Reena Jacobs's Blog, page 17
May 5, 2012
Chasing Shadows – Making Amends (2)
Welcome to installment #2 of the Chasing Shadows – Making Amends series. For more information or to read the previous scene, head to this page.
Chapter 1
Scene 2
Consciousness filtered into the void, creating a muddled awareness, and with it… pain. Excruciating pain—a throbbing ache in Mujur’s skull which pulsated with every heart beat. He fought the grogginess, even as the pounding in his head persisted.
“Wake him.”
The gruff voice seeped through Mujur’s clouded mind. Cold liquid doused his face and yanked him out of his fogged existence, choking him as it filled his nose and mouth. Through gasps, he lifted his leaden hand to wipe away the moisture. His arm jerked to a stop, captured by the bindings cutting into his wrist. With heavy lids, he struggled to blink the fluid out of his eyes and make sense of the shadows.
“Wake up.”
The sting of a slap across his face brought him fully alert. The world around him slowly solidified in his right eye, though the vision in his left remained a blur, the swollen lid only allowing him to squint. Strapped to a cold slab of rock, he took in his surroundings. Outside the familiar wehr-tiger village, a multitude of faces looked upon him, each twisted in an expression of disgust, hatred, or fear.
“Wha?” His thick tongue failed to function correctly, and the words stuck in his dry throat. He licked his puffy lips which were distended to the point of bursting and swallowed, moistening his mouth with the little wetness he could scrounge. “What’s happening?”
Gemuk, the corpulent man who’d captured him planted a beefy palm near Mujur’s head and leaned close. His thick brow protruded over dull orange eyes which mocked, while his lips lifted in a disdainful smirk. He grabbed a fistful of Mujur’s hair and wrenched it back.
Shards of pain pricked Mujur’s scalp, replacing the previous ache with the intensity. He fought to stifle a moan through clenched teeth, as Gemuk’s breath wafted over him like rotted meat.
“You thought you’d get away with it?” Spittle flew as Gemuk spoke each word.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Trepidation filled Mujur as the last moments of the wehr-tigress’ life flickered before him. She too had been fearful.
Mujur increased his struggles. “Free me.”
Gemuk bent closer, filling Mujur’s ear with hot, moist air as he exhaled. “You think anyone believes you?” He straightened and sent a backhand flying across Mujur’s throbbing face.
Nausea threatened to overcome Mujur as pain reverberated through his skull.
Gemuk glared and took a few steps back. “Kasut, cane him.”
“Why? I didn’t do anything.” Mujur tugged at the straps holding him, uncaring of the fibers which rubbed his wrists raw. “Let me go.”
The crowd drew away as another male entered the clearing, slapping a thick rattan cane across the palm of his hand. Dark low-lights streaked his reddish-brown mop of hair in a disorganized pattern.
Though Mujur had never put a name to the wehr-tiger, he recognized the male immediately—one of Gemuk’s underlings.
Mujur increased his struggles, cringing as the rough rope bit into his ankles. “Wait! Don’t do this. Please!”
Kasut shook his head, his expression one of disappointment and regret. “Your sins will be a brand on you into the next life.”
“Help me.” Mujur sought the eyes of the bystanders.
One by one, they turned away, abandoning him to his fate.
Only a lone girl who hid behind a tree boldly stared at him, her brownish-green eyes red-rimmed and filled with sadness.
Mujur couldn’t turn away as he looked into the visage of a younger version of the dead wehr-tigress. “Please,” he called to her.
The cane whipped down. Mujur’s entire body tensed when the sting of the rattan met his flesh, cutting into his chest. He fought to hold down the bile rising in his throat as pain consumed him but had no time to recover as Kasut beat him without mercy. Only the whistle of the cane slicing through the air prepared him for each blow which ricocheted off his body.
May 3, 2012
Guest Post: Vanessa Morgan
Not vey often we get the opportunity to experience a script here. Okay… let’s be honest. This is the first for Ramblings of an Amateur Writer. Today we get to pop our script cherry with Vanessa Morgan’s a Good Man! I feel like I should be blushing, but thanks to my skin coloration I have the perfect camoflauge. 
Without further ado, I present you Vanessa Morgan and her latest release A Good Man.
Liked Dexter and American Psycho? Then you will love A Good Man.
Louis Caron is a good man – vegetarian, he feeds the homeless, takes care of animals and is concerned with the ecological future of the planet. But his altruism has a sinister edge – he’s a vampire – and local detective Taglioni is becoming increasingly suspicious. Louis’ attempt to escape the police will take him on a journey into his own private hell where he is not only forced to confront his worst fears, but also to destroy the lives of those he cares about most.
Guest post by Vanessa Morgan
I often get the question if I base my characters on real people. Normally, that’s not the case, but I made an exception for A Good Man. The steamy scene that I’m going to share with you below is a good example of that. When I was writing the first draft of A Good Man, one of my friends told me about a one-night stand with a lady called Butterfly. When he told me how they ended up in bed less than half an hour after they had met, I just knew I had to incorporate this scene into A Good Man. It has gotten me the bad reputation of the girl that asks too many details about her friends’ sex life, but looking at the scene now, I’m sure it was worth it. Only two facts in this scene are invented: Butterfly didn’t get killed and she didn’t have a cat (that was just a sneaky excuse to talk about my cat Avalon, who you might know from his web comic at http://avalon-lion.blogspot.com.
A Good Man is now being turned into a feature film. Who would you cast as Louis and Butterfly?
Excerpt of A Good Man (screenplay)
INT. LOUIS’ BATHROOM – EVENING
Louis takes a shower. He comes out, dries himself and
puts a towel around his body. He takes an organic
facial cream and rubs it on his face. He then puts on
some organic after shave.
INT. BAR – LATER
Louis sits at the bar. BUTTERFLY (46 years old),
fully tatooed and unkept, takes a seat next to him.
BUTTERFLY
Hi, I’m Butterfly. I believe we met on
Meetic.
LOUIS
That’s right.
BUTTERFLY
My cat must have known I was seeing a man
tonight. He had a nervous breakdown just
before I left… So weird.
LOUIS
What breed is your cat?
BUTTERFLY
A Turkish Van cat. It’s a very rare breed.
LOUIS
Ah, the swimming cat! Beautiful animal.
BUTTERFLY
(with admiration)
You know Turkish Van cats?! You’re
wonderful!
Reason enough to kiss Louis languorously. Louis is
somewhat surprised, but returns the kiss.
INT. LOUIS’ APARTEMENT BUILDING, STAIRCASE – LATER
Louis and Butterfly enter Louis’ apartment building
and go up the staircase. Butterfly doesn’t stop
talking about her cat, which is rather annoying to
Louis.
BUTTERFLY
(enthusiastic)
I’m crazy about my cat. I love him so much.
He’s like my child. I can’t imagine that
Avalon would be alone or unhappy someday.
Did I tell you that I only buy him organic
food? He eats better than I do –
Louis unlocks the door.
INT. LOUIS’ HALLWAY
Louis and Butterfly enter the apartment. Louis
switches on the lights.
BUTTERFLY
That’s a very nice apartment you have here.
I bet Avalon would love it too, especially
the sofa… To sharpen his claws, you know
what I mean? He has three climbing trees,
but he prefers –
Louis kisses Butterfly hungrily (in order to make her
shut up). She kisses him back. Louis undresses her.
When undressed, Butterfly frees herself from his
grip, goes toward the sofa in the living room and
gets on her knees. A large tatoo of a butterfly is
visible on her lower back.
BUTTERFLY
Take me like this.
Louis jumps on her like a wild beast.
CUT TO:
Louis and Butterfly in the throes of sex, moaning
loudly.
After sex, Louis rolls off her and sits down on the
edge, still panting. Butterfly stretches onto the
sofa. She caresses his belly.
LOUIS
Don’t touch my belly.
BUTTERFLY
Why? My cat Avalon has a big belly as well.
You shouldn’t –
Even before Butterfly is able to finish her sentence,
Louis bites her in the neck. Butterfly’s life passes
rapidly before Louis’ eyes – exotic holidays, drugs,
sex, more sex. People and places are never the same.
Exciting adventures intertwine with moments of
extreme solitude. Louis pulls back. Butterfly tries
to staunch the wound with her hands, but she’s too
weak and she has trouble breathing. Louis bites
again. A flash of Butterfly doing drugs and losing
herself in nirvana. Butterfly dies while Louis is
still sucking her blood. The sofa saturates with
blood. Louis runs to the toilet to vomit.
INT. LOUIS’ LIVING ROOM – LATER
Louis goes through Butterfly’s handbag. He takes her
keys, looks at her ID and reads her address out loud.
INT. BUTTERFLY’S STUDIO APARTMENT, STAIRCASE – LATER
Louis, wearing latex gloves, opens the door to
Butterfly’s studio apartment.
INT. BUTTERFLY’S STUDIO APARTMENT
Louis enters Butterfly’s studio apartment. His hands
search for the light switch. He finds it and switches
it on.
LOUIS
(calling the cat)
Avalon? Kitty? Where are you?
Avalon jumps from the kitchen counter and walks
toward Louis, headbutting him. Louis takes the cat in
his arms.
LOUIS
Come with me, Avalon.
EXT. LOUIS’ APARTMENT BUILDING – LATER
Louis leaves the car with a pet caddy. He unlocks the
door to his apartment building and enters.
INT. LOUIS’ LIVING ROOM – LATER
Avalon eats from his tray. He is surrounded by dozens
of toys. Louis caresses him.
LOUIS
(talking to the cat)
I will take good care of you, Avalon. I’m
your new Butterfly. You see, I’m a good
man.
Behind Louis, the sofa is still covered with blood.
About Vanessa Morgan
Screenwriter and novelist Vanessa Morgan is known as the ‘female version of Stephen King’. You can find out more about Vanessa Morgan and her work by going to her personal blog http://vanessa-morgan.blogspot.com. If you like cats, you might also like the web comic about her cat Avalon at http://avalon-lion.blogspot.com.
Other books by Vanessa Morgan
Drowned Sorrow (novel)
Megan Blackwood has just lost her son in a terrible accident. Now she has come to Moonlight Creek with her teenage daughter Jenna, hoping that a change of scenery might help to put her life back together. But something odd is going on in Moonlight Creek. When rain falls over the village, the inhabitants commit grisly murders, leaving the village deserted with the first rays of sunshine. Beneath the lake’s surface, an eerie presence watches… and waits… Waits to reveal a tragic past drowned in mystery and fear. One that doesn’t bode well for visitors. By the time Megan realizes that her daughter is in danger, it might already be too late.
The Strangers Outside (short story)
Two sisters, Jennifer and Louise, return to their remote holiday cottage after a day at the seaside. But little do they know they’re being surrounded. Soon after their arrival, the girls will come face to face with the strangers outside. When the assailants make their intentions known, things take a shockingly terrible turn and an intense battle for survival will begin.
May 2, 2012
Enza Blog Tour ~ Who Art Thou Thursday: Kristy K. James
The Enza Blog Tour is winding down, but not before Kristy K. James agreed to do an interview with me. Woot!
Reena Jacobs: Congratulations on your new release, Enza. Please tell us a little about it.
Kristy K. James: Thanks, Reena! And thank you for your generosity in helping me get the word out about Enza.
Enza is a story that is told from the perspective of five characters. The first part of the book is getting to know them, and everyone in their lives. The second part deals with their reactions when an influenza pandemic makes its way to their town.
RJ: Sounds devastating. How did you come up with the title?
KKJ: The idea for the story came about because of a documentary I watched on PBS. It told about the 1918 influenza pandemic, a horrible tragedy in world history. At different times throughout the program you could hear little girls chanting this poem:
I had a little bird, its name was Enza. I opened the window, and in-flew-Enza.
The more I learned, the more I realized that I had to write a story about this. And Enza was the obvious choice for a title.
RJ: That’s a beautifully tragic poem. I definitely appreciate the title more now. I love the hopefulness of the cover. Share with us the inspiration behind it.
KKJ: The title came about because of the poem. So I suppose it could be considered a little deceptive, not that I intended it to come across that way. I just kind of wanted it to be simple, yet dramatic.
RJ: It is. Cruising through your works, I noticed your stories tend to focus on family and mending. I rather like the themes. Will you tell us a bit about your writing style and how you’d describe your genre?
KKJ: Oh, this is a tough question. Someone else mentioned my writing style, and it threw me a little bit. As far as I knew, I didn’t know that I one. I was very honored when they compared Enza to the works of Mark Twain and Laura Ingalls Wilder. So, at least for this book, whatever style they had would work. As for the rest, I don’t really know. I just write the stories that need to be told.
Genre? Hmm. So far most of my stories would be considered romance. Enza is more historical/literary fiction. But I hope to branch out and begin writing a young adult/fantasy series sometime in the next year or so. People have called me eclectic for a long time. I guess that’s reflected in my writing life.
RJ: How much of you/your life do you put into your stories?
KKJ: I think all writers put part of their lives into their stories. We can research forever, but I think we still fall back to using some of the things we know. For instance in A Fine Mess, Ian doesn’t like pasta salad. Neither do I. And Annie has an awful fear of flying. She got that from me. In Enza, the outhouse scene with Marcus is based on a story my grandpa told me. We all have a rich storehouse of feelings, ideas and history, and sometimes those things can enrich our stories.
RJ: I know exactly what you mean. 
Which of your characters do you relate to most?
KKJ: Another tough one. I think I tend to relate to the characters who try to solve problems the most. Thinking about that list, I’m a little dismayed to realize that those would mostly be the male characters in my stories. It’s not that I don’t write fairly strong female characters, I think it’s mostly that I’ve never outgrown the whole ‘knight in shining armor’ mentality. I was a die-hard romantic from the the moment I discovered paper dolls and Barbies.
RJ: In a strange way, I get that… taking some of my best qualities and instilling them into a fantasy dream man. With hindsight being 20/20, is there anything you would have changed with your publishing journey?
KKJ: I wouldn’t have waited so long to look into indie publishing. A few people have noticed that I have four that were released around the same time. But they were written several years ago…and just collected dust because I was too busy being a mom to invest much time in courting agents and publishing houses. I could have had a five year head start if I’d listened to some timely advice. On the other hand, I tend to believe that things happen the way they do for a reason.
RJ: Do you have any advice for other writers?
My best advice for other writers is to read a lot. If you read enough good books, you’ll learn how to write well. Also, I know a lot of authors say they are ‘pansters,’ meaning they just sit down and write. I’m a firm believer in outlining, plotting and planning.
But the most important thing I think any writer can do is to develop very well-rounded characters, and then spend enough time getting to know them. I can always tell when I’ve skimped on that part of a story because the words just refuse to flow. When I spend adequate time imagining my characters in various situations, after writing detailed profiles on them, sometimes it feels like they hijack the story. When that happens, it’s magic happens.
RJ: Anything special you’d like to say to readers?
KKJ: Never give up. If writing is in your blood, if it’s something you’ve always dreamed of doing, keep writing. Keep reading and learning.
RJ: What are you working on now?
KKJ: I am getting the second book in my Coach’s Boys series ready for a May 30, 2012 release date. And I have two WIP’s that are each about a third of the way finished. One is the third in the series. The other is a tribute to the knight in shining armor dreams of my inner teenager. The plan is to have all three finished by the end of the year. Whether that actually happens is another story.
RJ: May is already here! How exciting. I wish you the best of luck with your upcoming release.
Order Your Copy of Enza: Amazon
About the Author
She is the author of Reluctant Guardian, A Fine Mess, and The Stranger in my Head, with the fact-based fiction novel, Enza, to be released later this year.
Kristy currently lives in Michigan with her two children, too many pets and a husband who gives her the freedom to write to her hearts content. She spends her time living in her make-believe worlds, cooking and baking up a storm, and doing her best to learn to say ‘no’ when stray animals wander into her large country yard.
Find Kristy K. James Online!
Blog: http://kristykjames.wordpress.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KristyKJames
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/kristykjames
Giveaway Time!
Giveaways for each blog on the tour will include 1 paperback and 3 digital copies of Enza. All comments from the tour will be entered into a drawing for ten-$10.00 and two-$25.00 Amazon gift certificates.
To enter here, simply leave a comment with your email. And of course, you’re encouraged to participate in the interview. Surprise Ms. James with a question. Giveaway ends May 9, 2012.
Miss a Stop on the Tour?
Participants in the blog tour for Enza are:
Monday, April 23rd: Patricia @ Live and Dream a Little Dream
Tuesday, April 24th: Andi @ Radiant Light
Wednesday, April 25th: Heather @ It’s All About Me
Wednesday, April 25: Debra @ Sparks in the Fire…
Thursday, April 26th: Lisa @ Seeking With All Yur Heart
Thursday, April 26th: Shannon @ Cocktails and Books
Friday, April 27th: Paula @ The Phantom Paragrapher
Saturday, April 28th: Kathleen @ The Celtic Lady’s Reviews
Saturday, April 28th: Elizabeth @ Silver’s Reviews
Sunday, April 29th: Molly @ Reviews by Molly
Monday, April 30th: Hayley @ Hanging Off The Wire
Tuesday, May 1st: Tracy @ Booked Up
Wednesday, May 2nd Donna @ My Life. One Story at a Time
Thursday, May 3rd: Ruth @ My Devotional Thoughts
Thursday, May 3rd: Reena Jacobs, Ramblings of an Amateur Writer
Friday, May 4th: JakiCheli
May 1, 2012
Deadly Addiction Blog Tour
I normally get posts out earlier during the day. Please accept my apology for being so late. I totally misplaced most of the information for this post. Yikes! Thankfully when I returned home late this evening, Making Connections had hooked me up with new information. So here we are.
Day 1 of the Deadly Addiction Blog Tour
Today, Ms. Cayne is offering a teaser from her latest release. But first, let’s learn a little more about Deadly Addiction.
A proud people. A nation divided.
Rémi Whitedeer, police officer turned substance-abuse counselor, dreams of restoring order to his tribe. Violence and crime are rampant throughout the unpoliced Iroquois reserve, and a civil war is brewing between the Guardians, a militant traditionalist group, and other tribal factions. As the mixed-race cousin of the Guardians’ leader, Rémi is caught in a no-man’s land—several groups lay claim to him, but all want him to deny his white blood.
A maverick cop on an anti-drug crusade.
When she infiltrated the Vipers to take down the leader of the outlaw biker gang responsible for her brother’s death, police sergeant Alyssa Morgan got her man. But her superiors think she went too far. Her disregard for protocol and her ends-justify-the-means ethics have branded her an unreliable maverick. To salvage her career, she accepts an assignment to set up a squad of native provincial officers on a reserve.
A radical sovereigntist bent on freeing a nation.
Decades of government oppression threaten the existence of the Iroquois Nation. But one man, Chaz Whitedeer, is determined to save his people no matter what the price, even if it means delving into the shadowy world of organized crime.
When Rémi and Alyssa uncover the Guardians’ drug-fueled scheme to fund their fight for true autonomy—a scheme involving the Vipers—Rémi must choose between loyalty to family and tribe or his growing love for Alyssa.
Can Rémi and Alyssa leave everything behind—even their very identities—for a future together?
Available at: Barnes & Nobles || Smashwords || Amazon US || Amazon UK || All Romance eBooks
Excerpt of Deadly Addiction
Rémi tipped up her chin until their eyes met. “Alyssa. Tell me what’s got you so upset.”
Did she have to draw the man a picture? His rejection burned. Why did it feel so personal? They had nothing more than a professional association. Except she’d wanted more, hadn’t she? “You must really hate me.”
His face paled as he continued to stroke her face. “Why would you think that?”
Like a warm breeze, his low voice slid over her skin. God, she really didn’t want to deal with this, with him, right now. “You couldn’t have looked more revolted if you’d been standing neck deep in a pile of manure.”
“We were talking about the SQ, not you.”
“But that’s just it: I am the SQ.” She tugged on her wrist and this time, he let her go. Turning away from him, she pulled in a lungful of air. Warm hands held her shoulders and she felt his heat against her back. Her body swayed. What would it feel like to let herself go and accept his strength? Let him pull her against his body and envelope her in his comfort? It would feel like heaven. Until he pushed her away, again.
He leaned in close and whispered, “The SQ is your job, not who you are. You’re a beautiful, intelligent, strong woman. And I’m far, far from hating you.”
About the Author
Kristine Cayne is fascinated by the mysteries of human psychology—twisted secrets, deep-seated beliefs, out-of-control desires. Add in high-stakes scenarios and real-world villains, and you have a story worth writing, and reading.
The heroes and heroines of her Deadly Vices series are pitted against each other by their radically opposing life experiences. By overcoming their differences and finding common ground, they triumph over their enemies and find true happiness in each other’s arms.
Today she lives in the Pacific Northwest, thriving on the mix of cultures, languages, religions and ideologies. When she’s not writing, she’s people-watching, imagining entire life stories, and inventing all sorts of danger for the unsuspecting heroes and heroines who cross her path.
Find Kristine Cayne Online
New Releases List: http://kristinecayne.blogspot.com/p/n...
Blog: http://kristinecayne.blogspot.com
Website: htttp://www.kristinecayne.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/KristineCayne...
Twitter: http://twitter.com/KristineCayne
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
Follow the blog tour:
May 1st ~ Ramblings of an Amateur Writer: http://reenajacobs.com/blog
May 2nd ~ Book Reviews, Fiction Reflections, N’ More: http://personalliterarybookfrenzy.blo...
May 3rd ~ The Book Hoard: http://www.thebookhoard.com
May 4th ~ Making Connections: http://personalliterarybookfrenzy.blo...
May 5th ~ Kasonndra: http://kasonndraleigh.blogspot.com/
May 6th ~ Just Another Rabid Reader: http://justanotherrabidreader.info
May 7th ~ Elizabeth Gorski: http://dailymommysurvival.com.
May 8th ~ Kimberly Lewis Novels: www.kimberlylewisnovels.blogspot.com
May 9th ~ Sheri: http://shutupandreadgroup.blogspot.ca/
May 10th ~ Tricia: http://triciakristufek.com/
May 11th ~ JA: http://riftwatcher.blogspot.com/
April 28, 2012
Guilt Ridden – Making Amends
I’ve been feeling a bit guilty lately. January 2011, I published the first book in the Striped Ones Series. I’d hoped to have the second book out by now. With all that’s been going on these days, I’ve struggled to even get the next short story of the Control Freak Series out. I don’t want to disappoint, especially since a few have contacted me, asking me for the next book. The thing is, time has not been on my side lately.
I feel awful I’ve let folks down. I want to try to make it up though. From now until the time I publish Chasing Shadows, I’m going to do my best to release one scene a week here. It’ll be a rough or second draft, so please don’t expect perfection. You might even find some MAJOR plot holes along the way. Look for new scenes every Sunday or Monday. If you fall behind or just want to reread a scene, you’ll find links here.
Chapter 1
Scene 1
Six years earlier
Blood. Too much. It coated Mujur’s hands and ran through the cracks of his palms.
A thick drop fell, splattered on the woman’s bruised cheek, and fanned into the semblance of a crimson spider.
Mujur wiped his hands along the forest floor, trying to rid himself of the glutinous fluid, but only succeeded in making a grimy mess as flakes of decayed leaves and dirt stuck to his palms.
No. He rubbed his hands together frantically and tried to convince himself something other than blood rolled between his fingers, but his eyes locked onto the dead woman and refused him even that illusion.
Scratches deep enough to flay the skin covered her body, but none mortal, except one—a large gash along her side which exposed broken ribs and oozed dark red blood that seeped into the ground. Her glazed, fish-like eyes fixated beyond him while an expression of terror etched her face for all eternity.
“She was over here last I saw her,” a voice said in the distance.
Mujur jumped to his feet, his heart pounding. The conversation drew nearer. He took one last glance at the mutilated body partially hidden in the brush then ran.
A few strides later a large male stepped out from behind a tree. Driven by momentum, Mujur barreled into him, ricocheted, and fell to the ground.
The male, a fellow wehr-tiger named Gemuk, towered. One corner of his mouth lifted in a sneer to reveal dingy teeth stained dark red from betel nuts. “You’re not going anywhere.”
Mujur scrambled backward.
Gemuk lumbered forward. Corpulent body swaying, he closed the distance in two heavy strides, pulled back a foot, and let it fly.
Mujur reeled from the sharp pain in his gut as the air whooshed from his lungs with a grunt. He had no chance to recover before a multitude of kicks followed. Curled into a ball like a pangolin, he tried to protect his vulnerable organs and head.
“You find anything?” someone asked.
The blows stopped. Mujur took the opportunity to crawl even as the intense throbbing in his left hip, elbow, and shoulder threatened to pull him into oblivion. A dull thud accompanied by an explosion of pain behind his eyes halted his progress, and he sank to the ground.
“Over this way,” Gemuk said, his voice barely audible as the haze surrounding Mujur faded to black.
Forever Release Party
Happy Release Day!
Today marks the start of the virtual release party for Gillian Joy’s FOREVER. From 6am Central on April 28th and continue until 12pm April 29th, I invite you to join in the festivities on Facebook. I hear there’ll be super fun games, swag, ebooks and other prizes, so don’t miss out.
Book two in the Guardian series.
Hannah’s life has never been easy, despite her strong willed determination and her extra “gifts”, it’s still always been hard work keeping an entire world full of the supernatural under control, but having achieved a small semblance of control over most of the custas, Hannah was hoping to be able to slip back into her life of normalcy. Wishful thinking when you’re the guardian of all supernatural.
With all the issues she’d had to endure in her past, she’d never had to worry about the mermaids before, so why would they choose now to suddenly start haunting her dreams and her life. Then there are the fairies to contend with as well, just when she manages to get one aspect of the crudelitas under control, the others decide it’s time to start causing problems.
All Hannah wants is some quiet family time and a chance to reflect on her feelings for Gabriel but instead she’s thrown back into the thick of the supernatural world, and this time it threatens to invade the quiet family life she has worked so hard to establish. There’s no running away this time, she has to front the challenges head on, but forever can be a long time if you can’t be with the one you love.
Available at Amazon || Smashwords
Find Gillian Joy online
Website: http://www.gillianjoy.com/
FB Page: http://www.facebook.com/Guardiannovel
April 26, 2012
Dissolve Blog Tour
Welcome! I hope you’ve been enjoying the Dissolve Blog Tour. Today, Andrea Heltsley is sharing a few words with us. But first, I want to introduce you to her latest release!
Everything seemed to be going right for Cora. She had a wonderful fiance, a great best friend and a fulfilling life. One day, a tragic event causes that life to crumble around her. She turns to her best friend in her time of need. They embark on a search for answers, delving deeper into a web of magic and destruction. The closer they get to the truth, the more questions they have. To Cora, magic was the stuff of fairy tales. Immersed into a very different kind of world, the real storm was just beginning to take hold.
“It felt like I was nowhere yet everywhere all at once. I was invisible and completely panicked. The millions of pieces I had dissolved to drift on the breeze and away from my nightmares. It was kind of like floating weightless in a pool, perfectly relaxing. The warm breeze from the window embraced and soothed me. I let the air current carry me as far as it could through the summer city.”
“Defeated, I closed my eyes and took a few calming breaths trying to relax myself. I pictured the dandelion in the park today and took a deep breath as to blow the fluffy seeds in all directions. I pretended I was light and fluffy and started to feel a tingling in my body. I began to feel as light as the dandelion seeds and soon I felt like mist floating. This time, I tried to keep myself in the room, swirling in a humid block.”
Find Dissolve at Barnes & Nobles || The Book Depository || Amazon || Goodreads
One thing I hear over and over again is authors need to read, read, read, and then read some more. Today Andrea Heltsley shares with us her reads. Please welcome Ms. Heltsley.
What’s on my book shelf?
I have to say, I read all kinds of commercial and independent books. My genres usually remain the same, although I occasionally read outside my box. My favorite genres include but are not limited to: YA paranormal, paranormal romance, urban fantasy, romance, contemporary romance and an occasional paranormal or romance comedy.
I refuse to read anything historical. I very much live in the here and now. I have never nor will I ever enjoy this genre of any subgenre. I guess that is mainly my only strong dislike.
As for what I am working on reading now, my current reading list is slightly longer than I should have it, but I am flying through it quickly.
I am reading or next up to read the following books:
Predestined by Abbi Glines
The Calling by Kelly Armstrong
Expel by Addison Moore
The Savage Grace by Bree Despain
The Promise by Jessica Sorenson
Darkness Falls by Cate Tiernan
A Perfect Blood by Kim Harrison
Entangled by Nikki Jefford
Nice Girls Don’t Bite Their Neighbors (Jane Jameson Book 4) by Molly Harper
Punished (Arelia LaRue book 2) by Kira Sato
Some of my exciting upcoming releases that I will be reading:
Biting Cold by Chloe Neill
Thirteen (Women of the Otherworld) by Kelly Armstrong
Shadow Bound by Rachel Vincent
Before I wake (Soul Screamers) by Rachel Vincent
Black Dawn (Morganville Vampires) by Rachel Caine
Shine by Jeri-Smith-Ready
The Golden Lily (A Bloodlines novel) by Richelle Mead
The Last Echo: A Body Finder Novel by Kimberly Derting
Chasing Magic by Stacia Kane
About Andrea Heltsley
I am a biology nerd who loves reading just about anything paranormal and some chick lit. I enjoy sunshine and my two Italian greyhounds with my husband. I always write to music, it helps the creative process. Dissolve is my first novel. I have been writing ever since I was in grade school and have finally decided to make a career out of it. More books to come summer 2012 and 2013.
Find Andrea Heltsley online: andreaheltsleybooks@hotmail.com || Blog || Facebook
Follow the Dissolve Blog Tour
Reviews
April 28, 2012 http://turningthepagesx.blogspot.com/
April 26, 2012 http://bunnysreview.com/
April 24, 2012 http://redheaded-bookworm.blogspot.com
Guest Post
April 23, 2012 http://adventuresfrugalmom.com/
April 25, http://achickwhoreads.blogspot.com
April 27, 2012 Ramblings of an Amateur Writer
May 2, 2012 Ali, Ali’s Book Shelf
May 4, 2012 Kayla, Bibliophilia, Please
Bio/Excerpt/Interview
April 23, 2012 http://bookarooju.wordpress.com
Bio/Excerpt
April 30, 2012 Damaris, Good Choice Reading
May 5, 2012 Molly, Reviews by Molly
April 25, 2012
Two Free Reads
Hello, my reader buddies!
I want to share with you a couple of opportunities. Two of my works are available for free on Amazon, and I encourage you to pick up copies.
I Loved You First is a new adult novel. ~ My best friend was more than just a best friend to me. Three words summed it up: I heart him. I’d never tell him though. I wasn’t stupid. Besides, what he’d told no one, but me, was a little something I wished I could forget… or ignore. He was gay. I guess gay wouldn’t be bad if I wasn’t so in love with him. Now it was just cruel.
Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/I-Loved-You-Fir...
Circulatory System is the first book in the short story collection Injustice is Served. ~ A mother takes the love for her daughter to a higher level.
Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Circulatory-Sys...
So grab your copies! If you enjoy the works, leave a review and click the like buttons. And of course, SHARE THE NEWS WITH YOUR FELLOW READER BUDDIES!!!
XOXOX
April 22, 2012
Enza Blog Tour – Release Party + Giveaway!
Today marks the start of the Enza Blog Tour. In celebration, Kristy K. James (author of Enza) is giving away a $50 gift card and 10 copies of Enza!
About the Book
It is a time of innocence and prosperity. The Women’s Suffrage Movement gains more attention with each passing day. All across the country housewives and young ladies harbor hope that they might finally win the right to vote. Patriotism is at its peak as the war to end all wars rages an ocean away.
On the homefront, in a small town in Michigan, life is being lived out like the pages of a Mark Twain novel. Until an unseen enemy, deadlier than any human adversary, threatens Mankind’s very existence.
Elliot Owens – The only thing in the world that matters to Elliot is his wife and their five children, and he will do everything in his power to protect them.
Daniel Pullman – When his plans to join the Army are dashed following an injury, meeting the love of his life makes the disappointment easier to bear.
Colby Thornton – A devoted minister whose congregation loves him nearly as much as he loves them, Colby struggles with bitterness toward the wife who doesn’t love him at all.
Marcus McClelland – One of the local funeral directors, Marcus lives his life avoiding close relationships because if he doesn’t care about anyone, it won’t hurt when he loses them.
Jonathon Owens – At ten years old all Jonathon dreams of is to be a war hero…by proving that his German neighbor is a spy.
When all is said and done, will any of them survive?
Order Your Copy Here: Amazon
Find Kristy K. James Online!
Blog: http://kristykjames.wordpress.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KristyKJames
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/kristykjames
About the Author
She is the author of Reluctant Guardian, A Fine Mess, and The Stranger in my Head, with the fact-based fiction novel, Enza, to be released later this year.
Kristy currently lives in Michigan with her two children, too many pets and a husband who gives her the freedom to write to her hearts content. She spends her time living in her make-believe worlds, cooking and baking up a storm, and doing her best to learn to say ‘no’ when stray animals wander into her large country yard.
Follow the Enza Tour!
Giveaways for each blog on the tour will include 1 paperback and 3 digital copies of Enza. All comments from the tour will be entered into a drawing for ten-$10.00 and two-$25.00 Amazon gift certificates. Participants in the blog tour for Enza are:
Monday, April 23rd: Patricia @ Live and Dream a Little Dream
Tuesday, April 24th: Andi @ Radiant Light
Wednesday, April 25th: Heather @ It’s All About Me
Wednesday, April 25: Debra @ Sparks in the Fire…
Thursday, April 26th: Lisa @ Seeking With All Yur Heart
Thursday, April 26th: Shannon @ Cocktails and Books
Friday, April 27th: Paula @ The Phantom Paragrapher
Saturday, April 28th: Kathleen @ The Celtic Lady’s Reviews
Saturday, April 28th: Elizabeth @ Silver’s Reviews
Sunday, April 29th: Molly @ Reviews by Molly
Monday, April 30th: Hayley @ Hanging Off The Wire
Tuesday, May 1st: Tracy @ Booked Up
Wednesday, May 2nd Donna @ My Life. One Story at a Time
Thursday, May 3rd: Ruth @ My Devotional Thoughts
Thursday, May 3rd: Reena Jacobs, Ramblings of an Amateur Writer
Friday, May 4th: JakiCheli
Giveaway Time!
As the banner says, all of the comments from each participating blog will be entered into a drawing for a $50.00 Amazon gift card and 10 digital copies of Enza. To enter, simply leave a comment with your email.
For more opportunities to win, be sure to visit the following blogs:
Ramblings of an Amateur Writer (You are here)
My Life. One Story At A Time
Book Zone
Book Sake
Silver’s Reviews
Books, Movies, Reviews! Oh my!
Kristy K. James
Be sure to return May 3 to learn more about Kristy K. James!
*A comment here also enters you into the Mid-Month Commentator giveaway!
April 21, 2012
Giveaways end; winners needed! Are you one of them?
We’ve had a couple of giveaways in these past few weeks end. I’m totally behind, and we need to select some winners. So what was up for grabs?
As part of the Incognito Blog Tour, one lucky winner will receive an eCopy of Incognito by Miho Li.
Book Title: Incognito
Author: Miho Li
Genre: Contemporary, Erotica, Male/Male
Words: 25,377
Book Description:
“When Ren sees the new transfer student—Shin, black hair, storm-cloud-gray eyes, and more beautiful than any guy had a right to be—he makes it his mission to get to know him. Too bad Shin is about as sociable as fungus, and about as likable, too. But Ren isn’t good at giving up, so he takes on the challenge of cracking Shin’s titanium shell. What he finds underneath, though, is way more than he’s prepared to handle.
People are disappearing in Akita, and Shin might be behind it. As Ren’s feelings grow for the reserved man, so do the number of missing person reports, and Ren doesn’t know if their budding relationship is enough to withstand both the well of secrets and the organization Shin works for.”
Purchase: http://www.bookstrand.com/incognito
And the Winner is!
Sarah Bibi Setar
Congratulations, Sarah. An email has been sent, and you have 72 hours to verify your winning.
As part of The Last Vampire Blog Tour, one lucky winner will receive an eCopy of The Last Vampire by Kathryn Meyer Griffith
The Last Vampire-Revised Author’s Edition
Author: Kathryn Meyer Griffith
Genre: Science fiction, Fiction, Paranormal, Thriller, Horror, Romance
Publisher: Damnation Books
Ebook
Words: 104,029
Book Description:
“The earthquakes, the global floods and the devastating fires arrive first. The human race, displaced and panicked, at first flees, migrating to any place there’s food and shelter.
Then the worldwide plague arrives with its stench of death. And as mankind suffers and dies out, vampires, their numbers dwindling from the same sickness, struggle and fight fiercely among themselves to survive in a world where there aren’t enough humans to feed upon. As the months go by they become fewer, more desperate and more ruthless. Emma, as the world disintegrates around her, finds herself alone, her family dead…and fighting off an unnatural hunger as she becomes one of the undead. Defying her unwanted destiny she’s determined to resist the bloodlust she feels, the need to kill and feed on human blood, of losing her humanity, for as long as she can bear it…but she’s so hungry…and the night calls.”
Purchase Links:
And the winner is!
Mary Preston
Congratulations, Mary. Please email me at reenajacobs@reenajacobs.com to verify your winning.
*A comment here also enters you into the Mid-Month Commentator giveaway!
Help me congratulate the winners! As part of the Mid-Month Commentator Giveaway, I’ll include a $10 prize (B&N gift card, books from TBD, or books from Smashwords) for comments on this post. For more details on the Mid-Month Commentator Giveaway, follow this link.
