A. L. Kaplan

Tag: chocolate

  • Chocolate Town Book Festival: October 7, 2023

    Come see me and dozens of great authors

    at the

    Chocolate Town Book Festival

    October 7, 2023

    701 COCOA AVE
    Hershey, PA 17033
    1:00 – 5:00 PM

    Grab a great book and some chocolate.

    MARK OF THE GODDESS

    Sometimes a blessing can be a curse.

    Young Maya bears the mark of the moon goddess, a sign that would doom her to be sacrificed in her village where the death god is revered. Forced to dye her golden eyes dark, Maya lives in constant fear of discovery. To save her family and the village’s future, she must find the courage to stand up to the high priest before he can bring the death god into this world.

    STAR TOUCHED

    Sometimes it’s hard to be who you are meant to be.

    Especially when your powers can get you killed.

    Eighteen-year-old Tatiana is running from her past and her star-touched powers eight years after a meteor devastates earth’s population.

    Her power to heal may be overshadowed by more destructive abilities. Fleeing the persecution of those like her, Tatiana seeks refuge in a small town she once visited. But this civil haven, in a world where society has broken down, is beginning to crumble.

    Only by harnessing the very forces that haunt her can Tatiana save her friends…and herself.

    HUMMINGBIRD

    Plagued by memories not her own, a young hummingbird struggles to decipher the visions and powers that set her apart from her fellow birds. But the road to awareness is fraught with danger that could doom her to repeat history.

    One step toward understanding.

    One stride toward survival.

    One leap toward flying free from the past.

    WOLF DAWN

    A Hidden Past – A Deadly Secret

    Gifted with the ability to wolf-talk, Kara has lived with the wolves since she lost her memories eight years ago. Now at sixteen, snippets of her past send her searching for answers.

    But the warm welcome she receives in the human village hides more danger than life with the pack.

  • Everything Tastes Better with Chocolate

    Come see me and dozens of great authors

    at the

    Chocolate Town Book Festival

    October 7, 2023

    701 COCOA AVE
    Hershey, PA 17033
    1:00 – 5:00 PM

    MARK OF THE GODDESS

    Sometimes a blessing can be a curse.

    Young Maya bears the mark of the moon goddess, a sign that would doom her to be sacrificed in her village where the death god is revered. Forced to dye her golden eyes dark, Maya lives in constant fear of discovery. To save her family and the village’s future, she must find the courage to stand up to the high priest before he can bring the death god into this world.

    STAR TOUCHED

    Sometimes it’s hard to be who you are meant to be.

    Especially when your powers can get you killed.

    Eighteen-year-old Tatiana is running from her past and her star-touched powers eight years after a meteor devastates earth’s population.

    Her power to heal may be overshadowed by more destructive abilities. Fleeing the persecution of those like her, Tatiana seeks refuge in a small town she once visited. But this civil haven, in a world where society has broken down, is beginning to crumble.

    Only by harnessing the very forces that haunt her can Tatiana save her friends…and herself.

    HUMMINGBIRD

    Plagued by memories not her own, a young hummingbird struggles to decipher the visions and powers that set her apart from her fellow birds. But the road to awareness is fraught with danger that could doom her to repeat history.

    One step toward understanding.

    One stride toward survival.

    One leap toward flying free from the past.

    WOLF DAWN

    A Hidden Past – A Deadly Secret

    Gifted with the ability to wolf-talk, Kara has lived with the wolves since she lost her memories eight years ago. Now at sixteen, snippets of her past send her searching for answers.

    But the warm welcome she receives in the human village hides more danger than life with the pack.

  • Everything Tastes Better With A Good Book

    Come find some great reads and meet fun authors.

    The Chocolate Town Book Festival 

    Hershey Public Library.

    October 1, 2022

    1 – 5 PM

    701 Cocoa Ave

    Hershey, PA 17033

    MARK OF THE GODDESS

    Sometimes a blessing can be a curse.

    Young Maya bears the mark of the moon goddess, a sign that would doom her to be sacrificed in her village where the death god is revered. Forced to dye her golden eyes dark, Maya lives in constant fear of discovery. To save her family and the village’s future, she must find the courage to stand up to the high priest before he can bring the death god into this world.

    STAR TOUCHED

    Sometimes it’s hard to be who you are meant to be.

    Especially when your powers can get you killed.

    Eighteen-year-old Tatiana is running from her past and her star-touched powers eight years after a meteor devastates earth’s population.

    Her power to heal may be overshadowed by more destructive abilities. Fleeing the persecution of those like her, Tatiana seeks refuge in a small town she once visited. But this civil haven, in a world where society has broken down, is beginning to crumble.

    Only by harnessing the very forces that haunt her can Tatiana save her friends…and herself.

    HUMMINGBIRD

    Plagued by memories not her own, a young hummingbird struggles to decipher the visions and powers that set her apart from her fellow birds. But the road to awareness is fraught with danger that could doom her to repeat history.

    One step toward understanding.

    One stride toward survival.

    One leap toward flying free from the past.

    WOLF DAWN

    A Hidden Past – A Deadly Secret

    Gifted with the ability to wolf-talk, Kara has lived with the wolves since she lost her memories eight years ago. Now at sixteen, snippets of her past send her searching for answers.

    But the warm welcome she receives in the human village hides more danger than life with the pack.

  • SHORT TAKES: Bite-sized Readings From Your Favorite Authors – Saturday, May 25, 2:00 PM

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  • MEET ME AT THE WORLD FANTASY CONVENTION THIS WEEKEND

    Looking for something fun do do?

    Come the the Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading.BU-RFR-WFC2018_final

    Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading at WFC 2018

     *** Brief readings from several authors *** Book giveaways *** Free chocolate! ***

    When: Saturday, 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm    Where: Federal Hill.

    Readers:

    Carmen Webster Buxton has published 10 novels and one novella. Under her real name (Karen Wester Newton) she published a short story titled “Cold Comfort” in Space and Time magazine.  Her work encompasses science fiction, fantasy, and romance. [carmenspage.blogspot.com]

    Randee Dawn is a Brooklyn-based author and journalist who has published dark, speculative fiction in Well-told Tales and Fantasia Divinity, plus anthologies Where We May Wag and Children of a Different Sky (both available in the dealer’s room). She is also the co-author of The Law & Order: SVU Unofficial Companion. [RandeeDawn.com]

    J.L. Gribble writes the urban fantasy/alternate history Steel Empires series, which includes Steel Victory, Steel Magic, Steel Blood, and the recent Steel Time. Her other jobs include medical editing, Netflix watching, cat snuggling, and blogging for SpeculativeChic.com.  [jlgribble.com]

    A.R. Henle writes non-fiction by day and magical realism by night. Her short story “Strong Meat” is forthcoming March 2019 in Sharp and Sugar Tooth: Women Up to No Good.

    Laurel Anne Hill  has authored two award-winning novels, most recently The Engine Woman’s Light (Sand Hill Review Press), a gripping spirits-meet-steampunk tale set in an alternate 19th Century California. Laurel’s published short stories total over thirty. She’s a Literary Stage Manager, speaker, writing contest judge and editor.  [www.laurelannehill.com]

    Paula S. Jordan writes moderately hard, character-driven science fiction, with three stories in Analog and her first novel, a present-day alien contact story set in the mountains of North Carolina, now near completion. In a previous life she supported 30+ unmanned science missions as an orbit analyst with NASA and NOAA. [PaulaSJordan.com,  Facebook.com/PaulaSJordan/,  and on Twitter @PaulaSJwriter]

    A L Kaplan’s work has been included in several anthologies and magazines. Her novel Star Touched released in 2017. She is the Maryland Writers’ Association’s Vice President and served on the Howard County Chapter board for several years. A. L. holds an MFA in sculpture from the Maryland Institute College of Art. [alkaplanauthor.com]

    Laura Kelly is a former professor with degrees from Bradley University and Michigan State University. She currently lives in Ohio, although the lakes of Michigan continue to call and leave inviting messages in her voice mail.

    Emily Lavin Leverett is a writer, editor, and Medievalist English professor. Traitor’s Spring, the second novel in the Eisteddfod Chronicles, debuts in 2019, following Changeling’s Fall and Winter’s Heir. Recent editorial works include the anthology Lawless Lands and the collection Faith and Ethics in the Works of Terry Pratchett.  [emilylavinleverett.com]

    Margaret S. McGraw is co-editor of the anthologies Weird Wild West and Lawless Lands: Tales from the Weird Frontier. Her stories appear in Lawless Lands and Chasing the Light. Margaret writes and edits speculative fiction, blogs on WritersSpark.com and TheMillionWords.net, and spends too much time on Facebook.

    Tina LeCount Myers is a writer, artist, and surfer grew up with a prophecy hanging over her head: Her parents hoped she’d be an author. The Song of All is her debut novel. Dreams of the Dark Sky (Book 2 The Legacy of the Heavens series) available February 2019 (Night Shade Books).  [www.tinalecountmyers.com]

    Jennifer R. Povey writes everything from heroic fantasy to stories for Analog. She is currently working on an urban fantasy series, Lost Guardians, of which the third book was released in the fall of 2017. She also rides horses. [www.jenniferrpovey.com]

    Jean Marie Ward writes fiction, nonfiction and everything in between. Her credits include a multi-award nominated novel, two popular art books, and editing CrescentBlues.com. Her short stories have appeared in Asimov’s and numerous anthologies. Her video interviews are featured on BuzzyMag.com. [JeanMarieWard.com]

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  • Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading at Balticon: Saturday, May 26th at 1:00 PM

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    Award-winning author and editor Danielle Ackley-McPhail (http://www.Sidhenadaire.com) has worked both sides of the publishing industry for longer than she cares to admit. She’s published six novels, a book on writing, and three collections. In 2014 she co-founded eSpec Books (http://www.ESpecBooks.com/).

    Jeanne Adams is an award-winning suspense and fantasy author who knows all about getting rid of the body. Both traditionally and indie-published, Jeanne has been featured in Cosmopolitan Magazine. Her books have been hailed as “Best Suspense Books of the Year!” (http://www.JeanneAdams.com)

    J. L. Gribble writes the urban fantasy/alternate history Steel Empires series, which includes Steel Victory, Steel Magic, Steel Blood, and the upcoming Steel Time. Other jobs include medical editing, Netflix watching, cat snuggling, and blogging for SpeculativeChic.com. Find her at JLGribble.com.

    Lisa Hawkridge is a young author living and writing in Needham, Massachusetts. She has a few short stories and poems published so far, along with a self-published RPG. Her prose can be found at GoodReads.com (http://www.GoodReads.com/author/show/7830161.Lisa_Hawkridge)

    A. L. Kaplan’s work has been included in several anthologies and magazines. Her first novel, Star Touched, was released last fall. She holds an MFA in sculpture from the Maryland Institute College of Art and loves wolves. (ALKaplan.wordpress.com/)

    Gail Z. Martin writes epic fantasy, urban fantasy and steampunk for Solaris, Orbit, and Falstaff Books. Her series include Darkhurst, the Ascendant Kingdoms, and Deadly Curiosities—plus the Spells, Salt and Steel, and Iron and Blood series written with Larry N. Martin. http://www.ChroniclesoftheNecromancer.com/

    Cara McKinnon is the author of the Fay of Skye fantasy romance series. She has an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University and lives in Western Maryland with her husband and kids. Find her online at CaraMcKinnon.com.

    Karen Wester Newton, who publishes as Carmen Webster Buxton (http://carmenspage.blogspot.com/), writes science fiction, fantasy, and romance. After thirty years in legal and regulatory publishing, she now spends her time reading, writing, mastering page-layout software, and walking her beagle.

    Jennifer R. Povey writes everything from heroic fantasy to stories for Analog. Her current project is the Lost Guardians, an urban fantasy series. Fallen Dusk, the first book in the series, was released last spring. She also rides horses. (http://www.JenniferRPovey.com/)

    Ken Schrader is a science fiction and fantasy writer, a shameless geek, a fan of the Oxford comma, and he makes housing decisions based upon the space available for bookshelves. You can find him at his website: http://www.Ken-Schrader.com

    D. H. Timpko is the author of the Firma Twins adventures, a series of science fantasy novels for kids. As Alexis Dupree, she wrote Knee Replacement Advice, Checklists, and Journal. (DHTimpko.com)

    Jean Marie Ward writes fiction, nonfiction and everything in between. Her credits include a multi-award nominated novel, numerous short stories and two popular art books. Her video interviews and short subjects are regular features of BuzzyMag.com.  Learn more at (JeanMarieWard.com).

    Joan Wendland is an engineer, a game designer, and the author of two novels. In her free time…who am I kidding, Joan doesn’t have any free time. Learn more at http://www.Zoo-Illuminati.com/.

    Come to the Broad side—we have chocolate.

  • FREE CHOCOLATE

    Want some free chocolate?

    Come to my reading at Balticon this Saturday

    11:00 AM

    St. George Room

    FREE CHOCOLATE

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  • RavenCon: Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading

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  • LITTLE SQUIRT

    Chocolate, gooey caramel. My mouth almost waters. If only I could still taste that luscious candy, but the reanimated can’t do that. It wouldn’t be bad if I got out more. I mean, Grandma is great and all. She brought me back to half-life after I was killed. It’s just not the same without other kids to play with. Halloween is the only day I can go outside without freaking the living. Believe me, you don’t want the pitchfork and torch brigade chasing you.

    “Trick or Treat.” I hold out my sack with the other children.

    A lady hands me a handful of candy. “Great Costume.”

    I thank her and hurry toward the next house. Two little girls sob at the curb. Halloween should be fun, not sad.

    “Are you ok?”

    The bunny points a gloved paw at three disappearing teens. Her ears bounce with each sniffle. “They…took… our…candy.”

    I hate bullies. “Here, take mine.”

    Big, round, adoring eyes look up at me. Being undead has its perks. I track the thieves faster than a bloodhound.

    “That candy isn’t yours.”

    They laugh and tower around me. “Get lost or get pounded, squirt.”

    “Squirt, is it.” I take a deep breath and squirt them with inky old blood.

    A moment of stunned silence, then they clench their fists. I point down. They stare as skeletal hands reach up and pull them into the ground. Half-buried, they shriek and struggle.

    “Don’t steal, especially from little kids on Halloween. I’ll be watching.”