Erin Richards's Blog, page 8

Happy Creeptastic Halloween!

Walk Into My Parlorby Mary Howitt “Will you walk into my parlor?"
said the spider to the fly;
"Tis the prettiest little parlor that you ever did spy.
The way into my parlor is up a winding stair,
And I have many curious things to show when you are there."
"Oh no, no!" said the little fly,
"to ask me is in vain;
For who goes up your winding stair
can never come down again."
Happy Halloween!    

Eat, Drink and Be Scary!

Love these creeptastic quotes!

One need not be a chamber to be haunted; One need not be a house; The brain has corridors surpassing Material place. ~Emily Dickinson
Eye of newt, and toe of frog,
Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting,
Lizard's leg, and owlet's wing,
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.
~William Shakespeare
On Halloween, witches come true;
Wild ghosts escape from dreams.
Each monster dances in the park....
~Nicholas Gordon

As I was going up the stair, I met a man who wasn't there/He wasn't there again today...Oh, how I wish he'd go away. ~Anonymous
'Tis now the very witching time of night, When churchyards yawn and hell itself breathes out Contagion to this world. ~William Shakespeare
 As spirits roam the neighborhoods at night,
Let loose upon the Earth till it be light...
~Nicholas Gordon

 

Meet Lucas, the MC of VIGILANTE NIGHTS

Although he was the class clown, high school senior Lucas had charm, looks, athletic prowess, and a scholarship that meant a bright future. That is, until the night he and his beloved twin, Silver, drive into the middle of a gang ritual on a California beach road. When Lucas awakens from a coma, he learns that Silver is dead, he can no longer play football and the vintage Camaro he prized is trashed. With all his hopes and dreams shattered, Lucas turns to revenge…or justice.
Suffering through his grief and anger, Lucas forms a vigilante club with his small circle of close friends. In his path to discover who killed his sister, he and his gang crazily target one of the town’s most fearsome gangs. He becomes somewhat cynical to hide his grief and the emotions threatening to unseat him, and it affects his judgment as he winds through his new life. A life he thought devoid of his twin sister.
Then, Silver appears, crossing the line between life and death to try to save him. Lucas meets the new girl next door, Tara, and suddenly life doesn’t seem so hopeless. Tara can see Silver too, and shares her fears. But their love isn’t enough to stop Lucas’s posse of “vigilantes” from an act of stunning violence that marks him for murder. Can Lucas face the truth about what he’s become, or is it too late? Can Tara save Lucas from the darkness?
What others have said about Lucas:

“I loved the juxtaposition of a rich, privileged boy running a gang on the streets because his grief and rage drove him to do things he wouldn't have ordinarily done.” ~YA Books Central
“Lucas Alexander: The twin brother of Silver Alexander. An ex-quarterback. Intelligent. Sherlock Holmes. Ruined by a car accident. The same car accident which took the life of his beloved sister. Like a good brother, he is protective of Silver. He has this anger inside of him. With the support and love from Tara, he semi-heals, but the ghost of Silver still haunts him. Lucas goes through this character change. From a bad boy, in the beginning, to the protector of the weak, in the end. It was a spectacular change to see.” ~Alice of Wonderland
“Lucas and Silver were inseparable. Their bond as twins connected them throughout their lives and, when tragedy strikes, the bond seems to endure past the grave. Lucas should have enough on his plate to deal with - needed to heal, recover and grieve the death of his sister, but something...or someone...is holding him back. Lucas swears he can see and hear Silver everywhere. She is always there, and she seems to be trying to tell him something. And so, he resolves to do just one thing, even if it's the last thing he does. He'll avenge Silver's death at all costs.
Have you ever felt a sort of innate connection with someone that seems to know no bounds? Vigilante Nights is a unique novel that explores this phenomenon in a gut-wrenching, emotionally turbulent manner. Author, Erin Richards, writes in a powerful manner, exposing her characters - flaws and all - for the readers to see. By baring the soul of both the characters and the plot, Vigilante Nightsthrusts readers headlong into a powerful journey for redemption, revenge and, ultimately, peace.” ~ Melissa @ I Swim for Oceans
SPECIAL PRICE: VIGILANTE NIGHTS is an Amazon Big Deal eBook through 10/27/13. It’s your chance to get the Kindle version at $1.99 (that’s 80% off the original price)! Click to buy.

Teen Read Week - Giveaways & Discounts!

October 13 – 19 marks YALSA’s Teen Read WeekTM. The theme this year is “Seek the Unknown @ your Library, which encourages teens to explore and learn about the unknown through mystery, adventure, sci-fi, and fantasy books.”
Merit Press / F+W Media is a sponsor of TRW13 this year. They’re giving away 3 entire bookshelves of all 12 Merit Press titles in hardcover, all signed by the authors! Details about TRW13.
Further, all Merit Press titles are on sale at Amazon in Kindle format, marked down 80% to $1.99 from October 13 – 19. Don’t hesitate! Get your copies of some of the best realistic and riveting YA novels out today. Amazon list of Merit Press titles.
Don’t miss out on these great opportunities to get your hands on awesome realistic fiction. You never know fantastic gems you’ll find in the unknown.

Giveaway: VIGILANTE NIGHTS

I'm giving away an autographed hardcover copy of VIGILANTE NIGHTS, plus book swag. Enter at Goodreads for your chance to win! Giveaway ends October 7, 2013.

Click badge to enter giveaway
His beloved twin dead, his future destroyed, Lucas forms a “vigilante posse” to take revenge on the gang members responsible. Can his new love, and his sister’s voice from beyond death, stop Lucas from self-destruction? 
Although he’s the class clown, Lucas has charm, looks, athletic prowess, and a scholarship that will mean a bright future. That is, until the night he and his beloved twin, Silver, drive into the middle of a gang ritual on a California beach road. Waking from a coma to learn that Silver is dead, and his body and dreams shattered, Lucas turns to revenge. Then, Silver appears, crossing the line between life and death to try to save her brother. The new girl in his neighborhood can see Silver too, and shares her fears. But their love isn’t enough to stop Lucas’s posse of “vigilantes” from an act of stunning violence that marks him for murder. Can Lucas face the truth about what he’s become, and about Silver’s hidden past, or is it too late?

Praise for VIGILANTE NIGHTS
 “The premise of Vigilante Nights is absolutely fascinating. It's part contemporary urban street gang, part ghost story, part haunting journey from grief to hope. An action-packed second half should appeal to readers who enjoy urban thrillers with a hint of supernatural.” ~YA Books Central 
“Richards’ keeps the paranormal aspect of the story subtle, adding to its mystery and tension.” ~Publishers Weekly 
"I was pleasantly surprised to find that I couldn't put it down. This turned out to be, essentially, a nicely paced thriller with some lightweight supernatural elements." ~Nathan Barker, Kayleighbug Books (Goodreads Review) 
"Vigilante Nights thrusts readers headlong into a powerful journey for redemption, revenge and, ultimately, peace. Vigilante Nights doesn't lack tension or drama either. It's a classic whodunit tale, but the twists and turns threw me for a loop every time." ~Melissa, I Swim for Oceans Blog 

Review, Guest Post & Giveaway: SIGN OF THE THRONE

Click badge to follow the tour

I’m pleased to have Melissa Eskue Ousley on my blog today with her new release SIGN OF THE THRONE. Read on for details about the novel and my review. Plus, Melissa talks about the fascinating topic of synchronicity. What is synchronicity and how does it play in SIGN OF THE THRONE? Thanks for being on my blog today, Melissa!

Be sure to enter Melissa’s giveaway for a $15 Amazon or B&N gift card or 1 of 10 signed copies of SIGN OF THE THRONE. Enter in the Rafflecopter at end of this post.
Dreams do come true…and so do nightmares.
Title:  SIGN OF THE THRONESeries:  Book One of the Solas Beir TrilogyAuthor:  Melissa Eskue OusleyGenre:  YA FantasyPublisher:  Castle Gardens PublicationsRelease Date:  September 14, 2013Format:  Trade Paperback and eBook
Buy LinksAmazon {Paperback} | Amazon {Kindle} | Redroom
Back Cover BlurbAbby is an ordinary girl haunted by dreams of an ivory castle, blood-thirsty monsters, and a striking stranger. Working as a babysitter for a family of mythology lovers in wealthy Newcastle Beach, California, she struggles to define herself among the elite class while trying to make sense of her strange visions. Upon meeting David, the doppelgänger of the mysterious young man in her dreams, Abby’s life is changed forever.
Encountering the queen of Cai Terenmare, a magical kingdom in a parallel world, Abby learns of an evil lord hell-bent on usurping the throne, the murder of Cai Terenmare’s king, the Solas Beir, and the kidnapping of the Solas Beir’s infant son.
As the kingdom struggles to endure, the queen shows Abby the full extent of her destiny. She must convince her mysterious crush, David, that he is the lost heir. While braving attacks from the dark lord’s sadistic minions, David must realize his true identity and return to Cai Terenmare to claim his throne before time runs out, lest the evil that was temporarily locked away be unleashed, threatening to destroy both the kingdom and all of humanity.
Book Trailer Excerpt
Guest Post by Melissa Eskue Ousley
Synchronicity
Synchronicity is a concept that was first described by psychologist Carl Jung in the 1920s. It is a meaningful coincidence, the experience of two or more events connected by meaning rather than cause. In Sign of the Throne, Cassandra Buchan discusses the concept with Abby and Riordan, in an effort to make sense of the strange things Abby has experienced.
As a professor of psychology and statistics, Cassandra values a logical, scientific approach to solving problems. One of the concepts she teaches about in her class is correlation does not imply causation. In other words, one thing may be related to another, but does not necessarily cause it. She uses Newcastle Beach as an example: the affluent neighborhood has higher housing prices and higher rates of students graduating high school than the rest of the city of Santa Linda. While these two things are related, they do not cause one another. Sometimes correlations show a pattern, but have nothing to do with each other—like intellect and shoe size, or an increase in car wrecks and the occurrence of sun spots.
Synchronicity, on the other hand, says that things are related, nothing is random, and everything happens for a reason. In a probability experiment, we say something is random if each trial is independent and has an equal chance of occurring. If you roll a die, and you want to figure out your chances of rolling a three, you could roll it a hundred times and then figure out the probability based on the number of trials, the number of sides to the die, and how many times you get a three. But, in conducting this experiment, the die must be balanced, and you must roll the die the same way each time for chance to be equal.
Real life does not work this way. It does not occur in a lab, or in a vacuum. Your chances of surviving a car wreck, for example, depend on a lot of things: the condition of the car, how fast you’re going, whether or not it’s a single or multiple car accident, the condition of the road, and the weather. In life, things don’t happen independently, and nothing happens the same way twice. Therefore, based on the above definition, nothing can be characterized as being random. That doesn’t prove everything is connected, but perhaps some things are synchronous, and share the same destiny. Jakob Bernoulli, a Swiss mathematician who lived in the 1600s, believed in fate, in the sense that once things are set into motion, they tend to eventually occur. So, taking our die example, he would say that if you want to roll a three, you will eventually roll a three if you keep rolling the die.
When Abby encounters the queen of a magical parallel realm, she discovers her destiny and the things that have been set into motion. She learns of the role she will play in rescuing the lost heir and restoring him to his place as the Solas Beir, ruler of Cai Terenmare.
My Review 
First off, I loved the cover of SIGN OF THE THRONE and it immediately attracted me to the story. The cover depicted a paranormal or fantasy feel, and it fit the story well, as both the raven and the cat are integrated within the story. SIGN OF THE THRONE starts off with a bang, dropping the reader into two very different worlds, i.e. fantasy land Cai Terenmare and modern day California. I love fantasy novels with portals and this didn’t disappoint in that aspect. Most of the story takes place in our world in Newcastle Beach, California, however, we are introduced to the many fascinating events and myths of Cai Terenmare as ordinary, introverted 18-year-old Abby discovers who she is and helps heartthrob, bad boy David come to terms with his identity and his rightful place in Cai Terenmare.
The beginning and end of the novel were adventurous and enthralling. The author definitely has a good grasp of worldbuilding and infused SIGN OF THE THRONE with fantastic mythology and legends. However, the middle of the book was bogged down a little with too much backstory lumped together and not as much action as I would have liked to see. Having said that, I loved the backstory, but I wanted to see some of it sprinkled better throughout the story, and there were areas I wanted the author to show the reader rather than tell us what was happening. As I said, the ending was great though, and it leaves the reader with a warm feeling of anticipation of what’s to come in the next book in the series.

Ms. Ousley has created a terrific new world full of magic, mythology, and monsters with a healthy dose of romance. While complex, her characters (both human and not!) are relatable and her worlds are unique. SIGN OF THE THRONE should appeal to both young adult and adults who love fantasy or urban fantasy.  
(I received an ARC from the author as part of her blog tour in exchange for a fair and honest review).
About the Author
Melissa Eskue Ousley is the author of The Solas Beir Trilogy. SIGN OF THE THRONE, the first book of this young adult fantasy series, was released on September 14. She is currently working on the second and third novels in the trilogy, The Rabbit and the Raven and The Sower Comes.
Melissa lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family and their Kelpie, Gryphon. When she’s not writing, Melissa can be found swimming, hiking, kayaking, scuba diving, or walking along the beach, poking dead things with a stick.
Before she became a writer, she had a number of educational jobs, ranging from a summer spent scraping roadkill off a molten desert highway to years spent conducting research with an amazing team of educators at the University of Arizona.
Author LinksWebsite | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Release & Giveaway: DECEIVED

Win one of FIVE prize packs from Julie Anne Lindsey on her
DECEIVED Blog Tour -- YA Bound Book Tours
Check out this AMAZING book trailer. Seriously, even if you don’t like book trailers, you have to watch this. It’s the best trailer ever!
 DECEIVED Book Trailer
Title:  DECEIVEDAuthor:  Julie Anne LindseyGenre:  YA Contemporary SuspensePublisher:  Merit PressRelease Date:  September 18, 2013Format:  Hardcover and eBook
Buy Links: AmazonB&N  "It's like in a scary movie when the maniacal music begins, but you don't see the danger. You just know something's wrong, and you're afraid for the girl. In my dream, I'm the girl." – DECEIVED

Back Cover Blurb:
What you don't know can kill you . . .

Ever since she could remember, Elle has had to hop from town to town to keep up with her dad's demanding career as a corporate insurance agent. Each time, a reoccurring nightmare followed her wherever she went--until the day that the frightening figures haunting her at night became all too real. When news of a serial killer spreads throughout her new school, Elle worries that the Reaper has been leaving her his calling card in the form of cigarette butts on her doormat and an unusual ribbon in her locker. With the help of Brian, a boy she meets at a flea market, she discovers that this isn't her first encounter with the murderer and that her father has been concealing her true identity for the past twelve years. But despite her father's desperate attempts to protect her, Elle still comes face to face with the darkness she has been running from her whole life. Trapped in the woods and with help hundreds of miles away, will Elle be able to confront the Reaper and reclaim the life she lost?
Praise for DECEIVED:
"Ms. Lindsey crafts an exquisite tale that kicked my adrenaline up with every turn of the page. Deceived is stunning and more than a little scary. From the first page, I had to know what happens next, while at the same time, I had to know what happened before. As Elle's life unravels, the reader will feel just as raw and betrayed as she does." --Gwen Hayes, author of Falling Under
"Outstanding! I fully recommend it.... Mysterious, lovely, a lot of suspense, romantic, funny and full of action.... I really liked to give a chance to this book, because it was worth it." --Fandom's City
Julie's Pinterest Inspiration Board for DECEIVED
About the Author
Julie Anne Lindsey is a multi-genre author who writes the stories that keep her up at night. In 2013, Julie welcomed five new releases in three genres including her newest title, DECEIVED, a YA suspense from Merit Press, and her first cozy mystery, MURDER BY THE SEASIDE, book one in the Patience Price, Counselor at Large series from Carina Press (a digital imprint of Harlequin). 
Julie is a self-proclaimed word nerd who would rather read than almost anything else. She started writing to make people smile. Someday she plans to change the world. Most days you'll find her online, amped up on caffeine and wielding a book.
Julie is a member of the International Thriller Writers (ITW), Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI), Sisters in Crime (SinC) and the Canton Writer’s Guild.
Author Links: Website Blog: Musings from the Slush Pile Twitter: @JulieALindsey FaceBookPinterestTumblrGoodReads

Book Release: TWIGS

This week YA publisher Merit Press officially releases two great novels. Today, I'm introducing TWIGS by Alison Ashley Formento. Although Alison is seasoned author of award winning picture books, TWIGS is her YA debut. Congratulations, Alison!

(Check back on Sept. 18 for the second Merit Press release and an awesome book trailer.)



Title:  TWIGSAuthor:  Alison Ashley FormentoGenre:  YA ContemporaryPublisher:  Merit PressRelease Date:  September 18, 2013Format:  Hardcover and eBook
Buy Links: Amazon B&N
Author Links: Website Facebook Twitter Goodreads
Back Cover Blurb:
One pint-sized girl. Ten supersized crises. And it's high noon.
Madeline 'Twigs' Henry is a small teen in the shadow of some big problems. Born prematurely, and still so tiny in stature that people think she's in the fifth grade, Twigs has a mighty spirit. She needs that spirit when life throws a bucket of stones at her. It starts with a drunken deserter dad. Mom and little sister are so obsessed with their own love lives that Twigs has to take care of both of them. Her adored soldier brother Matt is suddenly missing in the Middle East. Just as Twigs is trying to figure out how she can solve everybody's problems (and find out if her boyfriend is cheating on her after just one week away at school), the flash of a knife slices her life, and Twigs must stand up to a gang of thugs to try to save the person she loves most—the very father who left her all alone.
Praise for TWIGS:
"In a charming...small-town drama, Madeline 'Twigs' Henry navigates family secrets, boyfriend troubles and a friendship with a spirited older woman. The larger-than-life characters and gestures bring humor and action to the story.... Twigs is a compellingly flawed character, and [her] growth is palpable." - Kirkus Reviews  "Twigs is a unique coming-of-age story with a vivid cast of truly unforgettable characters." - Kieran Scott, author of the He's So/She's So trilogy
"[An] absolutely touching novel.... I enjoyed every bit .... Alison Ashley Formento really does a great job in knitting together a heart-wrenching and emotional read that perfectly portrays the trials a young girl has to go through to figure out who she really is, and where she fits in this crazy world." - The Young Folks

It's All About the Camaro!

Some of you know that I love Chevy muscle cars and drive a Camaro (my 4th one). My first Camaro was a used copper 1975 RS which was considered a 2nd generation model. Then I moved up to a black 1984 Z28, then a metallic blue 1990 IROC Z28 (my favorite of the three...this car kicked ass), both 3rd generation models. Chevrolet stopped manufacturing the Camaro after the 4th generation 2002 model, and brought back the retro 5th generation in 2010. Now I drive one of the newer 5th gen RS models. It was conceivable that some day I'd throw one in a book. How could I not? LOL Camaros are in my blood. Actually, they are in my family's blood since both my mother and brother have owned and do own various models.

1969 Camaro SSVigilante Nights seemed like the perfect story to add a Camaro since my main character, Lucas Alexander, was into hotrods. I started Lucas off with a 1st generation 1969 SS Camaro that he rebuilt from a shell. Well, if you've read the first chapter of Vigilante Nights or even the back cover description, you know it doesn't last!



2011 Camaro SS
Although, not a complete replacement to the car that Lucas lovingly restored, insurance and his parents replaced his 1969 Camaro with a new 5th generation SS 2011 model. Chevrolet went with a retro look on the new generation of Camaros (2010-current). There are some similarities, but I prefer the boxier clean lines (and updated electronics!) of the newer model. Which one do you like best?

Learn more about the Camaro:Wikipedia
(Photos licensed from CanStockPhoto)
 

Book Release: THE PITCHER

Happy release day to THE PITCHER by William Hazelgrove! If you like heartwarming contemporary fiction, you’ll love this novel geared for people of all ages, not just young adult.

Title:  THE PITCHER
Author:  William Hazelgrove
Genre:  YA Contemporary
Publisher:  Köehler Books
Release Date:  September 3, 2013
Format:  Paperback and eBook

Buy Links:
Amazon
B&N

Book Description:
A boy with a golden arm but no money for lessons. A mother who wants to give her son his dream before she dies. A broken down World Series pitcher who cannot go on after the death of his wife. These are the elements of The Pitcher. A story of a man at the end of his dream and a boy whose dream is to make his high school baseball team. In the tradition of The Natural and The Field of Dreams, this is a mythic story about how a man and a boy meet in the crossroads of their life and find a way to go on. You will laugh and you will cry as The Pitcher and Ricky prepare for the ultimate try out of life.

“I never knew I had an arm until this guy called out, “Hey you want to try and get a ball in the hole, sonny?” I was only nine, but mom said, “come on, let’s play.” This Carney guy with no teeth and a fuming cigarette hands me five blue rubber balls and says if I throw three in the hole we win a prize. He’s grinning, because he took mom’s five bucks and figures a sucker is born every minute. That really got me, because we didn’t have any money after Fernando took off, and he only comes back to beat up mom and steal our money. So I really wanted to get mom back something, you know, for her five bucks.”

Praise for THE PITCHER:

“An engaging, well written sports story with plenty of human drama--this one is a solid hit.” ~ Kirkus Reviews

"Readers will be rooting for underdog Ricky every time he steps onto the mound and tries to control his wild pitch. With tense moments, unexpected twists, and a few humorous and joyful reprieves, Hazelgrove's writing reflects the dramatic arc of a baseball game. Will appeal to baseball players and fans, as well as anyone who has experienced the intensity of tryouts or a high-stakes game." ~ Junior Library Guild

“Hazelgrove writes with warmth and feeling, his characters richly drawn, moving and evocative of its time.” ~ Booklist

“American Fiction is not dead . . . Hazelgrove has skillfully revived it.” ~ Library Journal

Author Links: WebsiteBlogFacebookTwitter