standard ishue–Katie

We’re very proud to be working with artist Luke Spooner of Carrion and Hoodwink House. He has an innate ability to design the perfect cover with minimal direction. If you’re ever in need of artwork, check out his websites. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Luke Spooner, a.k.a. ‘Carrion House’ and ‘Hoodwink House,’ currently lives and works in the South of England. Having graduated from the University of Portsmouth with a first class degree he is now a full-time illustrator and writer for just about any project that piques his interest. Despite regular forays into children’s books and fairy tales, for which he has won awards for literary and artistic merit, his true love is anything macabre, melancholy or dark in nature and essence. He believes that the job of putting someone else’s words into a visual form, to accompany and support their text, is a massive responsibility as well as being something he truly treasures.

Luke has designed every cover for the Seven Deadly Sins series. He can be found on Facebook, and at his Carrion House and Hoodwink House websites.

For his story, “When Your Number’s Up,” Michael Donoghue created an illustration. It’s a fascinating look at a possible future and a peek into the mind of a master storyteller. Examine the picture and then read his story in Gluttony. You won’t be disappointed. This is our very first illustration for SDS. We plan to add some more for the box set, due out Fall 2018.

Next week, we’re going to have a release party on Facebook. We’d love everyone to stop by and say hello. There will be author interviews, some games and prizes, and a great way to network if you’re a writer. Hope to see you there!

Today, I’m presenting the final four authors in the Gluttony anthology. Stay tuned for our official release date!

Games by K.T. Stephens (Scrib: Katie Stephens)

Erica grew up a foster child, handed off from one family to another. In those early years, she learned to keep her mouth shut, take whatever meager food was offered, and never, ever play games. Erica eventually won a scholarship to college and escaped her orphan life. But one day, a letter arrives with a cryptic message—Do you want to play? And no matter how much of a wall she’s built around herself, Erica has to make a decision before her eccentric old landlady drives her crazy.

K.T. Stephens writes YA and children’s books and is especially enamored of the circus. Just mention acrobats and strongmen and she’ll jump headfirst into this world of magic, color and precision and take you with her. When she steps away from the big top, she works as editor, publisher and author on her pet project—Seven Deadly Sins: A YA Anthology—and writes adult literature under the pseudonym Katie Stephens. Although her two grown children live on opposite sides of the USA, she lives squarely in the middle of the country with her husband and two adorably obsessive felines.

Facebook         https://www.facebook.com/katie.stephens.169405

Twitter            @standardishue

Website           http://www.standardishue.com

Not One Less by M.J. Travis (Scrib: shazam)

Carlos and Louise are in love. Carlos will do anything for his “little hunny pot.” But after becoming infected by the deadly virus that has taken over their rural town, Carlos must do the unthinkable to stay alive. Will Louise stay with Carlos? Or will his strange new appetite drive her away?

M.J. Travis is a native southern Californian who began writing four years ago when her second child was no longer in need of constant supervision. Her love of books began at an early age. She mostly writes short stories for YA and children, but has just started to leap into the workings of a novel. She has previously been published in the Seven Deadly Sins series.

When the Wind Hits the Merlons by S.K. Watts

Evil and Baron Corvo de Corvis are synonymous in the small Italian town of Roccascalegna. After declaring ridiculous edicts to torment the people of his town, his depravity increases further by killing the town’s parish priest and re-instituting the most heinous of medieval feudal customs. When all hope is gone, the town is freed from living torture by the most unlikely of sources, and the Legend of the Bloody Baron is born.

S.K. Watts is a resident of Phoenix, Arizona. Happily married, and father of four daughters, Mr. Watts is a retired financial adviser and management specialist. He is actively writing a series of novels called The Watchers, and occasionally writes short stories to satiate the voices in his head. “When The Wind Hits The Merlons,” a thrilling tale based on a true story, will be his first publication, scheduled to be part of the Seven Deadly Sins YA Anthology on Amazon. Known for his comedic panache, this promising author prides himself on the ability to make a reader laugh out loud on one page, and gasp in surprise on another, a literary roller coaster of emotions.

What Lives in Shadow by Daniel I. Weaver (Scrib: Isaac Daniels)

Small towns have their secrets. Jake was destined for greatness and Dave was always there, living in his shadow. When Jake’s life starts falling apart, Dave has to emerge from Jake’s shadow and confront the monster behind his best friend’s deterioration before it’s too late.

Daniel I. Weaver is a Pennsylvania native and has been previously published in Light at the Edge of Darkness and Dragons, Knights, & Angels: Issue 46.  A healthcare professional by day, Daniel much prefers reading and writing fiction, kayaking, martial arts, and cinema. With most of his children well on their way toward adulthood, Daniel finds himself with more time to pursue those passions and looks forward to publishing many more pieces in the future.

Can you name all seven deadly sins? Then you probably know the three left in our series are Wrath, Greed and Lust. Once Gluttony is released, another contest will appear on Scribophile and the process will start all over again.

If you’re a lover of books, and especially short stories, consider posting a review on Amazon or Goodreads. You don’t have to review the entire book—we welcome thoughts on any of our stories! Interested? Leave a message here, or email me at standardishue@gmail.com.

Enjoy reading about a few more of our authors!

A Dog in the Manger by Chris Kennedy (Scrib: shetlandcats)

Set in Florence at the height of the Renaissance, a father and son seek for truth in a new age of art and discovery, but powerful factions are at work in a city where display matters more than honesty and the rich guard their treasures with an iron hand.

Chris Kennedy writes for fun and enjoys twisting history into parables. His family tells him he’s a compulsive liar because he likes to make things up. When not researching his MA, he works for a modern communications company and dreams of retirement, which he intends to spend making up more lies and turning them into yet more stories for this excellent series.

Fatter by Tonia Markou

When her friend Beverly suddenly starts putting on more and more weight every day, Maxine tries to find the mysterious boy who cursed her. Will she be able to stop the curse before Beverly eats herself to death?

Tonia Markou is a Greek-German writer and recent Creative Writing graduate, currently working on her first YA novel. Basically being a big kid, she enjoys writing and reading fiction for young adults. Her short stories have appeared in Flash, and The Seven Deadly Sins: Envy. She’s the proud owner of a vast Converse Chucks collection, and dreams of someday also owning a beach house and a dog.

Twitter            @toniawrites

Website           http://toniapolis.jimdo.com

Facebook         https://m.facebook.com/toniawrites/

The Sleep-Over by Geraldine McCarthy

Set in Ireland, Arianna enjoys her Italian mother’s cooking a little bit too much. However, an invitation to a sleep-over at her friend’s house casts Arianna’s troubles in a new light.

Geraldine McCarthy lives by the sea in West Cork in the Republic of Ireland. She has a certain amount of expertise in the area of gluttony but was, nevertheless, surprised and delighted to be included in the anthology.  In a past existence she taught, lectured, translated, and researched.  Her humorous flash fiction “Lesson Plans” was published in The Fable Online earlier this year. She is especially interested in short stories and flash fiction.

Hymn of the Spider by Yvette O’Kay (Scrib: Katie Moore)

Living since the beginning of time can be both a gift and a curse. As the creature traverses through the centuries, she has long since learned that appeasing her delicate palate is the only way to ease boredom. Once lured into the web she’s woven, there is no escape.

Yvette O’Kay is a writing goddess who has been creating stories ever since she was a little girl. She is from New York and has been featured in two previous volumes of Seven Deadly Sins: Sloth and Envy.

Lady of the East by Shannon Leigh Rivera

Bastet has everything she could ever want—a beautiful temple and a city full to the brim with adoring devotees who worship her without fail. Yet the other gods have taken notice, especially the jealous Seth. What will Bastet do when she is forced to give up the one thing she loves the most in order to prove she is still worth the title goddess?

Shannon Rivera is the author of several published YA short stories, including The Selkie–published in Seven Deadly Sins: Envy. In addition, Shannon is also the author of the upcoming novel Of Rebels and Ruin—an Elven Steampunk/Fantasy series— the first book due out in 2017. Using her military experience, she has put a fresh spin on urban fantasy fiction, which includes the mashing of traditional fantasy, Asian mythology, Steampunk, romance, and science-fiction elements with the spy world. An experienced writer, Shannon has penned articles for gaming websites, military commands and her own fantasy fiction blog. Besides writing, she loves to teach, offering novel writing workshops to middle and high school students as well as homeschooling her four children. Shannon is a recent graduate of Southern New Hampshire University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree summa cum laude in Creative Writing and English.

Website           shannonleighrivera.com

Facebook         https://www.facebook.com/shannonleighrivera/

Twitter             @fairsong

Instagram        https://www.instagram.com/fantasyfix/

Have you read our first three volumes of Seven Deadly Sins: A YA Anthology? You can find Pride, Sloth, and Envy on Amazon. But don’t fret if you don’t want to buy them one at a time! Once all the volumes have been published, there’s going to be a special box set containing every anthology. Whether you purchase one volume now or wait for the box set (due out Fall 2018), remember that all proceeds go to the charity First Book.

Presenting a few more of Gluttony’s authors!

One Little Bite by Guy Cheston

Sabine is an adolescent girl with an ice-cold personality. Trained by her uncle to become an assassin, her first test is to kill the reigning champion of the Warblust Annual Eating Competition in front of thousands of spectators, where two contestants eat to the death. The defending champion, Ronbo, is a local legend, five times her size, and likes to wipe his sweat on a rag and fling it at his opponents. Does Sabine even have a chance?

Guy Cheston lives with his wife and son in Richmond, Virginia. When he’s not reading, writing, or spending time with his wife, he likes to jog.

Twitter            @guycheston

The Makara by Susan Conner
Abby’s gone to a great deal of trouble, training the monster inside her belly to stay quiet when her brother does things like leaving red velvet cupcakes unattended on the kitchen counter. But what can she do when her monster won’t obey? She might just be opening up a whole closet full of secrets she had no idea her family was hiding.

Susan Conner is a desert dweller of Phoenix, Arizona, where she routinely escapes the heat and her adult responsibilities by drawing bizarre artwork and dreaming up endless ideas for young adult fantasy novels. She did a pirouette in the sky when she found out her short story was selected for inclusion in this anthology. This is her first fiction publication.

Hungry, Hungry Henry by Matthew Dewar

Henry’s doctor has put him on a diet and he feels like he’s starving to death. When a strange lady at the grocery store offers him an appetite suppressant, he jumps at the opportunity to not feel hungry all the time. The appetite suppressant works, until it doesn’t. Now Henry has a hunger even more ferocious than before.

Matthew Dewar hails from Perth, Australia, where he works as a physiotherapist and group fitness instructor. In his spare time, Matthew enjoys writing fiction, reading, and going for long walks along the beach with his dog. Gluttony will be his first official publication, with many other projects in the pipeline that will hopefully see the light of day soon.

Facebook:        https://www.facebook.com/matthew.dewar.10

Twitter:           @WriterDewar

When Your Number’s Up by Michael Donoghue (Scrib: M.P. Donoghue)

Today is the best, and worst, day of Wilbur’s life. Turning sixteen in the Kobe Tunnels means that he’s become an adult. No more school, no more crowded Elevator rides. But it also means that Wilbur can no longer be entered in the lottery. And what he wants, even more than living on the surface or improving the life of his sister, is the chance to eat a beefsteak for once in his life. Wilbur’s birthday turns out to be more eventful than he could ever imagine.

Michael Donoghue resides in Vancouver, Canada, but lives in his head. He works in public health, where he obsesses over hand washing. Michael’s fiction has appeared in various print and online anthologies, literary journals, and sci-fi magazines. However, his proudest fiction writing achievement occurred in grade eight, when he forged a note excusing him from gym class for the rest of the year.

Twitter            @mpdonoghue

Adventures in Wedding Saving by Joana Hill

Molly’s sister got married, and now it’s up to Molly to keep their family in check at the reception.  From making sure the buffet table isn’t cleaned out to making sure Uncle John doesn’t drunkenly breakdance himself to a broken limb, she’s got her hands full.

 Joana Hill is a creative writing graduate from central Maine who’s always working on her next piece.  When she’s not writing, she can usually be found playing video games or teasing her cats.  Her stories can be found in Vitality, the Seven Deadly Sins anthology series and on Smashwords.

Facebook         http://facebook.com/authorjoanahill

Twitter            @wordsteabottles

Blog                 http://www.wordsandteabottles.com