L.M. Preston's Blog, page 17

Top YA Monsters! You Got 1?

Okay, are we really going to have to ask that question?

The Society of YA Storytellers at http://www.yastorytellers.com are chatting it up about ... Monsters...that teens love! Hate? Are frightened of? or Love to hate. Gosh I don't know which.


When I was a kid, I loved, loved, loved...did I say love? The Lost Boys movie. It had a hot, evil, sexy vampire and a gorgeous kid they were turning.

Then, I fell in love with the Vampire Lestat.

And how could we not want to just trade places with Elaina in Vampire Diaries?


 I mean, does she REALLY need 2 hot vampire brothers fighting over her? Gosh!

But we can't forget Bella...and Edward. Yeah, I personally would've picked the werewolf but hey, Edward had his sparkle baby!





To see more of what the secret society (oh, of course it's not that secret :-D but you can join) says about monsters, CLICK here.

Meantime, take a moment to meat Bay-Lee, Van Helsings daughter in the great new release, Bait (Order of the Spirit Realm) by K.C. Blake! FREE for a limited time.


Join her and the rest of the crew on GOODREADS for our BOOK CLUB discussion on Bait!


LM Preston (www.lmpreston.com) , author of THE PACK, EXPLORER X-Alpha and BANDITS

Forever Fredless by Suzy Turner

Spotlight on a ChitLit feature! I know, I don't usually do anything that's not YA, but I couldn't help myself



Forever Fredless by Suzy Turner
SYNOPSISKate Robinson has spent the past two decades yearning to find her soul mate, the boy she found and then lost during a family holiday.
Shortly after her twenty-eighth birthday, however, she inherits a fortune from an old family friend and becomes something of an overnight celebrity. Can her new-found fame lead her to him after all this time?
EXCERPTThank God for anti-perspirant, I thought as I sat on the couch and waited for the countdown to begin. I clutched at my hands until they were white and looked across at the two people sitting opposite, both completely at ease in front of the cameras.
Five, four, three, two, one...
'Welcome back to this morning's edition of Good Morning GB,' announced Ireland Rothschild, the blonde-haired, blue eyed darling of morning TV.
'I'm here with Fergus O'Reilly and we've a special guest with us this morning. None other than Britain's love-struck multi-millionaire, Kate Robinson.
Welcome, Kate,' she said with a dazzling smile aimed more towards the camera than at me.As my cheeks began to heat up, I was so grateful to the make-up artist, who had insisted on caking on the foundation before the show had started. In fact, I had so much make-up on that I was hoping once I'd removed it, nobody would recognise me when I headed to the airport in my now rather stupidly chosen car. I couldn't exactly blend in driving a pink Mini could I?
'Good morning,' I whispered shyly.
Fergus grinned back at me, tilting his head as if he was about to speak to a child. 'Now, tell us, Kate dear, how does it feel to never have to worry about money ever again?' he asked, his toothpaste advert teeth twinkling beneath the heat of the studio lights.
'Erm, well, I guess it's... erm, kind of... erm,' I felt so bloody stupid. Great time for my brain to stop working. 'I - erm. Great,' I nodded. 'Great, really great.' Idiot.
Ireland glanced across at her grey-haired colleague and pouted before nodding. 'Tell us how you knew this man. This,' she glanced down at the iPad on her lap and continued, 'Samuel?'
I cleared my throat and lifted my head, feeling like my brain was back in action. 'He was a very good friend of the family, some years ago,' I answered.
'Just a friend? Why did he leave you all his money and his property?' asked Fergus.
'He didn't have any family and I guess you could say that my mother and I were the closest he ever had to a family.'
'Isn't that lovely?' pouted Ireland. 'You certainly are a lucky woman. But what about your mother? Didn't she receive any of his inheritance?'
'No,' I said before swallowing hard. 'My mother lives a rather... nomadic lifestyle, in Africa. She doesn't want any of it. All she asked of me was to donate a sum to charity which, of course, I have done.'
'She lives in Africa? A nomadic lifestyle? That sounds intriguing. Perhaps we should interview her one of these days,' laughed Ireland and Fergus together.
'Have you splashed out on anything since receiving your inheritance back in June?' they asked, leaning forward eagerly awaiting my answer.
'Yes I have actually. I bought a car and a new house.'
'Well good for you, Kate. But now, most of us are curious about this boy you lost. Tell us about him?'Oh no. Why did I agree to this?
Taking a deep breath, I knew I had no choice. Several articles had been printed since the one in Liberty; everyone wanted to know more and nobody was going to leave me alone until I told them everything.
'He was just a boy who I had a connection with when I was much, much younger. It was at Skegness. At an afternoon disco for kids. I was dancing and I felt someone touch my back and when I turned around there he was. The most beautiful boy I'd ever seen,' I said, stopping and smiling as I reminisced. ‘It was one of the happiest memories of my life.'
Sighing, I continued, 'We just looked at each other and it was like everything else just disappeared into the background. We stood staring, for what seemed like ages. I could barely move. And then, almost as soon as it had begun, my dad appeared and took me away. I couldn't do anything as we walked to the car. I looked around for the boy but he was gone. And then, just as we were driving away, I turned around in my seat and there he was. He had a daffodil in his hand. I always assumed he'd gone to pick it for me, but that's just a childish fantasy, I guess. The whole thing is probably nothing but a childish fantasy, really.'
Ireland was very carefully dabbing at her eyes with a tissue, pretending to be moved, while Fergus smiled sadly.
'What a beautiful story, Kate. I don't believe for one second that this is a childish fantasy. It's romantic and beautiful,' Ireland said.
'Now, tell us, Kate. Why did you call him Fred?' asked Fergus.
Smiling, I explained about the Right Said Fred song, just as the music began in the background.
'What a wonderful tale. Thank you, Kate, for joining us today. It's been a pleasure having you with us to share your story,' said Fergus.
'Thank you,' I whispered before the camera moved back to Ireland as she straightened her skirt and looked alluring. 'Do you remember this moment in time?'
she asked. 'Are you the elusive Fred? We'd love to hear from you. You can contact us at...'
Before I could hear anything else, I was ushered off the couch and back behind the scenes where Jo stood, waiting patiently for me, with open arms.
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18623963-forever-fredless
PURCHASE LINKSAMAZONSMASHWORDS(more coming soon)
AUTHOR BIOSuzy Turner has worked as a journalist, assistant editor, features editor and magazine editor. Early in 2010 however, she began writing full time and has since completed six books for young adults (the Raven Saga and The Morgan Sisters series) and one chick lit novel, Forever Fredless.Although Suzy is a Yorkshire lass at heart, she left her home town of Rotherham, UK, to move to Portugal with her family when she was ten. The Algarve continues to be her home, where she lives with her childhood sweetheart and husband of 15 years, Michael, and their two neurotic dogs and a cat who thinks
she's a princess.For more details about Suzy and her books, visit:
Suzy's website
Suzy's YA Blog
Facebook page
Twitter
PinterestLM Preston (www.lmpreston.com) , author of THE PACK, EXPLORER X-Alpha and BANDITS

Creepy and Lovin it

Want more fun on CREEPY? Check out other post from The Society of YA Storytellers!

Here's a taste of the GOOD and EVIL in PURGATORY REIGN
I'm going to take this moment to reminisce over the creation of my most Evil Villian.

Gavin Steele from Purgatory Reign, which comes out in ebook February 2013 and print May 2013.

First, let me give you his Bio:

Gavin Steele is thirty years old, gorgeous, fit, blond, a billionaire owner of a multi-million dollar company that specializes in exotic metals, bio-genetics, drugs and uhum some other sordid dealings. He has a obsession with killing things slowly and slicing them up. Also, he's a loving older brother to Lucien who was created to do his bidding.




Note: this isn't the final edited excerpt from Purgatory Reign

Gavin knew from experience he’d only have a short time to get his answer before the greedy one would consume the spirit in which it hid and demand the price. “The name of the one who can stop me, the one I should remove from the equation,” he demanded from the psychic.



She hissed, and her white pupils turned on him. “Peter. Peter Saints.”
Her body jerked from side to side in an attempt to fight her way free of an invisible force, but it was too late, the price would be paid. For one moment, shock and fear laced her expression before she slumped to the floor, permanently silenced. He slipped his hands into his pocket, pulling out rubber gloves and a knife that he calmly unfolded. For a brief moment he stared in space while in thought. 
“Peter. Peter Saints.” the sound of the name left a foul taste on his tongue.
Shrugging off his jacket, he grinned. Messes, he hated to leave messes. And tonight, like all the other nights, he’d clean it up.

PETER SAINTS is Sixteen years old, large for his age, has an attitude problem, and grew up in an orphanage.




 Interview with Peter
            Describe where you sleep.
Sleep? Man, who sleeps in an orphanage filled with kids who all got the stink of a chip on their shoulder? But if you wanna know where I lay my head, it’ll be a toss up between the hole in the cellar on a raggedy mattress or in the converted pantry closet of the orphanage. 

Where do you have a scar or birthmark? Describe circumstances surrounding your scars.You would ask me about it. The scar – or gift, Hanna told me it was. But she put it there, right on the palm of my hand, as revenge I think – for causing her death. I’m not talking about it anymore, cause it’s something no one’s supposed to know about. Haven’t figured out why yet, but it scared Pastor Finn to death when he saw it.
What is something you feel guilty about?Guilt. Now that’s a word I’m not wanting to hear. I got a lot of it, and it all stems from the fact that I’ve caused the death of at least three people I cared about. I don’t know why, but I’m cursed or something. And even with the death of my parents, Hanna’s death, in my heart I know I caused it.
Describe yourself sitting in your favorite spot.In the cellar. I’m alone there. And me being alone is probably the safest thing for me or anyone around me.
What do you do to have fun?Dancing is my thing. I love to do it. I sneak out of the orphanage all the time to go to the club, dance and joke around with the girls there. When I’m not doing that, I like to tick off Pastor Finn so him and I can fight it out, then he takes me on the back roads to drive his sports cars. Don’t let that get out about him letting me drive his cars, the other kids at the orphanage don’t know, and if they did, they’d probably start ticking him off as much as I do.
What kind of girl would you fall for?I like my girl gorgeous with some fight in her. She can’t be a pushover, but she’s got to love me – only me, cause I don’t share. Ever.













To pre-order PURGATORY REIGN, click here.
What creepy, scary things you will find in Purgatory Reign are:
- Blood Drainers- Psychotic Killers- Kidnappers- Evil Orders- Deadly supernatural forces- And more!
A bit of the movie PUSH, I-AM NUMBER FOUR and WANTED with a splash of action!
LM Preston (www.lmpreston.com) , author of THE PACK, EXPLORER X-Alpha and BANDITS

the society of YA STORYTELLERS!

Psst! I have a secret for you. A society of Young Adult Writers , who desire to intrigue you! Click the link below to join in the fun! the prizes! the secret!

  the BOOK CLUB  the TWITTER page @yastorytellers   the FACEBOOK page  ....join...you'll never regret it.LM Preston (www.lmpreston.com) , author of THE PACK, EXPLORER X-Alpha and BANDITS

Tween the Weekends Presents

I love talking about TWEENs and MIDDLE GRADE FICTION, and I am honored to be able to share my books as well as a great author by the name of C.Lee.

Presented by EMBLAZONS  find more great MIDDLE GRADE books here





MY BOOKS are EXPLORER X series which are a scifi adventure most TWEENS won't forget.


Blurb:
For most kids, a trip to space camp is the trip of a lifetime for Aadi it was life altering. After receiving a camp immunization needed for travel to Mars, Aadi finds that the immunization is the catalyst of an insidious experiment. He realizes what is happening too late for a change of fate. The full experiment is set in motion when he and his co-pilot, Eirena, crash in a distant galaxy called Shrenas, where they change and realize the full extent of their power. This turn of events forces him to grow up quickly, accept his change, and to decide to save a world, or to do what he was trained to do dominate it. His power is coveted by the warring leaders of Shrenas, and he is forced to choose sides a decision that may prove just how much humanity he has left.

Amazon:B&N 
Blurb:
Barely escaping their captors, Aadi and Eirena are determined to save their dying friend. After their final confrontation with the species that tortured them, they've changed-unfortunately, not for the better. The changes caused by a terrible experiment force Aadi to accept the possibility that he may never be fit to go home, and that holding onto his sanity, or leading his friends to safety will end in failure and may rip his friendship with Eirena apart, forever. Time is slipping away and the possibility of losing his friend is not an option, but the foe that awaits them may be worse than the one they left.

Amazon
B&N



Here's the book trailer:





NOW FOR another adventure!

Get your running shoes ready! Crocodile hunter's got nothing on C. Lee's new Middle Grade adventure Alligators Overhead !



Blurb:
Alligators, witches and a spooky mansion aren't your average neighbors unless you live at the edge of the Ornofree swamp in the backwater town of Hadleyville. The town’s bad boy, Pete Riley, may only be twelve, but he’s up to his eyeballs in big trouble, and this time he isn’t the cause. This time the trouble arrives when a legendary hundred-year-old mansion, materializes next door and the Ornofree alligators declare war to save their swamp from bulldozers. Things only get worse when Pete’s guardian aunt and several of her close friends vanish while trying to restore order using outdated witchcraft. Now Pete must find his aunt and stop the war. He might stand a chance if his one friend, Weasel, sticks with him, but even then, they may not have what it takes.




Follow C.Lee and tell her that LM (who's afraid of Alligator's) sent you~


AMAZON KINDLE http://tinyurl.com/7hv8j5a
AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE http://tinyurl.com/7fcvk48
B & N http://tinyurl.com/8ywogjt
WEBSITE http://cleemckenziebooks.com
FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/cleemckenzie...
TWITTER @cleemckenzie





LM Preston (www.lmpreston.com) , author of THE PACK, EXPLORER X-Alpha and BANDITS

Middle School Reading Blast

Attention teachers and librarians! The Emblazoner's New Catalog - filled with great middle grade and tween titles your students and patrons will love - is coming soon! To celebrate, we're holding a giveaway of stuff you can use: gift cards to add books to your collection and swag to hand out to your students and patrons. Grand Prizes (2): $15 Amazon Gift cards (to add a book to your library) + SWAG Bags Less Grand But Still Auspicious Prizes (8): SWAG Bags (bookmarks, collector's cards, etc. to give away to your students/patrons) Note: Signing up for the catalog is required for entry. Winners must reside in the United States or Canada. You must be a teacher or librarian to win. a Rafflecopter giveaway LM Preston (www.lmpreston.com) , author of THE PACK, EXPLORER X-Alpha and BANDITS

Benefits of Author Collaborations

Collaboration rocks! Is challenging! Is like dating! Is....

There are different ways that writers can collaborate to build their audience. I've tried a few have you?

CO-WRITING:

My first installment of Purgatory Reign was a loose collaboration of sorts with my husband. I'd found a short story he wrote about 20 years ago and wanted to write a book about the ancestors of the characters in his original story.

He gave the okay and I mapped out the outline for him to review. Although we are married, he and I had very different opinions about the core of the book. But we worked through them to come up with one of my favorite creations, Purgatory Reign.

CO-MARKETING:

This is an area that has been some of the best and trying experiences of my publishing career. I've co-marketed with individual authors at book signings, online events, advertisements and more.

One of my favorite marketing based collarobations has been with the Indelibles. I've learned so much from the ladies there and benefited greatly.

Also, doing Samplers with other authors has been a great hit.

A list of ways to co-market:
- Genre Samplers and Anthologies
- Form a group that promotes each others stuff and have a shared 'Street Team'
- Share Book Signing Events and Setups
- Share advertising endeavors as a group

PROMOTING EACH OTHER

There are ways to promote other books and authors that do the same for you. Like placing a link to their book in yours, even some of their first pages. Also, recommending them for an event or to a reader.

HAVE YOU DONE IT? COLLABORATE? HOW?

LM Preston (www.lmpreston.com) , author of THE PACK, EXPLORER X-Alpha and BANDITS

Broken anthology, Wagonbridge Press’s upcoming ghost story anthology

Please welcome, Author, Jordan Mierek's story 'Danse Macabre' is featured inBroken anthology, Wagonbridge Press’s upcoming ghost story anthology 


 A story can’t evolve into entertainment without an idea, that spark of imagination that lights up your mind, that gives you the ah-ha moment. Then, away you go, with pen to paper. I’m often asked, “How did you come up with an idea for that story?”13 Haunting Tales, a ghost story anthology edited by Terri Karsten, will be coming out in October from Wagonbridge Publishing. Three of my short stories will be included –time to insert a huge happy face and a sexy happy dance. So, where did the inspirations for the stories come from?YANKEE INN, the tale of a restaurant staffed by ghosts, derived from a restaurant down the street from my boyfriend’s old home. It is supposedly haunted. I’ve eaten there once, and while I loved the old-fashioned décor, I didn’t see any ghosts. CANDLESTICK GUILT, the tale of a haunted new home, came about while watching ghost shows on television. So many people move into a house only to discover mysterious happenings and an eerie past. So far, our new homes have been okay…we think. Hopefully you’ll find the ending of this story to be a happy one.AMITY, in which a girl must help solve a mystery for a ghost in a graveyard, was the first one I wrote. I live near a graveyard, and one day while I was looking down at a grave from the late 1700s, I wondered what it would be like to have the woman appear beside me. I could ask her what her life had been like. I could learn what fate had befallen her, and I hoped it had been wonderful. Then, I wondered what it would be like to have her ask me to do her a favor…If you’re interested in seeing more of my work, you can check out my stories on WattPad. I don’t wish you nightmares, but I do hope the short stories give you a delicious chill.  Blog/websitehttp://kissedbyliterature.blogspot.com/Twitterhttp://twitter.com/#!/JayliaDarknessFacebookhttp://www.facebook.com/#!/JordanSerenityIntroduce yourself!My short stories and poetry are published in Dark and Dreary Magazine, Storyhouse, the Magical Library, RiverSedge, and AboutTeens. My work has won awards in The XPress and Utica Writers Club. I am the vice president of the Utica Writers Club and have my Bachelor’s degree in elementary education.LM Preston (www.lmpreston.com) , author of THE PACK, EXPLORER X-Alpha and BANDITS

Book To Movie Disaster Or For New Audience

Oh, C'mon you know you hate them...want to love them, but can't get enough of them.


BOOK cut into 120 pages or less for a MOVIE

Yep, you heard it here. Take your favorite all time 300+ page book, and imagine having to cut it down to 120 pages or less of mostely dialogue.

Well I had to do it for two of my books and I wanted to cry. (No, I didn't get a movie deal - 'I wish' but my publishing guru co-owner was pitching the scripts to my books and I needed to do the script for them.)

WHAT TO KEEP, WHAT TO CHANGE, WHAT WORKS FOR A MOVIE

Everyone that reads a book has a different story going on in their head. Sure the main points and plots of the story is the same but the characters change within our minds, the scenery heck even the 'sound' of the characters.

Producers and Screen Writers have to figure out what will work for a movie (not considering making the 'readers' happy - but making the 'moviegoers happy). People that watch movies aren't always the same pool of audience that reads a book.

So, things like minute details, inner thoughts, and over expensive themes hit the floor.

WHAT IS LEFT

The core point of the story, maybe even - a different story than the readers expect. And most times - A SHORTER story.

That's why many movie reviews of book turrned movie adaptions are mixed. Those that haven't read the book, may love the movie.

YOUR THOUGHTS? WHAT ARE SOME GOOD book to movie ADAPTIONS.
LM Preston (www.lmpreston.com) , author of THE PACK, EXPLORER X-Alpha and BANDITS

New releases by Indelible Authors!

August releases by Indelible Authors!
 Life, Love, & Lemonsby Magan Vernon



-It's SQUEE-Dorable - Ashley Poston, Author of Radio Hearts When life hands you lemons, sometimes you have to say screw the lemons and bail.

Seventeen-year-old Bentley Evans had it all. Then her Dad got laid off.

Now she has to move across town to a small apartment and leave her life of luxury for public school and a job at the local burger place. Just when her world seems like it's crumbling she finds solace in the unlikely punk boy next door, Kai Stone. But as their relationship blossoms, a jealous ex-girlfriend and a secret to tell that threatens to bring disaster back into Bentley’s life.

Amazon

Barnes & NobleHEIST
by Laura Pauling


 A time travel mystery. Sixteen-year-old Jack Brodie time travels back to the world-famous Gardner Heist. When he returns his life has changed for the worst. He keep returning to the crime to fix his mistakes until he has to make the ultimate choice: his family and his own happiness, or the girl he loves. Amazon

Barnes & Noble A Passion of Solitudeby Addison Moore



Worlds collide in THE SOLITUDE OF PASSION

When Lee Townsend’s past explodes back into her life, it does the only thing it can, it demands to reshape her future. When Lee’s husband leaves the country on a community outreach, the last thing she expects is for him to never come back—for him to have tragically met his demise.

Lee goes on to marry his adversary and settles into life and business with him, merging her vineyard with his and creating a worldwide conglomerate.

Five years later a twist of fate brings the past back to her and forces Lee to make a decision that will change the landscape of her life forever. 

Secrets emerge, forcing relationships to be examined—magnifying the surprising true underpinnings of her marriage. 

Lee’s heart is unwilling to surrender her love for either Mitch or Max.
She must choose to carry forward with the past or present. 

Lee has a choice to make.
Mitch can’t figure out how to win.
Max never loses.

Amazon
  Fable 
by Chanda Hahn



Book 3 in the UnEnchanted Series.

All that glitters is not gold.When something precious is stolen from sixteen-year-old Mina Grime, she will do anything in her power to get it back, even if it means traveling to the dangerous Fae plane and battling one of the strongest fairy-tale villains yet.

However, nothing can prepare Mina for the dangerous obstacles she will face in the Fae world, or the choices she must make when love and life are on the line.

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo


Indiestructable
by various authors
 
Need motivation and inspiration to self-publish, or sign that contract with an interested small press? Have you done all the research you can, but still feel ambivalent about the idea? Indiestructible: Inspiring Stories from the Publishing Jungle brings you the experiences of 29 indie authors—their passions, their insights, their successes—to help you make the leap into indie publishing.

This is not a how-to guide. This is the best of the indie tradition of experienced authors paying forward what they’ve learned, giving you information to help you on your journey. The personal essays in this book will leave you itching to get your work into the hands of readers and experience, first-hand, all the rewards indie publishing has to offer.
 
Not only is this anthology packed full of interesting, unique, and genuinely helpful information, and totally worth the 99c (only 99c!!!), 100% of proceeds will be donated to  BUILDON.org , a movement which breaks the cycle of poverty, illiteracy, and low expectations through service and education.

Amazon
 LM Preston (www.lmpreston.com) , author of THE PACK, EXPLORER X-Alpha and BANDITS