Roxanne Rhoads's Blog, page 474

Fire Nectar Tour: Vampire Daniella’s Music Playlist

Daniella has eclectic tastes -­‐ alternative, classic rock, indie, and some metal. When you’ve lived two hundred years, you learn to use music to alter or express your moods.

Since I’ve known her, I’ve learned she’s the more emotional of the vampires… the more impulsive, the more prone to intense highs and cavernous lows.

And she’s got amazing taste in tunes. 

Enjoy

The Editors – Even And End Has a Start 

Mudvayne (K)now F(orever) Goldfrapp – Alive

Lamb – Gorecki

Florence And The Machine – Shake It Out 

Lykke Li – Tonight

Jessie J – Who You Are 

Robert Skoro – In Line 

Slip Knot – Duality

Dune – Who Wants To Live Forever 

Sigur Ros – Staralfur

Led Zepplin – Whole Lotta Love 

Jeff Buckley  -­‐ Hallelujah    

ACDC – Live Wire

Black Keys – Too Afraid To Love You 

David Bowie – Rebel Rebel

Elbow – Grounds for Divorce



Fire Nectar
F.M. Hopkins

Amazon

What would you do if you'd been alive for two hundred years and you finally found your true love... only, he's human.
  
When Daniella meets Adrian, she is gripped by passion and fate. Can she trust him with her secret, that she is immortal? 

Through heart-wrenching flashbacks to the year 1812 - when she was still innocently human - we learn who Daniella is, and we understand what it's really like... to be a vampire. 

When he looked at her for the first time, his heart skipped.  She could hear it.  

"Well, hello," he said. Their eyes held, a thousand thoughts passing between them. 

Anj and Stewart just watched. This was better than the fire show...

"What can I do for you?" the bartender asked. 

"So much..." Dani answered with a smile. 

An intelligent, sexy, page-turning saga - from the vampire's point of view.

** This is the first book in the Fire Nectar Saga. It will torment you, seduce you... and leave you wanting more.  All books, FIRE NECTAR, JOSHUA and soon, WILLIAM, contain characters from the other books, and all can be read in any order. **

Praise for F.M. Hopkins Juicy Vampire Novel FIRE NECTAR

A true page turner that kicks you 
when you least expect it.   - PSW Esq - Amazon Reader

Though I'm sure it will draw many parallels 
to the Twilight and Hunger Games series, 
"Fire Nectar" is far more mature... Ian D Malcolm 
- Amazon Reader

Smart, Sassy, Gripping - 
you can see yourself in the book... Ann Teixiera 
- Amazon Reader

I literally couldn't put it down  - Michelle M Kirk - Amazon Reader

Joshua 
Fire Nectar
F.M. Hopkins

"You're a beautiful woman with a beautiful smile, and a voice that makes me forget that ring... don't doubt me. So let's stop talking and get to business before I steal you from him. We don't want that, do we?" 

He beckoned her to lean in as he reached forward to move a stray hair from her forehead. Her knees weakened, to the extreme.

"No... we don't want that," she said half-heartedly, typing into the computer to distract her quickening heart.

Book Description*

We journey with through past (1812) and present (2012) with JOSHUA - gifted composer, skillful lover... vampire.
*

(this is a delicious novelette, perfect for reading anywhere, anytime.)


** There are two books out for Fire Nectar. FIRE NECTAR and JOSHUA, and can be read in any order. All contain characters from the previous books, including the soon-to-be-released WILLIAM.**


About the Author


F.M. Hopkins grew up with vampire dreams haunting her.  As she evolved, so did the dreams, and a fiction series was born.  "This first book in the series is about one female vampire's journey toward love and self-discovery, the struggle of becoming okay being who you are and no longer being defined by your past. I can relate to her in that I've tried to control what cannot be controlled in my life. Sometimes we have to fall face first, skidding on asphalt, then heal, before we can find happiness. In other words, it's a good time," F.M. Hopkins says with an ironic grin."

http://firenectarseries.blogspot.com/

https://twitter.com/F_M_Hopkins

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7102410.F_M_Hopkins





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Guest blog by Pembroke Sinclair

July 25 SpotlightMythical Bookshttp://www.mythicalbooks.blogspot.ro/
July 27 SpotlightFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
July 29 Interview Laurie's Paranormal Thoughts and Reviews http://lauriethoughts-reviews.blogspot.com
July 30 SpotlightReading In Twilighthttp://readingintwilight.blogspot.com
July 31 Spotlight3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too!  http://3partnersinshopping.blogspot.com 
August 5 SpotlightKelly P's Blog http://kellyatx.blogspot.com/   
August 6 Guest blogSimply Infatuatedhttp://www.simplyinfatuated.com/
August 8 SpotlightMommasez...bloghttp://ccclubbs.com/
August 9 Character interview and reviewNightstand Novelshttp://nightstandnovels.com
August 12 SpotlightBookwormBridgette's Worldhttp://bookwormbridgette.blogspot.com
August 23 SpotlightWicca Witch 4 Book Bloghttp://wiccawitch4.blogspot.ca/
August 29 Spotlight and reviewBuried Under Bookshttp://buriedunderbooks1.wordpress.com
August 31 InterviewFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com

I recently sat down with a friend’s kid to talk to him about zombies.  It wasn’t a birds and bees kind of talk to explain where they came from, it was for a research paper he was doing for class.  He was pulling from different sources and had wracked his brain trying to find someone legitimate to interview about zombies.  When he told me that and said I qualified, I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing.  Legitimate?  Me?  Oh, I highly doubt that, but I was flattered nonetheless.



He asked several interesting questions, and even filled me in on some things I didn’t know.  The biggest theme that ran through the interview was “Do you think it could really happen that zombies would rise up?”  To be honest, no, I don’t think a zombie apocalypse would occur.  The CDC is pretty good about keeping infectious diseases in check, and we also have airplanes and helicopters that could blast the creatures out of the sky.  And let us not forget all the civilians who own firearms.  I’m pretty sure we could crush the zombies before they had a chance to get out of hand.
Still, it’s fun to think of what would happen if zombies did take over.  While I was being interviewed, the question came up of what I would do if the undead walked the earth.  For me, personally, I would get as far away from people as possible.  I would find someplace isolated and remote that is easily defended.  It’s the best way to ensure safety.  Besides, the zombie will stick to the cities where the food source is.  Get away from the prey, and you should be relatively safe.


Both Life After the Undead and Death to the Undead explore different scenarios of what could be done during the zombie apocalypse.  I think one of the most important things to remember is to use your brain.  Zombies are not smart.  They are driven by base desires.  Yes, they have numbers on their side, but you can out think them…and you should.  If you need some pointers and tips, check out the books!

Spotlight Tour Matchpoint by Elise Sax

 July 15 Bewitching Book Tours Magazinewww.issuu.com/bewitchingbooktours 
July 16 Escape Into A BookEatsleepread88.blogspot.com
July 17 Lissette E. Manninghttp://www.simplistik.org/lissetteemanning
July 18 Reader's Edynhttp://readersedyn.blogspot.com
July 19 Nette's Bookshelf Reviewshttp://nettesbookshelf.blogspot.com
July 22 Simply Infatuatedhttp://simplyinfatuated.com/
July 23 Girl and Her Kindle www.agirlandherkindle.com
July 24 Ramblings From This Chickhttp://ramblingsfromthischick.blogspot.com/
July 24 All I Want and More –http://alliwantandmore.blogspot.com/
July 25 Fang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com 
July 26 Roxanne’s Realmwww.roxannesrealm.blogspot.com
July 29 The Creatively Green Write at Home Momwww.creativelygreen.blogspot.com
July 29 reviewMila Ramoswww.jademystique.blogspot.com


MatchpointThe Matchmaker Series, Book TwoElise Sax
Genre: Comedic romantic mystery
Publisher: Ballantine (Random House)Paperback Pages: 288
ISBN: 978-0-345-53224-4
Book Description:
Lovably troublesome Gladie Burger runs into sizzling danger and a fiery love triangle in the second installment of Elise Sax’s hilarious and sexy Matchmaker romance series.
“Elise Sax will make you laugh. Her larger-than-life characters jump off the page and make crazy seem like a fun place to hang out.”—New York Times bestselling author Christie Craig
Since joining the family matchmaking business run by her eccentric Grandma Zelda, Gladie is always looking for love. But when an unbearable toothache knocks her out of commission and into the dentist’s chair, she prays only for relief. No such luck. Emerging from an anesthetic haze, Gladie awakes to find that not only is her tooth still throbbing, but her dentist is dead—and the lead suspect in the murder, office receptionist Belinda, just so happens to be Gladie’s first real client. Now it’s up to Gladie to find Belinda a man and keep her from being locked up behind bars.
As if that weren’t enough distraction, two gorgeous men are vying for Gladie’s attention: Spencer, the playboy chief of police, and Holden, Gladie’s secretive, gorgeously muscled neighbor. Still, Gladie’s not complaining about having a helping hand or two when the case leads her to a dangerously bizarre cult. She may have met her match—and if she’s not careful, it could be her last.

Amazon   Kindle    BN    BN Nook  Booksamillion

An Affair to DismemberThe Matchmaker Series, Book OneElise Sax
Genre: Comedic romantic mystery
Publisher: Ballantine (Random House)
ISBN: 978-0345532220
Number of pages: 320Word Count: About 80,000
Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/sox1nLfSEmY


Amazon     BN    Wal-Mart    BooksAMillion
Book Description:
Certain to appeal to fans of Janet Evanovich, Jennifer Crusie, and Katie MacAlister, Elise Sax’s hilarious series debut introduces matchmaker-in-training Gladie Burger, who stumbles into a dangerous quagmire of murder and red-hot romance.
Three months has been Gladie Burger’s limit when it comes to staying in one place. That’s why Gladie is more than a little skeptical when her eccentric Grandma Zelda recruits her to the family’s matchmaking business in the quaint small town of Cannes, California. What’s more, Gladie is also highly unqualified, having a terrible track record with romance. Still, Zelda is convinced that her granddaughter has “the gift.” But when the going gets tough, Gladie wonders if this gift has a return policy.
When Zelda’s neighbor drops dead in his kitchen, Gladie is swept into his bizarre family’s drama. Despite warnings from the (distractingly gorgeous) chief of police to steer clear of his investigation, Gladie is out to prove that her neighbor’s death was murder. It’s not too long before she’s in way over her head—with the hunky police chief, a dysfunctional family full of possible killers, and yet another mysterious and handsome man, whose attentions she’s unable to ignore. Gladie is clearly being pursued—either by true love or by a murderer. Who will catch her first?
Praise for An Affair to Dismember
“Elise Sax’s new Matchmaker series is off to a rousing start! . . . Sax gives the comic mystery genre a new spin. . . . A fun read sure to entertain.”—RT Book Reviews
“Fans of laugh-out-loud romantic suspense will enjoy this new author as she joins the ranks of Janet Evanovich, Katie MacAllister, and Jennifer Crusie.”—Booklist
“Elise Sax will win your heart.”—New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis
“In the tradition of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series, Elise Sax’s new novel is a funny, sexy ride.”—Valerie Frankel, author of Four of a Kind
“What a fun book! It will leave readers begging for more.”—Kim Gruenenfelder, author of There’s Cake in My Future


 About the Author:
Elise Sax worked as a journalist for fifteen years, mostly in Paris, France. She took a detour from journalism and became a private investigator before trying her hand at writing fiction. She lives in Southern California with her two sons. An Affair to Dismember, the first in the Matchmaker mystery series, is her first novel.
http://elisesax.com/
https://twitter.com/TheEliseSax
http://www.facebook.com/theelisesax

http://youtu.be/sox1nLfSEmY

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elise-sax/

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5766108.Elise_Sax

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AAD Spotlight: C.J. Ellisson Author of Avoiding Mr Right

Top Vanilla Sex Toys You Should *Always* Have at Home
1) Two to Four Neck Ties. This is the type of item you can buy any place that sells men’s clothes and you won’t feel like a freak at the register. If you need me to tell you why you might need neck ties in the bedroom… well… let’s just say you need to read more.
2) Whip Cream. Sure it’s messy and has calories, but hey, it’s damn fun.
3) Ping Pong Paddle. Yup, you read that right. Read Vanilla on Top if you don’t believe me. It will make you look at table tennis in an entirely new light. ;-)
4) Ice cubes. Unless you live in a home with no freezer, trying this one shouldn’t be passed up. Especially in the summer.
5) Blindfold. You can improvise and use the nick ties if you must. The sensation of not seeing your partner harkens back to our days of playing hide-n-seek. The idea that if you can’t see them, they can’t see you can be incredibly freeing.
6) Candles. Not to be dismissed as only a light source. Yes, we all look better in candlelight, but a little hot wax dripped on exposed skin is a not-to-be-missed experience, too.
7) Lube. You might have to order this online to get the good stuff, but don’t skimp. Sticky, fruity, and/or water based ones aren’t the best choice. I’m a little biased; I love Pjur Body Glide. A little dab ‘il do ya.
8) Finger Vibe. The characters used on in Avoiding Mr. Right. Sure, I like the big, powerful ones with multiple settings just like the next gal, but sometimes in the heat of the moment all you really need is a little extra “nudge” to reach that simultaneous completion we’re always hoping for.

I could go on and on and list all of my favorite toys… but then again, they may not all be “Vanilla”. ;-) Now, before you rush off to go shopping I don’t recommend buying them all together on one visit to the store. I’m pretty sure the check out person would be on to you. But then again, they may just smile.
How about you? What’s a must have item you can’t live with out?


July 1 Guest blogwww.LunarHavenRD.com
July 2 SpotlightBuried Under BooksHttp://buriedunderbooks1.wordpress.com
July 3 SpotlightRomancing Rakes For the Love of Romancehttp://www.romancingrakes4theluvofromance.blogspot.com
July 5 SpotlightShayna Renee's Spicy Reads –http://shaynareneesspicyreads.blogspot.com/
July 8 Guest blog and reviewEscape Into A Bookeatsleepread88.blogspot.com
July 9 reviewFangs, Wands & Fairy Dusthttp://fangswandsandfairydust.com/
July 9 Guest blogwww.christina-mcknight.blogspot.com
July 9 reviewRandom Reviews by Leannehttp://author-leanneherrera.blogspot.com/ 
July 10 Spotlight and reviewFaerie Tale Bookswww.faerietalebooks.org
July 11 reviewBoekie's Book Reviews www.BoekiesBookReviews.com
July 12 InterviewPembroke Sinclair.  pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com
July 15 SpotlightLisa’s World of Bookswww.lisasworldofbooks.net 
July 16 spotlightThe LUV'NVhttp://www.theluvnv.com
July 16 SpotlightKelly P's Blog http://kellyatx.blogspot.com/
July 17 Guest blogReader's Edyn   http://readersedyn.blogspot.com/
July 18 Interview and reviewStorm Goddess Book Reviews- www.stormgoddessbookreviews.blogspot.com
July 19 SpotlightC.W. Book Reviews @ The House of Malfunctionwww.houseofmalfunction.com
July 22 SpotlightThe Creatively Green Write at Home Momwww.creativelygreen.blogspot.com
July 23 InterviewRoxanne’s Realmwww.roxannesrealm.blogspot.com
July 24 Guest blogAAD Feature Spotlightwww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
July 24 Spotlight and review
Crazy Four Books
http://www.crazyfourbooks.blogspot.com

July 25 reviewHttp://erzabetsenchantments.blogspot.com/
July 26 Spotlight and reviewMila Ramoswww.jademystique.blogspot.com
July 29 SpotlightCover Reveals http://CoverReveals.blogspot.com
July 30 Guest blogSmoldering Heathttp://smolderingheat.wordpress.com
July 30 SpotlightReviewing in Chaoshttp://reviewinginchaos.blogspot.com
July 31 Guest blogErotica For Allhttp://eroticaforall.co.uk
July 31 SpotlightAll I Want and More –http://alliwantandmore.blogspot.com/

Avoiding Mr RightWalk on the Wild Side, Book 2C.J. Ellisson
Genre: erotic romance
Publisher: Red Hot Publishing
ASIN: B00D69AJEY
Carla Johnson thinks issuing orders to a lover will keep her heart safe and leave her in charge of her own destiny. Afraid for Carla’s future, her best friend Heather implores her to change her self-centered ways, handing her a list of love life mistakes to steer clear of:
1. Casual Sex2. Friends with Benefits3. Avoidance of Intimacy
Carla ignores the list—unwilling to face she might have a commitment problem. Until she invites a co-worker to her place one night. She instantly regrets the hum-drum sexual encounter and discourages the accountant from pursuing her. 
Andy Shea refuses to become another lover the feisty blonde dumps. It'll take a patient man with a strong hand to unlock Carla's sexual awareness and win her heart. He’s up for the challenge to convince her he’s the one—and eager to prove this number cruncher won’t make a boring bedmate. 
Amazon   Goodreads

About the Author:
C.J. Ellisson is the USA Today Bestselling author of the NYT Bestselling book, Vanilla on Top, the bestselling V V Inn series, and several erotica shorts. She lives in northern Virginia with her husband, two children, two dogs, and a fluffy black cat who makes her sneeze. Unlike most full-time authors, she's also battling severe chronic illness. C.J. works daily to put her Lupus into remission and continues to fight numerous bacterial infections while her immune system slowly attacks her body. She turned to writing when she could no longer work outside the home and claims the escape of penning contemporary fantasy, erotica, and erotic romance has helped save her sanity.
To learn more about C.J. and her other books, please stop by the author's website http://www.cjellisson.com  or visit her on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/c.j.ellissonfanpage

A Hot and Sinful Summer Featured in Bewitching Book Tours Magazine's July Issue

One of the short stories from my newest release- A Hot and Sinful Summer, is in the newest issue of Bewitching Book Tours Magazine- 

Read the entire short erotica story "Something More Than Friends" starting on page 51 

Join us for our one year anniversary issue- and we guarantee it sizzles.
The theme of the month is hot erotica- as if the July heat isnt enough.
We have steamy excerpts and hot interviews with erotica authors including CJ Ellisson, Blakely Bennett, Sandra Gore, Jeffe Kennedy, Patricia Knight and Roxanne Rhoads.
We also have our normal features: Tarot in Fiction, Green Living Tips with La Mamma Verde, reviews, and poetry. 
Featured authors include Stavros, Meredith Allard, Elise Sax, Karen Greco, and Carole Remy

Available at:

http://issuu.com/bewitchingbooktours/docs/magazine__13_version_2

and

http://www.scribd.com/doc/153908826/July-Bewitching-Book-Tours-MagazineJuly Bewitching Book Tours Magazine

Please vote for my Ginger

Ok everyone I need your votesall you have to do is click the LIKE button- the power is in your hands to help me win (please :-)Viewer's Choice is your category and needs your LIKEs! http://pinterest.com/pin/396950154627005086/

Top Ten Foods Beatrice Loves: Blitzkrieg Love by Livia Olteano

Top Ten Foods Beatrice Loves

Coffee – yes, it’s food!PizzaPeach & kiwi ice creamPastaFries with cheeseScrambled eggs made by AnthonyCrepes with cheese or chocolate syrupApple pieMeatballs with tomato sauceSpicy Brinjal Cabbage Curry

 June 24 SpotlightElfie Bookshttp://elfie-books.blogspot.co.uk
June 25 InterviewPembroke Sinclair. pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com
June 26 SpotlightBooks Books and More Books http://booksbooksmorebooks.blogspot.com/
June 27 Spotlight and reviewEscape Into A Bookeatsleepread88.blogspot.com
June 28 Guest blogRoxanne’s Realmwww.roxannesrealm.blogspot.com
July 2 SpotlightMythical Bookshttp://mythicalbooks.blogspot.ro/
July 3 Spotlight and reviewShut Up & Read http://shutupandreadgroup.blogspot.com/
July 3 SpotlightButterfly-o-Meter Bookshttp://butterflyometerbooks.blogspot.com/
July 5 Spotlight and reviewMusings From An Addicted Readerhttp://musingsfromanaddictedreader.blogspot.com/
July 8 SpotlightChapter Breakhttp://chapterbreak.wordpress.com
July 10 ReviewA Bibliophiles Thoughts on Bookshttp://bibliophilesthoughtsonbooks.blogspot.com/
July 11 Interview and reviewhttp://houseofmalfunction.com/c-w-book-reviews/
July 12 InterviewLove in a Bookhttp://www.loveinabook.com
July 15 Guest blog and reviewWords of Wisdom from The Scarf Princesshttp://wowfromthescarfprincess.blogspot.com
July 15 InterviewBooks & Taleshttp://www.booksandtales.blogspot.co.uk/
July 16 Character interview and reviewConfessions From Romaholics http://confessionsfromromaholics.com/
July 17 Guest blogwww.christina-mcknight.blogspot.com
July 18 Spotlight and reviewFaerie Tale Bookswww.faerietalebooks.org
July 19 SpotlightUnputdownable Booksunputdownablebookies.blogspot.com
July 22 Guest blogFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com


Blitzkrieg Love
Night People Book One
Livia Olteano

Genre: New Adult Spicy Contemporary Romance

Word Count: 50k
Sensuality Level: Hot

Date of Publication: June 24, 2013
Publisher: Crimson Romance

Description:

“Don’t try to be my hero. Don’t care about me. Don’t let go.”

Twenty-two-year-old Beatrice Stevens lives to dance. Two years ago she walked in on the picture of horror: after stabbing her mom 34 times, her father killed himself. She found his corpse still clutching at her mom’s, determined not to let go of her even in death. Now Beatrice freaks out if she’s hugged, loomed over or receives attention from daddy-type guys. Unless she’s dancing—the one thing that feeds her soul and saves her time after time.

Anthony Gowl wants Beatrice from the moment she bumps her adorable nose into his chest. That desire turns into a burning need after he sees her dance. But he’s the overprotective type—he can’t help it, it’s part of him ever since his sister ODed seven years ago. His savior complex makes him the perfect opposite of what Beatrice needs.

But she can’t seem to shake him. He’s both scary and exciting, even when he kneels at her feet. And the closer he gets, the more that toxic waste in her soul threatens to explode.

Warning: Contains scenes and language suitable for adults

Amazon    iTunes  Crimson Romance AllRomanceEbooks
About the Author:

Livia lives in Europe where she listens to obscene amounts of music and devours every reading material in sight. When she’s not doing either of the two, she fiddles with anything remotely customizable within reach. 

Website: http://www.liviaolteano.com/

Blog: http://blog.liviaolteano.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LiviaOlteano

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

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/11350038-livia-olteano




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Converging Fates Ten Year Evolution

Converging Fates Ten Year Evolution
            Converging Fates is the sum of my childhood imagination and being bored at a summer job. Like many children, I thought dinosaurs were the coolest thing since Jesus. My friend and I decided to create the fourth Jurassic Park movie, and we did legitimately believe it would be the fourth Jurassic Park movie.             Plot template: crazy scientist doing crazy things; marines search for him on islands and fight dinosaurs. So a sci-fi channel original. In high school, this became a semi-original novel that I worked on infrequently. At one point, I was about 75% done. I still have some of that manuscript, and the writing is horrible. I used so many big words, convoluted sentences, and unnecessary obfuscation. I think some English professors would love it.             After I graduated, I worked full-time in a battery-recycling plant for the summer. My ultra-engaging job was to sort alkaline and nickel-hydrate batteries from nickel-cadmium. To prevent myself from lapsing into a coma, I worked on story ideas. I liked the concept of making my own fantasy universe, and I had a premise.             The big epic fantasies, LOTR, Narnia, Game of Thrones are all medieval settings. More so, there seems to be no technological progress. The Silmarillion covers thousands of years with no mentioning of the elves or men inventing anything. Narnia covers the entire history of a world, with the same lack of progress. I love science-fiction, and I love fantasy, so I decided to put them together and place the classic fantasy races in a futuristic setting. However, I needed a plot and villain.             I had the idea of a teenager from earth getting swept to another reality and live with hyper-aggressive elves, but that was it. I needed a focal point, and the Jurassic Park story was perfect. There was a villain, a plot, and action. There were exciting characters and transferable characters. A stoic marine male colonel easily became Vanyae. Tyrannosaurus Rex became the hydra.             For some reason, I was oddly motivated to work on this story. I wrote almost every day after work, and once college started, my ability to do very little and get decent grades proved most useful.    Positive feedback from my friend encouraged me that I had something good. I've read that it's bad to show stories to your friends, because they'll give bias feedback. Maybe for short stories, but I wouldn't read a full novel on Open Office if I didn't really like it, and I don't think any of my friends would either.            I finished the manuscript in about six months. I had done three rewrites, which I believed was enough. I would talk about my query rejection process, but since I never got an agent, I don't really know what I was doing wrong.             I went back to the manuscript several times over the next two years. A month before I signed a contract, I finished the biggest rewrite, reducing the story by almost 20,000 words while expanding on description.             In previous rewrites, I only made minimal alterations. I felt that my story was complete and thus, there should be no major changes. You can't really be right or wrong in writing, but I think that after two years, I had developed enough as a writer, and I had enough of rejection, to realize major changes were beneficial.             Some of the things I removed will be making appearances later on: some character flashbacks, some origin myths, and a completely deleted significant character. However, they unnecessarily complicated this story and unbalanced the pacing.             The lessons I take from this: childhood is really important, but for some reason, it's often ignored. Go to a famous person's Wikipedia page, their childhood section will be very small, but I had a wonderful imagination then, and I don't see any reason to waste those ideas. Next, don't convince yourself your manuscript doesn't need major changes just because you declared it finished. There's never really a time when it's actually done (as the notes in my copy of CF testify to), but don't let it be too easy for you to stop major revisions. 
 July 15 Guest blogCloey's Book Reviews and Other Stuffcloeyk.blogspot.com
July 15 SpotlightCover Reveals http://CoverReveals.blogspot.com
July 16 SpotlightDEB SANDERShttp://DebSanders.com
July 16 InterviewPembroke Sinclair.  www.pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com
July 17 Guest blogUnraveling Wordshttp://unraveling-words.blogspot.com
 July 18 SpotlightBrooke Bumgardner http://www.brookeblogs.com
July 19 Guest bloghttp://claireashgrove.blogspot.com/
 July 22 Guest blogFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
July 22 SpotlightThe Creatively Green Write at Home Momwww.creativelygreen.blogspot.com 



Converging FatesReagent Universe, Book 1Jonathan Cortez 
Genre: Science-Fiction
Publisher: Fresh Publishing
Date of Publication: 03 June 2013
ISBN: 9780957606814ASIN: 0957606818
Number of pages: 376 pWord Count: 133,750 words
Cover Artist: Jen Detchon
Amazon
Book Description:
Deep in the remote Undervalley, a scientist is creating a portal that will link two universes. 
Never mind the damage his research does. A taskforce of elves and humans must hunt him down before he destroys their universe. 
The elves hold the key, Mahavir, a human abducted from the other universe. He is the link between universes, and his death may prevent a disaster. 
But Mahavir has no intention sacrificing himself for others.
About the Author:
Jonathan Cortez is a graduate of Penn State Behren, with an Associate of Arts degree.
He was an avid reader and writer from a young age, but even before that his story-telling and world-building skills blossomed while playing with Lego. He largely developed his writing craft on his own.
Jonathan is a big fan of science-fiction and fantasy, although he only started reading the genres during high school. When not reading or writing, he enjoys watching TV and listening to heavy metal.
He is currently still studying at Penn State. He is also working on the sequel to Converging Fates.
https://www.facebook.com/jonathancortezru





  

A Writer’s Retrospective AAD Spotlight with Phillipa Ballantine

A Writer’s Retrospective
So I’ve reached the end of road…well at least for the novels…with the Books of the Order. Geist, Spectyr, Wrayth and Harbinger. They comprise four books and a significant chunk of my writing life, so I feel it’s OK to get a little thoughtful about it.
I began writing Geist while I was in Europe, strangely enough on a rather rough boat ride to the Orkney Isles at the top of Scotland.
Coincidentally, it was a rough part of my life, full of scary changes, but it was also exhilarating because there were so many chances in that change. Sorcha was the first character who sprang into my mind, a powerful, prickly woman who had been moulded by being so powerful from an early age.
She needed a foil, and I guess the childhood TV shows finally did something useful to me. The idea of a seasoned cop getting stuck with the wet-behind the ears rookie is pretty much a staple…but I hadn’t seen it done much in the fantasy genre.
So Merrick was born, the calming, reasonable force that might just keep Sorcha in check.The Rossin and Raed were born together; one a fierce expression of the supernatural, the other a charming rogue.
So I had my characters and together we set off.
I don’t recall finishing the book because it happened so quickly, nor do I remember much of what my agent Laurie McLean thought of Geist…but I do recall the morning I woke up to the news that Ace Books and particularly Danielle Stockley had liked it enough to take a chance.Because I was living in New Zealand then, the timezones meant I woke up, checked my emails, and honestly thought for a moment that I was dreaming. I had to take a little time to make sure that my eyes were open and I was reading what I was reading. I was excited, elated, but also kind of nervous. Now, after all the attempts I had my shot at a New York publishing deal.
Luckily, I found I had a solid, kindly editor in Danielle, that was happy to lead me through the process, and even better she loved my story almost as much as I did. They had signed me initially for a two book contract, but within weeks of Geist being published in 2010, they signed me up for another two books. I was just plain excited then…I’d get to tell the whole story I had always imagined.
When I handed in the final edits on Harbinger to Danielle told me that as she finished she had a tear in her eye. That was when I realized it was going to be OK, and this journey had been worthwhile.
Now, I can’t wait for the book to be out there, and take the readers with Sorcha, Merrick, Raed, and even the Rossin to the final endgame I always had in mind.

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July 18 Interview Laurie's Paranormal Thoughts and Reviews http://lauriethoughts-reviews.blogspot.com
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July 19 Interview/SpotlightBeverly @ The Wormholehttp://wormyhole.blogspot.com
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July 23 SpotlightMythical Bookshttp://mythicalbooks.blogspot.ro/
July 24 SpotlightMusings of Mistress of the Dark Path mistressofthedarkpath.wordpress.com
July 25 Guest blogPreternatura suzanne-johnson.blogspot.com
July 25 InterviewUrban Girl Reader – http://www.urbangirlreader.com
July 26 Guest blogBuffy's Ramblingshttp://buffy-kennedy.blogspot.com/
July 29 InterviewSimply Infatuatedhttp://www.simplyinfatuated.com/
July 29 SpotlightMusings and Ramblings – judy-ree.blogspot.com
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Harbinger 
Philippa Ballantine

Release date July 30th

Book Description:

The Deacons of the Order are all that stand between the wicked spirits of the Otherside and the innocent citizens of the Empire. They are sworn to protect humanity, even when they cannot protect themselves…

After the Razing of the Order, Sorcha Faris, one of the most powerful Deacons, is struggling to regain control of the runes she once wielded. The Deacons are needed more desperately than ever. The barrier between the world of the living and the world of the dead is weakening, and the Emperor has abandoned his throne, seeking to destroy those he feels have betrayed him.

Though she is haunted by the terrible truth of her past, Sorcha must lead the charge against the gathering hordes of geists seeking to cross into the Empire. But to do so, she will need to manipulate powers beyond her understanding—powers that may prove to be her undoing…

About the Author:

Born in Wellington, New Zealand, Philippa has always had her head in a book. For this she blames her father who thought Lord of the Rings was suitable bedtime reading for an eight year old. At the age of thirteen she began writing fantasy stories for herself.

She first earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Political Science and then a Bachelor of Applied Science in Library and Information Science. So soon enough she found herself working in the magical world of libraries where she stayed for over a decade.

Her first professional sale was in 1997, and since then she has gone on to produce mostly novel length fiction. In 2006 she became New Zealand’s first podcast novelist, and she has voiced and produced Weaver’s Web, Chasing the Bard, Weather Child and Digital Magic as podiobooks. Her podcasts have won both a Parsec Award and a Sir Julius Vogel award.

Philippa is the author of the Books of the Order series with Ace- Geist, Spectyr, Wrayth and Harbinger coming in July 2013.

She is also the co-author of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series with Tee Morris. Phoenix Rising debuted in May 2011 and The Janus Affair came out in May 2012. Phoenix Rising won the Airship Award for best written steampunk, and was the number eight best Science Fiction book of 2011 according to Goodreads.com. The Janus Affair was the seventh most popular science fiction book of 2012 on Goodreads.com. The series continues with Dawn’s Early Light in December 2013.

In addition she is also the author of the Shifted World series with Pyr Books, with the first book Hunter and Fox released in June 2012, and the second Kindred and Wings scheduled for August 2013.

When not writing or podcasting, Philippa loves reading, gardening, and whenever possible traveling. With her husband Tee and her daughter, she is looked after by a mighty clowder of five cats in Manassas, Virginia.

Website: www.pjballantine.com

Twitter: philippajane



Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/pjballantine/ 

Interview with Darlene Kuncytes the author of A Vampire’s Saving Embrace

Can you tell readers a little bit about yourself and what inspired to write in this particular genre? 
That is a really great question.  I don’t think I actually chose the genre – it chose me.  I just had this idea in my head and kind of went with it. Once I started, there was just no stopping me. I knew I wanted to do a romance, and the supernatural aspect of the book just kind of happened.
I work full-time and foster puppy mill rescues. I have always loved reading and writing.  It has just always been such a huge part of my life, and to now be able to do this has been amazing.  I have met so many spectacular, supportive people I can’t even begin to tell you.
 I can have a very odd sense of humor, finding the funny in everyday things - and be loopy at times! lol

Please tell us about your latest release.
My latest release is A Vampire’s Saving Embrace.  It is a total romance with the paranormal as a little extra. I wanted the love story to be the focus of this book.

Is there a character that you enjoyed writing more than any of the others?
I would have to say, to a point Abby.  She is feisty, and fun – yet so afraid of trusting.  She has been lied to and hurt in her life and even though she is a passionate, loving person – she always has that insecurity in the back of her mind. It’s as if she is always waiting for the ball to drop.  She is tough on the outside – but so soft on the inside.
Do you have a formula for developing characters? Like do you create a character sketch or list of attributes before you start writing or do you just let the character develop as you write?
I have certain attributes in mind, but once the story starts to flow, they kind of take on a life of their own! Lol.  They become so real to you that you begin to think, ‘oh, that is how Abby would react’ ect.

What is your favorite scene from the book? Could you share a little bit of it, without spoilers of course?
Oh, wow. Now that is a difficult one.  There is a scene where Desmond helps Abby to bathe that I had a lot of fun writing. It was funny and sexy and a lot of fun.

Can you tell readers a little bit about the world building in the book/series? How does this world differ from our normal world?
It’s totally our world, just a bit more secluded I think.  The first book mainly takes place at Desmond’s estate – but book two in the series is out there in the world a bit.
With the book being part of a series, are there any character or story arcs, that readers jumping in somewhere other than the first book, need to be aware of? Can these books be read as stand alones?
They can totally be read as stand- alones.  Book 2 is about 2 character’s from book one, and of course all the character’s that I hope people will come to love will make an appearance here and there. 
Do any of your characters have similar characteristics of yourself in them and what are they?
Yes, lol. I am afraid to say that Kat’s smartassedness (wow! Is THAT even a word?  If not, it should be! Lol) is totally me.  I have a real problem with saying things out loud that I think should be kept solely in my head! lol
Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? How do you deal with it?
I do.  I basically step away for a bit.  I was working on a scene in book 2 that I was just completely at a loss – so I stepped away from it, relaxed, daydreamed, and after a few days sat back down and had over 4,000 words written in one sitting. 
What can readers expect next from you?
Book 2 -A Wolf’s Savage Embrace.  I am hoping to launch that by the end of August.  I have also started a romance/suspense that I hope to finish before Christmas. Not part of the series.
Where can readers find you on the web?  
Facebook, Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble    I am hoping to have a website up shortly, but I am soo computer illiterate it isn’t even funny!
Would you like to leave readers with a little teaser or excerpt from the book?
“You needn’t just stand there quietly, my pet,” he said, his back still to her. “You may come in if you wish.”Abby blew out the breath she had been holding and sighed -damn his spidey sense! “I was bored,” she offered, walking over to stand beside him. “May I help?” Desmond graced her with that grin and again, her damned toes curled. Damn! Damn! Damn!“You can stir the sauce,” he said, taking a drink from a beautiful black crystal goblet he had beside the sink. “Would you care for a glass of wine?” He set the goblet down, and not thinking, Abby reached for it to take a sip. With lightning speed his hand was around her wrist - stilling her. “Not from there, love,” he cautioned a strange heat in his gaze.For an instant Abby was pissed. What - did he think he would get some sort of horrible, contagious fairy cooties if she drank from the same glass as he did? That really took some nerve. He was a vampire for God’s sake. He drank other people’s blood! Shouldn’t she be the one who was worried?“I only wanted a taste,” she muttered softly- then with a note of annoyance, “I won’t infect you or anything. Just because I’m a fairy doesn’t mean you’ll sprout wings!” She bit out - but a moment later her eyes widened with embarrassment as her face turned bright red. “Oh, cripes. It doesn’t - does it?” She croaked – wincing at her stupidity.Desmond burst out laughing, his fingers releasing her wrist and going to her lips. His index finger softly traced the lines of her mouth, his gaze heated as he remembered how these perfect lips felt beneath his - how sweet her mouth had tasted and he wanted nothing more than to lower his head and take them once again. Everything about this woman compelled him - her scent, her laugh – her eyes; and he just wanted to drown himself in her. It was a constant urge that was getting harder and harder to fight.“That, love, is not wine,” he whispered, his eyes studying the curves under his finger with intense interest. “And, no – I will not sprout wings,” he finished, his eyes shining with humor and something else that Abby couldn’t quite put her finger on. It took a moment before the realization hit her, and when it did, she felt her stomach lurch. Oh, ick! She had almost drunk… Oh, man - now that thought was way up there on her gross-out meter! She could barely stand the sight of blood, much less the thought of drinking it.
Do you have anything else you'd like to share today?

Yes.

My favorite Martini!! A Vampire’s Kiss!!!

2 oz Chambord Raspberry liquor

2 oz Raspberry Vodka


3 oz Cranberrry juice      

pour over ice – shake pour in martini glass and toss in a cherry!!!    


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July 18 SpotlightCover Reveals http://CoverReveals.blogspot.com
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July 22 InterviewFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
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A Vampire’s Saving EmbraceSupernatural Desire SeriesBook OneDarlene Kuncytes
Genre:  Paranormal Romance
ISBN:   ISBN-101483980836ASIN:  B00BHYJRCU
Number of pages:  168 Ebook   147 PaperbackWord Count:  64,000
Cover Artist:  Linda Boulanger
Amazon  Goodreads   BN
Book Description: 
Abigail Montgomery was happy with her life. She was independent, strong, and had managed on her own for a very long time.
That was, until the dark, handsome Desmond LaGrange showed up at the bar where she worked. How could she know that this mysterious man would end up saving her from the evil that she didn't even know existed? And why was she so drawn to him? Why did he make her body heat with just a simple look?
Desmond LaGrange was fighting a past he was trying hard to forget. But when
he sees the beautiful Abby working behind the bar - something deep inside compels him to get closer.
The only question is why?
And when he saves her from danger - can he resist the strong pull between them to let her go when the time comes?
Or will the passion that she ignites in him be his end?

About the Author:
Darlene Kuncytes was born and raised in Northeast Ohio. She has enjoyed writing ever since she can remember, and has always had a love for romance.
"A Vampire's Saving Embrace" is her first novella, of what will hopefully be many more. She has always loved the supernatural with a touch of suspense - not to mention the allure of finding one's soul mate.

She loves hearing from her fans- so be sure to drop her a line.
Show More
https://www.amazon.com/Darlene-Kuncytes/e/B00BIO0Ejy       
https://www/facebook.com/darlene.kuncytes
@ VampireEmbrace                
Also on Goodreads and Pinerest!!!
https://www.facebook.com/AVampiresSavingEmbrace


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