Nichole Giles's Blog, page 5
June 10, 2014
PARANOIA by J.R. Johansson, a Convention To Do List, and a Giveaway
Okay, first, guys, last week's DESCENDANT / BIRTHRIGHT blast promotion was so much fun. I have a lot of new followers here and also on all my social networking sites, and more new readers than I ever dreamed. DESCENDANT spent the entire week in the #1 spot for Young Adult Paranormal and Urban Fantasy, as well as the #1 spot for Young Adult Paranormal Fantasy, and BIRTHRIGHT sales are climbing like crazy. I'm counting the week as a smashing success. Thank you so much to everyone who participated in any way. I adore you. *blows kisses*
For those of you who are new here, you will soon learn that I have a thing for writer's conferences and conventions. I love them. They're exhausting, and expensive, so I do have to limit myself sometimes, but when I attend something, I tend to find all the partying-est parties. And meet the partying-est people. And make the most outrageous memories. Because I think if you're going to do something great, you might as well make it as great as possible.
One of my very favorite conventions is WorldCON, the world-wide science fiction and fantasy convention. I've been twice now. (I am currently not planning to attend this year as it's in London, but my WorldCON friends are all going, and miracles have been known to happen. *coughcough*) Both times, I spent my week rooming and hanging out with the lovely J.R. Johansson, author of INSOMNIA and this week's new release, PARANOIA.
Since all the other posts on this blog tour are all about PARANOIA, today, on the day of the PARANOIA launch party (which I can't attend because I'm far away in Texas), we thought we'd take a break from the book-ish posts and instead do one about authors and parties. The following advice is drawn from our experience attending WorldCon together, where we behaved...well, if not like total professionals...then at least like people that were having more fun than is considered legal in 12 states.
So here it is. J.R. Johansson's and my official Convention To-Do list (in no particular order):
1. Find the human outline on the floor in the Klingon party and act panicked, then hurry and lie down to see if it matches your body.2. Throw cookies off a 19th floor balcony, and then rescue those cookies from the street an hour later. 3. Sit on George R.R. Martin's lap while wearing tiara, and claiming you have officially WON the Game of Thrones.4. Hijack a freight elevator with 11 other people, because there's a line to get on the ones meant for "guests." 5. Go on a quest that results in you being knighted by a highly famous author waving a glowing sword. 6. Be serenaded by an opera-singer diva who is dying to let the world know it's someone's birthday. 7. Find the ONLY party with music and a disco ball and start a near-riot by bringing all your new friends from the elevator. 8. Dress up in corsets to attend the Masquerade, and pretend you're Nevada show-girls along the way.9. Ride an elevator with lampshades on your heads (not the freight elevator). 10. Have impromptu dance parties in other people's hotel rooms. Start by doing the Macarena. 11. Experience late night Aussie renditions of Monty Python tunes.12. Throw late night rooftop parties complete with ipod battles that involve bands like Imagine Dragons.13. Become besties with Harry Potter, Westley from the Princess Bride, the Ghostbusters, and Daenerys Targaryen. Also, the Hound. Woof.14. Steal a Hugo. (And, okay, then give it back.)15. Take a ride in a Tardis, and learn how to work the controls.16. Have a sword battle with a Jedi.17. Sneak into a private publisher party through the back door and then pretend you belong there.18. Rescue a gentle giant from nearly falling into a bathtub filled with pop cans and ice.19. Visit Japan, Helsinki, Boston, Texas, New Zealand, and Orlando all within an hour. 20. Cram 8 people into a car built for four and go for a drive while all singing. Don't get pulled over by police.
Disclaimer: this list was created by professionals and some of these activities should not be attempted without adult supervision. Or something like that.
Okay, and now onto bookish stuff and PARANOIA:
With Every Night of Blissful Sleep Darkness Grows Inside Him.
In the aftermath of the events that nearly killed him, Parker Chipp is trying to learn to cope better with life as a Watcher. And it seems to be working...until he wakes up in jail with a hangover and 12 hours of missing time. Darkness has somehow taken control and Parker doesn't have a clue how to stop him. He finds an unlikely ally in Jack, the mysterious guy in the motorcycle jacket who offers to help Parker master his abilities as a Watcher. But even as they practice, the darkness inside Parker is getting more and more powerful, taking over Parker’s body and doing everything he can to destroy Parker's life.
When Jack reveals that there is another kind of Night Walker, known as a Taker, Parker starts to wonder if the strange things happening in Oakville are more than just a coincidence. After all, people are more than just sleepwalking. They're emptying their savings accounts with no memory of doing so, wandering into strange parts of town and disappearing, they're even killing other people--all in their sleep. If Parker wants to find out what's happening or have any hope of seeing his father again, he’ll have to defy Jack and put his own life in danger...because the more he learns about these other Night Walkers, the more certain he becomes that his life isn't the only one that could be lost.
J.R. JOHANSSON is a young adult thriller author. Her books INSOMNIA, PARANOIA (June 2014), and a third untitled book (June 2015) are with Flux Books. CUT ME FREE (Winter 2015) and another untitled book (Winter 2016) will be coming out with FSG/Macmillan. She has a B.S. degree in public relations and a background in marketing. She credits her abnormal psychology minor with inspiring many of her characters. When she's not writing, she loves reading, playing board games, and sitting in her hot tub. Her dream is that someday she can do all three at the same time. She has two young sons and a wonderful husband. In fact, other than her cat, Cleo, she's nearly drowning in testosterone.
Jenn’s Links - Twitter: https://twitter.com/JennJohanssonBlog: http://www.jennjohansson.blogspot.com/Site: http://www.jrjohansson.comTumblr: http://jrjohansson.tumblr.com/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJRJohanssonJ.R. Johansson on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5100095.J_R_JohanssonPARANOIA on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12260608-insomnia Pre-order Links – The Book Depository - http://www.bookdepository.com/Paranoia-Johansson/9780738740188Indiebound - http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780738740188Books A Million - http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Paranoia/J-R-Johansson/9780738740188?id=5529587671279Barnes & Noble - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/paranoia-j-r-johansson/1117011365?ean=9780738740188Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Paranoia-The-Night-Walkers-Johansson/dp/0738740187
Oh, and let's not forget the fun stuff! A giveaway! Here's where you enter.a Rafflecopter giveaway
For those of you who are new here, you will soon learn that I have a thing for writer's conferences and conventions. I love them. They're exhausting, and expensive, so I do have to limit myself sometimes, but when I attend something, I tend to find all the partying-est parties. And meet the partying-est people. And make the most outrageous memories. Because I think if you're going to do something great, you might as well make it as great as possible.
One of my very favorite conventions is WorldCON, the world-wide science fiction and fantasy convention. I've been twice now. (I am currently not planning to attend this year as it's in London, but my WorldCON friends are all going, and miracles have been known to happen. *coughcough*) Both times, I spent my week rooming and hanging out with the lovely J.R. Johansson, author of INSOMNIA and this week's new release, PARANOIA.
Since all the other posts on this blog tour are all about PARANOIA, today, on the day of the PARANOIA launch party (which I can't attend because I'm far away in Texas), we thought we'd take a break from the book-ish posts and instead do one about authors and parties. The following advice is drawn from our experience attending WorldCon together, where we behaved...well, if not like total professionals...then at least like people that were having more fun than is considered legal in 12 states.
So here it is. J.R. Johansson's and my official Convention To-Do list (in no particular order):
1. Find the human outline on the floor in the Klingon party and act panicked, then hurry and lie down to see if it matches your body.2. Throw cookies off a 19th floor balcony, and then rescue those cookies from the street an hour later. 3. Sit on George R.R. Martin's lap while wearing tiara, and claiming you have officially WON the Game of Thrones.4. Hijack a freight elevator with 11 other people, because there's a line to get on the ones meant for "guests." 5. Go on a quest that results in you being knighted by a highly famous author waving a glowing sword. 6. Be serenaded by an opera-singer diva who is dying to let the world know it's someone's birthday. 7. Find the ONLY party with music and a disco ball and start a near-riot by bringing all your new friends from the elevator. 8. Dress up in corsets to attend the Masquerade, and pretend you're Nevada show-girls along the way.9. Ride an elevator with lampshades on your heads (not the freight elevator). 10. Have impromptu dance parties in other people's hotel rooms. Start by doing the Macarena. 11. Experience late night Aussie renditions of Monty Python tunes.12. Throw late night rooftop parties complete with ipod battles that involve bands like Imagine Dragons.13. Become besties with Harry Potter, Westley from the Princess Bride, the Ghostbusters, and Daenerys Targaryen. Also, the Hound. Woof.14. Steal a Hugo. (And, okay, then give it back.)15. Take a ride in a Tardis, and learn how to work the controls.16. Have a sword battle with a Jedi.17. Sneak into a private publisher party through the back door and then pretend you belong there.18. Rescue a gentle giant from nearly falling into a bathtub filled with pop cans and ice.19. Visit Japan, Helsinki, Boston, Texas, New Zealand, and Orlando all within an hour. 20. Cram 8 people into a car built for four and go for a drive while all singing. Don't get pulled over by police.
Disclaimer: this list was created by professionals and some of these activities should not be attempted without adult supervision. Or something like that.
Okay, and now onto bookish stuff and PARANOIA:
With Every Night of Blissful Sleep Darkness Grows Inside Him.
In the aftermath of the events that nearly killed him, Parker Chipp is trying to learn to cope better with life as a Watcher. And it seems to be working...until he wakes up in jail with a hangover and 12 hours of missing time. Darkness has somehow taken control and Parker doesn't have a clue how to stop him. He finds an unlikely ally in Jack, the mysterious guy in the motorcycle jacket who offers to help Parker master his abilities as a Watcher. But even as they practice, the darkness inside Parker is getting more and more powerful, taking over Parker’s body and doing everything he can to destroy Parker's life.
When Jack reveals that there is another kind of Night Walker, known as a Taker, Parker starts to wonder if the strange things happening in Oakville are more than just a coincidence. After all, people are more than just sleepwalking. They're emptying their savings accounts with no memory of doing so, wandering into strange parts of town and disappearing, they're even killing other people--all in their sleep. If Parker wants to find out what's happening or have any hope of seeing his father again, he’ll have to defy Jack and put his own life in danger...because the more he learns about these other Night Walkers, the more certain he becomes that his life isn't the only one that could be lost.
J.R. JOHANSSON is a young adult thriller author. Her books INSOMNIA, PARANOIA (June 2014), and a third untitled book (June 2015) are with Flux Books. CUT ME FREE (Winter 2015) and another untitled book (Winter 2016) will be coming out with FSG/Macmillan. She has a B.S. degree in public relations and a background in marketing. She credits her abnormal psychology minor with inspiring many of her characters. When she's not writing, she loves reading, playing board games, and sitting in her hot tub. Her dream is that someday she can do all three at the same time. She has two young sons and a wonderful husband. In fact, other than her cat, Cleo, she's nearly drowning in testosterone.
Jenn’s Links - Twitter: https://twitter.com/JennJohanssonBlog: http://www.jennjohansson.blogspot.com/Site: http://www.jrjohansson.comTumblr: http://jrjohansson.tumblr.com/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJRJohanssonJ.R. Johansson on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5100095.J_R_JohanssonPARANOIA on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12260608-insomnia Pre-order Links – The Book Depository - http://www.bookdepository.com/Paranoia-Johansson/9780738740188Indiebound - http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780738740188Books A Million - http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Paranoia/J-R-Johansson/9780738740188?id=5529587671279Barnes & Noble - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/paranoia-j-r-johansson/1117011365?ean=9780738740188Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Paranoia-The-Night-Walkers-Johansson/dp/0738740187
Oh, and let's not forget the fun stuff! A giveaway! Here's where you enter.a Rafflecopter giveaway
June 8, 2014
Cover Reveal: Catch Me When I Fall by Vicki Leigh
It’s cover reveal day for Vicki Leigh’s CATCH ME WHEN I FALL! Lots of awesome stuff going on, including a giveaway! But first, here's a special message from Vicki:
And here's what CATCH ME WHEN I FALL is all about:
Recruited at his death to be a Protector of the Night, seventeen-year-old Daniel Graham has spent two-hundred years fighting Nightmares and guarding humans from the clawed, red-eyed creatures that feed off people’s fears. Each night, he risks his eternal life, having given up his chance at an afterlife when he chose to become a Protector. That doesn’t stop a burnt-out Daniel from risking daring maneuvers during each battle. He’s become one of the best, but he wants nothing more than to stop.Then he’s given an assignment to watch over sixteen-year-old Kayla Bartlett, a clinically depressed patient in a psychiatric ward. Nightmares love a human with a tortured past. Yet, when they take a deep interest in her, appearing in unprecedented numbers, the job becomes more dangerous than any Daniel’s ever experienced. He fights ruthlessly to keep the Nightmares from overwhelming his team and Kayla. Soon, Daniel finds himself watching over Kayla during the day, drawn to why she’s different, and what it is about her that attracts the Nightmares. And him.
A vicious attack on Kayla forces Daniel to break the first Law and reveal his identity. Driven by his growing feelings for her, he whisks her away to Rome where others like him can keep her safe. Under their roof, the Protectors discover what Kayla is and why someone who can manipulate Nightmares has her in his sights. But before they can make a move, the Protectors are betrayed and Kayla is kidnapped. Daniel will stop at nothing to save her. Even if it means giving up his immortality.
CATCH ME WHEN I FALL will be available on October 23, 2014 in both paperback and e-book formats from Curiosity Quills Press. For more information, visit the book’s Goodreads page.
Now, there can’t be a cover reveal without a giveaway, right? Lots of authors stopped by and donated some fantastic books to help Vicki celebrate. You don’t want to miss out on these! Here’s what you can win:
An e-copy of CATCH ME WHEN I FALL by Vicki LeighA submission package critique (query+synopsis+first chap) from Vicki LeighAn e-copy of HEIRS OF WAR by Mara ValderranTwo query+first chapter critiques from YA author Emily StanfordA full manuscript critique from YA author Emily StanfordAn e-copy of WITHOUT BLOODSHED by Matthew GrayboschA paperback of DESTRUCTION by Sharon BaylissAn e-copy of KIYA: HOPE OF THE PHARAOH by Katie TellerOne query+first chapter critique from YA author Katie TellerAn e-copy of DARKNESS WATCHING by Emma AdamsA copy of DESCENDANT by Nichole Giles (winners outside the U.S. will receive an e-copy)An e-copy package of EVER and EVADE by Jessa RussoA signed copy of DIVIDE by Jessa RussoA copy of UNHINGED by A.G. Howard
Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win! All prizes will be accompanied by a Dreamcatcher swag package from Vicki Leigh.
Thanks for stopping by!
About Vicki:
Adopted at three-days-old by a construction worker and a stay-at-home mom, Vicki Leigh grew up in a small suburb of Akron, Ohio where she learned to read by the age of four and considered being sent to her room for punishment as an opportunity to dive into another book. By the sixth grade, Vicki penned her first, full-length screenplay. If she couldn’t be a writer, Vicki would be a Hunter (think Dean and Sam Winchester) or a Jedi. Her favorite place on earth is Hogwarts (she refuses to believe it doesn’t exist), and her favorite dreams include solving cases alongside Sherlock Holmes.
Vicki is an editor for Curiosity Quills Press, a co-founder of The Writer Diaries, and is represented by Sarah Negovetich of Corvisiero Literary Agency.
You can find Vicki at her website and blog and on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Google+, YouTube, and Goodreads.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
June 1, 2014
The BIG PROMOTION I promised! Free Stuff and Giveaways, OH MY!
As promised, this is the week when I give away a crap ton of stuff. In case you haven't heard, the Kindle version of DESCENDANT will be FREE from June 2-6th, 2014. This is an extremely rare occurrence, because, um, I don't do free often. Or ever. So it's a great opportunity for a fabulous deal. PLEASE download it if you can.
I'd love your help spreading the word, because every download helps me gain ranking momentum, which turns into future advertising. So it's kinda sorta a big deal. Yeah. As a celebration/thank you for helping me celebrate this week, I'm doing a giveaway for three print copies of BIRTHRIGHT on Goodreads, and free e-book copies of BIRTHRIGHT to five lucky winners. You can enter to win those below.
ALSO, don't forget I'm running a Review Blast this week. Leave an honest review of BIRTHRIGHT (I don't care how short!) and enter to win a $25 Amazon gift card. Guys. Seriously, I think I might die this week. Please help me out, okay?
THANKS!
XOXOXO
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I'd love your help spreading the word, because every download helps me gain ranking momentum, which turns into future advertising. So it's kinda sorta a big deal. Yeah. As a celebration/thank you for helping me celebrate this week, I'm doing a giveaway for three print copies of BIRTHRIGHT on Goodreads, and free e-book copies of BIRTHRIGHT to five lucky winners. You can enter to win those below.
ALSO, don't forget I'm running a Review Blast this week. Leave an honest review of BIRTHRIGHT (I don't care how short!) and enter to win a $25 Amazon gift card. Guys. Seriously, I think I might die this week. Please help me out, okay?
THANKS!
XOXOXO
a Rafflecopter giveaway
May 27, 2014
Something About Courage and Tons of Giveaways
Last weekend, while in downtown Corpus Christi, we came across this little beauty.
It’s a real ship, yo. Actually, it’s an exact replica of Christopher Columbus’s ship, the Nina. (The Pinta and the Santa Maria are in dry dock at a nearby museum.) Check out how freakishly small this baby is. Or was.
The sad thing is I don’t remember how many people actually crewed this ship, but seriously, I don’t know where the people actually fit. So I stood there, staring at it, and wondering how the heck they sailed halfway across the world in it, and thinking about courage. These guys. They had no radios. No GPS or electronic anything to tell them they were sailing in the right direction. They didn’t even have engines. Their entire journey was dependent on wind.
And they sailed from Spain to America in this TINY, TINY ship.
I’m sorry, but those guys—serious, HUGE courage. HUGE.
I talk about doing hard things sometimes. About how tough the publishing industry has become, and how taking chances (in all aspects of life) is tricky and hard and freakishly scary. But guys, this tiny ship really gave me some perspective. I will never have to pack up my whole life and family and travel into the scariest unknown on a rickety little ship with no radio to call for help if we happen upon a kracken or something.
Kinda made the scary things in my life feel a little less scary.
What about you? What scary thing have you put in perspective recently? And how did you find courage?
Oh, and BTW, next week, WAY fun promotions happening:
Starting Monday, DESCENDANT will be on a very special promotion. From June 2-6, you can download it on Amazon for FREE. That’s right, free. (I am not an author who believes in giving away my art for free, so this is something that is unlikely to happen again soon—if ever.)
Also, I’m giving away three print copies of BIRTHRIGHT on Goodreads, and three digital copies here on the blog (check back here Monday for the Rafflecopter form). No purchase necessary, but I’d love a little help spreading the word, if you will.
At the same time, I’m running a Review Blast for BIRTHRIGHT, because that poor baby book needs a little love. So if you’ve read it (or if you read fast) be sure to leave a review, and then go here to enter to win a $25 Amazon gift card.
So yeah. Next week, be prepared. I will be all over the internet promoting. I hope you’ll forgive me. I promise, by the 7 or 8th, I’ll be done for a bit.
It’s a real ship, yo. Actually, it’s an exact replica of Christopher Columbus’s ship, the Nina. (The Pinta and the Santa Maria are in dry dock at a nearby museum.) Check out how freakishly small this baby is. Or was.
The sad thing is I don’t remember how many people actually crewed this ship, but seriously, I don’t know where the people actually fit. So I stood there, staring at it, and wondering how the heck they sailed halfway across the world in it, and thinking about courage. These guys. They had no radios. No GPS or electronic anything to tell them they were sailing in the right direction. They didn’t even have engines. Their entire journey was dependent on wind.
And they sailed from Spain to America in this TINY, TINY ship.
I’m sorry, but those guys—serious, HUGE courage. HUGE.
I talk about doing hard things sometimes. About how tough the publishing industry has become, and how taking chances (in all aspects of life) is tricky and hard and freakishly scary. But guys, this tiny ship really gave me some perspective. I will never have to pack up my whole life and family and travel into the scariest unknown on a rickety little ship with no radio to call for help if we happen upon a kracken or something.
Kinda made the scary things in my life feel a little less scary.
What about you? What scary thing have you put in perspective recently? And how did you find courage?
Oh, and BTW, next week, WAY fun promotions happening:
Starting Monday, DESCENDANT will be on a very special promotion. From June 2-6, you can download it on Amazon for FREE. That’s right, free. (I am not an author who believes in giving away my art for free, so this is something that is unlikely to happen again soon—if ever.)
Also, I’m giving away three print copies of BIRTHRIGHT on Goodreads, and three digital copies here on the blog (check back here Monday for the Rafflecopter form). No purchase necessary, but I’d love a little help spreading the word, if you will.
At the same time, I’m running a Review Blast for BIRTHRIGHT, because that poor baby book needs a little love. So if you’ve read it (or if you read fast) be sure to leave a review, and then go here to enter to win a $25 Amazon gift card.
So yeah. Next week, be prepared. I will be all over the internet promoting. I hope you’ll forgive me. I promise, by the 7 or 8th, I’ll be done for a bit.
May 20, 2014
The Difference Between Reputation and Legacy
Remember a few blogs ago when I mentioned that my oldest daughter is graduating this year? Yeah. She really is. (Crazy, right?) Anyway, the other day there was this sort of mock ceremony called a baccalaureate, during which graduating seniors came together, wearing caps and gowns, and listened to an inspirational speaker.
I’m not going to go into major detail about the speech or the activity or whatever. But one thing the speaker said really struck me, so I thought I’d share it here.
He said, “A reputation is built in a day. A legacy is built in a lifetime.” ~Kacy Benson
It struck home for me. Reputation is fleeting. Legacy is forever.
If I teach my children nothing more in this life, I hope it is how little reputation matters when you get to heaven, and how much more important it is to touch the lives of others, in everything we do, and in every way we can.
So tell me. What have you done to touch someone’s life today?
I’m not going to go into major detail about the speech or the activity or whatever. But one thing the speaker said really struck me, so I thought I’d share it here.
He said, “A reputation is built in a day. A legacy is built in a lifetime.” ~Kacy Benson
It struck home for me. Reputation is fleeting. Legacy is forever.
If I teach my children nothing more in this life, I hope it is how little reputation matters when you get to heaven, and how much more important it is to touch the lives of others, in everything we do, and in every way we can.
So tell me. What have you done to touch someone’s life today?
May 15, 2014
BIRTHRIGHT REVIEW BLAST GIVEAWAY!
Guys. I'm having so much fun putting together some fun summer promotions. But I need your help. BIRTHRIGHT needs reviews to help gain momentum in the market. So, as a little incentive / reminder, I'm going to giveaway a $25 Amazon gift card to one lucky reviewer.
Everyone who has read BIRTHRIGHT is eligible. To enter, all you have to do is post a fair and honest review on Amazon, Goodreads, and/or your blog, then come back here and leave the review link on this quick and easy entry form.
Contest is open until midnight (central time) June 8th, 2014. Winner will be notified via email, and will have 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen. THAT'S IT!
Good luck and THANK YOU!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Everyone who has read BIRTHRIGHT is eligible. To enter, all you have to do is post a fair and honest review on Amazon, Goodreads, and/or your blog, then come back here and leave the review link on this quick and easy entry form.
Contest is open until midnight (central time) June 8th, 2014. Winner will be notified via email, and will have 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen. THAT'S IT!
Good luck and THANK YOU!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
May 13, 2014
Dragons of Lore Book Blast: GREAT DEALS ON BOOKS TODAY!
Check out some awesome books featuring dragons! Many are discounted, or free. Buy or download the ones you like, and spread the word.
Descendant by Nichole Giles, Young Adult
Discounted to $0.99
Buy on Amazon.com
Seventeen-year-old Abigail Johnson is Gifted.
Blessed—or cursed—with Sight and Healing, Abby lives an unsettled life, moving from place to place and staying one step ahead of the darkness that hunts her. When she arrives in Jackson, Wyoming, she is desperate to maintain the illusion of normalcy, but she is plagued with visions of past lives mixed with frightening glimpses of her future. Then she meets Kye, a mysterious boy who seems so achingly familiar that Abby is drawn to him like he’s a missing piece of her own soul.
Before Abby can discover the reason for her feelings toward Kye, the darkness catches up to her and she is forced to flee again. But this time she’s not just running. She is fighting back with Kye at her side, and it’s not just Abby’s life at stake.
The Sapphire Flute by Karen E Hoover, Young Adult
Discounted to $0.99:
Buy on Amazon.com
Buy from Barnes and Nobel
Or Get it FREE on Smashwords.com
Rasann is a world in dire need. The net of magic that has held her together for eons is eroding and the magi can’t patch it fast enough to prevent disaster. Volcanoes spew, waters rise, famine and flood and desolation threaten the world as they desperately await the coming of the Wolfchild to heal their home.
Three women begin quests for identity and freedom from the ties that have held them: Ember, from her overbearing and prejudice mother; Kayla, from the rigidity of the caste that has oppressed her family; C’Tan, from her dark and evil master, the Guardian S’Kotos. One will discover she is the first white mage born in three millennia, another will become guardian to the a keystone, the sapphire flute, and throughout it all the third will try to destroy them both.
Trusted by Krista Wayment, Middle Grade
Get it FREE on Amazon.com
Renick, the fifth son of a dragon breeder, crashes into an unexpected adventure that challenges everything he thought he knew about dragons, history, and himself.
Stranded in the massive Helath forest, Renick meets two other passengers: Thane, a noble training to be a dragon knight, and Lainey, the orphaned niece of a healer. Together they survive an attack by vicious wolves, rescue a baby dragon with a broken wing, and escape from a band of dragon hunters as they make a perilous climb into the mountains. What they discover there will change everything.
The Dreamstone by Mikey Brooks, Middle Grade
Buy it on Amazon.com
“There is a world inside our own, but we can’t see it when we are awake—only when we sleep. It is then we find ourselves in Dreams.”
When Parker’s mom is dreamnapped by the wicked Mab, it is up to him and Kaelyn to save her. When they return to Dreams, they discover Mab isn’t their only problem. Gladamyr has lost his powers and the only way to get them back is to become what he fears the most—a nightmare.
Alvor by Laura Bingham, Upper Middle Grade
Buy it on Amazon.com
Adarae jolted as the feeling surged through her. She looked carefully at not one, but two little faces and felt the warm power within them. No one suspected it could be two, but the strength pulsing from them was undeniable. They stared back into her eyes.
Fifteen-year-old Erin and her twin brother, Bain, had never seen the secluded cabin in the woods by their home. Upon entering, they discover a magical world where pegasi, dragons and fairies are a reality.
The siblings soon find themselves with super-human powers, being taught the art of magic and sword play by mystical beings. It isn't long before they are struck with a realization they are training to become elves.
Faced with the decision to leave the life they have always known for a world of fantasy, Erin and Bain confront certain demons that threaten to tear them apart.
Alvor is a spellbinding blend of magic and mystery, enchantment and fairy tale, that asks the age-old question: Do you believe in magic?
Wings of Light by Laura Bingham, Upper Middle Grade
Buy on Amazon.com
Sixteen-year-old Erin and her twin brother, Bain, have recently become immortal elves - but the search for their mother has just begun. With new information that their mother may be alive, Erin desperately seeks to bring her back home. But when old enemies threaten her quest, Erin must turn to new friends for help and learn that some magic is better left unexplored.
Awakening by Christy Dorrity, Young Adult
Get it FREE on Amazon.com
. . . because some Celtic stories won’t be contained in myth.
A little magic has always run in sixteen-year-old McKayla McCleery's family—at least that’s what she’s been told. McKayla’s eccentric Aunt Avril travels the world as a clairvoyant for the FBI, and her mother can make amazing delicacies out of the most basic of ingredients. But McKayla doesn't think for a second that the magic is real—it’s just good storytelling. Besides, McKayla doesn’t need magic. She recently moved to beautiful Star Valley, Wyoming, and already she has an amazing best friend, a solo in her upcoming ballet recital, and the gorgeous guy in her physics class keeps looking her way.
When an unexpected fascination with Irish dance leads McKayla to seek instruction from the mute, crippled, janitor at her high school, she learns that her family is not the only one with unexplained abilities.
After Aunt Avril comes to Star Valley in pursuit of a supernatural killer, people begin disappearing, and the lives of those McKayla holds most dear are threatened. When the janitor reveals that an ancient curse, known as a geis, has awakened powers that defy explanation, McKayla is forced to come to terms with what is real and what is fantasy.
A thrilling first novel, Awakening is a gripping contemporary fantasy, based in Celtic mythology that is rife with magic, romance, and mystery.
The Crystal Bridge by Charlie Pulsipher, Young Adult
Discounted to $0.99
Buy on Amazon.com
The Egg followed Kaden home from the hospital. This glowing shell only he can see transports him across the emptiness between universes to distant worlds, but he’s afraid to use it. This strange Egg may have saved Kaden’s life once or twice, but it failed to save anyone else he cares about.
Aren’s sight reaches deep into the souls around her, seeing more than she wants in her friends and teachers at school. When she turns her gaze on Kaden, his Egg responds by sending them spiraling across space and time to a world where dragons, elves, dwarves, and peculiar gods dwell. Separated, lost, and alone in a hostile world on the brink of war, these teens must come to grips with their unique gifts if they ever want to see Earth again.
Back home, a biotechnology company tinkers with the science of reality, hoping to cure death itself by any means. But their work and the intrusion into the void have awakened something shadowy and powerful, a being imprisoned there for millennia. This dark being intends to break free and devour everything and everyone it touches. Infinite universes are in danger. Kaden and Aren must decide if they can save more than themselves. Can they save us all?
Check out some awesome books featuring dragons! Many are discounted, or free. Buy or download the ones you like, and spread the word.
Descendant by Nichole Giles, Young AdultDiscounted to $0.99
Buy on Amazon.com
Seventeen-year-old Abigail Johnson is Gifted.
Blessed—or cursed—with Sight and Healing, Abby lives an unsettled life, moving from place to place and staying one step ahead of the darkness that hunts her. When she arrives in Jackson, Wyoming, she is desperate to maintain the illusion of normalcy, but she is plagued with visions of past lives mixed with frightening glimpses of her future. Then she meets Kye, a mysterious boy who seems so achingly familiar that Abby is drawn to him like he’s a missing piece of her own soul.
Before Abby can discover the reason for her feelings toward Kye, the darkness catches up to her and she is forced to flee again. But this time she’s not just running. She is fighting back with Kye at her side, and it’s not just Abby’s life at stake.
The Sapphire Flute by Karen E Hoover, Young AdultDiscounted to $0.99:
Buy on Amazon.com
Buy from Barnes and Nobel
Or Get it FREE on Smashwords.com
Rasann is a world in dire need. The net of magic that has held her together for eons is eroding and the magi can’t patch it fast enough to prevent disaster. Volcanoes spew, waters rise, famine and flood and desolation threaten the world as they desperately await the coming of the Wolfchild to heal their home.
Three women begin quests for identity and freedom from the ties that have held them: Ember, from her overbearing and prejudice mother; Kayla, from the rigidity of the caste that has oppressed her family; C’Tan, from her dark and evil master, the Guardian S’Kotos. One will discover she is the first white mage born in three millennia, another will become guardian to the a keystone, the sapphire flute, and throughout it all the third will try to destroy them both.
Trusted by Krista Wayment, Middle GradeGet it FREE on Amazon.com
Renick, the fifth son of a dragon breeder, crashes into an unexpected adventure that challenges everything he thought he knew about dragons, history, and himself.
Stranded in the massive Helath forest, Renick meets two other passengers: Thane, a noble training to be a dragon knight, and Lainey, the orphaned niece of a healer. Together they survive an attack by vicious wolves, rescue a baby dragon with a broken wing, and escape from a band of dragon hunters as they make a perilous climb into the mountains. What they discover there will change everything.
The Dreamstone by Mikey Brooks, Middle GradeBuy it on Amazon.com
“There is a world inside our own, but we can’t see it when we are awake—only when we sleep. It is then we find ourselves in Dreams.”
When Parker’s mom is dreamnapped by the wicked Mab, it is up to him and Kaelyn to save her. When they return to Dreams, they discover Mab isn’t their only problem. Gladamyr has lost his powers and the only way to get them back is to become what he fears the most—a nightmare.
Alvor by Laura Bingham, Upper Middle GradeBuy it on Amazon.com
Adarae jolted as the feeling surged through her. She looked carefully at not one, but two little faces and felt the warm power within them. No one suspected it could be two, but the strength pulsing from them was undeniable. They stared back into her eyes.
Fifteen-year-old Erin and her twin brother, Bain, had never seen the secluded cabin in the woods by their home. Upon entering, they discover a magical world where pegasi, dragons and fairies are a reality.
The siblings soon find themselves with super-human powers, being taught the art of magic and sword play by mystical beings. It isn't long before they are struck with a realization they are training to become elves.
Faced with the decision to leave the life they have always known for a world of fantasy, Erin and Bain confront certain demons that threaten to tear them apart.
Alvor is a spellbinding blend of magic and mystery, enchantment and fairy tale, that asks the age-old question: Do you believe in magic?
Wings of Light by Laura Bingham, Upper Middle GradeBuy on Amazon.com
Sixteen-year-old Erin and her twin brother, Bain, have recently become immortal elves - but the search for their mother has just begun. With new information that their mother may be alive, Erin desperately seeks to bring her back home. But when old enemies threaten her quest, Erin must turn to new friends for help and learn that some magic is better left unexplored.
Awakening by Christy Dorrity, Young AdultGet it FREE on Amazon.com
. . . because some Celtic stories won’t be contained in myth.
A little magic has always run in sixteen-year-old McKayla McCleery's family—at least that’s what she’s been told. McKayla’s eccentric Aunt Avril travels the world as a clairvoyant for the FBI, and her mother can make amazing delicacies out of the most basic of ingredients. But McKayla doesn't think for a second that the magic is real—it’s just good storytelling. Besides, McKayla doesn’t need magic. She recently moved to beautiful Star Valley, Wyoming, and already she has an amazing best friend, a solo in her upcoming ballet recital, and the gorgeous guy in her physics class keeps looking her way.
When an unexpected fascination with Irish dance leads McKayla to seek instruction from the mute, crippled, janitor at her high school, she learns that her family is not the only one with unexplained abilities.
After Aunt Avril comes to Star Valley in pursuit of a supernatural killer, people begin disappearing, and the lives of those McKayla holds most dear are threatened. When the janitor reveals that an ancient curse, known as a geis, has awakened powers that defy explanation, McKayla is forced to come to terms with what is real and what is fantasy.
A thrilling first novel, Awakening is a gripping contemporary fantasy, based in Celtic mythology that is rife with magic, romance, and mystery.
The Crystal Bridge by Charlie Pulsipher, Young AdultDiscounted to $0.99
Buy on Amazon.com
The Egg followed Kaden home from the hospital. This glowing shell only he can see transports him across the emptiness between universes to distant worlds, but he’s afraid to use it. This strange Egg may have saved Kaden’s life once or twice, but it failed to save anyone else he cares about.
Aren’s sight reaches deep into the souls around her, seeing more than she wants in her friends and teachers at school. When she turns her gaze on Kaden, his Egg responds by sending them spiraling across space and time to a world where dragons, elves, dwarves, and peculiar gods dwell. Separated, lost, and alone in a hostile world on the brink of war, these teens must come to grips with their unique gifts if they ever want to see Earth again.
Back home, a biotechnology company tinkers with the science of reality, hoping to cure death itself by any means. But their work and the intrusion into the void have awakened something shadowy and powerful, a being imprisoned there for millennia. This dark being intends to break free and devour everything and everyone it touches. Infinite universes are in danger. Kaden and Aren must decide if they can save more than themselves. Can they save us all?
Check out some awesome books featuring dragons! Many are...
Check out some awesome books featuring dragons! Many are discounted, or free. Buy or download the ones you like, and spread the word.
Descendant by Nichole Giles, Young Adult
Discounted to $0.99
Buy on Amazon.com
Seventeen-year-old Abigail Johnson is Gifted.
Blessed—or cursed—with Sight and Healing, Abby lives an unsettled life, moving from place to place and staying one step ahead of the darkness that hunts her. When she arrives in Jackson, Wyoming, she is desperate to maintain the illusion of normalcy, but she is plagued with visions of past lives mixed with frightening glimpses of her future. Then she meets Kye, a mysterious boy who seems so achingly familiar that Abby is drawn to him like he’s a missing piece of her own soul.
Before Abby can discover the reason for her feelings toward Kye, the darkness catches up to her and she is forced to flee again. But this time she’s not just running. She is fighting back with Kye at her side, and it’s not just Abby’s life at stake.
The Sapphire Flute by Karen E Hoover, Young Adult
Discounted to $0.99:
Buy on Amazon.com
Buy from Barnes and Nobel
Or Get it FREE on Smashwords.com
Rasann is a world in dire need. The net of magic that has held her together for eons is eroding and the magi can’t patch it fast enough to prevent disaster. Volcanoes spew, waters rise, famine and flood and desolation threaten the world as they desperately await the coming of the Wolfchild to heal their home.
Three women begin quests for identity and freedom from the ties that have held them: Ember, from her overbearing and prejudice mother; Kayla, from the rigidity of the caste that has oppressed her family; C’Tan, from her dark and evil master, the Guardian S’Kotos. One will discover she is the first white mage born in three millennia, another will become guardian to the a keystone, the sapphire flute, and throughout it all the third will try to destroy them both.
Trusted by Krista Wayment, Middle Grade
Get it FREE on Amazon.com
Renick, the fifth son of a dragon breeder, crashes into an unexpected adventure that challenges everything he thought he knew about dragons, history, and himself.
Stranded in the massive Helath forest, Renick meets two other passengers: Thane, a noble training to be a dragon knight, and Lainey, the orphaned niece of a healer. Together they survive an attack by vicious wolves, rescue a baby dragon with a broken wing, and escape from a band of dragon hunters as they make a perilous climb into the mountains. What they discover there will change everything.
The Dreamstone by Mikey Brooks, Middle Grade
Buy it on Amazon.com
“There is a world inside our own, but we can’t see it when we are awake—only when we sleep. It is then we find ourselves in Dreams.”
When Parker’s mom is dreamnapped by the wicked Mab, it is up to him and Kaelyn to save her. When they return to Dreams, they discover Mab isn’t their only problem. Gladamyr has lost his powers and the only way to get them back is to become what he fears the most—a nightmare.
Alvor by Laura Bingham, Upper Middle Grade
Buy it on Amazon.com
Adarae jolted as the feeling surged through her. She looked carefully at not one, but two little faces and felt the warm power within them. No one suspected it could be two, but the strength pulsing from them was undeniable. They stared back into her eyes.
Fifteen-year-old Erin and her twin brother, Bain, had never seen the secluded cabin in the woods by their home. Upon entering, they discover a magical world where pegasi, dragons and fairies are a reality.
The siblings soon find themselves with super-human powers, being taught the art of magic and sword play by mystical beings. It isn't long before they are struck with a realization they are training to become elves.
Faced with the decision to leave the life they have always known for a world of fantasy, Erin and Bain confront certain demons that threaten to tear them apart.
Alvor is a spellbinding blend of magic and mystery, enchantment and fairy tale, that asks the age-old question: Do you believe in magic?
Wings of Light by Laura Bingham, Upper Middle Grade
Buy on Amazon.com
Sixteen-year-old Erin and her twin brother, Bain, have recently become immortal elves - but the search for their mother has just begun. With new information that their mother may be alive, Erin desperately seeks to bring her back home. But when old enemies threaten her quest, Erin must turn to new friends for help and learn that some magic is better left unexplored.
Awakening by Christy Dorrity, Young Adult
Get it FREE on Amazon.com
. . . because some Celtic stories won’t be contained in myth.
A little magic has always run in sixteen-year-old McKayla McCleery's family—at least that’s what she’s been told. McKayla’s eccentric Aunt Avril travels the world as a clairvoyant for the FBI, and her mother can make amazing delicacies out of the most basic of ingredients. But McKayla doesn't think for a second that the magic is real—it’s just good storytelling. Besides, McKayla doesn’t need magic. She recently moved to beautiful Star Valley, Wyoming, and already she has an amazing best friend, a solo in her upcoming ballet recital, and the gorgeous guy in her physics class keeps looking her way.
When an unexpected fascination with Irish dance leads McKayla to seek instruction from the mute, crippled, janitor at her high school, she learns that her family is not the only one with unexplained abilities.
After Aunt Avril comes to Star Valley in pursuit of a supernatural killer, people begin disappearing, and the lives of those McKayla holds most dear are threatened. When the janitor reveals that an ancient curse, known as a geis, has awakened powers that defy explanation, McKayla is forced to come to terms with what is real and what is fantasy.
A thrilling first novel, Awakening is a gripping contemporary fantasy, based in Celtic mythology that is rife with magic, romance, and mystery.
The Crystal Bridge by Charlie Pulsipher, Young Adult
Discounted to $0.99
Buy on Amazon.com
The Egg followed Kaden home from the hospital. This glowing shell only he can see transports him across the emptiness between universes to distant worlds, but he’s afraid to use it. This strange Egg may have saved Kaden’s life once or twice, but it failed to save anyone else he cares about.
Aren’s sight reaches deep into the souls around her, seeing more than she wants in her friends and teachers at school. When she turns her gaze on Kaden, his Egg responds by sending them spiraling across space and time to a world where dragons, elves, dwarves, and peculiar gods dwell. Separated, lost, and alone in a hostile world on the brink of war, these teens must come to grips with their unique gifts if they ever want to see Earth again.
Back home, a biotechnology company tinkers with the science of reality, hoping to cure death itself by any means. But their work and the intrusion into the void have awakened something shadowy and powerful, a being imprisoned there for millennia. This dark being intends to break free and devour everything and everyone it touches. Infinite universes are in danger. Kaden and Aren must decide if they can save more than themselves. Can they save us all?
Check out some awesome books featuring dragons! Many are discounted, or free. Buy or download the ones you like, and spread the word.
Descendant by Nichole Giles, Young AdultDiscounted to $0.99
Buy on Amazon.com
Seventeen-year-old Abigail Johnson is Gifted.
Blessed—or cursed—with Sight and Healing, Abby lives an unsettled life, moving from place to place and staying one step ahead of the darkness that hunts her. When she arrives in Jackson, Wyoming, she is desperate to maintain the illusion of normalcy, but she is plagued with visions of past lives mixed with frightening glimpses of her future. Then she meets Kye, a mysterious boy who seems so achingly familiar that Abby is drawn to him like he’s a missing piece of her own soul.
Before Abby can discover the reason for her feelings toward Kye, the darkness catches up to her and she is forced to flee again. But this time she’s not just running. She is fighting back with Kye at her side, and it’s not just Abby’s life at stake.
The Sapphire Flute by Karen E Hoover, Young AdultDiscounted to $0.99:
Buy on Amazon.com
Buy from Barnes and Nobel
Or Get it FREE on Smashwords.com
Rasann is a world in dire need. The net of magic that has held her together for eons is eroding and the magi can’t patch it fast enough to prevent disaster. Volcanoes spew, waters rise, famine and flood and desolation threaten the world as they desperately await the coming of the Wolfchild to heal their home.
Three women begin quests for identity and freedom from the ties that have held them: Ember, from her overbearing and prejudice mother; Kayla, from the rigidity of the caste that has oppressed her family; C’Tan, from her dark and evil master, the Guardian S’Kotos. One will discover she is the first white mage born in three millennia, another will become guardian to the a keystone, the sapphire flute, and throughout it all the third will try to destroy them both.
Trusted by Krista Wayment, Middle GradeGet it FREE on Amazon.com
Renick, the fifth son of a dragon breeder, crashes into an unexpected adventure that challenges everything he thought he knew about dragons, history, and himself.
Stranded in the massive Helath forest, Renick meets two other passengers: Thane, a noble training to be a dragon knight, and Lainey, the orphaned niece of a healer. Together they survive an attack by vicious wolves, rescue a baby dragon with a broken wing, and escape from a band of dragon hunters as they make a perilous climb into the mountains. What they discover there will change everything.
The Dreamstone by Mikey Brooks, Middle GradeBuy it on Amazon.com
“There is a world inside our own, but we can’t see it when we are awake—only when we sleep. It is then we find ourselves in Dreams.”
When Parker’s mom is dreamnapped by the wicked Mab, it is up to him and Kaelyn to save her. When they return to Dreams, they discover Mab isn’t their only problem. Gladamyr has lost his powers and the only way to get them back is to become what he fears the most—a nightmare.
Alvor by Laura Bingham, Upper Middle GradeBuy it on Amazon.com
Adarae jolted as the feeling surged through her. She looked carefully at not one, but two little faces and felt the warm power within them. No one suspected it could be two, but the strength pulsing from them was undeniable. They stared back into her eyes.
Fifteen-year-old Erin and her twin brother, Bain, had never seen the secluded cabin in the woods by their home. Upon entering, they discover a magical world where pegasi, dragons and fairies are a reality.
The siblings soon find themselves with super-human powers, being taught the art of magic and sword play by mystical beings. It isn't long before they are struck with a realization they are training to become elves.
Faced with the decision to leave the life they have always known for a world of fantasy, Erin and Bain confront certain demons that threaten to tear them apart.
Alvor is a spellbinding blend of magic and mystery, enchantment and fairy tale, that asks the age-old question: Do you believe in magic?
Wings of Light by Laura Bingham, Upper Middle GradeBuy on Amazon.com
Sixteen-year-old Erin and her twin brother, Bain, have recently become immortal elves - but the search for their mother has just begun. With new information that their mother may be alive, Erin desperately seeks to bring her back home. But when old enemies threaten her quest, Erin must turn to new friends for help and learn that some magic is better left unexplored.
Awakening by Christy Dorrity, Young AdultGet it FREE on Amazon.com
. . . because some Celtic stories won’t be contained in myth.
A little magic has always run in sixteen-year-old McKayla McCleery's family—at least that’s what she’s been told. McKayla’s eccentric Aunt Avril travels the world as a clairvoyant for the FBI, and her mother can make amazing delicacies out of the most basic of ingredients. But McKayla doesn't think for a second that the magic is real—it’s just good storytelling. Besides, McKayla doesn’t need magic. She recently moved to beautiful Star Valley, Wyoming, and already she has an amazing best friend, a solo in her upcoming ballet recital, and the gorgeous guy in her physics class keeps looking her way.
When an unexpected fascination with Irish dance leads McKayla to seek instruction from the mute, crippled, janitor at her high school, she learns that her family is not the only one with unexplained abilities.
After Aunt Avril comes to Star Valley in pursuit of a supernatural killer, people begin disappearing, and the lives of those McKayla holds most dear are threatened. When the janitor reveals that an ancient curse, known as a geis, has awakened powers that defy explanation, McKayla is forced to come to terms with what is real and what is fantasy.
A thrilling first novel, Awakening is a gripping contemporary fantasy, based in Celtic mythology that is rife with magic, romance, and mystery.
The Crystal Bridge by Charlie Pulsipher, Young AdultDiscounted to $0.99
Buy on Amazon.com
The Egg followed Kaden home from the hospital. This glowing shell only he can see transports him across the emptiness between universes to distant worlds, but he’s afraid to use it. This strange Egg may have saved Kaden’s life once or twice, but it failed to save anyone else he cares about.
Aren’s sight reaches deep into the souls around her, seeing more than she wants in her friends and teachers at school. When she turns her gaze on Kaden, his Egg responds by sending them spiraling across space and time to a world where dragons, elves, dwarves, and peculiar gods dwell. Separated, lost, and alone in a hostile world on the brink of war, these teens must come to grips with their unique gifts if they ever want to see Earth again.
Back home, a biotechnology company tinkers with the science of reality, hoping to cure death itself by any means. But their work and the intrusion into the void have awakened something shadowy and powerful, a being imprisoned there for millennia. This dark being intends to break free and devour everything and everyone it touches. Infinite universes are in danger. Kaden and Aren must decide if they can save more than themselves. Can they save us all?
Possibly Another List, Pics, and Great Deals on Books
Okay, so I think I'm changing my stance on the whole not-liking-lists thing I mentioned last week. That was a quick and easy way to breeze through lots of topics, and I pretty much covered everything I needed to in one fell swoop.
Maybe James Dashner has it right. (As long as I've known him, he is the KING of making lists.)
So yeah. I might make another one. Just because the last one was more fun than I anticipated. But this one won't be as long.
Okay, here we go. A new, shorter list of spring things.
1. In my last list, I forgot about the tulips. Tulips are some of my very favorite flowers, but I haven't seen any growing in south Texas. So I had to take a picture of these ones at Thanksgiving Pointe in Lehi, Utah. Aren't they gorgeous? They just make me all kinds of smiley.
2. It's possible I have neglected some of my favorite parts of Texas in the spring. So there's this.
And this.
And also this. (Why yes, that is a baby pineapple plant! Tell me that's not the cutest thing you've ever seen.)
3. Tomorrow, check back here and you will see some AWESOME deals on books that have dragons in them. If you've read DESCENDANT and/or BIRTHRIGHT, you know that my dragons are of an entirely different variety from most. But DESCENDANT is listed for a smokin deal for just ONE DAY. So be sure to come back.
4. If you've read and loved BIRTHRIGHT, but haven't left a review yet, you might want to gather your thoughts about it. Anyone who posts a review between now and June 7th will be entered into a drawing for an Amazon gift card. *Details to come soon.
5. Let's talk about summer vacations. I'm feeling a Disney vibe in my house these days. It's been years since we visited a Disney park, and I have a weakness for fairy tales and anything Disney-esque. But so far, no solid plans. What about you? What fun summer activities or trips are you planning?
Maybe James Dashner has it right. (As long as I've known him, he is the KING of making lists.)
So yeah. I might make another one. Just because the last one was more fun than I anticipated. But this one won't be as long.
Okay, here we go. A new, shorter list of spring things.
1. In my last list, I forgot about the tulips. Tulips are some of my very favorite flowers, but I haven't seen any growing in south Texas. So I had to take a picture of these ones at Thanksgiving Pointe in Lehi, Utah. Aren't they gorgeous? They just make me all kinds of smiley.
2. It's possible I have neglected some of my favorite parts of Texas in the spring. So there's this.
And this.
And also this. (Why yes, that is a baby pineapple plant! Tell me that's not the cutest thing you've ever seen.)
3. Tomorrow, check back here and you will see some AWESOME deals on books that have dragons in them. If you've read DESCENDANT and/or BIRTHRIGHT, you know that my dragons are of an entirely different variety from most. But DESCENDANT is listed for a smokin deal for just ONE DAY. So be sure to come back.
4. If you've read and loved BIRTHRIGHT, but haven't left a review yet, you might want to gather your thoughts about it. Anyone who posts a review between now and June 7th will be entered into a drawing for an Amazon gift card. *Details to come soon.
5. Let's talk about summer vacations. I'm feeling a Disney vibe in my house these days. It's been years since we visited a Disney park, and I have a weakness for fairy tales and anything Disney-esque. But so far, no solid plans. What about you? What fun summer activities or trips are you planning?
May 6, 2014
My Spring in a List of Things.
It’s been a while since I posted a list here. Honestly, I am not a big fan of making lists on blogs. But I am finally back from my travels, and right now, my brain is one ginormous list of THINGS. And the only way I can think to clear out some of those things is to list them here.
You don’t mind, do you? Thanks.
1. BIRTHRIGHT is now available! You can purchase it wherever your favorite books are sold, however, not all retail stores will actually have it in stock, so you may have to request it or order it. Either way, you can now get it. (All links in the sidebar.)
2. Last week (or two weeks ago-ish?) I spent some time in Utah conferencing with the LDStorymakers and Authors Incognito. Guys. These people put on the BEST conferences for learning and networking, and all around inspiring. I was so lucky to be on staff for this conference. Talk about feeling special.
Authors Incognito 2014 group shot
3. I hung out with some people I have missed SO. Much.
4. It snowed while I was in Utah. The temperature at my house that day? Got up to 100 degrees. HOW DOES THAT EVEN HAPPEN?
5. The day before I left Texas, I went with my family to a wildlife reserve in San Antonio and got up close and personal with some wild beasts. And wildebeests. And also zebras and long horned goats and ostriches other things I can no longer name. T’was awesome.
6. School. Almost out for the summer. My oldest daughter graduates high school this year. I’m not old enough for this. Neither is she. I’m pretty sure her preschool teacher would agree.
*attempts to turn back the clock*
*gets in a fight with father time*
*loses*
But summer = my favorite season. Bring on the swimsuits and sunscreen!
7. Kneaders café makes the BEST bread in the world. And cookies. I ate there three times while I was in Utah. If there’s one near you, you should go in my honor. The San Antonio location is still dirt and concrete, which means it won’t be opening for months. My family mourns with impatience.
8. Sunday is Mother’s Day. I miss my mommy more on Mother’s Day. And also my step-mother. And my Grandmothers. And for that matter, my sisters and sisters–in-law, and all the other mothers in my life. Happy day to all! And hugs and flowers and virtual chocolate. Because you deserve it.
9. If you haven’t signed up for my newsletter, youcan do that here. It’s a great way to stay up to date on all my news and be among the first to see exclusive content. Plus, it’s fun to be part of the cool kids club, so you really should consider joining.
*ducks rotten tomatoes*
No, really. It’ll be fun!
10. I went to a parade in Corpus Christi last weekend. It was at night, and very cool. Check out my favorite float. *Hi, my name is Nichole and I’m a Dr. Pepper addict*
Okay, that’s enough for now. But what about you? What have you been up to while I was away?
You don’t mind, do you? Thanks.
1. BIRTHRIGHT is now available! You can purchase it wherever your favorite books are sold, however, not all retail stores will actually have it in stock, so you may have to request it or order it. Either way, you can now get it. (All links in the sidebar.)
2. Last week (or two weeks ago-ish?) I spent some time in Utah conferencing with the LDStorymakers and Authors Incognito. Guys. These people put on the BEST conferences for learning and networking, and all around inspiring. I was so lucky to be on staff for this conference. Talk about feeling special.
Authors Incognito 2014 group shot3. I hung out with some people I have missed SO. Much.
4. It snowed while I was in Utah. The temperature at my house that day? Got up to 100 degrees. HOW DOES THAT EVEN HAPPEN?
5. The day before I left Texas, I went with my family to a wildlife reserve in San Antonio and got up close and personal with some wild beasts. And wildebeests. And also zebras and long horned goats and ostriches other things I can no longer name. T’was awesome.
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
6. School. Almost out for the summer. My oldest daughter graduates high school this year. I’m not old enough for this. Neither is she. I’m pretty sure her preschool teacher would agree.
*attempts to turn back the clock*
*gets in a fight with father time*
*loses*
But summer = my favorite season. Bring on the swimsuits and sunscreen!
7. Kneaders café makes the BEST bread in the world. And cookies. I ate there three times while I was in Utah. If there’s one near you, you should go in my honor. The San Antonio location is still dirt and concrete, which means it won’t be opening for months. My family mourns with impatience.
8. Sunday is Mother’s Day. I miss my mommy more on Mother’s Day. And also my step-mother. And my Grandmothers. And for that matter, my sisters and sisters–in-law, and all the other mothers in my life. Happy day to all! And hugs and flowers and virtual chocolate. Because you deserve it.
9. If you haven’t signed up for my newsletter, youcan do that here. It’s a great way to stay up to date on all my news and be among the first to see exclusive content. Plus, it’s fun to be part of the cool kids club, so you really should consider joining.
*ducks rotten tomatoes*
No, really. It’ll be fun!
10. I went to a parade in Corpus Christi last weekend. It was at night, and very cool. Check out my favorite float. *Hi, my name is Nichole and I’m a Dr. Pepper addict*
.JPG)
Okay, that’s enough for now. But what about you? What have you been up to while I was away?
