L.J. Higgins's Blog, page 6

Christmas Giveaways!!!

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It’s officially the Christmas season and to celebrate I’ve teamed up with eleven other authors to bring you The Twelve Bookish Giveaways of Christmas!

What’s so exciting about this giveaway, is each author will be giving away a prize bundle for the twelve days leading up to Christmas. That means by entering you have twelve chances to win paperbacks and awesome swag as well as the chance to win a $50 Amazon Giftcard!

To enter this amazing giveaway click on the image below where you will also get to see all of the awesome authors and the bundles they are giving away.

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I will also be hosting some fun Christmas giveaways over on my FACEBOOK page where you will have the chance to win some eBooks and fun swag. So make sure you head over and like my page so you don’t miss out!

Which author prize bundle would you love to win during the Twelve Bookish Giveaways of Christmas? Let me know in the comments!

 

Author Spotlight – Amalie Jahn

This month I had the chance to chat with the author of time travel series The Clay Lion, Amalie Jahn, and attempted to find out more about the author behind the books.

LJ: Where does the magic happen? Where do you like to write?

AJ: I do most of my writing in my basement while walking on my treadmill. I don’t go fast because if I do my body sends all its oxygen to my legs instead of my head and the quality of my writing decreases exponentially. With that said, I typically walk between 8-10 miles a day while I write.

LJ: Do you have any kids or pets at home?[image error]

AJ: Two kids, one girl and one boy. Three cats – Felix, Freckles, and Flint.

LJ: Other than writing what else are you passionate about?

AJ: I enjoy triathlons (swimming is my favorite leg of any race), reading, home decorating, and closet organization. I’m involved in civic endeavours in my community and love spending time with my family.

And also, Netflix.

My greatest passion, however, is avoiding dinner preparation by pretending we have no food in the pantry. Because there’s nothing I loathe more than cooking.

LJ: Do you have a favourite quote you could share with my readers?

AJ: “Humanity is a parade of fools, and I am at the front of it, twirling a baton.” ― Dean Koontz

[image error]Where Amalie works her magic, and works out.

LJ: Do you have a favourite singer or band?

AJ: The Cure

LJ: Are you a tea or coffee drinker?

AJ: Tea

LJ: Who is an author you wish more people new about?

AJ: My good friend Sacha Black is an incredible person and terrific author. After spending years blogging to help authors improve their craft, her latest release, Keepers, is her first foray into fantasy fiction and it’s going to be epic.

LJ: If you could travel back in time what year would you travel to?

AJ: Funny you should ask considering I wrote an entire trilogy on this topic. My answer is I would NOT go back in time because I’m quite pleased with my life as it is and have no intention on inadvertently mussing it up!

LJ: What is one thing you want people to know about you?

AJ: It only looks like I have my stuff together. In actuality it’s nothing but smoke and mirrors.

A huge thank you to Amalie Jahn for taking the time to talk with me and make sure you head over and check out her books on the links below:

The Clay Lion Series (YA Time Travel): The Clay Lion, Tin Men, A Straw Man

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Sevens Prophecy Series (NA Paranormal): Among the Shrouded, Gather the Sentient, Beyond the Sanctified

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The Next to Last Mistake (Light Messages Publishing, March 19, 2019)

Website & Social Media links

www.amaliejahn.com

Amazon

Facebook

Twitter – @amaliejahn

Instagram – @amalie.jahn.official

Getting back to nature

I’ve had a love for the beach for as long as I can remember. Growing up I use to love building sand castles, getting buried in the sand then having fish and chips for lunch followed by an ice cream. There’s something about the soothing sounds of the waves lapping at the shore, the salty breeze cleaning out my lungs and the briny water relaxing every muscle in my body that transports me to a place where I can forget about everything else. It can be an exciting day out in the waves and playing on the sand, or a day floating in the water or sun baking on the shore. No matter why I’m at the beach it always helps ground me and stops the continuous flow of thoughts so I can live in the moment.

My family hasn’t had much time together over the past few months so over the weekend my two kids, husband and I went camping at the Eurimbula National Park with some friends. A National Park made of bushland and long stretches of beaches in Central Queensland, Australia. I can’t begin to tell you how much I needed a weekend to relax, recharge and get back to nature. Our camp was set up under a canopy of various native trees and palms and a through the trees you could spot the beach and the waves rolling in. Of course we had a small fire to make the camping experience complete. My husband and I have camped in the national park many times in the almost twelve years we’ve been together, and we enjoyed taking our kids to a place that we love so much.

I don’t get to the beach nearly as much as I’d like to and the weekend reminded me I really need to take the time to get back to nature, ground myself and take a deep breath of fresh air. It also reminded me how important it is to spend more time together as a family unit.

Here are some photos of our weekend:

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Is there a place you love to go to recharge? Is it the beach or a rainforest, or maybe just a special place at home? Let me know in the comments below.

 

Book Reviews

Not only is writing my outlet, but reading is another way I can turn off my mind and be transported into a completely different world. I read every night before I go to sleep as a way to wind down and stop thinking about the lists of things I need to do the following day. It helps me relax. This week I thought I would share some of the books I’ve read over the past few months and rated 5 stars. I really enjoyed reading them and believe you’ll enjoy them too.

[image error] Cradle of the Gods (The Soulstone Prophecy, #1)

I really enjoyed reading Cradle of the Gods, and following Ghile’s story as he discovered who he is and who he is to become.

With a Lord of the Ring’s feel, it’s set in a world where dwarves rule over humans, killing any who show signs of being a vessel for a god who was banished years before. Ghile is a human who live’s in the Cradle of the Gods and has been told he would be no more than a herder for the rest of his life. But when a sorcerer and his apprentice arrive, Ghile stumbles upon something that sends his life down a new path.

This adventure is full of fantasy and magic, and I loved the characters which were all well fleshed out as well as the well thought out world they lived in.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy, and look forward to watching Ghile grow as the series continues.

You can purchase Cradle of the Gods on Amazon HERE!

[image error]Broken Soul (The Scholar’s Legacy Book 1)

Micasa is a young girl who has been a slave for as long as she can remember, with no hope of ever being free. That is until one night she chances upon a conversation with another slave, Hawke, who manages to free them both with her help. The two embark on a journey as Hawke reveals his soul has been shattered into pieces and in order to be whole again he needs to find every last piece.

I really enjoyed the relationship that grew between Micasa and Hawke. At first it was one of necessity, then as the journey continued it became one of mutual respect and friendship. There is also a colourful cast of other characters they meet along the way which only added to my enjoyment of this story. Broken Soul was a great story and I highly recommend you read it.

You can purchase Broken Soul on Amazon HERE!

Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1)

Celaena Sardothien is a trained assassin serving a life sentence in the salt mines of Endovier. When Captain Westfall arrives to free her from her imprisonment, she soon realises she’s not really free, not yet. First she must represent prince Dorian in a tournament, a fight to the death against thieves and assassins.

 

I am thoroughly enjoying this entire series and am already up to book #4, Queen of Shadows, which I didn’t want to review because it will give away too many of the twists and turns in this amazing fantasy series. Needless to say I’m hooked and can’t wait to finish all five books!

You can purchase Throne of Glass on Amazon HERE!

[image error] Pawns (Wielders of Arantha #1)

I enjoyed this mash-up of science fiction and fantasy.

Patrick Hodges, has woven a complex but easy to follow tale that switches from various POV’s so the reader can uncover the pieces of this intriguing puzzle as the story unravels.

With so much happening it’s hard to explain the story in its entirety. Maeve and Davin have found themselves on a new planet after escaping an invasion of an alien race that destroyed Earth. They’re on a mission to find a way to defeat the aliens who invaded their home, but have no idea what they’ve gotten themselves into when they find themselves on this new planet. Along with Maeve and Davin, we’re introduced to a tribe consisting only of women, and a pair of siblings who are a force to be reckoned with.

I enjoyed the way the stories of these well written characters at times collided, while other times sewed seeds and hints of what is to come in the rest of the series. I look forward to finding out what happens next in book two of The Wielders of Arantha.

You can purchase Pawns on Amazon HERE!

[image error] Prophecy of Darkness (Legends of the Tri-Gard Vol 1)

As a fan of their previous works, when I heard Michelle Bryan and Michelle Lynn had teamed up to write a fantasy series I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. It didn’t disappoint!

In a kingdom without magic, Prince Trystan’s people are devastated by famine and extreme weather and he fears that the whispers of a dark force brewing could be the beginning of the end of his kingdom. That is, if he can’t revive magic.

Although he’s unsure if magic is even real, he knows finding it is his only chance to save his people.

Prophecy of Darkness introduces us to the world of Dreach-Sciene in great detail while revealing the history of magic, how it was lost, and what must be done to recover it.

With an array of interesting characters, light humour, strong females, seamless storytelling and a dash of magic, I highly recommend you pick up the first book in the Legends of the Tri-Guard series.

You can purchase Prophecy of Darkness on Amazon HERE!

 

As you can see I’ve read plenty of fantasy in the past few months and look forward to changing up my reading tastes in the months to come and sharing more of my favourites with you. Have you read any of the books I reviewed? Which one are you most excited to read?

 

Why I love to write

[image error]For the past week, I’ve been spending most of my time sleeping in bed or laid up on the couch binge watching Netflix. Don’t get me wrong, it was great timing seeing as Stranger Things 2 was out, but it was because I’ve had vertigo. For those of you don’t know, vertigo makes you feel dizzy and nauseous all of the time, and everything I did made me feel exhausted and tired. It also meant I couldn’t spend much time at my computer as it made my symptoms worse. Which in turn means I’ve hardly written a word.

So this week, while my characters and storylines were chasing each other around in my mind, I really missed writing. Missed zoning out and disappearing into another world for a few hours every day. And it’s made me realise not only how much I love writing, but also why I love it.

From a young age, I remember having very vivid dreams, the kind where you wake up exhausted and aching as though you weren’t dreaming but running around in an alternate world. As I got older, dreams turned into nightmares, and I would’ve given anything to never dream again. I’d stay up until I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer and pass out into a dreamless sleep. But when I started writing again as an adult I found a purpose in my dreams. They were my imagination, the stories, and characters in my mind, and my dreams became my muse in a way. The Dreamer Trilogy began with a dream, as did a lot of the ideas in the Secrets of Aurora series. So finally, after years of avoiding my vivid dreams, I understood their purpose. Although sometimes they can be scary, they inspire me, kick start my imagination, and have sparked many story ideas.

Writing is also my escape. The days when I just need to get away from it all, I know I can retreat into a story I’m writing and forget about everything else happening around me. In a way, it’s like having therapy every day or meditating. I get to exercise my crazy imagination without any judgment.

Of course, there are many reasons I love to write, but these are two of the ones that really stood out to me the past week while I was unwell. What is your passion? Why do you love it? I’d love to hear about it in the comments.

 

Eden Launch Party

Over the weekend I celebrated the launch of Eden: Secrets of Aurora with a few friends and fellow book lovers. It marked the end of a really busy month for my family with both my husband and I spending time away from our family, and I enjoyed being able to relax and have a laugh. For this weeks post I wanted to take a moment to thank all of you who continuously support my passion for writing and help me be able to do what I love every day. Every purchase, review, post comment, and like, helps me know I’m on the right path and encourages me to keep writing every day. Thank you so much.

Here are some photo’s from Eden’s launch!

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Riveting Reads & Launch Week

What a crazy, fun weekend! Over the weekend I drove seven hours to Brisbane to be an attending author at the Riveting Reads author signing event. I met some amazing authors, lots of readers, and loved being surrounded by people who love books and writing just as much as I do. I’ve come back feeling incredibly inspired and motivated!

It was also a great way to kick off the launch week of Eden: Secret of Aurora 2! Eden is available for pre-order HERE, or if you would like to order a signed paperback click HERE!

Here are some photo’s from my time at Riveting Reads (I was so busy talking I forgot to take more).

[image error]My roomies!

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[image error]Photo with Author Kayla Howarth

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[image error]Photo with Author Kelly St Clare

 

[image error]Hanging out with Author DL Gallie

 

Ladies Night Fundraiser

[image error]Myself and two of the ladies who organised the event!

Last night three amazing women and I hosted a ladies night fundraiser for over 100 women, with all funds raised going to Beyond Blue, an organisation that makes a real difference to the lives of individuals, families and communities affected by anxiety, depression and suicide.

We kicked the night off with a hip hop dance performance by the ladies from Dance Kix (including myself), before Dance Kix’s Donna taught everyone a dance to, “Me too” by Meghan Trainor. With over $1800 worth of prizes to give away via lucky door prizes and raffles some of the ladies scored an awesome prize to take home. With formalities out of the way, we all danced the night away, with the help of vocalist and DJ Jenni.

I’m extremely proud of not only my friends and the event we created, but also the women in our community who came together to have a fun night, and dug deep to give to such a worthy cause. Together, we raised over $2,400!

I thought for this weeks post I would share my speech with you as well as a few photo’s of the night.

 

As someone who has gone through depression and anxiety since I was about fifteen, raising money for Beyond Blue was a no brainer for me. It’s a cause close to my heart, and I’m sure close to the hearts of many of you.

When I came up with the idea of tonight, I wanted it to be about two things. First, to bring the reality of depression and anxiety into the light. To encourage those of you who may need to talk, to reach out. And to those of you who might be approached by a friend, to not feel like you have to have all of the answers, but to truly listen to the person who has had the courage to approach you.

Second, was to bring the women of our community together. To encourage you to support, inspire and be there for each other. I’m a firm believer in the power of women empowering women, and the amazing things we can do when we work together.

And, I couldn’t have made tonight happen without the help of three amazing ladies. Mel, Kylie and Helena, thank you so much for everything you’ve done to help bring  this event to life. I’m really proud of what we’ve achieved together.

Thank you to all of you who are here tonight. Those of you who rallied your friends together, or simply came to support me and the other ladies. I think we’ve all just proven when women work together they can do some pretty awesome things.

 

If you or someone you know needs help or support, please head to the Beyond Blue website.

[image error]The photo booth props were a hit.

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[image error]Speech time!
[image error]We have our sequined hoodies on, ready to dance.
[image error]Donna from Dance Kix.

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Meet the Characters – Eden: Secrets of Aurora #2

As the release date for EDEN: Secrets of Aurora 2, approaches I thought you might like to learn a little about the new characters you’ll be meeting in the next instalment of Aurora’s adventure. Aurora and her friends hit many road blocks in their pursuit for the truth, and whether you like these characters or not, they play a big role in shaping who Aurora becomes and which path she takes.

ALICE

Alice is a bright, bubbly six-year-old girl, with short curly blonde hair and chocolate brown eyes. She reminds me so much of my daughter and was an absolute delight to write as she formed a close and easy bond with Aurora. Even if Aurora didn’t find it as easy to get along with Alice’s older brother Tyler.

TYLER

Tyler is Alice’s seventeen-year-old brother, who has a major chip on his shoulder. The only person he cares about is his young sister, and he’ll do anything in his power to keep her safe.

BRENT

Brent is the leader of the Freedom Camp, and will take whatever methods necessary to keep his people safe and under control. A self-proclaimed profit, Aurora quickly decides he’s not someone she can trust, even if he insists on keeping her close.

MICK & MOLLY

When Aurora and her friends are rudely awoken by Mick, a dark skinned man who lives alone on the edge of the desert, and his sidekick Molly, a blue heeler who is loyal to her friend, they aren’t quite sure what to make of the pair.

I hope you enjoyed the teasers about some of the new characters you’ll meet in Eden, and I hope you enjoy reading about them as much as I enjoyed writing them. Which character are you most excited to meet?

Author Spotlight – Melanie Hooyenga

This month I sat down to chat with Melanie Hooyenga, author of the time-travelling young adult series, The Flicker Effect, to find out a little more about the writer behind the books!

LJ: Hi, Melanie. First of all I’d love to see where you write.

MH: It’s always been a dream of mine to have a fancy chair in front of a window, and I finally do! The fact that my chair has words on it is even better. The table belonged to my husband’s grandmother and I can watch the sunrise over the backyard through the window.[image error]

LJ: That sounds like a beautiful place to write. Do you have a pet that likes to join you while you write?

MH: I have a Miniature Schnauzer named Owen who is far more popular than I am. He’s closing in on 12K followers on Instagram! (@superowen_theschnauzer)

[image error]LJ: Other than Owen and your writing, what other things are you passionate about?

MH: I love the read and watch movies, and aside from writing, that’s about the only time I’m sitting still. My bio says I play every sport imaginable with my husband, and that’s not an exaggeration. Summer is filled with softball, golf, biking, hiking, and walks on a weekly basis, then kayaking a little less frequently, plus the occasional game of cornhole, Frisbee, or volleyball. In the winter we ski, bowl, and play darts and billiards, and I’d love to start snow-shoeing. At different times in my life I’ve also played flag football, soccer, tennis, and basketball, plus field hockey and lacrosse when I was in school.

I also love DIY projects and refinished our kitchen cabinets this past spring. (It’s normal to pet cabinets after they’ve been sanded and painted, right?)

LJ: You sure like to keep busy. I’d pet my cabinets too if I put lots of work into them. Do you have a favourite quote you can share?

MH: I have two. “Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but the moments that take your breath away.” Also, “what would you try if you knew you could not fail?” Those two quotes guide me to appreciate the small moments that so many people overlook, and to go for my dreams.

LJ: Do you have a favourite band or singer?

MH: I’m terrible at favorites. I love all kinds of music—mostly alternative, but also 80s, salsa, pop—Taylor Swift has sort of become my muse, especially her earlier stuff. I write about teens and she nails that angsty, first love/heartbreak mindset that I try to capture. (And I’m super excited for her latest album!)

LJ: Do you prefer coffee or tea?

MH: Tea. I used to drink coffee but can’t drink it black and hated that I was putting so much other stuff in it. I prefer green tea in the mornings, but also like black, ginger, and the occasional sleepytime tea. Not the fruity stuff though.

LJ: Is there an author you wish more people new about?

MH: There are so many! If I can only choose one, I’ll say Erica M. Chapman, author of the YA novel TEACH ME TO FORGET. She’s one of my dearest friends and while we met online, I’m fortunate to live 30 miles from her so we get together regularly. Her book is very powerful and everyone needs to read it.

LJ: If you could travel back in time what year would you travel to?

MH: Lately I’ve been intrigued by the women’s suffrage movement in the mid-1850s. I think it’d be interesting to go back to when we were fighting for our inalienable rights and meet the women who made our lives the way they are today.

LJ: What is one thing you want people to know about you?

MH: That I do this because I love telling stories. And I love hearing from readers! They’re why I write and it makes my day to know I helped them escape to another world for a few hours.

Thank you to Melanie Hooyenga for taking the time out of her busy life to chat with me! You can discover more about Melanie and her books using the links below!

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Website & Social Media Links

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~ Website

~ Facebook

~ Twitter

~ Instagram