Kevin Nakoa knows Jessica spells disaster the minute his neighbor introduces the new dog-sitter. She’s temporary, only on Oahu for six months, and Kevin isn’t a winter fling kind of guy. Even if the sexy New Yorker has him rethinking that stance. But he promised his neighbor he’d keep an eye on Jessica. And when an escaped dog forces him into spending time with her, Kevin knows he’s in trouble.

Christmas in Hawaii brings a reckoning for Jessica. But also a lot of hope. And with Kevin, the possibility for more.

~~~

Next month, finally, the launch of a new paranormal romance series that I've had percolating in the back of my head for years now. There was even an earlier version of the first book--written years ago! I'm so excited to have the series hitting the shelves soon. It's been a long time in coming. It combines a little monster horror (not monster romance--yet--strictly horror monsters in the first three books), some interesting mythology, fated mates, and a twist on the idea of a shapeshifter. I hope readers will enjoy it!

It's a bit darker than my Tiger Shifters series, but not by much, so if you like dark, scary paranormal romance, this might be just for you. But there are references to the murder of family members (happened before the book started), so if that's a problem for you, this might be one to miss.

The eBook is currently available for preorder at a special preorder price. Buy the book now or during the first two weeks after release, and you'll save 60% off the regular price! A little treat to thank readers and celebrate the launch of this new series. This book will also be available in Trade paperback and Large Print paperback in the new year (I'll add those to the preorder link when they're ready).

DARKNESS IN STONE is book one in the Seven Families series. As the overarching name suggests, there are seven whole families for me to write about. I'm starting with the wolves. There will be more.

DARKNESS IN STONE

Seven Families: Wolf

PREORDER

When Katie Donovan enters the dark, mysterious world of billionaire Eric Logan, she finds more than she bargains for. Because Eric isn’t what he seems. And his world teams with supernatural monsters. But if she can face the horrors, she might find her future. And a love that defies everything.

~~~

Next month more on the new series, as well as some updates on what I have happening in 2023. Some of the 2023 happenings involve an option for buying direct from me!

I have the basics of Kat Simons Books set up now, which you can see at https://tanddpublishingbookstore.com/. I only have eBooks there so far (delivered by BookFunnel for ease and excellent customer support if you have any trouble!). I still have to figure out preorders. And I'm still uploading things. But the basics are there for you to explore if you like. I will be carrying paperbacks as well soon. And I'm hoping to offer digitally narrated audiobooks in the near future, as well.

There's a lot more happening in 2023, so please check back next month for more. If you'd like timely updates delivered right to your inbox on all my releases and news, please join my newsletter. I currently have two exclusive stories available to all new subscribers. Mate Run, from my Tiger Shifters paranormal romance series, and When Cary Met Ariel, a novella in my Cary Redmond urban fantasy series. Plus you'll get cover reveals, excerpts, occasional free reads, and as the store gets up and running, special subscriber coupons! Lots of fun right to your inbox. (I do also occasionally ramble about books I'm reading, things I'm baking, and plants I'm trying to grow. *grin*)

Until next month, I hope you have a very peaceful, healthy, and happy December, and that your New Year starts well!

Happy Reading!

~Kat

August Heat Brings a New Release

Well, okay, it's only hot on this side of the world. For those of you in the southern hemisphere, I hope the winter is treating you well!

This month, I have a new release that starts a new series! This series goes back in time to the mysterious past of witch Angela "Angie" Jordan, one of Cary Redmond's best friends. There are demons in Angie history, things she never talks about. Well, now you can see what she's been keeping so close to her chest. 

MOONLIT STRANGE is the short story that launches the series and is essentially a prequel to the first book in the series. That book, BONE LANTERN WITCH, will be out in September 2021.

MOONLIT STRANGE, A Demon Witch Short Story
eBook |

She’s a witch in a demon hunter’s world…

Angela Jordan is a witch with a very particular set of skills. One of those skills has her embroiled in the demon hunter world. Not her calling. But the hunt still lures her in. Confronting the kinds of nightmares most humans never have to face, Angie accepts the work though she wouldn’t go so far as to say she enjoys it. Still, demon hunting keeps her close to the man she loves. And saving innocent lives is worth the danger.

But ensuring demons aren’t loosed on the human realm comes at a cost. One that might be too high for Angie to pay.

~~~

For fans of the Cary Redmond series, don't worry, there's more Cary to come, including a Christmas short story and a novella that leads into Book 6 in the series. Book 6 will be out in January 2022. Check back for more details on that release and the other Cary stories.

In the meantime, I hope everyone is doing well and staying safe, that health and good reading are filling your days.

Happy Reading!

~Kat

A Cary Redmond Novella and a New Series

Middle of the summer--or winter depending on your hemisphere--and there's more reading to be had. The latest Cary Redmond story is out now! This is a bit of a love letter to Hawaii for me. I went to college at the University of Hawaii, Manoa, and been back to visit many times over the years. I still get asked why I moved away. Sometimes, that question is hard to answer.

So I wrote a story set on the islands, well set on Oahu. And of course, Cary can't just take a holiday with her best friends without something going wrong.

CARY GOES TO HAWAII

(A Cary Redmond Short Story)
Ebook 

All vacations are not created equal…

And as far as magical Protector Cary Redmond is concerned, going to Hawaii with her best friends ranks at the top of the list. No work, no magical Protector business, no jumping between good guys and bad guys to keep good guys safe. For two whole weeks. She gets to enjoy sun, sea, and tropical breezes without any paranormal chaos. Couldn’t get any better than that.

Except Cary’s life bends toward chaos, no matter what she tries. And when paranormal danger rears its head, Cary has to answer the call. Even if it means facing one of her greatest fears.

Because her best friend’s future is on the line.

~~~

Next month I have a short story that starts a new series! A spinoff of the Cary Redmond series, featuring the witch Angie Jordan. This series goes back in time, to Angie's mysterious past, and how she ended up knowing so many demon hunters.

MOONLIT STRANGE is out August 17. And the first novel in the series is coming in September.

Until next month, stay safe out there, everyone!

Happy Reading

~Kat

Cary Redmond is Back with More Trouble Ahead...

Book 2 in the Cary Redmond Series is now available for preorder and will release on January 14, 2020 (wow, we're into the 20s! when did that happen?) That release date is for the eBook. I'm hoping to have the print versions available by then or close to the release date, too, so stay tuned!

The Trouble with Ghouls and Serial Killers
A Cary Redmond Novel, Book 2

EBook
Print (COMING SOON)


Trouble Returns…

And Cary Redmond is once again up to her neck in it. When her supposed mate and possible boyfriend needs her help protecting shifter kids, she’s more than happy to dive in. Discovering ghouls behaving badly and a necromancer in need of protection launches her into the first mission of her seventh year as a Protector, a year she has to survive without help in order to come into her full powers.


But what with the serial killer on the loose, a mysterious wizard trying to kill her, a demon god, and a faery mentor acting really weird, who needs help, right?


It’s just a day in the life of a Protector, and another chance for Cary to keep all hell from breaking loose.


Again.


~~

And if you're enjoying the series, don't forget there are a few short stories out now and more to come in the new year. For updates direct to your inbox, join my newsletter (and get a free short story from my Tiger Shifter world!)

Happy Holidays! And Happy Reading!

~Kat

The Trouble With Black Cats and Demons RELEASES!

On September 13, 2019 because OF COURSE I had to release on a Friday the 13th! I mean, really, how could I not release on a Friday the 13th!?!

The first book in my new Urban Fantasy Romance series, THE TROUBLE WITH BLACK CATS AND DEMONS, is available for pre-order now and will be out soon! If you can't tell by the exclamation marks, I'm really excited about this new series. I hope readers will find it fun, too.

THE TROUBLE WITH BLACK CATS AND DEMONS
(A Cary Redmond Novel, Book 1)
Ebooks at all venders
Print edition COMING SOON


Got Trouble?



Cary Redmond sure does. This time with a particularly sexy leopard shifter who seems to think she’s his mate, a faery mentor who’s suddenly made himself scarce, and an ancient demon searching for a mysterious, mystical source of power in the forest outside of town. Throw in a vulnerable kid for her to keep safe and it’s just another day in the life of Portland’s resident Protector—save the innocent, manage her private life, keep all hell from breaking loose, and try not to die.


Easy, right?


Oh boy.

~~

As a little look ahead, I'll start releasing some short stories in the series starting in October. They'll be scattered between novel releases. The short stories are mostly origin stories about how Cary Redmond, my heroine, met some of the important people and pets in her life. Some of them will take place during the main novel series as well. Those I'll try to release close to the books associated with them. If you'd like to know as soon as those stories are out, you can sign up for my newsletter, or you can follow my author page at your favorite book vender.

Or you can check back here for updated information!
Happy Reading!

Starting a New Series SOON!

I have a new series COMING SOON! I'm very excited about this series and I hope readers will enjoy it too. It's an urban fantasy series with a strong romantic element, featuring one of my favorite heroines to date: Cary Redmond.

Cary is, in her own words, a walking, talking Kevlar vest. Officially, her job description is Protector. She gets between good guys and bad guys and ensures the good guys don't get killed. But boy, does Cary encounter a lot of Trouble!

This particular series had been bouncing around in my head for many years now, so I'm delighted to finally bring it to readers. There will be a seven novel arc with a whole bunch of short stories scattered through out. The short stories are mostly just fun stuff I felt like writing--origin stories of how Cary met the people (and pets!) in her life, some of her other adventures both before and after the series starts, just fun stuff. The shorts won't be necessary for reading and understanding what's happening in the novels, but if you like Cary and her adventures, I think you'll enjoy the short stories as well.

As a little warning, for those long time Urban Fantasy readers: I don't write this series in first person, I write in third, so this will be a little different to the typical books. That may or may not appeal to you, so I wanted to be sure readers were clear on that upfront.

To celebrate the upcoming release of book number 1 later this year (end of August/beginning of September so long as the copyedits and formatting go well!), here's a sneak peak at the cover!

***

Got Trouble?

Cary Redmond sure does. This time with a particularly sexy leopard shifter who seems to think she’s his mate, a faery mentor who’s suddenly made himself scarce, and an ancient demon searching for a mysterious, mystical source of power in the forest outside of town. Throw in a vulnerable kid for her to keep safe and it’s just another day in the life of Portland’s resident Protector—save the innocent, manage her private life, keep all hell from breaking loose, and try not to die.

Easy, right?

Oh boy.

***

Check back for more as the release date nears! And if that cover sparks you're curiosity, keep reading for a short excerpt from the book. Happy Reading!!

***

THE TROUBLE WITH BLACK CATS AND DEMONS

(c) Kat Simons

Chapter One

“Not again.” Cary Redmond ducked as another fireball clipped over her head. “You don’t think fireballs are a bit over the top,” she shouted up at the ceiling then had to duck again as a dagger whispered past her ear.

Close. Her heart pounded. Way too close.

She needed to find the damned cat and get out of here. She scanned the apartment from her dubious cover behind a table piled high with unopened mail. Fireballs, daggers, gusts of preternatural wind, freezing hail, and the occasional lightning bolt dropped around her, roaring through the living room in a bright cacophony of magical mayhem.

The lightning bolts flashing in the small confines were pretty spectacular. If they hadn’t been trying to fry her, she might have enjoyed the show.

“Jaxer, I’m going to kill you for this.”

Normally, this kind of thing was just a part of her job. She was a Protector and literally got paid to run around keeping people safe, mostly from magical bad guys. Not that she’d asked for the job, but that was another story. It was her job, so she faced off against dangerous stuff because the Nags—her bosses—told her to.

Tonight, however, was not an official assignment. Tonight, she was just doing a favor for her demented faery mentor. The bastard knew exactly how to get to her. All he had to do was mention a defenseless little black kitty cat and she was done for. How could she refuse to help a kitty? People did rotten things to black cats on Halloween.

Except Jaxer had forgotten to warn her about the fireballs.

She screeched through her teeth and dove behind the couch as one of the aforementioned fireballs barreled toward her. She cursed Jaxer as she took a quick look under the couch for the cat. Where the hell was it?

She’d called out to it when she’d first entered the apartment but hadn’t gotten any irate kitty responses. After her lurching hunt of the living room and kitchen, the only place left was the bedroom.

She pulled in a deep breath as she contemplated the long space of unprotected ground between her hiding spot behind the couch and the bedroom door. Once she found the cat, this would be easier. When she was actively protecting something, very little of the magical dangers could get to her, and nothing deadly would touch her. She just had to find the cat first. And quickly. They had to be out of this cursed apartment before midnight. Before the wizard got home and all hell broke loose.

Again.

She ducked flying objects and ran to the bedroom, squealing when a lightning bolt hit the ground right behind her. Crossing her fingers that there were no nasty spells waiting for her, she lunged through the half-open door and cringed in anticipation of magical repercussions as she fell onto a red-carpeted floor. She held perfectly still, waiting. Nothing. She let out a breath and pushed herself up onto her hands and knees, shaking her head. All this for a cat. That bastard Jaxer had a lot to answer for.

She rose to a crouch, trying to calm her racing pulse, and froze.

In front of her sat a huge bed, which she barely noticed because the naked man lying in the middle of the enormous mattress stopped her heart.

Holy hell.


THE TROUBLE WITH BLACK CATS AND DEMONS (The Cary Redmond series, Book 1) Coming Soon in 2019!!