Today is the day the other accused have a chance to prove their innocence as Book 2 of the Immoral Virtue Trilogy goes up for sale!
The Puritans settled in Massachusetts Bay knowing it was land reserved for them by divine power. They knew, too, Satan would fight to keep this land, land which experienced wicked shifts in weather that withered crops, made winds howl… and kept “savages” ready and eager to attack. There was a battle underway. One they would have to win for the sake of all that was good.
But Satan tempted. Teased. Was powerful – more so than the faith of some within their village. And those succumbed to him, bending to his will, spreading his evil, wounding the hearts and minds of friends and neighbors, even family. Even livestock. Even newborns.
These servants of Sata
n could be anywhere, hiding. Secretly forming a pact with him and attending witches sabbats where they boiled innocents and satisfied their lusts as could only be done by the darkest of forces.
These witches would bear the mark of Satan’s mating. Those suspected would be examined – every spec of their naked flesh, every crease, every orifice. They would be proved innocent, or they would hang.
Evil would be destroyed.
In THE ACCUSED, that fear and darkness are present. There is hope, sincere, that the accused are unmarked. There is defiance. Anger. Pleasure despite shame.
There is lust, only here, during these examinations, that lust does not prove guilt. It proves innocence since only those untouched by darkness can have that lust sated. And the governor, Jameson Foster, will do all in his power to see it so.
To celebrate publication of THE ACCUSED, I’m giving away a free copy to one random person who comments here today. Be warned, The Accused is not a light or romantic read. It is dark. Gritty. And filled with that sense of desperation that only the fear for one’s life can create.
May you be unmarked.
***In the comments, tell me, how far would you go to prove your innocence? Would you submit body and mind or would you resist, trying with all your might, your wit, to have your neighbors see reason?
UPDATE!
It is now 8pm here on the coast and I am pulling the gates down on the store. Thank you to everyone who helped make this day so exciting. I hope you’ll all stick around and join me again when it’s time to celebrate the release of Book 3. 🙂
And now… the winner of tonight’s giveaway is… drum roll… Aimee Bemil! Congratulations, Amiee! Please use the contact form HERE to tell me which version of The Accused you would like – for Kindle, NOOK, or regular epub (Smashwords or Kobo). Thank you again, everyone. You’ve made my day.
I already have a copy of this so I’m not entering the giveaway. I just wanted you to know i LOVED this even more than the Mark and I didn’t think that would be possible. It was so moody, suspenseful and sexy!
When I was reading it, I wondered if I would submit if I was accused and you know what? I don’t think I would. I know it wouldn’t happen in real life like it did in these stories but even if it did, I think I would believe people were smarter than it seems like they were. Great question.
Thanks for the chance to read this before anyone else, Arla. I really loved it.
Moody, suspenseful and sexy? I couldn’t ask for a better compliment! Thank you, Carla! I’m thrilled you enjoyed it.
Governor Foster is the examiner. Damn! Who wouldn’t submit?
Indeed! lol
Hey Aimee! Not sure if you saw the update on this post, but you won a copy of The Accused. 🙂 Please follow the link in the update above. It will take you to my contact page where you can tell me what format you would prefer. Congrats and hope you enjoy it!
The Accused was a great read and I know why the women in in submitted but I wouldn’t have… though I probably wouldn’t count on those people to use reason either
Can you please start writing book three as soon as possible?????
Ah, yes. You captured the precise issue these people faced. Do they throw themselves on the mercy of the court or resist and fight for their honor and good names. Not an easy choice.
I’m taking a day off from Book 3 to celebrate the release of Book 2. But I WILL get back to it tomorrow. 😉
Congratulations. I have been enjoying your posts on this blog and hope you keep writing them while you work on the next book. I think the stories here add to the experience.
Thank you, Bernard! I do intend to continue updating the blog with anecdotes from Salem Village. I’m happy you’re enjoying them and that they add something to the stories. I hope to visit Salem in the coming days for some hands-on research for Book 3. I’ll be sure to post pictures as well as stories then. 🙂