Nicole Zoltack's Blog, page 23

Valentine's Day Sale at DBP!

Today through the 17th, all Romance books can be purchased with a 25% discount using the promo code BeMyValentine during checkout at the DBP site. The site recently got a new facelift and it looks great. If you haven't checked out my Kingdom of Arnhem trilogy  why not check out the first one - Woman of Honor? It would make a great last minute Valentine's Day gift!



Psst... if you've already read my books, could you leave reviews on Amazon, goodreads, etc? I'm putting together a contest to get more honest reviews. More details coming soon!



Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! What are your plans for today? Do they involve chocolate? :)



Me? I'm spending the day with my little boys and tonight will enjoy some time with hubby. Tomorrow all of us are going out to dinner - always an adventure with three young boys!

Kindle Fire HD G*veaway!

Kindle Fire HD Giveaway!


The winner will have the option of receiving a Kindle Fire HD (US Only)







Or $199 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)







Or $199 in Paypal Cash (International)











This giveaway is sponsored by these Authors:



The Reluctant Bachelorette by Rachael Anderson


One Classic Latin Lover, Please by Marcia Lynn McClure

Betrayal by Anne Patrick

Belleyache by Crystal Marcos

Ethan Justice: Origins by Simon Jenner

I Have People by Taylor Dean

For What It's Worth by Karey White

A Kiss of Ashen Twilight by Rae Lori

The Unraveling by Holly Barbo

Fateful by Cheri Schmidt

Dracian Legacy by Priya Kanaparti

Cascade Brides by Bonnie Blythe

A World Apart by Camelia Miron Skiba

Reality Bites, Tales of a Half-Vampire by Shaunda Wenger

Face-Off by Stacy Juba

Two Equals by Marta Szemik

The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw by Suzy Turner

One for Kami by Charlene A. Wilson

Freak of Nature by Julia Crane

Grace Doll by Jennifer Laurens

The Secret of the Scarlet Stone by T.L. Clarke

Gallagher's Hope by M.K. McClintock

The Spy Lover & Prize Winning Pacific Stories by Kiana Davenport

Rejected by Heather Bixler

Rapunzel Untangled by Cindy Bennett

A Hard Act to Follow by Henry Bushkin

Starseed by Liz Gruder



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February Kindle Fire Giveaway Sponsors






Bellyache: A Delicious Tale


by Crystal Marcos







Fateful


by Cheri Schmidt







Grace Doll


by Jennifer Laurens







The Reluctant Bachelorette


by Rachael Renee Anderson







For What It's Worth


by Karey White







One Classic Latin Lover, Please


by Marcia Lynn McClure







A Hard Act to Follow


by Henry Bushkin







Rapunzel Untangled


by Cindy C. Bennett







Freak of Nature


by Julia Crane







Starseed


by Liz Gruder







Betrayal


by Anne Patrick







Ethan Justice: Origins


by Simon R. Jenner







The Unraveling


by Holly Barbo







I Have People


by Taylor Dean







A World Apart


by Camelia Miron Skiba







A Kiss of Ashen Twilight


by Rae Lori







Face-Off


by Stacy Juba







Reality Bites: Tales of a Half-Vampire


by Shaunda Kennedy Wenger







Cascade Brides: The Complete Series


by Bonnie Blythe







Dracian Legacy


by Priya Kanaparti







Two Equals


by Marta Szemik







The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw


by Suzy Turner







One for Kami


by Charlene A. Wilson







Rejected


by Heather Bixler







The Secret of the Scarlet Stone


by T.L. Clarke







Gallagher's Hope


by M.K. McClintock







The Spy Lover


by Kiana Davenport







PRIZE-WINNING PACIFIC STORIES


by Kiana Davenport








Share book reviews and ratings with Inspired Kathy, and even join a book club on Goodreads.






Giveaway Details

1 winner will receive their choice of a Kindle Fire HD (US Only), $199 Amazon Gift Card or $199 in Paypal Cash (Internaitonal).

Ends 2/28/13



Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Crewel by Gennifer Albin is on sale

Crewel is on sale for just $2.99! Go out and snag a copy - I know I am!







Enter a tangled world of secrets and intrigue where a girl is in charge of other’s destinies, but not her own.
 
Sixteen-year-old Adelice Lewys has always been special. When her parents discover her gift—the ability to weave the very fabric of reality—they train her to hide it. For good reason, they don’t want her to become a Spinster — one of the elite, beautiful, and deadly women who determine what people eat, where they live, how many children they have, and even when they die.
 
Thrust into the opulent Western Coventry, Adelice will be tried, tested and tempted as she navigates the deadly politics at play behind its walls.  Now caught in a web of lies and forbidden romance, she must unravel the sinister truth behind her own unspeakable power.  Her world is hanging by a thread, and Adelice, alone, can decide to save it — or destroy it.







Crewel for $2.99:

Kindle

Nook

iBookstore

Kobo

Sony

Google Reader

What to Look for in a Publisher Guest Blog by Charity Bradford, Author of The Magic Wakes

What
to Look for in a Publisher




The publishing world has changed since I began my writing
journey. In the beginning traditional publishing was still the most accepted
and most validating choice. But now days it’s just as acceptable to self
publish or go with a small to mid-sized publisher.




I won’t go into the many reasons why this might have
changed, but suffice it to say, an author has many choices when it comes to
getting published. Before looking at publishers, I suggest you do the
following.




1. Decide why you
write. Is it because you want to be the next J.K. Rowling and make millions
from books, merchandise, and movie sales? If so, self publishing and smaller
publishers are not going to do this for you (yes there are exceptions, but
generally this is true). Or do you write because the story burning within you
just has to be told? Do you care about the money, or just sharing the story
with others?




2. Decide who your
target audience is. (Hopefully you did this before writing the book) Some
publishers specialize in specific genres. They’ll know how to market your book
so the people you’re writing for can find it. It’s always better to have a team
of like minded people helping you through the process. When they “get” you,
your progress will run smoother and be more enjoyable for everyone.




3. Decide how much
control you want in the process. If doing everything terrifies you, then
self publishing is NOT for you. If you’re a control freak that must make all
the decisions then going with an agent and Big Six Publisher may be traumatic
for you. In the middle are all kinds of publishers with varying degrees of
control. A little research will help you find the right fit for your
personality and needs.




Once
you know these things about yourself, you’ll be able to make better choices as
you look at publishers. Now, where do you start looking for a publisher? For
simplification purposes we are going to assume that if you want to publish with
a Big 6 (Simon and Schuster, HarperCollins,
Random House, Macmillan, The Penguin Group, Hachette—and all the smaller
imprints they own: Little Brown, Knopf, Viking, NAL, Pocket, Scribner,
St. Martins, Dutton, Avon, William Morrow, Crown, Tor, Zondervan, Grand
Central, Dell, etc.) that you are
looking for an agent—which is a different post. ;)




But if
you’ve decided that a smaller publisher is the choice for you, where do you
look?




1. The blogosphere is full of authors testing the
publishing waters. Talk to them about their experience and check out
submissions pages for the genres they publish. This is by far the best and
safest place to start. If you don’t know someone who has published with a
company you are looking at, find one of their authors and email them. (I’ve
already had someone contact me with questions about WiDo) Most people are more
than willing to share their experience and thoughts with you.




2. You can also do a Google search and all kind of
publishers will come up. This is a bit scary to me, but sometimes that’s where
you have to start. Here are some websites that can help you decide if they are
legit or not:




Predators and Editors

AbsoluteWrite forums

Better Business Bureau









Talia has a secret, one that will save her world and yet rip it apart. Only she can decide if the price is worth it.

Scientist Talia Zaryn has always had visions of an alien invasion and of her own death. She’s kept it a secret, hoping they are nothing more than childish nightmares. But when her face in the mirror matches that of her dreams, she fears the dreams are prophetic. Talia must prove that life exists beyond their planet, Sendek; perhaps then people will prepare to fight.

Talia’s work at the Space Exploration Foundation leaves no time for personal relationships, but Major Landry Sutton isn’t looking for a friend. He’s looking for a traitor. His ability to sense emotions convinces him Talia is that traitor until a touch sizzles between them. In an instant their minds are connected and they can communicate telepathically. Just as the two begin to trust each other, the invading force arrives.

Talia and Landry must uncover the secrets of Sendek’s past if they hope to defeat these terrifying creatures. And Talia is the key—if only she can learn to trust the magic coursing through her veins.

Author Bio




Charity Bradford has been a voracious
reader ever since her 5th grade teacher introduced her to the world of books
with Where the Red Fern Grows and Summer of the Monkeys.
She’s the mother of four kids that keep her on her toes, constantly reminding
her that imagination still makes the world go round. She lives in Arkansas with
her hubby and children, and firmly believes that a smile can solve most
problems. The Magic Wakes is her first novel.








Trailer—http://charitybradford.com/books-2/th...



1st Chapter—http://charitybradford.com/books-2/or...



Goodreads—http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16...



Amazon—http://www.amazon.com/Magic-Wakes-Cha...



Facebook—https://www.facebook.com/CharityBradf...



Twitter—https://twitter.com/charitybradford




Blog—http://charitywrites.blogspot.com



Website—http://charitybradford.com

Character Guest Blog from He Came For Mine by C.M. Brown

Well thanks for
having me Nicole.  I believe my dear
friend Sebastian and the love of his life Jazz, who is also a new friend of
mine, have already shared a little of themselves during this Blog Tour for
Carolyn’s second book in The Protectors Series, He Came For Mine.





I have been
friends with Sebastian as long as I can remember, we have known each other for
a very long time.  Of course when Seb was
given the opportunity to protect the Chosen One on Earth, I was a likely
candidate for his team.  His generosity
allowed me to bring my partner Xavier along with us.  Had I known Seb would also ask his cow of a
sister, Melinda along I may have made a different choice.




But, how things
turned out, I was glad I was around to offer my support to Seb when his
decision was made to become involved with Jazz. 
If it was up to his sister, their relationship would never have stood a
chance.




Sebastian gave me
the task to watch over Jazz while she went about her daily routine at Tafe,
which I was more than happy to oblige in. 
This time gave me the opportunity to become good friends with Jazz and
to get to know her and I believe Sebastian made the right choice to become
involved in this relationship.




I myself and I
also speak on behalf of my sexy partner, Xavier would stand and fight with them
in any battle brought against them.  I am
proficient in various martial arts and am a competent swordswoman.




My hope for the
future of my world is that the conflict between the ruling families subsides
and that a union between Seb and Jazz will bring peace and prosperity to my
world.




Although I have
heard some gossip that Seb’s half-brother is hanging around with his devilish
sister, Melinda.  If this is the case
only trouble will be found.




Ryan had been
exiled to Earth over 200 years ago for an attempt at a violent take over from
Seb’s father, but his plan was foiled by the King’s Guardians and Aidensdein’s
Protectors.  Many vampire lives were lost
in that battle and we have been waiting for one of the Chosen to be born and to
come of age for our world to be repopulated and Jazz happens to be the Chosen
One destined for this.  This will not be
brought about in the traditional ways of our people now because of Seb and
Jazz’s love, but I have faith and believe good things are going to happen from
their union.




There is also talk
of Ryan being seen hanging around Melinda, but this information has not been
confirmed.  I just hope now that Jazz has
been left on Earth to fend for herself, as Seb rebuilds Aidensdein after
Brennan’s destructive attack, that she does not fall vulnerable to his charm.




We can only wait
and see where the story leads and what lies waiting for us as the story
continues in He Came For Mine.




Thanks for having
me here today, Nicole, it has been a great opportunity to tell my hopes for Jazz
and Seb’s relationship and to express my dreams for a better life for my fellow
brethren living on Aidensdein.




Bliss






Desperate to save the life of a child he
never knew he had, Sebastian returns to Earth to find Jazz in the arms of
another man.  A man he knows all too
well.  One who cannot be trusted!  Sebastian worries if Jazz’s feelings for him
have fleeted in his absence and he vows to win her back.




Jazz struggles to find ground between
Sebastian and her new life, unsure who to trust and still holding resentment for
Seb’s abandonment.  She seeks solace
through someone who was there for her when she needed to pick up the pieces.




After coming to terms with her new life,
Jazz is struck down with confusion and longing when Sebastian suddenly returns.




However, a dark battle is forthcoming, one
that is bound to bring bloodshed.






LINKS TO HE CAME FOR MINE:




SMASHWORDS            BARNES AND NOBLE




SONY             
KOBO             
AMAZON        


http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/MDE4MTZhODhlZGY5MGIwMDZkMzZjZDRkODNiMjBkOjEy/





About the Author:






A long-time lover of Fantasy Novels I have
decided to put pen to paper and create my own. Many years spent helping high
school students write their assignments from years 8 to 12, has given me the
experience to forge ahead with this dream! I live on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland,
Australia and have shared some of the wonders of this area with you in this
book. I am married with two teenage children, one studying at University the
other in the senior years of High School. I enjoy reading and writing and
spending time relaxing on the beautiful beaches I live near, walking my dog and
swimming.




You can contact Carolyn here:




Carolyn

c.m.brown.books@gmail.com

http://cmbrown-books.blogspot.com.au/

http://booksbycmbrown.blogspot.com.au/

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Cover Reveal - The Other Tree by DK Mok

It’s been four years since Chris Arlin graduated with a degree that most people think she made up, and she’s still no closer to scraping up funding for her research into rare plants. Instead, she’s stacking shelves at the campus library, until a suspiciously well-dressed man offers her a lucrative position on a scientific expedition.

For Chris, the problem isn’t the fact that they’re searching for the Biblical Tree of Life. Nor is it the fact that most of the individuals on the expedition seem to be fashionably lethal mercenaries. The problem is that the mission is being backed by SinaCorp, the corporation responsible for a similar, failed expedition on which her mother died eleven years ago.

However, when Chris’s father is unexpectedly diagnosed with inoperable cancer, Chris sees only one solution. Vowing to find the Tree of Life before SinaCorp’s mercenaries, Chris recruits Luke, an antisocial campus priest undergoing a crisis of faith. Together, they embark on a desperate race to find Eden. However, as the hunt intensifies, Chris discovers growing evidence of her mother’s strange behaviour before her death, and she begins to realise that SinaCorp isn’t the only one with secrets they want to stay buried.

If You Were a Monster Hunter, What Monsters Would You Hunt?

Copyright (c) 123RF Stock Photos



If you were a monster hunter, what monsters would you want to hunt?



I started a new novel - a steampunk paranormal - two days ago and the MMC is a monster hunter. I'm still trying to figure out which creatures he's going to hunt. I've already decided against vampires (although they will be mentioned as not existing in this world) and zombies. There will be Amarok or Amagup and a horde of Frankenstein monsters (except they won't exactly be from Frankensten). But I would like to add another creature or two to the mix. 

Writing Update

Hi, all!



I've been busy editing and writing and more editing and more writing. Seriously  it's a wonder my fingers haven't fallen off! And son #1 spilled oil on my keyboard recently so some of the keys still or have to be pressed really hard. I just bought this keyboard so I'm hoping the keys will eventually work right again and deal.



Oh, and speaking of son #1, we registered him for kindergarten yesterday at the school's open house. Yeah, I'm a complete mess over that. I have a feeling that the first day he might be a little apprehensive, but the second, he won't even look back and that will be both a blessing and yet another reason to cry. :/



Anyhow, I'm part of a group of writers writing a novel with Cupid. That novel is a MG fantasy about a sister and brother who are trapped in a land ruled by the four seasons and they have to save Christmas when spring comes too early. It's the first in a five-book series. Right now, its called Winter Magic, but that might change. I definitely want to include either winter or snow or something like that in the title.



I'm also almost finished with my superhero romance! I really enjoyed writing this one. It's going to be published through Desert Breeze Publishing later on this year and will be the first in another trilogy. Still not sure of the titles of the three books but once they're finalized, I'll let you know.



I promise to start blogging more often again!



So tell me, what have you been working on?

Cover Reveal - SUSY Asylum by Michael Pierce

Coming Soon- the anticipated sequel to Michael Pierce's PROVEX City.



Are you ready for a cover reveal?



Why am I even asking?





BLURB:


SUSY
Asylum

The
Lorne Family Vault, Book 2




by
Michael Pierce







In
SUSY Asylum, there is no release. There is no escape. No hope. In
SUSY Asylum, the patients come face-to-face with their mirrors,
locked away with the other halves of themselves who are thirsty for
more than blood. Or so says Commodore Chaos.





Oliver
and Desiree are introduced to the writings of the mysterious blogger,
Commodore Chaos, when they return to Provex City to indulge in what
the sublime city has to offer. The blogger claims the Lornes are
collecting people venturing between the higher planes of awareness
and locking them away in their mythical asylum. But are these
legitimate concerns for inter-plane travelers or just the ramblings
of an anonymous conspiracy blogger?






Oliver
looks to the city as his only connection to his father while Desiree
looks to the city as an escape from the torment of losing her best
friend—again. Provex City is a wonder of beautiful treasures,
entrancing them to continue returning. But behind the beauty, wolves
have continued hunting Oliver, a boy who is still mostly unaware of
his importance in the rebellion.






Oliver’s
belief is waning. Desiree will not always be by his side. Mr. Gordon
will not always come to his aid. Oliver finds himself alone, forced
to confront his biggest fears, fight his inner demons, and face the
very cold reality that no one is coming to save him.






Welcome
to SUSY Asylum.







Cover Art 

(by Sketcher Girl Studios- Vic Caswell)

I've Read That Before Guest Blog by Anne Elisabeth Stengl Author of Starflower

One
thing every writer fears is falling into the pit of clichés. Fantasy writers
especially, in  a literary world
inundated with quests and elves and magic, face this fate with certain dread
and spend an awful lot of time grappling for that elusive "originality"
that will set their world and characters apart. It's a tremendous pressure, and
one that can be quite staggering sometimes.




Our
audience reads fantasy in search of a certain type of escapism. There are
themes readers long to see again and again, character types and dramatic
moments that thrilled them at first encounter and which they would love to
experience anew. Granted, our audience doesn't want to read the same plot over
and over, and it certainly doesn't want to be able to predict from page one how
everything is going to turn out. But lovers of fantasy and fairy tale are
looking for a certain sense of familiarity that stretches back to childhood
loves, to themes and stories they learned before they can even remember.




So
how do we strike a balance? How do we give our audience what they long for
while simultaneously avoiding the pitfalls of clichés and of losing all sense
of individuality?




The
answer lies in understanding the difference between "clichés" and
"archetypes."




Let
me start with a definition of "cliché." A cliché is a storyline or
character that has become trite or hackneyed. It is a theme, characterization,
or situation that has been used so many times that it is now commonplace and
predictable.




An
"archetype," by contrast, is an image, character, or pattern that
recurs throughout literature so often that it becomes universally recognized by
readers across the globe.




Can
you see the difference here? One has to do with the how the story plays out . .
. one has to do with what the story is about.




If
that difference remains foggy, let me use an example:




A small person and/or
child goes on a dangerous quest to destroy a powerful and magical talisman.




The
above storyline has become a cliché. We loved it the first time Tolkien did it
in The Lord of the Rings. But now
when it crops up again, we groan and say to ourselves, "I've read that before!"




But
wait a minute. There is more to this story! Because, you see, an archetype
would be:




A small person and/or
child goes on a dangerous quest.




Now
this is a storyline of which we never
tire! We'll read it again and again, be it in a fairy tale like Little Red Riding Hood or Puss in Boots, or in a longer fantasy
such as Harry Potter or The Lightning Thief. Humanity as a whole
responds to the idea of the underdog, the small person, the child, facing
extraordinary odds and somehow, against all expectations, overcoming and
proving victorious.




The
archetype of the small hero against the great enemy speaks to us at a universal
level, evoking a response that is deep and almost unconscious. We want to read
that story again. We don't want to see the same plot (i.e. small person
destroying the magical talisman) again, but we do want to see the theme (the
small person overcoming outrageous odds).




Archetypes
can be something as simple as a symbol. Consider your reaction to the symbol of
the snake vs. the eagle. Your immediate reaction is "snake = bad,"
"eagle = good." That's a universal response, a pattern of thought
ingrained in what Carl Gustav Jung would call the "collective
unconscious." We all respond to the perceived insidiousness of snakes and
nobility of eagles in the same way.




This
idea of the "collective unconscious" holds true with different types
of characters. Archetypal characters include the third son, the princess in
disguise, the chosen one, the girl disguised as a boy, the wise grandparent,
the prostitute with a heart of gold, the wicked uncle, the wicked stepmother,
the warrior princess, the clever thief.




Archetypal
storylines might be something like "the princess, prince, and dragon"
theme, which we have seen again and again in literature. Or even "the
enchanted sleep," "the princess locked in a tower," "true
love's first kiss," and many more.




All
of these archetypes evoke certain feelings and reactions in lovers of fairy
tales and fantasy. Granted, we don't want to see these themes and characters
used in exactly the same way they've
been done before. We want something fresh and different. But we do long for the
archetypes. We respond to them, and they are what keep us coming back to this
genre.




The
sooner we writers of fantasy recognize the difference between clichés and
archetypes, the sooner we have the freedom to take our stories in the fantastic
directions we long to explore!




Tour Schedule







Author Anne Elisabeth Stengl



Anne Elisabeth Stengl makes her home in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she lives with her husband, Rohan, a passel of cats, and one long-suffering dog. When she's not writing, she enjoys Shakespeare, opera, and tea, and studies piano, painting, and pastry baking. She studied illustration at Grace College and English literature at Campbell University. She is the author of HEARTLESS, VEILED ROSE, MOONBLOOD, and STARFLOWER, with DRAGONWITCH due to release in 2013. HEARTLESS and VEILED ROSE have each been honored with a Christy Award.











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Starflower



When a cursed dragon-witch kidnaps the lovely Lady Gleamdren, Eanrin sets boldly forth on a rescue mission...and a race against his rival for Gleamdren's favor. Intent upon his quest, the last thing the immortal Faerie needs is to become mixed up with the troubles of an insignificant mortal.



But when he stumbles upon a maiden trapped in an enchanted sleep, he cannot leave her alone in the dangerous Wood Between. One waking kiss later, Eanrin suddenly finds his story entangled with that of young Starflower. A strange link exists between this mortal girl and the dragon-witch. Will Starflower prove the key to Lady Gleamdren's rescue? Or will the dark power from which she flees destroy both her and her rescuer?






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