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Book Blast: Shadow Card Guardian by Kacey Ezell

April 16, 2025 by hpholo Leave a Comment

Hey, y’all! 😄 I have lots of cool author friends who write lots of cool books, and occasionally I like to show off those books.

If you’re a fan of John Stovall‘s LitRPG Deckbuilder Demon Card Enforcer series, you’re in luck, ’cause my pal Kacey Ezell has a new book out in that universe, Shadow Card Guardian! I’ll be interviewing her about it Friday:

But if you’d like to read it before then … 😁

READ SHADOW CARD GUARDIAN HERE

Shadow Card Guardian

The Nyx Cards #1

by Kacey Ezell

***

Dania Ellis has faced warzones and Emergency Room chaos—but nothing prepared her for Drop Night.

Once every ten years, the gods give a deck of cards to a chosen few. These new “deckbearers” are capable of great magical feats, and are the top of every food chain, both metaphorically and literally.

As a combat veteran and ER nurse, Dania knows what it takes to fight for a better life. She’s worked tirelessly to build a future for herself and her orphaned nephew, Jake. But everything changes on Jake’s fourteenth birthday when he receives a Drop Night deck—straight from Nyx, the goddess of night.

The deck grants Jake power, but it also paints a target on his back. Suddenly, he’s a deckbearer hunted by forces that would do anything to possess his special deck of cards. But those hunting him and others like him failed to consider one important thing: Jake may be orphaned, but he’s not alone…

Because Dania will do anything to protect her kid. Survival isn’t just an option—it’s a promise.

Fast-paced, gripping, and full of heart, this story is in the same universe as Demon Card Enforcer, and perfect for fans of All the Skills and Goblin Summoner.

READ SHADOW CARD GUARDIAN HERE

NOTE: As Amazon Associates, we earn a wee little commission on any Amazon purchases made through qualifying links on this page.

THIS FRIDAY! Q&A with Kacey Ezell, author of SHADOW CARD GUARDIAN

April 14, 2025 by hpholo Leave a Comment

Q&A with Kacey Ezell, author of SHADOW CARD GUARDIAN

Friday, April 18th @ 8pm EST

H.P. Holo chats with author KACEY EZELL about the new deckbuilding LitRPG SHADOW CARD GUARDIAN … and gives away a signed copy!

Read SHADOW CARD GUARDIAN Here: https://amzn.to/42jCTWc #AmazonAffiliate

Visit Kacey’s Website Here: https://kaceyezell.net/

Dania Ellis has faced warzones and Emergency Room chaos—but nothing prepared her for Drop Night.

Because Dania will do anything to protect her kid. Survival isn’t just an option—it’s a promise.

Fast-paced, gripping, and full of heart, this story is in the same universe as Demon Card Enforcer, and perfect for fans of All the Skills and Goblin Summoner.

Support the podcast (and/or buy Dazzle treats) at …

Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/holowriting
Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/holowriting

THIS SUNDAY! Q&A with Shami Stovall, Author of 24-HOUR WARLOCK

April 11, 2025 by hpholo Leave a Comment

Q and A with Shami Stovall, author of 24-HOUR WARLOCK

Sunday, April 13th @ 8pm EST

H.P. Holo chats with author Shami Stovall about the new urban fantasy mystery 24-HOUR WARLOCK (The Chronos Chronicles #3) … and gives away a signed copy!

Enter to win a signed copy of 24-HOUR WARLOCK here: https://forms.gle/5hiHiGgxNdHQAt7y9

Read 24-HOUR WARLOCK Here: https://amzn.to/3G2MPMq #AmazonAffiliate

Visit Shami’s Website Here: https://sastovallauthor.com/

***

“What spirit do I have to make a pact with to become Finch’s murder mystery assistant? ‘CAUSE I WILL DO IT.” – H.P. Holo (Author of Monster Punk Horizon and podcaster at Author Q&A)

***

The most powerful warlock in the world, Adair Finch, has drawn the ire of a sociopathic wizard.

Determined to help Jessica, as well as a few others around town, all within a single 24-hour period, Finch must make a new pact with a creature that can defeat Maldonado’s infernal magic. Unfortunately, very few creatures can do that, and all of them want something drastic in return.

Luckily, Finch has made some new allies—a werewolf, a YouTube star, a budding witch, a vampire attorney, and even a reluctant duergar. With their help, finding Maldonado and ending his criminal operations doesn’t seem as impossible as before.

***

Support the podcast (and/or buy Dazzle treats) at …

Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/holowriting

Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/holowriting

Book Blast: 24-Hour Warlock (Chronos Chronicles #3) by Shami Stovall

April 8, 2025 by hpholo Leave a Comment

Hey, y’all! 😄 I have lots of cool author friends who write lots of cool books, and occasionally I like to show off those books.

You may recall Shami Stovall’s Time-Marked Warlock (Chronos Chronicles #1) – a time-loop urban fantasy I frequently describe as “so good it cured my OCD.” (Srsly, any book that can make my time-obsessed self lose track of time is an AMAZING book.)

And, if you don’t, here’s my interview with her about that book:

All that to say, Book 3 is out today and YOU SHOULD TOTALLY CHECK IT OUT:

READ 24-HOUR WARLOCK HERE

24-Hour Warlock

Chronos Chronicles #3

by Shami Stovall

***

The most powerful warlock in the world, Adair Finch, has drawn the ire of a sociopathic wizard.

While building up his PI agency, Finch’s sister-in-law, Jessica, comes to him with a major problem. She cheated the wizard, Maldonado, an infamous demonologist known for his crime dealings, and now he wants Jessica dead.

Determined to help Jessica, as well as a few others around town, all within a single 24-hour period, Finch must make a new pact with a creature that can defeat Maldonado’s infernal magic. Unfortunately, very few creatures can do that, and all of them want something drastic in return.

Luckily, Finch has made some new allies—a werewolf, a YouTube star, a budding witch, a vampire attorney, and even a reluctant duergar. With their help, finding Maldonado and ending his criminal operations doesn’t seem as impossible as before.

READ 24-HOUR WARLOCK HERE

NOTE: As Amazon Associates, we earn a wee little commission on any Amazon purchases made through qualifying links on this page.

Authors Just Talk About … Arcane: League of Legends (Season 2) – THIS SUNDAY @ 8pm EST

March 22, 2025 by hpholo Leave a Comment

Authors Just Talk About … ARCANE: LEAGUE OF LEGENDS (Season 2)

Sunday, March 23rd @ 8pm EST

Authors Melissa Olthoff, Marisa Wolf, and Jesse James Fain just talk about Arcane: League of Legends (Season 2)! (Moderated by Edie Skye/H.P. Holo.)

For more information about the panelists and their works, visit their websites below:

Melissa Olthoff: https://www.melissaolthoff.net/
Marisa Wolf: https://www.marisawolf.net/
Jesse James Fain: https://amzn.to/4eVtmKo
Edie Skye: https://edieskye.com/
H.P. Holo: https://holowriting.com/

Find Baen books here: https://www.baen.com/

Support the podcast/feed the host’s coffee-fueled word count here: https://buymeacoffee.com/holowriting

Watch on YouTube

WaTCH ON FACEBOOK

WATCH ON X

Also, watch our discussion on Arcane (Season 1) here: https://holowriting.com/2024/10/20/authors-just-talk-about-arcane-league-of-legends/

And read H.P.’s earlier review of Arcane (Season 1) here! https://holowriting.com/2022/03/19/arcane-tv-review/

Book Blast: Discount Dan (Discount Dan’s Backroom Bargains #1) by James A. Hunter

March 17, 2025 by hpholo Leave a Comment

Hey, y’all! 😄 I have lots of cool author friends who write lots of cool books, and occasionally I like to show off those books.

Now, for this one: A bunch of my friends frequently tag me as the one who got them hooked on Dungeon Crawler Carl, so 1) I am delighted to be your corruptor , but also 2) author buddy of another author buddy James A Hunter has just released a LitRPG with BIG DCC VIBES.

Admittedly, I haven’t read it yet, but c’mon, it’s got a series title like DISCOUNT DAN’S BACKROOM BARGAINS and this googly eyed dog monstrosity on the cover and a mimic toilet LIKE WHY ARE YOU STILL LOOKING AT THIS SCREEN GET IT NOW

READ DISCOUNT DAN HERE!

For real, how can you turn down this face?

Discount Dan: A LitRPG Adventure

Discount Dan’s Backroom Bargains #1

by James A. Hunter

***

Noclip In, No Way Out…

All Dan wants is to find a way home. He’d settle for a beer, a bite to eat, and a place to sleep off his hangover.

But, in an endless, ever-changing dungeon cobbled together from twisted carnivals, abandoned shopping malls, janky laundromats, and condemned insane asylums, getting a bit of shut-eye is harder than it sounds.

Dan has accidentally “Noclipped” into the Backrooms—a bizarro, extra-dimensional Alice-in-Wonderland world, overrun with horrific nightmare creatures known as the Dwellers. No one ever gets out. Hell, forget about leaving, if Dan wants to survive the week, he’s going to need to harness the strange game-like magic of the Backrooms, make some very sketchy allies, and carve out a little safe haven to call his own.

And he’s going to need to do it fast because Dan is being hunted. The Flayed Monarch of the 999th floor has marked him for death and no one walks away from the Skinless Court with their hide intact…

“The book is a f***ing delight. I enjoyed the absolute hell out of it and think it’s an excellent use of pop culture to make something fun and horrific and awesome.”– Eric Ugland, Author of the Good Guys and Bad Guys

“Buckle up, buttercup! James Hunter takes you on a balls-to-the-wall adventure that’s as insane as it is awesome.” – Jez Cajiao, Author of Arise and Rise of Mankind

“Discount Dan is a fun, fast-paced read with awesome game mechanics, surprising humor, and a brutal adventure you won’t want to put down!” – Dakota Krout, Author of Completionist Chronicles, Full Murder Hobo, and The Divine Dungeon

READ DISCOUNT DAN HERE!

NOTE: As Amazon Associates, we earn a wee little commission on any Amazon purchases made through qualifying links on this page.

New Audiobook Alert: The Dyson File (Gordian Division #5) is Here! 🎧🚀

March 11, 2025 by hpholo Leave a Comment

Hey, y’all! 😄 H.P. here!

It’s a good day to be an audiobook listener, especially if you’re a fan of the Gordian Division!

The audiobook for The Dyson File (Gordian Division #5) has officially landed, and it’s ready to infiltrate your eardrums with high-stakes intrigue, futuristic detective work, and corporate espionage on a MEGA-megastructure scale.

Once again narrated by Gabriel Vaughan and released by Recorded Books, this thing brings The Dyson File to life with gripping tension, sharp dialogue, and an immersive sci-fi atmosphere that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat.

What’s in store?

A macabre techno-mystery. It starts with a supposed suicide, but nothing is what it seems. 😮
Detectives in space! Themis Division’s Isaac Cho and his Admin partner Susan Cantrell take the case, uncovering a deadly conspiracy that could reshape humanity’s future. 🔍
Self-replicating swarms gone rogue. Because what’s a good sci-fi thriller without a few out-of-control AI-driven machines? 🤖
A race against the clock. Lies, backstabbing, and political maneuvering are just another day at the office when entire planets are at stake. ⏰

(Also, beware the fuzzle menace. That is all.)

🚀 Ready to listen? Grab your copy now!

LISTEN TO THE DYSON FILE HERE

Have you read The Dyson File already? Excited to experience it in audio form? Let us know in the comments! 👇

March 7th-9th! Grab Monster Punk Horizon #1 and Monster Girl Tamer #1 for JUST $.99 in the Mana and Might Promo!

March 7, 2025 by hpholo Leave a Comment

Hey, y’all! If you love LitRPG and GameLit you’re gonna want to jump on this!

For the next three days, you can grab a bunch of FREE and $0.99 books, either from some seriously talented women authors and/or about some kickass ladies!

GRAB YOUR FREE and $.99 eBOOKS HERE!

Both Monster Punk Horizon #1 and its spicy offshoot Monster Girl Tamer #1 and are in there for JUST $.99 – and it’s a perfect time to read both, because I just finished the first draft of Monster Girl Tamer #2!

You’ve gotta grab ’em fast, though, ’cause these deals are gonna disappear on March 9th.

Also, FYI, a fun perk of this promo is that, when you buy these eBooks at $.99 on Amazon, you can add the Audible narration for just $7.49 – which means you can effectively get both the eBook and audiobook for less than $10!

GRAB MONSTER GIRL TAMER #1 HERE!

GRAB MONSTER PUNK HORIZON #1 HERE!

NOTE: As Amazon Associates, we earn a wee little commission on any Amazon purchases made through qualifying links on this page.

Book Blast: The Last Dragon Knight (The Dragon and the Crow #1) by Tim Akers

February 25, 2025 by hpholo Leave a Comment

Hey, y’all! 😄 I have lots of cool author friends who write lots of cool books, and occasionally I like to show off those books. That said, my pal Tim Akers has a new epic fantasy thriller out today and IT’S GOT DRAGON WARRIORS IN IT! 🎉

Book Cover for The Last Dragon Knight by Tim Akers

READ THE LAST DRAGON KNIGHT HERE!

You may remember Tim from my fangirling about Knight Watch and Wraithbound, and now he’s back with a story of a former assassin who wants to live a quiet life – but, between a blessing from a Crow, a curse from a Dragon, and a past that just won’t leave him alone, he’ll have to make a last stand to defend his new home.

Tim’s writing is always fun, so go check it out! 😄

The Last Dragon Knight

The Dragon and the Crow #1

by Tim Akers

***

Betrayed by his friends. Driven from the land he swore to protect. Hunted by the legions of Hell. Cursed to carry the Dragon’s fury in his soul. Determined to survive.

Corem Holt was once an assassin, before he was a warrior. Before he was a cataclysm in the shape of a man. Blessed by the Crow and cursed by the Dragon, he fled the destruction of his homeland. It was a destruction for which he was responsible.

To his friends, he is a traitor. To his enemies, he is the last real threat in their endless war. Both will hunt him to the ends of the earth. And so he hides. He tries to live a simple life, to survive, to be happy. But mostly, he tries to forget what he has done.

All that comes undone when his past catches up to him. What starts as a chance encounter with an old enemy rapidly devolves into a battle for life and death, not just for Corem, but for the people he’s come to love while in hiding. To save them, he must make one last stand far from home, far from the throne he was sworn to protect, far from the memories that brand him a traitor. For anyone else, it would be impossible. For Corem, it’s inevitable.

Because he’s not just a hero.

He’s the last Dragon Knight.

READ THE LAST DRAGON KNIGHT HERE!

NOTE: As Amazon Associates, we earn a wee little commission on any Amazon purchases made through qualifying links on this page.

Dancing with Destruction is up for pre-order!

January 22, 2025 by hpholo Leave a Comment

It’s pre-order time again, this time a sci-fi anthology! 😄

Dancing with Destruction comes from Editor Jason Cordova at Baen Books, and has a super fun origin story.

Basically, cover art was commissioned for another of Baen‘s books … but the resulting illustration ended up not fitting the vibe the publisher was looking for.

However, it was still a kick ass piece of art.

So, Jason presented this art to a handful of authors – ourselves included – and said, “Hey, want to write a short story for an anthology based on this cover?” 😀

Jacob saw this art and immediately said “HECK YES! I already have the perfect Sol Blazers story in mind.” But then he looked at his packed writing schedule. 😬 Then he looked to me and said, “What if we make this a Jacob Holo + Edie Skye collaboration?” 😏

Thus we get “The Joy of the Chase,” an adventure in Jacob’s Sol Blazers universe wherein our underpaid heroes take a simple missing persons job on a deserted jungle habitat … and find it not so deserted at all. In fact, it’s a whole lot hotter than expected. 😈

Also, if you weren’t aware of my love for over-the-top 80s action movies, you will be after this short. Yes, I watched Predator for research. Yes, Jacob had to cut plenty of 80s action movie references, and YES, Jason cut more. 🤣

(This is not the version where Nathan + Aiko chase an acid-bleeding monster through simulated vents made of interwoven jungle branches, but I assure you, it’s still cool.)

Dancing with Destruction releases on July 1, 2025, but you can pre-order it in trade paperback now!

Pre-ORder On AMAZON

Pre-ORder On BOOKSHOP

Also, if you have no idea what Sol Blazers is, go check it out! It’s basically adventure space opera for people who are mad that Firefly never got a second season, with catgirls, sassy androids, and maybe a lil’ mild cosmic horror. 🤣

BUY FROM AMAZON

BUY FROM BOOKSHOP

Recipes on Top: Perfect Donkey Sauce Grilled Cheese

January 22, 2025 by hpholo Leave a Comment

Someone at MarsCon said they missed my grilled cheese posts, and I do hate to disappoint my fans. 🤣

This month’s grilled cheese is my go-to recipe, perfected through much Science and Experimentation and LOADS of calories. Enjoy! 🥪🧀

Ingredients:

2 slices Sara Lee Hawaiian bread
2 tbsp Tillamook butter, softened
2 slices mozzarella cheese (I used Publix ’cause it was on sale.)
1 slice provolone cheese (I used Sargento ’cause I don’t like Publix’s provolone, even when it is on sale)
as much Donkey Sauce (or garlic aioli) as your heart desires

Instructions:

Preheat a frying pan to medium-high heat.
Let pan cool to medium-low heat. Plop 1/2 of the butter in to melt.
Use the remaining butter to butter both pieces of bread.
Plop one piece of bread in the pan butter-side-down. Squirt the desired amount of Donkey Sauce on it, then layer one slice of mozzarella, one slice of provolone, and the other slice of mozzarella atop the bread. Squire more Donkey Sauce on it, if desired. Place the other piece of bread on top, butter-side-up.
Let sandwich cook slowly until it reaches desired toastiness and meltiness. (Don’t cook it too fast/hot or the toastiness-to-meltiness ratio will be off.)
Plate finished sandwich and drizzle Donkey Sauce over the top for extra fanciness.

Babble:

I impulse-bought Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Donkey Sauce solely ‘cause it’s called Donkey Sauce, and put it on everything for like a week, including this sandwich. (It’s basically a garlic aioli, which already puts it in HELL YEAH territory.)

The Hawaiian bread wasn’t working out for a lot of my previous experiments (It made everything too rich), but this one? HOOOOOOOOO BOY. The provolone and mozzarella that I used are both subtle enough that Hawaiian bread complemented them well. Add the Donkey Sauce for extra pizzazz, and this one became chef’s kiss.

*I only used a little bit for the photo to make it look vaguely bougie, but then dumped it on afterward.

We chatted Tropes on Book Career Network: Worlds Asunder!

December 24, 2024 by hpholo Leave a Comment

Merry Christmas Eve, y’all! 🎄 An interview of ours went live today and we figured y’all might enjoy it while you do your holiday driving. 😊

David Shadoin and H.Y. Gregor of Worlds Asunder invited us onto their show to talk tropes, and … we talked a lot, so it’s a two parter. 😆 Part One is now up on A TON of platforms, all collected here.

LISTEN TO WORLDS ASUNDER HERE

The special thing about this podcast is I lifted the “WE DON’T TALK ABOUT THE LAST JEDI IN THIS HOUSE” rule for the first time since 2017, just for Worlds Asunder. 😆

It was super fun, so go give it a listen!

Book Blast: Shadow Card Guardian by Kacey Ezell