December Dash

Starting today, and running until the 7th, we are taking part in the December Dash!

What is that, you ask?

Great question!

This is the inaugural event, where indie fantasy authors make book bundles of their signed physical books (and bonus content!) available to you just in time for the holidays! Link to the website with all the authors here.

Assassins! Accidental Matchmakers is the book we’re advertizing with the event. Check out the bundle options below. Please note that if you buy from our store, we will pay the tax, whereas if you buy from another store (Indigo, local bookstore, etc), you may not need to pay shipping. In both options, you will be able to get your hands on the bundle, but if you buy from another store, we will only be gifting the PDF versions.

Of course, you can buy other books from our store as well! We have some pretty great options (and we’ll throw in some bonus stuff for every book bought), including this one:

Note the free 2oz bag of coffee with that one!

We are really excited to participate in this event!

Want to see the full Assassins! bundle? Check it out on our website!

Bought the book elsewhere? Send your proof of purchase (image of the receipt with the book) to jenericdesigns@gmail.com

Thank you for supporting independent authors! We sincerely appreciate it!

Come say hello at Can-Con 2024

Hello Readers!

This weekend is the wonderful Can-Con: Conference on Canadian Content in Speculative Arts and Literature.

Jen and I will be in the vendors room (FREE to the public, masks are optional) most of the time, selling awesome coffee and crochet.

Here are the vendor’s room hours

  • Friday 5-8
  • Saturday 10-6
  • Sunday 10-4

Jen will be on the “”The Pros of Being a Ghost (writer)” panel on Saturday morning (Nov 2nd) from 10:00-10:50.

Éric will be at the booth and chatting with people.

Hope to see you there!

Éric

Bookflix series: Monsters! Incidental Wedding Guests

A parody of Netflix, Bookflix is where you can find our books and more like them.


Monsters! Incidental Wedding Guests by Jen and Éric Desmarais is available now!

49th Shelf Monsters! Incidental Wedding Guests
Indigo Books Monsters! Incidental Wedding Guests
Archambault Monsters! Incidental Wedding Guests
Amazon Monsters! Incidental Wedding Guests
Rakuten Kobo Monsters! Incidental Wedding Guests
Apple Books Monsters! Incidental Wedding Guests

Add it to your “Want to read” on Goodreads here!

Discussion Questions for Monsters! Incidental Wedding Guests

Download the printable Discussion Guide

  1. It is said that Kennedy has been practising and taking martial arts lessons. How does that show in both her confidence and abilities when fighting the monsters?
  2. Kennedy has obviously been trying to integrate herself more into the Aetherborn Community. How well has she succeeded?
  3. Jason has changed his leadership style from ‘brooding and aloof’ to ‘happier and hands-on’. How do you think this will be received by the Community as a whole? Are there any indications of that in the text?
  4. In this book, Kennedy and Jason have a lot going on. Do you think that the monster attacks are adding stress or acting as stress relief?
  5. Lilah’s behaviour appears manipulative and controlling. Do you think this comes from her caring about the couple or about appearances?
  6. A major theme in the book is family relationships, especially healing. Which pair or character do you relate to the most and why?
  7. Repatriation of cultural artifacts is a heated topic. Do you believe that the living descendents have a claim to ancient artifacts?
  8. The person creating the monsters had their reasons. What do you think of those reasons, and were their methods justified?
  9. There are multiple examples of creation (eg. the lace, the dress, new fertilizer, museum replicas, etc). How does this help to create a more well-rounded setting? Why?
  10. Do you have a favourite secondary character? Who do you wish got more attention in the story?
  11. Suppose Assassins! Accidental Matchmakers became a movie or a TV show. Who would you pick to play the roles? (You can check out our dream casting for ideas) What aspects of the book would you want to see more of? What would be the most difficult part of filming?

Monsters! Incidental Wedding Guests by Jen and Éric Desmarais is available now!

49th Shelf Monsters! Incidental Wedding Guests
Indigo Books Monsters! Incidental Wedding Guests
Archambault Monsters! Incidental Wedding Guests
Amazon Monsters! Incidental Wedding Guests
Rakuten Kobo Monsters! Incidental Wedding Guests
Apple Books Monsters! Incidental Wedding Guests

Add it to your “Want to read” on Goodreads here!

Monsters! Reviews 10-11

Monsters! Incidental Wedding Guests was sent out for reviews. Here’s the fourth (and last) batch!

Monsters! Incidental Wedding Guests by Jen and Éric Desmarais is available now!

49th Shelf Monsters! Incidental Wedding Guests
Indigo Books Monsters! Incidental Wedding Guests
Archambault Monsters! Incidental Wedding Guests
Amazon Monsters! Incidental Wedding Guests
Rakuten Kobo Monsters! Incidental Wedding Guests
Apple Books Monsters! Incidental Wedding Guests

Add it to your “Want to read” on Goodreads here!

Joint Signing at Coles Carlingwood Saturday

Hello Friends, Family, and Fans;

Come hang out Saturday at Coles Carlingwood 1-3pm and get some books signed by Jen and Éric. We’ll have a few goodies for those that show up.

Two signings for the (gas) price of one! Join authors Éric and Jen Desmarais at the Coles in the Carlingwood mall to talk about two excellent YA titles.

About the books:

Crushing It by Jen Desmarais. This is a low-stakes queer YA romance novel taking place in the same universe as the Gates of Westmeath series. This story is a heartwarming tale of sharing first love, music, and a passion for STEM. It also has a sequel releasing in 2025.

The Mystery of the Dancing Lights by Éric Desmarais is a time loop mystery novella and the fourth installment of the Elizabeth Investigates series and focuses on exploring the mysteries of a summer camp built on an old government experimental facility.

Event Information

Hope to see you there!

Éric

Monsters! Reviews 7-9

Monsters! Incidental Wedding Guests was sent out for reviews. Here’s batch number three!

Monsters! Incidental Wedding Guests by Jen and Éric Desmarais is available now!

49th Shelf Monsters! Incidental Wedding Guests
Indigo Books Monsters! Incidental Wedding Guests
Archambault Monsters! Incidental Wedding Guests
Amazon Monsters! Incidental Wedding Guests
Rakuten Kobo Monsters! Incidental Wedding Guests
Apple Books Monsters! Incidental Wedding Guests

Add it to your “Want to read” on Goodreads here!

Spotify Playlist for Monsters!

Monsters! Incidental Wedding Guests has some pretty great music in it, so I made a spotify playlist of all the songs, in the order they appear within the book.

Do you think you can figure out what happens during each song?

Songs in order of appearance

  • “The Bare Necessities” by Bruce Reitherman and Phil Harris from Jungle Book
  • “Escape” (piña colada song) by Rupert Holmes
  • “I’d Do Anything For Love” by Meatloaf
  • “Y.M.C.A.” by Village People
  • “Macarena” by The Bayside Boys
  • “My Drums Ate My Baby” by Kings of Rock*
  • “The Best is Yet to Come” by Frank Sinatra
  • “Side by Side” by Kate Smith
  • “Friend Like Me” by Robin Williams from Aladdin
  • “Wedding March” by Felix Mendelssohn
  • “Shadows Live For The Light” by Tommy Fairfield*
  • “Curtain of Love” by The Barrett Family*

*These artists do not exist in real life.

Read about my thoughts on music in this book here!

Monsters! Incidental Wedding Guests by Jen and Éric Desmarais is available now!

49th Shelf Monsters! Incidental Wedding Guests
Indigo Books Monsters! Incidental Wedding Guests
Archambault Monsters! Incidental Wedding Guests
Amazon Monsters! Incidental Wedding Guests
Rakuten Kobo Monsters! Incidental Wedding Guests
Apple Books Monsters! Incidental Wedding Guests

Add it to your “Want to read” on Goodreads here!