Reena Jacobs's Blog, page 30

Novel Review (DNF) – Messenger by David Arnett

What? DNF? Okay. Messenger by David Arnett is my first DNF review. Normally, I don't review works I did not finish, but this work has enough merit, I still want to share it with readers. This was one of the the NetGalley books I received. Before I hit the review, the blurb from Goodreads:

By all accounts, Jake Daniels should have died when his SUV collided head-on with a moving truck. Now the vision of the mysterious woman who saved his life is consuming his every thought. A formerly nonreligious person, Jake becomes obsessed with learning more about angels, near-death experiences and spirituality. He leaves his fiancee and art career on hold to travel the country searching for the mystery woman, who he believes is an angel. As he s drawn into a series of earth-shattering angel and demon experiences, Jake discovers he s being prepared for an imperative task to step into world affairs to prevent the clash of civilizations and reverse the violence and hatred of the post-9/11 world. As his search for answers leads him around the world and across faith traditions, Jake questions: Why him? Why now? And is it too late?

A riveting novel about the urgent spiritual and political questions we face in the 21st century, Messengers will leave you reconsidering your outlook on life and death and why we are here.

Okay, this novel started out fantastic! It read like a memoir and immediately had me engaged in the story. I loved his initial journey and truly wanted to find out what happened next. What would he find when all was said and done?

The first 3rd of the book had just enough mysticism to pique that side of me which loves the supernatural, but not too much to be unbelievable. Absolutely fantastic. The tidbits of information Mr. Arnett provided had me wanting more. I learned about Angels, different religions, Christian history, and cultures I'd never even heard of. If history had been taught the way Mr. Arnett presented it, I would have become a historian. Needless to say, the first 3rd of the book pushed a 5/5 star rating, and I feel smarter just for having read it.

So if it's so great, why didn't I finish it. The book had a definite shift around the 1/3 mark. The story was still rich in cultures, religion, and such, but the supernatural reached a level which didn't hold my attention for some reason. I guess it was just too fantastical despite the main character (Jacob) making valid points of why I shouldn't discount his story. The shift was just too sudden for me to continue to believe in the story, and as such, I lost interest.

After working on this book for over two weeks, I've decided to throw in the towel.

Do I recommend it? Based on what I've read (I'm at the 50% mark), I have to say yes. The beginning was excellent. EXCELLENT!!! And if you're big into the supernatural (Angels versus Demons in a fight to save humanity), then the shift likely won't throw you like it did me.

If I were willing to dedicate another two weeks to this book, I'd finish it. Maybe I'll come back to it another time. For now, it just doesn't fit into my schedule.

You can find Messenger by David Arnette at:

Barnes & Nobles

The Book Depository

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Reena Jacobs is just your typical writer who loves to see her words in print. As an avid reader, she's known to hoard books and begs her husband regularly for "just one more purchase." Her home life is filled with days chasing her preschooler and nights harassing her husband. Between it all, she squeezes in time for writing and growling at the dog. You can find Reena on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Nobles, and Smashwords.

Sunday Showcase #11

It's been a couple of weeks since I've posted a Sunday Showcase. Well, I've whittled down some of the reads from Netgalley and thought it might be okay to put in a few requests. And so I did. Surprise! They approved me for five more reads…

Okay… five is a little much. I think I'm going to have to double up on reads… two books a week to catch up on some of these Netgalley copies PLUS meet my Goodreads Reading Challenge.

And as folks know, Borders is closing. We don't have a Borders, but we do have a Walden Books which is a store under it… so they're having an going out of business sale also. It's a shame. Last time I went in there (before the big announcement, I mean), I asked the salesclerk about the store staying open. That was around the time Borders was closing a mass of stores to cut costs. She was confident it would since the store pulls in pretty good business. I guess the thought of the entire corporation going bankrupt didn't occur to her.

Well that's another story. I picked up one book for myself while I was in the area.

The Art of Steampunk seeks to celebrate the world of Steampunk: a world filled with beauty and innovation.  A world in which steam power and technology intertwine to create machines that are not only functional and practical, but unique and striking.  

Inside, you will find the fantastical and stunning artwork of Steampunk artists from around the world.  The 17 artists featured on these pages, among the frontrunners of the Steampunk genre, have had their work displayed at an exhibition at The Museum of History of Science at the University of Oxford, UK and have attracted the media attention of BoingBoing, one of the world's largest blogs.  Their artwork consists of everything from clocks and watches to light fixtures and jewelry, but every piece demonstrates hours of painstaking work and devotion from its creator.  You will find that the artists themselves are just as unique and colorful as their masterpieces.  Fully embracing Steampunk ideology, many have adopted a Victorian alter ego—a mad scientist persona to match the complicated intricacies of their artwork.

The Art of Steampunk brings the vision of the Steampunk artist alive on the page, providing a unique insight into the captivating and dynamic world of a vastly underground genre.

Why I Picked It up: Lindsay Buroker, I BLAME YOU! That is all. I received this from NetGalley.

Available at: The Book Depository and Barnes & Nobles

McKinley challenges nominal Christians to take a deeper look at themselves.

Jesus divided the world into two groups—those who follow him and those who don't. But what happens when someone thinks he or she is a Christian, but isn't? With his witty, engaging style, Mike McKinley takes readers on a journey of what it means to be a Christian. He asserts that "manipulative evangelism techniques and a poor understanding of the gospel have resulted in an abundance of professing Christians who have no idea what it means to follow Christ." 

Each chapter title begins with "You're not a Christian [if/when/just because you]…" As he surveys what it means to be Christian, McKinley offers criteria for evaluating one's standing before God. Readers are guided through a series of challenges to reflect, repent, remember, and report to another person. Am I Really a Christian? ends with chapters on salvation and the local church. This unique book is written for nominal or new Christians and can be used in personal or small-group study.

Why I Picked It up: Mostly because of America. Some statistics show about 75% of Americans believe they're Christian and have a ticket to heaven. According to the bible, "But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:14 (NIV) So I want to see what this guy has to say. I received this from NetGalley.

Available at: The Book Depository and Barnes & Nobles

Two of today's most popular genres–Romance and Amish fiction–together in one volume.

"Healing Hearts" by Beth Wiseman: Levina Lapp and her husband Naaman are alone for the first time in 30 years. When Naaman left to visit cousins in Ohio, Levina wasn't expecting him to be gone a year. Now that he's back, will they be able to move beyond this estrangement and fall in love again?

"What the Heart Sees" by Kathleen Fuller: A tragic accident rocks a peaceful Amish community, leaving Ellie Chupp blinded and Christopher Bender's future shattered. But they find love and forgiveness in a place they least expect.

"A Marriage of the Heart" by Kelly Long: Rachel Yoder is tired of her Amish lifestyle and her domineering father's ways. When handsome Joseph Lambert comes back from the Englisch, she lies to force a marriage of convenience, providing the perfect means to escape her father's rule. But Rachel never imagined she'd fall in love with Joseph so quickly or irrevocably.

Why I Picked It up: After my first and only Amish read, The Promise of an Angel by Ruth Reid (see review here), I'm on an Amish kick. I received this from NetGalley.

Available at: The Book Depository and Barnes & Nobles

When 28–year–old Emma Donahoe becomes a nanny to John Chen's daughter, Simone, she does not expect to be drawn into a world of martial arts, magic, and extreme danger, where both gods and demons can exist in the mortal world.

Emma gradually realises that John Chen is no ordinary businessman and that nearly all the demons in hell would like to see him dead. John and his American bodyguard, Leo, begin to teach Emma their particular brand of martial arts and special defensive techniques … they also begin to realise that there is something that is different about Emma but exactly what it is, nobody can say.

A fabulous, fast–paced and very entertaining fantasy adventure … a trilogy based on Chinese mythology, set in modern–day Hong Kong, where an ancient god falls in love with a young Australian woman …

Why I Picked It up: Okay. Here's the thing. I don't read too many Asian book, and this one looks freakin' cool. So that's the first thing. next, I saw on Goodreads that the reviews are pretty decent. I'm sold and can't wait to get to this goodie. I received this from NetGalley.

Available at: The Book Depository

Although proud of living apart from the world, Marianna Sommer's newly relocated Amish family is discovering that life in the remote mountains of Montana requires working together with the Englisch. As Marianna pours her life into helping those around her-and receiving their help-her heart further considers two directions. She's torn between the Amish man from Indiana whom she has long planned on marrying and the friendly Englischer who models a close walk with God like she's never seen before.

Who should have young Marianna's heart? What is God asking of her through ongoing family struggles and this romantic and spiritual tension? The answer is found along the wooded paths.

Why I Picked It up: Stuck on Amish. So here we have, two more Amish stories. Let's see if this genre will become my new love. I received this from NetGalley.

Available at: The Book Depository and Barnes & Nobles

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her…until Patch comes along.

With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment, but after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is far more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen – and when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

Why I Picked It up: This one has been on my reading list for ALONG time. It just never made my purchase list. Well, the Walden going out of business sale reduced the price on this baby. I picked up the Hardback for less than $4.

Available at: The Book Depository and Barnes & Nobles

So that's what I've received these past few weeks. I have got to get some major reading done. I think I'm 4 books behind on my 2011 Goodreads Reading Challenge.

In Other News

If you haven't picked up I Loved You First, what are you waiting for? Use it for your next, In Your Mailbox Meme! I released it yesterday, and it's available at Barnes & Nobles,Amazon US, Amazon UK, Amazon DE, and Smashwords. One thing I will mention, it's on sale at Amazon for $0.99 for this week only. If you don't have a Kindle, great news. For the same week, it's on sale at Smashwords IF you use the coupon below:

Promotional price: $0.99

Coupon Code: FA89H

Expires: August 5, 2011

Add I Loved You First to your Goodreads List.

Never miss a post. Get your subscription for Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, today.

Reena Jacobs is just your typical writer who loves to see her words in print. As an avid reader, she's known to hoard books and begs her husband regularly for "just one more purchase." Her home life is filled with days chasing her preschooler and nights harassing her husband. Between it all, she squeezes in time for writing and growling at the dog. You can find Reena on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Nobles, and Smashwords.

Special Post: Happy Release Day Plus Plus

This is a long post, so the main points are highlighted in bold for the skimmers.

Eagerness becomes me. So August 1 was to be the release date for I Loved You First. I got a little eager and uploaded the files yesterday. Surprise! Happy Release Day, I Loved You First.

Alexandria (Alex) Carmichael guards two secrets close to her heart. One—she's in love with her best friend, Seth. Two—he's gay.

As a freshman in college, Alex looks forward to fun times with her best friend. When Seth decides cycling through girlfriends is the way to fit in with the straight crowd, Alex must make a choice: watch Seth give his affections to another while her heart breaks or come clean with her feelings and risk losing his friendship forever.

I Loved You First is a new adult love story told through the eyes of an African-American/Caucasian student who takes a journey of self-discovery while watching her best friend come to terms with his sexuality. Turn the pages and find a message of hope, new beginnings, and positive change.

*Stay tuned for the upcoming blog tour

Available at:

Barnes & Nobles
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Amazon DE
Smashwords
Diesel
Sony Reader
Kobo Books
CreateSpace (Print)

Add I Loved You First to your Goodreads List.

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[image error]So I mentioned Plus Plus! Right. If you haven't picked up a copy of Shadow Cat, great news for you! Aobibliosphere is offering a copy at her blog. Yip yip! Head over there and check it out the giveaway.

Shadow Cat (Book One) Eric Randall's plan is simple—fix the mess his researchers have created in Malaysia, experience the pleasures the country has to offer, and return to the comforts of America. All it takes is one beautiful aborigine, and Eric finds himself stranded in a world of Malaysian myths and legends.

A novice shaman amongst her people, Berani is free and independent. Yet all is not well in her homeland. Demons prey on her people, pushing them to extinction. When a strange speaking man invades her forest, she has one more worry to add to her already troubled life. Attraction or no, she will fight Eric tooth and claw to maintain her freedom. But will she destroy herself in the process?

If Berani wishes to save her family… if Eric wishes to reclaim his old life, they must stand together against the threats of encroaching wehr-tigers and bloodsucking demons… or perish.

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Last but not least! I'm participating in a blog hop event starting Monday. Exciting. My job is to help secure as many votes as possible for my writing buddy, Lenore Wolfe, author of Doorway to the Triquetra.

Okay. So the voting doesn't start until Monday. When the time comes, you can put in your vote for Doorway to the Triquetra–no other book, just Doorway to the Triquetra–and help my buddy win this thang. Yes… that's spelled right, thang. So remember, support and vote for Doorway to the Triquetra.

When an ancient medallion is passed down to her, Mira is not happy to learn she is the next Jaguar Witch, bound by the blood of the Jaguar, to cross the doorway and learn the Way of the Stone. She must find the Doorway of the Triquetra, but each move she makes only leads her to a deeper mystery, where all of her past lives are bound–to four immortal men.

When an ancient medallion is passed down to her, Mira is not happy to learn she is the next Jaguar Witch, bound by the blood of the Jaguar, to cross the doorway and learn the Way of the Stone. She must find the Doorway of the Triquetra, but each move she makes only leads her to a deeper mystery, where all of her past lives are bound–to four immortal men.

 Grab the button and add it to your blog! Support Doorway to the Triquetra!

Never miss a post. Get your subscription for Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, today.

Reena Jacobs is just your typical writer who loves to see her words in print. As an avid reader, she's known to hoard books and begs her husband regularly for "just one more purchase." Her home life is filled with days chasing her preschooler and nights harassing her husband. Between it all, she squeezes in time for writing and growling at the dog. You can find Reena on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Nobles, and Smashwords.

Authors Helping Authors: C.A. Kunz — A Book Is Born!

Normally, I try to do an introduction, but C.A. Kunz gives one far better than I could possibly. So  I'll just let them have at it.

***********************

Hello Blogosphere,

First of all we want to thank Reena Jacobs for allowing us to infiltrate her blog and plant this little number on here! So, I guess a little introduction is in order here. Well we are Carol Kunz and Adam Kunz, the mother and son author duo known as C.A. Kunz. Our debut YA Paranormal/Fantasy novel, The Childe, was published back in February of this year, and is the first book in a planned five book series. The Childe introduces the reader to our main character Catherine Colvin, AKA Cat, a fifteen-year-old girl entering her freshman year at Astoria High School. Like everyone else, she has her typical high school drama like a mean-spirited math teacher, a Goth clique that seems to dislike her instantly, and a popular trio, known as the Trifecta, who wants to be her to be their BFF. Unbeknownst to Cat though, she is also metamorphosing into the Childe, which only adds more complications to her list.

A Little Bit More About Us:

A total love of all things supernatural is what inspired this fifty-four year young mom and her twenty-six year old son to put this story on paper.

Carol Kunz was born in New Ferry, England. Her interest in the supernatural was first sparked upon meeting a ghost at the age of eight. As a teenager, she was always fascinated by the mythology behind vampires, werewolves and witches. Being an avid reader, Carol finds it easy to spend several hours wrapped up in a great fantasy novel.

Adam Kunz was born in Newport News, Virginia. Growing up, he was a huge fan of creature features and books about things that go bump in the night. When he is not busy writing, Adam enjoys his job at a certain theme park in Orlando, Florida as a décor consultant. This job brings him face to face with all sorts of nightmarish creatures, especially when he decorates the haunted houses for the park's annual Halloween event.

Now, Onto The Meat And Potatoes Of Our Guest Blog Post! We're Going To Spill Some Tea (Gossip and Details) About Our Writing Journey Together As A Mother And Son Author Duo. So, Without Further Ado…Consider Our Tea Spilt:

Carol: We started our adventure back in March of 2009, when Adam called me and said we were going to write a book together. Adam knew that my dream of writing a novel was something I had often talked about, but always put on the back burner as my 'someday project'.

Adam: I knew my mom had this dream, and I wanted to write a story that I had already vaguely outlined. When I called her, I had decided that I wasn't going to take no for an answer, and to my surprise she immediately said yes. I sent an email that night to her with the story idea and a rough outline. Then as she began writing down her own ideas, adding to my outline, and our story The Childe was born.

Carol: Our initial outline was only thirteen chapters. We agreed to each do six chapters, (alternating every two chapters) and then work on the last one together. Our first rough draft was 194 pages. Recently, I perused our first draft, and boy was it ROUGH!

Adam: Our first get-together, after finishing our six chapters each, lasted a whole week while I was off from work. We added, changed, disagreed, agreed, and then added some more. It was definitely an experience neither one of us had ever experienced. We ended the week with more notes of what we needed to do to improve our chapters, and then spent the next few months doing just that.

Carol: We had numerous mini meetings over many weekends, where we were holed up in my spare room (office), being fed by my wonderful hubby, and Adam's awesome dad, Bob. Bob is also our brilliant illustrator. Stephanie, our daughter, was the first illustrator, but she moved and it was really difficult being so far apart. Then Bob stepped in and took over with a talent that Adam and I didn't even know existed in him.

Adam: Yeah, good old Dad stepped in and saved the day, or days, as it were. Over those few months we worked very hard, calling each other everyday (thank goodness we have an unlimited family phone plan, haha). We finally (and I do mean finally) finished our novel in about nine months, and then shipped it off to one of our many editors/critics. We had a total of four people help us with this phase, and they were such a help indeed. Amanda Lynch, Charlie Steffy, Tim Coleman, and good old Dad, all gave us their honest opinions and much needed critiques.

Carol: Finally Adam was ready to format and publish our novel. The day he received the first proof he called me and told me how awesome it looked. He lives about 45 minutes away from us, and when he said he couldn't bring it until the weekend, I almost had a meltdown. So jealous was I that he could hold our accomplishment, but I had to wait.  Now is the time I tell you that I have a very caring and loving son. One that wouldn't dream of letting his mom wait a couple of days to see our creation. He tried to sneak into our house that evening, which is a little hard to do because of our three noisy, four legged babies (dogs), and brought me the book. I walked around with it all night, and it even laid next to my pillow that night while I slept. I couldn't believe I had finally held my dream in my hands. Next to having my children, this was one of the best days of my life. Oops, sorry, have to mention marrying the hubby 35 years ago, don't want him to think it wasn't one of the best days of my life.

Adam: Yes, mom's right, it's practically impossible to sneak into their house with those four-legged alarms going off. I loved watching the joy on my mom's face when she held our book in her hands, as both of us chanted 'we wrote a book'. We've come a long way from March of 2009. We actually started working on the second book in The Childe series about five months ago, and now it's been in the hands of our editing team for a few weeks now, so it will probably be published within the next couple of months or so. Also, I am working with my friend (an engineer and aspiring musician), Lee Wilson, on putting together a companion soundtrack for our series. Volume one of the soundtrack spans the first two books in The Childe series, and will contain 11 (or more) full length songs. The songs have full lyrics and were inspired by the words of the novels. They span several genres from pop, rock, r&b, punk, classical, and country. The Childe companion soundtrack will be available soon.

Thinking Of Writing Your Own Story…Well, Here Are Some Encouraging Words That Helped Us Get Through Our Tough Times:

If you have a story to tell, believe in it, and write it down. There will always be people who are critical of your work, listen, if it makes sense, learn from them.  If you are rejected, do not become disheartened! It only takes one person to accept your work. Remember, there are people who have been rejected numerous times, but persevered, and are now read worldwide.  Live your dream! Believe in your story and in yourself, you can make it happen!

Here Are Just A Few Places Where You Can Connect With Us:

Goodreads

Facebook (book page)

Facebook (author page)

Twitter

blog/website

The Childe (Book One in The Childe Series) is available at these locations:

Amazon.com (Paperback edition)

Amazon.com (Kindle edition)

Amazon.co.uk (Paperback edition)

Amazon.co.uk (Kindle edition)

Barnes and Noble (Nook edition)

Barnes and Noble (Paperback edition)

 

Well this has been tons of fun, and thank you again Reena for having us on your wonderful blog! Happy Reading Everyone! C.A. Kunz (Carol and Adam Kunz)

Never miss a post. Get your subscription for Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, today.

Reena Jacobs is just your typical writer who loves to see her words in print. As an avid reader, she's known to hoard books and begs her husband regularly for "just one more purchase." Her home life is filled with days chasing her preschooler and nights harassing her husband. Between it all, she squeezes in time for writing and growling at the dog. You can find Reena on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Nobles, and Smashwords.

S.W.A.G. for I Loved You First

S.tuff W.e A.ll G.et
SWAG

I think that sums it up, right? So I'm thinking of ideas. As some of you know, the I Loved You First blog tour is fast approaching. August 15 – September 15, if you haven't heard.

Tell me some of the SWAG you've received in the past. What are your favorites. If you have pictures, leave a link! I want to see. Was there S.W.A.G you wanted but didn't win? Let us in on it.

Some ideas I have on my mind right now are key chains, bookmarks, and postcards.

Don't keep me waiting. I've had too much caffeine to stay focused very long.

Make this blog tour the bestest. Get your ideas to me. You just might see your favorite piece of S.W.A.G. in a giveaway!

Never miss a post. Get your subscription for Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, today.

Reena Jacobs is just your typical writer who loves to see her words in print. As an avid reader, she's known to hoard books and begs her husband regularly for "just one more purchase." Her home life is filled with days chasing her preschooler and nights harassing her husband. Between it all, she squeezes in time for writing and growling at the dog. You can find Reena on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Nobles, and Smashwords.

Working Wednesday #14

Today I've split in two. I'm hanging with Haresh Daswani (The Fine Line Between Insanity and Genus), where he's featuring an excerpt of Shadow Cat. Ever wonder what the deal was with the penanggalan? Here's your opportunity to get a glimpse. I'm also over at C.A. Kunz, the might mother/son duo! They picked my brain, and I'm still scraping up the pieces. Enjoy!

Besides blog hopping, what have I been doing? I have to say, I've been pretty busy. I'm sure I'm putting in 10 hour days in preparation for the I Loved You First release. So let's see.

I Loved You First

Finished reading through the ARC and formatted it in PDF format
Got all the ARCs out to those who've signed up for a PDF copy
Started the read through for the public copy. 3/4 done with that. Plan to finish tomorrow.
Sent out over 50 review requests (I haven't finished with this task. I plan to get out at least 100 request since I know not everyone will say no. Plus, some reviews take longer than others, and I'd like to get some bookbuzz action going.)
Started scheduling for blog tour (Currently the dates are August 15 – September 15. I'm scheduling M-F at the moment. I might expand to the weekend. I haven't hit up the individuals who signed up for Smashwords editions yet. I haven't forgotten you. If you want a date right away, you're welcome to send me an email, and I'll get you on the schedule. It certainly would take a little stress off me. Otherwise, I'll hook up with you when I send your Smashwords coupon. If you want to join the blog tour and you didn't sign up for a review and I haven't asked yet, definitely email me: reenajacobs at reenajacobs dot com. I won't know you're desires if you don't tell me. )
I mentioned last week that I offered ARCs to blog followers and Goodreads friends (If we're not connected through GFC –check out sidebar– or Goodreads, consider hooking up with me so you stay in the know. If you haven't received an invitation to review I Loved You First and are interested in an ARC, friend me on Goodreads. I'll probably send out invitations to new Goodreads friends on Friday, July 29, 2011. This will be the last set of invitation I'll send in regards to the ARC. This is an open invitation to all my Goodreads buddies in exchange for a review. You don't need a blog, just the ability to post your review in 2 places, one being a point of sales site like Amazon, Smashwords, B&N, etc. After that, review copies will be dedicated to reviewers.)
Upload I Loved You First to distribution channels. Expected release date August 1, 2011
Create Press Kit (Plan to do that this weekend)

Kickstarter

Kickstarter is done and over. We hit 53%. As I mentioned, it was an all or nothing funding project. So… that translates to nothing.
Good news is I received the services of an editor anyway, at no cost. Many thanks to Dave Parker from PFLAG.
XOXOX to all my backers and those who supported the project through their prayers, wishes, and spreading the word!

Blog

I added a category under My Works to include I Loved You First

Reading Challenge

Behind 3 books YIKES!
Plan to read 2 books a week to catch up (with the work for I Loved You First coming to an end, I think I can do this)




Reena has read 18 books toward her goal of 60 books.

hide

18 of 60 (30%)
view books

 

In Other News!!!
CURRENT GIVEAWAYS!!!
Horror/Thriller Giveaway

As I mentioned earlier this month, I'm one of the authors participating in Angel Haze's blog hop for her up coming releases (Bloodletter and Legacies of Talimura). As part of the tour, we'll be doing a giveaway each Saturday featuring a few of the authors, starting today! Woot.

So what's up for grabs this week? Two digital copies each of the following books:

Enter HERE

Want to sponsor a giveaway? Want to do an interview or guest post. Email me. reenajacobs at reenajacobs dot com

Want to sponsor a giveaway? Want to do an interview or guest post. Email me. reenajacobs at reenajacobs dot com

Never miss a post. Get your subscription for Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, today.

Reena Jacobs is just your typical writer who loves to see her words in print. As an avid reader, she's known to hoard books and begs her husband regularly for "just one more purchase." Her home life is filled with days chasing her preschooler and nights harassing her husband. Between it all, she squeezes in time for writing and growling at the dog. You can find Reena on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Nobles, and Smashwords.

Teaser Tuesday: Angel Haze

Yeah! for blog hops. The saga continues. As you might recall from the many, many post,  Angel Haze is doing a blog hop for her up coming releases (Bloodletter and Legacies of Talimura). Lots of prizes, so be sure to stop by her place. It ends July 31, so don't miss out. As a side note, Ms. Haze is giving a copy of Bloodletter right here. If you haven't, be sure to enter that giveaway also.

Today, Ms. Haze has decided to treat us with an excerpt from her YA Fantasy. Woot!

Debonair, a witch from the Unspoken-of Lands, has meddled in the forbidden practice of magic and created an army of nightmarish proportions. When sixteen-year-old Astanyx and his two best friends return from a hunting trip to find their small town of Polca reduced to smoke and ash, they find themselves thrust into a battle for which they haven't been trained.

With the help of his comrades, including an esteemed warrior, one of the last great wizards and a princess they've sworn to protect, Astanyx must fight to unite the kingdoms of the humans, dwarves and elves. He must ask forbidden questions that no one wants to answer, questions about Talimura's dark history. As Debonair's brutal warriors lay siege to the kingdoms, Astanyx is driven to pursue a fateful quest for a blade powerful enough to defeat the malevolent witch before she destroys the three kingdoms and unleashes an unspeakable ancient evil.

Legacies of Talimura: War of the Witch


Chapter 1:


Smoke and Ash

You're surrounded, Astanyx thought as he waited silently behind a bush, his hands steady, pulling back the string on his short bow. Barclay was positioned twenty feet to his left and Ramza to his right, each armed and ready, waiting for the opportune moment.

Sweat beaded on his brow from the late afternoon sun, but Astanyx made no attempt to wipe it away. A single wrong move and it would all be over. The forest gave them cover, but it gave their prey cover as well. None of the sixteen-year-olds had a shot, so they waited.

The horacle was hidden behind a tree. It was bigger game than they would normally take on but, once they had come across it, Barclay had insisted upon hunting it, refusing to back down. He claimed that stumbling upon a horacle—a distracted horacle—was too fine of an opportunity to pass up. They had had little luck hunting in the forest that day and Barclay refused to return to the village—return to his father—with little more than a few rabbits. Astanyx couldn't allow his friend to foolishly attempt to take it down without help, and so he and Ramza had agreed. Patiently, they held their positions.

Every few seconds, the tips of the horacle's horns poked out from behind the side of the great tree, greedy growls becoming muffled as it tore its fangs into the flesh of a rabbit.

It pushed the mutilated rabbit forward with its nose, exposing the beast's head. Ravenously, it continued to tear its meal apart, wolfing it down as if it hadn't eaten in weeks. The shine and thickness of the horacle's fur and thick muscular frame told him otherwise. It was merely in the horacle's nature to be gluttonous and ferocious.

Slowly, it stepped forward, unaware that with each passing second, it was creating an opening for a shot.

The three boys waited with their bows. A few more seconds and Astanyx would have a shot. His body was still as he stared at the horacle with unblinking eyes.

Snarls and growls continued to escape the beast as it exposed its midsection.

One more second. . . .

A twig snapped, breaking the silence, giving away one of the hunters' positions.  Astanyx's heart skipped a beat as the horacle's head shot up, baring its teeth, clenching its three-inch claws. The horacle's nostril flared as it caught Astanyx's scent. Their eyes met and the roles of hunter and hunted instantly became reversed.

He stared with wide eyes as the fiery-eyed beast, blood dripping from its jaws and muscles rippling, began to charge toward him. Stiffness spread over him like a plague, beginning with his feet as it worked its way up. Astanyx managed one shot just as the hundred-pound beast leapt for him.

His arrow pierced the beast between its eyes just as Barclay's arrow struck the horacle's side. The beast released a ghastly shriek as it drew back in agony before it collapsing to the forest floor, a few feet away from Astanyx. He let out a breath, momentarily fixed on the horacle.

Barclay jumped from his hiding spot, dagger in hand, and sliced the horacle's throat. He laughed and turned to Astanyx. "See? What did I tell you?"

Astanyx narrowed his eyes, his lips parting slightly as he slowly looked up in disbelief. He could hardly suppress the wave of emotions as he watched Barclay nonchalantly wipe the blood from his blade. Shaking his head, Astanyx turned to Ramza who rolled his eyes, both aware they had encountered an unnecessary close call.

Barclay cut down a branch from the great tree, one that would be strong enough to carry the horacle back to the village.

As they tied the horacle's feet to the branch, Astanyx turned to Barclay, unable to hold his tongue any longer. "I don't see why you had to take it on. We came out to hunt rabbits. It's foolish to hunt a hunter just for food."

"For Shiva's sake, you could have opted out."

"Don't use the goddess' name in vain," said Astanyx. "Besides, I wouldn't allow you to do it on your own."

"I could have handled it. I killed it, didn't I?" Barclay said with a smirk.

"We killed it," Astanyx corrected him.

"Quit your bickering," Ramza said. "Let's just bring it to the village. We are already late. They'll be expecting us to return about now."

Given the circumstances, Astanyx would have preferred it to be Ramza on the other side of the branch and not Barclay, but he said nothing as they headed east through the dense forest, across the creek and up a hill. They had ventured farther than they had intended and had consequently delayed their return trip to the village by a few hours.

Though he tried to focus on the trail ahead, more than once Astanyx almost threw Barclay to the ground as he tripped over roots that could have easily been missed. Nonetheless, his gaze remained fixed on the beast. Even in death, the power and ferocity of the animal did not diminish. Every few seconds, he caught himself staring at it, watching for any signs of movement, half-expecting it to merely be unconscious and suddenly awaken and attack.

The image of the horacle as it charged at him, eyes burning with fury, blood dripping from its jaws, about to make him its next meal, flashed before Astanyx. What if their arrows had missed? What if two arrows hadn't been enough? He shuddered, shaking his head of these thoughts. They hadn't missed.

Even as the beast hung lifelessly from the pole, he wasn't used to being this close to a predator and a horacle, nonetheless. Squirrels and rabbits were his main catch. His glance went from Barclay to the beast and back to Barclay who was walking proudly ahead.

Astanyx growled. "You could have got us all killed, and for what?"

Barclay looked back over his shoulder and scoffed. "I never miss."

"There's a first for everything."

"Lay off it. Our fathers will be proud."

"Our fathers would be proud of anything we brought home."

"Speak for yourself," Barclay muttered. Then, as if realizing he'd spoken aloud, he confidently added, "This separates the men from the boys."

Astanyx rolled his eyes. "There is a fine line between bravery and foolishness."

"Ramza?" Barclay called out. "Please tell me that you at least side with me."

Five paces ahead, Ramza slowly turned, momentarily catching Astanyx's gaze before turning to Barclay. "It was a close call. Astanyx has every right to be angry. Remember, it was him who the horacle charged at. If that had been me, I'd be in need of new trousers."

"If he hadn't of stepped on that twig, the horacle would've been dead before it even noticed we were there," Barclay said.

Astanyx opened his mouth but Ramza spoke first. "I believe that was my mistake." Barclay was silent, not knowing where to go with the conversation. "I will say this, though. The horacle will make a fine addition to the feast and," Ramza said with a smile, "the ladies will be quite impressed as we stroll into the village with this on our shoulders."

The grin on Barclay's face matched that of Ramza's. "How I love Shiva's Festival." He laughed. "I believe Claire will be the lady of the night."

"The chief's daughter," Ramza said nodding. "Her beauty surpasses even the most delicate flower."

"Is she not a few years older than us?" Astanyx asked.

"It doesn't matter," Barclay snapped.

"I believe she's interested in—" Immediately, Astanyx regretted ever opening his mouth.

Barclay's eyes burned with anger. "There's always something with you, isn't there? Nothing is ever good enough."

"That's not what I said," Astanyx said.

"It's the horacle, isn't it? You just can't let it go."

Attached to the pole, Astanyx had no choice but to listen as Barclay reamed into him.

This wasn't the first time that Barclay's brash actions had resulted in a near miss. He'd always seemed on a mission to prove himself. However, his efforts had more than doubled in the last few months as the year marked his sixteenth birthday.

Ramza had apparently grown tired of his friends' bickering and was now several yards ahead. Astanyx found himself wishing he were by his side to mediate the situation and lighten the mood. Ramza, with his walking stick in hand, was nearing the top of the hill which Astanyx and Barclay had only begun to climb.

For a few minutes, he disappeared out of sight. Suddenly, he reappeared at the top of the hill and came barrelling down the hill. "The village!" he cried. "The village! Something's happened!"

"What?" Barclay and Astanyx asked.

They immediately dropped the horacle as they sprinted up the hill. Astanyx's heart was racing, fists clenched, arms pumping, anxious to see for himself.

"What happened?" he yelled to Ramza who was almost at the top of the hill. "What did you see?"

Ramza kept running, not so much as glancing over his shoulder.

"Ramza!" Astanyx yelled again, but his friend was too far ahead.

How long had they been gone, he wondered. What could have happened in that short amount of time?

Suddenly, Astanyx caught a hint of smoke and then, as both he and Barclay reached the top of the hill, they stopped short, dropping their jaws. Over the tree tops, thick clouds of smoke hovered over the village of Polca.

We shouldn't have left! We shouldn't have stayed out for so long! Astanyx thought frantically as he raced down the hill, tumbling over his own feet.

As they neared Polca, Astanyx could smell the smoke clearly. The whole town was ablaze.

"What happened? Who did this?" Astanyx cried, nearly out of breath. There was no response.

He coughed, inhaling smoke and the stench of burnt flesh. What few buildings hadn't already burned to the ground were collapsing. The fire had spread across the entire village. Little was left but burnt and burning buildings, smoke and ashes floating in the wind.

"What do we do?" Ramza asked.

His mind was spinning. "Search for survivors!" Astanyx shouted, numbness and nausea threatening to overcome him. It wouldn't help him save anyone . . . if there was anyone left to be saved.  He shook his head of the thought and focused on finding his family and any other survivors.

Shaking, he ran through the village past burning buildings, and dodging falling objects. He searched for his father—for anyone—but there was no sign of life. Blood and burnt wood stained the ground. Garlands and trinkets made in preparation for the Shiva Festival had been scattered and destroyed. Arrows stuck out of the earth. Soldiers had been here. Someone had come and destroyed Polca.

Again and again, Astanyx called out to his father, his only family, but there was no response.

The smoke grew thicker, stinging his eyes as tears began to well up as the heat of the fire licked his skin.

As he turned the next corner, he gasped. Surrounding the center town well, the dead had been decapitated, their heads staked around a fire to invoke terror. Those who hadn't been staked had been piled up and burned. He stood, tense, his body shaking as he watched the flickering flames. Slowly, he scanned the burnt and blackened faces of those mounted on stakes. He was able to recognize only a few of them—eyes wide, mouths agape—while others were burned or mutilated beyond recognition. A single tear ran down his cheek as he prayed that his father was not among the poor souls.

He was about to turn away when he noticed, at the base of the fire pit, an odd-looking skull with tusks.

A loud crack startled him and he turned to see Farmer Wilton's house collapse a few feet away. The walls hit the ground, momentarily breathing life to the blanket of ash beneath it. The ash wisped across his face. His shaky hand slowly wiped it away.

Soon, there would be nothing left of Polca. Sadness and confusion enveloped him, scrambling his mind. They were all dead. There was nothing left. Even the livestock was missing.

He kept running, anxious to see if his father had survived the attack. Since their house was at the far end of the village, perhaps that distance was enough to keep him out of harm's way. Astanyx swallowed hard. His father would never cower in the hours while the town was under attack. He would have fought to the death to protect their home.

Suddenly, Astanyx heard what sounded like a wheeze. He gasped. A survivor! Although, he dreaded the thought of abandoning his search for his father, he couldn't ignore someone in need of help.

Astanyx ran in the direction of the sound, anxious, eyes darting in every direction and he found Thomas, the local blacksmith, trapped under some wood. A building had collapsed with him inside. His face was blackened with soot and smeared with blood. Astanyx tried to lift the piece of wood from Thomas' chest but it was too heavy.

Thomas was shaking, his skin ashen as he gasped for breath.

"What happened?"

Thomas opened his mouth to speak but no words came out.

"What happened?" Astanyx anxiously asked again.

"A-all . . . d-dead," Thomas said softly enough that Astanyx was unsure if he had heard him correctly. "All . . . dead."

"What happened?"

"They burned their dead and  . . . staked ours." Thomas wheezed. His chest fell heavily. "Those they didn't kill . . . they enslaved."

"Who did this?"

Thomas didn't respond. He seemed weak, moments away from his last breath.

"Who did this?" Astanyx repeated, but Thomas had stopped shaking and his eyes had rolled back into his head.

"No!" he cried, shaking Thomas slightly, hoping there was still life in him, but he remained still. "I need to know!" He lowered his head, balling his fists.

"Astanyx!" a voice called out from behind him.

It was Ramza, with Barclay at his side. Their eyes were wide, stricken with horror.

"Did you find them?" Astanyx asked.

They slowly nodded, sadness swelling in their eyes. No further words were exchanged. None needed to be. Their expressions revealed their heartbreaking news. Ramza and Barclay's families were dead, gone with the rest of the town.

The three of them searched the remainder of the town like zombies, mouths agape, trembling with the revelation of each new horror.

"Father!" Astanyx called once they reached the far side of town where he and his father lived. Despite the odds, he refused to believe his father was among the slain.

Suddenly, a shiver ran up his spine. Through the crackling flames, he saw remnants of what used to be his home. He swallowed, clenching his fists at his sides, and stared at the pile of rubble. All that he had ever known had been destroyed. His mind went numb.

He lowered his head.

Then, he heard something—a muffled sound that could have been human or merely a gust of wind. He stood motionlessly, straining to hear over the wind and crackling flames. As he was about to dismiss it, he heard it again. A voice! Someone was alive. His breath caught in his throat as he attempted to pinpoint where the sound was coming from. He zigzagged along the road, following the call.

"Where are you?" he called.

"Over here." The voice was close.

"Where?" He frantically searched the road and the fallen buildings.

"I'm here," the voice said. It was closer but weaker, seemingly coming from his right.

Astanyx turned and saw a pile of rubble. He tore through it in search of the survivor, Ramza and Barclay following suit.

"Where are you? Where are you?"

"Astanyx," the voice said. "Is that you?"

His eyes widened at the mentioning of his name, at the familiar voice. Fear and anxiety rushed through him as he lifted a board to see his father's face. "Father!" he cried.

He turned to his friends. "Help me get this off of him!"

The three boys carefully lifted the board that had fallen onto his father and tossed it to the side. His father was lying on his back, his clothes blackened by ash, gashes across his arms and a broken arrow protruding from his stomach. He was breathing heavily, with little strength left in him.

"Father."

Ramza and Barclay both knelt at his side.

"Let me help you," Astanyx said as he reached for the arrow.

His father shook his head and winced in pain. "Astanyx, my son. You  . . .  must . . ." His voiced trailed off.

"What, Father?"

His father cleared his throat. "You must go to . . . Windham. . . . Warn the . . . King."

"But, Father—"

"Tell him it . . . it—" Suddenly, his father was gasping for breath, grimacing as he clutched his stomach, every breath causing him immense pain.

Astanyx fought to keep his emotions from spilling over. "What, Father? What do I tell him?"

His father's eyes closed and his breathing slowed. Astanyx shook uncontrollably, his mouth dry and his muscles tensed, believing for a moment that he had lost him. Ramza placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. Then, his father opened his eyes. Astanyx let out a breath.

His father winced and took a deep breath. "I did my best to take some of them down. They weren't soldiers. . . . They were monsters."

 

Legacies of Talimura: War of the Witch

by Angel Haze is available at:

US Amazon

UK Amazon

Smashwords

***************************

About the Angel Haze

I'm a Canadian author who is an avid reader of fantasy, thriller, and mystery novels. I write both fantasy and thriller novels. My free time is spent dancing, fitness training with P90x, watching movies and Game of Thrones. Legacies of Talimura: War of the Witch is co-authored by my husband, Slade Sewell. Slade grew up as an only child, and, therefore, developed an active imagination. His free time is devoted to the three things he loves most: hockey, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and RPG games.

Find Angel Haze online at her blog. And don't forget to check out the schedule for the blog hop.

Never miss a post. Get your subscription for Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, today.

Reena Jacobs is just your typical writer who loves to see her words in print. As an avid reader, she's known to hoard books and begs her husband regularly for "just one more purchase." Her home life is filled with days chasing her preschooler and nights harassing her husband. Between it all, she squeezes in time for writing and growling at the dog. You can find Reena on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Nobles, and Smashwords.

Novel Review: The Promise of an Angel by Ruth Reid

Before I get into the review, thought I'd mention I'm hanging with Angel Haze today as part of her International Blog Hop and Giveaway. Lots of prizes up for graps. So, stop by, say hi, see Berani through Eric's eyes.

The Promise of an Angel by Ruth Rieid was one of the goodies I snagged from Netgalley. Oh how I love Netgalley. I've never read an Amish story before. Really, I couldn't figure what all the hype was about. The element of the supernatural caught my eye with this one. Angels… hmm. After reading Unearthly, which I truly enjoyed, I figured I'd give this one a try. Amish or not… I looked forward to the paranormal. So. The blurb from Goodreads.

In Mescota County, Michigan, an angelic visitor's words inspire Judith to a future she never imagined.

After a barn raising accident, Judith Fischer's convinced she's met an angel. However, her attempts to convince others end up frustrating her Old-Order Amish community. Only Andrew Lapp believes her, but the rest, including Levi Plank, the man's she's waited to marry, demand she forget the nonsense. Meanwhile, her younger sister Martha has taken a fancy to Levi and sees her sister's controversy as a perfect distraction for turning Levi's head.

In a dream, the angel tells Judith she must choose her path. As her faith continues to grow, so do her feelings for Andrew. Will she continue to place her hope in the angel's message, even if it means losing all she knows and loves?

With my paranormal kick, I haven't spent much time reading Christian fiction these days… well, at least not before I got my hands on The Promise of an Angel. Now, I can't help but look forward to my next Christian read (Amish preferably). This work had less of a paranormal aspect to it and more of a spiritual intervention flavor.

This was a feel good book. I couldn't help but imagine living in a world as simplistic as the Amish community, an environment where the rat race is a thing of the past. I'm not saying the life presented in the book was perfect. It just seemed so… free.

Judith was the main protagonist in this story. I was a bit apprehensive about her in the beginning. She seemed a bit complacent and willfully blind to the happenings around her. I was afraid she'd be too stupid for me to care about. Let's just say I was wrong. Though she tried to temper her anger, my gal still had quite a bit of spice in her. In fact, it turned into a balancing act at times: Judith trying to be mild-mannered and loving versus trying to stand up for what was right without offending her Amish community.

Andrew played the secondary protagonist. Okay, flowers aren't considered manly… but truly, Andrew was like a blossom opening. In terms of character growth, his journey was the longest. He was a beautiful person. Faithful, loving, generous. A good man. I only wanted the best for him.

Then we have the antagonists, Levi and Martha. Though The Promise of an Angel was excellent (4.5-5.0 stars out of 5), I have to say the antagonists were the weakest aspect of the book. For the most part, they were rather 2 dimensional. I think if the antagonist hadn't been so selfish and mean without an apparent reason, this would have landed a solid 5/5. Still, Ruth Reid brought the entire work together in the end and created a satisfying conclusion to the story. Well done!

I read The Promise of an Angel in a 24 hour period and finished it refreshed and uplifted. I recommend this work to anyone who just needs a break from the stresses of life.

The Promise of an Angel by Ruth Reid is Available at:

The Book Depository

Barnes & Nobles

Never miss a post. Get your subscription for Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, today.

Reena Jacobs is just your typical writer who loves to see her words in print. As an avid reader, she's known to hoard books and begs her husband regularly for "just one more purchase." Her home life is filled with days chasing her preschooler and nights harassing her husband. Between it all, she squeezes in time for writing and growling at the dog. You can find Reena on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Nobles, and Smashwords.

Special Post: Blog Hop – Horror/Thriller Giveaway + Winners

I'm one of the authors participating in Angel Haze's blog hop for her up coming releases (Bloodletter and Legacies of Talimura). It ends July 31, so don't miss out.

As part of the tour, we'll be doing a giveaway each Saturday featuring a few of the authors! Woot.

Before we get to the giveaway, we have some winners to announce from the last giveaway. Quick reminder of what was up for grabs for the Blog Hop Humor/Paranormal Fantasy Giveaway: 2 Digital copies of the following:

Haresh Daswani: Evolution of Insanity
Reena Jacobs: Shadow Cat
Lenore Wolfe: Doorway of the Triquetra
Lenore Wolfe: Dark Warrior: To Tame a Wild Hawk

We had low entries this time around so lucky lucky! some folks won two books. And the winners are!

Evolution of Insanity by Haresh Daswani: Krysta Banco & Jennifer Wells

Shadow Cat by Reena Jacobs Sarie Grober & Krysta Banco

Doorway of the Triquetra by Lenore Wolfe Evening-Green & Jennifer Wells

Dark Warrior: To Tame a Wild Hawk by Lenore Wolfe Marlene Botha & Julie S.

***Emails will go out shortly. Winners have until next Saturday (July 30, 2011) to respond. I won't be choosing new winners since there are extra copies floating out there***

*********************

So what's up for grabs this week? Two digital copies each of the following books:

Bloodletter by Angel Haze (Thriller)

Thou shalt not kill.

A contradictory message written in blood at the scene of a young woman's murder. Within days, another body surfaces with a similar calling card and, to Detective Ramon Faust and Criminalist Kelly Garret, it's clear a deadly game is underfoot.

As the rash of horrific crimes continue, a phone call unearths a shocking revelation: Nakeita isn't the first city the elusive killer has left his mark. The Bloodletter, as dubbed by the media, has played his deadly game before.

Delving deep into the most terrifying case of Kelly's career, threatening phone calls and flashbacks of a forgotten near-death experience challenge her sanity and the lives of everyone she loves.

 *********************

3:16 by Jeffrey Martin (Thriller)

For most people, an experience with social networking helps them connect with new acquaintances and bridge the gap between long-lost friends. But one man has adopted its resources to fulfill a more sinister agenda. Brandon Thornley uses the database to search for potential victims as he feeds his thirst for blood. What Brandon doesn't realize is that someone has accepted his request…and this person is even more ruthless than him. New Haven Police Detective Patrick Morgan is assigned to investigate a string of ritualistic murders, which leads him to discover that the killer has left behind something valuable. Armed with the evidence he needs to bring a madman to justice, Detective Morgan sets his sights on his target. Unfortunately for him, he's not the only one, and his competition will do anything to ensure he fails.

*********************

The Venus Club by Katie M. John (Horror – Anthology)

Winner of the Indie Horror Writing Contest Feb 2011.  A dark & haunting Gothic story, set amongst the abattoirs & Gentleman's clubs of Victorian London. Born into the cruel world of Victorian London, Eleanor learns that the world is purely a choice between fear or control. And, when Eleanor meets the mysterious Kate, Eleanor is introduced to an entirely new appetite for both.

Suitable for readers 16+ years (mild horror and mild sexual reference)

As always, entry is easy.

You'll earn 1 point for completing the form.
An additional point for sharing the giveaway and leave the link (Twitter, Facebook, Blog, Linked, MySpace, etc.). *Optional*
You may tweet once per day for the giveaway and/or campaign after your initial entry for an extra 2 points. Use the same form.
Comments are appreciated, but only entries from the form count.
Giveaway ends Saturday, July 23, 2011.
Please read the giveaway policy for the nitty gritty.

Never miss a post. Get your subscription for Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, today.

Reena Jacobs is just your typical writer who loves to see her words in print. As an avid reader, she's known to hoard books and begs her husband regularly for "just one more purchase." Her home life is filled with days chasing her preschooler and nights harassing her husband. Between it all, she squeezes in time for writing and growling at the dog. You can find Reena on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Nobles, and Smashwords.

Who Art Thou Thursday: Angel Haze

The Angel Haze's blog hop continues with none other than Angel Haze! Today we get a glimpse of what going on in that head of hers. Don't we just love the minds of authors?

Tell us about your most recent publication.

[image error]Thou shalt not kill.

A contradictory message written in blood at the scene of a young woman's murder. Within days, another body surfaces with a similar calling card and, to Detective Ramon Faust and Criminalist Kelly Garret, it's clear a deadly game is underfoot.

As the rash of horrific crimes continue, a phone call unearths a shocking revelation: Nakeita isn't the first city the elusive killer has left his mark. The Bloodletter, as dubbed by the media, has played his deadly game before.

Delving deep into the most terrifying case of Kelly's career, threatening phone calls and flashbacks of a forgotten near-death experience challenge her sanity and the lives of everyone she loves.

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

"Fiction is a lie, and good fiction is the truth inside the lie." Stephen King.

More than I realize. In my thrillers, you'll see my passions for forensics, crime scene investigation, anatomy, pathology, and delving into the criminal mind. That much is obvious. There are also a few tidbits I pull from different situations from my past or situations I see around me. Beyond that, I'm sure there's much more—subtle hints to the doorways to my mind that even I don't see. Enter with caution . . .

 Which of your characters do you relate to most?

The hero, Kelly Garret, and her stalker, Ryan Keegan. LOL. Weird mix, I know. Kelly is like the angel sitting on my shoulder. She is a criminalist who is down-to-earth, fun and outgoing, someone who wants to see justice served. Ryan is like the devil on my shoulder. He is mysterious and seriously warped.

I'm an angel…with black wings.

 With hindsight being 20/20, is there anything you would have changed with your publishing journey?

One thing I would have changed is having a few more books ready to go before I published my thriller and YA fantasy. It's better to have a few out so when readers finish your book and search for the next one, they aren't left waiting. Luckily, I have a couple thrillers that are about a month away from being sent to the editor. I am also working on my next fantasy.

What are you working on now?

I am currently working on the sequel to Bloodletter (still untitled) which is due to be out in the Fall. I am also working on the prequel to my YA fantasy, Legacies of Talimura: War of the Witch. I can't wait to spring it on my readers!

Who would you say is your biggest fan in your writing career?

"If you truly believe you were meant to write, believe it. And I mean really believe it. Believe it with all your heart." Slade Sewell

My husband, Slade. He is the one who pushes me to believe on those days when I lack motivation. He challenges me to prove myself, to think about writing while I'm at work so I'm excited to come home and put words to paper.

We work together on our YA fantasies. Sitting on the deck, brainstorming ideas is one of the most exhilarating feelings! I feel like this is meant to be and there's else we should be doing.

Why did you decide to publish independently?

"When the stepping stones to your dreams are jagged rocks, you can either move quickly and efficiently or let them puncture you and slow you down." Angel Haze

The exciting possibilities of indie publishing are limitless! With traditional publishing, you play by their rules. Really, the game is rigged. You'd be shocked at how some books become bestsellers.

When you epublish, the game is in your hands. No one is going to push your book to the top. The success of the author lies in the author's marketing abilities. (Assuming the author has talent.)

With Amazon's royalty plan, the author receive 35% of all books sold ($0.99) and 70% of all books ($2.99 and higher). If you do the math, you'll see that an indie author has the potential to make more money than if they'd chosen to publish traditionally. Not only that, the author has complete control over the content and the cover art.  No one is trying to add their visions into their work. The accomplishment is theirs alone. If you want to make it, you have to work harder than the famous authors. You just need to know how to get your books out there!

How about some quickies!

Pencil or Pen: Pen

Print or Cursive: Cursive

Pantser or Plotter: Plotter

Favorite Candy: Chocolate and Sour Keys

Worst habit: Procrastinating

***************************

About the Angel Haze

I'm a Canadian author who is an avid reader of fantasy, thriller, and mystery novels. I write both fantasy and thriller novels. My free time is spent dancing, fitness training with P90x, watching movies and Game of Thrones. Legacies of Talimura: War of the Witch is co-authored by my husband, Slade Sewell. Slade grew up as an only child, and, therefore, developed an active imagination. His free time is devoted to the three things he loves most: hockey, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and RPG games.

Wanna be in the know? Drop by Angel Haze's website.

Find work by Angel Haze at:

Bloodletter

US Amazon

UK Amazon

Smashwords

Legacies of Talimura: War of the Witch

US Amazon

UK Amazon

Smashwords

Never miss a post. Get your subscription for Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, today.

Reena Jacobs is just your typical writer who loves to see her words in print. As an avid reader, she's known to hoard books and begs her husband regularly for "just one more purchase." Her home life is filled with days chasing her preschooler and nights harassing her husband. Between it all, she squeezes in time for writing and growling at the dog. You can find Reena on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer, Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Nobles, and Smashwords.