Cindy C. Bennett's Blog, page 27

MY SECRET FOR THE TRUE COLORS MASQUERADE BALL

Thanks to Melissa Pearl for allowing me to be part of her True Colors Masquerade Ball launch party, which you can find at Facebook, going on right now as of this posting. This is my secret reveal: I have a book to be released soon titled The End of Feeling . Here's the blurb, and a sneak peek at it! Enjoy!

Benjamin Nefer seems to have it all. He’s the most popular guy in school, the star quarterback with college scouts looking at him, his grades are near the top of his class, he can get any girl he wants . . . but he hides behind his dreams life to mask the nightmare of his reality.
Charlie Austin is the new girl. Forced to move in with a bitter aunt, she only wants to protect her fragile mom from the world’s cruelty. When Benjamin sets his sights on Charlie, she’s armored against his charm—friends warned her about Benjamin’s game of pursuing and then dumping a long line of girls, not caring about the broken hearts he leaves behind. She doesn’t count on how single-minded he can be when she refuses him, or how charismatic, easing into her life through what he claims is just friendship.
Benjamin thought he could keep Charlie in the same place he keeps all girls—something to be used and then discarded. But Charlie has as many secrets as he does, secrets he’s determined to discover while keeping his own hidden. He realizes she’s the perfect girlfriend candidate . . . someone he can use to keep up the façade of a perfect life. Now he just has to keep his frozen heart from softening toward this unique girl, because if he doesn’t, his carefully constructed lies might just come thundering down around him, crushing him beneath the burden of feeling.
EXCERPT:
PrologueBenjaminI don’t feel anything anymore. If I were going to feel something, it would be for my sister, Mia. She’s gone now, has been for the last eight years, since I was nine . . . and I somehow doubt she’s coming back.I loved her when she was here. I tried to protect her.I failed.When he finally hurt her so badly that she nearly died, torn up inside and out, she came and took her. She left me there, left me with him, completely at his mercy. As far as I know, she didn’t even come back to see if I was okay, if I needed help, if I needed to go, too.I don’t hate her for that. I don’t even envy her that she got out so much earlier than even Mia. To do either of those things requires feeling, and I don’t feel. Anything. So I live with him still, numb and beyond caring. How else could I be?
Chapter 1Benjamin
Daniel and I relax at a table in the center of the common area. School begins in less than fifteen minutes, so many of the other students have already begun to gather their stuff and move toward their first period class. Those who remain behind, unhurried and unworried, are the seniors. It’s the sophomores and juniors that worry about being late. Daniel sits on the bench, his back facing the table, elbows propped on the edge and his legs sprawled in front of him. I’m lying flat out on the top of the table, arms propped behind my head as we discuss the upcoming football game. Some of our other buddies are sitting around with us as well, but they’re almost unimportant. Daniel and I rule the school and they know it. The others serve the purpose of having a crowd to rule.“Whoa,” Daniel says, sitting up straight. I turn my head in his direction. “Hot new girl at ten o’clock.”I turn my gaze to the ten o’clock position and see nothing or no one unusual. I sit up and see that Daniel is staring straight ahead. I roll my eyes. I should have known. Clearly Daniel has no idea how to read an analog clock. Every time he gives a position in relation to a clock, he’s nowhere near correct. I follow his eyes and see exactly who he’s looking at.Alexis, Phoebe, and Cozi are emerging from the main office, and in the center of them is a stranger. Granted, with a school as large as ours, it’s not possible to know everyone, but she’s one I would have noticed. She’s about the same height as Phoebe, which puts her around five-and-a-half feet. She has straight, blonde hair. Nothing extraordinary in either of those features but she’s definitely on the gorgeous side of life, I can see that even from here. She laughs at something one of the other girls says and Daniel turns a look to me, grinning. Her laugh carries across to us, throaty and joyful, one of the greatest laughs I’ve ever heard.“We should go say hi,” I say.“That’s what I was thinking,” Daniel replies, scooping up his backpack from the floor as he rises. When we near the group, Alexis sees our approach. Her gaze finds mine and I see a flash of anger mixed with hurt. Her eyes flick to the new girl and then back to me as understanding dawns. She knows I’m not coming to see her, but to meet her new friend.“Hey, guys,” Daniel says.They all respond, except the new girl. I’ve got my gaze locked on her and she’s looking back. “Hi, Benjamin,” Phoebe says.“Hey, Phoebe,” I say, my gaze flicking to her quickly, dismissively, before returning to the new girl. She’s even better looking up close. Her eyes are a hazel green, wide and almond shaped, surrounded by thick, dark lashes. I wonder if they’re fake. Plenty of girls have fake lashes. “Who’s your new friend?”“Oh, um, this is Charlie. Charlie, this is Benjamin and Daniel.”I hold a hand out and her eyes look at it. She hesitates just a nanosecond before placing her hand in mine. She grasps my hand tightly, gives it a single firm shake then pulls her hand back before I have a chance to give her my usual soft squeeze and gentle brush of the thumb across the back of her hand. It always works to throw girls a little off, when they’re not sure if they’ve had their hand shaken or caressed.Alexis bites the inside of her cheek and I can see she’s trying not to laugh over Charlie’s handshake. Alexis is one of my most recent heartbreaks—her heart, not mine. To be fair, I only went on two dates with her. That’s my absolute maximum. Any more than that and the girl might think I’m interested in some kind of relationship. Sometimes they fall too hard for me. If I’m being honest, most times they fall too hard for me. Not my fault. Now, Alexis smiles at Charlie’s apparent rejection of the vibes I’m trying to project.Charlie turns and juts her hand toward Daniel, giving him the same brusque handshake, but smiling at him as she does. Alexis laughs outright this time. I ignore her, awed by Charlie’s smile. It reveals deep dimples in both cheeks, with smaller ones at each corner of her mouth. Her smile is even better than her eyes and her laugh.“Charlie?” I say. “That’s an unusual name.”“Short for Charlotte,” she says, gazing directly at me. I try using my most intense, come-hither look. She remains unmoved.“Down, Benjamin, she’s new here,” Cozi says, linking her arm through Charlie’s and leading her away. Daniel and I watch her go. Daniel is grinning, but I watch her intently. It’s not usual for a girl to be immune to me, particularly when I’m pouring on the charm.Well, I decide, nothing like a good challenge to begin the football season.
Chapter 2Charlie“I’m home,” I call, stepping through the front door. I drop my backpack by the door, then remember my aunt’s obsession with order and pick it up again. I can hear the TV playing in the family room at the back of the house. I look around the strange entryway, allowing myself one moments longing for my grandma and her home where we lived until her death a month ago.I walk into the family room and see my mom, sitting on the couch, watching Barney. I dig my nails into my palms. Man, I hate that stupid, annoying, dense, purple dinosaur. “Hi, Mom,” I say.Mom jumps at the sound of my voice. She’d been too intent on Barney to hear my earlier greeting. She turns my way, a wide smile splitting her face. I smile back. Her eyes crinkle with joy as she jumps up from the couch, stray, wiry gray hairs escaping her messy ponytail. I grit my teeth at my aunt’s lack of care of her.“Charlie!” my mom yells brightly, running to me and throwing her arms around my neck, kissing my cheek noisily. I hug her tightly, cringing at the slightly sour smell.“Mom, did you take a bath today?”“Mimi says I don’t have to bath today.”“Mom, we talked about this, remember? You need to bathe every day.”She shakes her head, mouth drooping. She refuses to shower, has ever since the incident. So we compromise with a bath, followed by a lotion rubdown. If she could manage to go a night without wetting her adult diapers, she could skip a bath. In all the time I can remember, she’s been able to skip only a handful.“Should we go take a bath now?” I ask.“Barney’s on,” she whines.“Yes, and if you take a bath, you can play with your Barney toy. Doesn’t that sound like fun?”As fast as her mouth had drooped, it now is replaced by a big smile. She claps happily and skips to the bathroom. I follow and run the water while she undresses, singing the annoying theme from the TV show. I pull the rubber band from her hair and dump water over her head. She blows bubbles as I do so. I get her washed as she happily plays with the big purple dinosaur and I then have to convince her to get out of the tub. Convincing her to get out is as difficult as getting her in.Once she’s dried and dressed, she sits back in front of the TV to watch cartoons, Barney long since forgotten, while I start dinner. I’m angry that my aunt is still not home. I wonder how long my mom sat here alone, unsupervised, until I arrived.She comes in when I’m just about done with the spaghetti, acting like nothing is wrong.“Hi, Charlotte,” Naomi says. I bristle at the name. It’s not that I dislike the name; my grandma chose it for me because it was her own mother’s name. It’s because my aunt refuses to call me Charlie like everyone else does simply because it’s the nickname my mom gave me.“Where were you?” I ask.She stops in the act of setting her purse down to stare at me. “That’s none of your business.”“It is when you leave my mom home alone,” I retort. “She can’t be left on her own.”“I was gone maybe ten minutes before you got home from school. What can happen in ten minutes?”A lot, I think. I refrain from telling her though, knowing our living here is precarious and based on staying in her good graces.“I have a life, Charlotte. Allowing you two to move in didn’t include the requirement that I give up all my freedom.”“I understand that,” I say, biting my tongue from telling her how selfish she is. “I’m coming home directly after school. I haven’t signed up for any extracurricular activities or anything. I’ll even get up early to bath her if that’s too much to ask of you. All I do ask is that you watch her while I’m gone.”Naomi sighs. “We need to talk.”“It’s time to eat,” I say. I have a feeling I know what she’s going to say. I move past her to call my mom when she places a hand on my arm.“Not all homes are bad places,” she begins, and fury consumes me.“I will not place my mother in a home,” I spit.“You shouldn’t have to give up normal teen things to take ca—”“I don’t care!” I’m shaking with anger. “I don’t care about any of that. I’ll drop out of school if I have to. I’m not putting her in a home!”Naomi sighs again and I’m tempted to punch her. What does she know of taking care of my mom? She abandoned ship as soon as she graduated high school to get away from the embarrassment of having my mom for a sister. Plus, she knows what happened when my grandma did buckle under pressure—from Naomi, no less—and put her in a home. How could she possibly subject her to that again?“I know it’s not ideal—”I spin away from her, refusing to listen to another word. I walk into the living room where my mom sits, curled up on the couch, a blanket pulled up to her ear in one hand, sucking on the thumb of her other. My shoulders sink in dismay as I walk over to her. Her eyes are glued to the TV, but I know she’s not watching it.“Mom,” I say softly, sitting down and placing a hand on her arm. Her wide, innocent eyes turn to me.“Does Mimi hate you?” she whispers, voice trembling. Mimi is her nickname for Naomi.“No, Mom, she doesn’t. Were we talking too loud?”She shakes her head. “You were yelling.” Gotta love Mom’s honesty.“I’m sorry, Mom. We were just having a disagreement. I love Mimi, and she loves me.” Blatant lie. “Everything’s fine now. I’m sorry we scared you. You want to come have some spaghetti now?”She nods and takes my proffered hand, rising from the couch. When we enter the kitchen, Naomi is outside, pacing, smoking a cigarette. I bite the inside of my cheek. I hatethat she smokes, but at least she no longer smokes in the house with my mom and me. I suppose I can give her a few points for that.I sit my mom at the table and fix a plate for her before taking the time to check my blood sugar. I prick my finger at the counter with my back turned because it tends to freak my mom out. She thinks I’m hurting myself. A few minutes later, Naomi comes in. My mom brightens.“Hi, Mimi,” she says happily.“Hi, Cora.” Naomi gives her a tight smile then fixes herself a plate. “I’m going to eat in my room,” she says. At the doorway she pauses, and without looking back says, “Thanks for dinner.”If my mom weren’t sitting here, I’d probably scream. Instead, I smile and play a word game with her while we eat.
Chapter 3BenjaminDinner is a lonely affair as usual. I don’t care. I prefer it that way. The microwave beeps, my burritos nuked. I pull on the fridge door and pull out the crusty bottle of salsa and container of sour cream. Opening the sour cream, I see the green fuzz coating the top layer. I consider scraping it off and eating what’s beneath, but then decide I can’t afford food poisoning right now. Not with the game in two days.I dump what little salsa is left across the burritos and toss the empty bottle into the trash, where it crashes loudly against the other glass bottles that fill the can—empty beer bottles. Guess I better take that out.My cell buzzes as I sit down and take my first bite. Lava hot beans and cheese burn my tongue and the roof of my mouth. “Argh,” is the sound that comes out of my mouth as I open wide, trying to blow around the bite of burrito, as if that will somehow relieve the burning. I quickly swallow the hot bite and follow it with a large swig of water, hoping it will prevent the burning from continuing down my esophagus. My phone buzzes again and I pull it out of my pocket. As I suspected, it’s a text from Daniel.Dude, meet me at the mega-cinema at 9.I text back, On a school night? What would your mother say, Danny boy?C’mon, man, what if hot new girl shows?That stops me from texting my auto refusal. What if hot new girl does show? She intrigues me. I’ve spent a lot of years honing the charm, as well as the biceps and abs, which means it’s a rare girl who can resist me. And yet, Charlie . . . uh, Charlie . . . what did she say her last name is? Anyway, Charlie seems to have no problem resisting. I sense a challenge.I glance toward the trash can, remembering the sound of the bottles within. I know exactly what that means. My life is nothing if not predictable, and I know the bottles in the can mean I’m not going anywhere tonight.Sorry, bro, gotta get a report done or my ass is grass, I text. Give her a kiss for me. Wait, strike that. Talk me up to her.My phone is silent for a few minutes. I know he’s debating trying to convince me to come, but I also know that he’s well aware it won’t work. Finally it buzzes.Your loss, man. If she’s there I’ll be talking ME up.I laugh, knowing that’s not true. Daniel and I have a very clear understanding about girls—I get first pick, and he gets either the leftovers or my picks once I’m finished with them. I glance at the time on my phone and realize I don’t have much time left. I quickly finish the now tolerable-temperature burritos, then rinse my plate in the sink and put it in the dishwasher. After hiding all of the big knives in the freezer, I gather the bag full of glass bottles and take it to the large can outside. Back inside I look around to see what items make the worst weapons and place them in the backs of various cabinets. I can’t move too many items where it’s obvious or that’ll set him off. Avoiding setting him off is priority one.Then I settle in to wait.It doesn’t take long. I grab a notebook and sit at the kitchen table when I hear his car, pretending to do homework. I can’t have any real homework out on the off-chance he decides to target that. He’s done it before. He’ll do it again. He stumbles through the front door and I clamp my jaw. Why has he never been DUI’d? The man drives drunk more than he does sober, and yet he’s never been pulled over. Makes me wonder if the cops are simply waiting for him to kill someone before they do. It wouldn’t kill him—I’m not that lucky.He barrels his way into the kitchen and in spite of myself, I cringe. Shame fills me that I do, but in my defense, I’ve spent a lot of years on the receiving end of his fists. My dad is a big man, roughly the size of a grizzly, or so it seems. I’m pretty tall at six-four, but he towers over me. As much as I work out to build my muscles, I can’t hold a candle to his brawn or his meaty fists that are already clenched before he even sees me.“Damn loser,” he says in greeting. No worries for him winning Father of the Year. I don’t respond. I don’t even bother looking up, but I watch his feet furtively. I need to be prepared when he nears, which he does rather quickly for an enormous, drunk man.His fist lands on the side of my head, but the blow isn’t so bad. Because I was prepared, I duck as he swings, causing his blow to glance off the side of my head. I stand, moving back from him as he swings again, this time catching my shoulder. I grimace in pain, in the back of my mind thinking about the possibility that a bruise might affect my playing in the game.“Stop, Dad,” I say, the words coming in spite of my trying to keep them back. “Stop what, loser?” he slurs, swinging again, connecting with the center of my back as I turn away. “Fight back, coward.”I don’t want to. And yet, without a doubt I know what will happen if I don’t obey the command. He’s told me before in no uncertain terms. He even began a convincing demonstration on more than one occasion until I caved. I’ve also learned, though, not to fight back until he requests it.I turn his way. Because he’s drunk, I at least have a small chance to if not win, at least escape mostly unscathed. And so I fight back, no emotion coming into play as I do. I don’t feel any more or less for hitting him or receiving his blows than I do when I stand in the boxing ring. Ten minutes later, he swings at my head and misses, the force knocking him to the floor. He’s passed out cold as soon as he lands. I wipe the blood that drips from my lip with the back of my fist as I stare down at him. I want to hate him, I genuinely do. But that requires feeling I don’t have. I feel nothing for him.Shamed at the life I live, the life not a single soul outside of my father knows about, I drop a blanket over his prone form and then drag myself to the shower. The hot water will loosen my tight muscles, and hopefully I won’t show too many signs tomorrow. Since I’ve made a rep for myself for hitting up the local boxing club quite frequently, no one questions the random bruises or cuts I might show up with.Before stepping into the shower I stare at myself in the mirror. I touch my lip gingerly, turning my head to the side to examine the red mark where he managed to get a blow in. I press against the mark. Not too sore, so likely no bruise or black eye, or at least not too bad.I avoid looking myself directly in the eye. I can’t do it. Haven’t been able to for years. My life is sick, twisted, at the mercy of insanity and absence of reason. Picking up the bar of soap, I drag it back and forth across the mirror until I’m obliterated.

Review of Under Zenith by Shannen Crane Camp

By now, I'm sure you're aware I'm a fan of Shannen Crane Camp, both her books, and her as a person. I was lucky enough to read her latest, Under Zenith , which has just been released. 


It was the most important day of her life, and for 21-year-old Isla Edison, graduating from college with a useless degree in vocal performance was all part of her master plan. Dying in a car accident only hours later wasn't part of that plan. Yet there she was, standing over her own lifeless body and panicking about ruining the truck her parents had bought as a graduation present. Talk about a bad way to repay them. 

If coming to terms with the hereafter wasn’t enough to deal with, Isla suddenly finds herself stuck with Hayden, a gorgeous Brit with a bad attitude and a penchant for throwing her off cliffs to keep her in line. Worst of all, Hayden is her Guide, and until she completes six impossible and totally random tasks to reach her mysterious Destination, she's stuck with him. Isla's major problem, though, is that she doesn't know what reaching her Destination actually entails, and soon the mystery surrounding her new afterlife seems more ominous than any purgatory she could possibly imagine. Now Isla must decide if she'll trust her dark and brooding Guide despite his "bad boy" act, or if she'll risk failing her tasks and facing the unknown alone. 


My Review:

Under Zenith  is a fun, fresh, new story that isn't like any other that I've read. Isla is completely charming, and Hayden is annoyingly attractive (you'll have to read it to see what I mean). 
Isla wakes up from her car accident in a whole new realm where she's stuck with her Guide, Hayden, and assigned a bunch of tasks she must complete in order to reach her "destination". Her cheerful optimism and ingenuity annoy Hayden to no end. On the other hand, his surly sarcasm drives Isla up a wall. Their interactions are amusing, and I found myself cheering Isla on several times as she stood up to him.
Shannen has created some innovative places and tasks, and without giving away much let me just say my favorite area was the junkyard (again, you'll have to read to see what I mean). Shades of Star Wars and the trash compactor scene in my mind - and anything that brings Star Wars to mind, even in the most obscure way, is a most positive thing as far as I'm concerned. The other part of the junkyard scene was about as terrifying as I can imagine, so be warned.
This is a great book, with a different kind of romance, a story that's unexpected, and an ending that's fulfilling. As with all of Shannen's books, I highly recommend this one.
You can find Shannen at Shannen C Books. Pick up your copy of Under Zenith today!

Win a Kindle

Win a Kindle Fire HDX, Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash ($229 value)   This is a joint AUTHOR & BLOGGER GIVEAWAY EVENT! Bloggers & Authors have joined together and each chipped in a little money towards a Kindle Fire HDX 7" (or $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 in Paypal Cash).
All New Kindle Fire HDX 7" GiveawayThe winner will have the option of receiving a 7" Kindle Fire HDX (US Only - $229 Value)
  Or $229 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)
  Or $229 in Paypal Cash (International)
      Giveaway Sponsors
I Am A Reader, Not A WriterFeed Your ReaderAuthor Clover AutreyBuried Under RomanceChosen by You Book ClubAuthor Elizabeth WoodrumAuthor Elizabeth IsaacsAuthor Fabio BuenoFae BooksGins Book Notes and DesignAuthor Inger IversenParanormal Book ClubHallowed Ink PressThe Storybook KingdomThe (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old GirlStuffed ShelvesAuggie TalkBook AngeltopiaJennifer LaurensAstraea PressAuthor Joselyn VaughnAuthor Wendy KnightRumor Has ItAuthor Sandy GreenAuthor Sherry GloagAuthor M. KircherAuthor Allan LeveroneAuthor Jo GraffordAuthor Jennifer Rae GravelyAuthor P.M. RichterAuthor Ash KraftonAuthor Rae Z. RyansI Feel the Need, The Need to ReadThe Society of YA StorytellersAuthor Laurie TreacyQuality BookWorks ServicesAuthor Diane CapriAuthor Carole LanhamBound4EscapeAuthor J.L. WeilReviews from a BookwormWhere The Broken Lie by Derek RempferBrenda Maxfield's Smart and Sassy Teen ReadsAuthor Kimber Leigh WheatonParanormal Romance Author Rebecca HamiltonBonnie Blythe's Pure RomanceBella Street Weird RomanceA Leisure MomentBea's Book NookDanielle @ Coffee and CharactersBookHoundsThe Stubby PencilFrances PauliThe Sylver LiningSweet Romance ReadsAuthor Donna FasanoOwl Always Be ReadingThe Reporter and The GirlAuthor David Michael SlaterAuthor Daniel PikeThe Late Bloomer's Book BlogAuthor Marilla MulwaneBarbara Silkstone: Second Art CafeElizabeth Parkinson Bellows  Sign up to sponsor the next Kindle Fire Giveaway: http://www.iamareader.com/category/kindle-giveaway-sign-ups   Giveaway Details 1 winner will receive their choice of an all new Kindle Fire 7" HDX (US Only - $229 value), $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 in Paypal Cash (International). There is a second separate giveaway for bloggers who post this giveaway on their blog. See details in the rafflecopter on how to enter to win the 2nd Kindle Fire HDX 7". Ends 3/16/14 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 participating authors & bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cute Crayon Giveaway

Yup, you read that right. It's a crayon giveaway, but not just any old crayons - cute crayons made by 5 year old Evie. Read about Evie below, then at the bottom you'll see the set I'm giving away and the Rafflecopter to enter. You should check out her store as well, she has Doctor Who crayons!! And Superman. And Storm Troopers. I'm going to get me some of those! And then never color with them.




Evie is 5 years old and has a dream of going to Disneyworld. When begging and pleading didn’t work Evie started on a new plan to make her dream come true… she started a business! Now she is saving her money while making crayons and selling them on Etsy!
From Evie: The first crayons I made were just a homework project with my mom. I wanted a dino birthday party and my mom said she would help me make decorations. We made dino art to put up on the walls, dino invitations and dino favors. The favors were little dinosaur crayons that my mom helped me poor into a mold. After the birthday party some of my friends wanted more. So we made more... and more... and more... and then my mom helped me put them with dinosaur books in my grandpa's shop. I sold so many that I went to the store with my mom and bought new shapes to make and we ordered molds for those shapes too. 
Now I sale them on my mom's site (Etsy store) that we share. Now my mom helps me cut the papers and I take the papers off the crayons, melt them, and put them into the molds (with a little help from mom or dad). I get half the money I make to spend on things I want; right now I am saving for Disneyworld. The other half goes into my college fund for when I'm a grown up. If you have broken crayons you want to let me use I would be really happy to recycle them (that's a big word mom taught me) into new shapes to make kids happy everywhere! You can send them to my grandpa's shop the address is on the Contact Us page, or if you want crayons for your kids or projects you can send me a request or buy some off the store my mom and I share here...
You can see Evie’s steps to make Crayons on Youtube here: 
Steps 1-3 of Evie makingCrayons, 
Step 4 of Evie Making Crayons, 
and Step 5 of Evie Making Crayons

These are the crayons I'm giving away, compliments of Evie herself. They're the "gemstone" set.

Enter below.
You can also follow Evie's journey through: 
~ Blog  ~  Facebook page ~ 

~and Purchase Crayons here ~ 



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fractured Truth Cover Reveal

For fans of Rachel McClellan's Fractured series, here it is, the cover of the third book in the trilogy, Fractured Truth! Gotta tell you I was lucky enough to read this book already, and I loved it as much as the first two. It will be available in April, so be sure to come back then during Rachel's blog tour to read my review and get info as to where you can grab your own copy.

Llona is determined to end the fight with the Vykens once and for all. All she needs is to find and destroy the Shadow—the ultimate source of dark power. But when she makes a startling discovery about someone she loves, Llona has to fight the toughest battle yet in this exciting conclusion to the Fractured Light series.

Porcelain Keys by Sarah Beard

Review of Porcelain Keys by Sarah Beard

Aria's life is full of secrets--secrets about her mother's death, her father's cruelty, and her dream to go to Juilliard. When Aria meets Thomas, he draws out her secrets, captures her heart, and gives her the courage to defy her father. But when tragedy strikes and Thomas disappears, Aria is left alone to transform her broken heart's melody into something beautiful. Porcelain Keys is a captivating love story that will resonate long after the last page is turned.



My Thoughts:
At times heart breaking and at others emotionally lifting, Porcelain Keys is a fresh, heart wrenching take on boy-meets-girl. Two broken characters come together to begin the long, hard process of helping one another heal, but only if they can allow themselves to open enough to be healed.
Beard uses fantastic imagery through music to tell the tragic story of Aria and Thomas, taking the reader along on a swelling crescendo as if we're part of the song—and what a beautiful song it is. Strong writing, enthralling characters, realistic situations, and a love story to root for make this book a must-have for anyone who loves a well told story.


Sarah Beard has a degree in communications from the University of Utah and splits her time between writing and raising three energetic boys. She is a cancer survivor, a hopeless romantic and an amateur musician. She lives with her husband and children in Salt Lake City, Utah. You can follow Sarah on twitter at @authorsarahb, or at facebook.com/authorsarahbeard. Her website is sarahbeard.com.




Pre-Order Your Copy Today!

The Fantastical Tour Finale - Last Chance to Win!

Did you miss any of these fantastic stops on the tour? 
Check them out now!
January 26 Launch
January 27 @  Mythical Books


Shadowskin  Goodreads * Amazon * Createspace * Barnes & Noble
by Bethany Cassel Website * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest
Weaving a Fairy Tale Tapestry
Once upon a time, there was a poison apple. This poison apple never wanted to hurt the princess with skin as white as snow, but evil dwarves made her do it. 
In the very earliest stages of Shadowskin, the book was meant to be a straight retelling of the Snow White fairy tale. It was inspired by the question and subsequent answer of, “Why would the evil queen really want to kill Snow White? The poison apple is more than that . . . it’s really the queen’s daughter, cursed with a deadly touch.” This is where my main character, Pomona, originated. She was the personification of the poison apple in the story. At first, I was content to develop just this part of her identity and retell just one fairy tale, but, as things go with writing, things quickly got out of hand. I realized that Pomona was far more than just a poisoned apple, but that required some more development...
Read more at Mythical Books.
January 28 @  Wonderings of One Person:
 
Beyond the Fortuneteller's Tent (Beyond #1) Goodreads * Amazon
Beyond the Hollow (Beyond #2) Goodreads * Amazon
by Kristy TateWebsite * Goodreads * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest
The Inspiration for Writing the Beyond Series
I thought I knew how the Twilight series would end. While I, and half the reading world, waited for the release of Stephenie Meyer’s Breaking Dawn, I concocted what I thought was the perfect happily ever after for Bella and Edward. After a year of impatiently waiting for the final conclusion, I was hugely disappointed in Meyer’s ending.

But then—wait! Why not use my own happily ever after? Why not create my own series? And so I did. No vampires, no werewolves, but lots of obscure legends and an ending I can’t wait to write. Two of the three planned Beyond books are now published, and I’m not sure if I want the series to end…yet. I love Petra and Emory. I’m not sure I’m ready to let them go. So, at the moment, I can’t say whether the Beyond series will be a trilogy or something much larger. But I do know the ending, and I love it. I hope it will be worth waiting for...
Read the rest of the guest post and an excerpt from Beyond the Fortuneteller's Tent at the  Wonderings of One Person .

January 29 @ I Am a Reader, Not a Writer

Enchanted Fairytales Goodreads * Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Smashwords * Createspace

by Cindy C Bennett Website * Facebook * Twitter * LinkedIn
Who Doesn’t Love Fairytales?
Who doesn’t love fairytales? Princes and princesses, magic, villains, obstacles to overcome to achieve true love—fairytales have it all. They’re an easy escape into an enchanted world. I think that has a lot to do with the current trend in retelling these fantastical stories.

I’d already decided to write some retellings when I was approached by my publisher to write a full length retelling of the fairytale of my choice. I chose Rapunzel for the full-length, leaving me the option of all the other fairytales for my short stories...

...With all of my fairytales, I studied and read all of the old versions, and a few of the new, using names and settings from the traditional tales. Some of the names might seem a little strange, but with all of my main characters, there’s a meaning behind their name.

I enjoy reading fairytale retellings almost as much as I like writing them. I hope you like the way I’ve retold these classic stories, and have fun immersing yourself into every fairytale you read, both traditional and the retellings. As always, happy reading!

Read more at I Am a Reader, Not a Writer.
January 30 @ A Backwards Story
 
Enchanted (Woodcutter Sisters #1) Goodreads * Amazon * Barnes & Noble
Hero  (Woodcutter Sisters #2) Goodreads * Amazon * Barnes & Noble
by Alethea Kontis
Website * Goodreads * Facebook * Twitter * YouTube
The Real Peter Woodcutter

My maternal grandmother passed away last February. It was the first time in seven years that my siblings and I were together in the same place.
I see my little sister Soteria the most often and talk to her almost every day. I speak to my older sister Cherie less frequently, but I'm trying to remedy that. Our brother West, however, seems to enjoy falling off the planet. So traveling to Vermont in the driving snow was made extra special for all of us because we got to see him.
I made sure he didn't leave without a signed copy of ENCHANTED. Instead of defacing the title page, like I normally do, I took up almost all of the blank space on the page before that, thanking West profusely for being both my real-life brother and the inspiration for Peter Woodcutter...

Read more at A Backwards Story.

January 31 @ Bookworm Lisa

The Fairytale Keeper: Avenging the Queen Goodreads * Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Smashwords
Read the first part of the novel for FREE:Smashwords
by Andrea Cefalo
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest
The Inspiration for Writing The Fairytale Keeper
Did you know that nearly all cultures have their own version of the Cinderella story? Neither did I until attending a children’s literature lecture in 2007. I don’t know about you, but my mind tends to wander when I have to sit through two hour lectures. So I started wondering. If most cultures have a Cinderella story, was it based on one girl, a real Cinderella? Was Cinderella a girl who lived hundreds, or even thousands, of years ago? Or is there is just something so compelling about the Cinderella story that most cultures make up their own?
I didn’t want to write another Cinderella story. My story presumes that all of Grimm’s fairy tales are based on a real person, and that that person is the real Snow White. During her adventures, she compiled these tales through the people she’d met, the stories she’d been told, and the events she’d experienced.
Read more at  Bookworm Lisa.

Tour-Wide Giveaway!!
January 26 - February 10
There are FIVE chances to WIN!!
Winners will be drawn randomly, entries will be validated and the IP Addresses checked for shipping qualifications to award winnings in order of preference, if indicated. See Rafflecopter entry. Additional restrictions on Rafflecopter apply.

1 - Signed print copy of Shadowskin by Bethany Cassel plus a signed sketch of the Main Character by the author! (US Only)

2 - eCopies of both books in the Beyond series by Kristy Tate: Beyond the Fortune Teller's Tent & Beyond the Hollow!  (International)

3 - eCopy of Enchanted Fairytales by Cindy C Bennett! (International)

4 - FIVE Signed paperbacks of Enchanted by Alethea Kontis plus swag! (US Only) (That's five winners. Woop!)

5 - eCopy of The Fairytale Keeper: Avenging the Queen by Andrea Cefalo! (International)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Are you a blogger and want to receive information about new tours? Go HERE.Are you an author or publisher and would like to have us organize a tour event? Go HERE.

Fantastical Tour

Thanks to Kathy at I Am A Reader, Not A Writer for hosting me on her blog today for the Fantastical Tour!

If you want to read my blog post, Who Doesn't Love Fairytales?, then hop on over to her blog!

Make sure you visit the rest of the blogs on the tour hosting other fairytale authors as well, and join the Rafflecopter giveaway for the chance to win plenty of prizes.

January 27 @ Mythical Books: Shadowskin by Bethany CasselJanuary 28 @  Wonderings of One Person: Beyond the Hollow by Kristy TateJanuary 29 @ I Am a Reader, Not a Writer: Enchanted Fairytales by Cindy C BennettJanuary 30 @ A Backwards Story: Enchanted & Hero by Alethea KontisJanuary 31 @ Bookworm Lisa: The Fairytale Keeper: Avenging the Queen by Andrea CefaloFebruary 1 @ Blogs everywhere: The Grand Finale

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Fantastical Tour!

The Tour:
January 26 @ Blogs everywhere: Launching the Tour
January 27 @ Mythical Books: Shadowskin by Bethany Cassel
January 28 @  Wonderings of One Person: Beyond the Hollow by Kristy Tate
January 29 @ I Am a Reader, Not a Writer: Enchanted Fairytales by Cindy C Bennett
January 30 @ A Backwards Story: Enchanted & Hero by Alethea Kontis
January 31 @ Bookworm Lisa: The Fairytale Keeper: Avenging the Queen by Andrea Cefalo
February 1 @ Blogs everywhere: The Grand Finale



January 27 @ Mythical Books
Shadowskin 
Cursed with a deadly touch, Pomona never thought she would leave the royal gardens of Norarchland, where she uses her magic over plant life to make the gardens flourish. But when she discovers a magic mirror beneath the roots of an apple tree, she learns a horrifying truth: the life of the beautiful Princess Nevea is in danger, and Pomona is the only one who can save her. Pomona flees with the princess into the dark forest, where she is taken in by the mysterious Selene Magna and her huntress companion, Callisto. They claim that the Tenebrari-short, magical beings responsible for Pomona's curse-are trying to conquer all of the kingdoms of Archland. Even more, Pomona is destined to play an important role in their defeat. The cursed gardener must now embark on a journey far beyond her imagination to stop the Tenebrari, or else she and all those she cares about will be cursed forever.

Goodreads * Amazon * Createspace * Barnes & Noble

Bethany Cassel lives in a land surrounded by forests and cornfields, and she was lucky enough to grow up in the same house all her life. Falling asleep to the sound of waterfalls and seldom-disturbed quiet provided the perfect environment for her to develop her passion for writing. Inspired by the beautiful landscape around her, Bethany created Archland, a world with deep forests, rolling hills, and fierce winters, home to dozens of fairy tale characters.

When she is not writing, Bethany is a voracious reader, known to finish the likes of "Seraphina" by Rachel Hartman in two sittings (it was a great book)! Her favorite writers are, in no particular order, Sir Thomas Malory, J.K. Rowling, John Keats, Victor Hugo, Kendare Blake, Jay Asher, Toni Morrison, and Marissa Meyer. This list is by no means complete. She is about to earn her Bachelor's of Arts in English from SUNY Geneseo and plans to continue her education in literature in graduate school. Besides all things literary, Bethany enjoys archery and bow hunting, drawing, playing piano, and volunteering with ministries in her community. She currently lives in Western New York with four dogs, twenty-ish chickens (she lost count), a lizard, and a couple of frogs.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest

January 28 @  Wonderings of One Person

Beyond the Fortuneteller's Tent  (Beyond #1)



When Petra Baron goes into the fortuneteller’s tent at a Renaissance fair, she expects to leave with a date to prom. Instead, she walks out into Elizabethan England, where she meets gypsies, a demon dog and a kindred spirit in Emory Ravenswood.

Emory must thwart the plans of religious zealots. His mission is dangerous, his enemies are fanatical, and Petra Baron is a complication that Heaven only knows he does not need. Or does he? Although Emory is on Heaven’s errand, he learned long ago that Heaven does not always play fair.

As Petra slowly falls for Emory, she wonders if he really is who he seems, or if he is just as lost as she is. How can they have a future while trapped in the past? Or is anything possible Beyond the Fortuneteller’s Tent?

Goodreads * Amazon
Beyond the Hollow (Beyond #2)

Petra Baron and her immortal boyfriend, Emory Ravenswood, are living their happily in modern day Orange County, California, until Dane shows up: a heart-stoppingly handsome man from Petra's past. Petra can't remember Dane, or anything else about her time in Tarrytown, New York two hundred years ago. But Emory does remember, and he knows she's lucky to have forgotten all about Dane and the nightmarish episode in 1810.

After Emory disappears, Petra is determined to find him again. Yet she doesn’t know whether Dane can lead her to Emory, or to the nightmare she can’t remember. The one thing she does know is that once upon a time really means two hundred years ago, and that if she wants to find Emory the first place to look is Sleepy Hollow, 1810.
With a collection of Washington Irving's writings in her hand, and a prayer that some nine-pin-playing ghosts will give her a drink of the same magic ale they gave Rip Van Winkle, Petra heads into another time-defying adventure.
Goodreads * Amazon
Kristy Tate
Kristy studied English literature at Brigham Young University and at BYU's International Center in London. Although a long time resident of Orange County California where she lives with her family, Kristy's heart belongs in her hometown of Arlington, Washington, AKA Rose Arbor--the fictional setting of her popular Rose Arbor series.

For updates on Kristy's upcoming novels, please visit her blog at kristystories.blogspot.com and sign up for her newsletter, where discounts and freebies are sure to happen.

Website * Goodreads * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest
Other books by Kristy:The Rhyme's Library (2013 Kindle Book Review Awards semi-finalist)Hailey's Comments (an Amazon Breakout Novel quarter-finalist)Stealing MercyRescuing RitaA Light in the Christmas CaféLosing Penny


January 29 @ I Am a Reader, Not a Writer
Enchanted Fairytales
Enchanted Fairytales is a series of short stories based on beloved fairytales. The stories are written as if the fairytales never existed. are contemporary, some are paranormal, some have elements of fantasy or magic. 
Beautiful Beast: After a cruel prank, Calli is forced to move into “Monster House” to befriend the beast. Alex is determined to hate Calli, who he believes is there to get a peek at the beast. Calli must convince Alex that she isn’t there to harm him, and that her feelings for him are very real.

Red and the Wolf: A sudden increase in the violence and frequency of wolf attacks in the forest surrounding Piera has all of the residents on edge. Ruby, contending with the news that Rafe has come home after leaving her three years earlier, and staving off the advances of his brother Lowell, doesn’t have time to deal with wolves - until she finds herself fighting against a wolf for her life.

Snow White: Snow White, sent into the forest to be killed, escapes. She stumbles upon a tiny, magical kingdom called Fableton, where time stands still for its trapped residents. Phillip, blinded centuries ago by a vengeful love, believes Snow is the key to breaking the curse and freeing them all.

The Unmasking of Cinderella: Forced into servitude by her wicked stepmother, Amella longs for the simple freedoms her stepsister takes for granted. When she bumps into Char - literally - her world is suddenly turned upside down. Amella begins to believe that she can have a life she previously thought nothing more than a dream with Char by her side.

The White Swan: Cursed to live as a swan by day by the jealous Benno von Rothbart, Odette desires nothing more than to tell Victor what’s happened, but can’t out of fear for what Benno might do to him. Victor discovers her secret and together they try to break the curse. But the cost of doing so might just be too much.

Goodreads * Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Smashwords * Createspace


Cindy C Bennett is the YA author of several books. She lives in Utah with her two daughters. Both of her sons have married, giving her two more daughters (in-law). She loves gooey cookies, dark chocolate, and cheese popcorn. She hates housework and cooking, and has no plans to become a domestic goddess. She occasionally co-hosts a geek podcast with her son, called Geek Revolution Radio. Her favorite pastime—other than writing—is riding her Harley.
Website * Facebook * Twitter * LinkedIn
Other books by Cindy: Rapunzel Untangled, Heart on a Chain, Geek Girl, The Experiment, Whispers of Razari, Immortal Mine, In the Beginning, Reluctance, Watched

January 30 @ A Backwards Story

Enchanted
It isn't easy being the rather overlooked and unhappy youngest sibling to sisters named for the other six days of the week. Sunday’s only comfort is writing stories, although what she writes has a terrible tendency to come true.

When Sunday meets an enchanted frog who asks about her stories, the two become friends. Soon that friendship deepens into something magical. One night Sunday kisses her frog goodbye and leaves, not realizing that her love has transformed him back into Rumbold, the crown prince of Arilland—and a man Sunday’s family despises.

The prince returns to his castle, intent on making Sunday fall in love with him as the man he is, not the frog he was. But Sunday is not so easy to woo. How can she feel such a strange, strong attraction for this prince she barely knows? And what twisted secrets lie hidden in his past - and hers?

Hero

Rough and tumble Saturday Woodcutter thinks she's the only one of her sisters without any magic—until the day she accidentally conjures an ocean in the backyard. With her sword in tow, Saturday sets sail on a pirate ship, only to find herself kidnapped and whisked off to the top of the world. Is Saturday powerful enough to kill the mountain witch who holds her captive and save the world from sure destruction? And, as she wonders grumpily, "Did romance have to be part of the adventure?" As in Enchanted, readers will revel in the fragments of fairy tales that embellish this action-packed story of adventure and, yes, romance.

New York Times bestselling author Alethea Kontis is a princess, a goddess, a force of nature, and a mess. She’s known for screwing up the alphabet, scolding vampire hunters, turning garden gnomes into mad scientists, and making sense out of fairy tales.

Alethea is the co-author of Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark-Hunter Companion, and penned the AlphaOops series of picture books. Her short fiction, essays, and poetry have appeared in a myriad of anthologies and magazines. She has done multiple collaborations with Eisner winning artist J.K. Lee, includingThe Wonderland Alphabet and Diary of a Mad Scientist Garden Gnome. Her debut YA fairy tale novel, Enchanted, won the Gelett Burgess Children’s Book Award in 2012 and was nominated for both the Andre Norton Award and the Audie Award in 2013.

Born in Burlington, Vermont, Alethea now lives in Northern Virginia with her Fairy Godfamily. She makes the best baklava you’ve ever tasted and sleeps with a teddy bear named Charlie.

Website * Goodreads * Facebook * Twitter * YouTube


January 31 @ Bookworm Lisa
The Fairytale Keeper: Avenging the Queen

Anonymous, nameless, Adelaide Schumacher should have been lost to history. Medieval girls do not make legends. If they are lucky to live long enough, they make babies.

Adelaide’s mother, Katrina was the finest storyteller in Cologne, but she left one story untold, that of her daughter, Snow White. A rampant fever claimed Adelaide’s mother just like a thousand others in Cologne where the dead are dumped in a vast pit outside the city walls. In an effort to save Katrina’s soul, Adelaide’s family obtains a secret funeral by bribing the parish priest, Father Soren.

Soren commits an unforgivable atrocity, pushing Adelaide toward vengeance, but the corruption in Cologne reaches far beyond Soren, and the cost of settling scores quickly escalates. Avenging the mother she lost may cost Adelaide everything she has left: her father, her friends, her first love, and maybe even her life.

The Fairytale Keeper casts the famous villains, heroes, and damsels of Grimm’s fairytales into Medieval lives. Seamlessly weaving historical events and Grimm’s fairytales into a tale of corruption and devotion, The Fairytale Keeper, leaves the reader wondering where fact ends, and fiction begins.

Goodreads * Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Smashwords
Read the first part of the novel for FREE:Smashwords
Andrea Cefalo is the award-winning author of The Fairytale Keeper series. The Fairytale Keeper series is a Medieval tale of corruption, devotion, and the origins of Grimm’s fairytales. It was a quarter-finalist in Amazon’s 2013 Breakthrough Novel Contest and has been recommended by Riffle, Copperfield Review, and other various independent reviewers. The second novel in the series, The Fairest of All, will debut in 2014. When Andrea isn’t writing, she enjoys blogging and tweeting about the Middle Ages, teaching authors how to effectively use social media, and presenting in schools. She resides in Greenville, South Carolina with her husband and their two border collies.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Pinterest
February 1  – Grand Finale
Tour-Wide Giveaway!!

January 26 - February 10
There are FIVE chances to WIN!!
Winners will be drawn randomly, entries will be validated and the IP Addresses checked for shipping qualifications to award winnings in order of preference, if indicated. See Rafflecopter entry. Additional restrictions on Rafflecopter apply.

1 - Signed print copy of Shadowskin by Bethany Cassel plus a signed sketch of the Main Character by the author! (US Only)

2 - eCopies of both books in the Beyond series by Kristy Tate: Beyond the Fortune Teller's Tent & Beyond the Hollow!  (International)

3 - eCopy of Enchanted Fairytales by Cindy C Bennett! (International)

4 - FIVE Signed paperbacks of Enchanted by Alethea Kontis plus swag! (US Only) (That's five winners. Woop!)

5 - eCopy of The Fairytale Keeper: Avenging the Queen by Andrea Cefalo! (International)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Are you a blogger and want to receive information about new tours? Go HERE.Are you an author or publisher and would like to have us organize a tour event? Go HERE.

TaleSpins by Michael Mullin

 Tour Schedule




Tale SpinsA trilogy of alternative fairytales and retellings. Discover the real Snow White story through the eyes of Creepy, the unknown 8th dwarf! Meet a teen princess who hires "The Frog Prince" witch to get revenge on a Mean Girl at school! And learn how the giant, boy thief and magic beans tale truly went down!  
Amazon * Barnes & Noble


Praise for Tale Spins
Not usually enamoured of either re-tellings or poetry I was totally taken aback by just how much I relished this trilogy of alternative fairytales and re-tellings aimed at the Young Adult market.
~Tracy (Goodreads)
TaleSpins was like walking into a vintage store and finding a true treasure. This book takes the fairytales we all grew up on and gives them an interesting and modernized version that I enjoyed.
~Rose (Goodreads) 
My Thoughts on TaleSpins : I’m a fan of fairytale retellings, and I particularly like them when a new spin is put on the story. But if you completely twist the story—as in making it twisted, I get some kind of perverse pleasure out of it. I’ve long been a fan of Miss MaryPennynickle’s Tales of Torment for Toddlers , wherein sweet children’s tales are twisted. So I was excited when I had the chance to read TaleSpins by Michael Mullin.
Mullin has three tales here, one based on the opposite of Snow White, and the other two a sort of meshing of several different stories. The tales are all told with poetry. Personally, I think the stories would have been more effective had they been written out as a story rather than told in poetry, but that’s just me. The rhythm of the poetry threw the stories a little off to me. That being said, I liked the stories. I liked the dark, twisted side given to them by Mullin. He’s a bit macabre, and that’s something I can appreciate!
These stories are not for children, nor for the faint of heart. But if you have a slightly dark sense of humor, you’re going to enjoy the adult-size TaleSpins . I know I did.  
Author Michael Mullin Michael Mullin is a native New Englander living in Pasadena. He is the author of TaleSpins, a trilogy of alternative fairy tales and retellings for YA readers. TaleSpins stories (in the 1-book collection) are "8: The Previously Untold Story of the Previously Unknown 8th Dwarf"; "The Plight and Plot of Princess Penny"; and "Jack'd". Michael is also the co-author of the successful "Larry Gets Lost" children's book series. His screenplay "Zooing Time" was recognized by the WGA's Written By magazine. Before all this writing, he taught preschool and college, two positions he found disconcertingly similar.

Website * Facebook * Twitter
  Tour Giveaways Giveaway #1 - Open to US only


  a Rafflecopter giveaway 
Giveaway #2 $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 1/21/14 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, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway