Majanka Verstraete's Blog, page 36
July 2, 2017
Cover Reveal Blitz Krait’s Redemption
Title: Krait’s Redemption (The Cat’s Eye Chronicles Book 5)
Author: T.L. Shreffler
Genre: YA Fantasy
With winter solstice fast approaching, Sora and her companions are running out of time. She must stop The Shade from awakening the Dark God, yet a powerful force has overtaken her Cat’s-Eye necklace, rendering the stone almost useless. To use the stone, Sora must learn to trust her instincts and embrace her own inner strength. She joins forces with unexpected allies, Lord Grac...
July 1, 2017
Book Review: The Hooligans of Kandahar by Joseph Kassabian
[image error]Title: The Hooligans of Kandahar
Author: Joseph Kassabian
Genre: Nonfiction, War Memoir
Age Group: Adult
Rating: 4,5 stars
Purchase: Amazon
Review copy provided by Enchanted Book Promotions in exchange for an honest review.
During the peak years of the Afghanistan War, a group of soldiers is dropped by helicopter into the remote mountains outside of Kandahar City. Mismanaged and overlooked by command, how they survive is largely up to them. In the birthplace of the Taliban, some men lose the...
Book Tours: Starter Day Party Dirty
I’m hosting the starter day party today for the book tour for contemporary romance “Dirty”. I hope you enjoy the tour, and stay tuned for my review.
Tour ScheduleJuly 1st: Starter Day Party @ I Heart Reading
July 3rd: Book Excerpt @ Indy Book Fairy
July 5th: Promo Post @ I’m an Eclectic Reader
July 7th: Book Excerpt @ Lisa Queen of Random
July 9th: Book Excerpt @ Cassidy Crimson’s Blog
July 12th: Book Review and Giveaway @ I Heart Reading
July 15th: Promo Post @ Bookish Madness
July 17th: B...
Author Interview and Giveaway Gossamer: Chronicles of Eledon Book 3
Author Interview
1. When did you know you wanted to be an author?
Well, it wasn’t a childhood dream of mine. I wouldn’t have had so much trouble deciding on a major in college if I had known that I would become a writer. Instead, I learned on the job, beginning about 8 years ago. However, I’ve found that all of my past experiences in life were invaluable tools in my writing, so I really wouldn’t have it any other way.
2. What inspired you to write this series?
I’m a big fan of the movie trilogy, “Lord of the Rings.” In one of the storylines, the Elves and Dwarves abandoned Middle Earth, so I created a world for them to go to. It’s called Eledon and was built by the Mentors, the Elf Guides, and located at the end of a wormhole somewhere in space. Eledon has a flaw, however, a major structural problem and that’s Seaward Isle. It’s fallen out of the Elf grid and held onto by entry points or wormholes. If it detaches, it could fall through the wormhole and crash into Earth. In this series, my main character must find a solution to this situation before it becomes reality.
3. Was writing book three more challenging than writing the previous books in the series, or less challenging? And why?
“Gossamer” was a challenging book for me because it dealt with a major personality conflict between Lady Opaline, the antagonist and Alex, the protagonist. I don’t handle personality conflicts well in real life, and it proved just as hard in a novel. Nevertheless, it was necessary in order to move on to book four.
4. What is your editing process like? Did it evolve throughout the series?
I read my book out loud several times as well as review it on the computer and on paper. Then I send it to my editor to review at least twice. The process has been evolving since my first book which I had edited at least four times. Now I’m down to two, but if I need it, I’ll gladly pay for a third round.
5. Did you set any writing goals for 2017?
My next book, “Noble Magic,” will be out later this year and concludes “The Chronicles of Eledon” series. I’ve also written some short stories that will be published in an anthology later this year with the Science Fiction Fantasy Writers’ Group in Tucson.
6. Are you working on something now?
I have another trilogy planned called “The Admiralty Archives.” I’ll be getting the first book to my editor soon and it should be ready next year.
About the Book
Title: Gossamer: The Chronicles of Eledon Book 3
Author: Joni Parker
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Lady Alexin, Eledon’s Keeper of the Keys must continue to prove her powers when her grandmother, Lady Lestin and her friend, Lady Opaline of the Gossamer Elves are kidnapped by rebels and held for ransom. Alex attempts a daring rescue, only to discover that there is far more to this plot that she immediately suspected and the betrayal extends to the highest levels of the High Council of Elders. Threatened by rebel factions, suspected by Council members and under attack by deadly spiders, the young warrior has only her wits, her fighting skills and the powers of the Keys to help her. But will they be enough to save them all?
Author Bio
When I was younger, I never knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. Part of my reason for dropping out of college was because I didn’t know what to major in. I was envious of my sister who knew from an early age, she was going to major in math. Good for her, but math was the last subject on my mind. I joined the Navy and found a track I liked. I became a photographer. I covered local news items, accidents, and even shot portraits. It was fun, but not a career path. When I got out of the Navy, I wanted to finish college but I was lost again. What to major in? I chose accounting because all businesses needed it and I went on to get my Bachelor’s and an MBA. After working in the field for a year, I went back in the Navy and asked for any assignment other than accounting. It worked. After 22 years in the Navy, I retired. My husband and I moved into our motorhome and hit the road. Unfortunately, he passed away and I went back to work at a government job. Then I found writing. I hadn’t written a thing since I was 14 but I was smitten by the bug and have been writing ever since. “Gossamer” is the sixth book I’ve had published and is the third book in a four book series, “The Chronicles of Eledon.” Hope you enjoy it. I had fun writing it.
Links
Website/blog: http://www.theblackelf.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJoniParker
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ParkerJoni
Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+JoniParker/posts
Amazon link for “Gossamer”: Amazon
Giveaway
June 28, 2017
Book Review: Final Girls by Riley Sager
[image error]Title: Final Girls
Author: Riley Sager
Genre: Thrillers
Age Group: Adult
Rating: 4 stars
Purchase:
Amazon
Review copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Ten years ago, college student Quincy Carpenter went on vacation with five friends and came back alone, the only survivor of a horror movie–scale massacre. In an instant, she became a member of a club no one wants to belong to—a group of similar survivors known in the press as the Final Girls. Lisa, who lost nine so...
June 27, 2017
Book Review Your Crossroads. Your Choice
[image error]Title: Your crossroads. Your choice.
Author: EJ Apicello
Genre: Self-help
Age Group: Adult
Rating: 4 stars
Purchase: Amazon
Review copy provided by Enchanted Book Promotions in exchange for an honest review.
Welcome to my diary, my journey, as I tripped and crawled through the darkest time in my life- when I witnessed people that I held incredibly close to me shatter my very existence with their words and actions. The things within this book spine are extremely raw and exceptionally real. Y...
Free Book Proposal Contest Publishizer
I’m hosting a guest post today by the wonderful folks over at Publishizer, where they’ve set up a free book proposal contest. I’ll leave the word to them now.
Putting the Readers Back in Charge of PublishingImagine a YA publishing process without gatekeepers. One where editors and agents read the manuscripts that readers love, not vice versa. One where anyone with a knack for writing, a passion to succeed, and a little flair for self-promotion, has a fair shot at being published.
All too f...
Release Blitz Secret Love
[image error]Taking Ti...
June 26, 2017
Book Review: The Aeon Star
[image error]Title: The Aeon Star
Author: Lauren T. Hart
Genre: New Adult, Sci-Fi
Age Group: New Adult
Rating: 4 stars
Purchase: Amazon
Review copy provided by Enchanted Book Promotions in exchange for an honest review.
Jenny has never wanted for more than the simple, normal life she has; helping her parents care for her seven younger siblings, working for her dad at his church, going to college someday – hopefully in the fall. And one day, settling down with the boy next door to start a family of her ow...
