Cindy C. Bennett's Blog, page 20

Unlovable FREE on Audiobook!

In commemoration of the release of Unloveable as an audiobook, Sherry Gammon is hosting a giveaway of paperback copies of all of her books. Today, to talk about the audiobook and her cover redesign, Sherry was kind enough to stop by and talk about the covers, the changes, and why she decided to make some changes. So now I'll hand it over to Sherry.
Unlovable is now an audiobook!! If you click here you can get the audiobook for free with a 30 day free trial of Audible on Amazon!! You can't beat free!

Along with the release of the audiobook, I've redesigned the covers of the first two books in the Port Fare series. ( I'm designing covers now. Click here and check them out!) To celebrate the new look, I am giving away paperback copies of the entire series. 
Here is the new cover for Unlovable. I didn't change it too much because I really loved the original one. (Thank you, Paul Beeley), but another author came out with almost the exact same cover, including the coloring :'(

I kept the girl on the swing because she fits Maggie's story perfectly, though I did add flowers to the swing. The rest has been changed completely. I love the blues and pinks, and I've always wanted a moon on the cover. I also added Maggie's trailer in the background!
                                                         
                                                             Here is the eBook cover:
And this is the Paperback      This is the audio book cover.
 This is the new cover for Unbelievable! It's a real change. I feel this cover fits the story so much better. Lilah feels trapped by her domineering father and his demands. She desperately wants to break free...can't tell you anymore or I'll spoil the story I feel this new cover portrays Lilah and what she is going through in a much stronger way, and it seems to fit in better with the other covers. While I loved the old cover, and had a huge say in its design, (Thank you again, Paul) it seemed out of place with book one & three's covers. This one holds the same "feel," if you will.Here is the Ebook cover: And this is the paperback Unbearable's cover didn't really change, only the back was updated.
So, what do you think??

Sherry's Web pageSherry's Goodreads page

Purchase links:
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Cover Reveal: Raine by MM Roethig

Cover reveal for M.M. Roethig's debut novel, Raine, due to be released November 10, 2014 from Creative Prose Publishing! Without further ado, here it is:


Senior Raine Patterson is content with being invisible. That is, until the mysteriously handsome Kaden transfers to her high school, turning her world upside down. Drawn to him in ways she can’t understand, Raine finds herself falling for him, regardless of his harsh stares and mixed signals. When she discovers her hidden ability to control the elements, she finds herself the target of a madman, and Kaden is the only one who can help her. Can she trust him?Kaden Williams has hated Elementals since losing his father to them as a young boy. Despite being Chosen to protect Elementals, Kaden’s turned his back on his duty, swearing to rid the world of them instead. Meeting Raine was no accident. His feelings for her throw him into turmoil and threaten his beliefs about Elementals. When Raine becomes the target of an unknown aggressor, Kaden is forced to decide which path he will follow. As the struggle for knowledge unfolds and the beginning of a pending war looms closer, Raine and Kaden must lean on each other to discover the truth and survive.
Available November 10!
Read more about Raine and other books by Creative Prose Publishing here.
About the author    Author M.M. Roethig is a ‘happily-ever-after’ author whose guilty pleasure is a swoon worthy romance. Growing up, she spent her youth on various Air Force bases in many different states, which encouraged her imagination and love of make believe stories with each new city, scenery, and situation.    Finally settling in Idaho, M.M. Roethig finished her schooling years and eventually met and married her very own Prince Charming. A recent move took her to Northern Colorado, a place she has instantly fallen in love with and embraced as her home.     When she is not swooning over romance stories or writing, M.M. Roethig enjoys spending time with her husband and son who also call Colorado home. With two grown daughters and one son-in-law living in Idaho, she finds every excuse to travel back as much as possible.  Other hobbies M.M. Roethig enjoys is running, photography, baking, watching her son swim, and cheering on the Denver Broncos.  [image error]

Blog Tour: The Strength of Ballerinas by Nancy Lorenz

All Kendra wants to do is dance for Manhattan Dance Company.  So, when her family’s forced to move to California, her dreams of becoming an apprentice are shattered.  Still determined to dance, Kendra faces social isolation and family pressures in her new home.  When she’s diagnosed with a serious illness, however, Kendra must decide which dreams are really worth fighting for.Get your copy today at these retailers:
Amazon *  Barnes & Noble




Nancy Lorenz currently teaches as a college level English adjunct. She has worked in publishing, public relations, and network television.  She studied ballet at numerous studios, including American Ballet Theater’s open classes, and continues to study for the sheer love of it.  She studied acting in New York as well.  Nancy recommends that you love what you do, but also to branch out to the many subjects out there yet to discover.  The more you learn, the more you can bring back into your art.



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Utah Book Month: An Interview with Sara Larson

1. Tell us a little about yourself.I live in Utah with my husband and three children—two boys and a girl. We keep busy with the kids’ activities, plus we love traveling, good food, hiking, boating, reading (of course!), movies, and fitness so we can eat all that good food (especially dessert) without feeling TOO guilty.  2. How long have you been writing? When were you first published?I’ve been writing my whole life and I’ve always dreamt of being published. That dream came true when Scholastic published DEFY in January of 2014. 3. What inspired you to write your first book?The first book I ever wrote? I’m not really sure, since it was in second grade. But if you’re referring to my first published book, DEFY came from a very difficult period in my life, when I lost someone I loved. I was so upset by his death that I couldn’t write anything, but a friend of mine told me to stop trying to write a book and just write what I was feeling. So that’s exactly what I did. I sat down and wrote a death scene, not intending for it to go anywhere…but then I got curious about the characters. This whole fascinating world unraveled itself and I realized Alexa had a very intriguing, difficult, but ultimately amazing story that needed to be told. I threw myself into that writing and from there the story took on its own life. It became a story of survival and moving forward, a story of what true courage and strength is, and a story about the many different kinds of love, and hope (even in the most desperate of situations) and risking everything for the chance of a better future.4. Who is your hero, and why?My hero is my mom. I know that sounds corny, but she always has been and probably always will be. She had a rough life growing up, but she overcame all of it to be the most amazing person. She raised five daughters while my dad traveled all the time for work, and made it look easy. All of my sisters and I still consider her one of our best friends, which I think is proof of how incredible she is. She is the person we all turn to for advice, for help, for pretty much everything. She taught us to pursue our dreams, and believes in us 100%. Though she is not just a “cheerleader”—she is honest with her feedback and tries to help us be better, to reach our full potential. But that only makes her praise mean that much more when she gives it. She’s just an incredible woman and mother and wife and I hope to be like her when I grow up. J5. What's next for Sara in books/writing?
The next book I have coming out is IGNITE, the sequel for DEFY! It comes out on January 6, 2015. I can’t wait for everyone to read the next part of Alexa’s story! 
Find Sara here:Twitter: @SaraBLarsonIG: @SaraBLarsonFacebook: facebook.com/AuthorSaraBLarson
Sara B. Larson can't remember a time when she didn't write books--although she now uses a computer instead of a Little Mermaid notebook. Sara lives in Utah with her husband and their three children. She writes during naptime and the quiet hours when most people are sleeping. Her husband claims she should have a degree in "the art of multitasking." When she's not mothering or writing, you can often find her at the gym repenting of her sugar addiction.
Check out Sara's books:
 

Willow Springs by Carolyn Steele

             

              Crissa stared at them with vacant, horrified eyes before shooting out of bed to stand, shaking, in the middle of the room. "Molly!  Something has happened to Molly!  I must leave here. I must get to Molly!"

            "Cristalina, älsking, your friend is fine. It was only a bad dream."             "No, Signe, it was more than that. It was a warning. A tecken. I must get back to Willow Springs immediately."

Crissa Engleson, an immigrant from Sweden, fled Boston hoping to start a new life, unknown and unencumbered, in the West. The quiet Pony Express town of Willow Springs in the Utah desert seemed the perfect spot until the intrigue of her past and rivalries of the town’s leading families envelope her. She falls in love with an Express rider, Drake Adams, but their courtship is thwarted by blackmail and treachery. Crissa must decide which is stronger: her desire for Drake, her own safety, or her love for the two young children left in her charge.

Willow Springs is written for anyone who enjoys Westerns, History, Romance or Intrigue. Men and women alike have expressed great interest in this story.

My Review
Set in the old west in Utah, Crissa, an immigrant from Sweden is hiding from her past. However, her unusual beauty attracts attention from too many of the males in town—including the handsome Drake and the drunken Garth.A series of events causes Crissa to end up married to a man she would never have picked on her own, and though he promises to be a good husband, he can’t seem to control his temper. Nor can Crissa forget her love for Drake.A grand, sweeping adventure that brings the old west to life, with characters whose share of problems continue to get in the way of their happiness. Steele manages to make her characters—even those who are secondary—feel alive and current. Crissa’s growth and maturity from her childhood in Sweden, to her tragic time in Boston, her hearbreaking crossing with a group of Mormon pioneers, and finally her life that she builds in Utah will have you crossing your fingers for her deserved happiness.Meet the Author:
Born and raised in Utah, Carolyn Steele was introduced to western novels at a very young age by her grandfather, the son of a gold miner. She has been writing technical and marketing communications for most of her adult life. Her nonfiction articles have appeared in numerous national magazines. She earned her undergraduate degree in Communications from the University of Utah. Married and living in Salt Lake City, Utah, Carolyn loves researching obscure history then weaving it into stories. She also enjoys family dinners with her children and grandchildren, photography, travel, golf, reading, and all forms of needlework.

Utah Book Month: Interview with Kami of Kami's Library Thoughts

1. Tell us a little about yourself.
I'm a geeky girl! I love comics, video games, reading, and other geeky things. I live in Orem, and I like it. It is a good town to live in. I'm married and we have a daughter. She is 4, and I like to call her gnome. We have a dog. He is a poodle/yorkie, and his name is Chewy. I like to spoil my gnome and dog. I'm a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I play the clarinet for the Wasatch Winds. I think that covers it!
2. How long have you been blogging about books? Is this your first blog?
This is my 3rd blog. I had a blog on MSN or something, but it is gone. I also have a personal blog that is private. I've been blogging since The Hunger Games movie came out, so 3 years. 
3. What made you want to start blogging about books in particular?
I've always been an avid reader. I devour books (over 100 a year). My friend invited me to go The Hunger Games movie with a bunch of other bloggers, and I decided to jump on the band wagon. 
4. Do you review indie books as well as traditionally published books? Why or why not?
I usually read traditionally published books. I try to avoid indie anything. I've had some bad experiences with indie games and books. However, if I am familiar with the author, then I'll read their indie book. 
5. A few quick facts about your reading habits:a. What's your favorite book you've read this year?
This is hard! Let me check Goodreads!
Probably Red Rising and Belle Epoque.
b. Favorite book of all time? 
What? You can't ask me this! I don't know! If you had a gun to my head and forced me to choose, I'd probably pick The Hobbit. It is the book that started it all! My dad and brother read it to me when I was little. Bilbo is my hero! 
c. Favorite genre?
Fantasy, I'm definitely a fantasy girl!I'll read whatever though.
d. Any genre you won't read?
Erotic crap
e. Have you ever started a book you just can't finish?
Yes, I have a whole unfinished list on Goodreads! I plan on picking some of them up again, but others will NEVER get another chance. Books can't appeal to everyone! 
Find Kami's blog here.

Warning: Change Ahead

As most of you know, my life completely changed about a year ago. My then-husband left me, I had to sell my dream house (which I'm not complaining about - too much. After all, I got to live in my dream house for 10 years, and how many people ever get that opportunity?), and I moved into my own place. All of these things tossed me head-over-heels out of my comfort zone, and if I love anything, it's my comfort zone. I'm not someone who easily ventures into the unknown (which explains why I waited so long to publish a book).
And so I made the decision, after stagnating for several months, that since my life changed, I may as well change with it. I chopped off my long, blonde hair (which I've had my whole life) and dyed it dark, and even more frightening, I decided to go back to school.
Blonde vs. Brunette
I married young and only attended a tech school after graduating high school, and didn't ever attend college. But now, the opportunity has presented itself for me to return to college and I'm terrified. Not only because it's been . . . well, let's just say a long time since I've sat in a classroom, but also because it's far, far outside my comfort zone. I'm going to be the "old" lady in a class full of fresh-out-of-school kids. I'm going to be applying myself in classes, learning graphic design which, though I do know a little about it, is still foreign to me. 
Why graphic design? Why not writing? Because I think if I take writing classes, it will change the way I write, and I don't want that to happen. I like the way I write, and while many might think it can use some improvement, I don't want it to change that drastically. I'm learning better technique all the time, so hopefully my writing is improving, but I don't want to suddenly sound like someone else.

Graphic design will help me improve my cover design, as well as all of the other things I design for my writing and for my company that I co-own with Sherry Gammon, Creative Prose Publishing: my website, banners, bookmarks, headers, CPP author's covers, etc. And, if I can work independently on the side and earn enough to keep writing as much as I'd like, then yay me! 
I'll post occasionally and keep you apprised of my Adventures in a College Education. Stay tuned, and wish me luck!

Vote Now!

The End of Feeling  has been nominated for "Best First Line" in the contest for Indie Recon Live. Vote by clicking here, then scroll down to my title (The End of Feeling) and vote!

Utah Book Month: West Jordan Public Library

I lived most of my life in West Jordan, Utah, until recently. As a kid one of my favorite things to do was go to the library. The idea that you could take a stack of books home without having to pay for them, and have a full month to read them, was sort of like Utopia to me. I couldn't get enough of books. When I got my first library card, with my name on it, it was like someone had handed me an unlimited credit card that I never had to pay back.

In my hometown of West Jordan the library was located in a small area of a strip mall. Then, in 1986 when I was just getting married, they opened a new library that I thought was large at 12,500 square feet. It was shaped like a wide V which made it feel larger than it actually was. It had rows and rows of books. It had computers, something that no one had in their houses. It had a copy machine, which I found endlessly fascinating, especially when those fresh sheets of printed paper came off, warm and worthy of being pressed against your nose for a good whiff. They even had a laminating machine! To me that was a wonder.

The "new" West Jordan library, built in 1986

In 2012 West Jordan City opened a new library, a state-of-the-art building built with world class energy saving features, minimal environmental impact, and made for conservation of resources. It's a "green" building - and I'm not talking about the color. If I thought the original library was huge, it had nothing on this 71,665 square foot library. 20,000 of that is pure library space, with the rest taken up by conference rooms and administrative offices for the Salt Lake County Library System.

Viridian West Jordan library, opened in 2012
It has 26 computers, plus 4 more in the childrens area, over 150,000 items, free Wi-fi and plenty of "hanging out" space.


The cost of this amazing place was somewhere in the neighborhood of $17.9M but it meets LEED (Leadership in Energy Efficient Design) standards.


If you ever are in the area, even if you don't have a library card, I highly suggest stopping by this amazing building, stepping inside the doors, and though copied papers no longer smell like they used to, you can still smell the books. So take a good whiff.


The Viridian West Jordan library is located at 8030 South 1825 West and is open M-Th 10-9 F-S 10-6.

 All the specs, library history info, floor plans, as well as plenty more pics of the new library, can be found at the following links:
http://www.slcolibrary.org/gl/glal/li...
http://buildingdashboard.net/slcolibr...
http://co.slcolibrary.org/libraries/w...
http://co.slcolibrary.org/pdf/westJor...
http://co.slcolibrary.org/pdf/wjoFloo...
http://www.viridiancenter.org/fa/inde...

New Release: Shadow of a Life by Tifani Clark

NOW AVAILABLE: Shadow of a Life by Tifani Clark


Jamie Peters plans to spend the summer before her junior year with her nose stuck in a book—not saving lost souls. Usually the girl that blends into the crowd, Jamie’s world is turned upside down when a mysterious ghost begins to follow her.But Sophia isn’t just any ghost. A hundred years earlier, Sophia’s disappearance sparked a national mystery that remained unsolved. Jamie knows the legends surrounding Sophia’s disappearance, but she never dreamed she would find out what really happened . . . or that her family might have had something to do with Sophia’s disappearance.
Determined to set Sophia free, Jamie blows the dust off her family’s past and unearths clues to discover what she must do to save Sophia’s soul. She enlists the help of childhood friend—and secret crush—Peter Ashby as she sets off on a dangerous quest to find a missing map. Spending the night in a graveyard, crawling through a dilapidated barn, and staring down the barrel of a gun aren’t enough to deter Jamie from helping Sophia. But can she find the answers she needs before another ghost gets revenge on her and Sophia?

Click here and check out this wonderful review!
Get your copy today at any of these online retailers:



Thank you for stopping by,

Creative Prose Publishing
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