...is the title (for now) of a free reader magnet I’m working on in The Arrow and The Flame universe. It’s delightful to be back with Captain Dinesh Martin and Simon White, Squid, Domingo, and the rest of the crew. I realized that I haven’t composed a free story for readers and potential readers in a while, and that introducing folks to the Arrow and her crew might be a good idea to increase sales of the books in my pirate series. 

This story will primarily feature Simon, Squid, and Domingo on an excursion to the markets of Port Royal while Captain Martin supervises repairs of his ship. Domingo is hopeful of finding clothing more suitable to his gender bending sense of fashion, and he has the idea to convince Simon that Dinesh might enjoy some scanty garments in the bedroom if Simon were to purchase and wear them for him. This takes some persuasion but ultimately results in Simon giving it a try and dressing like an 18th century working girl to seduce his beloved captain.

Only a few more days to take advantage of this multi-author giveaway!

So my husband and I headed West early Saturday morning for the Islands and Ink Book Fair at the Gananoque Curling Club. We missed a turn off so arrived later than planned but still with half an hour to set up my table. I had decided on a minimal display this time, as I went full bore at the last two conventions I attended - with fancy little blackboards and stacks of books on my table.

I’m quite happy with how it all looked and I made quite a few sales, so I’m thrilled.

I had decided to discount my prices as well, and to have a deal for buying more than one book. In fact, I bundled my backlist series’ together for $25 for a 3 book series, and $30 for a 4 book series. I’m going to keep doing this, as it makes it a lot easier to offload subsequent books in a series. I also had my individual backlist books at $10 each. My two latest releases, A Flash of Golden Fire and A Hellish Thing, were $20 each or both for $30 and everyone chose the duo. I’ll be keeping this price listing at Can*Con in October. Although I won’t have a sales table in the vendor room, I will have books and bundles on site for the asking.

It’s so difficult for an inaugural event in terms of attendance, and we were all hoping for a more substantial turnout. But the people who did come to my table were lovely and enthusiastic, and I had a great time.

Thanks so much to Mary Holmes and her amazing team for a wonderful event! 

Upon my exit, Dinesh held out his hand. “Breakfast, then?”
I put my hand in his. “Aye, that’d be grand.”
As we went down the steps and along the passage to the galley, we heard some strange, yet familiar, phrases.“Take it from behind! What a trollop!” was spoken in a woman’s voice with a French accent.
Dinesh and I exchanged world-weary glances as we walked.
“The captain’s cock is a truncheon!” The words were spoken in an almost exact mimic of my own voice.
Captain Martin stopped walking, his expression going from one of merry ease to extremely cross in a matter of a moment.
I loosed my hand and kept going, pretending I hadn’t heard a thing. But the captain stepped forward, grabbed the neck of my jacket and jerked me to a stop.
“I told you not to teach her that,” he seethed, his eyes lit with an angry flame that was not the one I liked to see there.
I took a breath. We’d been through this already.
“You did not say: Do not teach the bird to say that my cock is a truncheon. You didn’t.”
“Simon Bartholomew White. Are you honestly going to be that dense?” Some of the anger had flown, because he knew I was right.
“Maybe.”
He waited, holding tight to my jacket, probably thinking of ways to make me sorry.
I protested, lifting my hands in a gesture of helplessness. “But it’s true! Your cock is a truncheon. I’ve said that since I first saw it. Felt it. Got ploughed by it!”
“That may be so, but I don’t need her saying those words. In your bloody voice. All the fucking time.”
“I’ll talk to Domingo.”
“What on earth is he going to do about the situation? He barely has control over that bloody bird!”
I frowned. “How dare you speak of Esmaralda that way? She is Domingo’s dear pet and companion, and I—”“Oh, for fuck’s sake. I need coffee,” he said, letting go of my jacket and shoving me forward. “Get me some, and perhaps I shall forgive you.”
I stumbled into the galley, followed by a vexed Captain Martin, and sure enough, Domingo’s small black and yellow mynah bird—the notorious-by-now Esmaralda—greeted us from her perch on the pot rack.
“What a trollop!” she said in the woman’s voice, and then, in mine, said, “The captain’s cock is a truncheon!”“Domingo!” I yelled as I didn’t see him nearby.
“For fuck’s sake,” the captain sighed, eyeing the bird with particular enmity.
A young fellow came out of the back rooms, gathering his long black hair with a red ribbon, an untied chartreuse robe floating around him as he moved towards us. He was wearing a colourful pair of cropped trousers, a linen shirt embroidered with daisies, and a rolled blue scarf as a belt. And red velvet bedroom slippers of which I was profoundly envious as they looked much more comfortable than the scuffed and stained, second-hand deck shoes the captain made me wear.
The pair of slippers were one of the few things, along with the robe and the bird, Domingo had been able to bring when we’d escaped the Turnkey tavern and Cayonne. But I didn’t like to think about Cayonne.
“Esmaralda! Must you keep on? Shush now. Here’s a caraway seed.”
The bird took the offering from Domingo’s delicate fingers, and eyed the small pile of seeds he placed near her.
“I am so sorry, Captain Martin. Simon. For the life of me, I cannot get her to stop saying that.”
Domingo glanced at me and barely maintained his serious, apologetic expression.
“Is there coffee, Domingo?” Captain Martin asked. “I smell a brew, I believe.”
“Yes, of course. There’s a fresh pot on the hob,” he said, gesturing towards the iron stove in the centre of the room.
I strode past him, grabbed a stoneware mug from the cupboard that latched when the door was closed, in case of rough seas, filled the vessel with hot coffee from the steaming pot, then carried the mug to the captain, offering the hot drink with a cheerful smile.
He scowled as he took it, eyeing Esmaralda, who munched happily on her seed, which she held in one little claw as she bent to peck at it with her tiny beak. Remarkable that such a diminutive creature could make so much of a ruckus and create such enmity in the captain, who was otherwise quite a relaxed and confident man. With a cock the size of his, he should be proud. I didn’t honestly know why Esmaralda’s frequent proclamations upset him so much.
After he’d taken a sip or two of his coffee, his fierce expression relaxed. Domingo and I had filled mugs for ourselves and joined him at the table.
“Have a seat, Dinesh,” Domingo said. “I’ll bring you some food in a moment.”
“Thank you, yes, that would be wonderful.” Captain Martin, whose goodwill had returned with the black coffee coursing through his veins, took a seat on the bench next to me, even offering Domingo a kindly smile. “How are you?”
“Well…” Domingo said, his face lighting up at Dinesh’s question. “Despite being at the crew’s beck and call all day, slinging potatoes, and chopping vegetables, I’m doing rather well. You?”
Dinesh rolled his eyes. “At least I didn’t assign you to the upper decks. You don’t have to be up in the weather or climbing the rigging.”
“Yes, that’s mighty kind of you,” Domingo murmured with mock gratitude. “Because God knows that’s the kind of work my previous life prepared me for.”
Dinesh grinned and shrugged. He took another sip of coffee. “You never know.”
“Well… I might be good at the job. But I wouldn’t be able to maintain my absolutely ravishing sense of style, now, would I?”
Dinesh inclined his head. “I suppose that’s true.” His gaze drifted over Domingo’s clothing, at least what he could see above the edge of the table across from us. “And what a tragic loss that would be.” His tone was sardonic, but he smiled.

If you have a Kindle Unlimited subscription, you can now read nine of my Pride Publishing titles for FREE.

…to get A Flash of Golden Fire for $2.99 USD.

BLURB:

After joining a pirate crew and falling for the captain, a young man’s strange and frightening powers emerge.

Twenty-two year-old Simon White begs for a place on Captain Dinesh Martin's pirate ship, the Arrow. When he proves hilariously inadequate at most tasks, he finds himself in the captain's quarters as cabin boy, housekeeper, and bed warmer.

Captain Martin used to be a British naval officer, until he became disenchanted with the hypocrisy, racism, and classism of the institution and embarked on a life of piracy. He runs an organized and efficient vessel and prides himself on the men with whom he surrounds himself. He is esteemed and admired, and he gives them as good a life as they've ever known.

But Simon has more than a few surprises up his sleeve, including some frightening powers, and Dinesh learns that sometimes a pretty appearance and amenable disposition can fool even an experienced man of the seas.

MM, hurt/comfort, age gap, witchcraft, rope and bondage, humiliation, sharing, and much, much more.

Our Flag Means Death plus Pirates of the Caribbean and make it kinky!

I was so very excited to see a review from Veronica at Joyfully Jay pop up on Goodreads today! I was thrilled when she gave A Flash of Golden Fire a fantastic 4.25 star review last year and truly hoped she would read and review A Hellish Thing. Well, she did:

​A huge thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed an ARC of A Hellish Thing. I can see them piling up over at Goodreads and Bookbub and I am super grateful for all the positive words.

Good reviews help sales but do you know what else they do? They give me life! They make me think that perhaps I’m a half decent writer after all. They make all the hard labour of birthing a book absolutely worth it. Every time I have a book releasing I’m tied up in knots wondering if anyone will actually like it. I honestly do get so stressed every time.

So thank you again to all my readers, especially those who have followed me all these years. You guys are the reason I do this.

xo
Alison

Just before book #2, A Hellish Thing, came out last week, I signed book #3, Mist and Snow, with NineStar Press for release some time in early 2027.

Guys, this book was a bit of a slog, I won’t lie. Although, that doesn’t reflect at all in the pacing and content. I’m really, really pleased with how it turned out, and my editor will no doubt help me to make it even better. There is no lurking evil presence in Mist and Snow, but there are two fascinating new characters. Smoke and Fleur are introduced at the very end of A Hellish Thing, and I’m pleased to say they factor in a pretty big way in book #3.

Particularly Smoke, who has the same intensity, confidence, and charisma as Captain Martin. Having them both aboard the same ship presents some interesting dynamics. Dinesh Martin isn’t used to having his authority questioned or to being called out on his behaviour. But Smoke isn’t afraid to tell him what she thinks.

Smoke and her partner, Fleur, bring a fresh perspective to the Arrow and her crew, and challenge both Dinesh and Simon to affirm the life they truly want to live.

This never gets old, especially when the cover, designed by Jaycee DeLorenzo, is this beautiful. Holding in my hand a book I have written is a pretty special thing.

I’ll be taking these with me to the Islands and Ink Book Fair in Gananoque, Ontario, in a few weeks (April 25th), to sell alongside A Flash of Golden Fire.