Brenda Pandos's Blog, page 16

Evergreen Update

Just a note, things are progressing well with Evergreen. Kindle/Nook ebooks should be out June 29th. Physical books will be available the end of July. I'll offer a pre-sale for signed copies in a few weeks.
Synopsis:
A kingdom on the brink of war.
A king on the fringes of insanity.
A family running for their lives.

Ash and Fin’s only desire is to be together and dive into their happily ever after, though their conflicting worlds work to pull them apart. Neither is ready to convert to the other’s life: become a human or a mer. Little do they know that somewhere in Natatoria a secret holds the fine fabric of everyone’s lives together. If the truth is discovered, Ash and Fin will no longer have the luxury of waiting. They’ll be forced to choose. But will it be for loyalty or love? Or will someone else make the choice for them if they can’t decide?

Enter the watery world of treachery, greed, and the binding mer kiss as the story continues with Evergreen, book two of Mer Tales
Add to your GOODREADS
ATTN BOOK BLOGGERS If you've read Everblue and would love to be on the Evergreen blog tour in August.Contact Yara @ Once Upon a Twilight to sign-up. 
Hugs, Brenda

RT Convention hang-over #rt2012

OMGosh is all I can say. What a weekend! Not only did I finally meet my bosom "peas and carrots" friends, author Kristie Cook and Chrissi Jackson, I had way too much fun with way too little sleep. I don't know if anyone could have explained to me what I was to encounter at this convention. There were the best of times (being fangirled in the bathroom) and some eye bleaching times (especially during the Scottish fairy costume judging walk). But with an amazing suite (yeah Brogan!) and wonderful company, I have memories that will last a lifetime.

(Krissy, Kristie, and me) (Me and author, Laura Kreitzer)
Once I arrived in Chicago with my 90 pounds of luggage, I felt totally off my game. Thank God for a delightful new friend, Dorothy, who rescued me from going to the wrong hotel who I wouldn't have noticed except her feverish typing as she finished her first novel in the plane. Then I wasn't quite sure what to expect after arriving to the Gangster night late, but I eventually found my groove with Kristie and Chrissi.
Then we were off to the YA slumber party where I pimped my slippers for the contest! I was a runner up and won a cool book, Sirenz.
The next day was seminars and the EXPO where hundreds of authors signed books and ebooks. I had a pretty decent turn out for my first book signing!
Then we raced off for the Scottish ball. I wore pink sparkly fairy wings, my first time ever.
Friday was the roaring 20's gangster night. I came with my flapper dress, gloves, boa, fishnets and too tall shoes. We even made the cover page of RT! (see top photo) Saturday was the HUGE book expo and then an afternoon of panels for readers. I attended "Spark to Flame" with Melissa Marr, Kelly Armstrong, Nancy Holder, Beth Revis, Veronica Roth, Margret Stohl and Cinda Chima. The panel was hilarious and listening to each person's writing schedule and antics made me feel at home. What an amazing group! The evening followed with the Teen Party where I met lots of authors and fans, including J.A. Souders (Renegade), Dawn Rae Miller (Larkstorm), and soon to be published mermaid writer Zoraida Cordova (The Vicious Deep), Debra Driza (MILA 2.0). And Keira Cass of The Selection is just adorable with her bundle of joy in her tummy! It was fun to match a faces with a names of big YA authors.
Sunday was time to go home, only after a scary night of thunder so loud I thought something blew up the building. I couldn't believe the fun was over. The plane ride home was quick, but sad. But the wonderful voices of my kids and kisses from hubby overcame my grief. I will definitely be returning to Kansas City with #RT2013. So fun!!!

I'll leave you with the most important token of wisdom I received on the trip... "to sell more books, you need to be on the best sellers lists!" *wink wink*

Cover reveal: Faythe Reclaimed by Lisa Sanchez

For all you adult readers out there, I'm excited to reveal my friend, Lisa Sanchez's latest cover of her Hanaford Park series-- Faythe Reclaimed. Isn't it sexy? This is the third book, following Eve of Samhain, and Pleasures Untold. If it's anything like it's predecessors, it'll definitely be a fun, snarky, and oh to hot read to add to your TBR.

Blurb:
Running through a strange forest with a bloodthirsty demon hot on her heels wasn’t Taylor’s idea of a rockin’ evening. Then again, neither was soaring backward through time and space. Time travel chafed and left a rank, nasty aftertaste. So, when she finds herself floundering amidst a sea of Commandment-loving holy rollers who fling accusations of witchcraft and bedevilment like hotcakes in a diner, finding her way home jumps to the top of her to do list. Too bad she can’t remember who she is or where she came from. And if that wasn’t bad enough, Taylor realizes she’s fallen for Gabriel, the mysterious Latin warlock who came to her rescue.

Battling an identity crisis and lost in a time that’s not her own, Taylor is determined to find her way back to twenty-first century Hanaford Park. But first, she and Gabriel must work together to uncover the dark scourge lurking in the shadows of Salem Village, and in doing so, save their lives, and the lives of countless innocents from a lethal date with the hangman’s noose.

Follow LisaAuthor website: www.lisasanchezromanceauthor.com
Tulipe Noire Press: http://www.tulipenoirepress.com/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13552986-faythe-reclaimed

Autism Hop! Win a copy of the Talisman Trilogy

April is Autism Awareness month and I love someone with autism: my son. Through early intervention with therapy and an organic gluten free/casein free diet, he's a success story, but so many other struggle daily.

1 in 88 kids born in 2000 were diagnosed with autism, and today I fear it's more. It's an epidemic and we need more than just drugs as a solution. Our water, food, air, and vaccines all need to be cleaner and safer. Here's a recent article on my thoughts.

I'm excited to be participating in the Autism Awareness Giveaway Hop.
HOSTED BY:Lindsay @ Just Another Book Addict 
http://justanotherbookaddict.blogspot... Heather @ Fire and Ice http://fireandicephoto.blogspot.com/ Pixie @ Page Turnershttp://www.pageturnersblog.com/ Kathy @ I Am A Reader, Not A Writerhttp://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot....

CONTEST PERIOD:Wednesday April 11th to Tuesday April 17th
I'm giving away an e-copy of my entire Talisman Trilogy (3 books) or a signed copy of The Onyx Talisman -- your choice.

You can run from your destiny, but you can't hide.

To be normal, sixteen-year-old Julia Parker would shed her empathic gift in a second. Life has been difficult since her mother's mysterious disappearance ten years earlier - an event she witnessed, but can't remember. Julia's situation becomes more complicated after a near death experience from a blood thirsty stalker. As high school students go missing it is clear there is a connection to her own experience--past and present. Someone has to stop the madness and a chance encounter with a creepy psychic foretells that only Julia is the key to stopping the madness, but it may require the life of the one she loves. 
Readers who enjoyed Twilight, Vampire Diaries, Blue Bloods and The Morganville Vampires will enjoy The Emerald Talisman.

Hop on:

RT Booklovers or BUST!!!!

[image error] I'm excited, thrilled, and a little scared because tomorrow I'm attending RT Booklovers writers/book convention in Chicago for 5 days. I can't believe this day is finally here. It's been a long wait since November when I let author Kristie Cook twist my arm (and my husband's) and made the plunge to go. I'm packed and waiting for 4am to roll around so I can go to the airport.

What is this conference you ask? It's a gazillion books, authors, publishers, agents, and fun ... fun ... fun! I've never even had an official book signing let alone been to a conference, so RT Booklovers is going to be a lot of firsts for me. I know it's silly, but I'm just scared that I'll be all alone and no one will want me to sign anything for them or know who I am. So, as a bribe, I do have lots of fun goodies packed in my suitcase to share at the Indie book signing and CLUB RT Alley. Please come see me at my table either Thursday at 3:15pm (right before the BIG Indie EXPO signing) and Friday at 11:15am, or at the EXPO Thursday from 4-6pm. Or at any party! ;)

[image error] I've also packed costumes for all the fun evening events! A flapper dress, fairy wings, silly slippers and awesome shoes. I'll be posting pictures on my Facebook wall and twitter!

Anyway, if you're going anytime during the week or weekend and want to hook up, please leave a note on my Facebook wall! I'd love to meet you.

Hugs!

Brenda

Winners for Onyx Talisman Tour

We have WINNA'S!!!
Congrats and Happy Easter to:Shadow (KINDLE) -- claimedLinda H. (Signed Copy of Onyx)Linda D. (Signed Copy of Onyx) -- claimedBrenda (Signed Copy of Onyx)Patricia M. (ecopy of Onyx)Donna S. (ecopy of Onyx)Anita Y.(ecopy of Onyx)
If I'm not contacted this week by the winners, I'll redraw names.
Thank you to all the bloggers who participated in the tour and to Jaime from Two Chicks for hosting the tour.
Hugs, Brenda

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Simplicity Cover Reveal

I'm excited to participate in the cover reveal for Valia Lind's Simplicity. It's had a makeover from inside out. Isn't it lovely??? It will be released some time in April, so add it to your TBR and watch for it--I am!

Synopsis:
Driven, beautiful Alexis Sinclair lives her life to the fullest, following her dreams of running a big company. But when her world is torn apart by a storm, everything she has ever known disappears. Now, marooned on an island with a group of men, Alexis must learn to live in a world made up of simple things. Letting go of every known convenience, she realizes how insignificant her life has become. Filled with unrequited love for her rescuer she must battle the demons buried deep inside and she must look within herself and to her faith to find the strength needed to survive. Strong and influential, Jacob Peterson, has done all he can to survive. When the fate turned its tables on him, he learned to cope with the inevitable. Plagued by his past and secrets buried there, Jacob exerts a rigid control, refusing to succumb to the joys, and torturous pain, of strong emotions. Without considering love-a gift he may never receive, he believes--he chooses to live by strict set of rules. But when a strange beautiful woman washes up on his beach, the walls that he has put up long ago begin to crumble. Is she a punishment sent from God to torment his weary soul? Or is she a gift, sent from above, there to teach him how to trust? Who is this woman? And how will he stop himself from losing his heart? Will he learn to forgive the past in order to save the woman he loves?

You can find Valia here:http://wordsareinnermusic.blogspot.comhttp://twitter.com/ValiaLind http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4067029.Valia_Lindhttp://acupofsplendid.tumblr.com/
Simplicity is available on Amazon l Barnes & Noble, and be sure to add it on Goodreads.

1 in 88 ... how many until it's an epidemic?

I should be working on Evergreen today, but I have to speak out. I'm angered, saddened, and somewhat depressed about CDC's new numbers of children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. It's now 1 in 88, four times more likely to be boys than girls. But what's even more maddening this is that it's being swept under the carpet as status quo … why you ask. That's a good question.

History shows Polio was an epidemic when the rate was 1 in 2,700. So, you'd think 1 in 88 should be an epidemic. Maybe? How did we go from 1 in 10,000 children born fifty years ago to 1 in 88 today? Why isn't this an "urgent public health concern?" Why hasn't the CDC chosen to advise new parents on measures they can do to help decrease the chance of a child developing autism? I know one thing they have done … I see it every morning on a beautiful billboard with a healthy baby and a big needle.

Maybe this is why:Ginger Taylor, Executive Director of The Canary Party, said:


"We hold the CDC accountable for failing to warn parents about the risks of these exposures, and especially for CDC's own bloated, one-size-fits-all vaccine schedule – which exploded in the late 80's after vaccine makers were indemnified against litigation by Congress." 

But then the NY TIMES says:

 "The frequency of autism spectrum diagnoses has been increasing for decades, but researchers cannot agree on whether the trend is a result of heightened awareness, an expanding definition of the spectrum, an actual increase in incidence or some combination of those factors. Diagnosing the condition is not an exact science. Children "on the spectrum" vary widely in their abilities and symptoms, from mute and intellectually limited at one extreme to socially awkward at the other.Children with such diagnoses often receive extensive state-financed support services — which some experts believe may have contributed to an increase in numbers." 

Excuse me??? Heightened awareness is increasing the numbers? As if people are just looking to exploit free services. Yeah… please. Where can I sign up for someone to tell me my son isn't talking because he has autism and that the treatment is for therapists to come in my home 40 hours a week to work with him 1 on 1, not to mention the countless hours of collecting data, reports, paperwork, and the social worker monitoring everything because they have to justify paying for it. I'd like to wring the writer's neck of that article and tell him it's not easy to get a diagnosis and the tool used to figure it out has tightened up to better diagnosis kids. Just ask anyone in special Ed. This isn't some glorified "diagnosis" to get extra attention. These kids are real and need help.

So, their solution you ask? Oh wait… it's a doozy.

"Doctors working to update the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders have proposed significant changes to the definition of autism, due to take effect in 2013. If the changes are a carried out, experts say, they could significantly reduce the number of children being given a diagnosis."

So, if you want to reduce the rate, let's just reduce the diagnoses, right? Because that's the problem. Overzealous psychologists. In 2013 there will be a NEW tool used to diagnosis Autism: the DSM-5. And with this new "diagnosing" tool, kids like my son will magically be cured because they won't be diagnosed on the autism spectrum as PDD-NOS, nor Asbergers. Isn't that brilliant? My previously non-talking son wouldn't be considered "bad" enough to qualify for services. We just underwent four years of therapy to catch him up so he can go to typical school with typical peers almost unsupported. He's a prime candidate for success on the system. But to reduce the numbers, they're sweeping him and "mute" others just so we DON'T have an epidemic. The thought of where he'd be today if we didn't get the service we fought for which pulled him out of his lonely speechless world sickens me. I probably wouldn't have been able to have a quiet moment to write this article.

I guess that's what you do when you can't be sued, aren't held responsible, hold the patients, and control the media. Push the problem onto someone else, which ultimately be you, dear tax payer, because the kids on the spectrum (who won't be diagnosed anymore) won't be silent, and if you've haven't experienced a tantrum, in a few years you will.

Something is very wrong and it's so clearly points to something environmental (not just what's in the syringe), and if you're a parent or about to become a parent, these numbers should be very alarming to you and prompt you to research (and not just from those who profit from the herd or are penalized if you don't do what they prescribe).

As a parent of a child in this "group", I demand that government call this an epidemic and take action to make our air, water, foods, medicines and vaccine program safer.

Onyx Talisman Blog Tour! 3/19 - 4/6

Yay! It's finally here... the blog tour for Onyx! I'm excited and so pleased to be partnered with the greatest group of book bloggers EVER! Here's all my fabulous bloggers:

March 19- Two Chicks On Books (hostess who's the  mostest)

March 20- Books Complete Me

March 21- Live to Read

March 22- YA Bookmark

March 23- Confessions of a Bookaholic

March 24- Proud Book Nerd

March 25- La Femme Readers

March 26- Yara @ Once Upon A Twilight

March 27-Katie's Book Blog

March 28- Kristie Cook

March 29- Nightly Reading

March 30- VLSimplicity

March 31- Book Reader Addicts

April 1- Red House Books

April 2- Reader Girls

April 3- Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile

April 4- YzhaBella's Bookshelf

April 5- Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf

April 6- The Bursting Bookshelf

And we have fabulous prizes!!! And you can tweet once a day to add an entry!

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Leprecaun Hop for Talisman Trilogy 3/17 - 3/22

Hi hoppers! Thanks for stopping by! I'm giving away the Talisman Trilogy (for Nook or Kindle) which consists of: The Emerald Talisman, The Sapphire Talisman, and The Onyx Talisman.
If you enjoy Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Blade, Vampire Diaries, Morganville Vampires or Blood Bloods, you'll enjoy the Talisman Trilogy.

To be normal, sixteen-year-old Julia Parker would shed her empathic gift in a second. Life has been difficult since her mother's mysterious disappearance ten years earlier - an event she witnessed, but can't remember. Julia's situation becomes more complicated after a near death experience from a blood thirsty stalker. As high school students go missing it is clear there is a connection to her own experience--past and present. Someone has to stop the madness and a chance encounter with a creepy psychic foretells that only Julia is the key to stopping the madness, but it may require the life of the one she loves.

This Hop Start at 12:01 AM EST on Saturday, March 17th and runs through midnight on Thursday March 22nd



HOP ON WITH THIS LINK
Thanks to Kathy at I'm a reader not a writer, and Author Cindy Thomas for hosting this wonderful hop!
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