Emma Michaels's Blog, page 5

Martian Goods and Other Stories Book Blitz!

Martian Goods and Other Stories by Noelle Campbell

On a barren world where air is priceless and women are bought and sold, one man longs for love, but is she worth the price?

In this collection of short stories by science fiction author Noelle Campbell, Mars is the new frontier where men stake their claims for a new life. But some commodities are harder to come by than others–including women, who are often willing to sacrifice everything to escape an Earth that is no longer free.”

Purchase your copy on

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Excerpt

Richard “Rock” Klein

Captains Log 14.10.2665

Patraeus Station, Outside Luna

Docking Bay 24

They say space is cold. But it’s not *just* cold. No one has ever really felt how cold it is and lived to tell about it. We know instinctively that anything so vast and so empty must be cold.

The irony is that all the things we spend time with while in space also make us feel cold and empty. We travel in cold metallic ships from cold empty space to cold empty space.

Machines have no disability like perception. Filled with Artificial Intelligence and hundreds of processors heating up their hard drives, they are still only metal and plastic. They don’t care if they sit in space or in a shipyard for twenty years. They do not desire warmth and companionship. They just exist.

If you have one of those new bioships it might feel a little more like a horse than a cold lifeless THING, but in the end, it’s still a machine. It gives out as much personality and intelligence as an animal and it only lives to fill its purpose. It knows exactly what it should be and do. There is no goal for a spaceship to one day become a station. It is what it is and will never be more.

We try to fill the spaces with ego or warm it with personality. Those of us who spend so much time in space hardly know what exaggerated bravado is. We believe the lies we tell ourselves. We believe all the fantasies we create about ourselves and the things… and people, we love – or maybe it’s just ‘want.’

I’ve given up trying to tell the difference between love and desire. I just want warmth.

We leave a planet’s atmosphere to be greeted by a sheet of black with pinpricks of light. There is so much empty blackness between each point of light, that space seems cold even without feeling the temperature drop. We spend much of our time trying to make it feel warm and filled.

The ship is cold and empty this morning and I think of her.

Samaya.

Six months ago she warmed these halls. Maybe it was longer, but I remember it like it was yesterday. No one has ever turned me on, out and completely neutroned me like Sam did. We were good. No. That’s a lie. We were slammin’ fantastic. I know how good it can be between a man and a woman.

That’s why I hate her and why I can’t get her out of my mind at the same time.

I sit at these docs and the ship is so quiet, all I can think of is the noise that Sam used to make, the scents she used to leave, the warmth, the humanity, as flawed as it was. Every time I have to sit and wait for maintenance, I think of her.

You might look at the logs from a year ago and come to the same conclusion I did then: She could be a cold-hearted bitch.

Still. . .a cold hearted bitch is better company than an empty starship.

 

 

 

Author Noelle Campbell

Noelle Campbell has been involved in science media for more than a decade, covering stories for the entertainment sections of syfy (when it was still scifichannel), space.com, and local media in Houston, Texas—the home of the Space Center. As an advocate for the disabled, Noelle thinks the best way to prepare for the future is to imagine what it will be like and loves to imagine a life on Mars, which she does in her first published collection of short stories, Martian Goods & Other Stories.

 

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Book Blast Giveaway

$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 11/27/14

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 and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

 

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About Emma Michaels

Emma Michaels is a cover artist, blogger, author, and director at Hallowed Ink Press. Growing up her library card was her best friend and books were her home. Her love of blogging started when she created a book blog in 2009 which gave her the courage to submit her own novels to publishers and the rest, as they say, is history.

The Epic Ticker Giveaway and Interview!

A girl with a clockwork heart must make every second count.

When Penny Farthing nearly dies, brilliant surgeon Calvin Warwick manages to implant a brass “Ticker” in her chest, transforming her into the first of the Augmented. But soon it’s discovered that Warwick killed dozens of people as he strove to perfect another improved Ticker for Penny, and he’s put on trial for mass murder.

On the last day of Warwick’s trial, the Farthings’ factory is bombed, Penny’s parents disappear, and Penny and her brother, Nic, receive a ransom note demanding all of their Augmentation research if they want to see their parents again. Is someone trying to destroy the Farthings…or is the motive more sinister?

Desperate to reunite their family and rescue their research, Penny and her brother recruit fiery baker Violet Nesselrode, gentleman-about-town Sebastian Stirling, and Marcus Kingsley, a young army general who has his own reasons for wanting to lift the veil between this world and the next. Wagers are placed, friends are lost, romance stages an ambush, and time is running out for the girl with the clockwork heart.

Lisa Mantchev is a temporally-displaced Capricorn who casts her spells from an ancient tree in the Pacific Northwest . She is best known as the author of the young adult fantasy trilogy, The Théâtre Illuminata. Published by Feiwel & Friends (Macmillan,) the series includes the Andre Norton and Mythopoeic awards-nominated EYES LIKE STARS (2009), PERCHANCE TO DREAM (2010), and SO SILVER BRIGHT (2011.)

 

What would you like for readers to take away from Ticker?

I want them to have had fun, because it’s a romping sort of book with this Scooby Doo gang of friends who are loving and loyal and can be merry as often as they are serious. And I want them to have been touched by the tender moments. For as many times as I have read the manuscript, there are specific scenes that still resonate.

What is something we wouldn’t know about Ticker just from the summary?

I don’t think it’s a spoiler to say there is NO LOVE TRIANGLE in this novel. (cough)

What’s your favorite way to procrastinate?

Pinterest. I can spend HOURS there, although it’s not really procrastinating given that I use the boards to brainstorm projects. I have actually plotted entire short stories using inspiration photos. That doesn’t account for all the recipes and clothes and shiny things I pin, but if I call it research, it appeases the head monkeys.

Is there one book that has had an impact on not only your writing, but on you personally?

Tanith Lee’s novellas BITING THE SUN and DRINKING SAPPHIRE WINE were utterly transformative in that I’d never considered that science fiction could be lush and gorgeous and theatrical. Up until then, I’d believed there was a checklist—aliens, space ships, etc.—and after that… well, let’s just say that I came to the conclusion that genres were more a suggestion. “Guidelines, as it were,” in the words of Captain Barbosa. After that, I started writing (and, really, living) in a manner that was less bound by what I thought I should do and more of what I wanted to do.

If you could have any extraordinary gift or super power what would it be and why?

The ability to teleport. So many people I would like to have coffee and cake with, but they live too dang far away!

Tell us something most people don’t know about you!

I have a long list of things I wish I could do, like shoot pool well and play a musical instrument or be really fluent in a second language, but they will have to wait for a different lifetime when I am less busy (and less lazy.)

I’m not sure if any future incarnation of me will be able to draw, though!

 

To celebrate the Kindle First digital launch of TICKER by Lisa Mantchev, the Farthing family would like to loan you your very own Vitesse motorized high-wheeled bicycle and messenger bag. Venture out into the city of Bazalgate to see the sights and retrieve six items necessary to celebrate with Penny and her friends. When you are done, remit the list for a chance to win your very own Kindle Paperwhite customized with the TICKER cover!

Contest open to US residents. Email entries to lisa@lisamantchev.com with the subject line “TICKER Paperwhite Giveaway”. Deadline for entry is midnight PST on November 15th. Winner will be announced here on November 16th.

 

 

PENNY’S BEDROOM

I stepped into the room, turning up the lamps and taking a mental inventory of the contents, starting with the chocolate-brown velvet eiderdown and the Bhaskarian rug in shades of coffee and cream. A warm glow danced over walls that shimmered with the movement of dozens of mechanical Butterflies. I’d dusted their shadow boxes that very morning, all the better to see the diamanté stickpins that held each specimen against black velvet. The constant tick-tick-tick of infinitesimal inner workings caused their wings to flutter up and down, and I automatically sought out my favorites: the Silver-studded Blue (Plebeius argus) winking next to the Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus marshalli).

Item to retrieve : Party frock and dancing shoes

ONWARD to adventure, glory and teatime!
BIBLIOTHÈCA – E. Catherine Tobler

THE FLYING FORTRESS – Fantasy Book Critic
SUGARWERKS FULLY AUTOMATED BAKERY  – Lisa Mantchev
FARTHING COGS & RIVETS FACTORY – Team Nerd Reviews
GLASSHOUSE – Fangirlish
 

About Emma Michaels

Emma Michaels is a cover artist, blogger, author, and director at Hallowed Ink Press. Growing up her library card was her best friend and books were her home. Her love of blogging started when she created a book blog in 2009 which gave her the courage to submit her own novels to publishers and the rest, as they say, is history.

Top 10 Facebook Party Tips & Tricks

When it comes to trends Facebook is still sitting strong at the top of the list despite its many pros and cons.

We hate to love it but it’s such a useful tool that we fall for its trap every time.

So it’s an obvious venue for book release parties.

But Facebook release parties have some unique highlights and pitfalls.

Here are some tricks and tips to help you navigate through them with ease.

…Or you know, a slightly easier time. 

About Emma Michaels

Emma Michaels is a cover artist, blogger, author, and director at Hallowed Ink Press. Growing up her library card was her best friend and books were her home. Her love of blogging started when she created a book blog in 2009 which gave her the courage to submit her own novels to publishers and the rest, as they say, is history.

Evernight Blitz and Giveaway!

Evernight by Candace Knoebel
(Night Watchmen #2)

Publication date: October 31st 2014

Genres: Paranormal Romance, Young Adult
Amazon | Goodreads

The stunning sequel to the thrilling paranormal romance novel Everlasting!

One lie will change everything.

Faye Middleton has secured the Dagger of Retribution for the High Priesthood, but in doing so, she’s opened the door to more demands set by them. She now has to break the Holy Seal, and soon. Trapped in the alluring Ethryeal City, Faye is pushed to the breaking point trying to discover just what she is truly capable of, even if it means destroying herself in the process.

With the clock ticking down to the war between both Covens, and the truth about her parent’s mysterious disappearance within her reach, Faye is faced with tough choices that will forever change her. Will Faye be able to handle the demands from the Priesthood, and still be able to continue her search for her parents?

But more importantly, can she survive the truth she finds?

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Candace Knoebel is the award-winning author of Born in Flames-book one in a young adult fantasy trilogy. She discovered in 2009 through lunch breaks and late nights after putting her kids to bed, a world where she could escape the ever-pressing days of an eight to five Purgatory. And an outlet for all the voices residing in her head.

Published by 48fourteen in 2012, Born in Flames went on to win Turning the Pages Book of the Year award in February of 2013. In January of 2014, the last book in the trilogy, From the Embers, was released, thusly completing the trilogy. She now works on the Night Watchmen Series, while guzzling Red Bulls and pretending to be a ninja on Heelys.

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About Emma Michaels

Emma Michaels is a cover artist, blogger, author, and director at Hallowed Ink Press. Growing up her library card was her best friend and books were her home. Her love of blogging started when she created a book blog in 2009 which gave her the courage to submit her own novels to publishers and the rest, as they say, is history.

Contact $0.99 sale!

 
Title: Contact
Author: Laurisa White Reyes
Genre: Young Adult Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Hallowed Ink Press
 Amazon | Goodreads

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It takes only half a second…

 

 …Like those commercials where a crash test dummy rockets forward at high speed and slams into a wall.
…In that instant, every thought in Emma Lynn Walsh’s head collides with mine—every thought, memory, hope, disappointment and dream.
…I open my eyes to see Dr. Walsh peering at me, a puzzled expression on her face.



“Let—go—of—me,” I order though clenched teeth.



Mira wants to die. She’s attempted suicide twice already, and failed. Every time she comes in contact with another person, skin to skin, that person’s psyche uploads into hers. While her psychologist considers this a gift, for Mira, it’s a curse from which she cannot escape.

To make matters worse, Mira’s father is being investigated in the deaths of several volunteer test subjects of a miracle drug. Shortly after Mira’s mother starts asking questions, she ends up in a coma. Although her father claims it was an accident, thanks to her “condition” Mira knows the truth…but proving it just might get her killed!

 




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 Website | Blog | Goodreads | Amazon | Twitter 
After earning her B.A. in English in 1995, Laurisa White Reyes spent many years writing for newspapers and magazines before gathering enough courage to live her dream of writing novels. Contact is her third published book. She is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in creative writing, is a book editor for Hamilton Springs/Xchyler Press, and is the Editor-in-chief of Middle Shelf Magazine. She lives in Southern California with her husband and five children.






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Goodreads * Facebook * Web * Twitter

About Emma Michaels

Emma Michaels is a cover artist, blogger, author, and director at Hallowed Ink Press. Growing up her library card was her best friend and books were her home. Her love of blogging started when she created a book blog in 2009 which gave her the courage to submit her own novels to publishers and the rest, as they say, is history.

Halloween Cover Love!

It’s Halloween!

Let’s grab our dresses like The Heir (Kiera Cass) and A Wicked Thing (Rhiannon Thomas), put on our game face like Winter Wolf (Rachel M. Raithby), and do some haunting! The decoration styles of this season are enough to warrant a feature of The Scarlets (Madeleine Roux) but I had to add in The Deep (Nick Cutter) and Vowed (Liz De Jager) before our trip into the woods with What Waits in the Woods (Kieran Scott).

Here’s wishing you great reads, lots of candy, and happy haunting!

      

About Emma Michaels

Emma Michaels is a cover artist, blogger, author, and director at Hallowed Ink Press. Growing up her library card was her best friend and books were her home. Her love of blogging started when she created a book blog in 2009 which gave her the courage to submit her own novels to publishers and the rest, as they say, is history.

Nightmare in Steam Recommendation!

Nightmare in Steam by Lexi Ostrow
Series: Alliance of Silver and Steam #1
Published by Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly on October 28th, 2014
Genres: Romance, Steampunk
Pages: 220
Format: eBook
Amazon • Goodreads

Eliza Kempe Dorley is always left in the background. As a female, being top inventor for the Alliance of Silver and Steam has as many draw backs as perks. She’s in charge of the creation of the many tools the Alliance uses in pursuit of the demons that run lose in the London Underground, which means without her, the demons would be harder to put down. It also means she misses all of the action and has never had the chance to really use any of her inventions.


Lucius Cooley Willan is a Nightmare Demon with a penchant for gambling and sleeping with women he shouldn’t’t and it’s landed him in hot water. Now he spends his nights slinking in humans dreams and unleashing terrors so strong it kills them so he can capture their soul for his boss. But when he’s ordered to attack the group that hunts his kind he’s enthralled by the feisty inventor he comes upon.


Eliza’s victim to Lucius in a way no others have been, a sensual dream that she can’t shake when she wakes up. When he bumps into her at the trains she’s an addiction he can’t shake. When he outright disobeys the demon who controls him for some out of dreams interactions with the Eliza, it will be up to him to save her from the nightmare he’s put her in.

Steampunk is a genre that sets and breaks trends. As many of my readers know, it has a special place in my heart. I avidly seek out the genre and enjoy experiencing the unique adventures it offers. Nightmare in Steam was a breath of fresh air. It played to some common ground with other Steampunk novels, enough to keep the feeling so many of us hunt for, but broke away from the stereotypes that tend to limit other stories. I loved the way the romance played out and was a focus point without falling into common tropes or gender bias. The romance also didn’t overshadow the action and adventure side of the overall plot arc.

The leading lady, Eliza, is intelligent and independent which is always a huge plus. Joining the ranks of other phenomenal leading ladies like Alexia (Parasol Protectorate), Mina (The Iron Seas), Lyra (His Dark Materials), and Claire (Magnificent Devices) in showing that even a genre that tends to lend itself to caste systems can manage to be the best showcase for strong, intelligent, and independent female leads. The world building was exquisite and swept me away. It was a quick and short read though I have a feeling it had more to do with the quick wit and pacing than the actual length of the novel.

Overall, a wonderful addition to the genre but more than that, a fantastic read that keeps you hooked from beginning to end.

 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads 

Lexi Ostrow has been in love with the written word since second grade when her librarian started a writing club. Born in sunny southern California she’s spent time in various places across the country and can’t wait to settle down somewhere in the French Quarter when she’s able too.

Lexi has been a writer ever since the second grade in some form or another. Getting her degree in creative writing and her master’s in journalism she couldn’t wait to get a chance to put her fantasies down on paper. Her debut novel, Torn Between Two Worlds is something that was simmering in her mind since middle school and she’s so grateful to put it out into the literary world. From paranormal romance to thriller there isn’t a genre she doesn’t love to spend her time reading or writing.

Reading and writing are her first loves but her passion for shopping, love for yummy food and her love for all her many pets. She hopes to one day help other readers fall in love with writing as she did.

About Emma Michaels

Emma Michaels is a cover artist, blogger, author, and director at Hallowed Ink Press. Growing up her library card was her best friend and books were her home. Her love of blogging started when she created a book blog in 2009 which gave her the courage to submit her own novels to publishers and the rest, as they say, is history.

Project to Published: Top 5 Tips on Successful Co-Authoring

Top 5 Tips on Successful Co-Authoring

I decided to start with the most requested post. Many of you who are regular followers of my blog know that I co-author many of my short stories with Michael Cross. He is a wonderful author who enjoys genre hopping as much as I do and we hit it off right away. I’ve heard about many successful and failed co-authoring attempts so here are a few of our tips and tricks along with tips and trick from a few other co-authors from around the web! Feel free to ask questions in the comments!

#1 – Decide on a system and schedule before you start. Michael and I use Google Docs a lot because we can sign in from anywhere and one of us can write while the other edits. When we switch off we don’t have a bunch of files drifting around that have to go back and forth. It also has chat so we can brainstorm as we go.

From Lisa Mantchev: “Google documents will be your best friend and your worst enemy.”

From Derinda Love: “When Mads and I wrote Ready For You, we used a Google doc to communicate. I would send him a chapter via email, then he would do his chapter and back and forth till the book was done.”

#2 – Be reliable. It can be stressful having to rely on another person. Give yourself a deadline and work together to figure out how things can be accomplished by that deadline. If you’re both reliable and serious about it then it helps both members stay motivated. I find I write faster when I co-author with Michael because we are able to push and encourage each other throughout the process. We stay motivated and end up fueling each other along without pressuring. The best part of being reliable is the trust that comes from it. Developing that trust was one of my favorite parts of co-writing.

#3- No egos. The story comes first and that is that. You need to be able to give critical notes and receive them in a positive and professional manner. Sometimes one person will lead and sometimes another. Don’t just be the follower or the leader, let it switch fluidly based off the situation. By the end of the story, if you did it right, you likely won’t know or care which specific words belonged to either of you because everything blends into one cohesive story and style.

From Lisa Mantchev: “Writerly ego has to get checked at the door. Your darlings are not their darlings.”

From Derinda Love: “With Ready For You our words really bled together so there was really no prior planning until we got to the ending. It was as if he would work from my words and I worked from his, if that makes any sense. The important parts of co-writing; you must have time and patience, you have to be able to let the co-author lead you sometimes, and also be able to lead. You also have to be willing to write out of your comfort zone. The most important part is communication.”

#4 – Don’t be afraid to have your first co-writing experience be a short story. I found that this helped keep us on track. We knew what we were going to submit to. We gave ourselves ample time in our schedules. Having a shorter project means you get to find out if you work well together before you have agreed to write something longer. Full length novels can takes months or years. Short stories are less of a time investment. If you find out you are a great match then you move on to something longer.

#5 – Don’t over think it. Mike and I map out our plot from start to finish then tell each other what details about the characters are most important to each of us and go from there. If you get too detailed on your mapping of events it can bog you down. Plot basics come first because of continuity. Then character ‘must haves’. Discuss setting enough to give some clear imagery then jump in. Mike and I also call dibs on favorite scenes based off what we are best at. We write our hook for the first page after we have finished the rest and it normally ends up being a joint effort. Our joint Pinterest boards are also a great tool for showing each other what we are thinking visually so we are on the same page with descriptions.

About Emma Michaels

Emma Michaels is a cover artist, blogger, author, and director at Hallowed Ink Press. Growing up her library card was her best friend and books were her home. Her love of blogging started when she created a book blog in 2009 which gave her the courage to submit her own novels to publishers and the rest, as they say, is history.

Cover Love Affair (Colorful Themes)!

Okay, I’ll admit it; I am addicted to covers. Want to know what else I am addicted to as an artist? Colors. I love vivid covers that feature and array of colors and don’t limit their color spectrum. So this week on Cover Love Affair I decided to humor my inner color lover and feature the most colorful covers I ran across this week on the web. Starting with, The Jelly Bean Crisis (Jolene Stockman) and Arise (Amber Garr) which both feature a great mix of warm and cool colors. The complimentary warm vs. cold almost always catches my attention. Flutter (Erin E. Moulton), A Chama de Sevenwaters (Juliet Marillier), and Ice Dogs (Terry Lynn Johnson) are other great examples of that combo. Unteachable (Leah Raeder) goes above and beyond with the colors while Entwined (Ketley Allison) in contrast uses a wonderful array of colors in such a beautiful and subtle way you can’t help but stare.

Then we have our last, but not least, two covers which have a bit of cool colors but feature primarily warmth with beautiful fiery gradients; Forsaken (Heather Heener) and Between These Lines (Jennifer Murgia). Really, when it comes to covers that aren’t afraid to be colorful and stand out, what’s not to love? Overall, I am happy to have this splash of color to brighten my week and remind me that balance is everything but there is no balance without diversity.

Have a wonderful week!

   

About Emma Michaels

Emma Michaels is a cover artist, blogger, author, and director at Hallowed Ink Press. Growing up her library card was her best friend and books were her home. Her love of blogging started when she created a book blog in 2009 which gave her the courage to submit her own novels to publishers and the rest, as they say, is history.

Dead of Night Release Day!!!

Title: Dead of Night

Author: Carlyle Labuschagne
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian Romance
Publisher: Hallowed Ink Press






Blurb: 

In a dark and desolated After Earth, love still does exist, but the cost of bearing such a flaw is death.
World War III has left Earth in utter turmoil. People’s beliefs are said to be the cause of the worldwide destruction. After The Clearing new laws are set about – to show certitude in anything besides the law is weak and chargeable as mutiny. To be illogical and have faith in religion is illegal, to be limitless is dangerous. And Illness is seen as a defect – all flaws that are inexcusable.

 

But to love is the greatest betrayal of all mankind. It is a fault the world has long forgotten and punishable by death, a fatal risk Aecker and Opel are fully prepared to take – because in love there is freedom. But how far can they push back before it claims their lives and of those they care about?



FB Release Party: https://www.facebook.com/events/1495518857373150/

 

Carlyle Labuschagne is a South African award winning author working her way into the hearts of international readers with her first two books in the Broken Trilogy. Her first young adult dystopian novel “The Broken Destiny” reached top 3 in its YA debut Category. The Sequel Evanescent won YATR literary award for best Sci-Fi book 2013. 

 

Her become a published author prgramme for students launched Feb 2014. 
She is not only an author, but works as a marketing manager by day. She holds a diploma in creative writing through the writing school at College SA. 
Carlyle loves to swim, fights for the trees, and is a food lover who is driven by her passion for life. Carlyle also writes for IU e-magazine India, an inspirational non-profit magazine that aims at inspiring the world through words. The drive behind her author career is healing through words. Carlyle is also the founder of the first annual book drive – Help Build A Library in Africa Project. And hopes to launch her very own Indie book festival in Johannesburg March 2015.
“My goal as an author is to touch people’s lives, and help others love their differences and one another.”



Author Links:

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About Emma Michaels

Emma Michaels is a cover artist, blogger, author, and director at Hallowed Ink Press. Growing up her library card was her best friend and books were her home. Her love of blogging started when she created a book blog in 2009 which gave her the courage to submit her own novels to publishers and the rest, as they say, is history.