Cindy C. Bennett's Blog, page 43

Evertaster - The Buttersmit​h's Gold Book Blast

 
The Buttersmiths' Gold BATTLES. BLUEBERRIES. BOVINES.TORBJORN AND STORFJELL’S HISTORY UNFOLDS IN AN EPIC EVERTASTER NOVELLA.Everyone knows the most coveted treasure of the Viking Age was blueberry muffins. Blueberry muffins so succulent that if you sniffed just a whiff, you'd want a whole bite. If you bit a bite, you'd want a batch; if you snatched a batch, you'd stop at nothing short of going to war just to claim them all.Young Torbjorn Trofastsonn comes from the clan that makes them. He's a Viking through andthrough – he's thirteen winters old, larger than most respectable rocks, and most of all, a Buttersmith. That's what he thinks anyway, until a charismatic merchant makes Torbjorn question his place among the muffin-makers. When Torbjorn lets the secret of his clan's muffin recipe slip, he calls doom and destruction down upon his peaceful village and forces his brother Storfjell and his clansmen to do the one thing they are ill-prepared to do: battle for their lives.Purchase onAmazonAbout The Buttersmiths' GoldThe Buttersmiths' Gold is a spin off novella in the Evertaster series that tells the story of two Viking brothers and their adventurous past. The Evertaster series (Book #1 released June 14, 2012) is about Guster Johnsonville, who goes searching for a legendary taste rumored to be the most delicious in all of history. Along the way he meets a slew of mysterious characters, including two Viking brothers Torbjorn and Storfjell. The Buttersmiths' Gold is their story. 124 pages. By Adam Glendon Sidwell. Published by Future House Publishing. Evertaster, Book #1:A legendary taste. Sought after for centuries. Shrouded in secrecy.When eleven-year-old Guster Johnsonville rejects his mother’s casserole for the umpteenth time, she takes him into the city of New Orleans to find him something to eat. There, in a dark, abandoned corner of the city they meet a dying pastry maker. In his last breath he entrusts them with a secret: an ancient recipe that makes the most delicious taste the world will ever know — a taste that will change the fate of humanity forever.Forced to flee by a cult of murderous chefs, the Johnsonvilles embark on a perilous journey to ancient ruins, faraway jungles and forgotten caves. Along the way they discover the truth: Guster is an Evertaster — a kid so picky that nothing but the legendary taste itself will save him from starvation. With the sinister chefs hot on Guster’s heels and the chefs’ reign of terror spreading, Guster and his family must find the legendary taste before it’s too late. 
Purchase onAmazonBook Trailer

    Author Adam Sidwell In between books, Adam Glendon Sidwell uses the power of computers to make monsters, robots and zombies come to life for blockbuster movies such as Pirates of the Caribbean, King Kong, Transformers and Tron. After spending countless hours in front of a keyboard meticulously adjusting tentacles, calibrating hydraulics, and brushing monkey fur, he is delighted at the prospect of modifying his creations with the flick of a few deftly placed adjectives. He’s been eating food since age 7, so feels very qualified to write this book. He once showed a famous movie star where the bathroom was. Adam currently lives in Los Angeles, where he can’t wait to fall into the sea.
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BookBlast Giveaway $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 6/30/13 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the participating author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Prize value $50 US. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tanya Mills Spotlight

About Tanya Mills I am the author of A Night on Moon Hill, a 2012 Whitney Finalist, and The Reckoning. The latter was the 2010 Writer’s Digest International Self-Published Book Award Winner for Mainstream/Literary Fiction, 2009 Indie Book Award Winner for Multicultural Fiction, and 2008 Whitney Finalist in two categories. I grew up overseas, in a part of the world that has seen a lot of conflict–the Middle East–so the pacifist in me tends to view the world in terms of what we have in common, not what drives us apart. The stories I write will always reflect that in some fashion. I’m most interested in writing “fiction that bridges cultures.” The cultures may be national, geographical, religious, political, or even social. It doesn’t matter. They all need bridging.  Most would describe me as serious and thoughtful, but my family and a few close friends know better. All I need is a lack of sleep, a fair amount of M&Ms (plain, not peanut), and a lively game of “Shanghai” late at night, and my guard comes down. I can be as silly as the next person as long as it doesn’t cost me a hand in the card game.  I grew up in a very vocal family–one in which national and international events were often “discussed” around the dinner table. My mom is a Republican, my dad is a Democrat. Most of the kids followed in Dad’s footsteps politically, but not all…so family get-togethers are still fun and, sometimes, rather charged.  I have two big weaknesses among many: a lousy memory and an even lousier sense of direction. I have taken to blaming my poor memory on my epilepsy (entirely under control, by the way). As for the bad sense of direction, I understand that’s a common failing among writers. I suppose we can only map things out in our heads, not the real world. As far as I can remember, these are the main facts of my life thus far (Warning–only read further if you want lots of detail):  I was born in Libya on an American Air Force base (since obliterated by bombing). Mom says the heat and sandstorms were so bad that she took refuge in the base’s movie theatre. In fact, when she went into labor she was slightly put out that she couldn’t finish watching the film first. No wonder I love movies.  We lived in Greece (bad economy, earthquakes, and fires), California (bad economy, earthquakes, and fires), Turkey (earthquakes), Virginia (9/11 Pentagon), Iraq (revolutions, war), Maryland (nothing…yet), and Lebanon (civil war, bombings, invasions). I also lived in Italy for a year and a half (parts of the Coliseum are beginning to crumble). Are you seeing a pattern here? I hope my own little family’s move to the Pacific Northwest doesn’t forecast doom and gloom for the region.  After graduating with a BA in Journalism from BYU, I worked for a PBS affiliate, a Catholic women’s college, a non-profit relief agency, and then got back to writing as Assistant Editor for Trade Publications with Sunset Magazine.  I met my husband in L.A. and quit the job to start raising a family and begin formulating the plot for what would eventually become The Reckoning. I wrote it while we were living in Riverside, CA but it wasn’t published until after we moved up north to Washington State. My next novel, A Night on Moon Hill (inspired by my son with Asperger’s syndrome), was  published last year by Walnut Springs Press. I am currently at work on the first of an upper middle grade fantasy series set partly in the real world.  Through it all, I’ve been a proud, stay-at-home “mauthor” with two beautiful children (now grown), two handsome cats, and a husband who supports and spoils me in every way. Those are the facts to the best of my memory. Then, again, I have a lousy memory. That’s why I write fiction.   Interview:   1. Tell us a little about yourself. I grew up in several foreign countries due to my father's work, enjoying my happiest childhood memories in the Middle East. Even though it's a part of the world that has seen a good deal of conflict, the people there are warm, hospitable, and family-oriented. I've always been creative and enjoyed reading and thought I might end up studying either history (because of the places I've been) or theater (because my family kind of has that tradition). I ended up taking the practical route in college, however, and studied journalism. I live in Richland, WA now with my husband, two children, and two cats.   2. At what point did you decide to become a writer? Was there someone or something that specifically inspired you?   I decided to become a writer in college, but then my intention was a career in journalism. I found I didn't like all the deadlines, however, so I counted myself fortunate to be able to quit my job with Sunset Magazine (I was an Asst. Editor for their Trade Publications) a year or two after I got married. I got an idea for a novel around the same time, but didn't know how to begin it until some 15 years later when I finally gave into my father's long-held desire for me to visit his writing group. There, I took part in a writing exercise that ended up revealing the way into my story. That was in January, 2003. Three months later, after I'd gone back home and found a writing group of my own, I'd finally completed the first draft of what would become my first novel, THE RECKONING. My father had been writing in his spare time since I was a teenager in Beirut, Lebanon. So he was definitely my inspiration, and I dedicated my first book to him.   3. What are you working on now?   I've just completed something entirely different for me--a middle grade fantasy with potential for a series. I'm calling it THE ACADEMY OF THE ANCIENTS, with the first book entitled THE HEYMAN LEGACY. An agent requested the full and I'm hoping this will garner me representation. We'll see. In the meantime, I need to flesh out the rest of the series.   4. How do you write: outline or seat of your pants, and why?   Until now, I've always written by the seat of my pants because it allows the story to grow more organically. I find that once I start with a character in an interesting situation, the story and other characters tend to develop on their own. And it's almost as if something higher is at work in my creative process. For example, in my last novel, A NIGHT ON MOON HILL, I decided I wanted my main character, Daphne, to take a book with her for comfort when she goes to meet young Eric for the first time. I figured that since she was an author who was uncomfortable with strangers, she would take something like that with her. So I had to pick a book. I looked back on my shelf and "randomly" picked out "Look Homeward Angel" by Thomas Wolfe then realized when Eric spies it in Daphne's hands that it's the perfect book to spark a conversation between them because he's passionate about angels. Not only that, but as I wrote the dialogue between them, I had him question the title. That made me do a bit of research so Daphne could tell him where the title came from, which led me to Milton's poem, "Lycidas." It was such a perfect fit for the novel, given its beginning involving a drowning. It was like serendipity! But I know it's more than that. I really do believe that the Spirit assists in the creative process.   Now, however, I'm having to write a series and I simply can't keep everything straight without an outline. I wrote the first book in the series without an outline, for the most part (though I sketched some plot points out in my head as I got 2/3 of the way in), but now I know I'm going to have to re-read that first manuscript, jot down all the questions raised and left unanswered (there aren't too many), and then outline the rest of the series to make certain everything I have in mind is revealed at the right time and nothing is left unanswered at the end. Part of me still fights the outlining, however, and I won't be surprised if I get partway in and then let the story take over.   5. Do you have any advice for others who dream of being an author?   Be humble and patient with yourself. Don't be afraid to go to conferences and retreats and, above all, remember that, in the end, if you want it badly enough and are willing to revise, revise, and revise again, you will get published. Also, getting published is only the beginning, not the end. So be very certain of your goals and motivations.   6. Do you belong to any writing/critique groups? Do you suggest them for authors?   I belong to a wonderful critique group, Writeminded, that meets weekly by Skype at 7 pm each Wednesday. We formed it about three years ago and it's been immensely helpful for each one of the six of us. Before that, when I lived in Southern California, I belonged to a larger critique group (probably too large) which also met weekly. I also belong to ANWA, including a local chapter I began--Columbia River Writers--which meets monthly, LDStorymakers, and LDS Indie Authors. Writing groups are essential for most authors, for we tend to live in our own worlds and we need that kind of contact to keep us grounded and enthusiastic about our craft.   7. State a random fact about yourself that could surprise your readers.   After my mission to Italy and before I got married, I was accepted to Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies for their Middle East Studies program in Bologna, Italy. It turned out to be too expensive, but had I taken out the loans and gone, I have a feeling my life would have turned out entirely differently.  Books THE RECKONING  Journalist Theresa Fuller has epilepsy, but this hasn’t slowed her search for stories of injustice to broadcast to the world. When she and her cameraman, Peter Cranston, are captured inside Iraq in August 2002, and imprisoned by the Mukhabarat–Iraq’s secret police–she is cut off from her medication. Seizures resume, and dreams and visions of her childhood in Baghdad begin to haunt her. Tormented by the relentless Colonel Badr, she is forced to focus on her own father’s death years before in a Baghdad prison. The strain of her own captivity and torture is relieved only by her growing attraction to Tariq al-Awali, the Iraqi captain who took charge of her capture. The more she learns of him and his family, the clearer her troubling dreams become, and the more puzzling her past. Before American bombs begin to fall, throwing Iraq into even darker chaos, Theresa must find a way to escape the cruelty of Colonel Badr and save those she cares for most. The 2010 Writer’s Digest International Self Published Book Award Winner for Literary/Mainstream Fiction, the 2009 Indie Book Award Winner for Multicultural Fiction, and a 2008 Whitney Award Finalist, The Reckoning brings home the horrors of political injustice and the courage that it takes to resist despotism in all its forms. It shows what’s possible when people are called upon to find the best in themselves during the darkest of times. A NIGHT ON MOON HILL    Swimming is Daphne’s one refuge– Until the night she finds a dead body in her pool.University professor and renowned author Daphne Lessing has never felt at ease in society. But a disturbance in her once calm and controlled existence suddenly unearths events from her past and thrusts an unusual child into her life.

Without wanting to, Daphne soon finds herself attached to Eric, a ten-year-old with Asperger’s syndrome who is obsessed with fishing and angels. Daphne is faced with a choice: Does she leave him and return to her solitary, ordered life, trusting others to do right by him, or does she allow this bright child to draw her into the world she’s tried to shun?
And what about the man that entered her life with Eric? Will she be able to shut him out as well? 
   

Coming soon....

I’m hosting my first ever blog hop so I’m hoping to have lots of participation. For my very first blog hop I have chosen to go with a summer theme. Very unique right since we will be right in the middle of summer July 9-12. I just have a few rules to go over. I hope you join!
*Everyone loves a good summer read! So this is your chance to share and giveaway your favorite.*
Sign ups coming soon…

Friday Five

Welcome to this week’s Friday Five. If you haven’t been here before, this is nothing more than my random rambling about something that interests me, with a list of five, in no particular order. This week’s list is five things I do for fun. Hope you enjoy!

Five Things I Do for Fun  Movies: I’ve always loved to go to the movies, for as long as I can remember. It doesn’t matter if it’s romance, sci-fi, horror, comedy, drama, whatever . . . I love them all. Well, okay, I don’t love them all, but I love the experience of seeing a movie, and then having the chance to either love it, like it, or hate it. Doesn’t matter, I still want to see them all.
Ride My Bike: I’m talking my Harley here, not a pedal bike. Bicycles seem like way too much work to be fun. However, straddling the Harley and going sixty down a lonesome, scenic highway, or winding up through a canyon at thirty is pretty much one of the most fun things I can imagine doing. I’ve done a lot of fun rides, seen a lot of amazing things and places, and gotten ideas for quite a few books while pursuing this particular hobby. My hubby got me riding, and I’m sure glad he did. This is a fun thing we both enjoy doing together.  Playing Hand and Foot: This is a card game probably known by more names and with more different sets of rules than most others, so you may or may not have heard of it. It takes a minimum of four players and a maximum of eight (you play in teams). I’m not sure why this particular card game appeals to me so much, but I’ve never played a game and then wished I hadn’t.  Go to Lunch with My Girlfriends: This is an activity that doesn’t happen nearly often enough as far as I’m concerned. Probably only once every couple of months or so, but I look forward to it every time. I happen to have a fantastic group of friends, which still amazes me considering I’m an introvert and went years without a single girlfriend. Now, I can’t imagine living without them. If you don’t have a group of friends you can lean on, I suggest you get one, quick!  Hang Out with My Kids: I saved the best for last on this one. I’m never far from the conscious thought about how lucky I am to have the kids I do. They’re such great kids, all of them. I’m really grateful that, at least so far, they all like me still. And they like to hang out with me. I have great geek conversations with my oldest son (who I sometimes podcast with on his podcast Geek Revolution Radio). No one understands or enjoys our conversations as much as we do—except maybe my daughter’s boyfriend who I’m proud to say is a geek. My next son has been in the Air Force for almost five years and so you’d think it would be awkward when we’re together since he left right out of high school and has been in Germany or elsewhere since, but it isn’t. He makes me laugh like no other, such a funny kid. My oldest daughter has grown into this remarkable young woman who I can talk to for hours on end. She amazes me at every turn with how great she is. Sometimes we’re up way too late just talking about anything and everything. My youngest daughter is probably the closest to me. We’ve just always been really attached, maybe because she’s my baby, maybe just because that’s who we are. She’s dealt with a lot of harshness in her life (she’s Type I diabetic and has Celiac) and yet she just does what’s necessary to take care of herself. She has the greatest laugh in the world. I can’t begin to imagine my life without this particular chickadee. And lucky me, I got two amazing daughters-in-law who I love to death, and who I have as much fun hanging out with as I do my own kids. Actually, that’s not right because they are now my own kids as well. They grew up as best friends, married brothers, and are now sisters. Overall, it’s a pretty good gig I have going here. I created the Friday Five graphic from an original image copyrighted by: <a href='http://www.123rf.com/photo_10806220_n... / 123RF Stock Photo</a>

Wednesday Writer

Yeah, yeah, I know, it's Thursday, not Wednesday. I'm referring to the post written by the ever-so-kind author extraordinaire Tanya Parker Mills on her blog yesterday. She's the author of several books, including the 2012 Whitney Finalist A Night on Moon Hill .

Tanya interviewed me, and I have to say it was one of the most original interviews I've done. She wanted photos of things like when I was a kid, my wedding photo (ugh!), and where I work. So I scraped the bottom of the photo barrel to find some of the things, and she posted them.

You can read the full interview here. Thanks for the fun, Tanya!

Spotlight: Liz Long

About the Author:
Liz Long is lucky enough to have a dream career in magazine publishing as an editor and writer, yet still have time to create adventures on the side. If you catch her staring off into space or talking to herself, don’t worry – it’s just her imagination at work.
Liz graduated from Longwood University with a BA in English, though her professors might be disappointed to hear she reads more fantasy fiction than literary novels. She also loves action and thriller genres. This book probably won’t change your life, but she hopes it steals you away from reality for a while. 
Her newest release, Witch Hearts , will be for sale on Amazon on April 30th. Her first book, Gifted, a Donovan Circus Novel , is also available for paperback and Kindle on Amazon.
To learn more about Liz, visit her website: http://lizclong.com
Author Links:Website: http://lizclong.comTwitter: (Handle: @LizCLong) https://twitter.com/#!/LizCLongFacebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/lizclongauthorGoodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/LizLong
WITCH HEARTS  Links:Amazon (ebook): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CIKKEV0
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17616067-witch-hearts
GIFTED  Links:Amazon (ebook): http://www.amazon.com/Gifted-Donovan-Circus-Novel-ebook/dp/B007VT34J2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1336675611&sr=8-2
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13601567-gifted
GIFTED BACK COVER SYNOPSISEven in a world of freaks, being a Firestarter is considered a dangerous Gift.
Lucy was born with the ability to create and control fire. She longs to leave the human world for one filled with Earthshakers, Transporters, and Chameleons, to name a few. When she rejoins the circus, it’s everything she hoped it could be—new friends, a potential love interest or two, and a place where she can be herself.
When troupe members begin turning up dead, however, Lucy is suspected of foul play. She must not only prove her innocence but also realize the full extent of her power. To find the real murderer, she must uncover the truth behind her father’s fiery legacy while figuring out whom to trust within her new circle. Little does she know the history of the Donovan Circus and its enemies might actually destroy the entire gifted world.
WITCH HEARTS BACK COVER SYNOPSIS
How does a witch stay safe if a killer can get through her protection spells?
Witches like Ruby and Courtney can take care of themselves. So when Courtney is murdered, Ruby’s world crashes to a halt. The only thing keeping her grounded is the return of Courtney’s brother, Cooper. He seeks revenge, but Ruby wants to help other witches stay alive. To do that, she’ll have to reunite with her old coven’s High Priest, who also happens to be her cheating ex-boyfriend.
If that wasn’t awkward enough, when the killer gets too close, Cooper temporarily moves into Ruby’s place while a police officer tails her every move. Cooper’s presence distracts Ruby as they fight their desire against their need to stay safe. Then Courtney begins to haunt Ruby’s dreams and secrets are spilled, things from Cooper’s past that could get them both killed. The killer continues to stalk Ruby and the more she discovers, the more she fears she won’t be able to keep her heart in her chest.
WITCH HEARTS Special Excerpt
Cooper and Ruby hopped on his bike and drove back to her place. She even managed to peek out from beneath her helmet to see the city whip past her in a blur. When they finally came to a stop, she untangled herself from him – albeit a tad regretful about it – and handed him back the helmet.

“Thanks again for everything tonight. I know it wasn’t the most fun you could have, but I want everyone to be safe,” she said.

“I understand. I’m glad I went, too. I don’t want anyone else in danger. Plus, you’re good company.” He stood up as he said it, hooking the helmets on his bike.

“You don’t have walk me in or anything. I don’t want to keep you any longer than you need.”He snorted. “You’re not keeping me from anything. I want to do it, but especially because I want to make sure you’re safe.”

Ruby bit her bottom lip. Her nerves fluttered a bit at the thought of a possible goodnight kiss. She could hardly believe how immature she sounded in her head.

It’s your best friend’s brother. This is Cooper we’re talking about, a voice in her head screamed at her.

Another voice spoke up. Yeah. It’s Cooper. And your thoughts about him have never been exactly brotherly.

Shaking both voices away, she swiped her key fob by the entrance door and Cooper held it open for her. They took the stairs up to the second floor and walked around the corner to her apartment. Ruby stopped as soon as she saw her door.

“Something’s wrong,” she said.

“What? How can you tell?” He looked up and down the hallway.

“There was a barrier when I left. Remember I checked, put my hand on the door when we left? My spell was in place.”

“There was a soft glow on the door,” he said absentmindedly, as though remembering. His eyes narrowed and Ruby could see his veins throb in his neck as his jaw tightened.

“Only witches would be able to see it, but it’s not there.” Ruby took a few steps forward, placing her hand on the door, which was now simply cool and wooden. She retrieved her key and turned the lock, but Cooper stopped her.

“I’ll go in first.”

He swung the door wide open; he held his hands up in case of a fight or a spell, but silence greeted them. Cooper did a quick sweep of the apartment while Ruby waited in the entryway. He returned with Aziza in one arm and a letter in his hand.

“This was on your coffee table,” he said grimly. “Aziza was hiding behind the couch. She hissed until she realized it was me.”

Ruby took the note from him. As she opened it, Cooper stood beside her to read over her shoulder.

“Not all witches are equal. Some are born with extraordinary gifts; anyone can practice, but few are truly powerful. You are one of the lucky ones, Ruby. I apologize about your friend Courtney. She was powerful, but nowhere near your capabilities. I’m afraid that in order for my powers to thrive, yours must come to an end. I’ll be seeing you very soon. –X”
Q&A:
1) What is your all-time favorite book and why?

I think that would have to be Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. To me, it's the first book in that series that really shows emotional angst for Harry between being a teenager, dating your first crush, and of course, being hunted by Lord Voldemort. We get to see our characters developing into real wizards with the DA (like Neville growing into being a badass), plus the introduction of accepting those deemed a little strange, like Luna Lovegood. We feel our first real loss with a major character as well as the real danger now that dark wizards are out in the open by the end. It's a full scale of emotions and really sort of sets the rest of the stage for the series, IMO.
2) Is there an author you could be compared to or popular fictional characters your book's characters could relate to and why?

Oh gosh, it's probably still a little early in the game for me to presume I can be compared to another author. BookBub compared my Donovan Circus book to the Hunger Games, with a female character destined to discover who she is and stand up for her world. I'm sure my circus folks could hang with any X-Men character, while my characters from WITCH HEARTS would get along well with the Halliwell sisters from Charmed or Sookie Stackhouse and her friends.
3) Can you give us your favorite quote from one of your books and explain it?

One of my favorite lines is one Lucy says in the first chapter when explaining why she’s rejoining the Donovan Circus:
“I wanted to be normal amongst the freaks.”
Family and a sense of belonging are heavy themes in my first book and this line sums Lucy up perfectly. Lucy has never been “normal” anywhere in the human world. She thinks – hopes, really – that she can find her place in the gifted world in the circus she used to know. She’s been a loner her whole life because of her gift and now that there’s an opportunity to be a part of something, she’s happy to include herself in the strange gaggle that is the Donovan gang.
4) What types of things/people/music inspires you and makes you want to keep writing?

I listen to a lot of soundtracks, especially movie scores, like Avengers, Sherlock Holmes, and anything else that contains some action type of music. Honestly, nothing has been more motivating for me lately than to hear a reader I've never met before tell me how much they loved my work and can't wait for another book to read. It's such an amazing feeling to affect someone's book list and I'm honored to be a part of it. It's a total kick in the butt to know people are eagerly anticipating another title and makes me want to write that much faster.
5) Describe your typical writing day or week.

I work full time, so I write when I can in my spare time. Often my husband will go to the gym for a couple hours after work, so I take advantage and try to crank out a few hundred words. I also give him lots of time to play video games or watch NBA so I can sit on the couch with him and write. And of course, the weekends contain my biggest chunks of writing time, so there's nothing I like better than a rainy Sunday with coffee and my laptop.
6) Is there a food or drink do you have to have when you're writing?

I love Skittles to snack on during the process, though my teeth beg me to stop. I'm also never opposed to a fresh new 20 oz. Diet Coke within reach, but that's only once a week at most. The rest of the time it's H2O!
7) Can you tell us what you're working on right now (& possibly provide an excerpt & cover)?
I am currently working on the second book in the Donovan Circus series. Next up is an NA fantasy novel with a unique twist on Reapers.

Psyched!

Psyched by Juli Caldwell is now available! 




You can find it on Amazon, and look for it soon in paperback! 
So far, great reviews for Psyched!

"This is one of those books you just can't put down. What I love about Psyched in addition to a great, spooky story is strong characters and narrative voice. Aisi is the most awesome chick, strong-willed, sassy, and deals with some crazy stuff happening with a spunkiness that I loved... Psyched is well-written, riveting, surprising and genre-busting. Teens will love this book, but it definitely has a more wide-ranging appeal."
and...

"Aisi Turay is one awesome girl. She has power to see the dead...as in their souls...This is a great read, filled with suspense. I NEVER knew from one chapter to the next what was happening. It is well written and a very enjoyable...and a bit scary!"
Psyched is part ghost story, part suspense, part demon-hunting thriller, part budding romance, the story of a girl named Aisi who's doing her best to keep it together for her wreck of a family. She is smart, sassy, and sarcastic enough to keep things interesting. When she meets Vance on the single worst day of her life, she finds a guy who just might be the first person ever to get her, to believe in her, and to out-random her with bizarre observations at the worst possible moment. There's just something about him that she knows she can trust.

Together, Aisi and Vance wander through the memories of others to unlock the secrets of her past while battling a demon who wants to ensure she never finds what she's looking for. Aisi vanquishes demons all the time, but Malus Indolus is too strong. And he has plans for her...and her family.

Psyched is Juli's second novel, the first as an indie writer, and her first experiment with her true love as a reader: paranormal fiction. Her debut novel Beyond Perfection is also available.

You can find Juli on her webpage, Twitter, Facebook,  and blog.

My Review

This is a great book. With a great cover. Seriously, how great is that cover? It's really pretty perfect for the story, too. You'll have to read the book to find out exactly why that is.

Psyched is the story of Aisi (pronounced ay-cee) who just happens to see dead people. And not all of the dead people are harmless. In fact, some of them are demons. Which at first isn't that big of a deal to Aisi - she routinely vanquishes them. Then she meets a particularly wicked demon - one tied to past family secrets who just might hold the key to giving Aisi and her family what they want most.

Along the way, she meets Vance, cute college boy who's got his own "ghost-buster" equipment that he's keen to try out. Of course, Vance has no idea that the ghosts he seeks are all-too-real, and dangerous to boot. However, he promises to keep Aisi safe so follows her on her quest.

Juli did a great job creating memorable characters. That's not easy to do with a large cast, but she does it so well that you don't even realize how many characters you're getting to know. They all play a part in her story. She also created a taut, interesting, creepy storyline in a town that isn't quite what it seems.
I was fascinated by Aisi and her family, particularly her slightly odd mom, from the beginning. Just when you think you have some idea of where the story is going, Juli throws in a curve that keeps you off balance. I like that. I hate being able to figure out a story from the beginning. She also creates a great back history for this family that ties together her strange abilities and the reason for all of the seemingly random things that have occured to this particular family.
Good and creepy, but still completely appropriate for teens, it will also entertain adults. Get your copy today.

A Way Back To You Blog Tour

Tour Schedule A Way Back to YouWhat would you do if you were given a second chance? Annabelle, whom nearly everyone calls Anne, has been stuck in the past for two years. Numbed by grief over her husband's unexpected death and overwhelmed with the responsibility of raising their three young children alone, Anne agrees to let a friend take the kids for the weekend while she tries to get some much-needed rest at her parent's home. But when Anne wakes up the next morning, she is suddenly sixteen again. And it just happens to be the worst day she spent as a teenager. High school the second time around brings unforeseen changes and frustrations, but remembering that her future husband, Mitch, has just returned from a mission and is living on the other side of town gives Anne hope. Getting Mitch's attention (for the second time) is more complicated than she could have imagined, but Anne discovers she is stronger than she believed possible—and there just might be a future for her after all.
Amazon * Deseret Book Author Emily Gray ClawsonEmily Gray Clawson describes herself as an author, mother, and youth mentor. Born and raised in Utah, she is passionate about her faith and great books and will share her love of both with anyone who will listen. Emily began writing at the age of seven, creating homemade picture books that she peddled from door to door. She self-published her first novel, Things Hope For, and is collaborating with Jennifer Graves on a book entitled A Sister’s Witness: The Powell Family Tragedy. With her husband, Richard, Emily founded two youth leadership programs, Handmaidens of Virtue and Mastering Knighthood. Trained in vocal performance in college, she has enjoyed including aspects of her training in this book. Emily and Richard are the parents of four children and live in Taylorsville, Utah. Website * Facebook * Twitter

Lair of the Serpent Blog Tour

“The shock of the assault caught the men off guard, and they struggled to control the American. They wrestled him to the earth, pinning him there, holding him fast, as Sang stood up from the ground. Cursing in Khmer, Sang pointed the gun at Jonathon’s head.” 
Jonathon can’t wait to surprise Delia for her birthday. With a little help from Delia’s brother, Severino, he plans to visit them in Cambodia where his friends are both working as humanitarian volunteers. But Jonathon arrives only to learn that Delia has been kidnapped.  
Determined to find her, Jonathon and Severino plunge into the most heavily land-mined jungle in the world. Hidden deep in the ancient ruins of western Cambodia , they encounter the frightening legend of the Nāga. They also find a deadly group of criminals known as the Black Snakes. Now, the only way to free Delia is for the friends to steal an ancient, sacred stone and use it to lure the Black Snakes out of hiding. If Jonathon and Severino fail, all of them will die or be consumed by the brutal world of human trafficking. 

*Just as an FYI to my followers: I received a copy of this book to review. However, I only received it a few days ago and haven't had time to read it with my busy weekend. I did read the first two chapters and found them fast paced, enthralling, and entertaining, not to mention extremely well written. As soon as I finish the book, I'll post a review here. ~Cindy

    http://www.tlynnadams.com/@TLynnAdams https://www.facebook.com/author.T.Lynn.Adams 

GUEST POST: 

The greatest books have never been read. Their manuscripts are sitting on a shelf somewhere collecting dust, or taking of space on a hard drive, while the author battles a collection of submission fears.

All authors, even those who are published, struggle with wondering if their manuscript is ready to be seen by editors. At some point they have to take that leap of faith, push send or slap a stamp on it and drop it into the mail.

Years ago I worked for a book publishing company. The editor had a sign on her desk that said “Editing is a matter of personal opinion…MINE!”The sign always made me smile because it speaks a truth many writers miss. Everyone edits according to their own individual style.You can spend 20 years editing a manuscript to a point of flawlessness and it won’t matter. The first editor who sees it will notice things you did not. That doesn’t mean you were wrong. It just means you edit differently.

Years ago I learned that too much editing takes time, eats away at enthusiasm and often isn’t necessary. When I freelanced for national and international magazines I would take hours, even days and weeks to write and edit and re-edit an article before sending it in. Then, one day I whipped out an article to meet my deadline, read through it twice, made a few changes and sent it in. It sold.
I tried a quick turn around again and sold that article as well. That’s when I realized I had gotten caught in a trap of excessive editing. Now I tell hopeful authors not get hung up with catching every edit. Polish the work as best as you can, then let another set of eyes help you polish it some more. That’s an editor’s job and they have some of the best eyes in the business. I love learning from them and don’t find their catches or suggestions upsetting at all.


Here are some simple steps I follow when I’m editing: 1. Spelling and grammatical errors. (Most computers are good to flag these for you.)
2. Adverbs in the narrative that end with -ly. (Instead of saying “The phone rang loudly,” it is more interesting to say, “The phone’s ring shattered the silence.”)
3. Sentences in the narrative that begin with a pronoun such as he, she, I, they, it, etc., or that begin with someone’s name. (This is just a personal preference of mine so the narrative doesn’t develop a ‘he-said-she-said’ rhythm or start to sound like a police report…“He opened the door. Sally came in and smiled. He motioned for her to sit down. She did.” Can you see the weakness with that style?)
4. The word ‘was’ in the narrative. English teachers and editors will tell you it shows passive voice and makes the subject of the sentence the recipient of the action instead of the performer. Whatever that means!So, instead, let me SHOW you the difference.Here is a simply second-grade sentence.  “He was tired.”Remove ‘was’ and use something else. “He felt tired.”                     Now try a synonym. “He felt fatigued.”For even more impact, make ‘fatigue’ the first thing your reader encounters. Flip-flop your sentence. “Fatigue filled him.”   Next comes the fun part. Try to expand that sentence in different ways. “Fatigue ate at his strength.” “Drained by exhaustion, his body gave him nothing more.”You can even find ways to make the sentence reflect the setting. “Strength receded from his body like weak, leftover waves disappearing from shore.”
5. Last, read it out loud for flow. It will also force you to read more slowly and allow you to catch things you may have missed.If you want to have others read it, too, that is great but, at that point your manuscript is ready to be sent in. Get it off your shelf, attach it to an e-mail and send it in. Then go celebrate because you’ve accomplished something most writer never do—you’ve made a submission! Congratulations!  
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } T. Lynn Adams’ three YA books, Tombs of Terror, The Lost Curse, and Lair of the Serpent have all been optioned by Hollywood. You can visit her at http://www.tlynnadams.com/
 
   

Check in to the Blogger Book Fair, and book your trip to ...

Check in to the Blogger Book Fair, and book your trip to far away places!July 22-26, 2013[image error] Authors and Book Bloggers, Sign ups for the July 2013 Blogger Book Fair will close on June 15 at midnight central time, so get your registrations in to participate!  As of 5/31/2013, we have:Authors: 89 Books: 233 Bloggers: 14 If you haven't yet registered, you can find all of the information on the Blogger Book Fair page.
Check out the Code of ConductFill out either the Author Sign Up form or the Blogger Sign Up form (Deadline June 15)Kayla will match everyone with hosts and send out this information to you after sign-ups closeCheck out the events--all authors are eligible to participate in the events, and if you have an event you'd like to host, just fill out the simple Event Sign Up Form--all of this information can be found on the Events! page (Deadline July 8).If you're interested in hosting a giveaway to drive traffic to your site, sign up via the Giveaway Sign Up form (Deadline July 15).And if your book will be FREE or $0.99 for the duration of the Fair, you can sign up on the Free and $.99 Book Sign Up Forms (Deadline July 15).Events:as of 5/31/2013Art Fiction Gala hosted by Lucie SmokerDoes your fiction promote the visual arts--through featuring an artist, painting, sculpture, performance art, etc? Then, consider entering Lucie's Art Fiction Gala. The Art Fiction Gala is a virtual celebration of fiction that highlights the visual arts. Dress up in your finest, pick up some friends--a bottle of wine--and sample mind-blowing fiction that crosses the line between literary and visual art. Plus a gallery of art featuring reading. More information & entry instructions
Three Wishes hosted by Kirstin PulioffIntroduce your characters to the world. Kirstin Pulioff invites you to ask your main character, "If you found a magic genie lamp, what would be your three choices?" More information & entry instructions
Flash Fiction Challenge II hosted by Thomas WinshipGet ready to exercise your flash fiction muscles. For the Flash Fiction Challenge II, Thomas Winship will provide an opening line. From there, entrants will craft a flash fiction piece of approx 500 words. Entries will be displayed on Thomas' blog Vaempires during the BBF, spread out evenly across the five days, in order of receipt. More information & entry instructions
Snapshot Synopsis Contest hosted by Fel at The Peasants RevoltChallenge: chisel your synopsis down to 50 words or less. Voting will be open throughout the fair for visitors to vote on their favorite Snapshot Synopsis. More information & entry instructions
Reader's Choice Awards hosted by Sherri at Shut Up & ReadAll books registered for the Blogger Book Fair are automatically entered into the running for the Reader's Choice Awards. Voting will be open from July 22 to July 25. More information
Indie Soap Box Files hosted by Shah WhartonTake a turn on the Soap Box. Shah invites speculative fiction writers to write a guest post about being an indie (or hybrid) writer. More information & entry instructions Restrictions: Speculative fiction writers only Monster Menagerie hosted by Noree at Trip the EclipseWhat's your favorite monster or supernatural creature? Feature your creature in a flash fiction piece (500-800) words to be featured on Trip the Eclipse. Visitors will vote on their favorite piece. More information & entry instructions Ways to Help:
Donate to the Blogger Book Fair via the BBF Donation Fund. To help get the word out about BBF, we would like to place ads on Facebook, Goodreads and other places, but to do, so we need a little help. We'd also like to have some BBF sponsored giveaways, so money donated would also go toward prizes. NO MONEY WILL BE KEPT BY ANY ORGANIZER OR PARTICIPANT. Spread the word! Share the Fair on your social media accounts and show off the Blogger Book Fair logo in your blog's sidebar.
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