Brenda Pandos's Blog, page 9

Follower Contest and #Everlost love

As I'm mailing out goodies today from winners of EVERLOST release, I wanted to let you know of a new contest!

3,000 FOLLOWERS CONTEST
And, if my Twitter and Facebook Fan page hit 3,000 followers each by April 15th, I'll make EVERBLUE, book #1 of the Mer Tales Series FREE for a limited time! (And, FYI, for a limited time, The Emerald Talisman is currently free on Amazon.) So tell your friends and help share the love!


Don't forget I'll be in Kansas City May 1-5, too. I'm sharing a suite with Author Kristie Cook and we're talking about putting together a little meet-and-greet in our suite. Sound like fun? Let me know if this is something you'd like to do with us. And I'll be participating in TEEN DAY where there will be lots of other YA authors and goodies!
Also, reviews are coming in for EVERLOST. Please don't forget to leave reviews and recommend to your friends. Here's a few:

Linda says, "I could not put it down, loved all three books and should make more of the mermaids story etc. different stories like an on going soap!" 5-stars
Erin says, "Loved this trilogy. It was nice to switch it up a bit with Mers instead of the usual vampires, werewolves, etc. Action-packed, edge-of-your-seat story. The Mer Tales trilogy had me hooked! Lol Oh-I wouldn't mind catching me a Jacob. Sigh." 5-stars
Cphtpegasus says, "What a great way to tie in everything that has happened in the previous two books!! With an amazing author, a tantalizing subject, and an impressive imagination, Everlost is an exciting and marvelous adventure!" 5-stars
Arvedui says, "Loved this book the 2 week release delay was well worth it. It definitely keeps your interest from start to finish" 5-stars
Book Sushi says, "Everlost had me glued to my Kobo to finish it. It was so exciting and funny and romantic! It was nice getting the POV from Tatiana and Azor's side of things. We have action with the army against the rebels, we have romance, we have lies and deceit. Being royal is tough, so much is so fake and hidden behind closed doors. It was a great way to end this series and it closed up alot of loose ends." 4-stars

Thanks everyone for loving my characters and stories. Your kind words mean the world to me! 

WINNERS

Here's a list of all the winners from the pre-release and release party. Congrats and thanks everyone for your support! All the positive reviews, letters, notes on Facebook and kind words have been priceless to me. This is the best part of being a writer and I appreciate each and everyone one of you for letting me know you've enjoyed my stories and characters!
Congrats to the following winners!**Those who have won books, they'll be mailed by mid April. Pre-orders books will be mailed 3/27.**
RELEASE-A-THON WINNERSSIGNED COPY OF EVERLOST, NECKLACE & SWAGLisa GrazianoNadia HassanRhonda Helton
COUNTDOWN RELEASE GIVEAWAYSIGNED COPY OF EVERLOST NECKLACE & SWAGRachel OlsonNicole GarciaAlexis
E-BOOK WINNERS:Erica L.Sarah L.Malia S.Candy A.Beth C.Leah D.Cat S.Erin (airbear)Jessica C.Jasmyn D.Denise Z.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT SHOUT-OUT:Kelly Powell
NECKLACE WINNER:Nicole Hanson
MAGNET WINNER:Desiree DeOrto
KEY CHAIN WINNER:Erin Higgins

LUNAR LOVE HOP WINNER:Alicia Robinson
Hugs, Brenda

Happy Birthday #Everlost

[image error] "You don't love someone for their looks, or their clothes, or their fancy car, but because they sing a song only your soul can hear." - Oscar Wilde

As I peel open my eyes from the foggy stupor from sleeplessness, I can't help but smile. Everlost is finally available to the world and after the false start with the delayed release, I'm so happy today is here.

Kindle: Everlost
Nook: Everlost
Kobo (available soon): Everlost
Pre-Order signed copy ($9.99 today only): HERE

Physical copies will be available end of next week, and then I'll be able to order pre-release orderers and get them in the mail! Thanks for your patience.

[image error] RELEASE PARTY! Join me on facebook from 5-6pm with Jacob. I'll be giving away an ecopy of Everlost every 15 minutes and announce the winners of the Release-A-Thon. There's still time to tag/tweet stuff! Details on how to play are HERE. To RSVP for the event, click HERE

[image error] AshlynI can't begin to express my thanks the people who helped me. Janille Dutton: All the times you read earlier chapters and weren't afraid to comment, good or bad, kept me in stitches and in awe. Your attention to details was awesome! You know how to dish it so I don't feel like a loser!  Lisa Sanchez: For taking the time from your busy writing schedule to love on my characters. Lisa Langdale: For whoo hooing on the good guys and hissing at the bad ones! Chrissi Jackson: For your encouragement and wonderful insight. Author Kristie Cook: for being such an inspiration and source of help, but for squeezing me in, too, (literally) and leaving behind footprints of gold. Karen Hedger, of Crain Editing, for painstakingly looking for all my mistakes and capitalization headaches. And laughing with me over silly stuff.

Fun facts:

[image error] DRADUX: All last year, we lived in fear knowing drug addicts and a sex offender lived a few doors down. This meant dealing with the frequent cars belonging to known felons and constant visits of folks all day and night, suffering from the aftereffects of frequent meth use. We endlessly worried their house would blow, our finger always hovering over the Sherrif's dept number programmed on speed dial. Luckily, on Christmas Day they were evicted and we've loved the quiet and peace ever since. But to soften things, my kids and I ran the words together and said dradux (drug addicts). The name seemed fitting for the parasite mouthed stinky bad guys. Speaking of parasites...

PARASITES: During research, I found this beauty (eeeeeek!) What more than to make my bad guys really gross than have them enjoy parasites in their mouths!

[image error] Xirene [image error] Giraween [image error] GrommettCHARACTERS: I've come to love Pinterest. And I've created a board for thoughts and ideas from fish innards to people. If you want to take a peek, you can see what what swimming in my brain while I was losing my everloving mind to these characters. Here's an example of a few of them.
[image error] Queen Desiree

Okay, enough yammering from me. Time to set up the party online and off. And if you're wondering, I did get a chance to make my mertail cupcakes!
Happy Thursday! and Happy Reading!See you tonight!
Brenda

2 More Days to #Everlost Release!

EVERLOST Release-A-Thon
Now until my 5pm Everlost Facebook party on my author wall, Thursday, March 14th, I will be hosting a release-a-thon. Three winners will win an “EVERLOST” prize packs (this is international)

Each pack includes:
A signed copy of Everlost Matching bookmark and fleur-de-lis tattoo swagA $10 Amazon, iTunes, or Barnes & Noble gift cardAn Everlost Necklace All entries are from today to 3/15 at 5pm. To enter to win one of THREE prize packs here is what you can do:

Twitter- #EverlostTweet anything about Everblue, Evergreen, Everlost, etc and ADD THE HASHTAG #Everlost. (don't tag me): ONE entry each tweet (unlimited)Example of tweet:
Today #Everlost is released!
Or
FINALLY! The rest of Fin, Ash and Tatiana’s story #Everlost

You can also share the facebook link. I will be choosing winners and answering questions March 14th at 5pm: www.facebook.com/brendapandos

(Just be creative. As long as #everlost is in the tweet it counts as an entry)

Facebook:
Post a status about the release (limit 2 times a day): FIVE entries eachChange your avatar to the book cover: FIVE entries (tag me)Share link http://www.facebook.com/events/211179... : ONE entryShare anything about the release off my author page: FIVE entries
Pinterest users: You can post book covers, images you made yourself about the series, dream cast, mermaid stuff, kissing underwater, whatever! Pinterest board: FIVE entries (1 board limit)Pictures tagged: ONE entry per picture :)Just make sure you post the link to my author page on Facebook or email me the link to brendapandos@gmail.com. That’s the only way I can see it and add your entry.

Good Luck! I can’t wait to see what you've tweeted, Facebooked, and Pinterestized!

Cover Release:The Space Between, New Adult novel by Kristie Cook

I'm so excited to show off my BAFF, Kristie Cook's newest book cover, The Space Between - Part One in the Book of Phoenix (designed by Regina Wamba of Mae I Design) 
Release Date: April 5, 2013Synopsis:
When Life Falls to Pieces, Answers Lie in the Space Between
After a month-long dance tour through Italy, 20-year-old Leni Drago returns to Georgia to care for her great-uncle, only to find him gone, the home they shared empty and any evidence he ever existed wiped out. All that’s left is a journal she can’t open.
Jeric Winters has been searching for a piece of his past for over a year, only to reach a dead-end in Georgia. When an urgent and magnetic pull draws him out of his hotel room, he comes face-to-face with the beautiful dancer who’s been haunting his dreams day and night.
Jeric’s one to stay away from—a bad-boy, hit-it-and-quit-it type—but Leni can’t escape the fervent feelings between them. As their own existences begin to crumble around them and shadowy forms that are more monsters than men attack, they realize there’s more to the connection between them than physical fascination.
To solve the riddle their lives have become, they must embark on a journey that requires them to face their pasts and release their true souls. And they must do it fast—dark ones from another world are closing in, intent on killing them. Permanently.
**Mature Content** Recommended for ages 17+ due to sexual situations and language.**
For an excerpt, you can go to www.kristiecook.com
About the Author:Kristie Cook is a lifelong, award-winning writer in various genres, from marketing communications to fantasy fiction. She continues to write the Soul Savers Series, a New Adult paranormal romance/contemporary fantasy, with the first four books, Promise, Purpose, Devotion and Power available now and the next book coming in June 2013. She’s also written a companion novella, Genesis: A Soul Savers Novella, currently available. Over 160,000 Soul Savers books have been sold, with Promise peaking at #54 on the Amazon Top 100 Paid list and at #1 in the Amazon Fantasy category.The Space Between, which releases April 2013, kicks off her second New Adult paranormalAuthor's Website & Blog: http://www.KristieCook.comSoul Savers Series Website: http://www.SoulSaversSeries.comFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorKristieCookTwitter: http://twitter.com/#!/kristiecookauth

A small delay of #everlost to 3/14

Today I'd hoped to be putting the frosting on my 6th book, Everlost (and making these cuties) and then hit send to my proofer with the FINAL draft. But after working through these latest revisions from my fab beta team and editor, I see it's not ready yet. At 350 pages with over 30 characters, tons of passion, drama, and fighting... there's still loose ends.

So with that being said, there's no way Everlost will be ready on 2/28 date as expected. I need to push out things two more weeks. I know this is going to frustrate some of you and I'm truly sorry. I'm asking for your grace and patience just a little longer. For Tatchi, for the rebels, for Badger, Jacob, Fin, Ash. For Galadriel, Jax, and Ferdinand. For Queen Desiree and King Phaleon, and even Prince Azor. It will (hopefully) all be worth it. Once it's live, I'll let everyone know on my blog, twitter, facebook, and send out a newletter, too.

Thank you, dear readers!

Love, Brenda

YA Paranormal Giveaway Hop the 21st-27th

Could this not come at a better time, or what?
Thanks for hopping along. I'm giving away 3 ebook copies of EVERLOST, releasing in 7 DAYS! Book 3 of the Mer Tales series.

Release Date: 2/28/2013
Goodreads: Add to GOODREADS

Synopsis:With one kiss, Tatiana has discovered a love for a man she’d hated—the prince of Natatoria. Through the botched rescue attempt by her father against this union, an army of rebels has revealed their identity and intentions—treason. 
When the King is fatally injured, Azor takes things into his own hands. No one is safe as mers are forced to choose sides. Betamers take the blame, including Tatiana’s family’s closest friend, Badger, and the punishment is death. Caught between the bond and her true feelings, Tatiana, the future Queen, must overcome the promise to fight for what’s right and uncover the truths of the past or all will become Everlost.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Preorder's for Everlost

For those who'd like to pre-order a signed physical copy of Everlost with matching bookmark, you can order here. I'll be shipping them around mid-March.
Signed Paperback of EVERLOST
11.99
9.99

Ebook for B&N, iBooks, Kobo, and Amazon will be on or around 2/28/13. If you'd like to receive an email when books are available, sign-up for my newsletter here: Subscribe to mailing list

Talking with Erin, one of the voices behind Everblue

Hi Erin, thanks for stopping by my blog to today to talk about what it's like to be a narrator. It's always fun to meet the face behind the voice.
Tell us about yourself and your career path:
I am an actor and voice artist in New York City.  My happiest places to be are onstage and in the recording booth.  In my free time, I may be a little too obsessed with feng shui.  www.erinmallon.net
Awesome! I don't know how you do it. I get tongue twisted, cotton mouth, and never have the right inflection. Have you narrated other audio books?
Yes!  I record a lot of YA fiction and Adult romances, so I’m forever surrounded by teenaged vampires, werewolves, angels and demons, and folks involved in angsty love affairs.  It’s the best.  Everblue, however, was my first foray into the world of mermaids!     
You've also read for my BAFF, Kristie Cook which I'm listening to right now! I'm thrilled Everblue could be your first dive into the mer world. What was it like reading for Ash? 
I had a blast with Ash.  It was such fun for me to return to high school.  I myself went to an all-girls catholic high school, so I enjoyed getting to swim around in the world of co-ed public school, where your crush can brush past you in the hallway at any minute and the lunchroom is full of drama (not that we girls didn't have our own kind of drama at lunch).     
Could I ever agree. Personally, I went to a small private school, so there was no new Mr Fabulous walking down our 1 and only hall. Did you read Fin's chapters in between your chapters?  
And yes, I absolutely read all of Fin’s chapters between mine.  I think it’s really important to read the entire book, even if I’m only narrating a portion of it, as wonderful writers such as yourself weave rich character details throughout the story that help narrators make decisions.  I’d be missing key information if I skipped those sections.  Plus, as someone who was enjoying the story, I just didn't want to miss out on all the great stuff that was happening underwater!
Awe. Thanks. I'm glad their personalities are just as powerful for you as they are for me when writing them. Did you have difficulty with any scenes or characters?
Not really!  One thing I love about Everblue (there are many) is how you’ve created these two very distinct worlds for Ash and Fin. I think Chris, who co-narrated the book, had the tougher job in terms of discovering broader characters and dialects, as his was the more fantastical world.   Ash’s environment felt very natural and comfortable for me.  The characters felt like people I know and love, and I was right at home digging into the joys of awkward/exhilarating phone calls with boys and good ol’ fashioned sibling rivalry at the dinner table.
Often times Ash's world felt boring compared to Fin's fantastical world in Natatoria. You made her drab life sound way more exciting than in my head. Which was your favorite character?
I have to say Georgia.  That girl is completely hyped up on life!  I mean who else would get so jazzed by hair gum?  I found her enthusiasm to be contagious and great fun to play.   
Oh my gosh! You totally nailed Georgia :) Did you converse with Chris at all during the process as he read Fin's part? 
Would you believe it if I told you we’ve never actually met?  We just finished co-narrating another book together too!  I’ve started joking around that he’s my secret audio boyfriend.  While I didn’t speak with him directly during the recording, I did listen to some of his narration and got updates on his process from the directors and engineers. I wanted to get a sense of his take on Fin and weave it into my narration in a way that felt cohesive.
I was so jazzed you two wanted to co-narrate. It's funny you've never met. I think you need a work potluck! Any funny stories? 
Yes!  As you already know, instead of pronouncing mermatron as mer- MAY-truhn (like one would pronounce a “matron of honor”), somehow we lost our minds for a second and pronounced it Mer-muh-TRON.  Surely you knew you wrote a book with mermaid robots?  Don’t worry everyone, we fixed it. J
Yes... that was funny! And I'm forever saying mer-muh-trons in my head whenever I write it from now on! 
Thanks for stopping by, Erin! I love your name by the way... I have my own Aaron myself and we're quite fond of the name. 
You can get the audio of Everblue HERE, at audible.com. 

Teaser Tuesday: #everlost swag

Lookie what came in the mail today! My swag for Everlost. I'm tickled and in love! Then sweat started to pour from my brow to know the release is only 15 days away. Gasp! So much left to do! So... there's two ways to get your hands on some swag.

For a bookmark/s (only), you can request one by sending me a self-addressed stamped envelope to:

Brenda Pandos
PO BOX 601901
Sacramento, CA 95860

OR... for those who are extra creative and spread the word for the release of Everlost, I have a bookmark, fleur-de-lis bobble, and fleur-de-lis tattoo (while supplies last). Ideas:   Change your avi to the EVERLOST book cover, tweet something with #everlost hashtag, use my name/book and share on a posts (link to me so I know), share any of my facebook posts, you get the idea. 

Email me with a link to your creative awesome sauce and your address at: brendapandos(at)gmail.com.

Also, enter my contest below if you haven't yet!

a Rafflecopter giveaway