Debra L. Martin's Blog, page 216

Interview with T.R. Allardice, QUEEN'S GIFT

Out of all the characters in The Queen’s Gift who is your favorite?I’d have to say Karen Kim. She’s so conflicted and desperate to fit in, when there’s no chance of that happening.
Why place the book in Tokyo?Because it’s one of the coolest cities I’ve ever been to by far. The scale of the city is mindboggling. It’s the only place I’ve ever traveled that you cannot see the end of the city no matter what direction you look. I also really like the Japanese people, though that may not come through in the first book.
Will the other books be set in Tokyo, too?It’s funny, but I’m actually trying to decide that now. When I originally planned The Queen’s Gift, I intended to change the location for each year she’s in school. There would be specific mythology based on each location. I even have the other cities picked out, photographs and all. When I entered a writing contest—The Queen’s Gift won First Place YAY—one of the things the judges brought up was keeping the book in Tokyo. It came up enough that it made me wonder if I was doing the right thing with changing locations. Ultimately, I think it will be up to the characters.
How did you come up with the lead character, Jean?Jean started with one question: What would happen if you were a Genie and couldn’t grant wishes? To make it worse, I made her mother one of the most skilled Genie’s in the world.
How did you come up with the idea for Jean’s world?I wanted to write a story that poked fun of a lot of books that I’d read over the years. I looked at all the characters that have populated books and noticed most were portrayed in a positive light. What I mean by that is that most were super cool, amazing looking, great at everything, love triangles, etc.
No characters seemed to be suffering from typical school issues like zits and other maladies. None of the characters really had to face not getting the guy or girl of their dreams. Every time I read one of these books, I thought about my high school experiences. I realize I was reading fiction, but it made me go in another direction.
For example, Karen Kim is a ghoul with greenish colored skin who dreams about being a super model. She’s the size of a linebacker. She will always be the size of a linebacker. Stefan is a fainting vampire. He’s always forgetting to get his iron shots from the school nurse. Chloe has to worry about bursting into flames every time she sneezes or farts. Like I said, I wanted to write something a little different, so I did.
You said that you wanted to make fun of the tropes you’ve read about, yet there is a love triangle in your book. Why?I do have a sort of love triangle happening in The Queen’s Gift. The big difference is that it’s resolved by the end of the book…maybe. ;)
If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?I have so many places I want to travel to right now. My top six are: Thailand, Vietnam, New Zealand, China, Egypt, and Jordan. Given the unrest in the entire Middle East, I’m not sure when I’ll be able to make it to Jordan and Egypt, but I’d really love to see Petra and the pyramids before I leave this place.
Do you have any travel plans?I spend quite a bit of time in the United Kingdom. I’ll be hitting it again in the summer.
What are you working on now?I am currently working on the first book in a new young adult series. I’ve had the idea for quite a while and I need to get the first book done so the characters stop bothering me.
Final question. What do you do for fun?I read. I go to the movies a lot. And I travel.  Thank you for having me.

Book & Author Details:
The Queen’s Gift by T.R. Allardice
Publication date: December 15th 2014
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Synopsis:
Fifteen-year-old, late-bloomer Jean Elliott dreams of becoming a Genie like her mom. When her family relocates to Tokyo, Jean is forced to use sleight-of-hand tricks to fool everyone at school into believing that she’s a normal Preternatural or risk expulsion. When her power finally appears, it comes in the form of the Queen’s Gift–an unspeakable magic that strips power from all Preternaturals and heralds the arrival of the new queen.
After an absence of two hundred years, not everyone wants the monarchy to return and they’re willing to go to great lengths to keep the status quo. When buried secrets rip Jean’s family apart, she has a choice to make: Walk away and hope for the best or embrace the power that’s known to lead to madness in order to save her family.
Jean’s greatest dream has turned into her biggest nightmare and no matter how hard she tries, there’ll be no wishing the Queen’s Gift away.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23625405-the-queen-s-gift?ac=1Purchase: Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Queens-Gift-T-R-Allardice/dp/1942237049/ref=twoen-20B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-queens-gift-tr-allardice/1120915082?ean=9781942237044
AUTHOR BIOT.R. Allardice writes young adult, new adult, and humorous horror stories. Most of what she writes incorporates several genres. The content won't always be 'safe'. What's the fun in that? She is a member of the Horror Writer's Association, Novelist Inc. and the Author's Guild. She has thirty-one books published under another pen name. To find out more about her upcoming work, go to: www.trallardice.com

Author links:http://www.trallardice.com/https://www.facebook.com/trallardicehttps://twitter.com/trallardice



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#Excerpt: A GRAVE INHERITANCE by Kari Edgren

Excerpt:Shifting my weight, I subtly gathered a large handful of silk skirts. Then in one deft movement, I turned to face Henry, planting one knee on either side of the cushion and straddling his lap.
His initial astonishment eased to a grin, and I leaned closer until our lips almost touched. “I suggest a duel.”
Henry didn’t even blink. “Gladly. I shall have my second visit Lord Stroud in the morning.”
I tightened my knees around his thighs. “You misunderstand, Lord Fitzalan. I have just challenged you to a duel. Do you accept?”
He studied me for a moment. “I’ve never faced a woman before.” Firelight played against his skin, illuminated the mix of curiosity and amusement in his eyes. “Which weapons do you propose?”
“Hmmm. What shall it be? Swords or pistols at twenty paces?” My body thrummed with excitement, and I had to exert every bit of self-control not to press myself against him.
“I’ve always preferred swords à l’outrance,” he said, his voice noticeably deeper.
“To first blood?”
“To the uttermost.” His warm breath brushed my lips. “Does that suit you, my lady?”
Henry moved his head forward to claim my mouth, but I pulled back just out of reach. “Oh, no,” I laughed. “I’ll be using an even more deadly weapon.” I tightened my knees once more as Brigid’s fire flared to life inside me.
“And what would that be? I’ve heard the only suitable weapon for women is either poison, or their…” His voice trailed off and he swallowed hard.
I leaned closer to whisper in his ear. “Shall I show you?”
His hands gripped my back as a low growl sounded from deep inside his throat. “Yes, please…”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:Selah Kilbrid may descend from the goddess Brigid, but her heart beats—and breaks—the same as any human. Yet enduring the scorn of London's most noble lords and ladies is a small price to pay for a chance at true happiness. Selah would endure much more for love, and her betrothed, Lord Henry Fitzalan, is prepared to challenge anyone foolish enough to stand in their way—even another goddess born.

But when a captivating young gentleman draws Selah into a world shadowed by secrets, she is forced to confront her darkest fears. What if some differences are too great to overcome and a future with Henry is doomed from the start?

With these doubts threatening her impending marriage, a violent attack on an innocent child pushes Selah to the very edge of her power. She must find a way to cross into the Otherworld and regain her strength—or forfeit the streets of London to death and disease.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Kari Edgren is the author of the Goddess Born series. In 2010 and 2011 she was a semifinalist for the Amazon Break Through Novel Award. In 2013, she was a RWA Golden Heart finalist. Ms. Edgren enjoys writing both historical and contemporary fiction, so long as there’s a spark of paranormal. She resides on a mountain top in the Pacific Northwest where she spends a great deal of time dreaming about the sun and torturing her husband and children with strange food and random historical facts.
Buy Links
Amazon- http://www.amazon.com/Grave-Inheritance-Kari-Edgren-ebook/dp/B00OHV6MFA/ref=twoen-20
Barnes&Noble - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-grave-inheritance-kari-edgren/1120548894?ean=9781426899270

Websitehttps://www.kariedgren.comFacebookhttps://www.facebook.com/kari.edgrenGoodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23391020-a-grave-inheritance
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#Excerpt: HEARTS ON FIRE by Alison Packard

This post is part of a virtual book tour revealing the cover of Alison Packard's newest book Hearts on Fire which will be released on February 3. One randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter will receive a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Country music star Jessie Grant has it all. An amazing voice, a string of multi-platinum albums, and a sold-out concert tour. But just before her Hearts on Fire tour rolls into Las Vegas, her lead guitarist is badly injured and is unable to play. Desperate to find a replacement before the night of a televised live show, Jessie is forced to accept help from the last person on earth she wants to see again.

Drew Carmichael has earned a well-deserved reputation as one of the best up-and-coming musicians in Nashville, without cashing in on his renowned father’s name. When Jessie’s manager calls and asks him to fill in for her band’s injured guitar player, he agrees to help Jessie out even though she cut him out of her life four months ago.

In Sin City, sparks fly between Jessie and Drew, and it isn’t long before they give in to their mutual attraction. But when the dark past Jessie has successfully hidden for ten years explodes in the media, their tenuous bond is put to the test, and both Jessie and Drew must learn to trust each other if they don’t want their newfound romantic relationship to go up in flames.

Enjoy an excerpt:

Jessie Grant stared at the cheery yellow wall in her dressing room, and fought the overwhelming urge to throw something. Anything. Her agitated gaze fell on the lovely vase of flowers that had been delivered just before the show, and she had to remind herself that violence, especially towards a perfectly innocent bouquet of pink roses and white calla lilies, wouldn’t solve anything.

But then again, it might relieve the tension that was coiled inside of her like a tightly wound spring.

“Calm down.”

“Calm down?” Jessie whirled around and met the exasperated eyes of her manager. “You expect me to calm down when my guitar player, who, unbeknownst to me, was half-wasted during our set, and decided to stage dive into the audience.” She pointed a finger at him. “That broken arm of his isn’t gonna to heal in four days. I need another guitar player, and I need one now.”

“Relax,” Wally Lindell said in a soothing voice. “I’m working on it.”

“How are you working on it?”

She propped her hands on her hips and gave him her best glacial stare. It didn’t faze him. It never did. He’d been her manager since she was fifteen years old, and he knew her better than anyone. So he should have known that she would be totally freaked out about losing her lead guitar player four days before her exclusive gig in Las Vegas, after all, he was the one who had dubbed her a perfectionist.

“I put in a call to Drew.”

Jessie’s already churning stomach lurched wildly. “Drew Carmichael?”

“How many other guitar players named Drew do you know?” Wally shot her a wise-ass grin.

Only one.

“So you talked to him?” she asked, as she moved to the make-up table. She picked up the bottle of water her stylist had left out for her and took a sip. Maybe the simple task would soothe her frayed nerves.

It didn’t even come close.

“What did he say?”

“I left him a message. He hasn’t called me back yet.” Wally shoved his hands into the front pockets of his black jeans and looked her straight in the eyes with an unflinching directness.

She’d seen that look before; the one telling her that while she might be the star, he was the one who’d gotten her there, and before she went off half-cocked, she’d better let him have his say. And of course, she would. She respected Wally far too much not to listen to him.

“He’s the only guitar player we can get on such short notice that knows your set list,” he continued. “I don’t know what happened between the two of you, but whatever it is, you need to put it aside for the sake of this gig, and maybe the rest of the tour.”

“What makes you think something happened?” she asked with feigned nonchalance.

It was best not to let anyone, especially Wally, know how much she cared about Drew.

“Because you two were as thick as thieves last spring, and now it’s like he’s dropped off the face of the earth. Did you have a falling out?”

“No.” Jessie scowled, as she returned the bottle to the table. “We didn’t have a falling out. I’ve been on the road for months now and he…he’s got a life.”

A life that didn’t include her.

About the Author:
Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Alison now lives in Southern Nevada where she’s still getting used to the blistering summers and the slot machines in every grocery store.

When not working at the day job that pays the bills, keeps a roof over her head, and supports her book and chocolate habits, Alison spends most of her free time writing. But when she takes a break, she enjoys reading, watching movies, and spending time with her family and friends.

Website: http://alisonpackard.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alison-Packard-Author/368976796492227?ref=hl
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Alleyfics
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Alison-Packard/e/B009JG39XQ/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_4?qid=1419875275&sr=8-4
Barnes and Noble Author Page: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/alison-packard

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New #Paranormal Release: RESOLVE and FURY by Jill Cooper

The epic two book finale starts here. The stakes are higher. And the enemy is one of their own. It's all come to this. This moment in time. Everything Natalie Johnson has fought for. Newly promoted paladin commander Natalie Johnson is about to bring the demonire tracking system online. If she's successful Meadow's Creek may finally be safe from bloodsuckers. If not, the egg on her face will be enough to make a gourmet omelet.

But when old friends and foes begin showing up in town under questionable circumstance, it's clear something new is on the horizon. The murder of a prominent official threatens to cripple the brittle peace Natalie has brought to town. Alternate realities and timeline jumps all converge revealing truths, deceptions and worst of all, roads not taken. Natalie must face her worst fears, her biggest regrets, and most of all a deep longing that nothing will ever be the same again. Meanwhile a long sought after ally brings them all to the brink of madness. And his betrayal? Could be the biggest heartbreak of them all.

In the tradition of young adult vampire fiction such as Twilight and Buffy the Vampire slayer, comes The Dream Slayer.
Buy on Amazon    The 2nd part in the epic finale starts here. Once [SPOILER] believed in her and now, one last time, Natalie will put everything to the test to bring him back. But with half of Natalie’s team in critical condition, the fight won’t be easy. WOMP’s order to shoot [CENSORED] on sight to protect their vast empire of secrets will pit Natalie against the organization she’s been faithful to since she first heard the word paladin. Now that relationship will be put to the test.

Natalie will find a way to restore his soul, no matter the risks. No matter the stakes. Even if it means revealing her identity and location to her mortal enemy. And the end? Well, it might just prove to be the very beginning. In the tradition of young adult vampire fiction such as Twilight and Buffy the Vampire slayer, comes The Dream Slayer.
 Buy on Amazon  
 About the Author:I could write this in the third person. I could tell you what I like, where I was born, and what my favorite things are.

But instead, I'll say I don't want to write like everyone else. I don't want to craft stories you've read a thousand times before. I want my novels to be a cinematic experience, blending themes, genres, and situations unlike any you've ever read.

I want to break the rules. I want you to break out in a cold sweat as you read my books out of fear, love, and excitement. I want my books to be an experience. When you finish, I want you to feel something. Good or bad.

If you do, then I'll have succeeded. If not, I'll keep trying. Website | Twitter | Facebook | Newsletter | Literary Addicts | Goodreads | Tsu  

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WITHERING HOPE by Layla Hagen

Excerpt:
(Aimee’s POV)
"Just stay with for a little while, please. I need you so much, Aimee." The sound of my name from his mouth awakens something in me that has me writhing in a blazing torture. It’s doing things to me it shouldn't do.  "Shh, okay. I'll stay. I know it helps having someone.""Not someone. You. You make the memories bearable, the present better. You have an unbelievably strong will to keep going, even if you don't know where you're heading, hoping you'll find something worthy at the end of the road. You have an inherent ability to pick up the good on the way—those that give you strength, the happy things, like your poems—and you go on. You pass that strength onto others, even if it costs you sleep and peace. “I used to hate waking up every morning. Now I look forward to every day, even though we're stuck in this place. Because it means one more day with you." He caresses my lips with his thumb. I open my mouth, but he shakes his head. "Don't say anything, please." For a long moment, we are silent, our gazes locked. I breathe in his hot breaths, tension crackling in the short distance between our lips. Then he pulls me into a kiss. The touch of his lips on mine electrifies me, shimmer after shimmer coursing through my nerve endings. His tongue takes mine in a primal claim. Icy shivers splinter my skin, and at the same time, fire awakens deep within me. I've never been kissed like this. Ferociously, with absolute, desperate need. I try to temper the heated emotions building inside me. I try to remember it's wrong. But that fleeting thought is drowned by the heat igniting his lips and hands, and I surrender. Tristan deepens the kiss until I'm out of breath. I become aware of his hard chest muscles, of every line and every ridge, as my hands roam wildly with a greed I don't recognize. His hands graze my body, traveling from my back to my thighs, spreading the fire in my center; I'm convinced it will consume me. With a jolt, he pulls me even closer to him, so I'm all but straddling him. His fingers fumble with my hair, as his blessed mouth cradles mine, coaxing a whimper from me. 

Book & Author Details:Withering Hope by Layla Hagen
Publication date: January 19th 2015
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Synopsis:*This will be a STANDALONE CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE.*Aimee’s wedding is supposed to turn out perfect. Her dress, her fiancé and the location—the idyllic holiday ranch in Brazil—are perfect.
But all Aimee’s plans come crashing down when the private jet that’s taking her from the U.S. to the ranch—where her fiancé awaits her—defects mid-flight and the pilot is forced to perform an emergency landing in the heart of the Amazon rainforest.
With no way to reach civilisation, being rescued is Aimee and Tristan’s—the pilot—only hope. A slim one that slowly withers away, desperation taking its place. Because death wanders in the jungle under many forms: starvation, diseases. Beasts.
As Aimee and Tristan fight to find ways to survive, they grow closer. Together they discover that facing old, inner agonies carved by painful pasts takes just as much courage, if not even more, than facing the rainforest.
Despite her devotion to her fiancé, Aimee can’t hide her feelings for Tristan—the man for whom she’s slowly becoming everything. You can hide many things in the rainforest. But not lies. Or love.Withering Hope is the story of a man who desperately needs forgiveness and the woman who brings him hope. It is a story in which hope births wings and blooms into a love that is as beautiful and intense as it is forbidden.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22722898-withering-hope?ac=1
Purchase: Amazon: no pre-order available. Purchase link will go live on January 19th
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/withering-hope-layla-hagen/1120913595?ean=2940151753722
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id951300992 Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/withering-hope
AUTHOR BIOMy name is Layla Hagen and I am a New Adult Contemporary Romance author.
I fell in love with books when I was nine years old, and my love affair with stories continues even now, many years later.

I write romantic stories and can’t wait to share them with the world.
And I drink coffee. Lots of it, in case the photo didn’t make it obvious enough

Author links:http://laylahagen.com/https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7520984.Layla_Hagenhttps://www.facebook.com/LaylaHagenBookshttps://twitter.com/laylahagen
Blitz-wide giveaway (INT)20$ Amazon gift card
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Interview with C.C. Koen, INTENSITY

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?Intensity is my debut novel. The sequel, Serenity will be released in fall 2015. Intensity is about a young woman who is struggling financially. She works three jobs but hasn't been able to get ahead of the debt. She meets a woman who proposes that she become an escort. Eventually, Serena decides to do so, but...she's a virgin. It actually made the story a lot of fun to write.
Do you have a favorite character?Serena and Linc were both my favorite. I enjoyed the creative writing process a lot. It is fascinating to get in the “mind” of your characters and imagine all the emotions and actions they would.
What factors influenced your decision to self-publish your book(s)?I self-published because my day job consumes a great deal of my time. I couldn’t make a commitment to a publisher too.
If you used a graphic designer/publisher’s designer, how involved were you during the creative process for your cover?I was very involved in the design process. I chose the stock photos and color choices, etc. I really enjoyed learning about cover and graphic design in general. I decided to create my own teasers and book trailer as well. I’m very particular about style, so being involved in creative design of any kind is important to me.
Do you belong to a critique group? Have they helped improve your writing?Yes, Scribophile has been amazing. The comments and feedback help authors expand their vision of the story and consider other possibilities.
What is your writing process? Do you listen to music or do you like silence?When I can write, my typical day involves sitting on the couch with the TV or music playing and my laptop. I cannot sit at a desk like most writers. I have back, shoulder, and neck issues, so I have to be in a lounging position in order to work on the computer. If I don't then I suffer from a lot of pain, which does not help the creative process.
Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?I primarily outline, but there is a large portion of free style writing I do too. Story ideas come to me at various points during the day/week/month. I write down the initial idea right away so I don’t forget. I have a notebook that I keep my ideas in. If I don’t have it nearby, then I jot down the idea on a post-it or notepad. Some ideas I’ve fleshed out in outline form, chapter by chapter, and others are preliminary thoughts that someday may or may not result in a novel or novella.
Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?Absolutely. I had two actually. The person I work with now is phenomenal.
What have you learned during your self-publishing journey?Wow, there were so many. Since Intensity is my debut novel I learned everything from scratch. It started with learning the basics of the genre, planning and revising story events, hiring an editor, and marketing and publishing. Since I didn't have anyone I could ask for advice, I did a lot of research, took writing workshops, and entered writing contests to gather feedback. I also benefited from the critiques by Scribophile members. 
The most challenging was hiring an editor way too soon, revising many times, and continuing to spend money on the revisions. I hired an editor after the first draft (STUPID!) It was before I found Scribophile. 
The most rewarding part has been seeing the published novel available at retailer sites. It brought a huge smile to my face. I can’t wait to publish the next one.  
What kinds of marketing [twitter, facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for promoting your book(s)?I use Facebook and Twitter. I’m not a huge social media type of person. I try to engage with readers and make posts weekly though.  You can contact me at:Facebook: www.facebook.com/cckoenbooksTwitter: http://twitter.com/authorcckoen@authorcckoen
Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book?A little. I’m an early riser, so I’ll check email and social media first thing in the morning and then later in the evening.
What advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing arena?Write! Get the story down on paper first. Then work on refining it by getting beta readers, critiques, and editor feedback. Make sure you learn about the craft and do the majority of the drafting, editing, and revising yourself before sending it out for other eyes to see.
Besides writing, do you have any other passions?I love to read, and I’m get inspiration from rereading my favorite authors’ novels. Since I’m an emo-writer, my moods dictate my ability to write, it helps me to “get in the mood” by reading their inspiring stories.
What’s next for you?I have two novels I’m working on for 2015. Unlikely Allies will be released summer 2015. Serenity, the sequel to Intensity will be released fall 2015. *** Book & Author details:Intensity by C.C. Koen
Publication date: October 13th 2014
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
Synopsis:What would you do to improve your life?Twenty-one-year-old Serena Thomas is faced with a tough decision. Unable to get ahead of debt and loneliness since her grandmother’s death she finds a new job, placing the sheltered virgin in an underground escort business. She tells herself it’s just a temporary life choice, but destiny has a different plan. She meets a mysterious and gorgeous man, who happens to be her new boss. Will Serena fit in or will she be left all alone again?
Lincoln (aka: Linc) Jefferson has an unusual life. He established The Lounge, an exclusive escort club for very personal reasons. A place where the women say who, when, and what type of sex they’re willing to have. The escorts possess all the power and the money. It’s a business Linc guards at all costs. Trying to maintain the secrecy is a constant challenge and one that’s tested when he enters into a relationship with Serena. She tempts him unlike any woman, even though he’s surrounded by beauty on a daily basis. The more time they spend together the harder it is for him to keep his secrets. Will Serena stand by his side or will she abandon him?
Sparks and passion fly, taking these two on a journey neither could have expected.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22887381-intensity?ac=1
Purchase:Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NZC1RTS/ref=twoen-20B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/intensity-cc-koen/1120408591?ean=2940046195835
AUTHOR BIO:C.C. Koen writes contemporary romance with a twist. An avid reader who enjoys mystery and suspense, her stories will never be what you expect. Determined to find adventure in her dreams and life, she enjoys skydiving, sailing and any activity that challenges her. Teacher by day, romance writer at night produce an active imagination that comes to life in her writing.
Author links:http://www.cckoen.com/https://www.facebook.com/cckoenbookshttps://twitter.com/authorcckoenhttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8434594.C_C_Koen
Giveaway: Tour-wide giveaway (INTL)2x $5 Amazon Gift CardsSwag pack (incl. t-shirt, magnets and more)  


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#Review: WIND AND SHADOW by Tori Ridgewood

4 of 5 stars
 What a nail biter! Ms. Ridgewood definitely has a flair for the dramatic and intense scenes. Rayvin Wood is a complicated character who has not had an easy life. She ran away when she was eighteen vowing never to return to her hometown of Talbot again, but circumstances have a way of making even the most fervent vow irrelevant. Rayvin is forced to return and again deal with all the prejudices from the town folk for an incident that has forever branded her a killer in their minds. It doesn't matter what the truth is, they won't listen. Throw in the man, Grant Michaels, who she had a serious crush on in high school and the heat just got turned up several notches. Their scenes are full of tension and sharp dialogue.

The author does a fabulous job of teasing out the details of Rayvin's past and introducing Grant's thoughts and emotions. I loved that Rayvin was such a strong character, but even she has her breaking point. With vampires and witchcraft battling one another, this book is a non-stop roller coaster ride of action. The only thing I wasn't a fan of was the major cliffhanger at the end and it's why this book earned 4 stars instead of 5. If you're looking for more than just a paranormal sweet romance, then this book should definitely be on your list of "must reads."

I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. [image error]

Guest Post: S.M. Blooding, WHISKEY WITCHES

 
10. The Connection Between Whiskey Witches and SupernaturalIt’s hard to believe, but Whiskey Witches, draft #1 was written about a year beforeSupernatural Season 1. I had thought I was being super original, but then when Supernatural came out, I was like, “Uh, were we on the same wave length here?”
9. The Moment Dean Replaced DexxDexx has been in existence longer than Dean. However, I’d just gotten through a Supernatural binge week (hey, sometimes those just have to happen) and in one entire scene, I couldn’t type Dexx to save my life. Every time I went to type his name, Dean’s name appeared. Okay. Sure. They’re kinda similar. It’s uncanny, actually, but they’re two very different people with different backgrounds. Also, they prefer different weapons. Though . . . the trunks of their cars. Yeah. Oi.
8. Multiple JacksMany, many, many moons ago, Dexx introduced me to Jackie. She’s a 1970 Dodge Challenger. She’s a beast and I love her. I particularly enjoy scenes where she gets some character and interaction. But then Special Agent Jack Scott came along about eight years later. I tried changing his name. I did change his name, but as I wrote his scenes—every one of his scenes, mind you—his name would always come out of my fingers as Jack.
7. Excessive CursingYes. I curse. I was raised military/coal mine, went into the military, and now I’m in construction.  I breathe curse words. I decided to let myself have a little fun with real curse words. It’s been liberating.
6. A Coworker Spots My Broom . . . One day, I invited a coworker over to my place. We finished up and on her way out, she stops, points at the ceiling above my door and says, “You have a broom . . . on your ceiling.” What am I supposed to say? “OMW! You’re right! How’d that get up there?!” It’s my broom!
5. The Not-So-Real Paranormal InvestigationThe investigation that’s in the book is pretty close to the original. I kept it that way as a joke. After I wrote it, I decided maybe it would be a good idea to become a paranormal investigator so I’d know what the frell I was talking about. Yeah. The stuff that happened in the book probably wouldn’t happen in real life. I’m not saying it couldn’t. I’m not. But that much stuff? In one over-night investigation? Seriously? OMW! No. Just no.
4. My Own EVPHowever, being a paranormal investigator, I get real evidence and it’s cool! I even have a clip where a spirit and I were going at it—he pissed me off—and I caught him saying, “F____ you!”   
3. Paige’s Custody CaseThe real character arc story is Paige’s custody battle with her mother. This is not my custody battle. Mine’s much different. This is, however, based off of a real case. Grandparents really do have a lot of rights when it comes to children of single parents. The court system, for some reason, sees most single parents as failures and whores. It’s sad, but there’s a lot of these stories in the US. People are generally too ashamed to talk about it.
2. A Real-Life Demon ExterminatorA lot of people think that if there’s a real demon possession, a priest will be the one to perform an exorcism. Not so. To go through the Church is a very lengthy process that could take years just to approve. I interviewed a real-life exorcist. He was quite interesting to talk to, though, the whole thing was a bit eerie. I’ll admit, over half of me was wondering if he was deranged or on drugs. The idea that demon possession could be real. . . Just talking to him about gave me the hibby-jibbies. It was a little like facing death for the first time.
1. I Am A VampireWhen I first came to Denver, I joined a bagpipe band. Yes. I can play bagpipes. I was teaching the newbies and met this guy. He was tall, pale, and ginger. He wore the souls he’d collected on his skin like trophies (freckles). We were doing what adults sometimes do in bed before they get married, and he clamped his teeth on my throat.
I was laying there going, “What is he doing?” That slipped to, “So that’s what that nerve cluster feels like when it’s activated.”
Then, he rose and said in his best Dracula voice, “I am a vampire and I have created you.”
Wait. WHAT?!
He was serious.
I pushed him out of my bed, threw his clothes at him, and kicked him out of my apartment. About five minutes later, he leaves a message on my messaging machine (anyone remember those?). “Baby, just give me a chance. I understand the transition can be rough, but we can make it through this.”
Then, about five minutes after that (it could have been longer. I was freaking out in a very immature manner), he calls back. “Honey, I need to know how serious you are. I just got the call. The President wants me to fake my death and become an assassin for the U.S. Government.”
OOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMGGGGGGG! You’ve got to be FREAKING KIDDING ME!
So, I was turned by a bagpipe-playing, vampiric, U.S. Government assassin. *deadpan eyebrow wiggle*
Blurb:Detective Paige Whiskey comes from a long line of witches. They may not all be the most powerful, but they are outspoken and supportive of their community. She alone has no gifts. She can’t summon fire, can’t read minds. She knows the arcane. She’s studied it. That, along with her connection to the Whiskey Witches, lands her some pretty strange cases.
Like the sacrificial murders of St. Francisville, Louisiana. There’s a killer on the loose, choosing people in a vain attempt to raise a demon. Not just any demon, though. A man born long ago, made a demon in order to protect the Gate to Hell.
Together with demon hunter, Dexx Colt, her kitchen-witch grandmother, and her paranormal investigator brother-in-law, they unravel a conspiracy far bigger than a few simple murders, and re-discover Paige’s gift.
She’s a demon summoner and she’s key to the killer’s plan.




Amazon buy link: http://www.amazon.com/Whiskey-Witches-Complete-Season-1-ebook/dp/B00Q7NGL7K/ref=twoen-20


Author info: SM Blooding lives in Colorado with her pet rock, Rockie, and her bird, Jack, who's currently going through a midlife crisis. It could simply be winter. Frankie (SM Blooding) loves to discover new things and is currently trying to learn what a "life" is and how to get one.

If you read her stories, she'll take you to worlds you've never seen before--from planets with cities inside the arms of jellyfish to the stars of Dreamland. You just never know where she'll take you next.

She's also an investigator with a local paranormal investigation group, Colorado Paranormal Rescue!


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Guest Post: THE LIE OF WRITER'S BLOCK by Michaelbrent Collings

Let's go through a common event, one that we all have experienced.
A police officer has pulled up behind you. Lights flashing, that crunch-crunch-crunch as he stomps his way over the asphalt. Your window is already open 'cause you know the drill, and your butt is clenched so tight an onlooker would think you're three inches taller than you really are.
"You know why I pulled you over?"
Of course you do. You were going ninety-two in a residential district. Near a school. While drinking. With your hazard lights going. And a pair of rare (stolen) finches flapping around loose in the backseat. Also, you may or may not have a dead hooker in the trunk.
The cop unlimbers his ticket book, asks for your license and registration. Then, as you're halfway to handing it over, he shakes his head, puts away the book, and starts walking away.
"Wait!" you scream. And because (as we've already seen) you are critically stupid, you add, "What about my ticket?"
The cop shrugs. "Not feelin' it. I guess I've got cop's block."
Mind awhirl, you go home, thinking you'll drop the dead hooker (who turns out to be in the trunk after all) in your garbage can. But it's full. Trash day, the thing's right there on the curb where it's supposed to be, and the thing's still full!
You run down the street to where the trash truck is driving, slowly, aimlessly.
"Why haven't you emptied my trash?" you scream breathlessly. Breathless because the hooker corpse is still over your shoulder.
The guy in the truck looks depressed. He takes a shot of Jack Daniel's out of a large bottle. "Sorry," he says. "Trash maintenance engineer's block."
And he's gone.
***
One thing about this story is ridiculous. Sadly, it's not the fact that you have a thing for dead hookers.
No, it's the idea that the cop and the "trash maintenance engineer" got "blocked."
In the real world, "blocked" is baloney. "Blocked" is "incompetent," followed swiftly by "fired."
So why, oh why, to we writers get to be "blocked"?
Simple: it's because we either don't understand what it is to be a professional, or we don't understand what writing is.
1) What it is to be a professional
Professional: "following an occupation as a means of livelihood or gain… following as a business an occupation ordinarily engaged as a pastime… undertaken or engaged in as a means of livelihood or for gain." (2014, Dictionary.com)
This article is addressed only at the professionals and those who hope to be. Those writers who want to write full- or part-time, and get paid for it. If you're a hobbyist, fine. You can have "writer's block" and use it as an excuse (or a reason, or whatever) not to write. Heck, you don't need an excuse. Just don't write. That's the beautiful thing about hobbies. They're a no-pressure part of life. Unlike the dead-hooker-thing. Which will catch up to you. Mark my words.*
Now, I'm one of the top selling indie horror writers in the U.S., a #1 bestseller on every major electronic platform, one of Amazon's top selling horror writers for going on three years straight, and an international bestseller in over forty countries. My work has been translated overseas, and my books are Audible bestsellers. Heck, I've even outsold Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and that Fault in Our Starsguy a few times.
I make more money than most writers (than almost all writers). And I don't say this to brag, but I do say this so that you understand when I say most days I'm writing ten to twelve hours a day, I'm not just blowing smoke out my tooshie-parts. I'm working. Hard.
I'm a professional. And there's no way I can do what I do without working all day, five (and sometimes six) days a week. A full "work" week, if you will.
Professional.
If I'm not "feelin' it," I work anyway. I do my job. And my job is to write. Rain, shine, hot, cold, empty trunk or laden with dead hookers, "feelin' it" or not, I write.
Pro-frickin'-fessional. That's the definition, baby. Workin' every day, all day. Punchin' a card for a boss or bosses. It just so happens that your bosses when you are a writer are a) your audience and b) yourself. And if yourself isn't the most douchiesest, demandingest boss you've ever had – one who refuses days off, bereavement days, and bathroom breaks, then you and your boss should have a heart-to-heart and you should tell him (or her) what's what.
Either that or quit and find a new one. You're a writer, so chances are there's a meaner personality floating around somewhere in that messed up noggin of yours.
But you gotta write. No matter what.
Which brings us to…
2) What it is to write
"Oh noooooooooo," laments the writer, begrizzled with writerly stubble (on the chin or legs, depending on grooming preferences, hormone imbalances, and/or affiliation to Nature Goddesses). "It hath been a fortnight and I hath wrought no writing. For nary a key on mine Apple computer of an old and creaky model have mine baby-soft fingers tickled. I am a victim of writer's block, most sure and most foul."
The problem with the writer in the above example is that he/she doesn't understand writing. Doesn't understand how writing works. Because there is a simple fact that most writers don't understand:
"Writing" is not the same as "typing." They often overlap, but should not be conflated.
Typing (for a writer) is when you bang on the keys, when you put the words on the page, and when you eventually type "The End" and congratulate yourself with a cigarette/brandy/healthful smoothie/meal out with the family/cheap hooker with a hinky heart.
But writing… writing is much more. Writing encompasses that typing. But it also includes the thinking about the story. The moments when we as writers walk around mumbling as we come up with new ideas, the glassy eyes that we get during social events, the outlining in thick crayon on legal pads (or napkins or the backs of nearby friends).
Writing even happens when we're stuck. And that's not a "block," that's part of the process.
When an architect is thinking, trying to figure out just the right curve or angle of a new building, is that architect's block? Or when a CPA can't figure out why column one and column two aren't adding up, is that CPA's block? No, it just means they keep worrying at the problem, chewing at it until it becomes clear. That's not "block," that's "work."
But "work" is scary for people who aren't professionals. Who think that "writing" is code for "crapping out words with the ease of someone who ate a three-tier cake made entirely of ExLax and then having someone come along with their magic Pooper Scooper ™ and convert my fecal wordiness into bricks of gold."
Oops, I got back into Section One – what it is to be a professional. My bad. Rant over. <grin>
So the thing is, if you are "stuck," that's part of the writing process. It's not a block, it's an adventure and an opportunity. Where would the excitement of writing lie, if not in that glorious moment when you think you are absolutely, positively going to fail this time?
Awesome.
And, there's another way to write: put down the pen. Walk away. Go see a movie. Read a book. People watch at the mall. But do them all as writing exercises. Watch the movie to see what did or didn't work from a narrative standpoint. Ditto the book. Watch people to learn new character mannerisms, new ticks and idiosyncrasies.
Doing this is legit. It's the equivalent of a coffee/cigarette/lunch/hooker break for any other profession. Only it's a WORKING break. Because we professional writers work harder than anyone else.
Come back to your project. You might see something new. If not, keep thinking. Because you're not blocked, you're just working.
Fin: The hard reality
Pros work. And there's no such thing as block.
That means you'll keep working until you get it. If not, it doesn't mean you were "blocked," it means you "quit."
I've written thirty-plus books in the last five years. Never been blocked, because there's just no such thing.
Now get out there. Be a pro. Work.
Write.
 * Don't ask me how I know this. Just don't.

 Author Bio: Michaelbrent is a #1 bestselling author of many novels, an Audible bestseller, and a produced screenwriter. For more writing advice you can check out his website michaelbrentcollings.com. His newest novel is Twisted, a paranormal thriller.
Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Michaelbrent-Collings/e/B003VSI88O/ [image error]

Excerpt: CRASHERS by Lindy Hudis

Excerpt:As the blare of the clock radio on the night table jolted her awake, Shari  Barnes rubbed her eyes, blew her long brown hair out of her face, and snuggled into Nathan Townsend’s chest. She curled her body around his middle and took a deep whiff of his salty, masculine neck.
But she couldn’t ignore the voice on the radio.
“Monday morning traffic,” she sighed.
Nathan matched the sigh and put his arms around her. “At least you don’t have to drive over the hill.”
“Yeah, I would just die if I had to drive into Beverly Hills every day to work in a beautiful office.”
Shari giggled and disappeared under their thick blue comforter for a few more moments of sleepy-headed bliss. She felt Nathan stretch up, and a moment later the radio shut off. Then he slid down next to her in the single bed they shared in their Studio City apartment, a few blocks north of Ventura Boulevard. The constant drone and rumble of another L.A. morning came clearly through the open window: cars honking, rock music blaring, the frantic scurrying sounds of the film shoot a few blocks away. Shari ran her bare feet up the inside of Nathan’s thigh.
He jumped. “Shit, your feet are cold.” He pushed her legs off of him.
“What time is it?” she murmured between kisses.
“Um, seven.” He nuzzled her neck and she felt him becoming erect against her.
“No time for that!” She threw off the covers. “Gotta be at work on time for once; gotta get my asp out of bed.”
“There’s a snake in the bed?” Nathan grabbed her with both hands and gave her belly gentle nips.
“Yeah, of the one-eyed variety.”
Shari leaped to the floor and padded naked into the bathroom. She turned the hot water in the shower to high and stepped in, filling the small bathroom with steam.
She had just poured a green drop of shampoo into her palm and was running her hands together when the flimsy yellow and white shower curtain flew back and Nathan grinned in at her. She smiled back, surprised by neither his arrival nor the partial hard-on that preceded him.
“Mind if we join you?” he asked.
“There’s enough shampoo for everybody,” Shari said as she rubbed her hands across her scalp.
He stepped into the stall, pulled the curtain closed and began to lather her hair for her. She put her hands on his back, feeling the taut muscles and the water streaming there, but did not reach down between them. It took him about five seconds to realize it and hold her away.
“You okay?”
“Fine….”
“Don’t lie; I can always tell when you have something on your mind.”
“You know me better than I know me,” she said.
“You know it.” He pushed her wet hair over her shoulders. “Come on, give.”
“I was thinking maybe I should get a second job.”
“You’re worrying about money again?”
“Well, I have to shoot my student thesis film this year or I won’t graduate. But where am I going to get the money I need?”
“How much do you need?”
“At least five figures.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:Fraudulent car accidents is a multi-million dollar racket, involving unscrupulous medical providers, personal injury attorneys, and the cooperating passengers involved in the accidents and who also receive a portion of the illegal proceeds. Such is the fate of newly engaged, Nathan and Shari, whose joy is tempered by the dark cloud of mounting debt. A chance encounter with a stranger in whom Shari confides her troubles, proves fortuitous: he tells her of a get-rich-quick scheme that will put her and her fiance on easy street.
Seduced by the chance to move from hard times to good times in no time, she finds herself acting as a stuffed passenger the victim in a staged auto accident. Shari gets her payday, but getting out and breaking free of the insurance fraud underworld will take nothing short of a miracle. A modern day cautionary tale that uncovers how the innocent get lured into the scheme of cappers and hammers.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:Lindy S. Hudis is a graduate of New York University, where she studied drama at Tisch School of the Arts. She is the author of several titles, including her romance suspense novel, Weekends, her "Hollywood" story City of Toys, and her crime novel, Crashers. She is also the author of an erotic short story series, "The S&M Club" and "The Mile High Club". Her short film "The Lesson" was screened at the Seattle Underground Film Festival and Cine-Nights in 2000. 
She is also an actress, having appeared in the television daytime drama "Sunset Beach". She and her husband, Hollywood stuntman Stephen Hudis, have formed their own production company called Impact Motion Pictures, and have several projects and screenplays in development. She lives in California with her husband and two children.
https://twitter.com/lindyscribehttps://www.facebook.com/lindy.hudiswww.crashersbook.comwww.goodreads.com/author/show/6470478.Lindy_S_Hudishttp://www.amazon.com/Lindy-S.-Hudis/e/B009PODN24http://www.amazon.com/Crashers-Cappers-Hammers-Lindy-Hudis-ebook/dp/B008TUK3VY/ref=asap_B009PODN24_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1417296094&sr=1-3   Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: 
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