Sorry for the long wait, my faithful readers!! Book 6 was not only extremely difficult to write, but I have a higher priority going on in my life at the moment – taking care of family.

Book 6 was a BEAR to Write

Not only was I writing the EPIC conclusion to the Bonded By Blood Vampire Chronicles, I had a TON of loose ends to tie up. And I changed the title of the book, too. Midnight Redemption is the new (and better) title.

Rest assured, it will have action and suspense and (I hope) a slew of unexpected twists and turns to keep you guessing how this story and series will end.

I had hoped to get it published in mid-November, but that proved to be very difficult due to some recent family issues…

Family Priorities

May the Gods love and bless my mother-in-law! Her parents are in their mid-90s and she has been taking care of them for the last seven years on her own. 

For the last two years, I've been going over there on Wednesdays for the full day to give her a break and some much needed time off and rest. I've also filled in for her when she and the family took a vacation.

However, Grandma is no longer able to walk on her own. She's too weak to get out of bed anymore and is now bed ridden. Grandpa's status is also declining. UPDATE: Grandpa passed on December 20, 2019.

When my mother-in-law literally collapsed emotionally and physically from exhaustion, I had to step in and take over…or we would end up burying her before her parents.

For an entire month, I was there from 9am – 9pm every day to get hospice started and take care of Grandma & Grandpa. Mom had to spend the night at her parents' house just in case Grandpa got up in the middle of the night – which he does EVERY NIGHT. Unfortunately, dementia patients also fall alot, so she needed to be there to in case he had an episode. Though she might not be able to pick him up on her own, she could at least call me and my husband to come over and help.

Needless to say, I had no time to finish the edits for my book.

SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER to get monthly updates, weekly freebies and free eBooks. VIP Club members will also get exclusive sneak peeks and members-only pricing announcements.

Where is Book 6 Now?

I am slowing pecking through the edits as I have time, which is usually no more than a half-hour at once. My mother-in-law is not strong enough to turn her mother in bed, but I am. I'm then responsible for turning her every hour or so to prevent bed sores. And then I have to change her diapers.

Rewriting scenes is very difficult when Grandpa – Gods love him – is coughing and hacking next to me in the living room.

(As people get closer to their final days, their body produces a LOT of phlegm – something I did not know until I started going through this experience.)

And then we have someone coming over from the Hospice organization almost every day to either check up on their health or give them their baths. Grandma & Grandpa cannot make their own meals, so that falls on me and my mother-in-law, as well as any of the house chores. And Grandma's almost to the point where she needs to be fed, since she is losing the dexterity in her hands to properly bring her food to her mouth.

I thought I could get Book 6 finished before Christmas, but that's not happening. I would like to say I'll get this done before the spring, but I'm not making any promises.

This has been a very trying time for the family and neither my mother-in-law nor I have our own lives anymore. We are living for her parents at the moment, waiting for them to pass and taking care of them the best we can while still letting them know we love them and want to help them maintain their dignity.

The good news is the hospice organization has a wonderful social worker who is helping us to obtain funding so we can get in some part-time help. We just can't afford to pay nursing assistants to take care of their needs out of our own pockets, and affording a nursing or assisted living facility is out of the question. Costs range at a minimum of $4000 and upwards to $20k per month PER PERSON.

Advice for YOU

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't be in denial about getting into your older years. PLAN for your retirement and your final years on this earth and do not leave that responsibility to your family members. It's not fair to expect them to be wiping your ass and feeding you.

The whole reason this responsibility has unexpectedly fallen on me and my mother-in-law is because her parents have been in complete denial about what will happen in their final years. They ignored it and avoided thinking about the provisions they needed to have in place when they became too old to take care of themselves.

ALL OF US WILL GET TO THIS STAGE IN LIFE IF YOU LIVE LONG ENOUGH. Please do not ignore this.

Don't ASSUME your kids will be wiping your ass. They have their own lives to live and it's selfish for you to expect them to drop their lives for you.

Don't ASSUME Medicare will cover your expenses. It won't.

Don't ASSUME Social Security will cover the expenses to have people come into your home and take care of you. It won't.

If you're a veteran, like I am, you might have some financial assistance. HOWEVER, as we are learning by trying to get financial aid for Grandpa (a veteran), the VA takes their sweet ass time. Off the record, they're hoping Grandpa dies before they pay out the benefits. We're going on SIX MONTHS waiting for the aid to be approved and they denied us because they didn't give us information we had NO CLUE they were asking for. We now have to appeal.

What You Can Do

If you're uncertain where to begin preparations, it will depend on how old you are.

Start saving NOW! If you're older (50s+), it's not too late to make investments, so do invest…but you may have to be a bit more aggressive about your savings and options. The younger you are, the better off you'll be.

Everyone should look into investment opportunities and start building a portfolio. Subscribe to investment magazines to start learning about your options. AT LEAST invest in a 401k if you can. OR put money away in an IRA. If you don't have enough money to start an IRA, put it into a savings account and save it up until you do.

If you can, investigate financial advisers and look into index funds. Although Social Security can contribute to your elderly expenses, they will only cover a small portion. Medi-Cal will also only cover a small portion. BUT you have to be at poverty level on your income to get financial aid of almost any kind – including VA benefits or state funding.

BE SMART!

I wish I had the answers, but my husband and I are approaching the 50+ range and scrambling to form our plan. I'll try to publish ideas in future posts, but don't rely on me. You must take care of yourself now so you can arrange to have someone take care of you later.

All my best wishes for your future! And I'll keep you posted about Book 6 – MIDNIGHT REDEMPTION.

Hugz,

Arial

Here's another Zodiac Shifters story coming your way!!

A collection of books with an astrological spin on love. From Aries to Virgo… discover all-new tales of paranormal romance and urban fantasy.

Zodiac Shifters features New York Times, USA Today, and other bestselling authors. Each month expect new releases based upon the twelve astrology signs.

Pisces – Artist, Dreamer, Romantic

Out of the Ashes by Julia Mills

Meet the Guardian of the Zodiac and their companions the Dragon Guard of the Sea! Lost and thought dead, these mighty dragons arise from the depths to not only help to save all mankind but reunite with others of their kind.

The mission is simple – get into the enemy camp, free the humans, return the demons to Hell and return home the victor. For a Daughter of Poseidon and her constant companion, Drákon – a centuries old water dragon, that’s called a good day at work.

Everything is going as planned. Una, eldest daughter and Guardian of Pisces, has checked one and two off her list, and is headed to three when things get complicated. Brody Mason bows at her feet, pledging his allegiance to not only her but also, the gods and the Light. As a show of loyalty, he promises to take her to the portal from Hell and with his own blood help her close the door on the Underworld. This one act will rid the world of evil forever. There’s only one problem…he’s a Hellhound.

It doesn’t matter that Drákon doesn’t believe him, fearing it yet another trick of Hades to deter them from their mission or that there’s fire in his eyes and the smell of brimstone on his olive skin, she can feel the truth in his words. It also doesn’t hurt that with just one glance he sets her heart ablaze and her pulse racing. Not that this is about love or lust, it is all about saving the Earth, protecting the humans, defeating her uncle’s evil…or is it?

One leap of faith leads Una and Brody on a race against time and facing the fight of their lives. Hiding from Poseidon, Hades and an army of Guardians led by her sister, Zoe, this couple may have the best intentions but in the end, isn’t that what paves the road to Hell?

Release date: Feb. 28th 2017

AMAZON | AMAZON UK | AMAZON CA | AMAZON AU

NOOK | KOBO | iBOOKS

Excerpt of Out of the Ashes

“They have invaded the entire western and southern borders. I fear the coast is next. I’m going to need you to go and help the humans with this battle. They are ill-equipped and just not strong enough to fight evil on such a widespread scale.”

Una looked at her father, Poseidon, the god of the sea, as hestood beside his periscope with a worried look. She’d never, in all the millennium since her birth, seen the great god anything but confident and unencumbered by the woes of the Earth and Her human population, but this was different and much more personal. She hated to see the deep lines feathering from his glowing blue eyes or the downturned expression emphasized by his thick white mustache and beard.

Family issues sucked, especially when you were a deity and your whims effected the world as everyone had come to know it. Hades, Una’s uncle and Poseidon’s older brother had caused trouble in the past but nothing so catastrophic or life how to order valium online no prescription threatening to the beings Una and her sisters had been charged with keeping watch over.

Named the Guardians of the Zodiac, the Daughters of Poseidon had long been protecting Earth and her humans from afar. Una could scarcely remember the last time her boots had walked the terra firma, smelled the sweet scents of the many blossoms and tasted of the bounty only the small blue and green planet had to offer. It had always been their directive to lend assistance from afar, never to cross paths with the humans and always remain the deities they were intended to be. Things had now changed. Una would be the first of her sisters to fight alongside the ever resilient race with the hopes of saving them from certain demise. The first to do what they’d been training for since they were old enough to hold their weapons.

Bowing, her bow at her side, the Guardian of Pisces asked, “When shall I leave? Shall I take Drákon?”

Without turning away from his view of the Earth, Poseidon nodded, “You will need to leave this night, my daughter. When the veil between our worlds is the thinnest. By all means, take the dragon with you. You will need the help.”

Breathing asigh of relief, Una called to her constant companion and training partner, Drákon, a centuries old sea dragon her father had given the power to change from his original form to that of a human man. “We’re a go. Put on that flesh suit you’re so fond of and meet me in a hour at the docks.”

“Hell yeah,” Drákon cheered, using the human vernacular he’d been studying for centuries. “Yippee ki yay…”

“Whoa, there cowboy,” Una smiled, glad she’d been paying attention when her companion read out loud. “That’s a good way to meet the pointy end of Dad’s trident.”

“Duly noted.” The ancient being was once again all business. “See you at the docks.”

Working hard not to chuckle and happier than she could admit to be leaving the pomp and circumstance of her father’s court, Una answered, “See you there.”

About the Author

Hey Y’all! I’m Julia Mills, the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of the Dragon Guard Series. I, without a doubt, admit to being a sarcastic, southern woman who would rather spend all day laughing than a minute crying. Living with my two most amazing daughters and a menagerie of animals, keeps me busy but I love telling a good story. Now, that I’ve decided to write the stories running through my brain, life is just a blast!

My beliefs are simple. A good book along with shoes, makeup, and purses will never let a girl down and no hero ever written will compare to my real-life hero, my dad! I’m a sucker for a happy ending and alpha men make me swoon.

I’m still working on my story but I promise it will contain as much love and laughter as I can pack into it! Now, go out there and create your own story!!! Dare to Dream! Have the Strength to Try EVERYTHING! Never Look Back!

I ABSOLUTELY adore stalkers so look me up on Facebook and sign up for my newsletter at JuliaMillsAuthor.com. Send me a message!

Thank you for reading my stories!!!

XOXO Julia

Keep up with all the latest Zodiac Shifters news here!
Facebook     Twitter    Website

Coming soon…

March 7th	March 13th	March 16th

For you history buffs out there, I thought I'd include some notes I used for the research I did when I wrote Midnight Savior – Book 5 of the Bonded By Blood Vampire Chronicles. Additionally, for those who don't know much about Jack the Ripper, I'll include a brief account of the Autumn of Terror and why this topic has been so fascinating to me through the years. WARNING: Some of the subject matter ahead borders on the gruesome to downright hideous. The Ripper murders were not pretty.

Whitechapel Murders: An Unsolved Case

The biggest draw for most people fascinated with Jack the Ripper – including myself – is the fact that over one-hundred years later, the case is still unsolved. Forensic evidence was just coming into use with police procedures and, if I did my research correctly, the Whitechapel murders were one of the first cases where photographs were taken of any evidence.

There were a lot of other murders through the years that have been loosely associated with the Ripper murders, but the five “canonical victims“, as they are called, are as follows with the date of their murders:

• Mary Ann Nichols – 31 Aug 1888 – Approx. Age 44
• Annie Chapman – 8 Sep 1888 – Age 47
• Elizabeth Stride – 30 Sep 1888 – Age 45
• Catherine Eddowes – 30 Sep 1888 – Age 46
• Mary Jane Kelly – 9 Nov 1888 – Approx. Age 25

In short, during the autumn months of 1888, which became known as the Autumn of Terror, women who lived and/or worked in the Whitechapel area were being targeted by the killer who was dubbed Jack the Ripper by the papers (mostly because of the infamous “Dear Boss” letter that was mailed to the press). All the women had two main characteristics in common: they were heavy drinkers and they were known to sell their bodies as a supplemental income to keep a roof over their heads or put food in their bellies.

At this time in history, and in this area of London known as the East End, this included a vast majority of the female population. Most anyone could have fallen prey to the Whitechapel Murderer. Alcohol was a common escape from the woes of poverty and eased the pain of their circumstances. People literally lived in stairwells or in crates in alleyways. Some people had enough money to rent a bed box for part of the day, which was frequenty shared with other tenants at other times of the day. Landlords took advantage of the space they had in ways that were not only unsanitary, but downright cruel.

Christabelle Williams – aka Davina reincarnated and heroine of Book 5 – was indeed poor, but she was better off than most women in her class because she had a respectable job as a laundress. Hard labor, for sure, but she made enough money to rent a one-room flat with Darla, her best friend and companion. The proximity of her location and her connection to Broderick is what puts her in the path of Jack the Ripper. Though Belle is no stranger to drink, she is lucky enough to have a good-paying skill so she doesn't have to prostitute herself. I know the conditions of her accommodations and the state of her world were pretty bleak, so I know some of the story was a bit dark. But that served its purpose as well and gave Broderick that much more reason to want to get Belle out of there and into a better life.

History Meets Fiction (Spoilers Ahead!)

If you're already familiar with my series, you may have noticed I included dates throughout Midnight Savior, which I don't usually do in my novels. The main reason was for those Ripper aficionados who might be tracking along with how my fictional events blended with the real-world events. Most authors should use everything that is put into a story. Although I could very well have just set the story in 1888 London and had the Whitechapel murders overshadow the the setting, I wanted them to be a key part of the storyline. Not only did I want the story to fall apart if the historical events were removed, I wanted Jack the Ripper to be a real threat to my heroine and hero, Broderick. A mere mortal would be no match for my vampire hero, which is why I made Jack the Ripper a vampire. And not just any vampire – one of the Ancients! Yes, I know…I put poor Rick through hell…again.

Real Life Characters Used in Midnight Savior

We already know Jack the Ripper was one of the main people in history I used in the story. But there were a few side characters who played roles with my fictional characters as part of the storyline.

• Thomas J. Bulling – Thousands of letters came into the police and the press of people either claiming to be the Whitechapel Fiend or knowing the identity of the killer, so there weren't too many correspondences that were taken seriously. However, the Dear Boss letter, which I feature in Midnight Savior, had a connection to the double murders of Elizabeth Stride and Catherine Eddowes, due to the reference of cutting a piece of the victim's ear and the two murders in one night. Later, however, evidence shows this letter could have actually been written by a journalist who was trying to stimulate paper sales (newspaper sales were suffering at the time). I, therefore, used this opportunity to rectify why a journalist would have key facts related to the double murders if his letters were hoaxes. In Chapter 5, 25 September, 1888, the Whitechapel Fiend forces Thomas to write the letter, and thereby keeps to the historical theory that Thomas J. Bulling of the Central News Agency did indeed write the letter, but under duress.
• Catherine Eddowes – As I've already mentioned, she was one of the victims of Jack the Ripper. In Chapter 7, September 30, 1888 – Early Morning, I include a scene through her eyes as she is being murdered by the Whitechapel Fiend…and it was a very tough scene to write. Having to put myself in the mind of the victim and do the research to ensure how he killed her and all the grisly details ended up being a very disturbing experience. I, like many people who have “heard” about the Ripper murders, never really comprehend the reality of what this psychotic killer did. I won't post the pictures here. They're just too disturbing. but if you'd like to read the full account of her murder and see the post mortem photographs, CLICK HERE. In summary, her face was almost mutilated beyond recognition, her throat was cut through to her spine, and her abdomen was slashed open and stabbed multiple times, even organs removed. And this is being nice in my description. The only saving grace was she died almost instantly after her throat was cut and the mutilations to her face and body were done post mortem.
• Mary Jane Kelly – In Chapter 28, November 3, 1888, I introduce Mary Jane Kelly as a friend of Christabelle's. Of all the victims, Mary Jane Kelly was the youngest and out of pattern for the killer. No one really knows why, so I decided to give the killer motivation by creating this fictional connection to my heroine and hero. Mary Jane and Christabelle do a little catching up and Belle gives Mary Jane her new address – Broderick's townhouse in London – encouraging Mary Jane to contact her for a possible job opportunity and to help Mary Jane get out of the slums by means of honest work. That little slip of paper spells doom for both women. In Chapter 29, I have Laurent sitting at the Ten Bells Public House, where in real-life witness accounts place Mary Jane Kelly sharing a pint of beer with Elizabeth Foster. He overhears their conversation, which I invent and Mary Jane is telling Elizabeth that she ran into “Crystal Bells”, her nickname for our heroine, and how she is about to marry the wealthy Broderick MacDougal. That seals her fate and Belle's. Laurent stalks Mary Jane to get that coveted piece of paper with Broderick's address and poor Mary Jane becomes the last victim of the Jack the Ripper. This murder was the most brutal of them all. The killer had the victim in a secluded room – the woman's one-bedroom flat – for almost a half hour. The gruesome photos can be found HERE. I hope you have a strong stomach.

Although I do play around with historical settings and take some artistic license, I do try my best to be as historically accurate as I can be, given the nature of the paranormal storylines. Research can be a little grueling and tedious, but in the end it lends a rich environment for my settings and characters. I hope you enjoyed some of the behind-the-scenes information connected to Midnight Savior!

If you're reading this and you're not a member of my VIP Club, CLICK HERE to join now and get book-related freebies every week!

Cheers!

Arial 😀

Surprise! Release Day Moved Up

For people who are only followers of my blog, you may have noticed it's been a little quiet lately. I've been plugging away at getting my latest novel written & produced and now marketed. Things went well enough with the release that I went ahead and moved up the release date from April 4th to March 31st. YEP! THAT'S TOMORROW!!! *Arial does the Snoopy dance*

For those of you who are VIP Club members, this is old news. And many of you have had a sneak peek or two into the novel through the newsletters I've sent out this month. Another sneak peek is going out tomorrow when I send my reminder for the release day. TIP: If you're not subscribed to my newsletter, do it now! >>CLICK HERE<<

I announce all my new releases and give exclusive sneak peeks to members of my VIP Club. You don't want to miss out! Also if you're not subscribed, you might not know that Midnight Savior is only $2.99 until April 11th. That's the day the price goes up, so get your copy now while it's at this low price.

Get Caught Up AND Save 66%!

If you're new to my series, for a limited time only I'm offering Books 1-4 of my Bonded By Blood Vampire Chronicles for only $3.99! This gives you a chance to catch up on my series and save, but only until April 30th. May 1st, the boxed set will no longer be available. >>CLICK HERE<< to get your bundle now!

Sneak Peek – Midnight Savior (Book 5)

Quick setup – This scene is from Malloren Rune's point of view…a POV I have purposefully avoided until now. We've always seen the elusive prophetess through the eyes of the other characters, mostly Broderick's. For this book, I spend a lot of time in Malloren's head…and for good reason. I'm going to let you readers see just a peak of what makes this woman tick, and I reveal some startling truths behind the prophecy, which has so turned Broderick's world upside down since the very day he crossed over in 1486. Yes…Malloren is certainly to blame.

This scene is at the beginning of the book and our hunky vampire hero is putting himself in the friend zone for this novel! What? He isn't running into Davina's arms? Nope! In fact, he's fighting her, tooth and nail! So here's a sneak peek from Malloren's point of view…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Broderick pursed his lips. “You know very well why I'm here.” He poured his sixth glass of Scotch, but this time didn't gulp the libation. Instead, he cradled it in his hand as he strolled to the window. Poor Broderick was still trying to drown his frustrations in the amber liquid. Surely, he did it out of habit now, since alcohol had no effect on their kind.

“Davina is in hospital.” He glanced worry-filled eyes over his shoulder. “She may have been raped,” he whispered, despair graveling his voice. He returned his attention out the window. “I've been looking for her since I arrived and must have searched every hospital and clinic in a three-mile radius of the Victoria Docks.”

Malloren nodded, recalling that the distance was the reach of his dreams in relation to Davina's location. “Raped? Are you certain?” She opened her mouth to ask more questions, but gasped when a bright flash blinded her.

The parlor in which she sat vanished in favor of the visions rushing through her mind. Familiar, grimy byways and passages of where she'd been hunting surrounded her. The dark alleys faded and she, once again, sat amidst the tastefully decorated room.

Malloren sighed. Thank God! A vision. “You're looking in the wrong place. Davina is in the East End.”

Rick blanched. “God's blood, no. What is she doing there?”

“Have you not checked those hospitals? Whitechapel is within the radius.”

“I-I ignored that area. I never thought to look there because…well…”

“I understand. It's bad enough she's been hurt. I would imagine you wouldn't want to find her living under such horrid conditions. As to why she would be there, I can think of several reasons. Abandoned by a husband, perhaps with child and rejected by her family. She might have even been raised in poverty—”

“Mal, you're not helping me!” Broderick glared before emptying his glass down his throat. He stalked to the decanter to replenish his drink. “Don't pile one appalling circumstance upon another. I've already conceived a multitude of terrifying thoughts just in the last few moments. Honestly, woman!” Rick paced, raking his fingers through his dark-auburn hair.

Her cheeks flushed with heat. “Well, now that you're here, she'll be safe with you.”

Broderick shook his head. “No, she won't. I'm leaving without her.”

>>CLICK HERE<< to find out what happens next!

I know! You can say it…BEEE-OTCH! I am an evil woman, aren't I? So go get your copy now. I think it's still up for pre-order at this very moment I am publishing this post, but you will have it in your eReader by midnight tonight! ENJOY!!!

That's my two pence…

Arial 😀