Reena Jacobs's Blog, page 19

Incognito Blog Tour + Giveaway

You like blog tours? Like M/M Erotica? Yup! Yup!

Welcome to the Incognito Blog Tour
Presented by

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

Excerpt:

There was a heavy sigh and then, "Ren, just go talk to him already."

Ren's gaze snapped back to his friends. He flicked shaggy blond hair out of his eye and said, "What?"

"Shin," Hideyoshi said, making vague hand gestures at the student Ren had been ogling.

Shin had settled in the grass beside a tree and was propping a book open in his lap. Messy strands of black hair fell across his pale cheeks, and he brushed it back with fingers that were surprisingly elegant for a guy.

"Go talk to him."

Shin Sarutobi was a newly transferred junior, and despite sharing several classes, Ren had yet to find the right opportunity to talk to him. Not because he was intimidated but because Shin treated everyone around him, professors and students alike, with what barely qualified as cool indifference. He spoke in class when necessary but otherwise remained removed from everyone else and, from what Ren could tell, preferred it that way.

The exception was Kyouya Tsutano. Kyouya had transferred in about a month before Shin. It had been a big deal, what with his family being corporate millionaires. Rumor had it Kyouya's dad died recently, and he had returned to Akita to live with his uncle.

From the start, Kyouya and Shin had a volatile relationship—they always looked pissed just being near each other. Except Ren had overheard them arrange meetings, and Kyouya remained the only person to date Shin spoke with on a regular basis.

Naturally, Ren assumed they were sleeping together. He entertained the theory that Shin and Kyouya were trapped in an unhealthy relationship based on angry but mind-blowing sex.

He chose not to share this theory with his friends.

In any case, the fact remained that Shin was a jerk. A gorgeous jerk with ink-black hair, intense gray eyes, and long legs that made him one of the few students taller than Ren, but a jerk nonetheless. Ren watched as a line formed between Shin's brows, and he glanced in the direction Kyouya had gone with a sour twist of his lips.

Shin was also a jerk in dire need of an intervention.

Ren nodded decisively. "I'm going to talk to him."

Hideyoshi gave him a flat look before apparently deciding against voicing what he was thinking. Ren ignored him and crossed the lawn with purposeful strides toward Shin.

With blond hair and blue eyes thanks to his European half, Ren wasn't used to making the first move. Shin, however, was definitely worth the exception.

"Hi," Ren said. He didn't believe in pick-up lines.

Shin didn't acknowledge the greeting.

Ren cleared his throat, undeterred. "Your friend looked pissed."

Shin's gaze lifted, passing dismissively over Ren's smiling face before returning to his book.

"Uh…your boyfriend?" Ren said, hedging for a response.

Without lowering his book, Shin turned his head and looked up at Ren with ill-concealed impatience. "Did you want something?"

Ren considered this. "Should I answer that honestly?" Because there were a great many things that Ren wanted, including but not limited to Shin spread out on his bed in nothing but a silk ribbon.

Maybe it was best not to be quite so forthcoming yet.

About the Author:

Miho grew up on horror, fantasy, and romance novels (although she hid the romance novels, considering she probably shouldn't have been reading them at eleven years old). She started writing horror first, but these days, her work features more boys kissing boys than heads exploding, which everyone agrees is an improvement. She has a love of all things fantastical, and her favorite romances are the ones that don't happen easily. Reading or writing about characters overcoming adversity in order to reach their happy endings, whether that's together or not, is what fuels her love of the written word.

Find Miho online at:

Her blog: http://miho-li.blogspot.com
Twitter: twitter.com/miho_li

Promo Posts & Giveaways at every stop, so be sure to follow the blog tour to the end!

Tour schedule:



April 5th

Full Moon Bites

Tana Rae Reads

The Jeep Diva

L.M. Brown – Putting a Little Magic into Male/Male Romances

Riverina Romantics

A.B. Shepherd's Reinvented Reader

Amber Skyze

The Novel Approach



April 6th

Ramblings of an Amateur Writer

Red Hot Books

M/M Romance Reviews

Proserpine Craving Book Blog

Top2Bottom Reviews

A Redheads Guilty Reads
Madame D's Boudoir





Giveaway Time!

The giveaway is a eBook copy of Incognito by Miho Li. Simply leave a comment and you're in!

*A comment here also enters you into the Mid-Month Commentator giveaway!

Who Art Thou Thursday? Tristram La Roche + Giveaway

As some may know, last year I entered the realm of M/M erotica/romance. It was an up and down time for me. Finally, I found Tristram La Roche. Today he's here to share a bit about himself with us.

Reena Jacobs: Okay, I admit to being sexist. When I found out you were a man, I was totally intrigued. I thought, here's my chance to get inside the male mind. I have to say, I'm glad we made a connection, cause I really enjoyed your book, Lorenzo il Magnifico. I've got On My Knees lined up next.

Tristram La Roche: Well, I'm glad you enjoyed it because writing it was a great pleasure. I love Florence, I know it well, and I can tell you I did know a Lorenzo there. And that's as much as you get! On My Knees is quite different and is the first story I ever had published. It also happens to have been a huge success so I guess I got something right. I will be interested to know what you think.

RJ: Of course! I not so secretly love the idea of men on their knees. So it's definitely got me intrigued. Share with us some of the advantages and disadvantages of being a man who writes romance.

TLR: As opposed to what, an elephant who writes romance? Surely people are people and we all fall in love? I don't see how being male or female is inherently helpful or disadvantageous. Where this might lead is to the old nutshell; can women write about gay men and vice versa? All I can say on that is that being a gay man would seem to me to be an advantage for writing about gay men. And I can't ever see me writing about lesbians, other than perhaps as incidental characters, nor do I write hetero romances – they simply do not interest me. Having said all of that, I think it's also important to remember that my romances are perhaps 'romances', in that I avoid the sloppy, slushy and formulaic, and my books are free of girly men, too. I mean, if you know what's going to happen and all you have are different names and places what's the point of reading it, let alone writing it? I'd never stay awake to finish it.

RJ: I know what you mean. A lot of romances are "been there; done that." It's nice to find something fresh. Where do you get inspirations for your stories?

TLR: Real life. Either my own or of others. We are often so wrapped up in our lives that we don't realise the astonishing things that happen all around us every single day. Writing is about observing and translating what we see into digestible material.

RJ: How much of you/your life do you put into your stories?

TLR: A great deal. What else does a writer have? And what a waste it would be to let some of the events I've experienced and the people I've known simply go to the grave with me.

RJ: Please tell us about your most recent publication.

TLR: I was kind of challenged to write an historical, so I did. I'm one of those types that rarely turns down a challenge. It's called The Hun and The General and is about how the love Attila the Hun has for a roman general sways the course of history. Being set in ancient times you need to really forget your 21st century sensiblities. People then had different values. They were, to us, cruel and barbaric, as well highly cultured. I tried to incorporate all of this and at the same time show a softer side to the infamous barbarian without changing his overall character. I think, from the reviews I've had so far, I might have succeeded.

RJ: Love the color scheme for The Hun and the General! What are you working on now?

TLR: A very naughty story about a monastery and its inhabitants. They have such bad habits.

RJ: Give us a brief description of a story you have hidden in your skeleton closet? And will it ever see the light of day?

TLR: Honestly, Reena, I don't have one. I'm prepared to show anything I write.

RJ: I hope you're listening, readers! My buddy is holding nothing back from you. Do you have any advice for other writers?

TLR: Learn to accept criticism with good grace. No matter how much you write, how much you have published, how much you sell – you will always have something to learn. Be prepared to work hard and to get over set backs. Never give up.

RJ: Anything special you'd like to say to readers?

TLR: I believe reading books is a way of learning. It can be as little as learning a new word, or as much as a great big realisation that changes your life. I hope there is something, however small, you can take away from my stories. That gives me satisfaction.

RJ: Thanks a bundle for sharing with us, Tristram!

TLR: My pleasure. Any time.

Connect with Tristram La Roche

Website
Facebook
Twitter

Giveaway!!!

I love giveaways! And lucky us, Tristram has offered a copy of On My Knees to one lucky commentator!

*A comment here also enters you into the Mid-Month Commentator giveaway!

Did You Win the Spontaneous Giveaway?

It's a good day to win!

If you didn't enter the Spontaneous Giveaway, you can still enter to win my monthly giveaways by filling out the subscription form below.

Subscribe to my mailing list
* indicates required
Email Address *



First Name

Last Name

Email Format

html

text

mobile

One winner is chosen each month in subscriber-only giveaway, and you're automatically entered each month once you're on my subscriber list. More details on that here.

So what was up for grabs?
3 Winners!
First Prize ~ Linda Henderson

Your Choice ($20 value): $20 eGift Card at B&N, $20 worth of books at The Book Depository (TBD), or $20 worth of books at Smashwords. The winner can mix and match even as long as the total doesn't exceed $20. So if you want to do $10 at Smashwords and a $10 B&N card, that's fine. Or $15 at TBD and $5 at Smashwords, you're good.

Second Prize ~ Crystal F

Your Choice ($10 value): You're choice of $10 worth of books at TBD or Smashwords. Again, you're free to mix and match as long as your prize doesn't exceed $10.

Third Prize ~ Carrie A

Indie Support ($5 value): What can I say. I'm an indie author who supports indie authors. Third prize winner may pick out $5 worth of books at Smashwords.

[image error]

Well, I'm off to email the winners. They will have 72 hours to respond.

Help me congratulate the winners! No books listed here, but 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.

Meet the Characters Blog Tour: Azari Crossing Excerpt

Have you made your rounds? If you haven't, get busy. Today marks the last day of the Meet the Characters Blog Tour. We have something special for you this post. Carolyn Hockley has offered up an excerpt from her book Azari Crossing Quinn's Evolution – Book One. Enjoy!

Azari Crossing: Quinn's Evolution

Maya's right hand flew to her chest as her body shook with fear. She stared at the man she knew to be Mister Jeffery, but she couldn't shake her confusion enough to say his name. Nothing but a small squeak came out: "Meis?"

Mister Jeffery smiled at her. He reached for her right hand and squeezed it ever so gently. "Yes, Maya, it's me. Please don't be scared. We will explain what is happening," he said in his calm, quiet voice. Then he looked over at Miss Charlotte and nodded.

The warrior standing in front of Quinn nodded back and said, "Yes, let's get a bit more comfortable, shall we?" She rolled up the left sleeve of her uniform to expose a copper-coloured bracelet on her wrist. As Quinn watched her use her index finger to trace one of the lines on the bracelet, he realized it was, in fact, a tattoo. All at once the sandy floor disappeared beneath their feet; a thick chocolate-brown carpet took its place. He hadn't felt a thing, but as she spread her arms out to the sides, a bright copper light flooded the space around them and the space directly in front of them transformed into a cozy living room, complete with leather furniture, coffee tables covered with drinks and food, six floor lamps, a huge bookshelf, and a stone fireplace. The walls were covered with antique oil paintings of historical events and two windows draped with thick tapestry curtains hung opposite the fireplace.

April screamed and then collapsed. With lightning quick reflexes, Mister James scooped her up before she hit the carpet and gently laid her body down on one of the loveseats.

"M-Miss Charlotte?" Quinn repeated with questioning eyes. He didn't know whether to feel relieved or betrayed that the warrior was her. Her face was the same but her physique was trim and more athletic. "H-how did you just… I mean, there's no way you…" He couldn't finish. He had absolutely no idea how to finish. He looked over at the other teens closest to him in age; his eyes searched theirs for help.

They were as white as vampires. None of them had spoken or even blinked for the past several minutes. Finally, Mister On reached out for Juina. As soon as his hand touched her arm, she snapped out of her trance and jumped back, arms swinging out in an effort to shoo him away. He somehow managed to coax her into sitting down. Miss Susan moved to Janus and led him to a loveseat. He moved robotically as he let her gently pull him along. Mister Jeffery did the same with Maya.

Then, one high-back wooden stool materialized next to each teen. The gift givers moved to the stools and sat down. Miss Charlotte motioned for Quinn to sit on the lounge chair beside her.

Maya subconsciously reached for her shoulder and gently rubbed the sock in an effort to settle the throbbing. She stared at Mister Jeffery's clothes. His impeccably-tailored suit look had been replaced with a taut black battle uniform. The new clothing could not hide his solid, muscular form. He looked so formidable. She opened her mouth to ask him something and then closed it again. No one was talking. She would wait. The teens were studying the warriors beside them – people they had known their whole lives. The gift givers were calm and allowed the teens some time to relax.

After a few more minutes, Miss Charlotte cleared her throat and stood. She walked to the centre of the "room" and began to speak, her thick Scottish accent gone. "We are Luminares, which is Italian for Luminaries. We are immortals but have returned to our human forms for our assignment." She paused and looked each of the five teens in the eyes for a brief moment before resting her gaze on Quinn. "I am your Luminare, Quinn. I am like a guardian. I was sent to Edinburgh to watch over you from the time you were born. I know all of this must be hard to believe," she paused again to acknowledge the other Luminares. "We are here to guide and help you…"

About the Characters

Five teens, seemingly average kids from five different countries across the globe, are anything but ordinary. When approached by their 'Luminares', or guardians, and each presented with a small copper box, life gets interesting. These 'Luminares' are adults who have been in their lives since they were born – watching, guarding, protecting the teens until the day when the Arazi Royals need them. Brought together and zipped off to a new, unknown world, the teens are told of their true destinies. Accepting their new futures, Quinn, Maya, Janus, April and Juina must travel together, back in history, and help each other fulfill their own personal quests. Will these five teens become the new Royals of Arazi Crossing? Will they stand together, united for Good against a multitude of Evil forces? For the future of the human race… we hope so.

About Carolyn Hockley

Lives in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, Canada. Loves her two children, her BF, her super-smart German shepherd and her small, but fiercly devoted circle of friends. Fav past-times are writing, reading, landscape photography, spending time talking with teens, prime time tv shows, movies, drinking coffee, watching her kids glide through the water during swim meets and practices, hiding from "G" (her dog) and giggling until she finds her, playing fb games and beating the pants off her opponents!

Find Carolyn Hockley online!

Smashwords

Blog

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

*A comment here also enters you into the Mid-Month Commentator giveaway!

Meet the Characters Blog Tour

So I mentioned participating more in blog/book tours. After all, this is a blog, and it focuses on books, right? Today is the first day of the Meet the Characters Blog Tour. This is your opportunity to try out 6 paranormal books in one easy download.

So, come  join the fun and talk to your favorite characters on this three day blog tour event!! You will get to follow characters as they are interviewed! On the third day, join these characters on Twitter! Ask them questions! Celebrate with them! Come join the festivities!!You will get to follow characters as they are interviewed! On the third day, join these characters on Twitter! Ask them questions! Celebrate with them! Come join the festivities!!

Meet the Characters 3 Day Blog Tour!!

Volume 1 of First 5 Chapters has been released and is available for free from Smashwords and Amazon (currently listed at .99 cents but should be 'free' very soon).

This ebook will give you the opportunity to discover & read the first 5 chapters from 6 talented new Authors in the very popular YA – Fantasy – Paranormal genre. 

The Authors featured in this volume. 

Carolyn Hockley – Arazi Crossing

KaSonndra Leigh – When Copper Suns Fall

Patti Roberts – Paradox ~ The Angels Are Here

Mary Ting – Crossroads

Starr West – Tomorrows Child

Lenore Wolfe – The Fallen One

Add this book at Goodreads!!

Pick it up for FREE at Smashwords and take these great books for a free test at Smashwords!!

Come meet the authors at Facebook! 

For more info contact:

lenorewolfe@gmail.com

On behalf of all the 6 Authors featured, I hope you enjoy the read. Your revi ews and feedback are warmly welcomed and appreciated. 

Something Weird + Spontaneous Giveaway

Okay, I haven't been posting regularly. Shame on me. I'm hoping to remedy that situation soon by participating in some blog tours. If you're an author and need a stop, keep me in mind. I want that to be my new thing here.

So the weird. I have no idea what's been going on with my auto-thingie around this place. Last week, I must have pushed the publish button before finishing my Saturday Special post. Then when I tried to fix it, it wouldn't post… or rather didn't repost. Gah! Well, I've rescheduled that one for this Saturday.

Odd thing today though. I don't know if you all did, but I received an auto-email about a January post today. What's the deal with that!? I checked my blog calendar to see if I accidentally moved it, and nope. Everything looks as it should be.

Oh, I hope things work themselves out. Well, I'm rambling, as I've been known to do. I don't even know if I'm making sense. I hope no one unsubscribes because of it. Usually I don't simply ramble unless I have something to offer in addition.

You all didn't notice, but I just had a long pause where I thought "why not offer something… but what?" Okay… so I'm changing the title of this post from "Something Weird" to "Something Weird + Spontaneous Giveaway."

This is how you enter, because I'm lazy in a not so spontaneous way.

1) Subscribe to my mailing list
* indicates required
Email Address *




First Name


Last Name

Email Format

html

text

mobile

Keep in mind, one winner is chosen each month in subscriber-only giveaway, and you're automatically entered each month once you're on my subscriber list. So that's a bonus. More details on that here.

2) Leave a comment that you subscribed.

Make sure with this comment that you leave either the email address or name you subscribed under, so I can match the winner to my subscription list.

3) Bonus entry – Share about this post on your social media

In a SECOND comment, please leave a link where you shared. For example, if you shared on twitter, leave the twitter status. You can find this by clicking on the status post, then clicking the details. From there, simply copy and paste the URL link into a comment. Don't forget to leave your name or email if you didn't leave it in your original comment as stated in guideline 2. A similar feature for leaving a link is available on Facebook. I believe you just click the time you made the post and it'll bring you to the direct URL.

That's it. This giveaway will last a week long, plus a few spontaneous days. Ends April 1, and that's no joke.

Oh yeah! The prizes!

Let's go with 3 winners this time.

First Prize

Your Choice ($20 value): $20 eGift Card at B&N, $20 worth of books at The Book Depository (TBD), or $20 worth of books at Smashwords. The winner can mix and match even as long as the total doesn't exceed $20. So if you want to do $10 at Smashwords and a $10 B&N card, that's fine. Or $15 at TBD and $5 at Smashwords, you're good.

Second Prize

Your Choice ($10 value): You're choice of $10 worth of books at TBD or Smashwords. Again, you're free to mix and match as long as your prize doesn't exceed $10.

Third Prize

Indie Support ($5 value): What can I say. I'm an indie author who supports indie authors. Third prize winner may pick out $5 worth of books at Smashwords.

[image error]

This giveaway is international.

Winners will have 72 hours to respond.

*International winners for the Book Depository must be listed here: over 100 countries.

See giveaway policy for nitty gritty.

 

Saturday Special: Mark Fassett writes and publishes and…

Saturday Special: Elizabeth Kolodziej and Kickstarter

It's been a while since I've updated Ramblings of an Amateur Writer. Well, my writing buddy, Elizabeth Kolodziej has pulled me out of hiding. She's gearing up for her next book in the Last Witch series. If you're not familiar with the Last Witch series, definitely head over to Elizabeth's blog and check it out.

A while back, I had the opportunity to read the second in the series, Werewolf Descent (my review here). I have to say it was quite enjoyable, and I've been looking for the next in the series. Well, it looks like the next book is on the horizon. Thing is, my writer buddy is looking for a bit of help to get her next book kickstarted.

Enough of my rambling, let's have her tell you about it!

A little about me and a lot about this project

My name is Elizabeth J Kolodziej and I have been writing about the paranormal all my life (cliche, I know) however, I didn't know until my early twenties that my writing might be something other people want to read too! Go figure. Writing is my passion and I found that I also love the marketing, publishing and everything that goes into the process of getting a book printed. It's said that most indie authors won't sell more than a 100 copies of there book. In one year I sold, not gave away, but sold over 1,000 copies of Vampyre Kisses.

I was very lucky to have a family that believed in me and sponsored me when I needed it. Sadly, March 22nd 2012 will be the one year anniversary of my father, David Kolodziej, death. Without him in my life I have had to fight and work long hours to get the money for my books to be printed. Now, it is getting to the point where I'm running out of ways to get the money for publishing and marketing Witch Devotions, the third book in the Last Witch Series. Because it is the third I want to be able to give this book everything it deserves. A terrific cover (with a live model), creame paper, advertising on websites and much more.

Details of the Plan

Witch Devotions is done and just about ready for print. I have already put together the marketing plan for Witch Devotions, which will entail:

Button advertising on five big sites that are book blogs or book related sites.

Setting up a blog hop AND a blog tour

Blog radio spots during the month of release

Book reviews from places like RT BookLovers, Kirkus, Amazon Vine, Apex, Reader Views, etc.

Making a book trailer

Release "party" on bittenbybooks.com

And much more. I have never done something as big as this for a marketing plan since I have never had enough money to do it. Most of my marketing for my series was free. I know this series is great though and with the third book out it will get so many more readers. That is if I can get your help.

Synopsis for Vampyre Kisses

Vampyre Kisses is an enthralling story about a young woman named Faith, who was content with her life, but deep down craved more excitement. Then a mysterious man named Trent enters her life and everything changes. Surprising to Faith, Trent is a green-eyed vampire from Ireland. She is even more surprised to find out that she is a witch, and the last of her kind.

Faith finds out that she is destined to restore her witch line and becomes more powerful as she gains confidence and knowledge, but danger lurks everywhere. Especially when unknown assailants steal the most important gems from the vampire master and werewolf royalty.

Now surrounded by a world full of mystifying vampires and werewolves, can Faith gain enough power to help her friends and rescue the stolen gems?

Synopsis for Werewolf Descent

Last witch in the world, Faith Scott, and her Irish vampire boyfriend Trent have just come back from fighting for their lives to recover the Vampiric Blood gem and Werewolf Moon gem. Thinking they could finally relax and work on the romance growing between them, they now meet a mysterious psychic vampire named Vincent who has his heart set on being with Faith.

Soon bizarre killings of Zou Tai's werewolf pack begin, with rumors of an alchemist possessing the famed philosophers stone being the assailant; which, causes Faith to turn to Vincent for help in figuring out why the werewolves are being murdered.

It isn't long before all those around them test Trent and Faith's love, along with their abilities, once again. It is all Trent can do to keep Faith safe by his side while both go up against a deadly alchemist, deceptive gods, and having to rescue the werewolf prince; yet, after a deal with the God of Werewolves will Trent be able to save himself too?

Working synopsis for Witch Devotions:

With Trent gone, Faith feels that she can not go on without him. The pain grows so intense that she even shuts out her friends and loved ones to be alone; unsure of what to think about the supernatural world anymore. However, on a trip to see Gordon she realizes what she can do to make the pain go away. A spell.

The spell ends up back firing and Faith, last witch in the world, has now forgotten the past six months. All the memories of vampires, werewolves, and guardians have vanished. And the first to find her is Louis, her mother's close friend and slayer.

With webs of lies and deceit falling upon her ears, Faith doesn't know what is up and down. Then Louis gives her the option to become a slayer and she takes it, thinking vampires are evil. Along with the Goddess Circe interfering, Lilith still missing and Faith unable to remember Trent no one knows what will happen next!

Then walks in Patrick who has a secret about him that he doesn't even realize. Through him Morgan finds out where Faith is and fly's to Vegas to save her, but Faith is more untrusting that a rabid wolf.

Are these vampires and werewolves telling her the truth? Is she a witch in love with a vampire? Or will she proceed with being a slayer? The coin is still up in the air…and Faith doesn't know where her devotions lie.

Along with this series, I write short stories and novellas under my own company name and other publishers. To learn more about me, my books, and see reviews please go to www.vampyrekisses.com

What about money left over?

I'll be amazed if there is BUT for such an occasion know that the money will go into the next book in the series and getting it published.

I hope you will contribute!

Liz ^_^

Learn more about Elizabeth Kolodziej's Kicktarter Project here

Who Art Thou? Elizabeth Marx & Giveaway

On January 15, the blog tour for All's Fair in Vanities Wars by Elizabeth Marx kicked off at Missy Reads Reviews. Today, Ms. Marx is gracious enough to visit us and tell us a bit about her writing. Please welcome her.

When you leave here, don't forget to visit some of the other stops to learn more about All's Fair in Vanities War and the Grand Giveaway!

Reena Jacobs: First off, I have to say… I'm in love with the cover art of All's Fair in Vanities Wars. Please tell us how you came up with the concept.

Elizabeth Marx: I'm glad you like the cover of All's Fair in Vanities War. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, never has a phrase been truer than for an author. A single image imbedded in our minds, spins magical worlds, and faraway places where monsters and mayhem rule. It also gives us inspiration. I was stuck on the idea of writing a young adult series about the seven deadly sins.I somehow got on the idea of vanity, and I wanted to know what symbols represent vanity and two concepts kept coming up: mirror and skull. I thought, cool, but how do they work together? So I put them in a search engine and voila, All is Vanity, Charles Allan Gilbert's 1892 optical illusion. When you first look at his sketch (top) you might immediately see the woman looking in her mirror, but if you stare at the image long enough you'll see the skull, the symbol for death.

 

That's pretty cool. With the two images side by side, the skull really comes out in your cover art.

Your heroine, Keleigh Flaherty has a Celtic origin. How closely did you follow the Celtic folklore? And did you have to put a lot of research into bring the Celtic aspect to life?

Keleigh Flaherty was born a vate, she comes from a hereditary line of vates and her magical abilities are as much a part of her DNA as her strawberry sorbet hair or her moss green eyes. I tried to closely follow Celtic folklore and combine that with what little is known about druids and vates, but there isn't a lot material available since the Roman's systematically wiped the druids out and the druid tradition was an oral one, leaving little documentation. I loosely based Keleigh's magical abilities on other hereditary lines of witchcraft. I spent many hours on research and I'm arranging much of my research into a compendium.

How I imagine The Seer.

What was the hardest aspect about writing All's Fair in Vanities Wars?

The hardest part of writing All's Fair in Vanities War was getting a balance on the relationship between the main characters, Locke, Keleigh and The Seer. They are sort of tied into a love triangle, but one of them is dead, so you'd think that would take The Seer out of the equation, but it doesn't because not only was her life forfeited by someone, we don't know who yet, but she has been reborn to watch over someone. The Seer initially thinks its Locke, but she later learns its Keleigh. You have to ask yourself how much love does it take The Seer to watch the person she loves, fall in love with Keleigh, and how much more affection does it take The Seer to accept their love as legitimate. The Seer is a very special spirit, you can "Like" her at: http://www.facebook.com/TheSeers7DeadlyFairyTales

Self-sacrificing love is always so heartbreaking. It makes me tearful just thinking about loving someone enough to step aside so they can love another.

Before we get too deep and weepy, how about a lighter topic? What's your favorite part of the publishing process?

My favorite part of the publishing process is the actual writing. I love creating stories and characters that people know and understand. I like making them so real that when they hurt you feel their pain and you shed tears right along with them. I'd like to believe that when the characters find happiness you can also feel their joy. But recently, I've found through reading reviews, that I discover new things about the characters I created, from other people. When readers figure out things about characters that I never really put my finger on and yet somehow the reader knows the character or understand the character enough to figure it out, well, it's a very rewarding feeling.

It is an amazing experience to see a piece from the readers' eyes.

How about a brief description of a story you have hidden in your skeleton closet? And will it ever see the light of day?

I have a lot of stories in my skeleton closet, probably more than I'll ever be able to write, but I've been toying with a Steampunk concept about an alternate history of the civil war in which the American Indians keep all their lands west of Kansas because they were smart enough to lasso the iron horse while the North and South were fighting. The Indians control the railroad lines and a train is the ultimate Steampunk contraption. Will the book ever see the light of day??? Hopefully, it all depends on how fast I can type.

I just got into Steampunk last year. That definitely sounds like something I'd like to read. What are you working on now?

Right now I'm working on several things. First, I'm doing the Compendium for The Seer's 7 Deadly Fairy Tales which should be out, cross your fingers, sometime in the end of February. If you're interested in learning more about Celtic mythology and the world behind All's Fair in Vanities War you can 'Like' The Seer as mentioned above and follow her on Facebook, because she'll announce when the Compendium is launched.

I'm almost finished with a paranormal book about a vampire who's been searching for something for 600 years, and it's not blood, but a very special breeder. And then I've written a few chapters in my next Chick Lit book, it's about a race car driver and an interior designer, one was given up for adoption and the other one gave someone up for adoption and they're both waving checkered flags in each other's faces. These two are constantly bickering in my head and I burst out laughing in public and my girls look at me and say, "Luke or Lori Lei?" I shrug and say, "Wait and see."

Book II in The Seer's 7 Deadly Fairy Tales will be out hopefully by October, and let's put it this way, Balor isn't used to not getting what he came for when he crosses into our world.

Cool deal. Anything special you'd like to say to the readers?

The only thing else I can think to add is the covers of my adult titles. Feel free to check them out especially Cutters Vs. Jocks because it's free!

Also we authors love to hear from our readers. So feel free to email me if you'd like to be added to my mailing list. My website should also go live next month, but until then check out my super cool holding page at: http://www.elizabethmarxbooks.com

  

Giveaway Time

Ms. Marx is offering two digital copies of her novel All's Fair in Vanities Wars. Entry is super easy. Just leave a comment about an interesting tidbit you learned from the interview along with your email address. That's it! You're entered.

*Giveaway ends February 7, 2012. Please see Giveaway Policy for nitty gritty.

Grand Giveaway

Readers also have an opportunity to win the $50 Grand Prize. To enter:

You must "LIKE" The Seer's Facebook page 
Post one of her best lines from All's Fair in Vanities War on the wall. Yes, this means you have to read the book in order to participate.

Thank you, Ms. Marx, for sharing yourself with our readers and the opportunity to read one of your works.

Young Adult Giveaway Hop – Jan. 27th to 31st

Have you picked up a copy of I Loved You First?If not, here's your chance to add it to your bookshelf!*****

Christy at -Love of Books- is giving away a print copy of I Loved You First. Take some time to surf her blog and enter to win. Also check out Christy's Review Here.