Abbie Lynn Smith's Blog, page 11
August 16, 2021
BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT: Leather & Lace!
Check out the story description below and be sure to add Leather & Lace on Goodreads!
Three years wandering the desert is enough to drive anyone insane, and the limits of Bonnie and Jesse’s minds and hearts will be put to the ultimate test. A deadly showdown with a murderous outlaw ripped Bonnie away from the relative peace and ragtag family she’d built at the end of Guns & Smoke. In the thrilling next chapter in The Fool’s Adventure series, we finally get the answer to the biggest question: What happened to Bonnie? After three years of fighting to get her back, literally, Jesse James finds her in the most unlikely of places-- New Orleans high society. With the help of his rival-turned-friend Will Ellis, and a sassy staff member, Jesse’s tasked with infiltrating the house of the man he believes was responsible for killing his parents in order to get her back. Jesse’s biggest challenge yet will be learning to fight for Bonnie in a way he never expected before: by fitting in. Mired in high society politics and scheming, Bonnie is at the epicenter of one of the most ruthless gangs in the world. Years trapped in a gilded cage of wealth and lies has irrevocably changed her from a crass outlaw into a southern debutante. Gone is the dangerous glint in her eyes, replaced with suspicion when the devilishly handsome street fighter named Montana suddenly joins her father’s staff. Can Jesse remind Bonnie of who she really is in time to keep her from giving her heart and hand away or will he discover that the wild, beautiful outlaw he fell in love with is truly gone?
We cannot wait to share Leather & Lace with you! Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter for the latest updates, add Leather & Lace on Goodreads, and review Guns & Smoke if you haven't already!
August 15, 2021
Guns & Smoke Blog Tour: Emily's Hurricane - Review
Please be sure to check out the original post here!
One small change in position and now each of my soft curves was pressed intimately against the tall, hard length of his unyielding body. His blue eyes blazed in the dim light of the alley, reading something on my face that urged him on. This was supposed to be my trap.
His hands were buried in my hair now, a thumb tracing over my cheek to land on my bottom lip. I knew what he wanted. Parting my mouth, I wrapped my lips around the pad of his thumb, my tongue flicking against it before sucking softly. A deep thunderous sound rumbled through his chest to shake me down to my bones. His hand in my hair slid to the back of my head, pulling my mouth closer to his. He wanted me to kiss him. He wanted this to be more than a transaction. He wanted me to want him back.
I brushed my nose against his, and he stilled. All other motion and sensation forgotten as his eyes landed on my mouth, inching closer to his. I drank in the taste of his breath, a faint echo of the taste of his lips from before. My head tilted to the side, and he brushed the hair away from my face to see me more clearly as I angled toward him. He swallowed down whatever desperate words were on the tip of his tongue, and I took his chin in my hand, mouths open and millimeters apart.
Click.https://www.youtube.com/embed/kC821Nr...
I don’t take a lot of chances on authors and books that I don’t know these days. I’ve talked about it before, how my TBR is so long I’ll have to pass it down to my children when I die. So I don’t often deviate from recommended reads or new books from authors I know, because if I take a chance and the book sucks, then I’ve wasted my limited valuable reading time on something that sucks instead of one of the vetted awesome books on my TBR.
But when I was getting all my stuff together for Jyvur Entropy’s Combustion book tour, I thought I’d take a poke around Silver Dagger’s upcoming tours and just see what was coming along.
And I spotted Guns & Smoke. And like…look at that cover! It is so cool that it had me drooling. I had to click on it, had to know what it was about. The blurb had me at ‘outlaw’. I love westerns so much, they’re always a one-click for me. I signed up without even reading the rest of the blurb, and grabbed an Advanced Reader Copy so I could be all set for the tour.
And then I binged the hell out of this book.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CP9OATErJ...
In a world where safety is a luxury and honor is found only among outlaws, two people attempt to outrun dangers lurking around each corner and the tragedies that define them.Bonnie is an outlaw on the run. Beautiful but dangerous; her dark past stalks her like the crater beasts that roam the desert. As the notoriously cruel outlaw Jones sends his henchmen to track her down and retrieve the gun she stole from him, Bonnie hopes she can stay one step ahead. Because if he catches her, a fate worse than death awaits.Jesse always dreamed of leaving the farm to explore the ruins of the big cities he’d heard about his whole life. He just never imagined he’d be forced to flee after strange men burned down his rural mountain town and murdered everyone he loved. Responsible for his kid brother and searching for an uncle he’s never met before, he isn’t sure he can navigate the perils of life among con artists and thieves long enough to find him.Their two paths collide as they find themselves thrown together on the adventure of a lifetime.Together, they may just discover that life is about more than just surviving.
TRIGGER WARNING: This book contains depictions of graphic violence, language, sexual violence, attempted rape, depictions of child abuse, and depictions of human trafficking.
I learned something really fast when I started reading this book. Calling Guns & Smoke a western is a vast oversimplification. First of all, while the term ‘outlaw’ makes one think of historical westerns, I was in for a delightful twist. This book takes place in the future, after nuclear war has just messed everything right up. America has fallen into a Wild West-esque place. The characters are named Bonnie and Jesse, and it has everything you’d ever want from a western, but also it’s a sci-fi dystopian with radiation monsters. It’s so creative and unique and I was so excited discovering this!
Secondly, the romance and sexual tension in this book, gawd. The cover might be badass and give the impression of a dark and gritty novel (which, let’s be honest, G&S is totally badass, dark, and gritty) but it’s also surprisingly tender. Bonnie and Jesse’s meet-cute is anything but cute (with the exception of Harry, he is hella cute and just a beacon of sunshine throughout the whole novel for me), but it’s intense and poignant and sets the stage for their tumultuous relationship. It is a slowest of burns, and I enjoyed every second of scorching fire.
So we’ve got ourselves a post-apocalyptic dystopian western romance, which is unique in itself, and then it’s populated with characters like Bonnie, named after exactly who you think she’s named after. And it’s referenced too, because it’s a dystopian future so why wouldn’t everyone know who Bonnie and Clyde are? G&S Bonnie is a trash-talking, grumpy, morally grey kickass heroine with a ton of baggage and a chip on her shoulder.
Jesse, however, is the softer side, and despite his strengths he’s not your typical alpha male hero. And this is yet another place where I adore this book. Jesse isn’t a cinnamon roll per se, but he’s not this overpowered apocalypse superhero either. He’s doing what’s best for him and his kid brother and trying to get them to family with not enough life experience to do so in a street-smart kind of way. And the fact that he and his brother need Bonnie to survive (at first literally, and later emotionally) is such a fantastic arc and fresh to see in romance stories.
We were the same. We were wild, untamable things. We were free.Guns & Smoke, Lauren Sevier & A. Smith
We all know how much I love dude in distress as opposed to damsel in distress! And let me be clear, Jesse isn’t incapable, it’s just that he and Bonnie have a different set of skills and they complement each other so perfectly that it hurts.
Anyway. It wouldn’t be fair of me to spoil this book before it even comes out, so I’m going to shut up now. You should preorder it RIGHT NOW. And then when it comes out on July 10th, read it and then come back here to fangirl with me! Sevier and Smith have created something so unique and special and I cannot wait to see where they take this next.
August 13, 2021
Book Review: Children of the Night by Zan Safra
Venice, 1865: Sixteen-year-old Ayanda Draculesti doesn't remember her early life—all she knows is that she was found as a small child, wandering the streets of Venice with an intricate medallion and a mangled left arm. But Ayanda is unique--even though she's alive, she has the powers of a vampire. She has the strength and speed to battle them, and most importantly, the will. She won't let another child die.
Ayanda isn't the only young Unnatural in Venice. Ghostly Yurei is in hiding, fleeing the captors determined to turn him into an assassin. Jette Jekyll and Belle Frankenstein are on the run from alchemists who want them dead and dissected. Their paths and Ayanda's collide when a brutal enemy surfaces that threatens them all: one of the Greater Dead, a vampire that slithers through Venice murdering everyone she encounters.
Ayanda is determined to stop this Dead creature before she kills again. Yurei, Jette and Belle aren't. Why should they risk their lives to save people who see them as monsters? All they’ve ever known is hate and fear. They owe the world nothing.
But Ayanda can't defeat a Dead creature alone.
Firstly, can we talk about that cover?! I met Zan on Twitter as a result of us sharing the same cover artist as Guns & Smoke, and, man, did Stef knock it out of the park!
Onward, to the review!
What do you get when you cross historical Venice with science fiction? This was definitely a mash up that I never knew I needed. Each of the main cast of characters appears to have been inspired by classic horror characters like Dracula, Frankenstein, and even the Phantom of the Opera. Add a dash of Vampire Hunting and you've got Children of the Night! I loved the subtle homage to classic horror. Safra has a way with words that, at times, I stopped just to appreciate the imagery. If you enjoy supernatural, slightly historical, and a lot of sci-fi, definitely check this one out!
Thanks,Abbie
August 11, 2021
Guns & Smoke Blog Tour: Paranormalists
Please be sure to check out the original post here!
As Guns & Smoke is a Dystopian/Western Romance novel, we thought it would be fun to come up with a list of our top ten favorite Dystopian couples.
1. Tris Prior & Tobias “Four” Eaton from Divergent.
-Anytime I think of my favorite Dystopian stories, Divergent is one of the first that comes to mind. The romance between Tris and Four isn’t apparent in the beginning of the story. I love that it is a story that builds slowly with time. I also love that they don’t realize just how much they have in common until much later. I feel like they really got to know each other as they were in Dauntless, before realizing that their histories intertwined so much.
2. Katniss Everdeen & Peeta Mellark from The Hunger Games:
-In the beginning of The Hunger Games, I struggled with the love triangle. I wasn’t sure who I would have preferred Katniss to end up with. Then, in Catching Fire, Peeta stole my heart with “...but the baby” and I was done. What I love so much about Peeta and Katniss is that they learned to love each other despite their flaws. Two seemingly different people from different parts of town that are thrust into an arena to fight for the death, only to find that they can come together to break down the system? Yes. Absolutely. Still hate the mind jacking they did on Peeta!
3. Clarke Griffin & Bellamy Blake from The 100:
-Well, my son’s name is Bellamy if that’s any indication of how much I love this couple. LOL! Actually, he wasn’t named for the character in this book series but, it’s a pretty great segue into all the reasons I really loved this couple. I loved how much they complemented each other, and regardless of all the things they had to overcome, or morals they had to bend… they stood by each other. In the end I’m really happy they got their HEA in the book series, I was so disappointed that it never happened in the TV Series!
4. June Iparis & Daniel "Day" Altan Wing from Legend:
-I have so many thoughts on this couple. They go from enemies to lovers in book one, to uncomfortable allies with a sizzling attraction in book two, then in book three… it’s heartbreaking. To see how broken and battered they both were, how sick Day was, literally dying, and by the end of book three… God! It was so bittersweet my heart was left aching after reading this trilogy. The epilogue did a really good job of leaving it open-ended enough, with a happily-for-now that I really believed they would find a way to each other again. Marie Lu wrote a fourth book called Rebel in which June didn’t get a perspective (which… I mean… I get it. It wasn’t June & Day’s book but still…) I wrote about it on my Goodreads, how I really only read the fourth one to see if June and Day got their HEA finally, and they did… but without June’s perspective it fell really flat. So I was pretty disappointed. I kind of wish I’d left it off at the trilogy, because their romance was beautiful.
5. Cassia Reyes & Ky Markham from Matched:
-When I first read Matched, I remember how in love I was with this series. It was such a surprise to me. I always wished that this series would have gotten more popular. The thing I like the most is an unexpected love story. One that even surprises the main character. This is definitely what happens with Cassia and Ky! I love that once they realize the spark is between them, they go to whatever lengths possible to get back to one another.
6. Lilac LaRoux & Tarver Merendsen from These Broken Stars:
-Ah! This book has not gotten the acclaim that it deserves. It beautifully melds a futuristic, world-hopping adventure into a Dystopian world. Seeing these two characters from two different classes literally forced to survive on a hostile and strange deserted planet together screamed Robinson Family Crusoe in space to me. The black moment in this book had me in literal tears. They didn’t deserve it. Not one bit. I’ve shamelessly re-read this book at least twelve times.
7. Thomas & Teresa from The Maze Runner:
-Do they love each other? Do they hate each other? Are the motivations real or are they using each other? These two characters from The Maze Runner series really had my head wound up. I could never quite figure them out, but amidst the backdrop of the intense, action-packed plotline and dire stakes… it kept me reeling for more from them. Definitely a good dystopian couple if I ever saw one.
8. America Singer & Prince Maxon from The Selection:
-This was another Dystopian story that I wasn’t sure where the main character would end up. I genuinely thought America would end up with her childhood best friend, but I was incredibly surprised by the fake dating to surprise lovers trope. I had never really liked it before reading this. Maxon is just such a good hearted person, and I think he knew from the start that he was lost to America.
9. Mare Barrow & Tiberias "Cal" Calore VII from Red Queen:
-I have some feelings about this one. Namely, that this pair didn’t get a Happily Ever After in War Storm. It was obvious from the first time Mare and Cal met (before the arena) that they were completely into each other. They had amazing chemistry, as evidenced by their private meetings in Red Queen all of the way through War Storm. I love Cal because he was one of those good hearted guys that genuinely thought the best of people, only to have it come back on him. They deserved a HEA!
10. Bonnie & Jesse James from Guns & Smoke:
-Ah! My favorite dystopian couple of all time! Bonnie and Jesse are two broken, grieving people desperately trying to survive in a harsh and unyielding world. Where any slip up no matter how small can see you stripped of your freedom or your life. I think what’s really beautiful about their romance is that it’s intimate before it’s ever really physical. It’s about the little moments of earning trust, confiding in one another, standing up for each other. It’s about how they edge toward each other and make each other feel safe in a world that is categorically unsafe all the time. It’s heart-pounding, awe-inspiring, and healing in all the ways that feel real and necessary in a relationship. I can’t wait for the world to indulge in their romance and hopefully they’ll be wanting more after book one… because there’s a lot more to come!Guns and SmokeThe Fool’s Adventure Series Book OneLauren Sevier and A. SmithGenre: Dystopian/Western RomancePublisher: Lauren SevierDate of Publication: July 10, 2021ISBN: 978-1734402346ASIN: B08RW6JNGGNumber of pages: 364Word Count: 134,000Cover Artist: Stefanie Saw Tagline: Life should be about more than just surviving. Book Description: In a world where safety is a luxury and honor is found only among outlaws, two people attempt to outrun dangers lurking around each corner and the tragedies that define them.Bonnie is an outlaw on the run. Beautiful but dangerous; her dark past stalks her like the crater beasts that roam the desert. As the notoriously cruel outlaw Jones sends his henchmen to track her down and retrieve the gun she stole from him, Bonnie hopes she can stay one step ahead. Because if he catches her, a fate worse than death awaits.Jesse always dreamed of leaving the farm to explore the ruins of the big cities he'd heard about his whole life. He just never imagined he'd be forced to flee after strange men burned down his rural mountain town and murdered everyone he loved. Responsible for his kid brother and searching for an uncle he's never met before, he isn't sure he can navigate the perils of life among con artists and thieves long enough to find him.Their two paths collide as they find themselves thrown together on the adventure of a lifetime.Together, they may just discover that life is about more than just surviving.
Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/kC821NrfFGs Amazon BN More Links on Author Site
Excerpt #1One small change in position and now each of my soft curves was pressed intimately against the tall, hard length of his unyielding body. His blue eyes blazed in the dim light of the alley, reading something on my face that urged him on. This was supposed to be my trap.His hands were buried in my hair now, a thumb tracing over my cheek to land on my bottom lip. I knew what he wanted. Parting my mouth, I wrapped my lips around the pad of his thumb, my tongue flicking against it before sucking softly. A deep thunderous sound rumbled through his chest to shake me down to my bones. His hand in my hair slid to the back of my head, pulling my mouth closer to his. He wanted me to kiss him. He wanted this to be more than a transaction. He wanted me to want him back.I brushed my nose against his, and he stilled. All other motion and sensation forgotten as his eyes landed on my mouth, inching closer to his. I drank in the taste of his breath, a faint echo of the taste of his lips from before. My head tilted to the side, and he brushed the hair away from my face to see me more clearly as I angled toward him. He swallowed down whatever desperate words were on the tip of his tongue, and I took his chin in my hand, mouths open and millimeters apart.Click.
About the Authors:
Lauren Sevier and A. Smith are longtime friends and co-authors from southern Louisiana. Guns and Smoke, their first joint publication, began as a “short” story after having too much wine on girl’s night.
Nine years later it is now the first novel in a Dystopian/Western Romance series.
The duo has plans to publish several series together in the future. A. Smith spends her time with her two rescue dogs and rescue cat surrounding herself with books and Labyrinth paraphernalia.
Lauren Sevier collects antique tea cups and tries to stay sane, though as the mother of a toddler she fails brilliantly most days. She also has a growing collection of crowns and tiaras and likes to act silly on TikTok. Look for more thrilling novels from The Fools Adventure series in the future!https://www.laurensevier.com/
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August 8, 2021
Guns & Smoke Blog Tour: The Creatively Green Write at Home Mom
Please be sure to check out the original post here!
Guns and SmokeThe Fool’s Adventure, #1by Lauren Sevier and A. SmithDate of Publication: July 10th 2021Publisher: Lauren SevierCover Artist: Stefanie SawGenre: Dystopian/Western RomanceISBN: 978-1734402346ASIN: B08RW6JNGGNumber of pages: 364Word Count: 134,000
Tagline:Life should be about more than just surviving. BLURBIn a world where safety is a luxury and honor is found only among outlaws, two people attempt to outrun dangers lurking around each corner and the tragedies that define them.Bonnie is an outlaw on the run. Beautiful but dangerous; her dark past stalks her like the crater beasts that roam the desert. As the notoriously cruel outlaw Jones sends his henchmen to track her down and retrieve the gun she stole from him, Bonnie hopes she can stay one step ahead. Because if he catches her, a fate worse than death awaits.Jesse always dreamed of leaving the farm to explore the ruins of the big cities he'd heard about his whole life. He just never imagined he'd be forced to flee after strange men burned down his rural mountain town and murdered everyone he loved. Responsible for his kid brother and searching for an uncle he's never met before, he isn't sure he can navigate the perils of life among con artists and thieves long enough to find him.Their two paths collide as they find themselves thrown together on the adventure of a lifetime.Together, they may just discover that life is about more than just surviving.
Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/kC821NrfFGsAmazon BN More Links on Author Sitehttps://www.youtube.com/embed/kC821Nr...Excerpt“I didn’t mean what I said earlier, about turning you over to Sixgun. I was just…” He struggled for the words.“Hurt?” I offered, and he nodded. “I know. I have a talent for pushing people away.”“I still shouldn’t have said it,” he muttered near my ear, his arm tightening around my shoulders to hold me closer.“Do you really think I’m stupid?” I asked.“No, I think you’re the smartest person I’ve ever met,” he said, with all the conviction with which he said everything else. I smiled against his shirt. “Did you really climb into my bed because you thought I was upset about the train?”“No,” I croaked, hiding my face as best I could. “I don’t have nightmares when you hold me.”“I don’t have nightmares when I hold you either,” he admitted.So I let him. I let him hold me all night. We didn’t speak, we just leaned against each other until the sky began to lighten and the shadows of our pasts seemed to fade into the distance.
Authors Info
Lauren Sevier and A. Smith are longtime friends and co-authors from southern Louisiana. Guns and Smoke, their first joint publication, began as a “short” story after having too much wine on girl’s night.
Nine years later it is now the first novel in a Dystopian/Western Romance series.
The duo has plans to publish several series together in the future. A. Smith spends her time with her two rescue dogs and rescue cat surrounding herself with books and Labyrinth paraphernalia.
Lauren Sevier collects antique tea cups and tries to stay sane, though as the mother of a toddler she fails brilliantly most days. She also has a growing collection of crowns and tiaras and likes to act silly on TikTok. Look for more thrilling novels from The Fools Adventure series in the future!
The Book Junkie Reads . . .Reckless Dreams Interview with . . . Lauren Sevier & A. Smith. . .
Do you feel that writing is an ingrained process or just something that flows naturally for you?
-Abbie: For me, writing started naturally. I know that this isn’t the case for everyone, but I have always been a storyteller from the time I was really young. I don’t have a formal education in writing, but I do spend a lot of time working through my craft because I believe that we can always improve.
Lauren: Ah! What a question! Both. I think especially for me, a lot of my writing starts as discovery writing (pantsing primarily) so that I can figure out the characters and motivations that inform their decision making throughout the overall plot. But, as I’m also an editor I recognize the value in the technical side of writing. Once I have the characters and world somewhat figured out I’m able to dive in and really do the work that takes the basics of a story into a multi-layered narrative that is emotionally driven and still thought provoking.
Do you have a character that you have been working on for a long time that still isn't quite ready, but fills you with excitement to work on the story?
Abbie: I have spent the last fourteen years developing a character named Dominick Lynch. I had a wild idea the day I graduated from high school. Originally, the story was about a vampire. Then Twilight got really big and I decided I wanted to change the story. It has taken on many iterations over the years, and Dominick’s story still isn’t quite ready for publication. Through her journey, I was able to explore my own battles with mental health, loss, and grief. I’ve taken a step back from writing her character, but there is something about her that has always kept me coming back for over a decade.
Lauren: Yes. And No. It’s more the novel itself instead of a specific character. The protagonist has changed so much throughout the years that as of yet she’s unnamed but the book itself has been one that I know I’m not quite the author I need to be just yet to do it justice… but I know I will be one day. It’s a strange phenomenon that I think every writer has experienced. It’s their swan song novel. The one that lives inside of them, gathering strength, until one day you just feel ‘ready’ to write it. Every single writer I know has a story like that. I’m not really ready to talk about the details of that project, but when I am, you’ll be the first to know ;)
Can you share your next creative project(s)? If yes, can you give a few details?
We have completed the first draft of Guns & Smoke’s sequel, Leather & Lace. We hope to have it published sometime in 2022. Lauren is working diligently to publish the sequel to her debut YA Fantasy novel, Songs of Autumn, released in November 2020. Abbie is currently in the editing phase of her NaNoWriMo 2020 project with hopes of seeking representation in the near future.
If you could have dinner/dinner party with 7 fictional characters, who would they be?
Abbie: This question is really fun. I would love to have a dinner party with Sirius Black (because let’s face it, he knows how to party), Cassian from ACOTAR (I’m madly in love with him!), Dante from Caraval, Feyre Archeron (because I think she’d be super fun to party with), Scarlet from the Lunar Chronicles (a wolf growled at her and she literally growled back), the Darkling from Shadow & Bone, and Nina Zelnik from Six of Crows. I think that would be quite the dinner party, and it would be a lot of fun to make bets on who threw the first knife. :)
Lauren: OMG! I agree with a lot of Abbie’s choices. Sirius Black for SURE! Hello chaotic bisexual with addictive tendencies! Cassian because… hello? He’s Cassian and would for sure be fun to party with. KAZ BREKKER from Six of Crows because I would shamelessly flirt with him and love to see the others tease him about his gloves not knowing anything about his tragic backstory. Wrath from Kingdom of the Wicked... I would literally give anything to see who would win between him and Kaz in a deception-off. Poppy, from Book ONE of the From Blood and Ash books because she’s so uptight and it would be hilarious to make her uncomfortable. Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice because I need someone with snark and poise to balance the insanity. And Nesta… because not only does she know how to party, but every good soiree needs the bitchy side kick, no?
Where would you spend one full year, if you could go ANYWhere, money is not a concern? What would you do with this time?
Abbie: I would buy a castle in Europe, outfit it with all of the modern conveniences and you would never see me again. I would spend all of my time writing or reading if money were no question. I’d love to be the lady of a giant, medieval castle in the middle of the highlands. Assuming I have all of the money in the world for that one year, I’d make investments to ensure I could live the lifestyle beyond that single year because, hey, it’s a fantasy, right?
Lauren: SCOTLAND! Fun fact, I’ve been obsessed with visiting Scotland since I was a little girl. I actually have Edinburgh weather on my phone so sometimes when work gets me down or I feel like I just need a vacation… I look to see what the weather's like in Scotland. I think not only the highlands and the natural beauty of the country would be inspiring, but the people and culture there seems so inclusive and grounding. Besides, Scottish people look like they know how to have fun in a casual, call last minute for a pint at the pub kind of way. My husband and I were supposed to go a couple times over the years, but circumstances didn’t allow it to happen. I want us to renew our vows at Gretna Green and to spend some time on the Isle of Skye. There’s just so much I’d love to see and do, I'm sure it would lead to endless amounts of inspiration.
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August 6, 2021
Book Review: 8 Steps to Side Characters: How to Craft Supporting Roles with Intention, Purpose, and
Do your characters fail to bring your story to life? Are they flat, boring or have no depth? Is your story lacking a little cohesion or sparkle? In 8 Steps to Side Characters, you’ll discover: + A step-by-step guide for creating side characters that bring your story alive + The main types of side characters and what you should do with them + The key to crafting character depth that hooks readers + How to harness your character’s voice to deepen your reader's experience + Tips and tricks for using details to enhance characterization + Methods for killing characters that will help deepen plot, theme and story + Dozens of ideas for creating conflict with your side characters + Tactics for differentiating characters and making them feel real to your reader + Character archetypes and functions + The most common pitfalls and mistakes to avoid 8 Steps to Side Characters is a comprehensive writing guide that will help you create the side characters your story needs. This book is packed with tips and tricks for polishing characters for writers at any level. If you want to power up your characters, eliminate dull and lifeless archetypes, and perfect your characterization, this is the book for you. By the end of this book, you'll know how to strengthen your characters to give your story, prose and plot the extra something special it needs to capture a readers and fans for life. If you like dark humor, learning through examples and want to create better side characters, then you’ll love Sacha Black’s guide to crafting supporting roles with intention, purpose, and power. Read 8 Steps to Side Characters today and start creating kick-ass stories.
If you've been following my blog for the last year, you know that I have become a total fan girl for Sacha Black craft books! I LOVED The Anatomy of Prose, Villians, and Heroes, and when I saw her put out the call for ARC readers, I couldn't resist throwing my name into the ring.
When I received my email with the ARC... I screamed. Literally. It was great.
Sacha has a way of breaking down complex terms when it comes to writing novels and making them simple to understand. Interspersed with lots of innuendos and a little bit of swearing, she provides a TON of wonderful examples that really help you understand the point she is talking about. Like Villians, and Heroes, and Prose, I loved Side Characters. If your side characters need some work, please please please check out this book!
As always, if you just want to polish your craft, are struggling with your hero, or would like to have a badder villain, check out her entire line of Better Writer novels. They are incredible!
★★★★★
Thanks for reading,Abbie
August 4, 2021
Guns & Smoke Blog Tour: Jazzy Book Reviews
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Guns & SmokeThe Fool's Adventure Series Book 1by Lauren Sevier & A. SmithGenre: Dystopian Western Romance
In a world where safety is a luxury and honor is found only among outlaws, two people attempt to outrun dangers lurking around each corner and the tragedies that define them.Bonnie is an outlaw on the run. Beautiful but dangerous; her dark past stalks her like the crater beasts that roam the desert. As the notoriously cruel outlaw Jones sends his henchmen to track her down and retrieve the gun she stole from him, Bonnie hopes she can stay one step ahead. Because if he catches her, a fate worse than death awaits.Jesse always dreamed of leaving the farm to explore the ruins of the big cities he’d heard about his whole life. He just never imagined he’d be forced to flee after strange men burned down his rural mountain town and murdered everyone he loved. Responsible for his kid brother and searching for an uncle he’s never met before, he isn’t sure he can navigate the perils of life among con artists and thieves long enough to find him.Their two paths collide as they find themselves thrown together on the adventure of a lifetime.Together, they may just discover that life is about more than just surviving.
TRIGGER WARNING: This book contains depictions of graphic violence, language, sexual violence, attempted rape, depictions of child abuse, and depictions of human trafficking.
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What is something unique/quirky about you?I collect antique tea cups and saucers, but I don’t drink tea. LOL! I know, it’s really strange. There’s just something delicate and beautiful about them. I love collecting different designs from different periods in history and I have a TON of them. I have one from the late 1600’s that was made in Austria and several that were made in Occupied Japan during WW2. But hey, you can drink coffee (or whiskey) out of teacups the same as anything else, right?
Where were you born/grew up at?Lauren and I both grew up in a small town north of Baton Rouge, LA. While it is close to the city, when we were growing up, the town was very rural. We spent a lot of time hanging out at each others houses because there was very little to do. Fun fact: we’ve known each other since we were four years old!
What kind of world ruler would you be?I’d be a terrible world ruler. Completely selfish. Bossy. I really shouldn’t be in charge of other people. The reason my family works so well is that my husband balances out my Type A, way-too-driven, OCD tendency, crazy neurotic personality by being completely and utterly unflappable about anything and having a very Hakunah Matata approach to life. If I literally ruled the world… *shivers* Well, I don’t even want to imagine it.
What are you passionate about these days?Rescue animals. I have adopted three (two dogs and a cat) within the last two years. I am always trying to get people I know to adopt animal that are in need of homes. I encourage everyone that I know they should adopt instead of shop for a pet, because there are so many rescue animals out there, especially ones that run a chance of being euthanized. I have three of the sweetest animals, including a two year old pitbull who loves every single person she meets, especially kids.
How to find time to write as a parent?I just don’t sleep anymore! LOL! No, but seriously, having a wild and wonderful little boy who is still in his toddler years can be quite demanding. During naptime, on weekends when my husband is home, and after he’s been put down to bed are prime writing times for me. To be honest, writing isn’t one of my top priorities. That probably sounds pretty blasphemous, but children are only little for a little while and although I try to be an example to him of hardwork and perseverance as I chase after my dreams… My main priority is to spend quality time with him. Children don’t remember if they had the nicest shoes or the most expensive birthday cake. They remember the times when you gave them your utmost attention, when you were at every game cheering them on, or when you took the time to teach them things. I never want my son to look back on life and say ‘Mom was always working’. So, I made peace with the fact that I would never publish more than possibly one or two books a year because I just couldn’t devote enough time to writing, editing, and publishing. I think my readers appreciate my candor on such things, even if several of them have already been banging down my door for sequels. LOL!
Describe yourself in 5 words or less!Kind, Organized, Hard Working, Passionate, Empathetic.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?I considered myself a writer from the time I was 8 years old and started writing little stories. I did a lot of fan fiction writing and text based roleplaying growing up, but I always knew that I wanted to write original, novel length stories of my own. It wasn’t until I was out of college that I allowed myself to really dive into that dream because that voice in the back of my head always told me that I wasn’t good enough to do it, but I fought back against that. I have so many stories that I plan on sharing with the world.
Do you have a favorite movie?I have had a lifelong love of the 1984 Jim Henson film Labyrinth. I saw it when I was a child, and then rediscovered it when I was in high school. There’s something about David Bowie in tights with 80s hair singing alongside a slew of puppets about stealing a baby that touches my heart. Three of my four office walls are covered in Labyrinth paraphernalia. If you’ve never seen Labyrinth or only ever saw it as a child, I highly recommend rewatching it as an adult. It’s a lot of fun!
Which of your novels can you imagine made into a movie?Guns & Smoke. I have always been able to see Bonnie and Jesse in my head as real characters in real locations. Guns & Smoke has a lot of action and adventure, which would appeal to fans of action films, as well as the romance tie in, which would appeal to fans of romance! Could you imagine seeing the dusty streets of gang-filled Vegas in a post-modern world?
As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?MERMAID! LOL! I mean, not just as a writer either. I frequently tell people that when I grow up I hope to be a mermaid. It’s literally my goal in life to just waste away my days singing on a rock, combing my hair, searching the sea floor for shiny things to collect. Luring men to their deaths. You know, just a typical Tuesday afternoon! LOL! I’ve been obsessed with mermaids since I was little, my husband and I even danced to ‘Part of your world’ at our wedding. So if I have a spirit animal for anything, it’s definitely a mermaid.https://www.youtube.com/embed/kC821Nr...
Lauren Sevier & A. Smith are long time friends and co-authors from southern Louisiana. Guns & Smoke, their first joint publication, began as a “short” story after having too much wine on girl’s night. Nine years later it is now the first novel in a Dystopian/Western Romance series. The duo has plans to publish several series together in the future. A. Smith spends her time with her two rescue dogs and rescue cat surrounding herself with books and Labyrinth paraphernalia. Lauren Sevier collects antique tea cups and tries to stay sane, though as the mother of a toddler she fails brilliantly most days. She also has a growing collection of crowns and tiaras and likes to act silly on Tiktok. Look for more thrilling novels from The Fools Adventure series in the future!Lauren's Links:Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Amazon * Goodreads
A. Smith's Links: Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Amazon * Goodreads
August 1, 2021
Guns & Smoke Blog Tour: Joanne Guidoccio
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I’m happy to welcome authors Lauren Sevier and A. Smith. Today, they share interesting tidbits about The Fool’s Adventure World and their new release,Guns & Smoke.
10 Interesting Things About The Fool’s Adventure World
1. The Fool’s Adventure series takes place in a dystopian America. The Culling, a nuclear holocaust, devastated every major country in the world. When the first bombs dropped on the United States Congress and the White House, a wave of nuclear bombs were dropped all over the world. While Guns & Smoke takes place in what remains of the American southwest, there are many, many places that we intend to explore in this world in this series and others.
2. After the Culling, social issues such as racial discrimination and sexual orientation were no longer as important. When the key focus of a population is surviving, everything else just sort of falls to the wayside. It was incredibly important to us to show the diversity of The Fool’s Adventure world from all sides. We live in a diverse world. It doesn’t make sense to not have characters who are people of color or characters that are a part of the LGBTQ+ community. It’s even more normal in this world than it is in modern America.
3. A lot of things we consider normal are hot commodities in The Fool’s Adventure world. Because of the changing climate as a result of the nuclear bombs, coffee beans only grow in the humid climates of the Borderlands. Chocolate is something only the very rich can afford. Forget about having new clothes or fresh, organic food. Typically, you take what you can get and you’re happy with it, because it means another day of surviving instead of starving in the street.
4. Gangs reign supreme. When the government was destroyed and no one else stepped up to seize power, small factions of men and women came together to take control. Some of the more popular gangs are The Hanged Men, The Crimson Fist, and The Black Judges. Others don’t have official names, but utilize symbols to strike fear in the hearts of men.
5. Across the country, in the places that the nuclear bombs dropped, people began seeing strange creatures appear from within the crater sites. Some claim to have seen giant gator-dogs, great, snapping-lion-turtles or panther-scorpions. Our main characters in Guns & Smoke may even have a run in with one of their own crater beasts.
6. Glowroot is a nasty, spiny little plant that grows inside the crater sites beyond the fences. When it’s distilled, it has a faint phosphorescent glow and stains your lips blue. It is highly addictive, and one can find glowroot dens in their favorite cities.
7. There are eight rules to being an Outlaw:
○ Don’t fall in love.○ Never go anywhere without telling your crew.○ Keep your word. Outlaws may steal, lie, and cheat. But if you make a promise, you keep it.○ Where there’s danger, listen to your commanding officer.○ Never overstay your welcome.○ Pay your debts.○ No one gets left behind.○ Know your weapons. If it’s supposed to keep you alive, you should know it inside and out.
8. Due to radiation, people who survived the Culling or have been affected by the radiation have suffered from physical deformities. They’re considered undesirable by the general population. It is rumored that they spread disease or bring trouble wherever they go. This could be, in large part, because they struggle for basic resources to survive, that they have had to possibly still or kill for basic necessities.
9. The fringes are those places around the edges. Burned out towns, small cities that never recovered after the Culling, where no one except for the undesirables or fugitives would live. It’s a hard place where resources are scarce. It’s even more “kill or be killed” here than the rest of the world. Usually marked with a white ‘X’ so that travelers know that it’s unsafe and to stay away.
10. Paper money lost all its meaning after the Culling. After plundering cities, homes, and other places for precious metals, a new system took place. Those metals were melted down and shaped into bits. There are brass, copper, silver, and gold. Gold bits are incredibly rare and worth a lot of money. Along with bits, they also utilize the barter system, and negotiate for things that can be traded instead of paid for.
ADDITIONAL FUN FACT
Today is Lauren Sevier’s Birthday!!!!! She’s a brilliant co-author and friend and we want to wish her a great next year.
Blurb
In a world where safety is a luxury and honor is found only among outlaws, two people attempt to outrun danger lurking around each corner and the tragedies that define them.
Bonnie is an outlaw on the run. Beautiful but dangerous; her dark past stalks her like the crater beasts that roam the desert. As the notoriously cruel outlaw Jones sends his henchmen to track her down and retrieve the gun she stole from him, Bonnie hopes she can stay one step ahead. Because if he catches her, a fate worse than death awaits.
Jesse always dreamed of leaving the farm to explore the ruins of the big cities. He just never imagined he’d be forced to flee after strange men burned down his rural mountain town and murdered everyone he loved. Responsible for his kid brother and searching for an uncle he’s never met before, he isn’t sure he can navigate the perils of life among con artists and thieves long enough to find him.
Their two paths collide as they find themselves thrown together on the adventure of a lifetime.
Together, they may just discover that life is about more than just surviving.
Excerpt
“I didn’t mean what I said earlier, about turning you over to Sixgun. I was just…” He struggled for the words.
“Hurt?” I offered, and he nodded. “I know. I have a talent for pushing people away.”
“I still shouldn’t have said it,” he muttered near my ear, his arm tightening around my shoulders to hold me closer.
“Do you really think I’m stupid?” I asked.
“No, I think you’re the smartest person I’ve ever met,” he said, with all the conviction with which he said everything else. I smiled against his shirt. “Did you really climb into my bed because you thought I was upset about the train?”
“No,” I croaked, hiding my face as best I could. “I don’t have nightmares when you hold me.”
“I don’t have nightmares when I hold you either,” he admitted.
So I let him. I let him hold me all night. We didn’t speak, we just leaned against each other until the sky began to lighten and the shadows of our pasts seemed to fade into the distance.
Author Bios and Links
Lauren Sevier & A. Smith are long time friends and co-authors from southern Louisiana. Guns & Smoke, their first joint publication, began as a “short” story after having too much wine on girl’s night. Nine years later it is now the first novel in a Dystopian/Western Romance series. The duo has plans to publish several series together in the future. A. Smith spends her time with her two rescue dogs and rescue cat surrounding herself with books and Labyrinth paraphernalia. Lauren Sevier collects antique tea cups and tries to stay sane, though as the mother of a toddler she fails brilliantly most days. She also has a growing collection of crowns and tiaras and likes to act silly on TikTok. Look for more thrilling novels from The Fools Adventure series in the future!
Lauren Sevier
Website | YouTube | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Goodreads
A. Smith
Website | Twitter | Instagram | Newsletter | Goodreads
July 30, 2021
Book Review: A Winter Rose by Amy Craig
Widow Eliza struggles to raise her young daughter and run her Washington state flower farm. Julien, a charming Southerner with a knack for business, stops his road trip to help her out of a tight situation. He has no intention of sticking around a sleepy farm town, but Eliza's grit and dedication warm his wounded heart. Can they look beyond a business partnership and see the beauty of second chances?
I had the pleasure of recently meeting Amy Craig at our launch party for Guns & Smoke! We connected via Facebook. She is super nice!
When I connected with her, I noticed she had a novel coming out in July and she had a link for ARC copies available for anyone who wanted to review. So I grabbed a copy. I'm all about supporting local authors.
Admittedly, I am still venturing further into the romance genre. One thing I really loved about A Winter Rose was the small town feel. It had a lot of things that I really love in romance: struggling small town main character with a tragic past, mysterious bad boy that rides into town on a motorcycle, and a shared love of creating things.
Craig infused a lot of Louisiana references into the story because the love interest, Julien, is from southern Louisiana. I always love books that are set where I'm from or have a lot of aspects of the culture down here.
A Winter Rose was a very whimsical story, set on a struggling flower farm in the middle of winter. It's the perfect locale for two people to fall in love!
★★★★★
Thanks for reading,Abbie
July 28, 2021
Guns & Smoke Blog Tour: Serena Synn
Please be sure to check out the original post here!
What’s your one line pitch or teaser for the book? Grab a reader’s attention with one line.-In a world where safety is a luxury and honor can be found only among outlaws, two people attempt to outrun dangers lurking around each corner and the tragedies that define them. Tell readers a little about your main character or characters?-Abbie: Jesse James is a pretty naive character. At the beginning of Guns & Smoke, he’s too trusting and gets himself into a bind because he didn’t know to expect deceit. He was one of the few lucky people to have grown up outside of the lawless chaos that erupted after the Culling. His parents escaped to the isolated backcountry of Montana, where they raised their family near a small community of other like minded individuals. Though he is naive, Jesse relies heavily on the values he was raised with, such as doing the right thing.-Lauren: Bonnie’s a badass. LOL! No, but really. She’s completely a product of her environment. Which is harsh and unyielding. She’s strong and independent with a soft side she rarely shows anyone. She stands up for the things she believes in, and isn’t afraid to rush headlong into danger if necessary. She’s loyal and though she doesn’t always do things that are considered ‘good’ she has a unique type of honor that makes her worth rooting for. I absolutely adore her and hope that audiences do too. Where do you like to write? Do you have an office or writing nook?-Abbie: I have a library in my house. Surrounded by books, movie posters, and inspirational quotes, I write at my desk, which is positioned in front of the window overlooking my backyard. I sometimes write in coffee shops, but for the most part, I use my office.-Lauren: I have a writing room in my house. It has antique bookcases, a double desk for ‘in-person’ work days when Abbie comes over, and a set of double french doors that let in a ton of natural light. I also have all my film equipment in there for Youtube, livestreams, and TikToks. Mostly I love it because I can shut the door and focus, which can be hard with a toddler. LOL! What is one of your best marketing tips for other authors? -Abbie: Marketing is one of my weaker skills, honestly. I lean on Lauren a lot when it comes to marketing. I will say, however, that having good graphics and visual representation can help. I’m lucky that I’m a decent graphic designer. I do the designs, and Lauren makes the marketing plans.-Lauren: I could wax poetic on this subject, picking just one tip is actually pretty hard for me. I think the first thing is to find your audience. Research who your audience is and where to find them. This is going to be key when developing a successful marketing strategy. You don’t just want to sell books, you want to sell books to readers who are going to love it. Who will want to review it, share it, buy the next one, follow your career. So if you get that part right, you’ll be successful. What websites or tools have you found that offer the best results?-Abbie: One of the biggest game changers for me was investing time in story structure. Reading Save the Cat Writes a Novel absolutely changed me from being a pantser to a plotter. I work really well when I have a nice organized structure, and being able to see the structure of a story on a single page changed the way I thought about writing forever. I used to write on a discovery basis, never really knowing where to go next. That has resulted in not being able to accomplish the many things I have planned.-Lauren: Google Docs. Google Sheets. Google Hangouts. Google Calendar. Pretty much the whole Google Suite of programs. I’m able to take all my writing, editing, marketing, administrative, etc. things with me on my phone, sync everything to my laptop, and can log in remotely. Abbie and I can have scheduled meetings. I’ve been able to integrate my personal calendar, my work calendar, my writing calendar, and my editing business into this as well. It helps keep me organized and efficient. Abbie and I can be writing in the same document at the same time, chatting in real time about plot points or dialogue issues as we’re drafting. It’s really a game-changer, not just for co-authors but for writers in general. Any advice for aspiring writers?-Abbie: Don’t expect perfection. There will always be something that you want to improve, whether it’s the first draft or the tenth. Allow yourself to not be perfect. I’ve gotten into my own head so many times, and it wasn’t until I gave myself a little grace to realize that perfection is unattainable that I was able to push past that overwhelming imposter syndrome.-Lauren: Imposters don’t get imposter syndrome. This was a big turning point for me when I realized this. True imposters don’t fuss and fret and worry over comma placement and how unique the narrative voice is in their book. They don’t want every plot point to be perfect and realistic. They don’t compare or read craft books, seek editors, or do a hundred drafts of the same chapter until it’s just right. Only real authors do that. So, stop feeling like you aren’t good enough. Stop feeling like you don’t belong among other authors. You do. You aren’t an imposter. You’re brilliant and brave. It takes an incredible amount of courage to write a book and put it out into the world. You are already winning. And I’m proud of you. Guns and SmokeThe Fool’s Adventure Series Book OneLauren Sevier and A. SmithGenre: Dystopian/Western RomancePublisher: Lauren SevierDate of Publication: July 10, 2021ISBN: 978-1734402346ASIN: B08RW6JNGGNumber of pages: 364Word Count: 134,000Cover Artist: Stefanie Saw Tagline: Life should be about more than just surviving. Book Description: In a world where safety is a luxury and honor is found only among outlaws, two people attempt to outrun dangers lurking around each corner and the tragedies that define them.Bonnie is an outlaw on the run. Beautiful but dangerous; her dark past stalks her like the crater beasts that roam the desert. As the notoriously cruel outlaw Jones sends his henchmen to track her down and retrieve the gun she stole from him, Bonnie hopes she can stay one step ahead. Because if he catches her, a fate worse than death awaits.Jesse always dreamed of leaving the farm to explore the ruins of the big cities he'd heard about his whole life. He just never imagined he'd be forced to flee after strange men burned down his rural mountain town and murdered everyone he loved. Responsible for his kid brother and searching for an uncle he's never met before, he isn't sure he can navigate the perils of life among con artists and thieves long enough to find him.Their two paths collide as they find themselves thrown together on the adventure of a lifetime.Together, they may just discover that life is about more than just surviving.
Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/kC821NrfFGs Amazon BN More Links on Author Site
Excerpt #3“Those for me?” she asked. I hadn’t realized she was awake. I nodded, once again helping her sit up. I eased off the ruined dress and put the dry clothes on her as carefully as possible. I started to climb from the wagon to let her rest, but she reached out, grabbing my wrist.“Please don’t go,” she said, her voice barely a whisper.With a nod, I moved behind her, sitting with my back against the stolen crates. She leaned between my legs, resting her head against my chest. I brushed some of her matted hair away, pressing my lips to her temple. I held her, not tight enough to hurt her, but enough to let her know I was there.“We can’t stay here,” she said after a while. Her voice startled me into alertness. “Coyotes are gonna come when they catch the scent of that horse.” Suddenly, I had an idea about what to do with the horse.“I know,” I said. “But you need to rest.”“We need to keep going,” she said. Neither of us moved as I sat there, holding her, lips pressed against her hair.“Just let me hold you,” I whispered. “Just a little while longer.”
About the Authors:
Lauren Sevier and A. Smith are longtime friends and co-authors from southern Louisiana. Guns and Smoke, their first joint publication, began as a “short” story after having too much wine on girl’s night.
Nine years later it is now the first novel in a Dystopian/Western Romance series.
The duo has plans to publish several series together in the future. A. Smith spends her time with her two rescue dogs and rescue cat surrounding herself with books and Labyrinth paraphernalia.
Lauren Sevier collects antique tea cups and tries to stay sane, though as the mother of a toddler she fails brilliantly most days. She also has a growing collection of crowns and tiaras and likes to act silly on TikTok. Look for more thrilling novels from The Fools Adventure series in the future!https://www.laurensevier.com/
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https://www.laurensevier.com/newsletter
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https://abbielynnsmith.com/newsletter/
