Roxanne Rhoads's Blog, page 447

Two Worlds at One Time: The Writer’s Life A Guest Blog by David-Matthew Barnes

Two Worlds at One Time: The Writer’s LifeA Guest Blog by David-Matthew Barnes
An undergraduate writing student of mine summed up the joys of reading when he defined the experience as "living in two worlds at one time."
I couldn't agree more. Good writing moves you. Great writing transports you.
I was once asked, "Have you ever been to Bath, England?"
I responded with, "Yes...once...in a Jane Austen novel."
A good novel should do just that: allow us to travel the globe without once stepping foot outside of our home, office, library, coffee shop, or wherever our favorite place to read is.
Novelist and essayist William Styron once said about reading, “A great book should leave you with many experiences, and slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading.”
But can't the same be said for the writer? The duality my student recognized as a reader is similar to the double existence we live each day as writers, culling through our own experiences (imagined and real), sifting through research to make our words more authentic, managing a day job vs. a creative one, and politely ignoring the always-present response when we've told someone we've just met that we're a writer: "Have you written anything I would've heard of?"
While we are busy creating on page those literary landscapes we whisk our readers away to, we are balancing two worlds - the one in which our characters exist and the other we draw daily inspiration from - our own. When we sit down at the computer and begin to tell a story, aren't we in fact living in two worlds at one time? Perhaps the allure for writing begins with the desire to "leave behind" our current life and slip into someone else's.
So often I have heard writers talk about "the zone" - that high peak of creativity that is so momentous, nothing else seems to matter or even register except for the words that our traveling from our imaginations, through our fingertips, and onto the page where, hopefully, they are later discovered by a reader who feels the same sense of rapture. I wonder if this state of intense creation is the fine line between the two worlds. When we stand (or dance) on it, are we straddling the very thing that separates fiction from truth?
As writers, we don't just travel vicariously through the lives of our characters. Certainly by living the life of a published writer, I have been given the opportunity to travel extensively. I am amazed by the random, wonderful places my writing has allowed me to go. From Amelia Island, Florida to Altoona, Pennsylvania to Palm Springs, California - I have met readers, signed books, and instructed writing workshops in more cities and towns than I could have ever dreamed of. Each of those journeys have inspired and impacted my writing, giving me personal insight into otherwise unexplored territories. Each time I find myself in a new environment, I can't help but observe my surroundings of this "new world" with a writer's eye, knowing that later I might chose to recreate it for my readers - knowing they will be experiencing a sense of place through me and my words.
In my novels, I take my readers all around the world: from the streets of London to a Greek island, from the suburbs of Chicago to a seaside town in Belgium, from a prestigious music conservatory to a fairy tale village in Germany. I want every reader who picks up one of my novels to feel as if they have lived those "several lives" Styron talked about, that they saw the world without ever leaving the comfort of their bedroom.
Two worlds at one time. The phrase itself can have many meanings. For my undergraduate writing student it sums up the incredible experience he looks forward to as a reader. For us writers, it means the tough balancing act we must master in order to succeed - our creative life and our daily routine, the sometimes blurred line we teeter on between the real and the imagined


Add captionStronger Than This
David-Matthew Barnes
Genre: Literary Fiction/LGBT/Death/Dying/Grief
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Date of Publication: February 18, 2014
ISBN: 978-1602829886ASIN: TBA
Number of pages: 216    Word Count: 55,000
Amazon     Barnes and Noble    Books-A-Million
Book Description:
Charlene’s soul mate, Samantha, has been killed in a car accident. Daniel’s partner, Martin, has been murdered in a robbery gone wrong. Seeking comfort, Charlene and Daniel attend a support group where they meet for the first time.
Emotionally devastated and discarded by their loved ones’ conservative families, Charlene and Daniel feel an immediate connection. Rather than reveal their pain to a room full of strangers, they decide to see each other through their shared anguish.
As a beautiful friendship emerges from grief, slivers of new hope are found.

About the Author:
David-Matthew Barnes is the bestselling author of ten novels, including the young adult novels Swimming to Chicago and Wonderland, which were nominated by the American Library Association for their annual Rainbow Books, a list of quality books with significant and authentic GLBTQ content for children and teens.
He is also the author of a collection of short stories, Boys Like Me, and two collections of poetry, Roadside Attractions and Souvenir Boys. He has written over forty stage plays that have been performed in three languages in eight countries. Collections of his theatrical works include Deuces: Stage Plays for Two Actors, Monologues That Kick Ass, You Think You Know Us: Stage Plays for Teen Actors, and more. He is the writer and director of the feature film Frozen Stars and the dramatic short film Threnody.
His literary work has been featured in over one hundred publications including The Best Stage Scenes, The Best Men's Stage Monologues, The Best Women's Stage Monologues, The Comstock Review, and The Southeast Review. He earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing at Queens University of Charlotte in North Carolina.
He teaches college courses in writing, literature, and the arts.
Amazon Author Page   Facebook   Goodreads
Google+  Newsletter   Official Website  Twitter


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Feb 27 Guest blog and reviewLipstick Lesbian Reviewshttp://www.lipsticklesbianreviews.com/
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March 12 Interview
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March 13 Spotlight and review
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March 17 Guest blogFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com

Guest blog and Giveaway with S. Briones Lim

Ambiance 
Imagine a town in which each step you take is with trepidation and anxiety. Imagine a man whose eyes can pierce your soul. Now, imagine a little girl whose laugh can send a chill up and down your spine. 
Having fun yet? 
Parricide is a horror novel that brings vampires and specters back to their horrifying roots. It is a very dark story, which deserved some pretty dark music.  
The following playlist contains a list of songs which helped me to create the dark atmosphere and ambiance of Parricide. Each of these songs coincides with particular chapters in the book. Now, I don’t want to give away any spoilers, so let’s just say those chapters were some of my favorites!
Take a listen and be transported to the town of Meyers, where you’ll be able to meet a lone vampire by the name of, Stanley. 

Listen to the playlist: https://soundcloud.com/sbrioneslim/sets/parricide/s-aKEwz







ParricideS. Briones Lim
Genre: Horror
Date of Publication: 4/1/2014
ISBN: 9781304790262
Number of pages: 362Word Count: 92,026
Cover Artist: S. Briones Lim
Book Description:
Stanley Heckley’s world was torn apart the night his wife and infant daughter were murdered by his wife’s ex-lover, James Gandy. Left with no family to call his own, Stanley is consumed with rage and thirsts to exact revenge in the only way he thinks is fair – to kill Gandy’s entire bloodline. 
Unfortunately for Stanley, his timid personality and good conscience makes killing a difficult task to accomplish.
Tormented by his inability to avenge his family, Stanley seeks the help of a distant acquaintance known simply as the vampire, Geoff. Touched by Stanley’s plight, Geoff takes it upon himself to give Stanley a thirst for blood and the talent to kill. As a newly turned vampire, Stanley joins Geoff on a complex mission of murder and vengeance as they hunt each member of the Gandy family one by one, wiping the entire bloodline from existence.
Or so they thought.
Over a century later, Stanley learns that a dire mistake has left one Gandy alive. Once again faced with the monsters of his past, Stanley finds himself returning to his hometown of Meyers to hunt the remaining descendant, Amanda.  From the get-go, Stanley’s mission is plagued with many obstacles including a new henchman for Geoff, a ghost of a young, sadistic girl, and the fact that Amanda looks remarkably like his late wife. For this member of the undead, hunting the final Gandy may just be the death of him.
Add it to your Goodreads shelf

About the Author:
Thanks to her Mom's unwavering devotion to read a bedtime story to her every single night throughout her childhood years, S. BRIONES LIM's love for books began before she could even speak.
Raised in Southern California, Author S. Briones Lim initially dreamt of becoming an artist and/or Book Author. A Psychology Degree (Summa cum Laude), a stint in Art School, and a career in Advertising/Media later, she is finally delving back into her first love - books. As a self-renowned bookworm, S. Briones Lim’s love for books has inspired her to pen her own novels and hopes her readers will fall in love with her stories as much as she enjoyed writing them.
Author of the Life Force Trilogy, S. Briones Lim's other obsessions include time with family, POPCORN, watching movies and her pug, Tobi. She currently lives on the East Coast with her husband and continues to write every day.
Blog: www.sbrioneslimauthor.wordpress.com
Facebook Page: www.Facebook.com/sbrioneslim
Goodreads www.Goodreads.com/author/show/7155647.S_Briones_Lim

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March 2014 Issue of Bewitching Book Tours Magazine

Read it or download a free copy athttp://issuu.com/bewitchingbooktours/docs/magazine__21

This month’s issue features gypsies, mermaids, belly dancers and more.


Our featured book this month is ‘Twas the Darkest Night by Sophie Avett. To showcase the series and spin off series we have a fun Sinister Stitches Dress Fitting Interview Guest-starring Jennifer Blackstream’s  Marcella from Divine Scales.


Featured articles include: Why Paranormal Romance with Ann Gimpel, Fascinated by Mythology with Maria Hammarbald, Putting the “Normal” In Paranormal with Lisa M Airey, Pin Up Advice with Ginger Kewl, Sexual Tension for Any Genre with Amy Jarecki, and Belly Dance Connection with Jill Bolduc.


Featured books and excerpts: How to Be a Man by Tamara Linse; Witch’s Bounty by Ann Gimpel; After the Summerland  by Patricia Proctor; Of Fur and Fangs Boxed Set by  D’Elen McClain, Skhye Moncrief, Sky Purington, Celeste 
Anwar & Teresa Gabelman;  Secrets and Lies  by Christine Amsden; The Dragon’s Heart  by Eden Ashe; Earth’s Blood byAnn Gimpel.  Read interviews with Lisa Fox and Rebekah Ganiere.

Ignite your senses with erotic poetry by Roxanne Rhoads and fulfil your need for stunning visuals with a gorgeous Gypsy Magic by Steven Jon Horner Photography.

Showcase Saturday: Book Trailer for Through His Eyes by Deborah Camp

Through His Eyes will be touring with Bewitching Book Tours in April

April 7 Guest blog and reviewDiaries of 2 Thick Chickshttp://diariesof2thickchicks.blogspot.com/
April 7 Spotlight3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too!  http://3partnersinshopping.blogspot.com
April 8 Guest blogMore Romance Pleasemoreromanceplease.blogspot.com
April 8 Spotlight and reviewDeb Sanders http://DebSanders.com
April 9 InterviewDarkest Cravings - Adult Bloghttp://darkestcravings.blogspot.com
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April 10 Guest blogThe Snarkology  www.melissasnark.blogspot.com
April 10 reviewParanormal Romance and Authors That Rockwww.pratr.wordpress.com
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April 11 Guest PostEbook Escapeshttp://ebookescapes.com
April 11 SpotlightBooklover Sue http://bookloversue.blogspot.com/
April 11 SpotlightShare My Destinyhttp://sharemydestiny.blogspot.com
April 14 Guest blogRomantic Reads and Such http://romanticreadsandsuch.wordpress.com
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Through His EyesDeborah Camp
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Date of Publication:  April 4, 2014
Number of pages: 392Word Count: 100,000
Cover Artist: Patricia Schmitt
Book Description:
Two psychics – one serial killer.
Someone is stalking women and murdering them in Key West.
Levi Wolfe and Trudy Tucker join forces to help identify the murderer and stop him. Levi can channel the deceased victims and Trudy can tap into the mind of the killer. As a psychic detective team, they’re formidable. As lovers, they discover that they’re insatiable.
But if Trudy can see through the killer’s eyes, can the killer see her?

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/0JSQzxC8njM


About the Author:
Author of more than 50 novels, Deborah lives in Oklahoma. She has been a full-time writer since she graduated from the University of Tulsa. Her background as a reporter for newspapers helped her to write fast and enjoy research. After she sold her first few books, she quit newspaper work to become a freelance writer and novelist. 
Deborah's first novel was published in the late 1970s and her books have been published by Jove, New American Library, Harlequin, Silhouette, and Avon. She has been inducted into the Oklahoma Authors Hall of Fame and she is a charter member of the Romance Writers of America. She is also a member of the Author's Guild. She was the first recipient of the Janet Dailey Award.
Through His Eyes (April, 2012) is her first romantic suspense book. It has paranormal elements and is erotic. She plans at least two more books featuring Levi Wolfe and Trudy Tucker.
Also widely published in non-fiction, she and writes and edits for a magazine focused on small businesses. Deborah taught fiction writing for more than 10 years at a community college. She has been a guest speaker at numerous writers’ conferences, including Romance Writers of America (RWA), Writers, Inc., and the Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc. She has served as a judge in numerous writing contests throughout the United States and has judged manuscripts in RWA’s Golden Heart Awards and RITA Awards. She is currently working on her next historical romance set in the wild, wonderful west.
In 2012 her books were re-issued on Amazon for Kindle Direct and have attracted tens of thousands of new fans.
Deborah’s website www.deborah-camp.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/officialdeborahcamp
Blog www.deborahcampwritersdesk.blogspot.com
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/198990.Deborah_Camp

Chapter One and Giveaway: Uncovering You by Scarlett Edwards

Chapter OneOctober 2013. Date unknown.(Present day)
A faint hiss, like the sound of an angry cat, jars me from my sleep.I open my eyes to pure blackness. I blink, trying to get my bearings. A vague memory forms in the back of my mind, too far away to reach.Why can’t I see anything?My breath hitches. Panic rips through my body as the horrifying answer comes to me:I’m blind!I scramble onto hands and knees and desperately claw at the dark, searching for something, anything, for my senses to latch onto.A dim overhead light comes on.Relief swells inside.I plop back on my butt and close my eyes, taking deep breaths to dispel the rush of adrenaline released by my body. When my heart’s not beating quite so fast, I open my eyes again.The light’s gotten brighter. I look up at the source. It’s far above me, like a dull, miniature sun. It spreads a little sphere around me, maybe ten feet in diameter. Past that, everything is swallowed by darkness.An irksome memory keeps gnawing at me. But my head is too heavy to remember. I feel… strange. Kind of like I’m hung over, but without the telltale pounding between my ears.Cautiously, I try to stand. My limbs are slow to react. They feel heavy, too, like they’ve been dipped in wet clay. I steady myself. Only when I’m satisfied that my knees won’t give out, do I strain my ears for that hissing sound again.It’s coming from somewhere behind me. I turn back—and nearly smash my head on a gleaming white pillar.What the hell?The sound is forgotten as I reach out and brush tentative fingers against the pillar’s surface. It’s cool to the touch. Smooth, too. I put my other hand on it. If I had to guess, I’d say it was made of marble. But what is a lone, white marble pillar doing in the middle of this room?The memory is like a gong going off inside my head. But trying to reach it is like grasping at a smooth, slippery stone at the bottom of an aquarium. Just when I think I have it, it slips through my fingers and falls even farther out of reach.I walk a slow, measured circle around the pillar. If I tried wrapping my arms around it, I doubt if I could even span half the circumference. Something far in the back of my mind tells me I should be alarmed. I look behind me and frown. By what? A dark room?No, you idiot. By the reason you’re here!My eyes widen. The reason I’m here? I don’t… I don’t remember.I wince and bring one hand to my temple. Why am I having so much trouble remembering?I gasp as a second gruesome thought hits me. Did I lose my memory? Do I have… amnesia?I sink down with my back to the pillar. Desperation starts to take over. I hold my head between my knees and close my eyes to focus.My name is Lilly Ryder. I was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on May 17th, 1990.My eyes pop open. Joyous tears form in the corners. I do remember! I take a deep breath and try to keep going.I was raised by my mom. I do not know my dad…Suddenly, all my childhood memories come streaming back. Moving around as a kid. Never staying in one place longer than six months. All the cities I’ve lived in. All the apartments my mom and I called home. Even the revolving door of her boyfriends. There was Dave, and Matthew. Tom, and Steve. There was…I shake my head to stop myself. I don’t doubt my memory anymore. But that still does not explain why I have absolutely no recollection of this place, or how I got here.I push myself back up. The spotlight above me has gotten progressively brighter. The little enclosure of light doesn’t feel quite so tight anymore. I trail my eyes up the length of the pillar. I can’t see where it ends because of the light. But I can tell it’s tall, at least twenty, maybe twenty-five feet…There’s also something about its surface that calls out to me. My hands itch to run over the smooth stone. A giggle bubbles up as I picture myself stroking it. The column is quite phallic.I waver at the unfamiliar thought and have to catch my balance against the beam.Focus, Lilly! I chide myself.I have no idea where that thought came from. I have never been overtly sexual.Nothing feels right. The fog that’s heavy on my mind is starting to lift, but not yet enough for me to understand—or remember—where the hell I am. This place is unfamiliar. I know that much. But right now, I feel almost like a surgery patient whose anesthetic kinked out: fully awake mentally, but completely impaired physically.I go back to my memories. I can remember high school. I remember college. That’s where I spent the last three years of my life, isn’t it? Yes. Yes, it is.“Hello?” I call out. My voice echoes into the surrounding gloom. “Is anybody there?”I wait for an answer. All I get is the hollow repetition of my own voice.…anybody there, there, there…I spent the last three years in college… but that’s not where I think I am right now. No. I shake my head. I knowthat’s not where I am. My memories are fuzzier the closer I bring them to today. Time feels… skewed. Freshman year’s easy to remember. So is sophomore, and most of junior… but things get weird toward the end.I… finished junior year, didn’t I? Yes. Yes, I did. And then…And then I took an internship in distant California for the summer, I remember with another gasp.Suddenly, my mind is crystal clear. That pressing memory hurtles into view. It’s from yesterday. The last thing I recall, I was alone in a booth at an upscale restaurant. The waiter brought me a glass of wine. I took a few sips, contemplating my future….Oh, God! Fear wraps a stranglehold around my neck.The restaurant. The wine.I’ve been drugged!I can’t breathe. A suppressing tightness constricts my throat. I feel dizzy, and terrified, and most of all… ashamed.Holy shit, Lilly, way to look out for yourself! My semi-mad inner dialogue pans with a generous dollop of sarcasm.I’ve always known about the dangers of sick men preying on unsuspecting girls. I just never thought I’d fall victim to it.I’ve been on my own since I turned eighteen, after the final falling out with my mother. I’ve always been proud of how well I managed. Even the shabby holes I’ve lived in while saving up college tuition were an improvement over living with her and all her low-life boyfriends. At least there, I had autonomy.I’ve dealt with landlords selling crack on the side and the junkies they attract. Always, I’ve been known as independent, and strong—maybe offputtingly so. But, those were the character traits I had to develop to have any chance of getting ahead.And all that lead to what? To this? To letting my guard down for one night and ending up… here?Wherever “here” is, I think to myself.The shock of the revelation has subsided a bit. I push off from the pillar. I can figure this out. I take a deep breath and look at my hands and feet. I am not bound. I pick at my clothes. They are the same ones I wore last night.Do you know what might be lurking in the darkness?I shove the meddlesome voice down. I don’t need more worries. Not now.Carefully, I place one foot in front of the other and edge to the outer reaches of the light. The strange hissing noise has gone away. I don’t know when that happened. Maybe it was in my head the entire time.I strain my eyes, trying to pierce the surrounding darkness. It’s impossible. I reach out with one hand and find nothing but air. This far from the pillar, I can barely see my outstretched hand.“Hello?” I try again. “Who’s there?”There’s no answer.What kind of madman would do something like this? I wonder. What is hidden in the shadows?Without warning, my imagination starts to run wild. Torture devices? Bondage equipment? Something… worse?Snap out of it! I tell myself firmly.I refuse to give in to despair, even if my entire self-preservation mechanism is on high alert. Despair is what whoever brought me here wants me to feel.I will not succumb to that.I look down at the floor. It is made of some expensive stone. I kneel down and brush my hand over the large, square tiles. They feel solid. Sturdy. They don’t belong in a dingy basement or a dirty warehouse.Somehow, that thought strengthens me. Things aren’t quite as bad as they could be.I stand up and peer into the black. I glance back at the safety of my pillar. If I venture past the light, I can always find my way back.Go slow, I warn myself. Who knows what might be waiting for me out there?I’ve seen the horror movies. Just because I don’t get the dungeon vibes here does not mean I’m not in one.Haltingly, my foot reaches past the edge.A thousand bright lights flood the room. I gasp and shy back, shielding my eyes on instinct.After a few seconds, I lower my arm, blinking through the sharp pain that shoots through my head. I can almost groan. Light sensitivity, too?Then I see the room.Holy shit.It’s huge. Massive. It must be at least five thousand square feet of pristine, flat space. I’m smack dab in the middle of it all.The lights come from embedded ceiling lamps high overhead. Three of the walls, far away from me, are decorated with black and white abstract paintings created in bold brush strokes. The fourth wall is shielded by a heavy red curtain. The entire floor is made of rich, creamy white tiles reminiscent of steamed milk.The ceiling is so high above me I almost feel like I’m in a cathedral. It’s made of exquisite dark oak beams.But this is no church.I do a slow turn. Something about this is all wrong.So wrong.Why am I here? What is behind the curtain? Other than the massive pillar and the paintings, there is nothing in the room.If I’m being kept prisoner, why am I unbound? Why waste so much space on me?I cup my hands around my mouth and yell.“HEY! Anybody? Where am I?”As before, I’m greeted with silence.I take one more careful look around. If I got in, there must be a way out.My eyes dart to the curtain.Behind there.I start toward it, my bare feet making determined slaps against the cold floor. I’ve not even gone ten paces toward it when I feel a small tug on my ankle.I stop and look down. I discover a thread, so thin it’s almost translucent, tied loosely around my foot. The other end is attached to the base of the pillar.I bend down and finger it.What on earth is this?The thread looks like it should snap with the smallest amount of force. I wrap my hands around it and tug.It doesn’t give.I frown, and apply a little more effort.This time, it breaks in a clean cut.I shake my head as I straighten.Strange.I half-expected something to happen when I did that. Alarms to blare, the lights to go off, something.Nothing.That’s when I notice a small white envelope leaning against the pillar. It’s right where the thread connects. In fact, it blends so well with the marble that I’m sure I would have missed it were it not for the string.Exploration forgotten for now, I pick up the envelope. Maybe it will give some clue about what the fuck is going on.It’s made of heavy paper. A wax stamp seals it, imprinted with a two-faced drama mask that I would find unnerving no matter where I saw it.The only time I saw a wax-sealed envelope was when my ex got tapped by the Spade and Grave at Yale. I can understand the need for antiquity in New Haven. It makes no sense here.My finger slips under the flap. I carefully ease it open. A foreboding sense of doom swirls around me as I pull the folded letter out.I stare at it for a long minute. This is all so surreal. It feels like being caught in a bad dream. Once, I play myself right into my captor’s hands.My natural inclination to resist, to fight back, tells me to tear the paper up without another glance. But that would be madness. The only clue I have to my whereabouts might be contained inside.My thirst for information gets the better of me. I sit on the floor, cross my legs, and slowly unfold the paper.It’s handwritten in swift, flowing blue ink. The rows of words make perfect strides across the page. Precision is the first word that comes to mind to describe the owner of the handwriting.I set the sheet on the floor in front of me, lean forward and begin to read:
Two items require your immediate attention. 1.   You may spuriously assume you are being held here against your will. Nothing could be farther from the truth. You are a guest. As a guest, you retain full ability to leave my home at any time. The door behind the drapes shall remain open for the duration of your stay. There are no physical barriers to speak of—though I would advise you to read to the end of this letter before making decisions based on a flawed understanding of your situation. 2.   You may have already noted the new adornment around your neck. If so, well done! I applaud—
Adornment? I stop reading. What adornment?I bring my hands to my neck. I feel the unfamiliar shape against my skin. Why hadn’t I noticed it before?I scamper closer to the marble pillar to try to make out my reflection. I can’t see much, but I can make out the “adornment”. There’s a black collar around my throat. I touch it with one hand.It’s smooth and flat. It’s made of some kind of matted plastic, like the edges of a computer screen. It’s not tight or uncomfortable.It frightens me. If it warranted a place in the letter, there must be something to it. I need to get it off.My fingers dart around the edges, seeking the clasp that opens it.I don’t find one.The collar is smooth inside and out. It feels like a single piece of plastic. I trail one finger around the rim on the inside, and, finding no discrepancies, do the same on the outside. Again, I feel nothing.There’s no crack, no edge, nothing to indicate how it was put around my neck.I jam all my fingers between my skin and the plastic and pull with all my might. The collar flexes ever-so-slightly but doesn’t give.Dammit! I cry out and try again.I pull with all the strength God gave me. It’s not enough. I try again, and again, and again.Nothing.I realize I’m panting at this point. The exertion has me almost hyperventilating.I drop my hands. It’s just a stupid, harmless little piece of plastic. Why do I want it off so much?Because the idea of having anything foreign touch your skin is repulsive.The voice is right, as always. But what can I do? The collar is bound to be part of the mind game in which I’m an unwitting participant. Reacting the way I just did is probably exactly what my captor wants. He—and I am certain it’s a “he” now, from the wording of the letter—wants me to feel terrified.I will not give him the pleasure. I return to the letter and continue to read:…applaud your perspicacity! You should know, however, that it is not an ordinary collar. Contained inside is a small positioning chip and two electrodes. They become activated the moment you stray outside your designated safe zone.The string around your foot offers a conservative estimation of the distance you may roam past the marble column. Stay close, and you will remain untroubled. I am told that the electric shock the collar provides, while not lethal, can be quite unpleasant.
Holy fuck!My spine goes absolutely straight and I forget to breathe. Now the collar has meaning. It feels like a live serpent wrapped around my neck.My eyes are wide as I look down to my foot. The piece of string is still there, but it’s not connected to the one linked to the pillar.I’d ripped it like a moron.How far do I dare go? I’ll have to retie the string—unless I find a way to get the collar off my neck, first.Another thought occurs to me:Maybe this is a bluff? Does the collar really have an electrode in it? It’s so thin. Where would it draw power from?I stand up. Assuming the collar is rigged, and the pillar is the center point… but that’s just what he wants me to believe, isn’t it? The letter claims there’s a door behind the drapes. It could be my path to freedom. I would have to be an idiot to stay here without testing the boundary myself.I can’t trust anything the letter says. But, I can’t give in to despair, either. My only choice is to contest everything that’s thrown at me. If this is supposed to be a battle of the wills, the guy chose the wrong girl to mess with.I pick up the remainder of the string and hold it in my fist. I square my shoulders to the long, drawn curtain. I hold my head high. My free hand itches to tug at the collar, but I keep it still. If my captor is watching me—which I’m sure he is, because I’m positive there are cameras hidden all around me—I will not give him the satisfaction of seeing me hesitate.I take a deep breath and start toward the curtained wall. My strides are strong and purposeful. I will not waver. I will not turn back. Fear of a little shock will not keep me from testing the true limits of this prison.The string goes taut, and I stop.So far, so good.It’s the next few steps that will determine everything.I glance at the floor to mark my position. So, he expects to keep me in an invisible cage, does he? A cage of my own imagination?Yeah, tough luck.I drop the string and take one solid step forward.Nothing happens.I risk one more.Nothing happens.The corner of my lip twitches up in a hint of a smile. I called his bluff. But, I’m not home free yet. The veiled wall is another thirty-odd paces away from me.I take two more steps forward, and, when nothing happens, start to walk more briskly.My stroll is cut short by a sharp little zap beneath my left ear.I tense and wait for more.Well, color me surprised.It looks like the collar does have bite, after all. When a second jolt doesn’t come, I can’t stop my smile from becoming a satisfied smirk. I knew the collar couldn’t possible have enough juice to hurt me. Where would the battery go?Extremely pleased with myself, I venture onward, toward the curtain and its promise of freedom.The violent torrent of electricity blindsides me. One second I’m on my feet, the next I’m writhing on the floor.The current pours into me. I thrash about like a grounded fish. Fierce convulsions rock my body. And all I know is pain, pain, pain.I can feel the source of it, snug around my neck. I’m helpless to fight the onslaught. My head flails about on the ground, throwing hair into my face. A high-pitched squeal sounds in my ears and I desperately hope that pathetic sound is not me.My eyes roll up and all goes black.
Uncovering YouScarlett Edwards
Genre - Dark Romance
Release Date - March 27th, 2014
Book Description:
When I wake up in a dark, unfamiliar room, I have no idea what's waiting for me in the shadows. My imagination conjures up demons of the worst kind.
Reality is much worse:
A collar with no leash. A prison with no walls. And a life stripped of meaning.
I am presented with a vile contract and asked to sign. It outlines the terms of my servitude. The only information I have about my captor are the two small letters inked at the bottom:
J.S.
Armed with only my memories, I must do everything I can to avoid becoming ensnared in his twisted mind games. But in the end, it all comes down to one choice:
Resist and die.

Or submit, and sign my life away



About the Author:
I live near beautiful Seattle, Washington.  I grew up reading all types of fantasy books before discovering the wonderful world of romances in high school.  Now, I spend most of my time writing about sexy men and the women who love them.
Website - www.scarlettedwards.com
https://www.facebook.com/ScarlettEdwardsAuthor
https://www.goodreads.com/ScarlettEdwards


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Tour Feb 24- March 21
Feb 24 SpotlightPembroke Sinclair www.pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com
Feb 25 Spotlight and reviewBook Chickhttp://bookchick2013.blogspot.ca
Feb 26 SpotlightLiterary Meanderings http://www.literaryme.net/
Feb 27 SpotlightDarkest Cravingshttp://darkestcravings.blogspot.com/
Feb 28 SpotlightA Writer's Mindwww.skypuringtonwrites.blogspot.com
March 3 SpotlightMidnight Musings with Bertena www.bertena.com
March 4 SpotlightLisa’s World of Bookswww.lisasworldofbooks.net
March 10 SpotlightEclipse Reviewshttp://totaleclipsereviews.blogspot.com
March 13 reviewFor Your Literary Pleasurehttp://foryourliterarypleasure.blogspot.co.nz/
March 14 SpotlightFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
March 17 reviewClaire's Book Cornerwww.clairesbookcorner.blogspot.com
March 18 SpotlightParanormal Romance and Beyondhttp://ashlynnelaynne.blogspot.com/
March 19 SpotlightRoxanne’s Realmwww.roxannesrealm.blogspot.com
March 20 SpotlightThe Creatively Green Write at Home Momwww.creativelygreen.blogspot.com
March 21 SpotlightBookwormBridgette's Worldhttp://bookwormbridgette.blogspot.com/

Guest Blog and Giveaway with Cherrie Mack

Hello. I’m Cherrie Mack, author of A Late Summer Bloom. I’d like to thank you for allowing me to visit with you today and sharing your readers with me.
I love reading paranormal romance. Vampires, shifters, other-wordly beings—oh yeah. As long as the men are muscled, dominant and alpha all the way, I’m hooked. And when I read a paranormal romance that gets my blood pumping, the last thing I want is for that story to end. So, bring on the series. And since I enjoy reading it so much, it just made sense that I should write a paranormal series myself. When I decided to write a witch book, I tried my hardest to fill it with all the elements I find so appealing in a paranormal romance series. I loved creating this world. It mirrors ours in every way except for the dominant, sizzling immortals called, Travelers.  The travelers were once ordinary witches (if you can call my race of witches ordinary) but they gave it all up for the “cause.”
What is the cause? It’s to protect witches and humans alike from the evil threatening to invade society. Warlocks are essentially the undead. They roam our streets looking quite human but in order to stay that way, they must absorb the soul of a witch when they hunger or they will turn to dust.

Of course, along the way—we need love. Love guides and shapes both the male and female witches. It’s the driving force of any good romance. And I’ve put a lot of drive in this series. My hope is that you give this series a try and love it as much as I love writing it.


A Late Summer BloomWitches Of The BayouBook 1Cherrie Mack
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Evernight PublishingDate of Publication: 2/6/14
ISBN: 978-1-77130-720-8ASIN: B0019LGJXE
Number of pages: 188Word Count: 58k
Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs
Amazon
Book Description:
A young witch, destined to be queen. A traveler destined to love her and an evil warlock desperate to claim her.
When Julien Beaumont meets Giselle Jareau, the naïve, young witch is nothing more than a nuisance. A mere inconvenience. But the inkblot on his arm disagrees. As their relationship develops, his tattoo begins to fill in. Could it be fate or something more sinister?
On an old, decrepit sugar plantation, in the heart of the Louisiana Bayou, the defender of the covens and the queen to the royals engage in a battle of wits. And as Giselle falls in love, Julien tries desperately to change the course of their destiny.
About the Author:
Cherrie Mack grew up in Flushing Queens NY, the youngest child of six. The city’s diversity gave her a great appreciation for many different cultures and lifestyles. After love finally claimed the girl from the city and dragged her to the suburban madness of Long Island, she settled into a quiet life with her new husband. Two children and one mini-van later, the family found themselves moving towards the sunny skies of Florida where they currently reside. With her focus still very much on her family, Cherrie squeezes in time to write. The publication of her debut novel, Ache of Desire has given her the confidence to allow her to spend more time writing.
One year and four books later, Cherrie has continued to flourish. With multiple series in the works, there’s no slowing down for this up and coming author.
A member of Romance Writers of America, Cherrie is slowly spreading her wings as a romance author. Look for her books at all digital bookstores such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Bookstrand, ITunes, Nook and many more.
Blog: http://cherriemack.wordpress.com/
Website: http://www.cherriemack.com
Author facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/CherrieMack
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CherrieMack
Tumblr: http://www.cherriemack.tumblr.com
Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6649422.Cherrie_Mack
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March 3 Character InterviewBitten By Love Reviews www.bittenbylovereviews.com 
March 3 SpotlightNight Owl Reviewshttp://www.nightowlreviews.com
March 4 InterviewPembroke Sinclair. www.pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com
March 4 reviewParanormal romance and authors that rockwww.pratr.wordpress.com
March 5 Guest blogDiane’s Book Blog http://dianelynchbookreviews.blogspot.com/
March 5 SpotlightMidnight Musings with Bertena www.bertena.com
March 6 InterviewButterfly-o-Meter Bookshttp://butterfly-o-meter.com/
March 6 SpotlightLarissa and Friends' Bookish Life  www.larissaslife.com
March 7 SpotlightCloey's Book Reviews and Other Stuffcloeyk.blogspot.com
March 10 InterviewBooks & Other SPells. nightskydarkstar.blogspot.com
March 11 SpotlightThe Snarkology  www.melissasnark.blogspot.com
March 11 reviewNicky Peacock authorhttp://nickypeacockauthor.wordpress.com/
March 12 Guest blogFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
March 12 SpotlightBooklover Sue http://bookloversue.blogspot.com/
March 13 InterviewLaurie's Paranormal Thoughts and Reviewshttp://lauriethoughts-reviews.blogspot.com
March 13 SpotlightBook Liaison http://www.bookliaison.net
March 14 interviewAnnette Gisbyhttp://agisby.blogspot.co.uk
March 14 Guest blogParanormal Romance Fans for Lifewww.paranormalromancefanforlife.blogspot.com
Marc 17 Spotlight and reviewRamblings of a Book Lunatichttp://booklunaticramblings.blogspot.com
March 17 SpotlightD'eBook Sharinghttp://debooksharing.wordpress.com/

Guest blog and Giveaway with S.B.K. Burns

My Kinda Guy
I write a genre that is now referred to as hot New Adult Romance, what I lovingly call Forbidden Playgrounds.
The heroines sometimes know something about their cravings, but sometimes they know much less than the men, yet still must be clever in warding those feisty guys off. 
I write mostly paranormal but read mostly historical romance. Historical has been around longer and has gotten most of the kinks out of the story-telling techniques.  Many historicals feed into new adult because Regency heroines are, for the most part, virgins. My heroines are bright and psychically powerful. They enjoy exploring sexual play in their minds before taking it on physically.
Now for my dilemma: I’m not a guy. So how do I write the half of my novel that’s from a male’s point of view?
Men are brought up in a much different world, sadly, with different expectations than are women. But more and more they’re raised by women in single-family households. And unless they put on an act, the strictly alpha male persona may be forever out of their reach.
As an engineer working in a man’s world, I’ve spoken to many men who say they feel more like their mothers, more emotional on the inside than maybe guys growing up with self-assured, well-adjusted fathers or loads of brothers and male relatives.
Welcome, the Beta Hero.
Who can watch one of those Law and Order type shows with all those forensics geniuses without wanting to put a romantic dent in their obsessive analytical natures?
My heroes are intelligent and sensitive, but because they’re the new alpha, they need to learn a little humility. Just think about how unbelievable it would be to read other’s minds, to take girlfriends on dates to anywhere in the universe. Great, except that when love arises, they are, as are we all, completely vulnerable and clueless.
They’re good people, and we know they’re capable of true love, giving their heroines the kind of deep acceptance they need, while deriving their own.
And sex is an undeniable part of the equation.
I cannot read or watch stories where all sensations are shown in great detail then in the most intimate of moments it’s lights out.
But I’m a girl and my hero’s a guy. So how do I know how he feels in the most intimate of moments, when he’s where he wants to be forever, and hopes she’ll accept him there forever, what’s it like to be inside the warmth of another accepting person? 
Well, you might laugh, but you know those fingernail polish jars with sponges, where you put your painted nail in and swish it around to get the polish off? And putting our fingers into the sponge is pretty much an unemotional experience. Just imagine what it would be like if you and the sponge were mutually intimate with each another, the emotions of each of you, engaged and responsive.
Just sayin’!!
Now, I don’t want anyone to get back to me saying—hey, sloshing your fingers around in a nail-polish-remover-sponge thingie bares no resemblance to … well, you know, IT.
But I bet each of you authors and readers out there has her/his own opinion on how to make the writing of love scenes less offensive and more real.
My trick is to focus on the emotional element. That needs to be there first and in proper and building sequence.
What other things must be in these “Forbidden Playgrounds” to send you off the planet?
Note: Forbidden Playground , the first novel in the Legends of the Goldens Series will be at a reduced rate of $.99 during my blog tour.

Forbidden PlaygroundLegends of the GoldensBook 1S.B.K. Burns
Genre: sci-fi paranormal romance
Publisher: Soul Mate
ASIN: B00H8ESSRI
Number of pages: 380Word Count: 95,000
Amazon
Series Description:
The Legends of The Goldens Series is a collection of quirky urban-fantasy romances, about vampire good guys—psychic orbweavers who create, or weave together, real universes. They can shapeshift, telepath, teleport, heal—and make love, not war, with their fangs. Instinctively they rescue both humans and vampires, even when neither is too keen on being saved.
Book Description:
Part human. Part alien. Being superhuman doesn’t make them immune to love. Or to heartbreak.
Akeelah never asks to be different. She sure doesn't ask to be a hybrid. She doesn't want to be a psychic orbweaver like her people—able to create new worlds with only a thought.
She. Just. Wants. To. Be. A. Girl. More precisely, Saffron’s girl.
Saffron's her best friend, a hybrid like her—and hot. Being superhuman doesn’t make him immune to love. Or heartbreak. His one focus—Akeelah.
Coming into their powers and against the wishes of their android guardians, together Akeelah and Saffron practice their psychic skills.
Because of the dangers of orbweaving, the guardians they trust take Akeelah away, zap her memory.
Saffron can't live without Akeelah. All he wants is her memory restored, so she knows she's in love with him.

But trust is rare in a world full of deception, androids, and aliens—even when two people love each other.
Dancing DragonsLegends of the GoldensBook 2S.B.K. Burns
Genre: sci-fi paranormal romance
Publisher: Soul Mate
Number of pages: 240Word Count: 60,000
Book Description:
Eco warrior, Maggie Maclaurin, can somehow see through Andrew’s conjured fraternity disguise: he’s a psychic cousin to the vampires, and with those flying dragon tattoos undulating suggestively across his naked chest, positively an endangered species, definitely in need of saving.
But when real vampires make a pact with the corrupt government to bring a little more nasty onto campus, Maggie’s chaotic human vibes keep Andrew from protecting her, make him sick, each time he comes in for a nibble from the neck of this attractive, yet headstrong young woman.
Can Andrew forget about his self-centeredness long enough to gain Maggie’s trust, so he can save her from the vampire’s fangs, and, if he does, who will save her from his own?
Purchase at:    Susan Burns Author      Soul Mate Publishing  
About the Author :
Before dedicating herself to full-time writing, Susan earned two advanced engineering degrees and worked in the fields of biology, oceanography, biomedical, and aerospace engineering. That knowledge, and the experience of working with a smorgasbord of mostly men, continues to populate her science fictions, urban fantasies, steampunks, and other paranormal romances.
@snrubnasus

www.susanburnsauthor.com
https://www.facebook.com/susan.burns.16718
www.voicereview.org
www.unionofopposites.com

March 10 Guest blogFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
March 10 SpotlightParanormal Romance Fans for Lifewww.paranormalromancefanforlife.blogspot.com
March 11 InterviewShut Up & Read http://shutupandreadgroup.blogspot.com/
March 12 SpotlightThe Creatively Green Write at Home Momwww.creativelygreen.blogspot.com
March 13 SpotlightMidnight Musings with Bertena www.bertena.com
March 14 Guest blogRoxanne’s Realmwww.roxannesrealm.blogspot.com
March 24 Guest blogThe Library Mistresshttp://librarymistress.com
March 24 reviewMousehead & TalesHttp://www.mouseheadandtales.weebly.com
March 25 SpotlightBooklover Sue http://bookloversue.blogspot.com/
March 26 SpotlightLisa’s World of Bookswww.lisasworldofbooks.net
March 26 reviewParanormal Romance and Authors That Rockwww.pratr.wordpress.com
March 27 InterviewButterfly-o-Meter Bookshttp://butterfly-o-meter.com/
March 28 Guest Post Mythical Bookshttp://mythicalbooks.blogspot.ro/



$25 gift certificate to Amazon out of ten posts,If less than ten 10 people leave a comment, SBK will pick one of them at random to receive a $25 Amazon gift certificate
 $50 gift certificate to Amazon out of more than 10 posts. if more than 10 leave a comment, SBK will pick one of them at random to receive a $50 Amazon gift certificate
Free Series (first two novels plus comic) for exceptional posts. For those who SBK decides have given exceptional or well thought out comments she'll send them the entire series (Legends of the Goldens Series: Forbidden Playground and Dancing Dragons) along with the Forbidden Playground comic--all ebooks

Love Charms and Fated Mates Bundles Only .99 Plus a Huge Giveaway

Love Charms: Paranormal Romance 10 scorching paranormal romances for ONLY 99 cents! LIMITED TIME ONLY! (REGULAR PRICE: $9.99)  

Escape into the world of paranormal romance, a magical journey featuring delicious demons, wanton witches, zealous zombies and more that promise you a hauntingly good time! 

Featuring spell-binding novels from popular New York Times, USA Today, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble bestselling authors, including Ava Catori, Selena Kitt, Cerys du Lys, Deanna Roy and more, these enchanting books will be sure to charm, beguile and bewitch you!


Blinded by Magic, A Witch Romance by Ava Catori: 

Raven's weakness is mortal men. She's fallen hard for Derek. There's just one problem, he doesn't know she's a witch. Can he accept her truth or will their relationship crumble?

Blind Date by Selena Kitt: 

Selena Kitt's Blind Date ventures into the strange and surreal realm of magical realism in a hot Valentine's Day romance that takes on the classic Greek myth of Eros and Psyche. 

Breathless by Cerys du Lys: 

Sadie and Evan live in different worlds. Brought together by fate, and held there by hope, can they bridge the gap dividing humanity, or will long held fears and prejudice force them apart forever? 

The Passion Cure by Deanna Roy: 

Jet is a Nix, an outcast enchantress with zero power. To conjure a love spell to save her family, she seduces a handsome enchanter who is willing to break the rules, and possibly, her heart. 


Marked by Charisma M. Cole: 

Jade Murray is a witch that can communicate with the dead. After a summoning goes awry, two murders rock the human and supernatural world. One thing connects the gruesome acts: Jade. 


The Warlord's Concubine by J.E. & M. Keep: 

As a servant to the princess for much of her life, Mirella sees the conquest of the land as an opportunity to elevate herself. 

A Demon and His Witch by Eve Langlais: 

Remy's seen a lot during his tenure in Lucifer's guard, but nothing can prepare him for the witch with the acerbic tongue--and voluptuous figure. Can he convince her to love him and not kill him? 

Psychic Appeal by Michelle McCleod: 

Psychic Sofia Parker has fallen in love, a problem because her new relationship drives the lovesick ghost of her ex-boyfriend to come back from the dead...anyway he can. 

Memoir of a Reluctant Shaman by Ty Nolan: 

When his love spell goes wrong, our hero is exiled to be fully initiated as a Shaman in this spicy tale of New Orleans Voodoo and Native American magic. 

Vampire Lords of Blacknall: 

Trinity by Shirl Anders: Only a creature of the night can save her. Lady Beth Winslow never stays home at night. She fears her stepbrother. Then a monster stalks her in the dark woods and she cannot tell beast from savior.


Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Fated Mates: Shifter Romance 12 scorching shifter romances for ONLY 99 cents! LIMITED TIME ONLY! (REGULAR PRICE: $9.99)  

If you like your men dark, dangerous and alpha, this exclusive shifter romance boxed set is for you. Featuring hot stories from popular New York Times, USA Today, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble bestselling authors, including Adriana Hunter, Liliana Rhodes, Lynn Red, A.T Mitchell and more, these steamy books and alpha shifters will be sure to whet your appetite and leave you longing for more. 

All American Wolf by Adriana Hunter: 

If Serena's not careful she may lose her heart to Brody Sullivan - the dangerously possessive stranger who is willing to break every one of her rules. 

Charming the Alpha by Liliana Rhodes: 

Hannah Crane's ordinary life changes after she meets Alpha wolf Caleb. As the center of a centuries old curse, is Hannah a wolf charmer or Caleb's fated mate? 

Change For Me by Lynn Red: 

Motorcycle riding, tattooed bad boy alpha werewolf fights to save his mate from his terrifying rival. Steamy, seductive, sensual werewolf romance. 

Bear King's Curves: 

A BBW Werebear Shifter Romance by A.T. Mitchell: Curvy Lyla's bad attitude toward bears is about to change. Destiny blind Nick is the Alpha to do it, no matter how much passion, mystery, and danger it means... 

Delicate Freakin Flower by Eve Langlais: 

Can a pair of hunky shapeshifting jocks convince a not-so delicate freakn’ flower that they can handle her thorns—and her passion? 

The Alpha's Mate by Michelle Fox: 

Chloe Weiss has finally met the mate of her dreams, but jealousy in the pack and a murderer on the loose make for a dangerous 'happily ever after. 

Romancing the Wolf (BBW/Werewolf Romance) by Skye Eagleday: 

The romantic adventures of two curvy sisters and one hot pack: Can the werewolves survive Bree and her sassy sister? 

Protecting the Pack by Tabitha Conall: 

In a world where werewolves mate in threes, the mating lust pulls one triad together while overwhelming obstacles pull them apart, possibly forever. 

Witchy Wolf by Alexis Dare: 

A brutal attack alters Chloe’s life. As her world crumbles, biker Gabe steps in to pick up the pieces. Can he save her from the danger lurking in the shadows? 

A Change To Bear (Last of the Shapeshifters) by A.E. Grace: 

Liam, shapeshifter, is on the run. Hunted by a man who will hurt anyone he cares for, it's why he can't fall in love. Until he meets a curvy Terry Spencer... 

Curves for the Lone Alpha by Molly Prince: 

When Carrie is dumped before a weekend away, her decision to go alone puts her on a collision course with James. A packless alpha who hunts rogue shifters. 

The Alpha Claims A Mate by Georgette St. Clair: 

Curvy Ginger Colby accidentally insulted the Alpha of the local pack when she rejected him at the local honky tonk-and now he's seeking delicious, sexy revenge.

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Guest blog and Giveaway: Angelboy Vol. 1 by Nicole Beguesse

Merging Art & Storytelling
We've all heard the old mantra, "Show, don't tell"...

The big question is, HOW do you "Show, don't tell"?

Sometimes, our characters have immense backstories-- and sometimes, the world we've created is so much richer than can be explained in a few words. So how are you supposed to "Show, don't tell" something like that?! It's easy to get frustrated. But in this blog post, I'll show you how to do it. I'll show you how to convey deep meanings effectively and quickly, and your stories will be richer for it.

But first, let me back up a bit... I'm a comic artist. I think in pictures. I've been called a surrealist, because my drawings often use dream-logic. But I don't think the description, "surrealism" goes far enough. Sometimes dreams are just a bunch of random images thrown together... but other times, they are more than that. Sometimes a dream has more truth than the reality it reflects... Dreams can reveal your greatest hopes or biggest fears, instantly, through the use of symbols.

SYMBOLISM is how you can convey vast meanings with only a few words. I believe there are two types of symbolism.

The first kind of symbolism is a lot like a simile or metaphor. But it's longer than a simile/metaphor, and it may reappear several times in the story. I call it hard symbolism, because the visual action of the simile doesn't match the action in the story. It requires a little "mental leap" to understand. Here's an example:


In this page, the character is talking to himself and reflecting on his past greed and selfishness. His parasitic behavior makes him look like a flea, while the creature he's on represents the whole earth. It's a cool image, but you have to pay attention to the words to understand what it means.

The second kind of symbolism is called soft symbolism. It is kind of like a simile or metaphor, but it goes one step further, because you might not even realize it's there. The metaphor is woven into the action seamlessly, causing a faint, dreamlike emotion. The reader might not detect the different symbols until a second or third reading. Here's an example. In this page, the hero of our story is in a rainy street, and reminiscing about the person who killed him (he's an angel):

The rain and the flowers are in the present; the images with the back blackground are in the past. You get the impression the flowers are red. Why red? First, the flowers are poppies-- Poppies represent sleeping, unconsciousness-- in this case, death... Here, they are also representing blood. The first two panels each have one red spot, and the last two panels have many...  So many flowers floating away, so much blood. And what does the rain represent? Tears, perhaps?...


There's a saying that goes, "A picture is worth a thousand words." Using narrative symbolism you can convey much more than a thousand words in an image. Great writers use these symbolic images all the time. Next time you're confronted with a "Show, don't tell" problem, I hope you will consider using symbols as a way to convey your meaning. If you like my art, and want to see more of my book, please visit my website at angelboy.com.
AngelboyVol. 1Nicole Beguesse
Genre: Manga / Fantasy
Publisher: angelboy.com
ISBN: 978-0989887908ASIN: 0989887901
Number of pages: 198
Cover Artist: angelboy.com
Amazon
Book Description:
Cyrus is a normal teenager whose life is abruptly ended when he’s brutally murdered!...
He reawakens as Angelboy in a town he doesn't recognize. Unable to be seen or heard by anyone, Cyrus tries to make up for the effects of his wasted life...
Only to find his world inhabited by the devils of peoples' minds! He battles hell's vilest demons for something more valuable than the entire earth... ...a single soul!
Warning: Angelboy is for Older Teens (Age 16+)

About the Author:
Many years ago I was in a bookstore when I came across a volume of manga by the all-female Japanese team CLAMP. It was at that moment I understood the storytelling power of manga and how it was so unlike anything I had ever seen before. Since then, I've been studying day by day to draw and write my own manga series. I have a BS in Computer Science from the University of Florida and a Master's in Sequential Art at SCAD.
I am currently living in Savannah, GA.
www.angelboy.com


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Guest blog: Spirited A Tidewater Novel by Mary Behre

Mystery and Ghosts The Perfect Mix
I love ghost stories. Always have. There’s something about them that gets the senses tingling and the brain running those wonderful “what-if” scenarios. So what is it about ghost stories that make them so appealing?

For me, it’s the mystery. Look at some of my favorite ghost stories that have come out on the big screen. Whether they were scary, like The Others or The Sixth Sense, or funny like High Spirits, or love stories like Ghost, they all shared two things in common. Ghosts were essential to the help the living and there was a mystery to be solved. Sometimes, the mystery was how the ghosts came to be, other times the ghosts were there to help the living solve a mystery of some sort.

So when I started writing the Tidewater series it was only natural for me to blend paranormal world with the mundane. The first thing I considered what was the type of ghost I wanted in my story. The type of ghost affects the tone of the story to a degree that the wrong type of ghost could pull the reader out of the story completely.

For example: all the ghosts in the above movies were Visitants. Ghosts who cannot move on after they’ve died because they still have something to accomplish in the mortal realm. They are sentient and may choose to communicate with the living. But visitants aren’t the only type of ghost out there.

Wraiths are out there too. These are specters that don’t interact with the living. In A Christmas Carol, Scrooge traveled back in time with the ghost of Christmas Past. While standing on the school grounds, Scrooge saw boys at play and called out to them but they couldn’t see or hear him. They’re unaware of who and what they are. Essentially, they’re echoes; incapable of conversation or meaningful communication with the living.

Ghost tours are usually filled with stories of wraiths. Old Mrs. Cox rocking in her favorite chair, a Civil War soldier searching for his way out of a prison camp, an old lighthouse keeper wandering the grounds in a storm while keeping the lighthouse lamp burning, are all examples of wraiths. 

And then there are the poltergeists. These ghosts get a bad rep thanks to the movie of the same name. Poltergeist is German and roughly translates to noisy spirit. These spirits may make things books fall off shelves and lights flicker but in all my research, I’ve never heard of any of them doing anything more malevolent than hiding someone’s keys. 

Since ghosts play essential parts in the book, it was imperative that they  been sentient and aware of the fact they’re dead. Once I knew what type of ghost I was working with, the blending of the paranormal element and the mystery fell into place.

Now it’s my turn. Have you ever seen a ghost? What kind was it?

Spirited 
A Tidewater Novel
Mary Behre

She's running from who she is...

All Jules Scott wants is to live a normal, quiet life--preferably one that doesn't include ghosts. Jules's ability for communicating with the dead has brought her nothing but trouble. Despite her best efforts, needy spirits always find her and draw her into their otherworldly drama. When one implicates her in a series of deadly crimes, she may need to entrust her secrets to the person least likely to believe her...

He'll do whatever it takes to catch her.

Detective Seth English can't get distracted from the big case he's working on, not even by his alluring new neighbor. He doesn't believe that Jules had anything to do with the string of robberies-turned-murders that he's investigating, but when she keeps showing up in all the wrong places, his gut tells him she knows more than she's letting on. To solve his case, he'll need to expose what the sexy redhead is hiding--no matter how impossible the truth may be...

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About the Author:

Mary Behre is the lone female in a house full of males and the undisputed queen of her domain. She even has the glittery tiara to prove it. She loves stories with humor, ghosts, mysteries and above all else, a good romance. When not writing, she enjoys reading, gluten-free baking, and hanging out at the beach with the most important men in her life, her family.

Her debut paranormal romance, SPIRITED (Tidewater Novel #1) was an award-winning manuscript before it sold to Berkley Sensation. The Tidewater Series is mix of humor, suspense, and a psychic love-connection. The first three stories are about three sisters separated years before in the foster care system. As they search for love, each other, and a way to live with their psychic abilities, they're tossed into the middle of mysteries that only their unique gifts can help solve.

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