Brenda Pandos's Blog, page 17

Makeover for the Talisman Trilogy

Soooooooo.... I have some exciting news. After much waffling, I've decided to give The Talisman series a makeover.

Many of you know I was the designer of the original covers. I wasn't sure what I wanted the cover to say when I designed The Emerald Talisman two years ago for it's release. Now, that I'm a little more seasoned in my craft (I think) I stumbled across an image I loved (the emerald talisman cover now) that depicted Julia like nothing else I'd seen and wanted to use on Onyx. But the issue was putting a girl on the cover wouldn't match the rest of the series. So, for fans, I kept the same theme and used the beatiful pink/orange sunset. But still, that cover nagged at me to use it. So when designing my swag for my upcoming conference in Chicago April 11th-15th, I had a perfect opportunity to debut the new covers. I've learned you can't shut up characters and apparently you can't shut up covers either.

So.... without further ado, here they are:


Ebooks will have the new covers this week, but the physical books may take a little for them to change. I plan to have the new covered Onyx Talisman's for the RT Booklovers Conference in April if you want to see me and get your signed copy, April 12th. Personally, I can't wait to see them all in print! Eep!

What do you think? Love 'em? Hate 'em? Or... torn because you loved the original ones? Me too. The originals will always have a wonderful place in my heart!

Hugs, Brenda

Winner for Tatchi's Novella

Talk about a close race between Everkiss and Everlost, and I appreciate the championing behind each title which was very impressive. I'm happy to announce the wining title:

EVERLOST
And the first person to suggest Everlost was:
 

Gearing up for Chicago -- RT Booklovers Convention

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Photo courtesy of RT bookloversApril 11 - 15, 2012 Are you going? 
I am and I can't WAIT!
http://www.rtconvention.com/
Booksignings, Teen day, parties, reader programs, writer programs ... I tried to print out the entire agenda and found it would be 75 pages long! It's a jammed packed weekend.

I'm signing on Indie day (Thursday from 4-6pm) with my bestie author friend, Kristie Cook of the Soul Savers series, and quite possibly on Teen Day (Saturday 11am-2pm)! The good news is, if you can't attend the entire time, you can buy tickets to particular events.

So... I'm hoping you'll come join me. I'd love to meet you!

Are you attending? I'd like to make a list! Leave a comment below if you are are coming, or will be there in spirit. I'll be sure to tweet and take lots of photos the entire time!
So far we have...Kristie Cook, AuthorJaime from Two Chicks on Books
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YA Paranormal Hop - Talisman Trilogy Giveaway

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.

HOP ON WITH THIS LINK

a Rafflecopter giveaway
<a href="http://rafl.es/enable-js"&am... need javascript enabled to see this giveaway</a>.

A special thank you to I'm A Reader Not a Writer and Read for Your Future for hosting the hop!

TIME TO VOTE for the title of Tatchi's Novella

Please vote for your favorite title for Tatchi's novella. I've chosen my favorite suggestions from the previous post. For duplicate entries, I'm honoring the person who posted the idea first.

PREMISE: This novel is about Tatchi's stolen/forced promise (or marriage) to a man she hates, and now because of the merkiss, her feelings betray her and she cannot live without him--love/hate in the strongest meaning of the words. She's also separated from her family and forced to live in a culture opposite her beliefs. Her future involves her eventually becoming the Queen, so she has to mind her manners and their traditions. All of it is a living hell for her. So, the title needs to portray these ideals.

You can only vote once, so vote wisely.
Contest runs to Saturday, March 10thGood Luck!!
Have fun! BrendaCreate your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.

Evergreen Cover Release

Drum roll..... Tada! What do you think?


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 anddive into their happily ever after, though their conflicting worlds work topull them apart. Neither is ready to convert to the other's life: become ahuman or a mer. Little do they know that somewhere in Natatoria a secret holdsthe fine fabric of everyone's lives together. If the truth is discovered, Ashand 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 forthem if they can't decide?
Enter the watery world of treachery, greed, and thebinding mer kiss as the story continues with Evergreen, book two of MerTales.
Coming June of 2012. I'm excited and... I have a lot of work to do!


Click to add EVERGREEN to your
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Devotion, by Kristie Cook, Review Blog Tour

I'm happy to announce the book birthday of a dear friend and author, Kristie Cook. The wait for Devotion, book #3, is over and it's finally here! Having been on a similar journey as Kristie, I can vouch that she's probably at home, nervous, excited, and giddy as her fans devour the next in the Soul Savers Series. Let her know you love it and post a review on Amazon, B&N and Goodreads, will ya?

I promise you, you won't be disappointed. Devotion is INCREDIBLE and totally worth the wait!

With powerful abilities gained from the Ang'dora and Tristanback by her side, Alexis thinks she's ready for the next challenge— protectingher son from what appears to be the inevitable. But she has so much to learnabout her powers, her new world and the people in it. Nothing is what it seemsto be on the surface, including the Amadis.

Power-hungry politicians comprise the council and makeimpossible demands. A traitor lurks among them all, inciting trouble that coulddestroy the Amadis and, ultimately, humanity. The Daemoni wreak havoc in thehuman world, with the ultimatum that they'll continue attacking innocents untilAlexis and Tristan are expelled from the Amadis' protection. The couple's ownsociety begins to shut them out. But that's not all.

Someone's keeping a secret. A big one. Faith and hope inAlexis and Tristan will be restored if she can uncover the truth in time.

But the search for answers leads only to the discovery ofmore betrayals by those closest to Alexis. Her devotion is put to thetest—devotion to her husband, to her family, to her people and to herbeliefs—leaving her to question whom she's fighting for and why she should evenbother. But if she won't fight . . . who will?

I don't want to spoil anything for you by telling too much, but it's a page-turner and half the time I wasn't sure if I was rooting for the right people. Kristie keeps readers on their toes as she paints the scene with her words and leads readers on a wild goose chase. There's were-lions, were-tigers, were-alligators, Oh my! The Amadis is also  revealed and you'd think, for those sided with the angels, they'd be safe, right? *insert buzzer noise* Devotion is filled with love, passion, family, friendship, betrayal, lies, and treachery so deep, you want to wring someone's neck. I know for those who love the series are going to be up long hours deep into the night to find out what happens next.

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Where to buy:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Devotion-Soul-Savers-ebook/dp/B0073XXOGO/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1328111155&sr=1-4B&N.com: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1108240265?ean=2940014077279&itm=1&usri=devotion+kristie+cookSmashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/kristiecook Signed paperbacks: http://www.readourwrites.com/shop/
Follow Kristie:Email: kristie@kristiecook.com Author's Website & Blog: http://www.KristieCook.com Series Website: http://www.SoulSaversSeries.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorKristieCook Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/kristiecookauth Tumbler: http://www.tumblr.com/tumblelog/kristiecook Google+: https://plus.google.com/102746226001674797330/posts
If you are new in hearing about the series, these are the order of the books:
Book trailer for Promise
Now go out and GET IT!
Hugs, Brenda

Contest: Name Tatchi's Novella

I need a title for a novella I'm working on for Tatchi to be released around Evergreen's release. So, I'm going to turn it into a contest and ask your opinion.

Here are the guidelines:

I'd like it to play off either Ever or Never. Or it could play off a color.

There's already a book called Nevermore, Evermore, and Everneath, so I'm wanting to stay clear of those titles. Or any new releases that have the same name.

The story will take place underwater in Natatoria and focused on Tatchi wanting to leave, but unable to because of ... well, if you've read Everblue, you'll know why.

The contest will run from now 'til February 18th. Please leave a comment below with your suggestions. Enter as much as you want.

I'll pick 5-10 of my favorites and then let you vote!

Winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift card and a shout out in the acknowledgments!

Sound fun? I hope so!

Hugs, Brenda

Help & Support of a Blogger and Friend

Many of you in the book blog-a-sphere know Yara from Once Upon a Twilight. She's suffered a tremendous loss two days ago. Her home burned, not once but twice, which has caused tremendous damage.

You can imagine how horrible that would be to lose everything in one fail swoop.
I had the pleasure to meet Yara over a year ago and work with her when she first started blogging. She embraced my books and has become a wonderful friend. I'm devastated for her, but glad no one was hurt.

I'd like to help in this tragedy. I'm donating a finished copy of THE ONYX TALISMAN to one lucky winner and gift a Kindle of the TALISMAN TRILOGY to another. All you need to do is donate to the families fund, hosted by Twilight Moms, and provide receipt.


If you'd like to enter, forward the paypal payment email to laniwoodland(at)laniwoodland(dot)com. You can erase the donation amount. We just need proof you donated. Then we will use random.org to pick a winner. There's lots of other prizes from other authors as well. Check it out HERE.
Open InternationallyEnds 11:59 Jan 28thThank you! Photo from Montgomery County Police ReporterHugs, Brenda

In the Wild

Desiree sent this to me this week stating:


"This is literally how excited I was to download this book. :D :D :D :D :D Definitely not getting much sleep tonight!"

These are the things I didn't see when I started writing. Thanks Desiree! 
I'm also excited to share my new bookmarks! Squee. Note the cute dagger charm! If you check out my freebies link and join my street team, I'll send you one with a SASE.
The Onyx Talisman is sweeping Amazon by storm, listed as a best seller in these categories: #37 in Futuristic, #60 in Fantasy.
Wow.
I'm on cloud nine. Thanks everyone! The box book set (trilogy) will be out later this week and physical books later this month.
Hugs, Brenda