Debra L. Martin's Blog, page 270

New Release: ETERNAL SUMMER, A Collection of Short Stories

 
Eternal Summer - A Collection of Short Stories
Eternal Summer is a collection of eight paranormal short stories. Participating authors include: Olivia Hardin, C.G. Powell, Mandie Stevens, Liz Schulte, Lola James, Tawdra Kandle, Stephanie Nelson and Melissa Lummis.



Purchase on Amazon / Barnes and Noble
List of stories:

  

One Bite Paradise by Olivia Hardin - author of the Bend-Bite-Shift trilogy
Jill’s wish gave Doc a new chance at life – literally. Almost a decade of years have passed since Jill watched her lover get killed and now that time is like a chasm between them. Can they learn how to make One Bite of Paradise become an eternity?

 



Cat Napped by C.G. Powell - author of the Terra Stellar series
Tempers fly, when Sarik makes last minute changes to Jael’s and his vacation plans. How far will he go to get back in her good graces? 



Eternally Yours by Mandie Stevens - author of Eva and Thomas series
Eva and Thomas are bound by magic and are getting on each others' nerves. Eva is ready for a vacation, but when someone from Thomas' past is in trouble, her holiday comes second to saving a soul from Hell. 



Dark Remnants by Liz Schulte - author of the Guardian trilogy, the Easy Bake Coven series and the Ella Reynolds series.
Ella Reynolds and vacations do not mix—but she is willing to give it a try for Gabriel. However, when she stumbles across the ghost of a young woman who needs her help, all thoughts of fun and relaxation vanish from her mind. Can Ella solve this mystery before her vacation ends or will the spirit be trapped in an infinite loop forever?

 



 Bound by Fate by Lola James - Author of the Spellbound series
Ben thought his trip to New York would be just like any other -- find two random people, nurture their love, and leave before his presence is detected. But when he runs into someone from his past, business as usual becomes complicated.The worlds of the Spellbound Series and the Fate Trilogy blend in Bound By Fate.

 



Stardust on the Sea by Tawdra Kandle - Author of the King series
Cathryn Whitmore does not want a vacation, not even in beautiful Cape May. But when she encounters a hot college professor at a bed and breakfast with a ghostly mystery, she just may change her mind.

 



Cursed Cove by Stephanie Nelson - Author of the Gwen Sparks and Anna Avery series
Gwen and Dorian head to Hawaii, but not for fruity drinks or sunbathing. A string of murders taint what the locals are calling Cursed Cove. Haunted by the infamous Captain Clarke, Gwen and Dorian must figure out how to rid the beach of the demonic ghost before more locals lose their lives.

 



Daylight Come by Melissa Lummis - Author of the Love and Light series
Some fun in the sun was just what Loti needed, but from the moment she and Wolf arrive at the not- so-quaint hotel, they know something's off about the place. Cockroaches, dirty linens and an unkempt room turn out to be the least of their worries. An evil spirit haunts the beach front resort and it has no intentions of letting them check out until it gets what it wants. Can they solve the mystery before daylight comes?

Interview with Paige Pendleton

<!--
/* 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:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 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;}
@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-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-parent:"";
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}
@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;}
/* List Definitions */
@list l0
{mso-list-id:27224065;
mso-list-type:hybrid;
mso-list-template-ids:-1122364602 67698703 67698713 67698715 67698703 67698713 67698715 67698703 67698713 67698715;}
@list l0:level1
{mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
ol
{margin-bottom:0in;}
ul
{margin-bottom:0in;}
</style> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7B5G9NKdTRw..." imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7B5G9NKdTRw..." width="207" /></a></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Can you
give us a brief overview of your latest book? Is it part of a series?</span></b>

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Keeper-Stone-Bl...
Keeper and the Rune Stone</a> is the first book in The Black Ledge Series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">An unholy
ritual, a ticking clock. Four children discover there are things that go bump
in the night ...</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Centuries
ago a group of Elves committed an unholy ritual. But the ritual was a
spectacular failure. It transformed the Elves into the Noctivagi - the beings
we know as vampires.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Striving
to maintain a fragile peace, the ancient Elves and Dwarves negotiated an
Accord, which they've renewed every year on the Summer Solstice. The ceremony
depends on the magical Rune Stone, but it's missing. If it is not found—and
quickly—the consequences could be dire, and not just for Elves and Dwarves.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Four
children, Rob, Jack, Eleanor, and Flora, stumble into a world of magic and
mayhem when they move into Black Ledge, the old estate on the Maine coast, and
discover they aren’t the only ones who live there.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Do you
have a favorite character?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I have quite a few.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> 
</span>In <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Keeper-Stone-Bl...
Keeper and the Rune Stone</a></b>, I’d have to say Ralph, the cellar-dweller
Hafling who lives in the basement of Black Ledge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>He is grouchy, especially when he is woken from a nap (those
scenes almost write themselves). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Have you
ever had a minor character evolve into a major one? Did that change the
direction of the novel at all?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Gunnr, the Night Elf, stepped onstage in the last third of
Book One, and he took over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>I
really struggled to keep him in what I thought was his place, but he was quite
insistent. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, we
compromised, but only if I let him have his way in Book II, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Keeper-Alabaste...
Keeper and the Alabaster Chalice</a></b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> 
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Did you
try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>I thought
I had a great query letter but apparently I was the only one. I couldn’t really
get anyone to look at the manuscript.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> 
</span>Two agents did, and I received very nice rejections and encouragement. I
realized this would be a challenge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> 
</span>I had great feedback, though, and some other encouraging signs, so I
decided to learn as much as I could, and put them out independently. It was the
right decision. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">If you
used a graphic designer/publisher’s designer, how involved were you during the
creative process for your cover?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I am so lucky!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> 
</span>Long sordid tale of scheduling mishaps and disappearing team members,
and then, at the last minute, I found a super, super book designer, Brion
Sausser at Book Creatives, and I feel very fortunate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Brion knew just what I wanted, maybe better than I did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">    </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Do you
belong to a critique group? Have they helped improve your writing?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Oh, gosh, yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> 
</span>I am the newest writer in that fold, which is a fabulous place to
be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>The members of my writers’
group have taught me so much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What is
your writing process? Do you listen to music or do you like silence?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Music helps me a lot. Just the right music — it might take
me 15 minutes to find just the right piece(s) for the mood of the scenes I am
working on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Just in the background,
nothing that distracts, but the right music definitely contributes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Do you
outline your story or just go where your muse takes you?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Both.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>I have a
broad purpose for each chapter, but then I let it happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>I don’t wring ink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>If it isn’t flowing I walk away. I mull
and I ponder, and that always seems to fix it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Did you
hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>I had
three excellent editors on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Keeper-Stone-Bl...
Keeper and the Rune Stone</a></b>, and lots of other help, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>I had a lot of very helpful critical
feedback when I placed the book on Authonomy, a website for writers to critique
each other’s work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>I also belong
to a couple of excellent writers’ groups, locally and on FaceBook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Invaluable information, and laugher. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I also have beta readers, friends, and family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>My daughters are ruthless critics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>They have been invaluable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There are so many people that have helped me along the
way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>It’s almost impossible to
name them all, but one very special person is Thomas Block, who is doing the
art for The Black Ledge Series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What have
you’ve learned during your self-publishing journey?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">That I need a maid, a chef, a gardener, a laundress, and a
publicist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Fortunately, my friends
help with publicity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>A lot!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What kinds
of marketing [twitter, facebook, blog, forums] are you involved with for
promoting your book(s)?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">All of the above.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> 
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 39.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">            
</span><a href="http://pwpendleton.blogspot.com/"... style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Blog</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">            </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Bl... style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">FB</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">                                       
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">                                                     </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">           </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null">... style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Twitter</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">           </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/... style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">GoodReads</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">           </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"><a href="http://literaryaddicts.ning.com/profi... style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Literary Addicts</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">           </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pwppwp/boards/&q... style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Pinterest</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">And friends! My friends have been huge supporters!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Besides
writing, do you have any other passions?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I love to sail, ride, garden, read, of course, and
cook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>My daughters show cattle,
and we love being on the periphery of that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What’s
next for you?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have a few things I
am juggling. I have the first book of a juvenile mystery series due out later
this year, Unattended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>No magic,
just murder. Besides the juvenile mystery series, I am plotting two adult
fiction projects.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I am consumed with the Black Ledge
Series, though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>It’s the most fun,
as Thomas Block is doing illustrations for each of the books, and they are
magnificent! I catch myself writing things just for him to illustrate. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span>

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Thank you so much for having me
today!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></span><br />
<br /></div>
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/c..." style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe> <iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/c..." style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TwoEnd..." height="1" width="1"/>

#Review: THE KEEPER AND THE RUNE STONE by Paige Pendleton

4 of 5 stars



Set in Maine, "The Keeper and the Rune Stone" is a delightful read. I
would suggest middle grade through YA for the target group of the book.
The story is well-written as we follow the 4 Driscoll children and their
discovery of The Realm. Magical creatures and talking animals are only
two of things the children discover. 



Ms. Pendleton draws the reader in
with her wonderful descriptions, but not all is wonderful within The
Realm. Danger and mayhem are stalking the children and evil has been loosed upon the
world. The clock is ticking down to set the world right again or the consequences will be dire. Without giving away any spoilers, I was anxiously turning the
pages to find out how things turn out. While this is not the usual kind
of book I read, I enjoyed it immensely and have no problem recommending
it as a wonderful read for both adults and children to enjoy together.

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

Interview with Christina Daley

What was your inspiration for Radiant?

I
was working on another book called Seranfyll
at the time, but I ran out of ideas about 20 pages into it and set it aside. I
then came across these random science articles--some were about comets and
others were about health, for instance. I can't remember where the possessing
idea came from, but I started to wonder what it would be like for a person to
almost die and then get possessed by something that wasn't a ghost or an alien.
The story grew from there into Radiant.
After I got Radiant out of my system,
I came back to Seranfyll and finished
that as well.

Do you have any other works in progress?

I always have WIPs! I'm
working a historical fiction YA that I'm keeping under wraps for now
(translation: I haven't gotten very far on it, lol!). And recently, I pulled
out some of my old art supplies and started re-learning how to draw. I'm not
very good at it, but if you're interested in seeing a sampling of what I've
done since April, check out my blog at christinadaley.blogspot.com.




What is your writing process like?

I'm not entirely sure, lol!
It's different for each project. I don't outline, but I may write a bunch of
notes or even a working synopsis (that ALWAYS changes by the time the first
draft stage). Sometimes I write the first few chapters long hand, and other
times I'll go straight to the computer and start typing. Sometimes I write at
my desk, but I've been favoring my couch lately because it's more comfortable.




Any writing tips you would like to share?

Read well and as often as you
can! Certainly read in the genre you write in, but also read in other genres
for the sake of enjoyment and perspective. I'm a pretty slow reader, so I don't
get to read a whole lot of books each year. But I jump around genres a lot,
from kids books and classics to manga. And don't shy away from books you think
aren't well done, since those are valuable at teaching how you don't want to
write.




The other tip I'd give is to
do it for the love of the game. There is a business aspect to be aware of when
you decide to publish your work for profit. But at the end of the day, write
because you love to tell stories and because this is the medium by which your
thoughts flow best. If you write for any other reason, you're probably wasting
time.




What are your favorite books? 

That's tough! But at the top
of the list is C.S. Lewis' The Lion, the
Witch, and the Wardrobe. I also really loved Ender's Game (looking forward to the movie when it comes out!). And
this may be just because I'm learning how to draw right now, but two manga that
I really enjoyed are Fullmetal Alchemist
by Hiromu Arakawa and Bleach by Tite
Kubo (although, I haven't read Bleach
beyond the anime run).




How can readers contact you?

All my contact information is
on my blog (christinadaley.blogspot.com),
including my email and links to my Facebook page and Twitter. I tend to get
really quiet on social media whenever I'm working on a project (like now!), but
if you @ me on Twitter or post something on FB or email me, I'll definitely respond.


























Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17253238-radiant




Purchase: 

-Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Radiant-ebook/dp/B00BE52DR8/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374260857&sr=1-3






AUTHOR BIO

Christina Daley made her first book with neighborhood
friends when she was four years old. They "wrote" out some
semblance of lettering with crayons, cut up a cardboard box for the
cover, and bound it all together with clear adhesive tape. It was
brilliant.



Quite a few years later, Christina is trying her hand at writing
"real" books. She lives in Dallas, Texas, with a pet plant
named Herb.




Author
Links:

Website: http://christinadaley.blogspot.ca/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4854333.Christina_Daley

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BooksbyChristinaDaley

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cdaleywrite








Enter to win a copy of the paperback!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

#Review: THE UNIVERSE VERSUS ALEX WOODS by Gavin Extence

5 of 5 stars


Alex Woods is an unusual young man. When he was twelve years old, he was hit by a rare meteorite that left him in a coma for two weeks. When he finally wakes, he was not the same boy. This is his story for the next five years as he learns to cope with his resulting "fits" and develops an unlikely friendship with a curmudgeonly American war vet, Mr. Peterson.



The storyline is told in Alex's unique voice. I was immediately drawn into the story when it opens with Alex being arrested as he tries to cross the border back into England. From there, as only Alex could tell it, we are taken back to the beginning to learn about his life from the moment he wakes up from his coma five years earlier. He is forever changed by that event and must now navigate through life with a fortitude that few individuals could match.



The dynamics between Alex and Mr. Peterson are difficult, frustrating, but ultimately uplifting as these two people share an unique friendship. I cannot say enough good things about this book. Mr. Extence has a gift for storytelling and this is one of the best books I've read this year. I would highly recommend this book to everyone who loves a wonderful underdog story. Not that Alex is an underdog because as he would say, he was only doing what was right and there was no other choice left to him.



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

 

From "Alien" to "Pacific Rim": PORTRAYAL OF WOMEN IN SCI-FI

 “Get away from her, you bitch,” Ellen Ripley cries out,
emerging with full tech armor to battle the alien queen at the end of Alien.






It was a seminal moment in film history, watching the
Sigourney Weaver character kick some serious alien butt to save the life of a
child.




It worked because we were willing to believe in Ellen
Ripley, a woman with courage, fighting a monster from hell, adapting her body
to the available technology to meet the challenge.




It was innovative because it was forward thinking at the
time, having a woman fulfill the traditional, heroic, male role—in space no
less. But times change, and now we have many women characters fulfilling the
traditional male lead in many genres. Give them a weapon, short hair, and a few
surly lines—in effect have them become men in the guise of women’s bodies to
suit an already overused archetype. 





Then again: How many women have to rise to the iconic status
of motherhood to be counted? As if these women can’t become pregnant with
something other than Rosemary’s baby, if not the birth of another Christ-like
figure, to save us from ourselves?




It’s all very tiring, even regressive, and unnecessary: having
another story written in “code” only men can grok, having another machine
achieve consciousness—and have it speak in a women’s voice to give it some
cache.








I stopped reading sci-fi when it became so dry and plot
oriented that it parched my imagination. As a result, I decided to write
something different, a sci-fi series that combines cutting edge science with
the tenets of five major religions and highly developed characters—many of whom
are women.




During the process, I again realized how intrigued I was
writing women characters. It could be that as a man I am forced to use a great
deal more of my imagination to think and feel like a woman; it could also be
that women tend to be more detail oriented and even more interesting to me.




In any event, I believe I created realistic characters, portraying
men and women as they really are, projecting them into the future, without exploiting
or sensationalizing their differences. As if women don’t have an equal stake in
our future? As if they won’t be joining us in space; as if they haven’t
already?




In my sci-fi construct, women are not ascending or over
compensating. They are the casual equivalent of the men, doing what is required
to meet a given challenge. In this example from The Astral Imperative, Gerta, a gay spaceship engineer, is marooned
on Mars with two other male crew members—both Russians who despise each other—all
struggling to survive another day: 







“Is
it not enough that six are already dead?” Gerta pressed, barely able to contain
her anger at Vladimir and Yuri, who nearly came to blows after three months of
containment in a small shelter. “Should we become seven, eight and nine because
we lack the ability to share ourselves in deeper way, because it is somehow unprofessional?”


Yuri
and Vladimir looked at each other before turning their eyes to the floor,
embarrassed.

Gerta
lowered her voice and continued, “We spend so much time together, then too much
time alone trying to avoid each other in this small space. I escape to the grow
room to nurture the plants. Yuri spends most of his time writing, also looking
within himself and avoiding us. And you, Vladimir, you spend most of your time
exploring the surface of this planet and away from us, looking to lose yourself
much more than you are inspired to discover something new.

“But
six of our comrades are dead. We are all that remain to fulfill the dream of
billions on Earth, and we are failing them because we are missing one salient
point: We are the aliens on this
planet and because we continue to follow old patterns, we are becoming
increasingly estranged from one another—which has only compounded our problems.
Now we are fighting each other. In the end, we will be killing each other and
nothing will be gained, because no one will return to Mars for another hundred
years if we cannot survive this madness.

“God
only knows how much I wish I could mean more to both of you, more of a friend;
even more of a woman,” Gerta concluded, fighting back tears. “If only I were
prettier and more desirable. If only I could desire one of you, or even both of
you. But this would create even greater problems. We are who we are—chosen by
fate—to die from our limitations or to survive them by joining at the depths of
our despair, and by learning to respect our differences.”




Excerpt: The Astral Imperative (Vol. II The Machine)




No doubt this is an extraordinary situation—three astronauts
marooned on Mars for two years—requiring an exceptional solution, beginning
with one strong woman employing reason to quell the misguided emotions of two
strong men. 




No ray gun was required to make a point and no
vulgar language. Though gay, she is fighting back tears because she loves these
two men in her own special way. More importantly, she is devoted to the success
of the mission: She has deep feelings, loyalty, and strength, which are expressed
within the confines of her character, and not imposed upon her.




She is the future of sci-fi, which can and should be
accessible to all women.




# # #




Robert Dresner has written six novels that marry fiction
with philosophy and consciousness: from a junkie jazz musician struggling to
survive another day, to an obscure old rabbi who finds God in the heart of his
worst enemy; to the first manned missions to Mars, wherein great sacrifices and
discoveries pose even greater mysteries to a crew struggling with the most
basic elements of the human condition. He has studied in ashrams in India and
is constantly moved by the soul-deep questions that drive us as a species. Robert
lives in Boulder, Colorado, and you can find him online at his website, on Facebook,
and Twitter.




THE ASTRAL IMPERATIVE (Virga Press, 2009) is available on Kindle
and Nook, and at independent bookstores.




Amazon links:

            Paperback:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Astral-Imperative-Vol-Dream/dp/0982227914/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1374283250&sr=8-1&keywords=the+astral+imperative

            Kindle:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Astral-Imperative-Dream-ebook/dp/B005VQBJ4Y/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1374283250&sr=8-5&keywords=the+astral+imperative


Nook link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/astral-imperative?store=allproducts&keyword=astral+imperative


Robert’s website: http://robertdresner.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertdresnervirgapress


Twitter: https://twitter.com/RobertDresner





Contact: Jessica McDonald, jessica@critg.com
(publicist)

#Review: THE HEIRESS EFFECT by Courtney Milan

 




4 of 5 stars


Miss Jane Fairfield has a secret and she's willing to do anything and everything to keep it even going so far as to be a laughing stock and the butt of jokes by polite Society. All that changes when she meets Oliver Marshall and her defenses start to crumble. Oliver sees through Jane's sabotage attempts of her character, but he's conflicted. Against his better judgment, he's attracted to Jane and doesn't like it. He
has the opportunity to gain important votes on a Reform act he's worked hard on if he goes
along with a scheme to humiliate Jane, but will he let his political
ambitions guide his choices or will he let his principals guide his decision?



I enjoyed this book although I think it did get off track a bit with some of the secondary characters. I loved that Jane is such a strong character, but she seemed a bit naive. With her financial independence, why didn't she realize that she didn't have to put up with her uncle's ridiculous ways. I understand why she acted and dressed the way she did, but it was only supposed to be an act, not her true personality. The first meeting of Jane and Oliver was witty and clever, but the more they interacted with each other, it lost a bit of that spark. Without giving away any spoilers, the book did wrap up all the story lines nicely, but I thought some of the events to get there were a bit outlandish. Nevertheless, I'm a fan of Ms. Milan and will certainly be looking forward to the next book in the series.

 

#Review: 32 Going on Spinster by Becky Monson

  3.5 of 5 stars




Julia Dorning is in a rut. She has lived in her parent's basement for 10 years, been at the same mundane boring job for 10 years and she has no self confidence. When handsome hunky Jared Moody is hired in HR at her company, her life begins to change in ways she never saw coming. Is Jared the catapult to get her moving again?



This was a cute read, but I found Julia's whining inner voice got old real fast. I understood that she wasn't happy with her life and she was stuck in a rut the first time I read it. Repeating this over and over again led me to not like Julia very much until Jared showed up to shake things up. I enjoyed her attempts to be cool around him and found myself laughing at her antics in a few places. The more she tried, the more she embarrassed herself and that made her character much more believable. As for Jared, I have mixed feelings. He was kind of a jerk with all his smirking and smugness, but he did redeem himself a bit by the end of the book. Overall, I did enjoy the book. It was a fast read and not a bad way to spend an afternoon.

#Fantasy Treat: QUEST FOR NOBILITY on sale for .99

Have you ever wondered about the legends of Merlin the Magician and his magical abilities? In QUEST FOR NOBILITY, we weave our own story of Merlin. The book is normally $3.99, but it's ON SALE for $.99 (a 400 page book for less than the price of a cup of coffee!)



Book description:
The parents of royal Otharian twins Darius and Dyla have been murdered; their cousin is stealing their throne, and they are falsely accused of murder. Their only choice is to flee to the forbidden and quarantined planet Earth, but it could turn out to be a one-way trip.

To return home, they must find an ancient crystal, that once belonged to Merlin, to power the return portal. When the twins stumble upon the location of the crystal, the local crime boss sends out his assassin to retrieve it. Can Darius and Dyla use their PSI powers to open the portal home and reclaim their throne before the assassin catches up to them?



Reviewers Comments:



"...this fantasy tale is highly imaginative and quite engaging..." 


."..science
fiction/adventure novel has a lot going for it: believable lead
characters, a classic coming-of-age narrative, and an interesting
mixture of both high-tech science fiction and fantasy elements..."


"...The end is fantastic when all the threads that run through the tale are uncovered..."



Buy links:

BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/quest-for-nobility-debra-l-martin/1100113548



Amazon: Buy icons:



 

#Excerpt: 32 GOING ON SPINSTER

The author is offering a $50 Amazon Gift card as a tour prize. Fill out the form below to enter and be sure to pick up her book!
 



a Rafflecopter giveaway