Moustaches for Maddie and a bit of news

Happy Friday! I just thought I would bring to your attention some things you should be aware of, if you're not already.

First up, a very fun blogfest for an excellent cause. Many of you will know Chad Morris and Shelly Brown. They have something to celebrate because Chad's first book, The Inventor's Secret, has just been released. But right now all their focus is on their daughter Maddie, who last week was diagnosed with a brain tumour. The good news is that she is doing well, recovering from successful surgery, and we can all do our bit to help make her smile! Maddie loves moustaches. Any moustaches. So fellow blogger Shallee McArthur has organised an awesome giveaway whereby we must blog, tweet and Facebook our moustachioed faces to lift Maddie's spirits. Shallee has prizes up for grabs, including Chad's book, but I've already downloaded my copy to help out. It's been tearing up the charts on Amazon!

So, here I am doing my best Mario impression:

It may interest you to learn that this picture was taken, and tache added, by my daughter Eve, using the handy BoothStache app on my stepson's iPad. Why is a four-year-old more tech savvy than I am?! She even did a self-portrait...

And for good measure, here's her big sister Emma (those of you who've bought my anthology, did you catch her story? What did you think?)

I really hope these pictures make Maddie smile! You can view more details and enter the giveaway over at Shallee's blog.

Next, the awesome M. Pax released the third installment of her Backworlds series, Boomtown Craze, on Monday.

In the far future, humanity settles the stars, bioengineering its descendents to survive in a harsh universe.

To secure his future, Craze must propel his world into a more prosperous era. Only days away from the grand opening of his new and improved tavern, he is confronted by a loony Backworlder intent on mucking up his plans. Gaunt and trembling, she claims her spaceship is possessed. She also has a connection to the underworld that shakes loose the dark past of one of Craze’s closest friends. It all threatens to end Craze’s prosperity before it begins.

Meanwhile off world, Captain Talos works desperately to outwit the mercenary Jixes and lure them away from his and Craze’s budding prospects. The mind-control weapon Talos uses against them is wearing thin, and his next move may be his last.

Will Craze and Talos’s efforts bring about a grand new age of boom or damn them to forever struggle in the dust?

Paperback Available from:

Amazon / Amazon UK / OtherOutlets

Ebook Available from:

Amazon / AmazonUK / KOBO / BN / Smashwords /OtherOutlets

 iTunes, Sony, and other links coming soon

You can find details of exciting giveaways surrounding the launch at Mary's post here.

Jessica McKendry is also celebrating, with the release of her debut novel, From the Ashes.

Jaina Indera has been preparing her entire life for the chance to prove herself a superior and loyal citizen of the Imperial Alliance. In order to do so, she believes she must win the galaxy-wide competition known as the Trials. With training at her Gifted School progressing swiftly, everything looks like it is on pace for her to achieve her dream…until a boy named Dragon enrolls in her class.

Available from Amazon

Find out more at www.jessicamckendry.com

C.M. Brown is offering the first two books in her Protector series FREE until tomorrow as part of Read an Ebook Week at Smashwords. See here for details.

AND, my fundraising collection Overcoming Adversity: An Anthology for Andrew is now available in paperback! For all those who have asked, you can buy it from Amazon US or Amazon UK. To say I appreciate everyone's efforts in spreading the word would be an understatement!

On that note, I'll leave you with something that put a huge smile on all our faces. Elise Fallson, one of the excellent contributors and a great friend of mine, came up with an excellent idea to help spread the word. On Sunday, she did a 10k run near her home in France wearing one of Andrew's campaign t-shirts, and her friends had the ant mascot pinned to them as they ran. You can find more info and pics here. Elise, you went above and beyond the call of duty!

Have a great weekend, everyone!