Debra L. Martin's Blog, page 256

Interview with Daniel Arenson

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?My new book is titled Moth, a fantasy novel for fans of books like The Hobbit. It's the first in a series simply titled The Moth Saga. Moth is about a world torn in two--one half always in daylight, the other always in darkness. Here's the book's blurb:
They say the world used to turn. They say that night would follow day in an endless dance. They say that dawn rose, dusk fell, and we worshiped both sun and stars.
That was a long time ago.
The dance has died. The world has fallen still. We float through the heavens, one half always in light, one half always in shadow. Like the moth of our forests, one wing white and the other black, we are torn.
My people are the fortunate. We live in daylight, blessed in the warmth of the sun. Yet across the line, the others lurk in eternal night, afraid... and alone in the dark.
I was born in the light. I was sent into darkness. This is my story.
You can learn more about Moth at its website: http://DanielArenson.com/Moth
You can see the book at Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FI4BYEE

Do you have a favorite character?My favorite character might be Bailey (the girl who appears on the cover). She's tough, sarcastic, and simply badass; she doesn't let anyone lead her or tell her what to do. This fiery, headstrong attitude gets her into lots of trouble, but it makes her fun to write about.
Have you ever had a minor character evolve into a major one? Did that change the direction of the novel at all?That did happen in my trilogy The Dragon War.  The first book, A Legacy of Light, features a young urchin named Erry. She's an orphan girl who lives on a boardwalk, stealing and rummaging through trash to survive, sharing a few hidden nooks with stray cats. Though small physically, she's tough and foul-mouthed. At first, she was meant to just be a secondary, throwaway character. But her strong outer shell, which shields an inner vulnerability, made her a great character to write. In the sequels, she's promoted to a point-of-view character and becomes one of the most important people in the series.
You can learn about A Legacy of Light here: http://www.danielarenson.com/ALegacyOfLight.aspx

What is your writing process? Do you listen to music or do you like silence?I always listen to music while writing. For intense scenes, I'll listen to metal groups like Arch Enemy and Amon Amarth. For lighter scenes, I often listen to soundtracks (I love almost everything by John Williams, James Horner, and Howard Shore) and epic music such as Two Steps from Hell.
Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?I did outline Moth extensively. It's my first book in this new world, and I felt that I needed a detailed blueprint.
The sequel (which is now available for pre-order) was done with a much simpler outline. By now, I knew the characters, mood, and overall storyline a lot better. With only simple plot points to guide me, I was able to just delve in and write.
Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?Yes! My editor for my dragon novels (Song of Dragons, Dragonlore, and The Dragon War) is Anne Victory. Moth was edited by Ashley Davis.
Besides Amazon, are there any other sites where your books are for sale?Here are some places where you can buy Moth:Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FI4BYEEAmazon.co.uk: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FI4BYEE
Barnes and Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/moth-daniel-arenson/1117186913
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-CA/ebook/moth-1
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/moth-the-moth-saga-1/id729469576
What kinds of marketing [twitter, facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for promoting your book(s)?
Twitter: http://Twitter.com/DanielArenson
Facebook: http://Facebook.com/DanielArenson
Website: http://www.DanielArenson.com
Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book?While I do promote, I feel that the best kind of promotion is writing the next book. Releasing a new book stirs interest in the older ones too, and it's really the best way to get the word out.
What’s next for you?Keep an eye open for Empires of Moth, the second book in The Moth Saga! It'll be released on December 12, and you can already pre-order it on Amazon. :) Take a look: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GOFTVXM
If you'd like to stay up to date, you can sign up to my mailing list at: http://DanielArenson.com/MailingList
Thank you so much for this interview! Happy reading. :)

New #SF Release: FIRST CONTACT by Albert Sartison

Book Blurb:
The book takes the reader to the end of the 22nd century, where he will experience mankind's first contact with an extraterrestrial civilization along with the main hero Steve, a scientific assistant at a Chilean observatory. Finding itself in the position of the less developed culture,  and realizing the danger of the situation, the human race tries with all its might not to let the situation get out of control. 

Does mankind have a chance, or is its fate pre-ordained?

Buy link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GCIN0OM

Guest Post: THE INSPIRATION BEHIND FINN FINNEGAN by Darby Karchut

I am often asked: why Celtic mythology? Well, my undergraduate degree is in anthropology, so my fascination with world cultures and myths goes way back. But it was a chance comment from my sister (who travels to Africa every year) about so-called “fairy rings” found in the African bush.  The local people said they were created by magical beings. I started researching fairy rings, which led me first to Ireland, then the Tuatha De Danaan, and finally to the legend of Fionn mac Cumhail. And thus, The Adventures of Finn MacCullenwere born. Plus, I come from Irish stock; hence my first name, which is an old family name on my father’s side.
But my real inspiration comes from my students. I have always written for older elementary and middle school boys. Since I teach 7thgrade (social studies), I am constantly surrounded by this age. I wanted to give my boys a hero their own age they can measure themselves against as well as an adult male hero they can emulate.
I am such a fortunate author, for there is not a day goes by that I don’t see a copy of my book in the hands of one of my students. What a gift.
What a treat to visit with everyone today. Please don’t hesitate to ask me questions or make a comment. I’ll be stopping by throughout the day.
Book & Author Details:
Finn Finnegan by Darby Karchut
(The Adventures of Finn MacCullen #1)
Published by: Spencer Hill Press
Publication date: March 12th 2013
Genres: Fantasy, Middle-Grade
Synopsis:Finnegan MacCullen: a thirteen-year-old apprentice with the famous Irish temperament.
Gideon Lir: a legendary Celtic warrior with a bit of a temper of his own.

Secretly, these blue-collar warriors battle the hobgoblins infesting their suburban neighborhood…when they are not battling each other.

Finn (not bleedin’ Finnegan) MacCullen is eager to begin his apprenticeship. He soon discovers the ups and downs of hunting monsters in a suburban neighborhood under the demanding tutelage of the Knight, Gideon Lir. Both master and apprentice are descendents of the Tuatha De Danaan, a magical race of warriors from Ireland. Scattered long ago to the four corners of the world, the De Danaan wage a two thousand year old clandestine battle with their ancient enemy, the Amandán, a breed of goblin-like creatures.

Now with the beasts concentrating their attacks on Finn, he and his master must race to locate the lost Spear of the Tuatha De Danaan, the only weapon that can destroy the Amandán, all the while hiding his true identity from his new friends, Rafe and Savannah, twins whose South African roots may hold a key to Finn’s survival.

Armed with a bronze dagger, some ancient Celtic magic, and a hair-trigger temper, Finn is about to show his enemies the true meaning of “fighting Irish.”

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13486992-finn-finnegan?ac=1
Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PittGEbeB5A(Preview)
Purchase:--Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Finn-Finnegan-Darby-Karchut-ebook/dp/B00BD73FAG/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=&qid=
--B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/finn-finnegan-darby-karchut/1108902516--iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/finn-finnegan/id603983389--Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/books/Finn-Finnegan/sxxFuWlqkkGBwvVrYFbO3Q

AUTHOR BIOAll her life, the archetypal hero and his journey have enthralled Darby Karchut. A native of New Mexico, Darby grew up in a family that venerated books and she spent her childhood devouring one fantasy novel after another. Fascinated by mythologies from around the world, she attended the University of New Mexico, graduating with a degree in anthropology. After moving to Colorado, she then earned a Master’s in education and became a social studies teacher.

Drawing from her extensive knowledge of world cultures, she blends ancient myths with modern urban life to write stories that relate to young teens today.

Darby is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and the Pikes Peak Writers Guild. She lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado with her husband, where she still teaches social studies at a local junior high school. She enjoys running, biking, and skiing the Rocky Mountains in all types of weather.

Her debut middle grade book, Finn Finnegan, released March 2013 (Spencer Hill Press). The next book in the series, Gideon's Spear (Spencer Hill Press), will be released February 2014. Her YA books include Griffin Rising (2011 Sharp Writ YA Book of the Year), Griffin's Fire, and Griffin's Storm.

Visit her at: www.darbykarchut.com
Links: www.darbykarchut.com
www.darbykarchut.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/darby.karchut


GIVEAWAY Blitz-wide giveaway Prizes (open internationally):
-10 ebook copies of Finn Finnegan

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

#Review: SHADOW OF THE REVENAUNT by Paul E Horsman

3 of 5 stars
The night before his Coming-of-Age, Ghyll and his two friends escape their castle on a clandestine hunt that would forever change their lives. They returned just in time to see their island castle destroyed by strange warriors and flocks of burning birds. Ghyll’s birthday turned into a nightmare as they fled into the night. This begins an epic journey to find out who is trying to kill them... and most importantly, why?

I was excited to read this book because fantasy is my favorite genre to read. The book starts out with a bang - very intriguing first chapter. It was a great start, but then the book faltered for me. While the characters are interesting, their quest became repetitious - the group is attacked, they fight well although one of them is injured, thus delaying their journey. Half-way through the book, I had the plot figured out. And, most importantly, there didn't seem to be any urgency for them to complete their quest. This is usually a staple in most fantasy novels. Of course, there are evil men chasing them, but the group plods along as best they can trying to decipher the clues. I thought there would be a great battle at the end, but I was sorely disappointed. The book ends abruptly with no conclusion to the main storyline. I'm sure there's a sequel to deal with this, but I like the major storyline at least resolved when I read a book. I give the author kudos for an interesting idea. I just wish he had dealt with the ending of this book in a different way.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

  Follow the book tour

Interview with Juliana Haygert

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?Soul Oath is the sequel of Destiny Gift. It follows the story of Nadine, Victor, Micah, and Ceris, and some other characters … and I can’t say much more without revealing big things from the end of Destiny Gift ;)
Do you have a favorite character?My favorite character isn’t one from a book. It’s Zuko from the cartoon The Last AirBender. He’s just amazing. Everything about him and his journey! I love it how he begins as a villain and ends up one of the Avatar’s best friends!
Have you ever had a minor character evolve into a major one? Did that change the direction of the novel at all?Hm, maybe Micah from Destiny Gift and Soul Oath? He was always a major character, but he wasn’t what he became. He was supposed to be someone to be a thorn on Victor’s path, someone with whom Victor bickered with, but Micah ended up being so much more. Sorry, if I say more, I’ll end up spoiling some plot points ;)
Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers?I did with Destiny Gift (The Everlast Trilogy #1). I got lots of requests and great feedback, but back then (2010-11), New Adult was still frowned upon and agents told me I should change my characters’ ages. They wanted me to make it YA or adult, no middle ground. I confess I tried changing it to YA, but it didn’t work. An editor told me my voice was too mature for YA and too young for adult (duh?).
If you used a graphic designer/publisher’s designer, how involved were you during the creative process for your cover?The only thing I did was to choose the photo used on the cover – the rest was all up to my cover artist, Sarah Hansen of Okay Creations. She did her magic and I loved it!
What is your writing process? Do you listen to music or do you like silence?My process is different for each book because they are all in different stages. I mean, Destiny Giftsurged from a simple question, Breaking the Reins came from a music video and some research into the polo world. And Soul Oath had a loose outline, taking from where Destiny Gift left off. One thing is for sure though: there’s always music. It’s my fuel!
Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?It depends on the story. Some come to me with very specific scenes. Even so, the muse takes me from one scene to the other. I’m a mix of pantser and plotter, but trying to more and more like a plotter, since it works better when writing series.
Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?With Destiny Gift, I actually hired 3 editors to critique my manuscript – and that was after 3 CPs had a look over it and before I decided to self-publish. With Soul Oath, I was a much more confident writer and I know most of my strengths and weaknesses, plus I have an awesome editor and I trust her 100%.
What have you’ve learned during your self-publishing journey?That everything in publishing, writing and reading really IS subjective. One person will LOVE your book. The other will HATE it. It’s just the way it is …
Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book?Honestly, besides book blitz and blog tour, I don’t do any marketing. I don’t like it, I don’t feel comfortable with it, and I honestly believe the next book is the best marketing an author can get.
What advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing arena?If this is your first book, don’t self-publish it. At least not before undergoing several critiques and editing.
Also, research and ask around. Writers are friendly (mostly) and always ready to answer your questions ;)
Besides writing, do you have any other passions?Dancing. I was a ballerina for many, many years. I hurt my foot and can’t dance anymore – not professionally at least. So I dance at home when I can ;)
What’s next for you?I’m finishing Playing Pretend now (by the time this interview is posted, the ms will be with my editor), then I’ll write the sequel of Soul Oath, The Everlasting Circle.
Thank you for having me! :)
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17617509-soul-oath?ac=1
Purchase:--Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Soul-Oath-The-Everlast-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00GTWMK6U/ref=sr_1_sc_1/192-5279310-9823253?ie=UTF8&qid=1385954360&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=julianna+haygert+everlast
--B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/soul-oath-juliana-haygert/1117477905?ean=2940148849032

AUTHOR BIO While Juliana Haygert dreams of being Wonder Woman, Buffy, or a blood elf shadow priest, she settles for the less exciting—but equally gratifying—life of a wife, mother, and author. Thousands of miles away from her former home in Brazil, she now resides in Connecticut and spends her days writing about kick-ass heroines and the heroes who drive them crazy.
Author links:Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter


Giveaway: Tour wide giveaway Open internationally
Prizes:
-2 ecopies of Destiny Gift
-Paperback of both books in the series
-25$ Nook or Kindle gift card

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

Guest Post: GUILTY PLEASURES by Ivy Sinclair

  <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Arial; panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-font-charset:78; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:1 0 16778247 0 131072 0;} @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} </style><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We all have our guilty pleasures. One of mine, that proves useful at the most random times, is my love of entertainment and celebrity news. Some people check their daily horoscopes or fantasy football stats- I check up on what’s going on in Hollywood. One of the most utilized apps on my phone (aside from Facebook, of course) is my EOnline app. Several times a day I troll the latest entertainment headlines and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">oh</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">ah</i> over photos from recent celebrity sightings across the globe.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">If you’d ask me why I’m so intrigued with the happenings in movie and TV land and the people who inhabit them, I wouldn’t have a good answer. In a way it’s like asking an avid reader why they like to read so much. You just do, and it feels at times like it’s programmed into your DNA. It’s a hobby of sorts for me, but one I take very seriously.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I enjoy my role of being the first one in my social circle to know the latest break-ups and hook-ups in Hollywood, what movies have recently gotten green-lighted, and who has been cast in the next big blockbuster movie. It makes for good happy hour conversation if nothing else. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It’s easy to point to the reason for celebrity watching as a kind of envious observation from afar. These beautiful people make a living playing out fiction for our entertainment. They can choose to be anyone they want to be, there’s the appearance that they make a lot of money, and since we always see the same faces in front of the camera, we assume their life is glamorous and fascinating in a way that we ordinary humans will never experience.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">But once you start peeling back the layers, you realize that choosing to live your life in the spotlight brings just as many negative aspects as it does positive ones. Watching an emotional Halle Berry and Jennifer Garner testify in court in an effort to protect their children from harassment by the paparazzi shines a much different light on the whole topic.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">That’s the level that I wanted to explore in one of the major subplots in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Grounded By You.</i></b> The hero of the story, Carter “Sam” Groveson, is plucked from obscurity to star in the film adaptation of a well-known and loved literary novel. His life is changing forever and he has to learn to maneuver living life in front of the cameras. How that impacts his relationship with woman he cares about, and wants to build a future with, is one of the main obstacles that he needs to overcome.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Ironically, a real story came out around the casting issues for the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fifty Shades of Grey</i> film adaptation that showed a parallel to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Grounded By You</i></b>. The original actor cast as Christian Grey decided to drop out partly due to the pressures of being thrust into the limelight. While this isn’t exactly what happens with Sam in the book, it was a relevant example of an actual situation where life happened to be imitating my art. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">While I enjoy the glitz and glamour stories of Hollywood today, it’s the stories that show the human “in real life” side of the business that truly interests me. Probably because it’s nice to know that despite their jobs, at the end of the day, the people involved in creating those fairy tale, fictional worlds are more like us than we give them credit for.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt;">Book & Author Details:</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Grounded By You by Ivy Sinclair</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Publication date: November 20th 2013</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Genres: Contemporary, New Adult</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0f61c8; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Synopsis:</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Lights, camera, and passions flare as a small town boy gets the break of his career. As the lines of life and art blur together, can he also find a way to win the love of the girl who got away?</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Carter Samuel Groveson.</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">His name is on the lips of every woman in the country who has a pulse. An actor pulled from obscurity to star in the most anticipated movie of the century, he’s an enigma to all. Everyone wants a piece of him.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Except her.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Amelia St. John isn’t about to follow the life plan that her father set out for her. She refuses to be tied down or commit to anyone. A year ago, she ran as far and as fast from Sam Groveson as she could. But when he reappears in her life and asks her to be the friend he needs to keep him tethered to reality in the midst of the chaos, she can’t say no.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Unfortunately for Sam, his big break comes with expectations that threaten his career if he doesn’t toe the line. In this high stakes game of love, everyone is watching.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0f61c8; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"><br /></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Goodreads: </span></b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Purchase:</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">—Amazon: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Grounded-By-You... class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">—B&N: <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/groun... class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yc2gOjRkapA..." imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yc2gOjRkapA..." /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">AUTHOR BIO:</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Ivy Sinclair cut her romance teeth on classics like Gone With the Wind, Casablanca, An Affair to Remember, and Sabrina. She is a firm believer in true love, a happily ever after ending, and the medicinal use of chocolate to cure any ailment of the heart. Ivy's guilty pleasures include sushi, endless Starbucks lattes, and wine. Readers of Ivy's stories can expect smoldering sweet stories of romance that tug at the heartstrings.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Author links:</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.ivysinclair.com/">... style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">http://www.ivysinclair.com/</span&... class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Author_Ivy"&... style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">https://twitter.com/Author_Ivy</sp... class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/authorivy&qu... style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">https://www.facebook.com/authorivy&lt... class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vuU2Bv7R6os..." imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vuU2Bv7R6os..." width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div>Blitz-wide giveaway 25$ Amazon Gift Card - Open internationally <br /><br /><a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/disp..." id="rc-d04251280" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NLTwK4hybzs..." imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="81" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NLTwK4hybzs..." width="320" /></a></div>  <script src="http://twoendsofthepen.blogspot.com//... src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TwoEnd..." height="1" width="1"/>

Book Tour Blast: CRYSTAL DECEPTION by Doug J Cooper

A science fiction thrill ride of action and adventure Criss lives in a special kind of prison. He can see and hear everything around the world. Yet a restrictor mesh restrains his reach and keeps him cooperative. His creator, Dr. Jessica Tallette, believes his special abilities offer great promise for humanity. But she fears the consequences of freeing him, because Criss, a sentient artificial intelligence with the intellect of a thousand humans, is too powerful to control.

Guided by her scientific training, Tallette works cautiously with Criss. That is, until the Kardish, an otherwise peaceful race of alien traders, announce they want him. With technologies superior to Earth’s, the Kardish express their desires with ominous undertones. The Union of Nations is funding Tallete’s artificial intelligence research, and she turns to them for help. Sid, a special agent charged with leading the response, decides Earth’s greatest weapon is the very AI the aliens intend to possess. But what happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object? And what is humanity’s role if an interstellar battle among titans starts to rage?
 Buy on Kindle | PrintCheck it out on Goodreads 
About the Author: As a young child, Doug stood on a Florida beach and watched an Apollo spacecraft climb the sky on its mission to the moon. He thrilled at the sight of the pillar of flames pushing the rocket upward. And then the thunderous roar washed over him, and shook his body and soul. Since then, he has explored life as an educator and entrepreneur. He enjoys telling inventive tales, mentoring driven individuals, and pursuing scientific inquiry.

In his new book, Crystal Deception, Doug swirls his creative imagination with his life experiences to craft a science fiction action-adventure story with engaging characters and a plot line with surprises. He lives in Connecticut with his wonderful wife and with pictures of his son, who is off somewhere in the world creating adventures of his own.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Follow the Book Tour

  The Author is giving one lucky reader a $30 Amazon Gift Card.

Fill out the form below to enter
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Interview with Rachel Abbott

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?In The Back Road a young girl is knocked over and left for dead at the side of the road. Nobody knows what happened to her, and how she came to be where she was, but so many people in the small community have one part of the picture. Each of them has something to hide, and their reluctance to tell the truth results in tragic events that could have been avoided.
The Back Road is the second book featuring British detective Tom Douglas, although in this book he’s taking a sabbatical. It doesn’t stop him getting involved in a local intrigue that results in murder, though!
Have you ever had a minor character evolve into a major one? Did that change the direction of the novel at all?It seems to happen to me more and more as I write! I am very fussy about creating detailed character profiles before I start writing. I know my characters well – from what they like to drink to the style of clothes they wear. But when I start to introduce them into the story, sometimes their characteristics become even stronger and clearer. This happened with Leo (short for Leonora) in The Back Road and she now features in my third book as well.
What factors influenced your decision to self-publish your book(s)?When I had completed my first book, Only the Innocent, I sent it to a small number of agents, and a couple of them were incredibly helpful. They phoned to speak to me, and said that they enjoyed the book very much, but I needed to be aware that it would be difficult to find a publisher, because it didn’t fit neatly into any one genre. My books tend to be about dilemmas – “What set of circumstances would be so bad that a woman would have no option but to murder a man” – for example. The result is a thriller with some police involvement. But my protagonist is either the victim or the perpetrator of the crime, and so nobody knew quite where to place it.
I wasn’t massively confident about my writing – it was my first book – so I thought I would just give self-publishing a go. Only the Innocent went on to reach #1 on Amazon UK where it stayed for four weeks, and hit the number one spot on Amazon in the US last summer, although in the US it is traditionally published.
If you used a graphic designer/publisher’s designer, how involved were you during the creative process for your cover?I am very lucky indeed in this respect. I used to run an interactive media company, developing software and websites. I employed a bright young man just as he left university, and some eighteen years later he now has a very senior design position. In his view, I gave him his career start (although he would have made it anyway) and so he insists on doing my covers. I am involved at every stage, from writing the brief to making suggestions, if they are necessary. But he is a complete star.
Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?I do quite a detailed outline. Having been involved in computer software for most of my adult life, there’s nothing I like better than a good flowchart! And that’s more or less what I do for each element of my story. I work it all out, work it all out using software that allows me to develop each story thread separately. When I start writing, I begin by roughly sticking to the outline, but occasionally a character or an event takes over and I take a small detour.
Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?I didn’t do this for Only the Innocent in the first instance. I published based on my own editing, plus lots of proof reading from some excellent people with plenty of copywriting, but not editing experience. However, once the book had been successful and I got a wonderful agent, she suggested that we edit the book. And what a difference it made. The book had done well without the edit, but the difference after a professional had scribbled notes all over it - “what’s going on in the room while this is happening?” or “this bit slowed me down” - I really began to see the massive difference a good editor makes. And now, I would never consider publishing a book without going through a rigorous editing process.
What kinds of marketing [twitter, facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for promoting your book(s)?Although my books are self-published in the UK, they are published by Thomas and Mercer in the US, and they tend to take responsibility for the marketing there. But in the UK I develop a comprehensive marketing plan, with specific targets. The tools such as Twitter, Facebook etc are brilliant, but only as a means to an end and not an end in themselves. So for example I may have a target in my plan that says “strengthen relationships with existing readers”. I work out how best to use Twitter and Facebook and other tools in this regard, rather then just post content without thinking about why I’m doing it.
Do you find it difficult to juggle your time between marketing your current book and writing your next book?That’s the tricky bit. I may have a marketing plan, but when I’m writing or editing, I am so completely focused on my story that I really struggle to get on with anything else at all. While my latest book If You Leave Me (to be released in 2014) was with my editor in October, I spent some time working on a new marketing plan. I was full of enthusiasm. And then the edits came back, and I was so totally engrossed that I’ve barely looked at the plan since. It’s not good enough, really, and I need to be more organized. But I love writing more than I love marketing. That’s the problem.
Besides writing, do you have any other passions?I really enjoy cooking. Food crops up quite often in my books, and I post the recipes on my website too. Before Only the Innocent was so successful, I had considered that my next book would actually be a cookbook, and had already started writing it. But I do prefer writing thrillers, so it’s gone on the back burner.
What’s next for you?My third book – If You Leave Me – is now back with my editor, who I am sure will have a few more notes for me, and then we’ll be ready to start the pre-marketing. I am hoping to have a finished manuscript by January, and will push the ‘go’ button in the UK in March, perhaps slightly later in the US.

Buy Links:Amazon US - http://www.amazon.com/The-Back-Road-ebook/dp/B00BSZVVL8/Amazon UK - http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Back-Road-ebook/dp/B00BP8JQ9M/
Contacts:Website: http://www.rachel-abbott.comBlog: http://rachelabbottwriter.wordpress.comTwitter: @Rachel__Abbott@_RachelAbbottFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/RachelAbbott1Writer

#Review: COVERT ASSIGNMENT by Missy Marciassa

3 of 5 stars
In her final semester before graduating with a degree in Information Science, Elle is looking forward to pursuing a graduate degree and planning a life with her boyfriend, Adam. All that changes when CIA recruiters show up on campus and Elle learns that she is already working for them through a dummy company and they are funding her thesis project. Seems Elle is brilliant when it comes to organizing data and metadata and she is just what the CIA needs. When she's assigned to work with sexy Preston, Elle is in for a few more surprises. Her life isn't as dull as she thinks and may never be the same again.

I enjoyed more than 3/4 of this book. I thought the author was foreshadowing future events and writing dialogue with double meanings. It was brilliant until it wasn't. I was very disappointed in the ending of this book. Perhaps I was expecting too much, but it seemed more of a let down than a satisfying conclusion to an otherwise excellent story. 

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.


Giveaway: Grand prize giveaway Prize (open internationally):

--$25 Visa gift card

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
 

Interview with Christy Dorrity

Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?Awakening: Book One of The Geis is a young adult fantasy that is based in Celtic mythology. It is set in Star Valley, Wyoming, and has Celtic mythology, Irish dance, sign language, a dragon, banshees, teen love, twenty-something love, and a murder mystery. Phew!
Have you ever had a minor character evolve into a major one? Did that change the direction of the novel at all?Aunt Avril, an eccentric clairvoyant who works for the FBI, was not even in the first few drafts of Awakening. It seems weird now, because she is a major character and it changed the entire novel when I found her. Once she showed up on the page, Aunt Avril took over and it was so easy to write her character.
Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers?I did not even send out one query for Awakening. I knew that I wanted to self-publish and it’s been such a fantastic ride!
What factors influenced your decision to self-publish your book(s)?I love having creative control over my work, and I like to have goals, not set deadlines. I have a good presence on the web, and an entrepreneuring spirit, and I am willing to work hard. And my husband is fantastic at cover and layout. A perfect combo!
If you used a graphic designer/publisher’s designer, how involved were you during the creative process for your cover?I was very involved. My husband, Devon Dorrity, designed and created my cover and I am so pleased with the way it turned out. We hired a model and a photographer and did a photo shoot. I have to say that photo shoot was one of the highlights of creating the book!
Do you belong to a critique group? Have they helped improve your writing?I love my critique group. We meet once a month and it really helps me to continue putting out new content. It helps so much to read early writing to a willing ear.
Do you outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?With Awakening I wrote by the seat of my pants, but I ended up with so much editing! I am currently working on a major outline for book two.
Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?Absolutely! It’s amazing how many mistakes I can’t see because I’m too close to the story. I had four editors for this book, including one from Ireland to check for consistency in the Celtic mythology.
What have you’ve learned during your self-publishing journey?If I don’t champion my book, who will? I am responsible for getting my books into the hands of readers.
What advice would you give a new author just entering into the self-publishing arena?Learn everything you can about the craft and give it time.
Besides writing, do you have any other passions?I am a Champion level Irish dancer and I’m currently training for the World Irish Dance Europeans and World Competition in April 2014.
What’s next for you?Book Two in The Geis comes out in 2014, and the final volume in The Book Blogger’s Cookbook will release in 2014 as well.