For those of you who miss the old vampire days, back before they got all sparkly and peaceable, we have a special treat for you this Halloween. Some of you have already taken a sneak peek at V.M.K. Fewings' fascinating world of the Stone Masters with her short story, Mortal Veil. If you got to the end and hoped for more, be patient. Next month, we'll be releasing three titles in the Stone Masters series: A Vampire's Rise, A Vampire's Reckoning, and A Vampire's Dominion. Keep an eye out over the next few weeks as we highlight each title to give you a taste of what's to come.

The Advocate's Conviction

Just over a year ago, ZOVA published its first book, The Advocate's Betrayal, a thrilling legal mystery from the pen of Teresa Burrell. Since then, we picked up the first book in her series, The Advocate, and have been working on the third book with her for some time now.

So many of you have been waiting for a new installment in the Advocate Series, that this October's launch of The Advocate's Conviction is very exciting for all of us.

After two foster children on her caseload go missing under very unusual circumstances, juvenile defense attorney Sabre Orin Brown must figure out where they might have gone, how their cases are connected, and if there's any possible truth to the mounting evidence that satanic ritual abuse is behind it all.

To find out more, of course, you'll just have to buy the book. A special launch event will be held on October 22nd at the Pomona Home Show. Be sure to join us there to hear Teresa introduce her newest book, and to get your signed copy.

Passing on this Mortal Veil

We're looking forward to so many new releases this fall, it's almost difficult to keep track of them all. One of the most exciting developments is the release of the first three books in VMK Fewings' Stone Masters series, a vampire saga that explores all the dark mystery behind the famed undead as well as the ancient order sworn to destroy them. This week, we're offering a free digital edition of "Mortal Veil," a short story by VMK Fewings, which offers a brief, scintillating peek into this world. If you like what you read here, then mark your calendars. There will be much more headed your way this Halloween.

In the meantime, you can download the short story here, or email us at zovabooks@gmail.com for a Kindle, NOOK, or Apple edition.

Remembering Dances With Wolves

This past week, we've been excited to see Michael Blake's epic masterpiece, The Holy Road, hit top ten status in a variety of categories on Amazon and BN.com. For the most part, this was due to a phenomenal two-hour documentary about the making of the film Dances With Wolves on the Bio channel. Many readers and moviegoers have asked the question, "What happens to Lt. John Dunbar?" at the close of that first story, and the documentary does not fail to mention that there is, in fact, an answer. Thank you, A&E. If there was anything we could have asked for from you, it would be that readers would learn about this book. And so they have.

Check out more from the Bio channel over at their website, where you just might find out when a rerun of the documentary will be showing. In the meantime, do feel free to download your own copy of the book, The Holy Road, and get an answer to that twenty year old question. (Or start from the beginning...)

One for the Road

This month has been full of amazing new releases for us. From such established authors as Michael Blake, to newcomers like Clive London, our catalog is growing nearly every day. One of our favorite new releases has come from debut novelist Edgar J. Rossi. His brand new novel, One for the Road, is a staple of crime fiction, the epitome of noir.

When Johnny Flamingo comes to town, 1940s Las Vegas is turned upside-down and inside-out. Stumbling into a casino days away from a spectacular grand re-opening, he finds the joint in a stalemate as two rival gangsters claim control of the place. The last thing any stranger wants to do is get caught between these two gun-slinging factions . . . unless, of course, that stranger is Johnny Flamingo.

Flamingo makes money off of other people's trouble, so he makes as much trouble as he can the moment he walks through the doors. Between whiskey and women, this world-weary gun-for-hire may have at last met his match in this classic, gritty noir. A must-read for any fan of the genre, One for the Road will keep you turning pages and dodging bullets till the final showdown.

Author Focus: Michele Scott

We've had the pleasure of working with Michele Scott for a while now. Her most recent novel, Happy Hour, has been our go-to selection for summer reading - not only because it came out just as people were planning their summer activities, but because it embodies so much of what the season is about - rest and relaxation among friends and family despite the hectic and often overwhelming circumstances of daily life. We can't talk about the book enough, as it's four-storied narrative, recipes and wine pairings, and book club questions make it an ideal subject for any friendly summer get-together.

It's no surprise that such a multi-layered novel was the brain child of Michele Scott. She has been writing since she was nine years old, drafting short stories on her father's notepads. After attending the University of Southern California, Michele began her writing career while starting a family. Her Wine Lovers Mystery Series, released through Berkeley Publishing Group (Penguin/Putnam), quickly became a bestseller in its genre, helping to establish the popularity of the cozy mystery subgenre both here in the United States and around the world.

Michele currently lives with her husband and three children outside of San Diego, where she pursues her other passion - raising horses - while writing multiple novels every year. Many of those books have been released under her penname, A.K. Alexander, and several have become Kindle bestsellers across the pond. Michele seems comfortable writing mysteries, thrillers, children's fantasy, or traditional fiction. And therein lies her true appeal. Because regardless of the genre, Michele knows a good story when she sees it.

If you want to find out more about Michele's writing and life, be sure to visit her website. And pick up a copy of Happy Hour while you're at it!

Prince Albert and the Doomsday Device

Have you ever been browsing in a yard sale or a flea market and come across some incredible, priceless item with a sticker labeling it only ninety-nine cents? You pick up the item gingerly, glance about furtively wondering if anyone else has noticed the outrageous, wonderful find. You were not planning on buying anything; you only came to browse. But you have a dollar in your pocket and the most precious object in your hands.

Naturally you make the purchase, and immediately afterwards you go and tell everyone you know about the brilliance of your day.

This is a little bit how we feel about our two new ebooks for July. We'll just start with one here, as we wouldn't want to overwhelm you with so much goodness. July 1st saw the release of our newest children's masterpiece, Prince Albert and the Doomsday Device, by the enigmatic Clive London. In the same way that the Harry Potter books and the Percy Jackson series found wide appeal across age groups, Prince Albert is a book for everyone.

Set in a steampunk version of the Victorian age, the book follows young Jack White (not the rockstar) across the countryside and into the city of London for the first time. Determined to solve the mystery of his father's disappearance, his search takes him to the newly opened Great Exhibition in the center of the city. There, he meets a clever engineer (who is more than he appears to be) and discovers the mysterious doomsday device set to be unveiled during the following day. Recognizing the device as an invention of his father's, Jack has to figure out where it came from and what it does if he has any chance of tracing it back to his missing parent.

And this is only the beginning. Double-decker steam trains, sword fights on rooftops, jail breaks, gun fights, and some very sketchy tea, all come together to make one rollicking ride. The first in a series, we're so excited to be able to offer this book at only $0.99, to whet your appetite and give you just one more reason to curl up with your Kindle (or iPad or . . .). Let us know what you think when you're done reading!