M. Leighton's Blog, page 30

YA Indie Carnival Post- My Dream Cast

Step right up, folks!  Come get your daily dose of carni fun!  No cabbage here, but some of us have small hands.  I thank you!  (That was my tribute to Austin Powers, for those of you who don't get my strange humor)

First of all, let me tell you that I'm so glad to be back on the merry-go-round!  Woohoo!!  I enjoy participating in these posts and I'm determined to make plenty of time to do other things this fall, things that don't include stressing about sequels:)  So, here I am!  LOL  These posts are always so much fun to write.  Well, except this one.  This topic, the first back-to-the-funhouse question, is probably the hardest thing in the world for me to write about. 

Who is my dream cast for the book I'm currently working on?

What a loaded question!  Currently, I am working on the sequel to The Reaping.  I'm pretty sure I'm going to title it The Reckoning.  Now, for those of you who haven't read The Reaping (you should go get it right this minute!!  hehe), it is a bit darker than my usual and the characters are always into something, which makes me think that they'd need to be played by actors capable of pulling off action-packed scenes.  But these guys are also HOT!  Carson is beautiful and strong-willed, determined and, at times, very self-less.  Derek is loyal and protective, but he's also breathtakingly handsome and fully loaded with that devil-may-care, dangerous bad-boy charisma.  Do you know how hard it is to find someone in Hollywood to fit that bill?  It's very, very hard!  And I've tried.  I've been asked this question a million times about all my books and I never have good answers. 

In the beginning, I picked people who were hot enough to play the roles, but I was just never happy with those choices.  There is so much more depth to Carson and Derek, depth that I simply can't pinpoint by looking at headshots and watching actors play other roles.  I've often laughed about copping out of this question in interviews, stating that I would leave it up to the worldly casting director (as long as I had veto power, of course).  I think they, in all their infinite wisdom, often see things that the rest of us don't.  At least not initially.  I've often thought, "What?  That's a terrible choice for__________!"  But almost just as often, I find that I'm thrilled with the decision after I've seen the people in action. 

So, I'm afraid that I'm going to have to disappoint you.  I have no clue who could bring star power and life to Carson and Derek.  I believe it can be done.  I also believe that I'd know it when I saw them.  I think they would jump right out and grab me by the front of the shirt and never let go.  And that's all that I ask of my characters.  That's all!  hehe.  No pressure.

Before you go, here's a sneak peek at what I'm working on:

Shadows flexed all around me as I made my way down the deserted street.  Long, black fingers stretched into the light—reaching for me, straining toward me—only to shrink quickly away, receding into the ocean of darkness.  They could no longer touch me, no longer get close to me.  They just didn't know why.
Instinctively, I knew they wanted to hurt me, to envelope and smother me.  They wanted to curl their dark digits around my throat like a collar of death and squeeze until there was no life left in my body.  But they couldn't.  My light, though not visible to the human eye, was too bright.  The shadows could not hold their form against it, against me.   They could not abide the white, shining soul of Heaven's reaper.
--The Reckoning, coming October 31, 2011


Don't miss all the other carnies.  You can find them here:

Dani Snell Refracted Light Reviews
Patti Larsen Author of The Ghost Boy of MacKenzie House, The Hunted Series and the Hayle Coven Novels
Courtney Cole Author of Every Last Kiss, Fated, Princess, and Guardian. Also a contributing author in The Glassheart Chronicles
Nicole Williams Author of Eternal Eden, and Fallen Eden. She is also a contributing author in the Glassheart Chronicles
Fisher Amelie Author of The Understorey, as well as a contributing author in The Glassheart Chronicles
Laura Elliott Author of Winnemucca as well as 13 on Halloween, book 1 in the Teen Halloween Series
Amy Jones Author of The Soul Quest Trilogy as well as a contributing author in The Glassheart Chronicles
Rachel Coles Author of Diary of a Duct Tape Zombie, Whistles, Beergarden, Plagues, Bees of St. John, and Mushrooms
T.R. Graves Author of Warriors of the Cross
PJ Hoover Author of Solstice, The Emerald Tablet, The Navel of the World, The Necropolis
Alicia McCalla Author of the upcoming science-fiction novel Breaking Free
Heather Cashman Author of Perception
Abbi Glines Author of Breathe, and the upcoming Existence and Vincent Boys
Cheri Schmidt Author of Fateful, Fractured, and Fair Maiden
Lexus Luke Author of Manitou, The Sky People Saga
Suzy Turner Author of December Moon and Raven
K.C. Blake Author of Vampire Rules
Gwenn Wright Author of Filter
Kimberly Kinrade Author of Bits of You, Pieces of Me and Forbidden Mind
Darby Karchut Author of Griffin Rising and the upcoming Griffin's Fire
Madeline Smoot Author of Missing, Summer Shorts, and The Girls

Come Spend a Weekend in Savannah!

Several other Indie authors and I are going to be spending the weekend of October 28-30 in Savannah, GA.  We'll be hanging out with fans, doing a meet-and-greet dinner, enjoying a haunted tour, signing books and having a great time in general.  There is a website that is in the process of being established for the event.  You'll be able to find out all the information there.  Until then, below I'm posting the other authors who will be attending, the hotel where we'll be staying (you can use the link to make reservations for yourself because you'll be eligible for the group discount, too) as well as the haunted tour we're going to take.  The event website will have an itinerary and more information, but I thought I'd go ahead and post a few things so that any of you who would like to come can begin making arrangements to do so. 

Okay, so far the authors are:

Me;)
Fisher Amelie
Abbi Glines
Tiffany King
Wren Emerson
Laura Elliott
Amy Jones
CA Kunz
Trisha Wolfe

The Marriott that has been gracious enough to host us and give us the group discount is HERE

The haunted tour page is HERE.  They are giving our rowdy group, including all of you who want to come with us, a private tour at a discounted rate.

The Pirate House for the meet-and-greet dinner is HERE

You should really consider coming on down and joining us!  I foresee 48 hours of pure fun and awesomeness!

Until we can get the website up, if you have questions e-mail me at m.leighton.books@gmail.com.  Hope you can come!!

BLP 3 is available for download!

Because both Amazon and B&N allow themselves 24-72 hours for publication, I always upload early just in case it takes the full 72 hours.  Well, in this case, Amazon is totally on the ball.  I uploaded it last night at 10 or 11 pm so that it would be ready by Monday morning, but this morning I started getting e-mails that some of y'all had already found it and downloaded it.  It's LIVE, y'all!  WOOHOO!  So,below is the link for Amazon and I'll update this post with the B&N link when it goes live there. 

Happy reading!  I hope you enjoy all the Bo:D  Squeeee!

Amazon

Blood Like Poison Book 3 Cover Reveal

Well, I had so many questions about the cover for BLP book 3 that I decided to go ahead and do it early. I'm unveiling it today with the announcement that the book will be available for download on September 5, 2011 at both Amazon and Barnes & Noble.  Sooooo, *drum roll please*  here it is!


Please leave me your thoughts via comment or e-mail.  Y'all know how much I love to hear from you:)

Have an awesome Sunday, a great week and, as always, HAPPY READING!

Giveaway Winner

Congratulations, Brianne Smith!! 

The winner of the Day of the Giveaways contest was randomly selected yesterday and the recipient has claimed her prize, which means that the contest is officially over. 

I'd like to thank everyone who participated.  I was thrilled to get so many e-mails and comments.  Y'all are the best!  THE BEST, I say!  I SOOO appreciate your support, your enthusiasm, and your encouragement.  I never would have dreamed that I'd have so many wonderful readers and I'm incredibly humbled by and thankful for every single one of you.  I love, love, LOVE getting your comments and messages.  Keep 'em coming and I'll keep the books coming:)

Happy reading!  I'm off to see a man about a vampire:D

Interview with Laura Elliott

Today I have the pleasure of getting some answers from the new Indie author, Laura Elliott.  Her first book Winnemucca is now available for purchase on the virtual shelves of Amazon and in the Wounded Warriors SIGNED edition, Laura donates $1 of her proceeds to the Wounded Warriors Project in honor of her nephew who was seriously wounded in Afghanistan.  To learn more, visit this television report.

Now, about Laura.  I gave her a huge list of questions and asked her to pick 10 that she would like to answer for you.  Here are her choices and her answers:



These are great questions, Michelle! Thanks for the interview.

1. In one short sentence, tell us about your book.
Winnemucca is about a teenage girl's enchanted road trip to her true self no matter who or what tries to stop her.


2. What inspired your story?
I'm fascinated by how the footsteps of our ancestors follow us into the present. I wanted to explore a girl whose life imitated a mother she never knew. I wanted to explore the concept of road blood––a person drawn to the road for answers––and the desperation that comes with the desire to get to the heart of the truth, no matter how far you have to go to get it.

3. If your book were to be made into a movie, who would you cast to play your main characters?
GINNY - EMMA STONE
BOBBY - ZAC EFRON
CLYDE - CHASE CRAWFORD
SUPERSTAR - EMILE HIRSCH
LIZZY - CAREY MULLIGAN
CARLOS - JAVIER BARDEM
ESPY - SHAKIRA
DOLLY - SUSAN SARANDON
EARL - TOMMY LEE JONES
FAIRY TRUCK DRIVER – THE GHOST OF JOHNNY CASH

4. When did you first begin writing?
When I had a problem so big that I didn't know how to solve it, I picked up a pen and started writing and I never stopped.

5. What has been the biggest influence to your career as a writer?  
My husband and two daughters because they inspire me every day to follow my dreams.

6. What made you choose this genre?
I think my mom and dad [now 83 and 87] have a lot to do with why I write what I write. They both have had unspeakable tragedy in their lives––my father was a P.O.W. in WWII, and they always have had a beautiful way of seeing the world in spite of all that's happened to them. I hope my writing might help people discover the real magic in the world. I honestly believe in the magic of our perceptions. That's why I write magical realism.

7. What is your favorite book?
I have SOOOO many. But one of my all-time faves is THE WITCH'S HAT
by Tony Johnston, Margot Tomes. Because I used to read it aloud to my girl's when they were little and we would giggle and giggle. And, of course, it's about a witch and the unexpected.

8. Who is your favorite author and why?  
This is such a hard question. I like to say that Gabriel García Márquez and Fannie Flagg are my touchstones because their writing lures me body and soul into worlds I can hardly guess at but also, their voices are like having a good friend tell me a story at my kitchen table over coffee. And that's the kind of story I get wrapped up in. I love when I read a book and feel it's speaking only to me.

9. Favorite saying?
"The worm always turns." [my mother-in-law always says this when things might not being going the way you want them too. She's very wise and a great Nanny to my girls.]

10. Why YA?
Because it is the crossroads and it's a time in life when you are trying to figure out who you are when everyone else tries to tell you what to be. There are so many firsts and so many lasts. It's horrible-wonderful and that's what I enjoy writing about. It's a time in life when everything is all in front of you. You can be anyone. Do anything. It's wide open.
Thanks for all of your support Michelle!
:Laura

Winnemucca is a young-adult small-town fairy tale about a teenage girl's enchanted road trip to her true self no matter who or what tries to stop her.
One mistake will change Ginny's life forever.
One answer will set her free.

Once upon a time Ginny's road blood ripened, the day she got wise to love. Engaged to the high school quarterback, his quarter-carat ring and enchanting smile should have been enough for her. But, she stands him up and takes a walk where every step questions her happily ever after gone-bad and the fate of the mother she never knew. The mother her father refuses to talk about. Ginny fights to untangle her big, fat, lie-of-a-life on an enchanted road trip to Winnemucca, where she believes all her answers lie. She must solve the riddle of her past and outrun everyone who wants a piece of her future, including a man determined to see she never has one. When fear's as blind as love, how far would you go to find the flesh-and-blood reality of your own happily ever after?

My review of Winnemucca is this:

Doesn't everybody want to find that magical place in life that's uniquely their own?  That place that feels so right that it resonates truth somewhere deep down in our soul?  Well so does Ginny, only every detail of her life has been planned by others and all with very little thought to what feels right to her.  
Laura Elliott takes us on a journey of self-discovery as told through the amazingly profound introspection of a young girl as she finds wisdom, truth, and happiness in a life that's much more magical than anything she ever could've anticipated.  Elliott's voice is so unique and captivating, her turn of phrase so poetic and delightful, that it makes this story seem mystical and transcendent in a way that I've not read before.  I look forward to her future works to see what philosophical gems and charming use of language she might enchant me with next.
You can find Laura  on her blog or her website.  Go say hi!


Alright, y'all, thanks for stopping by and, as always, happy reading!

Why I Write YA

WHY I WRITE YA. 
Wow!  That's quite a question, huh?  Hmmm, why DO I write YA?  Well, if I had to answer that question with a question, I might ask, "Why NOT Write YA?" 

I think being a teenager is one of the most fascinating times in life.  I also think it's one that pretty much all of us get incredible joy from reliving.  Well, for the most part anyway:)  There's so much promise in the life of a teenager, isn't there? The possibilities are endless.  Endless!  The vast majority of life is out there ahead of you, like an ocean of options just waiting for you to dive right in. You could be anything, do anything.  Don't get me wrong, it's not like when you hit 25, it's all downhill from there (although some things will never have the same "perkiness" after that age:).  But it's just not the same as being inside the head of a teenager and looking out at life through the eyes of a dreamy seventeen or eighteen year old.   Anything you can imagine is out there waiting for you.  And that includes love. 
*sigh* 
Love.  First love.  You remember it, don't you?  The butterflies and the unbearable anticipation, the feet that never touch the ground and the heart that flies into the sun, the way you can't stop thinking about that one special person, no matter how hard you try.  Ah.  First love.  First kiss.  First everything.  Oh, the emotion of it all!  Highs are never so high, lows never so low.  Love is fresh and new when you're a young adult.  It's dramatic and heartbreaking.  It's fun and soul-warming .  It's exciting and earth-shattering.  It's the kind of love that you never want to forget and usually never do.  It's both the happiest time of your life and quite possibly the most miserable.  It's glorious!
Having lived a few years past those trying times, I can honestly say that the young adult years are probably the most fraught with emotion of any single time in life.  That's why I write YA.  Emotion.  That's what I want to recapture for all the world to see and feel and witness, for all of us to remember.  And if I do it right, you'll laugh and you'll cry, you'll grit your teeth and you'll sigh in relief, you'll feel the freedom of victory and the weight of defeat.  But in the end, you'll be happy that you played along.  And that's what I want most of all—to make people feel.  A lot!

So there's your answer.  Now you know.  This should give you some idea of what to expect in my novels.  At least I hope it does.  So go to my sidebar and grab one of my books.  Curl up and let me tell you a little story, take you somewhere else for a little while, to a place where happy endings are always on the horizon and dreams always come true.

YA Indie Carnival Kick Off

[image error] Does that logo make anyone else want to shoot guns at pop-up ducks for a huge stuffed-animal prize?  And for some reason, I feel like Emilio Estevez should be the Carni attending that game.  Hmm...  That's interesting.  Freud, where are you when I need a quick psycho analysis?  Poor guy, if he was alive, he'd gracefully decline taking a peek into this head and I wouldn't blame him one bit:)


Ok, so today is the first Friday for the YA Indie Carnival.  What is that, you ask?  Well, it's just a day when a bunch of different Indie authors, book bloggers and anyone else who wants to join in talk about one particular topic.  Today's topic and the kick-off post is called WHY I WRITE YA.  But, before I tell you my answer, there's one more thing I'd like to say. CONGRATULATIONS to my fellow Carni, Laura Elliott.  She just published her debut novel Winnemucca and it would be -oh-so awesome if you could go grab a copy from Amazon here and support her.
WHY I WRITE YA. 
Wow!  This first topic is a humdinger!  Hmmm, so why DO I write YA?  Well, if I had to answer that question with a question, I might ask, "Why NOT Write YA?" 

I think being a teenager is one of the most fascinating times in life.  I also think it's one that pretty much all of us get incredible joy from reliving.  Well, for the most part anyway:)  There's so much promise in the life of a teenager, isn't there? The possibilities are endless.  Endless!  The vast majority of life is out there ahead of you, like an ocean of options just waiting for you to dive right in. You could be anything, do anything.  Don't get me wrong, it's not like when you hit 25, it's all downhill from there (although some things will never have the same "perkiness" after that age:).  But it's just not the same as being inside the head of a teenager and looking out at life through the eyes of a dreamy seventeen or eighteen year old.   Anything you can imagine is out there waiting for you.  And that includes love. 
*sigh* 
Love.  First love.  You remember it, don't you?  The butterflies and the unbearable anticipation, the feet that never touch the ground and the heart that flies into the sun, the way you can't stop thinking about that one special person, no matter how hard you try.  Ah.  First love.  First kiss.  First everything.  Oh, the emotion of it all!  Highs are never so high, lows never so low.  Love is fresh and new when you're a young adult.  It's dramatic and heartbreaking.  It's fun and soul-warming .  It's exciting and earth-shattering.  It's the kind of love that you never want to forget and usually never do.  It's both the happiest time of your life and quite possibly the most miserable.  It's glorious!
Having lived a few years past those trying times, I can honestly say that the young adult years are probably the most fraught with emotion of any single time in life.  That's why I write YA.  Emotion.  That's what I want to recapture for all the world to see and feel and witness, for all of us to remember.  And if I do it right, you'll laugh and you'll cry, you'll grit your teeth and you'll sigh in relief, you'll feel the freedom of victory and the weight of defeat.  But in the end, you'll be happy that you played along.  And that's what I want most of all—to make people feel.  A lot!

So there's your answer.  Now you know.  This should give you some idea of what to expect in my novels.  At least I hope it does.  So go to my sidebar and grab one of my books.  Curl up and let me tell you a little story, take you somewhere else for a little while, to a place where happy endings are always on the horizon and dreams always come true.


Alright, that's the end of my ride for today.  Why don't you hop on the Indie-go-round and visit some of the other participants.  Meet some new people and have a ball!!


Amy Jones, YA Indie Author
Courtney Cole, YA Indie Author
Dani Snell, Book Blogger/Reviewer Extraordinaire
Fisher Amelie, YA Indie Author
Laura Elliott, YA Indie Author
Nicole Williams, YA Indie Author
Patti Larsen, YA Indie Author
Rachel Coles, YA Indie Author
T.R. Graves, YA Indie Author
Wren Emerson, YA Indie Author

MADLY AND WOLFHARDT

I've been so anxious to get this book out, I feel like I need a drum roll, so even if you don't play along, just know that I'm imagining one:)  I am happy, happy, happy-- oh-so-happy-- to announce that Madly and Wolfhardt will be available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble for purchase on MONDAY, JULY 25th. 

*pause for deep breath* 

Woohoo!!!  *insert ticker tape parade here*  YAY!! 

Ok.  I feel better:)  Obviously, as you'll see below, I was still far too much in love with the cover of Madly to ditch it for a new one, so I tinkered with her a bit and used the same cover.  I figured it might help with continuity, too (at least that's what I told myself so that I could use it again- hee hee).  

Now, just so you know and so that there's no confusion (and also so that you can have a refresher), the novelette that I released called simply Madly, the one that introduced you to Madly, is included at the beginning of Madly and Wolfhardt.  Now everyone will be on the same page. YAY!

I'll update this post with links as soon as I get them on Monday.  But for now, here it is, y'all.  Madly and Wolfhardt.  Enjoy!


[image error]

Madly is your average nearly-eighteen year old girl—for a mermaid princess, that is.
Madly James is thoroughly enjoying her internship in Slumber when the unthinkable happens—there's a prison break in Atlas, Madly's home beneath the sea.   A traitor has set free eight Lore, the spirits of what humans know as fairy tales, and they are making their way to Slumber to awaken their descendants. 
The first spirit to arrive is that of Ulrich Wolfhardt, a man that was once obsessed with wolves and a young maiden he would follow through the woods.  After a bite from a wolf, Wolfhardt's obsession with the girl became an unnatural hunger and the young maiden's grandmother cursed him with a fate worse than death.  And now he's back…with a vengeance and a bite that can infect others as well.
Madly must learn the identity of Wolfhardt's descendant and stop him before he kills again and spreads his curse across the earth.  But the only person strong enough to help Madly is Jackson, the Sentinel who vowed to protect her and the one person capable of breaking her heart.  Can Madly resist forbidden love long enough to save the world from Wolfhardt?  Or will she have to sacrifice her heart and her destiny to save the ones she loves?

The Day of the Giveaways

Alright, I've never really done a giveaway all by my lonesome, but I feel like there are a few noteworthy reasons why I should.  One is that BLOOD LIKE POISON:  For the Love of a Vampire is now available in print.  YAY!  Woohoo!  *insert ticker tape parade here*  Another reason is that I've given both CATERPILLAR and WICCAN a makeover and I think they turned out very well.  So, in honor of the aforementioned events, I am holding a giveaway that will start this afternoon.  It will run through August 1, at which time I'll randomly draw a winner and announce the name on my blog.  Please leave me your e-mail address so I can contact you.  Thank you kindly:D

The winner will receive:



1 signed copy of Blood Like Poison: For the Love of a Vampire print edition[image error]
1 copy of Caterpillar eBook edition[image error]

1 copy of Wiccan eBook edition [image error]

And an all-expense paid trip to...nah.  Just kidding:)  Y'all gotta buy some more books before I can venture into those expensive waters.  hee hee  But that's an excellent reason to tell all your friends to read my books.  I spread the love:D


Now for rules.

1.  You must be 16 or older to enter
2.  You must be a follower of my blog (psst, you can fix that with one little click:)
3.  +1 if you follow me on Twitter
4.  +1 if you tweet the contest
5.  +1 if you friend me on Goodreads

*the contest is international, too.  Woot, woot!

For those of you who are already on Goodreads, I'm also doing a giveaway there.  I'm giving away 2 copies of the new print version of BLP (not to the same person, of course).  Feel free to sign up for that one as well.  In fact, please do.  If you win both, you'll have an extra copy to give to a friend.  YAY for spreading the word!  I love each and every one of you who do that, BTW.  It's spectacularly appreciated:)

Annnnnnd, we're off!  *imaginary gun firing into the air*

Happy Hump Day and happy reading!