Nicole Zoltack's Blog, page 19
July 10, 2013
This is WAR blog tour - Casting Sloane
Welcome, dear readers, Lisa and Laura Roecker who have cast Sloane from their awesome novel This is WAR.
Jamie Chung from The Real World San Diego. But a younger version. Sorry Jamie. Sloane is exquisite and delicate and ultra-feminine. She has so much fight on the inside, but rarely lets anyone close enough to see it. She doesn’t give herself nearly as much credit as she deserves.
This is W.A.R. begins with a victim who can no longer speak for herself, and whose murder blossoms into a call-to-arms. Enter four very different girls, four very different motives to avenge Willa Ames-Rowan, and only one rule to start: Destroy James Gregory and his family at any cost. Willa's initials spell the secret rallying cry that spurs the foursome to pool their considerable resources and deliver their particular brand of vigilante justice. Innocence is lost, battles are won—and the pursuit of the truth ultimately threatens to destroy them all.
Jamie Chung from The Real World San Diego. But a younger version. Sorry Jamie. Sloane is exquisite and delicate and ultra-feminine. She has so much fight on the inside, but rarely lets anyone close enough to see it. She doesn’t give herself nearly as much credit as she deserves.
This is W.A.R. begins with a victim who can no longer speak for herself, and whose murder blossoms into a call-to-arms. Enter four very different girls, four very different motives to avenge Willa Ames-Rowan, and only one rule to start: Destroy James Gregory and his family at any cost. Willa's initials spell the secret rallying cry that spurs the foursome to pool their considerable resources and deliver their particular brand of vigilante justice. Innocence is lost, battles are won—and the pursuit of the truth ultimately threatens to destroy them all.
Always Do What Scares You - Bloghop and Giveaway
To celebrate the release of her New Adult novel, Mila Ferrera is doing a blogfest today. In SPIRAL, Nessa confronts her fears about getting close to Aron by reminding herself of her father's motto: "Always do the thing that scares you." It's probably a saying all of us could use from time to time, so for this blogfest, post about a time that you decided to do something even though it scared you, either to get over that fear or because you knew it would be good for you."
The fear I overcame is a little lame. During high school, I wasn't allowed to date. I thought it was so lame when my sixteenth birthday came and went with my first kiss. LOL Eighteenth birthday came and went with no kiss either.
Once I got to college, I wanted to have a boyfriend. I developed a crush on a guy and over winter break, he asked me out (over AIM, how romantic!) Of course I said yes. But I was terrified. I had never dated before. What if I clammed up and said nothing? What if he farted? Or I did? LOL I wasn't too worried about the farting, but it did cross my mind. I didn't know what to expect - the whole fear of the unknown.
Our first actual date was to see a movie (The Two Towers). Wasn't to bad. Kept dating the guy for a few years. Ended up marrying him.
So I never really entered the dating game for that long. Only dated one guy. Only ever kissed on guy.
How about you? Do you face a fear during college?
Nessa Cavanaugh, psychology student, knows how to stay on an even keel. Despite the urging of her mother and her academic advisor to get a life and have some fun, “all work and no play” sums up her plan to survive her grueling internship year at a children's hospital. She doesn't want to end up like her father, whose constant ups and downs broke her family, and avoiding unnecessary emotional entanglements is a must.
Then she (literally) runs into Dr. Aron Lindstrom in the middle of her disastrous first day on the job. The attraction is instant—and terrifying. Nessa knows she should stay away—especially when she finds out he has a reputation for being a player—but Aron is brilliant, intense, and as sexy as they come. When he challenges her to take a chance on him, her plans to stay focused on work start to crumble.
But what begins as passion takes on a dangerous edge, becoming an emotional roller coaster that’s frighteningly familiar. As things spiral out of control, Nessa must decide whether she should hold on for the ride or run … even if it means leaving her heart behind.
July 8, 2013
Excerpt from THE FIVE SANTAS by Jay Mims
Hello Gentle Readers,
I got a wild hair and
decided to do an impromptu book blog tour called “Christmas in July”. Because
why not? Nicole was kind enough to allow me to stop in her space.
My name is Jay Mims, and
I write lighthearted cozy mysteries centered around quirky detective Dan
Landis, his partner Abbey, and the strange cast of characters.
In keeping with the
Christmas theme, I thought I’d present an excerpt from the first book in the
Dan Landis mystery series, The Five
Santas, which has the erstwhile detective slumming it as a security officer
for the local department store. Truly, it’s the most wonderful time of the
year.
EXCERPT FROM THE FIVE SANTAS
Years of living by his wits had given Dan
a sixth sense for trouble. It was the same instinct that kept cops and school
teachers alive. Someone was watching him.
Dan glanced around. It didn’t take but a
minute, she wasn’t hard to find. The floor should have been empty; the store
had barely been open five minutes. She stood over by the unattended jewelry display,
smiling. Her red hair shone like a beacon, splashing brightly against the
green of her sweater. It was a Christmas
tree sweater, complete with ornaments and lights. The
lights even blinked synchronously, probably
to O Tannenbaum. Her smile was
dazzling.
Dan had learned the hard way, never to
trust a smiling face. Particularly a
smile attached to a gorgeous red head, one
with the air of someone who knew
exactly how attractive she was. Her
emerald eyes twinkled with laughter. She winked at him. And then she bolted,
her giant matching green knitted purse flopping from side to side
as it bounced off her hip. That purse looked
like it could hide a refrigerator. Or a whole lot of jewelry.
Of course, Dan thought, a supremely attractive
shoplifter would choose first
thing in the morning to play cat and mouse.
It was just his luck. He took off
after her. The lady could move. Dan had a
lot of experience running, mostly from other people, but this cutie was booking
it. Right for the Emergency Exit. He picked up speed,
ignoring the sheer agony of the blood pounding
inside his bruised head. He desperately wished he had gotten some aspirin
first.
The redhead hit the Emergency Exit a beat
ahead of Dan and the heavy door was just closing when he flung it wide open.
Part of him noted on a subconscious level that the fire alarm
hadn’t gone off.
That could be a problem. On the bright side,
it wasn’t his problem.
A sexy thief was his problem. Thank God
for small favors. The crisp morning air hit him like
a hammer; the sunrise was bright, almost blinding.
Dan hated how blistering cold was always so bright and sunny. It was such a
tease. With a shock he realized the alley was empty.
Dan listened. There were no running footsteps
and the alley had a good yards of space in either direction. No one here except
for Dan, some dumpsters, and a whole lot of nothing.
He sighed. She was probably in one of the
dumpsters. Maybe behind one of them. On a whim he looked up. No green eyes were
staring impishly down at him from the roof. Of course,
there was no ladder nearby, but Dan wouldn’t
have been surprised if she could fly.
She’d had that magical, “I can do
anything I want” look about her.
He glanced down seeing no manholes, open or
otherwise, within sight. Resigned, he headed toward the nearest dumpster.
“How come I always end up in a dumpster?”
He asked no one in particular. The dumpster didn’t answer, instead it just
looked nasty, tetanus filled, and generally uninviting.
“These pants are dry clean only!” Dan
yelled, lashing out with one foot. It wasn’t until his foot connected with the
somehow surprisingly solid dumpster that he remembered he was wearing dress
shoes, not work boots. As his foot thumped against the metal, pain shot up his
leg. Dan hopped up and down, holding his foot.
“Funky butt loving...!” he howled.
Then he saw the dead Santa Claus
stuffed behind the dumpster.
“Oh,” he said more calmly, still holding
his foot. “That’s not good.”
Jay
Mims knows the muffin man. He has inadvertently adopted his neighbor’s cat, who
he calls Eartha Kitty, sometimes has a pet lizard named Bob, and shares an
apartment with a passive-aggressive Dalek named Steve. He writes books and is
far funnier on Facebook then
in real life. He is terrible at Twitter . His
next book "The Gray Ghost Inn" is due out October 15, 2013. Feel free
to email him here .
LINKS:
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5179719.Jay_Mims
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Five-Santas-Oncoming-Series/dp/098393410X/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1372865648&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.com/The-Cult-Koo-Kway-Mims/dp/0983934142/ref=pd_sim_b_1
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-five-santas-jay-mims/1104988019?ean=9780983934103
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-cult-of-koo-kway-jay-mims/1112781489?ean=9780983934141
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JayMims
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JayMimsey
Blog: http://themimsey.blogspot.com
Twitter: @JayMimsey
Email: JMimsey[at]gmail[dot]com
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I got a wild hair and
decided to do an impromptu book blog tour called “Christmas in July”. Because
why not? Nicole was kind enough to allow me to stop in her space.
My name is Jay Mims, and
I write lighthearted cozy mysteries centered around quirky detective Dan
Landis, his partner Abbey, and the strange cast of characters.
In keeping with the
Christmas theme, I thought I’d present an excerpt from the first book in the
Dan Landis mystery series, The Five
Santas, which has the erstwhile detective slumming it as a security officer
for the local department store. Truly, it’s the most wonderful time of the
year.
EXCERPT FROM THE FIVE SANTAS
Years of living by his wits had given Dan
a sixth sense for trouble. It was the same instinct that kept cops and school
teachers alive. Someone was watching him.
Dan glanced around. It didn’t take but a
minute, she wasn’t hard to find. The floor should have been empty; the store
had barely been open five minutes. She stood over by the unattended jewelry display,
smiling. Her red hair shone like a beacon, splashing brightly against the
green of her sweater. It was a Christmas
tree sweater, complete with ornaments and lights. The
lights even blinked synchronously, probably
to O Tannenbaum. Her smile was
dazzling.
Dan had learned the hard way, never to
trust a smiling face. Particularly a
smile attached to a gorgeous red head, one
with the air of someone who knew
exactly how attractive she was. Her
emerald eyes twinkled with laughter. She winked at him. And then she bolted,
her giant matching green knitted purse flopping from side to side
as it bounced off her hip. That purse looked
like it could hide a refrigerator. Or a whole lot of jewelry.
Of course, Dan thought, a supremely attractive
shoplifter would choose first
thing in the morning to play cat and mouse.
It was just his luck. He took off
after her. The lady could move. Dan had a
lot of experience running, mostly from other people, but this cutie was booking
it. Right for the Emergency Exit. He picked up speed,
ignoring the sheer agony of the blood pounding
inside his bruised head. He desperately wished he had gotten some aspirin
first.
The redhead hit the Emergency Exit a beat
ahead of Dan and the heavy door was just closing when he flung it wide open.
Part of him noted on a subconscious level that the fire alarm
hadn’t gone off.
That could be a problem. On the bright side,
it wasn’t his problem.
A sexy thief was his problem. Thank God
for small favors. The crisp morning air hit him like
a hammer; the sunrise was bright, almost blinding.
Dan hated how blistering cold was always so bright and sunny. It was such a
tease. With a shock he realized the alley was empty.
Dan listened. There were no running footsteps
and the alley had a good yards of space in either direction. No one here except
for Dan, some dumpsters, and a whole lot of nothing.
He sighed. She was probably in one of the
dumpsters. Maybe behind one of them. On a whim he looked up. No green eyes were
staring impishly down at him from the roof. Of course,
there was no ladder nearby, but Dan wouldn’t
have been surprised if she could fly.
She’d had that magical, “I can do
anything I want” look about her.
He glanced down seeing no manholes, open or
otherwise, within sight. Resigned, he headed toward the nearest dumpster.
“How come I always end up in a dumpster?”
He asked no one in particular. The dumpster didn’t answer, instead it just
looked nasty, tetanus filled, and generally uninviting.
“These pants are dry clean only!” Dan
yelled, lashing out with one foot. It wasn’t until his foot connected with the
somehow surprisingly solid dumpster that he remembered he was wearing dress
shoes, not work boots. As his foot thumped against the metal, pain shot up his
leg. Dan hopped up and down, holding his foot.
“Funky butt loving...!” he howled.
Then he saw the dead Santa Claus
stuffed behind the dumpster.
“Oh,” he said more calmly, still holding
his foot. “That’s not good.”
Jay
Mims knows the muffin man. He has inadvertently adopted his neighbor’s cat, who
he calls Eartha Kitty, sometimes has a pet lizard named Bob, and shares an
apartment with a passive-aggressive Dalek named Steve. He writes books and is
far funnier on Facebook then
in real life. He is terrible at Twitter . His
next book "The Gray Ghost Inn" is due out October 15, 2013. Feel free
to email him here .
LINKS:
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5179719.Jay_Mims
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Five-Santas-Oncoming-Series/dp/098393410X/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1372865648&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.com/The-Cult-Koo-Kway-Mims/dp/0983934142/ref=pd_sim_b_1
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-five-santas-jay-mims/1104988019?ean=9780983934103
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-cult-of-koo-kway-jay-mims/1112781489?ean=9780983934141
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JayMims
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JayMimsey
Blog: http://themimsey.blogspot.com
Twitter: @JayMimsey
Email: JMimsey[at]gmail[dot]com
a Rafflecopter giveaway
June 30, 2013
Meet a Superheroine - Lady Knight Hawker
Nicole Zoltack
Word Count: 999
Anthology - yes
Charity - Girls, Inc.
Title: A Defining Choice
Name of female superhero: Lady Knight Hawker
Name of human alter ego, if
different: Diana of the Bleak Plains
Superhero Appearance (hair,
eyes, body type, etc.): A crown made from arrows sits on her long, wavy blonde
hair. Her eyes are sky blue. She's strong and fit, toned. She's far stronger
than she appears.
Human alter ego appearance (if
she has an alter ego): Seventeen-year-old Diana looks like a medieval peasant,
wearing simple dresses in dreary shades, her hair covered. Works on a farm so
has a tendency to have dirt on her hands.
Costume: Her body is covered
in a tight black jumper. A bow on her back.
Personality: Diana is selfless
and always puts others first. She's smart despite having no formal education. She's
focuses and goal-oriented. She has little time for fun but enjoys teasing and
chasing her younger siblings.
Brief description of how the
superheroine gets her powers (i.e. born with them, radioactive accident, mad
scientist experiments on her, etc.): Over the years, Diana has become
disillusioned. Her people are poor and have no chance of survival once a particularly
brutal winter comes. She goes out into the forest to try to find some game.
There she finds a massive bear. An even larger wolf
Powers: Lady Knight Hawker'
arrows never miss her target. She can float but not fly. She can transform into
a massive hawk.
Anything else important: She
sometimes teams up with Sir Bear. There are others like them who believe they
are superior to humans and pillage and take what they want. Those with powers
are divided into three sects: those who do good, those who do ill, and those
who care for neither side in the conflict.
A Defining Choice
The
howling wind and the harsh pounding of the snow pellets on her back made Diana
shiver. Her fingers clutching her arrow were blue. Her last pair of gloves she
had given to Kara, her youngest sister. The nights were too cold for so little
protection, but Kara could not handle the temperature as well as Diana could.
Their
farm's crops had spoiled, and the seven of them were starving. Diana, dressed
in her father's ill-fitting clothes so she could walk faster than in her
tattered skirts, was hoping to find some kind of game to bring home. At
seventeen, her parents often sought her help with the heaviest of the chores.
Her father had a bad knee after a horse had kicked him. Their mother was often
sickly. Her sisters and brother were too young to help, although Gavin, at
nine, did as much as he could.
A
strong gust of wind blew snow into her eyes, and Diana used her sleeve to wipe
her face. She had wandered this forest for years, knew every twig and bush, but
this clearing she now found herself in she had never seen before.
Wary,
she lined her arrow into her bow, the tautness of the string giving her
strength in its familiarity. Although her knees quivered and shook from the
cold, her arms and fingers held still as she swept the clearing with her bow,
ready to launch her arrow a the first sign of movement.
Crashing
through the underbrush sounded to her right. A massive bear, a good three times
larger than a papa bear, rambled into the clearing. It stopped short a meter
from her. Its black eyes fixed on her face, and she hesitated. The eyes looked
too intelligent to belong to an animal.
The
bear pivoted around with speed that belied its size, and another creature
entered the clearing. A wolf. Saliva dripped from its fangs onto the snow
piling on the forest ground. Its coat was grey, hideous compared to the bear's
blackness peppered with white snowflake.
The
two animals fought each other, paying her no heed. Even though the wolf had a
size disadvantage compared to the bear, he too was larger than his brethren.
Knowing
wolves traveled in packs, Diana started to scramble up the nearest tree, so
thankfully she had disobeyed her mother's admonishment at her clothing choices
this day. The tree was covered in ice and made the climb difficult, but she
managed, still carrying her bow and arrow.
Another
billow of wind swept through the clearing, and all the rest of her arrows tumbled
out of her makeshift quiver.
The
wolf nipped at the bear, forcing the huge creature back until its massive body
collided with her tree.
She
again lined up her arrow and gauged her sight. With a well-placed arrow, she
could kill one of the creatures.
But
only one.
From
her vantage point, she saw no other creature in between the other trees. This
wolf had no pack.
This
fact frightened her even more. The sight of red mixing with the other colors on
the bear's coat positively terrified her. This wolf was not natural. Neither
creature was.
Diana's
arms guided her arrow between the two. The bear. Or the wolf. Which one should
live?
The
bear fought back and swiped a giant paw at the wolf. His claws connected with
the wolf's snout. The wolf growled, lowering its body to the snow before
leaping onto the bear's back.
She
could see his eyes now. White. Intelligent, like the bear's.
The
wolf jumped down, ad the two roared and tangled their limbs, rolling around.
Blood dyed the white snow in the clearing. Neither seemed the clear victor.
At
this point, Diana lowered her arms. She could let them fight till they end. They
were killing each other. Neither would be victorious.
Unless
she killed one.
Diana
stalled no longer. One eye closed, she waited for the perfect moment. The whisper
of the string releasing the arrow called out to her as it always did. Her arrow
found its mark in the wolf's head.
The
bear collapsed onto the snow.
She
rushed down the tree, her bow falling onto the soft blanket of snow, and rushed
over to him. The bear's chest heaved, breathing in and out, slower and slower.
"I'm
sorry."
The
bear gazed at her for a long moment before closing them.
She
wrapped her arms around his thick neck. A warmth she had not felt since the
summer's sun relentlessly beat down on her filled her.
A
glow burst out of the bear's mouth then its eyes and ears too.
Diana
backed away.
An
almost transparent form lifted out of the bear. With each passing second, the
form took on a more solid appearance although it hovered in the air two meters
above the ground. Finally, Diana could see a man dressed in armor.
"Well
met, Diana of the Bleak Plains."
She
was too astonished to curtsy or respond verbally.
"You
have chosen well this day." He nodded toward the wolf. "An old foe of
mine. He had lured many to his side, but no more. There is much evil in the
world. Will you care to join me in the fight for that which is good? I can give
you power to help save all those who suffer. If you are loyal and true, one
day, you too will have an animal form."
The
chance to help her family was not something she could walk away from.
"I
accept."
"Then
take this crown." A crown formed out of two arrows -- one silver, one gold
-- appeared in his hands. It floated toward her.
She
placed it on her head. Immediately power filled her, and she floated in the
air.
"Whenever
you wear your crown, you will be known as Lady Knight Hawker."
Lady
Knight Hawker went on to have many adventures, but her first goal always
remained ensuring her family's survival and happiness.
Word Count: 999
Anthology - yes
Charity - Girls, Inc.
Title: A Defining Choice
Name of female superhero: Lady Knight Hawker
Name of human alter ego, if
different: Diana of the Bleak Plains
Superhero Appearance (hair,
eyes, body type, etc.): A crown made from arrows sits on her long, wavy blonde
hair. Her eyes are sky blue. She's strong and fit, toned. She's far stronger
than she appears.
Human alter ego appearance (if
she has an alter ego): Seventeen-year-old Diana looks like a medieval peasant,
wearing simple dresses in dreary shades, her hair covered. Works on a farm so
has a tendency to have dirt on her hands.
Costume: Her body is covered
in a tight black jumper. A bow on her back.
Personality: Diana is selfless
and always puts others first. She's smart despite having no formal education. She's
focuses and goal-oriented. She has little time for fun but enjoys teasing and
chasing her younger siblings.
Brief description of how the
superheroine gets her powers (i.e. born with them, radioactive accident, mad
scientist experiments on her, etc.): Over the years, Diana has become
disillusioned. Her people are poor and have no chance of survival once a particularly
brutal winter comes. She goes out into the forest to try to find some game.
There she finds a massive bear. An even larger wolf
Powers: Lady Knight Hawker'
arrows never miss her target. She can float but not fly. She can transform into
a massive hawk.
Anything else important: She
sometimes teams up with Sir Bear. There are others like them who believe they
are superior to humans and pillage and take what they want. Those with powers
are divided into three sects: those who do good, those who do ill, and those
who care for neither side in the conflict.
A Defining Choice
The
howling wind and the harsh pounding of the snow pellets on her back made Diana
shiver. Her fingers clutching her arrow were blue. Her last pair of gloves she
had given to Kara, her youngest sister. The nights were too cold for so little
protection, but Kara could not handle the temperature as well as Diana could.
Their
farm's crops had spoiled, and the seven of them were starving. Diana, dressed
in her father's ill-fitting clothes so she could walk faster than in her
tattered skirts, was hoping to find some kind of game to bring home. At
seventeen, her parents often sought her help with the heaviest of the chores.
Her father had a bad knee after a horse had kicked him. Their mother was often
sickly. Her sisters and brother were too young to help, although Gavin, at
nine, did as much as he could.
A
strong gust of wind blew snow into her eyes, and Diana used her sleeve to wipe
her face. She had wandered this forest for years, knew every twig and bush, but
this clearing she now found herself in she had never seen before.
Wary,
she lined her arrow into her bow, the tautness of the string giving her
strength in its familiarity. Although her knees quivered and shook from the
cold, her arms and fingers held still as she swept the clearing with her bow,
ready to launch her arrow a the first sign of movement.
Crashing
through the underbrush sounded to her right. A massive bear, a good three times
larger than a papa bear, rambled into the clearing. It stopped short a meter
from her. Its black eyes fixed on her face, and she hesitated. The eyes looked
too intelligent to belong to an animal.
The
bear pivoted around with speed that belied its size, and another creature
entered the clearing. A wolf. Saliva dripped from its fangs onto the snow
piling on the forest ground. Its coat was grey, hideous compared to the bear's
blackness peppered with white snowflake.
The
two animals fought each other, paying her no heed. Even though the wolf had a
size disadvantage compared to the bear, he too was larger than his brethren.
Knowing
wolves traveled in packs, Diana started to scramble up the nearest tree, so
thankfully she had disobeyed her mother's admonishment at her clothing choices
this day. The tree was covered in ice and made the climb difficult, but she
managed, still carrying her bow and arrow.
Another
billow of wind swept through the clearing, and all the rest of her arrows tumbled
out of her makeshift quiver.
The
wolf nipped at the bear, forcing the huge creature back until its massive body
collided with her tree.
She
again lined up her arrow and gauged her sight. With a well-placed arrow, she
could kill one of the creatures.
But
only one.
From
her vantage point, she saw no other creature in between the other trees. This
wolf had no pack.
This
fact frightened her even more. The sight of red mixing with the other colors on
the bear's coat positively terrified her. This wolf was not natural. Neither
creature was.
Diana's
arms guided her arrow between the two. The bear. Or the wolf. Which one should
live?
The
bear fought back and swiped a giant paw at the wolf. His claws connected with
the wolf's snout. The wolf growled, lowering its body to the snow before
leaping onto the bear's back.
She
could see his eyes now. White. Intelligent, like the bear's.
The
wolf jumped down, ad the two roared and tangled their limbs, rolling around.
Blood dyed the white snow in the clearing. Neither seemed the clear victor.
At
this point, Diana lowered her arms. She could let them fight till they end. They
were killing each other. Neither would be victorious.
Unless
she killed one.
Diana
stalled no longer. One eye closed, she waited for the perfect moment. The whisper
of the string releasing the arrow called out to her as it always did. Her arrow
found its mark in the wolf's head.
The
bear collapsed onto the snow.
She
rushed down the tree, her bow falling onto the soft blanket of snow, and rushed
over to him. The bear's chest heaved, breathing in and out, slower and slower.
"I'm
sorry."
The
bear gazed at her for a long moment before closing them.
She
wrapped her arms around his thick neck. A warmth she had not felt since the
summer's sun relentlessly beat down on her filled her.
A
glow burst out of the bear's mouth then its eyes and ears too.
Diana
backed away.
An
almost transparent form lifted out of the bear. With each passing second, the
form took on a more solid appearance although it hovered in the air two meters
above the ground. Finally, Diana could see a man dressed in armor.
"Well
met, Diana of the Bleak Plains."
She
was too astonished to curtsy or respond verbally.
"You
have chosen well this day." He nodded toward the wolf. "An old foe of
mine. He had lured many to his side, but no more. There is much evil in the
world. Will you care to join me in the fight for that which is good? I can give
you power to help save all those who suffer. If you are loyal and true, one
day, you too will have an animal form."
The
chance to help her family was not something she could walk away from.
"I
accept."
"Then
take this crown." A crown formed out of two arrows -- one silver, one gold
-- appeared in his hands. It floated toward her.
She
placed it on her head. Immediately power filled her, and she floated in the
air.
"Whenever
you wear your crown, you will be known as Lady Knight Hawker."
Lady
Knight Hawker went on to have many adventures, but her first goal always
remained ensuring her family's survival and happiness.
June 29, 2013
Enter to W!N a Signed Copy of Knight of Glory!
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Goodreads Book Giveaway
Kingdom of Arnhem Book Two
by Nicole Zoltack
Giveaway ends June 30, 2013.
See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.
Enter to win a SIGNED COPY!
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Goodreads Book Giveaway
Kingdom of Arnhem Book Two
by Nicole Zoltack
Giveaway ends June 30, 2013.
See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.
Enter to win a SIGNED COPY!
June 27, 2013
Cover Reveal - ENDURE by Laura Diamond
Title: ENDURE (Book One of the Endure Series)
Author: Laura Diamond
Publication Date: July 12, 2013
Genre: YA dystopian
Seventeen-year-old Justin's anemic blood is a blessing. Or a
curse. It all depends on who you ask.
To most of the immortal Vie, his blood is a scourge:
untouchable and useless. To some Vie, his blood is a drug. To Justin, it’s
something that gets him in a lot of trouble. Being poisoned by a Vie is just
one example. His sister getting kidnapped is another. Whether it’s being
coerced by a deluded cult leader, or negotiating with Alex—an Vie scientist
addicted to Anemie blood—Justin struggles to keep every mutated drop of blood
he’s got.
His fight for survival gets more complicated when he meets
Alex’s slave, Cara. Despite coming from different worlds, they’re both
prisoners, at risk of being drained by a hungry Vie any moment. When she risks
her own neck to help Justin find his sister, he's left with a terrifying
choice.
Saving what's left of humanity.
Saving his sister. Saving the girl he loves.
Or sticking a stake in Alex’s chest.
Justin can't decide which option will get him killed first.
Please visit ENDURE on Goodreads
About Author Laura Diamond:
Laura Diamond is a board certified psychiatrist and author
of all things young adult paranormal, dystopian, and horror. Her Young Adult
Paranormal Romance novelette, NEW PRIDE, and novel, SHIFTING PRIDE, debuted
late 2012 from Etopia Press. A spin off short story based on the lions of
Tsavo, TSAVO PRIDE, is now available on Amazon. Forthcoming novels include
EVOKE, Book Two in the ENDURE series, from Etopia Press, and a Young Adult Paranormal
Romance, ZODIAC COLLECTOR, from Spencer Hill Press. When she's not writing, she
is working at the hospital, blogging at Author Laura Diamond--Lucid Dreamer
and renovating her 225+ year old fixer-upper mansion.
Find Laura Diamond on the web:
Blog
Facebook AuthorPage
Website
Amazon authorpage
Goodreads author page
June 26, 2013
Join Mila Ferrera's Bloghop!
Join Mila Ferrera and other authors, including me, in a fun bloghop!
In Mila Ferrera's debut book, SPIRAL, Nessa confronts her fears about getting close to Aron by reminding herself of her father's motto: "Always do the thing that scares you."
It's probably a saying all of us could use from time to time, so for this blogfest, post about a time that you decided to do something even though it scared you, either to get over that fear or because you knew it would be good for you.
Feel free to sign up!
The blogfest will occur on July 10th and if you choose to participate in the blogfest, Mila is offering a giveaway to go along with the release of her book, SPIRAL, which is the reason behind this little blogfest. I hope you can participate in that as well!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Blurb: Nessa Cavanaugh, psychology student, knows how to stay on an even keel. Despite the urging of her mother and her academic advisor to get a life and have some fun, “all work and no play” sums up her plan to survive her grueling internship year at a children's hospital. She doesn't want to end up like her father, whose constant ups and downs broke her family, and avoiding unnecessary emotional entanglements is a must.
Then she (literally) runs into Dr. Aron Lindstrom in the middle of her disastrous first day on the job. The attraction is instant—and terrifying. Nessa knows she should stay away—especially when she finds out he has a reputation for being a player—but Aron is brilliant, intense, and as sexy as they come. When he challenges her to take a chance on him, her plans to stay focused on work start to crumble.
But what begins as passion takes on a dangerous edge, becoming an emotional roller coaster that’s frighteningly familiar. As things spiral out of control, Nessa must decide whether she should hold on for the ride or run … even if it means leaving her heart behind.
In Mila Ferrera's debut book, SPIRAL, Nessa confronts her fears about getting close to Aron by reminding herself of her father's motto: "Always do the thing that scares you."
It's probably a saying all of us could use from time to time, so for this blogfest, post about a time that you decided to do something even though it scared you, either to get over that fear or because you knew it would be good for you.
Feel free to sign up!
The blogfest will occur on July 10th and if you choose to participate in the blogfest, Mila is offering a giveaway to go along with the release of her book, SPIRAL, which is the reason behind this little blogfest. I hope you can participate in that as well!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Blurb: Nessa Cavanaugh, psychology student, knows how to stay on an even keel. Despite the urging of her mother and her academic advisor to get a life and have some fun, “all work and no play” sums up her plan to survive her grueling internship year at a children's hospital. She doesn't want to end up like her father, whose constant ups and downs broke her family, and avoiding unnecessary emotional entanglements is a must.
Then she (literally) runs into Dr. Aron Lindstrom in the middle of her disastrous first day on the job. The attraction is instant—and terrifying. Nessa knows she should stay away—especially when she finds out he has a reputation for being a player—but Aron is brilliant, intense, and as sexy as they come. When he challenges her to take a chance on him, her plans to stay focused on work start to crumble.
But what begins as passion takes on a dangerous edge, becoming an emotional roller coaster that’s frighteningly familiar. As things spiral out of control, Nessa must decide whether she should hold on for the ride or run … even if it means leaving her heart behind.
June 25, 2013
New Reviews for Woman of Honor
It's been a little while since I posted about my own stories and writing. My goal to write 1K a day has lit a fire under my butt. I've written so many words this years. I'll figure out the exact number and post an update, as well as a little about what I've written in another post.
Since I've had some new reviews for Woman of Honor, I though I'd share them!
From Rene:
This is a touching story of a little girl who changes her destiny to become a lady knight. This is one thing that is unheard of, and I praised Nicole for writing an excellent story which pulled me from the start.
Throughout the story I could tell the author did her research thoroughly. Strong characters paved the way from the start to the end. I always considered historic fiction to be boring, but Nicole has changed my mind. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Thanks, Rene!
And from Kaitlyn:
This is a great fantasy book!...I really enjoyed Aislinn's character. I love how she knows what she wants and is determined to keep fighting, no matter what. She's easy to admire, and I liked watching her journey as she grew up and became a knight. I also liked the addition of secondary characters, like her friends Caelan and Geoffrey; they definitely added to the plot.
The plot held my interest. It starts off when Aislinn is seven years old, and continues up to the point when she's an adult. So there were always lots of plot developments happening, as Aislinn gradually learns to fit in at the palace and help keep her country safe. The ending was definitely full of action and had me biting my nails....With a well-developed storyline and a great cast of characters, Woman of Honor is a perfect read for fantasy fans.
Thanks, Kaitlyn!
And did you know you can buy my Kingdom of Arnhem trilogy in print? You can order from Amazon (B&N currently only has Woman of Honor and Knight of Glory available, Champion of Valor will be there soon). Or you can order through me and I'll ship you a signed copy!
What's new in your world? Any good news to share?
Since I've had some new reviews for Woman of Honor, I though I'd share them!
From Rene:
This is a touching story of a little girl who changes her destiny to become a lady knight. This is one thing that is unheard of, and I praised Nicole for writing an excellent story which pulled me from the start.
Throughout the story I could tell the author did her research thoroughly. Strong characters paved the way from the start to the end. I always considered historic fiction to be boring, but Nicole has changed my mind. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Thanks, Rene!
And from Kaitlyn:
This is a great fantasy book!...I really enjoyed Aislinn's character. I love how she knows what she wants and is determined to keep fighting, no matter what. She's easy to admire, and I liked watching her journey as she grew up and became a knight. I also liked the addition of secondary characters, like her friends Caelan and Geoffrey; they definitely added to the plot.
The plot held my interest. It starts off when Aislinn is seven years old, and continues up to the point when she's an adult. So there were always lots of plot developments happening, as Aislinn gradually learns to fit in at the palace and help keep her country safe. The ending was definitely full of action and had me biting my nails....With a well-developed storyline and a great cast of characters, Woman of Honor is a perfect read for fantasy fans.
Thanks, Kaitlyn!
And did you know you can buy my Kingdom of Arnhem trilogy in print? You can order from Amazon (B&N currently only has Woman of Honor and Knight of Glory available, Champion of Valor will be there soon). Or you can order through me and I'll ship you a signed copy!
What's new in your world? Any good news to share?
June 24, 2013
In Times of Need
Sometimes bad things happen. We don't always know why.
One of my friends has lost her job, maybe her house too, in the flooding in Canada. She won't know about her house until the mandatory evacuation is lifted.
I feel so badly for Tamara Mataya so when Jessa Russo organized an auction to raise money for Tamara, I donated a first 50 page edit. AUCTION Item #23
And there are great books, some print, some ebooks, many if not all signed, as well as other critiques, including some from agents. (a query and first chapter critique from Marisa Cleveland, a first chapter critique from Eric Ruben, and a three chapter critique for a YA or Women's Fiction from Julia Weber Please take some time to look around and bid on something!
Thanks!
One of my friends has lost her job, maybe her house too, in the flooding in Canada. She won't know about her house until the mandatory evacuation is lifted.
I feel so badly for Tamara Mataya so when Jessa Russo organized an auction to raise money for Tamara, I donated a first 50 page edit. AUCTION Item #23
And there are great books, some print, some ebooks, many if not all signed, as well as other critiques, including some from agents. (a query and first chapter critique from Marisa Cleveland, a first chapter critique from Eric Ruben, and a three chapter critique for a YA or Women's Fiction from Julia Weber Please take some time to look around and bid on something!
Thanks!
June 20, 2013
Jocelyn Adams, Author of Rise of the Magi, Talks about Writing a Trilogy
Writing a novel is a feat all on its
own, but writing a trilogy is a much trickier beast. In a standalone
novel, there’s usually one main storyline, a protagonist, antagonist and a few
supporting characters. It has a beginning, middle and an end where the
story builds to a climax,
then weaves together to the finish.
In a trilogy, not only does each book have the beginning, middle and ending,
but so does the trilogy itself. Book one introduces the characters and
the primary conflict just like a standalone, but it has an additional task of
setting up for book two.
Book two is trickier still, as it needs to recap book one enough to remind the
reader what happened, but not enough to make them feel like they’re reading it
again, and also setting up for book three. Book three is the hardest of
them all. The first two have been weaving storylines like crazy, putting
the characters through their paces, and now all of those arcs have to be woven
back together.
Easy peasy, right? Not.
I’ve made it sound much simpler than it actually is. I bet I ripped out
the last quarter of Rise of the Magi no fewer than three times before I finally
got it right, at least 15,000 words each time. It became so complicated,
with so many characters introduced over the series, so many details to tie up,
I overwhelmed myself. In the end, though, I’m pretty happy with how it
turned out.
I do have one piece of advice for anyone contemplating writing a trilogy. My
biggest regret with the Lila Gray series was that I queried book one before I’d
finished the trilogy. When it was accepted sooner than I expected, it put
a lot of pressure on me to get it all finished quickly in
case I needed to change any details in book one.
What’s your favorite trilogy?
In a battle of wills, who is strongest? The one who hates or the one who loves?In a test of faith, who will fight the hardest? The one who has everything to lose or the one who believes only in herself?
For Lila Gray, the answer is both. For the Magi, the questions are pointless since they can’t lose, and they’ve been waiting since before Lila’s birth for this one moment. Lila only needs to find them to understand her entire purpose in life. This time, though, instead of protecting her people, Lila may be leading them all, including her unborn child and the man she loves, to their deaths — and not by accident.
In the ultimate trial of heart and soul, and the conclusion to the Lila Gray series, Lila will learn that the greatest weapon of war is herself, with one ultimate unknown. For which side will she fight?
Links:
Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Buy Links:
Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble
Imbed Code for the book trailer:
http://youtu.be/h3RMonjcYOo
Jocelyn Adamsgrew up on a cattle farm in Lakefield and has remained a resident of Southern
Ontario her entire life, most recently in Muskoka. She has worked as a computer
geek, a stable hand, a secretary, and spent most of her childhood buried up to
the waist in an old car or tractor engine with her mechanically inclined dad.
But mostly, she's a dreamer with a vivid imagination and a love for fantasy
(and a closet romantic — shhh!). When she isn't shooting her compound bow in
competition or writing, she hangs out with her husband and young daughter at
their little house in the woods.
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