Mortal Path Dark Time Ebook on Sale!

Dark Time

Deliverance

Mortal Path ebooks are selling well lately, so Amazon and B&N surprised me with an ebook sale:

Dark Time $.99

Kindle 

B&N Nook Book

Kobo eBook

What if a woman sells her soul to a demon and 300 years later wants it back?

The compelling story of Maliha Crayne begins in the 17th century when she's ripped from her husband's arms and unjustly set afire as a witch. Saved from the flames by a Sumerian demon, she becomes the Black Ghost, his Ageless assassin gifted with otherworldly skills and superbly trained in martial arts. Centuries pass before she finds a way out of the life she hates. Setting her feet on the Mortal Path, Maliha must save as many people as she's killed as the demon's creature, or face his horrible wrath – forever. The odds aren't in her favor. 

"A breakneck ride through worlds visible and invisible — who knew the ancient Sumerians were this thrilling?" – Joseph Finder, Top 10 NYT Bestselling Author

"Seductive, sophisticated, and imaginative. Dakota Banks is firing on all cylinders!" - Steve Berry, NYT and #1 Internationally Best Selling Author

"Dark Time has the flavor of an action thriller urban fantasy novel. The historical aspects and ties to Sumerian legends particularly intrigued me. Maliha has the typical earmarks of an urban fantasy heroine—tough and independent—but there is something else to her. As young-looking, agile and into high tech as she may be, Maliha comes across as a much older soul. It's easy to believe she is 300+ years old. And I really liked that about her." – Musings of a Bookish Kitty, about Dark Time

"Fans of the supernatural and dark fantasy will be intrigued by Maliha Crayne and her quest to save her soul." – Publishers Weekly

"Readers who like their paranormal romantic suspense novels to feature nonstop action, twisting plots, and deadly heroines will devour Banks’ clever and compelling Mortal Path series.” – Lisa Gardner, #1 NYT Bestselling Author 

"Deliverance is a gut-kick of a read, with non-stop action and as inventive a world as I’ve ever seen. Maliha Crayne, not a character to be trifled with, could give other Urban Fantasy heroines a pointed lesson in real ass-kicking." – Vicki Pettersson, NYT Bestselling Author 

Mortal Path Ebooks on Sale Now!

All Mortal Path ebooks are on sale 38% off at Amazon and elsewhere. 

$4.99 at Amazon

$4.99 at Barnes & Noble

$4.99 at Kobo Books

$4.99 at iBooks

If you're missing any of the series (or the whole series!), now's a good time to warm up your Kindle or other e-reader. How can you resist those covers?

"Mortal Path is a novel to be savored for both its edge of suspense and the pure joy of its storytelling. Part immortal, all human, Maliha is a heroine who will leave readers breathless and craving more. Not to be missed."- James Rollins, New York Times bestselling author of Map of Bones and Black Order

"Maliha Crayne, not a character to be trifled with, could give other Urban Fantasy heroines a pointed lesson in real ass-kicking." - Vicki Pettersson, author of the bestselling Signs of the Zodiac series

"A breakneck ride through worlds visible and invisible - who knew the ancient Sumerians were this thrilling?" - Joseph Finder, NYT bestselling author of Buried Secrets

"Chilling, thrilling, and a page turner!" - Heather Graham, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Killing Edge

"Dakota Banks delivers everything I love in suspense fiction: great characters who jump from the page; a smart, layered plot, and pacing that screams. This is the kind of book that makes you look forward to a rainy day." - John Gilstrap, author of Nathan's Run and Damage Control

"Readers who like their paranormal suspense novels to feature nonstop action, twisting plots, and deadly heroines will devour Banks' clever and compelling Mortal Path series." - Lisa Gardner, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Love You More

"Fans of supernatural and dark fantasy will be intrigued by Maliha Crayne's quest to save her soul."  - Publishers Weekly 

For Deliverance

Sacrifice: Mortal Path Book 2 - 99¢ Ebook Sale!

Harper Voyager is providing a special opportunity to acquire the ebook version of the second book in the Mortal Path series, Sacrifice. Regularly $7.99, the ebook is on sale for 99¢.

Praise for Sacrifice:

"Chilling, thrilling, and a page turner!"
- HEATHER GRAHAM

“Twisted. Action packed. Tons of fun. Dakota Banks slams you through a wild tale of mayhem and murder. You’ll love every page.” - MARIO ACEVEDO
 
"Maliha is a mix of Lara Croft and a human Terminator. A series with a strong, intriguing story line."
- Catherine Tuckwell, BLOGCRITICS

Available for a limited time only. If the 99¢ price hasn't made it to all of these bookstores (and many others), it will shortly. 

Vote for Sacrifice as PRG Best Read of 2011

My book Sacrifice: Mortal Path Book 2 has been nominated for the Paranormal Romance Guild's Best Read of 2011 in the Reviewers Choice category. I'd love to have your support to win this award!

It's easy to vote for Sacrifice.
1. Click on this email link.
2. Enter "Vote" in the subject.
3. Enter "Reviewers Choice: Sacrifice by
    Dakota Banks" in the body of the email
    and send it.

That's it! Your vote is much appreciated!
 
xxoo,
Dakota
p.s. Do it now! :-) Voting ends at
      midnight EST January 20, 2012.

PRG Mortal Path Reviews:
On Sacrifice:
"Ms. Banks has done it again; a plot filled with suspense, terrorism, action, love and the tragic conflict between good and evil. ... Intense action as Ms. Banks takes you deeper into Maliha’s quest to free humanity and save her soul." 4.5 Stars

On Dark Time:
"The plot is intricate and takes you on an incredible journey. Ms. Banks does an amazing job of taking you from past to present, to the past and back again seamlessly. This is an excellent read for those who are looking for a non-stop plot and an explosion of action." 4.5 Stars

Paranormal Romance Guild Reviews Dakota Banks Books

The Paranormal Romance Guild (PRG) has posted reviews of Dark Time and Sacrifice, plus an interview with me.

PRG is a growing organization for authors and readers of paranormal romance. Their motto is
"Where the pursuit of extraordinary love, romance and passion is first and foremost." Readers can join for free, and authors have two levels of membership participation: general and premium. Authors, this is an outstanding new group and a great place to get your book reviewed!

Visit the Dakota Banks page at PRG.
Learn more about PRG.

Win a signed copy of Sacrifice!

I write the Mortal Path series of supernatural thrillers featuring Maliha Crayne. Sacrifice is book two.

While burning at the stake as a witch, Maliha accepts a Sumerian demon’s offer to become immortal and serve him as an assassin. Then she’s given an assignment she can’t bear to carry out. She chooses the mortal path instead, and emerges from three centuries of service as the demon’s slave. She discovers the fine print of her contract. If she balances lives taken with lives saved, she’ll ascend to a paradise straight out of Sumerian legend. If she fails, she faces eternal torment at the demon’s hands. The ticking clock? Every time she saves lives, she ages a variable amount of time.

Now she has an opportunity to prevent the death of thousands to help balance the countless lives she has obliterated over the centuries. To do so, she must locate and destroy an evil cabal of madmen in possession of a weapon of unspeakable power–and survive the immortal assassins who are now after her blood. But it means reverting to the old ways and surrendering once more to the darkness.

• "The premise for this series is exciting. With a kick-ass heroine trying to get out of an unimaginably bad situation and tons of action, this is a terrific read." – RT BOOK REVIEWS
• "Maliha is a mix of Lara Croft and a human Terminator. A series with a strong, intriguing story line." – Catherine Tuckwell, BLOGCRITICS
• "A great concept and a fun read; an original story with just the right blend of action, suspense, mythology, and romance." – BOOK BITCH

Win a signed copy by emailing to dakota@dakota-banks.com with a subject line of “Giveaway” by December 9, 2011. A winner will be selected by random drawing and notified by email. Visit the Dakota Banks website for more information on the Mortal Path series.

Enter to win a Kindle Fire by “liking” Dakota’s Facebook Fan Page!

Bouchercon and see-through calculators!

The World Mystery Conference (Bouchercon) is coming up Sept. 15-18 in St. Louis, my hometown. My panel is "Night Chills - Making Things Go Bump in the Night", on Thursday, September 15th, 8:30am-9:30am, room Majestic A,B,C. Yes, that's 8:30 in the morning, on the first day. Please, please, if you are going to Bouchercon, set your alarm and come to my panel!! It'll be fun and I hope to see you there--awake--in the audience. We're moderated by Monette Draper (aka Monette Michaels) and the other panelists are Angie Fox, Sarah Glenn, M.R. Sellars, and Jason Starr. 

I'll also be volunteering at the Bouchercon registration table and staffing the International Thriller Writers Outreach table. If you want information on joining ITW, stop by and talk to some ITW authors. I'm currently on the board of ITW, printed out the brochures, and had a banner made for the front of the table, so I need to make sure the table looks busy. :) Stop by and talk paranormal stuff and I'll give you a Sacrifice: Mortal Path Book 2 pen.

HarperCollins is sponsoring the opening ceremonies during Bouchercon this year. The opening ceremonies will take place from 7pm-9pm on Thursday, September 15th (roughly twelve hours after my panel, so I hope I'm still functional by then). The Barry and Macavity Awards will be presented during the opening ceremonies, and immediately afterward, HarperCollins will host a book signing and reception in the lobby outside the opening ceremonies room. I'll be there, handing out FREE copies of Sacrifice: Mortal Path Book 2 to the first fifty takers, along with some see-through solar calculators.

Just in case you're not going to Bouchercon, you can win the book and calculator by going to my post on the Supernatural Underground blog and leaving a comment by Thursday, September 1st. I'm giving away two sets.

Mortal Path series reading samples

"Not to be missed!"
- James Rollins

My publisher Harper Voyager hosts fifty page samples of the two books so far in my Mortal Path series, Dark Time and Sacrifice. It's a good way to find out if this you'll enjoy the series. What!! I meant to say, confirm that you'll enjoy this series. Both are available as paperbacks and e-books. Book three is in the works!

Click each book cover to read fifty pages.

Series background:

The Mortal Path books are dark urban fantasies/paranormal thrillers with high stakes, action, paranormal elements based on Sumerian mythology, and a splash of romance.

Susannah Layhem, a healer unjustly accused of witchcraft in the 17th century, is ripped from her husband's arms and thrown in jail. Abandoned by her husband and friends, she's tied to a stake and set afire. Her raging bitterness draws one of seven ancient Sumerian demons. The demon Rabishu pulls her from the flames, and she signs a contract to live forever—if she does his evil work.

"Chilling, thrilling, and a page turner!"
-Heather Graham

 

Susannah becomes the Black Ghost, an Ageless assassin gifted with otherworldly skills and superbly trained in martial arts.
She obeys Rabishu's orders and remains a beautiful young woman. Then she's given an assignment she can't bear to carry out. She chooses the mortal path instead, and emerges from three centuries of reluctant service as the demon's slave. Now Maliha Crayne, she discovers the fine print of her contract. If she balances lives she's taken with lives saved, she'll ascend to a paradise straight out of Sumerian legend. If she fails, she faces eternal torment at Rabishu's hands. The ticking clock? Every time she saves lives, she ages. The deck is stacked against her. She's got her own agenda, though. Payback time—killing Rabishu and his kin before he gets his punishing claws on her.

Visit dakota-banks.com for more information.

New (and terrific) review of Sacrifice

Glenda A. Bixler

Glenda Bixler's blog Book Reader's Heaven has just posted a review of Sacrifice: Mortal Path Book 2 at http://bit.ly/hpeAeq, and it's got me blowing my own horn. That's me, on the horse down at the bottom.

Glenda has also reviewed the first book in the Mortal Path series, Dark Time. It's a great review, too--see http://bit.ly/hae8N5. If I'd get off my butt and answer her excellent questions, I'll have an interview there, too. {giggle} I think she likes my writing. Go Glenda!

The incomparable Ms. Bixler is the founder of Reviewers Roundup on Facebook. Multiple reviewers post thoughtful reviews and authors post too. Check it out!

Amazing Mortal Path Series Giveaway!

I'm giving away FIVE sets of Mortal Path books. Each set includes signed copies of Dark Time and Sacrifice, the first two books in the Mortal Path series.

Hurry over to the Great Giveaway on Blog with Bite.com to enter!

The giveaway closes November 8th. You can earn multiple points to win. Many people enjoy reading a series from the first book on. Now's your chance!

After you've entered the Blog with Bite giveaway, be sure to stop at my website, http://dakota-banks.com, to enter a contest to be part of Mortal Path book #3 by naming a character after yourself or a friend, plus other fabulous goodies!

"Plunged into an emotional roller coaster from the onset - Dark Time had me entertained and enthralled. ... Emotional and well-written, Banks' voice is poetic and speaks to the reader. She has a descriptive voice that purrs and flows off the page. You can't put this book down." - Parajunkee review

Put Yourself in the next Mortal Path book!

How would you like to name a character in the next Mortal Path book after yourself or a friend?

Great to give as a surprise gift, or keep it for yourself. Your friends won't believe it, but your name will also be listed in the acknowledgments section in the front of the book, so there can be no doubt IT'S REALLY YOU! You'll also receive a signed copy of the book. Open internationally.

PLUS
Your choice of one of the following two options:

1.) A SUBSCRIPTION to the Mortal Path series!
You'll receive a new, signed copy of each book in the series on or before the release day.

OR

2.) A FULL MANUSCRIPT CRITIQUE from me!
I provide a critique that offers constructive suggestions without sugarcoating.

In addition, all entries to the giveaway will be automatically entered into a weekly drawing for a signed copy of Sacrifice!

All you need to do to enter is fill out the form at http://dakota-banks.com/contest.html. That's worth 2 points. Blogging or tweeting about this giveaway is worth another point each. Displaying the badge that says "Put YOURSELF in the next Mortal Path book" on your blog is worth 3 points, for a maximum of 7. Please total your points on the form.

It's SO easy to enter. Spread the word!

GIVEAWAY ENDS DECEMBER 1, 2010. Grab this button and put it on your blog. (Code in upper right sidebar.) Be sure to fill out the Submission Form!

December 21, 2012 - Will the world end?

I have a new post on the Supernatural Underground blog talking about the 2012 controversy. The Mortal Path series uses Sumerian mythology, which hooks into that discussion.

Read it and let me know what you think on that blog. There's a giveaway running there. You could win a copy of Sacrifice!

http://bit.ly/bOFjDR

The Sad Saga of the Sacrifice Trailer

Book trailers seem to be the thing these days. I enjoy looking at them, but after a while I noticed a sameness to them. Ones without narration looked like stylish Powerpoint presentations, and ones with narration sounded too much like the noise made by heaving bosoms. I'll leave that up to the individual to interpret.

I had a fun trailer for my first book, Dark Time, made with live action martial arts shots. That was a special situation done by a friend of mine who is an independent filmmaker. When book two came around, I thought I'd do something different from the others, with pages of the story coming to life in an animated book. I got as far as getting excited about it and getting a quote, at which point my excitement dimmed. I loved the concept, but I couldn't afford it. 

Plan B turned out to be making a trailer myself. I had already done the Powerpoint type (Click here to see it), so I wanted something different. I had a video camera that had sabre tooth tiger claw marks on it, it was so old, so much to my husband's delight, I sent him shopping for a new one. I wrote what I thought was a funny, clever script and waited for the video clips to make a movie. And waited. It seemed like everything but my clips got filmed, including the interior of a tunnel going through a mountain somewhere in Pennsylvania. This accounts for my trailer not being ready a couple of months in advance of the release date of Sacrifice.

Having gotten off to a late start, we then discovered that we didn't have proper professional lighting to make interior shots look good. After stewing about that for awhile, I made an executive decision to go ahead with filming anyway. Nobody would notice, I figured, and lighting equipment was big bucks. Clips were shot and assembled with some stills in Windows Movie Maker, a not-too-wonderful product to use with one big advantage: it's free. Then I spent hours trying to record the narration called for in my script and get the timing correct, matching it to what was going on in the movie. Let's just say that radical changes were made in the script. The secret, of course, would have been to read the narration aloud in advance and time each section so we'd know how long to make the video clip. Instead, we had an assembled movie with no thought given to whether I could speak the words fast enough to keep up with the action.

Script version 2 was drastically cut. Then I spent hours trying to read and record the whole thing, keeping in time with the movie. I am not cut out for this. There were numerous takes that didn't get more than ten seconds in before I mispronounced something or giggled. I finally ended up with what I thought was a usable version, and when I went to play it back, the sound was so low I could only hear it with the volume on 100% and my face smashed up against the computer's speaker. Hoping that somehow things would be different on YouTube, I uploaded it. Nope. Same problem. Yes, it is true. I spent hours recording without doing a simple sound test first.

After switching to a different microphone, changing some settings, and doing numerous "testing, testing," recordings, I found I had to hold the microphone not up to my mouth as one would think, but parallel to my cheek, which somehow eliminated most of the breathy noises. It's been an adventure, folks.

Then of course there's the shock of hearing your own recorded voice. I swear I do not sound like that. 

Thr finished product (cough, cough) finally made it to YouTube and to my website's trailer page. Here it is now, for your enjoyment--and I dare you to diss this trailer to my face. You can have a good laugh, though.

New Interview and Giveaway on Book Reader Addicts

Stop by the first Facebook interview I've done for a chance to win a signed copy of Sacrifice.



Book Reader Addicts

Put YOURSELF in the next Mortal Path book!

How would you like to name a character in the next Mortal Path book after yourself or a friend?

Great to give as a surprise gift, or keep it for yourself. Your friends won't believe it, but your name will also be listed in the acknowledgments section in the front of the book, so there can be no doubt IT'S REALLY YOU! You'll also receive a signed copy of the book.

PLUS
Your choice of one of the following two options:

1.) A SUBSCRIPTION to the Mortal Path series!
You'll receive a new, signed copy of each book in the series on or before the release day.

OR

2.) A FULL MANUSCRIPT CRITIQUE from me!
I provide a critique that offers constructive suggestions without sugarcoating.

In addition, all entries to the giveaway will be automatically entered into a weekly drawing for a signed copy of Sacrifice!

All you need to do to enter is fill out the form at http://dakota-banks.com/contest.html. That's worth 2 points. Blogging or tweeting about this giveaway is worth another point each. Displaying the badge that says "Put YOURSELF in the next Mortal Path book" on your blog is worth 3 points, for a maximum of 7. Please total your points on the form.

It's SO easy to enter. Spread the word!

GIVEAWAY ENDS DECEMBER 1, 2010.

Latest Guest Post and Giveaway

Check out the latest guest post (further baring of my soul) and international giveaway for Sacrifice at Yzhabella's Book Shelf!

Dakota interviews her character, Maliha Crayne

I had a fun time writing an interview with Maliha Crayne, the kick-ass star of the Mortal Path series. She made me a little nervous because I'd heard about her violent reputation, but I came out of it with all parts intact. Check it out at the Harper Eos blog, http://bit.ly/cIURX1.

Release Party for Sacrifice!

Join the fun at Bitten by Books! A release party for Sacrifice: Mortal Path Book 2 includes a giveaway for a $100 Amazon gift card. I will be around to answer questions, any subject. Friday, August 27th, noon Central time to Sunday, August 29th at noon. Go to Whee! Party Time!

An early review: "Sacrifice was an intense read.... Rich characters, out of this world action, fast-paced and heart wrenching romance, what more can I ask from a great urban fantasy series?" - Larissa's Bookish Life, http://bit.ly/dsstmI

I hope to see you there!

Sacrifice is ready to launch!

I received the first two copies of Sacrifice: Mortal Path Book 2 today, sent out in advance of the August 31st release date by my editor. She thinks they look great and I do too! I'll be getting the rest of my author's copies soon, which means that those of you who have already won signed copies will finally be getting them! I've got some blog activity lined up you might want to participate in. Here's an early look at the schedule.

August 27: Bitten by Books Release Party

August 30th: Book Faery Guest Blog

August 31: Book Lovers, Inc. Interview

September 28: JoJo's Book Corner




More to come!
Bloggers/Reviewers: I'm open to blog appearances and sending out review copies.