Sarah Ballance's Blog, page 37

The Feed Your Reader Launch #Kindle Fire #Giveaway

Inspired Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer has launched a new site aimed at bringing you the best Kindle Ebook Deals and Steals.

Each day on feedyourreader.com you’ll find a new list of available ebook deals (most for under $3).

And of course there will be lots of  Featured Freebies too!

To celebrate the launch of the new site she is giving away a Kindle Fire, Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash.

Win a 7″ Kindle Fire (US only)

Or $100 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)

 

 

Or $100 in Paypal Cash (International)

 

Giveaway Details 

1 winner will receive their choice of a Kindle Fire 7″ (US Only), $100 Amazon Gift Card or $100 in Paypal Cash (International).

Ends 5/5/13 - CLICK HERE TO ENTER a Rafflecopter giveaway

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Prize value $100-$159 US.

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Seven Dirty Words from Author Charlotte Howard

Is there a better way to kick off the weekend than with SEVEN DIRTY WORDS? I don’t know about you but I’m all about giving it a shot! Let’s get to know our guest, Charlotte Howard, and her debut release, shall we?

Welcome, Charlotte! I absolutely have to ask about your intriguing cover. Are those unhappy tears, or is there something more behind her expression?

A bit of both.   Paige is overcoming a traumatic experience, and finds herself torn between two men who are completely different, and yet strangely similar.  She is also an active person and finds herself in lots of scrapes!  So the tears represent her pain physically, emotionally, and mentally.

And just like that … I’m hooked. Which one or two themes most accurately captures your story? 

I’m not sure.  At the end of the day, it is a love story.  But it’s also about a young woman overcoming her fears and finding her inner strength.

It certainly promises to be a powerful story. What might readers be surprised to learn about the plot or characters SEVEN DIRTY WORDS?

Paige isn’t your usual heroine.  She comes from a wealthy and educated background, but doesn’t act on it.  She’s stubborn, living in a male-driven world, but trying to keep hold of her femininity.

I love how much conflict exists in that short description! Let’s have some fun with SEVEN DIRTY WORDS. What’s the first sentence?

“I died for a short while the first time we met.”

Oooh, that’s a fantastic line! What’s your favorite line in the book?

Probably that one!  I love the entire first paragraph.

*really wants to see the entire first paragraph* LOL! How about a brief excerpt? 

From Chapter Ten:

“I tried to relax, I tried to enjoy the event, but I couldn’t.  My mind was racing, each thought hurting more than any bruise.  What had he meant when he’d said he knows of me?  Everything that had happened had been buried by my father.  I didn’t want to think about it.  I’d spent a year fighting those unwelcome thoughts.  Twelve months, three weeks and one day to be precise.

Danny whisked me into a swaying waltz as the string quartet played something classical, although there is no point in asking me to name the tune.  A tap on his shoulder stopped us.  “May I?”  TDS stood holding a hand out.  Danny looked at me, his gaze searching mine for permission to put him on his backside.  I shrugged and took the hand of TDS.”

Wow. I SO wanted you to keep going there. You have a great voice! Which scene of SEVEN DIRTY WORDS was most difficult for you to write? Why?

A particularly violent scene, where Paige is remembering what happened to her.  (I can’t say what because it’s all part of her mystery in the beginning of the book!!) She looks at it with a mechanical, robotic, POV.  It wasn’t really the writing that was difficult, but the research that went into it.  It was harrowing to say the least.

I can only imagine how it would be to research something horribly violent. Which scene would you most like to experience for yourself? From whose POV?

Ooh, now that would be telling!!  Definitely one of the scenes involving Vance Ellery (TDS).  Possibly from his POV.

That sounds promising! *grins* What inspired the title of SEVEN DIRTY WORDS?

The title came to me before the story.  I’d heard the saying “Seven Dirty Words” and thought it seemed like the title for a provocative romance.  I was shocked when I couldn’t find one!  Apparently they come from a list of words that were banned from radio and TV in the 70s.

I’m totally wondering which seven you had in  mind, lol. Would you make the same choice your heroine did? 

If I’d been in her situation, then probably yes.

Now that we’re all completely mired in curiosity, LOL, one more question before we let you go. On what are you currently working?

I’m currently writing Four Letter Words, the sequel to Seven Dirty Words.  I also have a couple more plotlines in the works.

Those titles are beyond clever. Okay, let’s take a look!

Seven Dirty Words

Paige Holmes hides herself in a masculine world in a desperate attempt to remain safe. Just as she is ready to face her fears and her past, she finds herself torn between Matt Jackson and Vance Ellery: handsome, rich, and safe – or handsome, rich, and dangerous? Which will she choose? The one who appears to be the most perfect, or the one who makes her use all Seven Dirty Words?

Find it @ Rocking Horse Publishing | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Charlotte Howard

Born in Oman, Charlotte moved to the UK in 1989, settling in Somerset in 2008. She lives with her husband, two children, and growing menagerie of pets, and works as a makeup artist and a freelance writer. She loves learning new skills and keeping fit, always looking for ways to keep her brain and body active. Her career as a writer started at an early age when she began writing poetry, short stories, and flash fiction. “Seven Dirty Words” is her first published full-length novel.

Learn more @ Website | Blog | Rocking Horse Publishing | Amazon Author Page | Facebook | Twitter @Shy_Tiger | Goodreads

Sarah here: Thank you all for joining us today! I hope you enjoyed this glimpse between the pages of SEVEN DIRTY WORDS. If you grab a copy, please be sure to leave a review. Charlotte, it’s been a pleasure, and I do hope you’ll return with FOUR LETTER WORDS! ;c)

Avoid Becoming a Victim: Lindy S. Hudis Talks “Crashers”

Put on your seatbelts, folks. This guest blog by author Lindy S. Hudis really could change your life!

Lindy S. Hudis: Fraud, Crashes, and “Crashers”

Of the 10 million or so automobile accidents reported each year, one out of five of them may not even be accidents at all. In fact, they just may be a planned or “staged” accident – one of the fastest growing types of fraud in the country today.  If you drive a car, you could be another victim.

What criminals find most alluring about this type of fraud, is that it is difficult to prove.  This is why the “crash for cash” accidents continue to be a growing problem. How fast is this growing? The National Insurance Crime Bureau states that as recently as 2009, there were around 85,000 questionable insurance claims reported. That is up 43% from 2008. It may not be bank robbery, but this crime is here to stay.

There is also an array of professionals who are recruited to participate in this type of fraud. Attorneys, doctors and various “victims” – sometimes referred to as “cappers” and “hammers” –  all collaborate to misrepresent facts to fraudulently obtain insurance money. The results of this are skyrocketing costs for insurance premiums, medical insurance, and various other expenses. This crime costs the insurance industry literally hundreds of millions each year.

Staged automobile accidents usually include these types of situations: fake auto accidents with phony injuries, falsification of reports about cars being hit, and “victims” being added to fake accident reports.

There are several types of scams involved in these particular crimes:

1)      Swoop and Squat – A vehicle, the “hammer car”, will cut you off in traffic (the swoop) and suddenly slams on the brakes (the squat) which results in a rear-end collision. The suspect car has “victims”, or “stuffed passengers”, who claim to have painful neck and back injuries, even if the collision was at a low speed.

2)      Sideswipe – A fraudulent “victim”/ driver could deliberately ram you at a busy intersection.

3)      “Helpers” – You could be approached by a friendly stranger at the scene of an accident. They may seem like they are trying to “help” you, but in reality they will try to bully you into seeking treatment at a specific medical clinic, a specific attorney, or an specific body shop for the repairs on your car. This person could be a “capper” – an individual who recruits various people into his network.

What can you do to avoid being a victim? The answer is to be proactive, not reactive. First, never tailgate. It’s dangerous, and makes you an easy mark for any unscrupulous drivers.  Second, glance into your rear view mirror every 8 seconds to observe the drivers behind you. Keep a safe distance between you and them. Third, look beyond the car in front of you while driving. Keep your eyes up and on the road at all times.  Never drive distracted. If you follow basic common sense advice while driving, you can be rest assured that you, and your passengers, will remain safe, and you won’t be a victim to any dishonest drivers.

Lindy S. Hudis – author of Crashers

Crashers

It may not be armed robbery, but the illegal business of fraudulent car accidents is a multi-million dollar racket, involving unscrupulous medical providers, personal injury attorneys, and the cooperating passengers involved in the accidents and who also receive a portion of the illegal proceeds. What makes good people turn to crime—any type of crime? Newly engaged, Nathan and Shari are blissfully happy—but their joy is tempered by the dark cloud of mounting debt. They know it’s just a matter of time until an avalanche of bills buries them—and their future along with it. A chance encounter with a stranger in whom Shari confides her troubles, proves fortuitous: he tells her of a get-rich-quick scheme that will put her and her fiancé on easy street. Seduced by the chance to move from hard times to good times in no time, she takes the carrot offered her, and finds herself acting as a “stuffed passenger”—the “victim” in a staged auto accident. The act goes according to plan and Shari gets her payday. She goes back for more—again and again, eventually becoming trapped in a dark and dangerous underworld, dragging her fiancé with her. Getting out and breaking free will take nothing short of a miracle. A modern day cautionary tale, Crashers is a fascinating study in the derailing of a young couple’s moral compass.

Find it @ Website | Buy Links | Facebook | Twitter

Lindy S. Hudis

Lindy S.Hudis is a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where she studied drama. She is a former actress, having appeared on such television shows as “Sunset Beach” and “Married with Children”. Her romantic murder mystery, Weekends, is currently available from Lachesis Publishing. She is also a filmmaker, her independent short film “The Lesson”, which she wrote, produced and directed, screened at the Seattle Underground Film Festival. She is co-owner of an independent production company called Impact Motion Pictures. She and her husband Steve, a Hollywood stuntman, have just completed the screenplay adaptation of Charmaine Hammond’s best selling book, “On Toby’s Terms.”  She lives in California with her family.

Sarah here: Shew. We get some amazing talent in here. Thank you for joining us, Lindy! I was already wooed by the book premise, and now I see mention of “Married with Children,” which was a guilty pleasure of mine. *grins* But guys, Lindy had me hooked long before I got to her bio. What about this guest piece surprised you most? Weigh in and say hello!

$50 Book Blast: “Moonlit” by Jadie Jones ($50 #Giveaway)

Moonlit

Eighteen-year-old Tanzy Hightower knows horses, has grown up with them on Wildwood Farm. She also knows not to venture beyond the trees that line the pasture. Things happen out there that can’t be explained. Or undone. Worse, no one but she and the horses can see what lurks in the shadows of the woods.

When a moonlit ride turns into a terrifying chase, Tanzy is left to question everything, from the freak accident that killed her father to the very blood in her veins. Broken and confused, she turns to Lucas, a scarred, beautiful stranger, and to Vanessa, a charming new friend who has everything Tanzy doesn’t.

But why do they seem to know more about her than she knows herself?

Amazon Kindle * Amazon * Goodreads

WiDo Publishing * Barnes & Noble

Praise

“Virginia’s trees look like they’re burning. Most of them blaze crimson or gold, but some still have a chokehold on their green. I wish they’d give it up already. Leaves are more beautiful when they’re dying.”

And so Moonlit begins. From here the story rolls from one twist to another with many vivid characters whose motives are hard to predict. I found myself being suspicious of everyone, wanting to tell Tanzy to be very careful. The deeper I fell into the plot, the more questions kept rising to the surface. But not to worry, all of my questions were answered. Appropriate for all ages, if you love paranormal fantasy mixed with suspense, mystery and other-worldly romance, you’ll love this novel!

~Author Julie Ford

Prologue

The first anniversary of my father’s death was even harder on my mother. Back then, I thought she was haunted most by what she didn’t know. I refused to blame her when she raged above me on our staircase that night, drunk and sad and angry. When she made me promise I’d never ride again. When she hurled a half-full bottle of vodka at my face and it exploded on the wooden stairs at my feet. I hadn’t tried to get out of the way. She had just missed.

I wanted to tell her that knowledge was no solace, that what you know can burn inside you until there’s nothing left but guilt and ash. I also wanted to protect her from losing the only piece of him she had left. So I didn’t say a word.

Author Jadie Jones

Georgia native Jadie Jones first began working for a horse farm at twelve years old, her love of horses matched only by her love of books. She went on to acquire a B.A. in equine business management, and worked for competitive horse farms along the east coast. The need to write followed wherever she went.

She currently coaches a hunt seat equitation team that competes in the Interscholastic Equestrian Association, and lives with her family in the foothills of north Georgia. When she’s not working on the next installment of the Moonlit series, she is either in the saddle or exploring the great outdoors with her daughter. Moonlit is her first book.

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Book Blast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 5/5/13 - CLICK HERE TO ENTER a Rafflecopter giveaway

Beth Fred Talks “The Marlowe Girls” (#Giveaway)

Please welcome Beth Fred, who stops by with a generous giveaway and the scoop on the difference between the two Marlowe sisters, each of whom you’ll get to know in her books THE FATE OF A MARLOWE GIRL and THE OTHER MARLOWE GIRL.

Beth Fred on the Marlowe Girls

Thank you so much for having me here today to talk about the differences between the two Marlowe sisters!

Tiffany is hardworking, quiet, and tends to put everyone else’s needs before her own. And Luke loves this about her. But she lacks confidence, and I think her interactions with Luke help her gain this. Kammy seems to be the polar opposite of her sister. She starts out very self-centered with no direction in life. She has a wild side and likes to party. But the thing that people don’t realize is that Kammy is insecure too. She appears confident, because she knows she’s beautiful. What she doesn’t know—what she has to learn—is that she has skills and talents outside of her physical appearance. And that while she’s not as “smart” as her sister is, her skills are valuable too.  It isn’t that Kammy is not smart, but she thinks differently than her sister. She manages to get herself out of some situations in The Other Marlowe Girl that I don’t think Tiffany would have been able to get out of on her own. I think the two girls are more alike than they realize, but the different attributes they bring to the table helps them balance each other out. Tiffany tends to take life too seriously while much of the time, Kammy doesn’t take life seriously enough.

The Fate of a Marlowe Girl

When twenty-four-year-old Tiffany escapes her sister Kammy’s too wild Cancun bachelorette party, she finds herself in a bar with the unwanted attention of a gorgeous local named Luke.

Luke may be charming but Tiffany is leaving in two days and doesn’t need any complications. But complications are exactly what she gets when the cops show up to raid Kammy’s party. When Kammy is arrested, Tiffany agrees to have dinner with Luke, so he’ll help her get Kammy out of jail. Kammy’s arrest forces her to spend an extra day in Cancun, meaning she’ll miss a crucial meeting, and as an accountant in tax season, she is already drowning in work. Not to mention, every second she spends with Luke makes it harder to leave. With Luke, Tiffany is almost ready to forget about work.

Will the airport be their final goodbye?

Find it @ Amazon * Barnes & Noble

The Other Marlowe Girl

When twenty-four-year-old dance school drop out Kammy Marlowe is evicted by her mother, she goes to her favorite bar. She finds an unlikely friend in the blunt eye candy, Enrique. But Kammy knows there is no way she and Enrique have a shot because he’s her brother-in-law’s brother and has been privy to her wild past.

Enrique swears he’s only interested in the person she is today, but their relationship is tested when her ex-husband’s drug dealer attacks her, looking for money. With no options and a money hungry drug dealer on her back, Kammy accepts a position as a dancer at a strip club. But when Enrique shows up at the club, their relationship is over. With no reason to stay in Texas anymore, Kammy auditions for the Bolshevik Ballet and gets the opportunity to go to Russia. Only Enrique is determined to stop her.

Will she give up the chance of a lifetime to stay with the man she still loves?

Find it @ Amazon

Excerpt

“We’ll talk about this more tomorrow. I don’t want my brother to see me out so late.” He placed a hand on my cheek and pressed his lips against mine. My mouth parted and so did his. The taste of Enrique filled me with desire, but I’d learned enough from Emmett that I knew I didn’t want whatever chance I had with Enrique to start out like this. Using more self-control than I knew I had, I pulled away from him.

Beth Fred

Meet Beth Fred! That’s me! I’m a full time ELF keeper and part time writer/blogger/writing instructor. I’m represented by Kathleen Rushall of Marsal Lyons Literary Agency. I like my tea hot, my romance sweet, and my guys chivalrous. Real men hold open doors, refer to you as ma’am, make promises they keep, and aren’t afraid to profess their undying love. It’s not breakfast if there aren’t carbs(at least, not in the South). Fajitas, carnitas, and churros are just few of my favorite things. Bet you can’t guess where I’m from  Wanna know more about me? You can find that here:

Learn more @ Blog * Facebook * Twitter

Giveaway

To enter to win a $10 Amazon gift card, please click here. Giveaway ends 5/5/13.

Sarah here: What do you guys think? Are you hooked? Before you head off to enter the giveaway and click some buy links, be sure to say hello to Beth. And while you’re here, let’s talk siblings. I’m an only child so I can’t answer this one, but let’s hear it: are you and your siblings alike or complete opposites? Are you closer to your same-sex siblings or is that not always the case? I’m looking forward to your comments!

$50 Book Blast: Hades and the Helm of Darkness ($50 #Giveaway)

Hades and the Helm of Darkness (Heroes in Training Book 3)

The Heroes in Training are entering the Underworld—if Hades can conquer his canine fears, that is.

The Underworld usually isn’t really meant to be a fun place—but tell that to Hades! He loves the dark and the stinky smell of sulfur. However, there is one thing that Hades is not a fan of: dogs. And when Zeus and his fellow Olympians encounter Cerberus—a snarling, three-headed dog—Hades must conquer his fears and tame the hound so everyone can continue into the Underworld and deposit their Titan prisoner, Oceanus, back where he belongs!

But with magical water that causes forgetfulness, hot beds of lava, and another epic battle with two more Titans standing in their way, will Zeus and his heroes make it out of the Underworld with everyone intact?

Amazon * Amazon Kindle * Barnes & Noble

Heroes in Training by Joan Holub & Suzanne Williams

Authors Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams deliver fun, adventures, and a few surprises as ten-year-old Olympians go on a journey of a lifetime to discover their true identities and defeat their Titan enemies.

Praise for Heroes in Training

“Readers will gobble this down and look for more, make no mythtake.”

~ Kirkus

“This is a fun read, casting Zeus in the role of relatable kid, and there is a nice balance between his primary goal of survival and his sense of destiny and adventure. . . Share this title, and likely more to come, with those still too young for Percy Jackson’s adventures.”

~ School Library Journal

The Series

#1 Zeus and the Thunderbolt of Doom

#2 Poseidon and the Sea of Fury

#3 Hades and the Helm of Darkness

#4 Hyperion and the Great Balls of Fire

Aladdin Paperbacks (ages 6-9)

http://series.simonandschuster.com/Heroes-in-training

Zeus and the Thunderbolt of Doom (Book 1)

After pulling a magical thunderbolt from a stone, ten-year-old Zeus goes on the adventure of a lifetime in this thrilling start to a brand-new series! The terrible Titans–merciless giants who enjoy snacking on humans–have dominated the earth and put the world into chaos. But their rule is about to be put to the test as a group of young Olympians discover their powers and prepare to righteously rule the universe….

Ten-year-old Zeus is mystified (and super-annoyed) by the fact that he keeps getting hit by lightening. Every. Single. Year. He also longs for adventure, as he has never been far from the cave where he grew up.

Zeus gets his wish–and a lot more than he bargained for–when he is kidnapped by dangerous, giant Titans! In self-defense, he grabs the first thing he sees–an actual thunderbolt he pulls from a stone that is covered in mysterious markings. Zeus is the only one who can decipher the markings, and sets off on a quest to rescue his youthful fellow Olympians from the evil Cronus. Armed with his trusty thunderbolt (named Bolt, of course), Zeus is on an adventure of a lifetime–and a journey to fulfill his destiny as King of the Gods.

Amazon *Amazon Kindle * Barnes & Noble

Poseidon and t he Sea of Fury (Book 2)

A young Poseidon must triumph over aquatic terrors in this Heroes in Training adventure. The merciless Cronus and his Titan buddies are in hot pursuit of Zeus, Hera, and Poseidon, who plan to travel across the treacherous boiling sea in order to save a fellow Olympian. They have a boat, but they also have a problem: Poseidon can’t swim and is terrified of the water (well, really of the creatures that lurk in its depths). The group faces danger after danger as they battle singing sirens, a fishy and ferocious Titan named Oceanus, and people-eating monsters sent by Cronus himself. Can Poseidon overcome his fears and help his fellow heroes escape Cronus and his cronies?

Amazon * Amazon Kindle * Barnes & Noble

Author Suzanne Williams

Suzanne Williams is the award-winning author of nearly 40 books for children, from picture books and easy readers to chapter books and middle grade fiction series. A former elementary school librarian, she lives near Seattle. Her picture book Library Lil (illustrated by Steven Kellogg) won the New Mexico children’s choice award in 2000 and was on several other state award lists. She is co-author (with Joan Holub) of the popular Goddess Girls series(for ages 8 – 12) and Heroes in Training (ages 6 – 11). Other series include Fairy Blossoms and Princess Power.

Website * Blog

Author Joan Holub

I graduated from college in Texas with a fine arts degree, and then freelanced as an art director at a graphic design firm for eight years. I dreamed of working in children’s books, so I moved to New York City and became associate art director in Scholastic trade books, where I designed books for children and worked with editors and illustrators. It was a great job.

I illustrated my first published children’s book in 1992 and soon began illustrating full time. I began completing manuscripts and mailing them out to publishers in the early 1990s. In 1996, I sold my first two manuscripts — Boo Who? A Spooky Lift-the-Flap Book (Scholastic) and Pen Pals (Grosset & Dunlap). Yippee!

Now I write full time and have written and/or illustrated over 130 children’s books. Creating books that entertain, inform, and interest children (and me) is a fabulous job that I truly love.

Twitter * Website * Blog

Book Blast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 4/25/13 — Click to enter this Rafflecopter giveaway

Signed Paperback #Giveaway Hop April 16th-22nd (US)

Welcome to the signed paperback giveaway hosted by I Am a Reader Not a Writer and co-hosted by Wholly Books! I am giving away a signed paperback copy of my ghost story romance HAWTHORNE, which is available now in ebook form for just 99c.

Please note: Due to the much higher cost of shipping directly (rather from a retailer), this giveaway is open to US addresses only.

To enter, please leave a comment with your contact info. (If you put your email address in the comment form, I will be able to see it. You do not have to post it publicly.) I would also greatly appreciate if you’d consider following my blog (email box at the top of the sidebar) and liking me on facebook (“like” box a bit further down in the sidebar) but the only requirement for entry is to leave a comment.

For more fantastic giveaways, head to the linky list by clicking here to see all participating blogs.

VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. For full giveaway rules, please click here.

#WeWriWa #8Sunday #SnipSun Will Return (And I Have a New Contract!)

I’m throwing a TINY scoop in here: I just signed a contract for a historical romance to release this fall. More details to come … in the meantime, I’m burning some SERIOUS calories with all of this happy dancing!

Now, onto the snippet … or lack thereof.

Hello, my lovelies! Thank you for dropping in today. April promises to be a busy month for me — I’m still working to meet my May 1 deadline (for the aforementioned historical romance) and have another set of edits to do and some other writerly things — so I’m putting my Sunday Snippets on hold. And I know I still have a few blogs from March to visit. EEEP! (Forgive me, guys … I’m going to each and every one!) Anyway, until I catch up and get through my deadlines I’m going to take a break from my Sunday rounds. I hope to be back soon with a couple of new releases in the works and lots of time to read all of your fabulous snippets!

I’ll see you then!

April Kindle Fire #Giveaway (Ends 4/30/13 – INT $199 GC or Cash)

Kindle Fire HD 7″ Giveaway

The winner will have the option of receiving a 7″ Kindle Fire HD (US Only)

Or $199 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)

Or $199 in Paypal Cash (International)

Sponsoring Bloggers & Authors

I Am A Reader, Not A Writer
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Girls With Books
My Life With Books
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All Fantasy Worlds
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Fade Into Fantasy
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Feed Your Reader
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Giveaway Details

1 winner will receive their choice of a Kindle Fire 7″ HD (US Only), $199 Amazon Gift Card or $199 in Paypal Cash (International).

Ends 4/30/13 - CLICK HERE TO ENTER

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the participating authors & bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Prize value $199 US.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

10 Things to See and Do: “Blue Hearts of Mars” by Nicole Grotepas ($50 #Giveaway)

Please welcome author Nicole Grotepas with a clever, creative guest blog that takes you right into the pages of her new release, BLUE HEARTS OF MARS. Nicole, take it away!

Blue Hearts of Mars: 10 Things to See and Do

What is there to see and do in Blue Hearts of Mars? So. Much. I’ll give you ten, though I could list thousands. Hundreds of thousands. Er. Hundreds, at least.

First off, Blue Hearts of Mars takes place on Mars. Who doesn’t want to go to Mars? OK, I mean, without a guarantee of arrival, I wouldn’t go to Mars either. But in my fantasies? I’m there already!

1 – Tour the library in New Helsinki. Book lovers! History fiends! Museum addicts! The library isn’t just for books these days. Check out the robotics exhibit to get a taste of the history of androids. Stroll through the history-makers wax statue section. Nothing creepy about wax statues, right?

2 – Ride the space elevator! Need an adrenalin fix? Look no further! The space elevator has practical uses, but when you’re feeling claustrophobic from life under the dome, take a trip out to the space elevator platform and catch a ride space-side.

3 – Ride the rails! See Mars as it was always meant to be seen: by train! If you thought it would be fun to cross Russia on the Trans-Siberian Railway, imagine crossing the Amazonis Planitia (Amazon Plain) on your way to New Philadelphia from New Helsinki!

4 – See the rock gardens of New Tokyo. If you love the American southwest, you’ll adore the wind-carved canyons of New Tokyo. These naturally occurring arches, swells, and caverns are right in the middle of the city. It’s New Tokyo’s own Central Park, but without all the boring horse-drawn carriages, pigeons, and winter ice-skating.

5 – Watch a performance in the New Sydney opera house. A replica of the Sydney Opera House, the settlers of New Sydney even created a vast reservoir to complement the beautiful architecture of this landmark building.

6 – Tour the rice paddies of New Tokyo. Who wants to leave behind such a staple of Asia? Built on gentle slopes near the outskirts of the New Tokyo dome, these features unique to New Tokyo require enormous amounts of water, which is pulled from the subterranean ice.

7 – Go for a walk around the Vents of New Helsinki (may be a reason to NOT visit, depends on your mood and the time of day). Retta’s city is heated by geothermal currents rising from crevasses in the Martian crust. Replete with catwalks, platforms, and cooling towers, the Vents are an awe-inspiring geological feature.

8 – See the melted ice sheet of Neuholland! Glaciers! Fields of grain! Tulips! Ice climbing! Scuba-diving! And if that doesn’t entice you, just remember that the Dutch have managed to reclaim twenty-seven percent of their land from the North Sea on Earth. Imagine what they can do on Mars to reclaim water!

9 – Go for a spa week on one of the luxury space-cruise lines. Is anyone not into spas? It’s pure indulgence. And in space, no less.

10 – Watch Phobos, the larger of the two moons, rise in the west. Wha’? Gasp! Yes, you heard me right! Mars has two moons. Deimos is very small and appears with about the same brightness as Venus does in Earth’s night sky. Phobos is slightly larger and rises in the west. Its rotation around Mars is really fast, as well. Cool! You could feasibly watch Phobos rise and set a few times in one day.

That’s it. Totally rocks, doesn’t it? I hope to see you in New Helsinki soon!

–Nicole

Blue Hearts of Mars

Retta Heikkinen knows the unspoken rule of society: love between androids and humans is forbidden. A simple enough edict until Hemingway Koskinen spends an evening charming her with his intense gaze, bewitching smile, and sparkling conversation that hints at so much more than the usual obsessions of high school boys. Rules were meant to be cast aside, especially when love beckons.

If only it were as simple as being in love.

Trouble is brewing, not just for Hemingway–for all androids. Secrets have been kept, lies propagated, and Retta soon discovers that a frightening future awaits thousands of androids if she doesn’t do something to stop it. Worse yet, she will lose the one love she’s ever endangered herself for: Hemingway.

Praise

“Nothing like I’ve read before. A true original story! Everything is so well described. Now if they could make a follow up book and movie, that would be great!” ~Mrs. Z (Amazon)

“I was addicted to this book from the beginning. Life on Mars was very real and not at all a sci fi world I didn’t understand . . . I found myself rooting for Retta and Hemingway from the very beginning. Easy reading, couldn’t put it down and had it read in a weekend. Waiting for a sequel!” ~TNielsen (Amazon)

“The ending of this book is exceptional. While it was different from what I imagined, the way the author brought in a shocking revelation was amazing. I probably reread the last chapter 3 times letting it sink in and the meaning behind it. It was truly beautiful . . . I would love to see more of Retta and Hemingway!” ~Kat Meyer, (Goodreads)

“I love how the author populated Mars . . . so descriptive and comprehensive . . . I could clearly picture everything as if I was seeing the movie &/or was along for the ride. . . . Retta, the main character, is strong, opinionated, and a great champion for her cause.” ~Megan (Amazon)

“I had been in the worst reading slump ever and came across this on Goodreads and thought I’d give it a try. Well, I was pleasantly surprised on how funny and exciting and mysterious it was . . . Mei, Retta’s bff, had me laughing out loud quite a bit as well as Retta herself. I’d definitely hang out with those two.” ~Deanneluvbooks (Goodreads)

Blue Hearts of Mars has made it to the quarterfinals of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award.

Readers are invited to download the excerpts (here) and rate and comment on the entries. So please, if you want to contribute, download and rate Blue Hearts! Your support is incredibly appreciated!

Or purchase the full version of the book here: Amazon

Author Nicole Grotepas

Nicole wrote her first fantasy novel in 7th grade on her mother’s old Brother typewriter. It was never finished but it strongly resembled a Dragonlance plot and she’s forever wondered what happened to the manuscript and Tonathan–the handsome elven protagonist. After living in Nashville where she worked as an editor, she returned to the Utah desert where she was raised. Nicole now lives near the Wasatch mountains with her husband. She writes and raises her son and three cats full time.

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