Roxanne Kade's Blog, page 346

I Am Lucky Bird Blog Tour: Guest Post and Review

I am honoured to have the amazingly talented Fleur Philips here today. Reading I Am Lucky Bird was a real treat and I cannot wait to spread the news about this phenomenal book. But before we get to my review, here's a little something from Fleur... The Dark Side of Montana
I was recently asked two of the same questions by a handful of different friends:  One, why is everything you write so dark? And, two, why do all of your stories take place in Montana? The answer to the second question is easy. I grew up in Montana, and although I’ve spent the last 11 years in Los Angeles, Montana is still (and always will be) my home. How could I not write about Montana? In my own personal opinion, there is no place on Earth more beautiful. When I think of my childhood there, the images are vivid, and I’m immediately inspired to write about those images—majestic blue, snow-capped mountains; crystal clear rivers, streams and lakes; endless stretches of golden prairies dotted with grazing cattle; a night sky so full of stars, it sparkles like a black sea littered with diamonds.

So, why are the stories I write (which 99.9% of time take place in Montana) so dark? I’m not really sure. I do tend to gravitate to the unknown, toward stories that are not my own—mine is boring. I grew up in a middle-to-upper class family on the shores of Flathead Lake. I have two loving parents and three brothers (all who are alive and thriving). We’re a very close-knit family. I have lived a wonderful life. Lucky’s story in I Am Lucky Bird is tragic. She does not have such a wonderful life. Her journey is filled with heartache and despair. She is tormented by the disappearance of her mother, and the subsequent abuse at the hands of her grandmother, Marian, and Marian’s lover, Tom. I have nothing in common with Lucky…except that we both call Montana home.

I recently wrote a critical paper for graduate school titled, “Yes, It’s Beautiful Here. Now, Go Away: Finding a Common Theme in The Best of Montana’s Short Fiction”. What I discovered when reading this anthology of short stories is that almost all of them were depressing. There was death, trauma, family heartbreak, loss, loneliness. And all but two of them took place in Montana. In one paragraph in I Am Lucky Bird, while Lucky is on her way back to Plains to face the truth about her past and that of her mother and grandmother, she ponders the below question:

“I couldn’t help but wonder how a place so majestic and beautiful could hide within its folds such possibilities of pure ugliness.” (182)

Is it really that Montana is hiding “pure ugliness”? Or is that what I want my readers to think and believe? Maybe I choose to write about this ugliness because I don’t want to share how great a life can really be in Montana. I want to keep that to myself. I want to keep Montana to myself. Maybe the writers whose works fill the pages of The Best of Montana’s Short Fiction think similarly to me. I don’t know. But what I know about myself (that may be reflected in my writing) is that I’d like to share the beauty of Montana with the rest of the world…but I also have a desire to keep the rest of the world away.





Title: I Am Lucky Bird

Author: Fleur Philips

Publisher: Smith Publicity - New Dawn Publishers LTD

Pub Date: May 27, 2012

ISBN: 9781908462046

Genre: Adult Fiction/Drama

Source: Netgalley








SYNOPSIS ( Taken from Goodreads )When her mother mysteriously vanishes from the small town of Plains, Montana, 12-year-old Lucky Bird’s childhood comes to an abrupt end. Left to defend herself against her suddenly abusive grandmother, Marian, and forced to endure the twisted predatory games played out by Marian’s lover, Lucky soon finds herself trapped in a nightmare.

Even when she manages to escape, the outside world can’t take away the brutal images of her past. Still haunted by her mother’s disappearance and the trauma that followed, Lucky is easily led down a path of self-destruction—a path that only the intervention of a young stranger and his family can guide her away from. But first, Lucky will have to confront her demons, and the dark truths kept hidden.




REVIEWWhat I thought was going to be a simple coming of age novel, quickly turned into a dark, macabre story filled with so much anguish and tragedy that it was difficult to tear my eyes away from the pages for even a second. Philips' writing flows off the pages making it such a pleasure to read. The story still haunts me in many ways and the images that filled my head while reading are not easy to forget. I think this novel would make a brilliant movie.

Lucky's life has never been easy. The only people she really knows are AnnMarie, her "mother" for all intents and purposes and her "grandmother", Marian, who is hardly ever around. Then there is Tom Cressfield - the minute he made an appearance in the story, my skin began to crawl because he has a strange creepiness that just screams, "Cannot be trusted!!".

Lucky's life takes a turn for the worse when AnnMarie mysteriously disappears, and Marian becomes abusive, making her life a living hell. Lucky takes refuge in the new friendship she forms with Rika, a new girl who not only understands Lucky, but accepts her without a question. Rika and Lucky's relationship develops into something much deeper and they share a strong bond of love and friendship, and I felt that Lucky held onto it with dear life because it was the closest thing to normal that she ever had.

Yet another tragic event befalls Lucky and it was at this point that I thought she should consider a name change, because she was anything but lucky. Marian's psychotic behaviour pushes her over the edge and Lucky makes what was probably the best decision of her life, she leaves. But she also very quickly realises that leaving does not mean that the past can be forgotten. The mystery of what really happened to AnnMarie haunts her wherever she goes, and the fear that Marian will find her and drag her back to hell forces Lucky to find an escape from her reality. One that nearly costs her, her life.

It is at this point that things start to look up for Lucky. Things finally start falling into place for her and for the first time in her life she finds stability. Only Lucky's past comes knocking sooner than expected, threatening to destroy her happiness, and she is thrown right back into the mess that is Tom Cressfield and Marian. But the horror of revisiting her past brings with it many answers as well as many heartbreaking truths.

Everything happens for a reason and there are never any chance encounters are two message that read strong within the pages of this story. It is filled to the brim with emotion. Lucky doesn't always make the right decisions and many times I shook my head in disbelief but that was what made this story so phenomenal. Lucky was real. She wasn't perfect and things often fell apart for her, but she kept moving forward.

What I loved about this book were the small things which stood out from the drama. Like the birds that always appeared to Lucky at the appropriate times. It may not have played an integral part in the story, but there was something magical about the tie in with what AnnMarie had told Lucky about birds being responsible for bringing the souls of the dead to heaven to become angels. It was like finding gems amongst the ruins of Lucky's life, and I think Fleur Philips needs to be applauded as an author for adding such special moments of beauty to such a tragic story.

This novel deserves nothing less than...




Favourite quotes from I Am Lucky Bird:
"We were like children playing a game for the first time, but with no directions and no wrong moves."
"I saw my past and his, two broken roads running side by side, then joining to form one steady path."Thank you to Smith Publicity - New Dawn Publishers LTD for giving me the opportunity to read and review I Am Lucky Bird. It really was a pleasure.Thank you to Fleur Philips for taking the time to guest post on my blog. To find out more about Fleur and her writing visit her website at http://www.fleurphilips.com.

The Boxcar Children® Mysteries

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tracey Daniels, Media Masters
828-859-9456 (office)
828-808-2581 (cell)
tracey@mmpublicity.com
 
 
 
 
 
 
Albert Whitman & Company celebrates the
70thAnniversary of Boxcar Children with a prequel from Newbery Medal–winning author Patricia MacLachlan
 
(June 1, 2012) For seventy years, young readers and families have followed the adventures of the Alden children in The Boxcar Children® Mysteries written by Gertrude Chandler Warner. Spanning more than one-hundred titles and with over fifty million copies in print, the series is one of the most popular and beloved series of all times. This September, The Boxcar Children Beginning: The Aldens of Fair Meadow Farm, by Newbery Medal—winning author Patricia MacLachlan, transports readers to the “beginning before the beginning.”
 
Since the release of Warner’s first children’s novel in 1942, millions of readers have wondered what came before. Why were four children out traveling alone at night? What happened to their parents? Wendy McClure, Senior Editor at Albert Whitman & Company, provides context, “Readers have always wondered about who the Boxcar Children were before the boxcar. I think kids will find a satisfying story reminding them that family has always been important to who the Aldens are.”
 
Flawlessly capturing the spirit and the origins of the Alden children and the impetus of their boxcar adventures, Patricia MacLachlan’s simple, clear, and direct style is a natural fit for the prequel. Readable for younger audiences and interesting for older readers,
Patricia’s text innately reflects the quality of Gertrude’s characters and the time period. 
 
“Patricia understands that every great story has ‘the beginning before the beginning’ and she set out to find out exactly what that was for the Boxcar Children,” said McClure. “It’s sort of like detective work—as she came to know Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny, she thought about what could have shaped their personalities and their dreams.”
 
MacLachlan lovingly tells the adventure behind the adventures, the story behind the stories, and reminds us all why the Boxcar Children novels are so enduring. “[The Aldens] are independent, intelligent, inventive, kind, and caring toward each other—the true qualities that makes their little family work,” says MacLachlan in her afterword. “I admire the strengths and bravery that they developed from being all on their own.”
 
With a national author tour set for the fall, seventieth anniversary celebrations scheduled across the country, and a social media campaign including almost 28,000 Facebook fans — The Boxcar Children Beginning: The Aldens of Fair Meadow Farm is poised to be the must-read of fall 2012. 
 
To interview author Patricia MacLachlan or editor Wendy McClure, please contact Tracey Daniels at tracey@mmpublicity.com.
 
About the Author:  Patricia MacLachlan is the celebrated author of many timeless books for young readers, including Sarah Plain and Tall, winner of the Newbery Medal. She lives with her husband and two border terriers in Williamsburg, Massachusetts.
 
About the Illustrator:  Tim Jessell is the illustrator of numerous books for children, including The Secrets of the Droon.  He is the new illustrator for The Boxcar Children Mysteries. He lives in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
 
THE BOXCAR CHILDREN® BEGINNING: THE ALDENS OF FAIR MEADOW FARM
By Patricia MacLachlan; cover art by Tim Jessell
ISBN: 978-0-8075-6616-9
Jacketed Hardcover; $16.99
Ages 7–10; Grades 2–5
September 2012
 
THE BOXCAR CHILDREN® MYSTERIES
By Gertrude Chandler Warner; cover art by Tim Jessell
Ages 7–10/Grades 2–5
Paperback   ALBERT WHITMAN, CHILDREN’S BOOK PUBLISHER, CELEBRATES  70TH ANNIVERSARY The Boxcar Children® Mysteries  WITH NATIONAL CONTEST   Win a Voice Part in the Animated Boxcar Children Film! (August 16, 2012) For seventy years, young readers and families have followed the adventures of the Alden children in The Boxcar Children® Mysteries written by Gertrude Chandler Warner. Spanning more than one-hundred titles and with over fifty million copies in print, the series is one of the most popular and beloved series of all times. Release of an animated film, developed by Hammerhead Productions, is scheduled for 2013.  Award-winning children’s book publisher Albert Whitman & Company and award-winning animation studio Hammerhead Productions celebrate this auspicious and important anniversary and upcoming film release with a nation-wide contest.  Young fans (ages 5-14) are encouraged to enter for a chance to win a small voice part in the animated DVD version of The Boxcar Children.  Contest submissions will be accepted between August 15th and October 31st, 2012 at 11:59 pm (central times).  One winner will be selected at random from all complete entries. The Boxcar Children Mysteries is one of the longest-running, most popular children’s series published today.  Join the hundreds of thousands of young reader fans and help spread the word about this amazing, fun opportunity.   IT’S EASY TO ENTER:   Online: http://promoshq.wildfireapp.com/website/6/contests/265482Facebook: http://apps.facebook.com/sweepstakeshq/contests/265482 Twitter: http://promoshq.wildfireapp.com/twitter/233/contests/265482 Detailed contest instruction, additional rules, eligibility  and conditions can be found at the following link:  http://promoshq.wildfireapp.com/website/6/contests/265482/rules   Contest Instructions: 1. Fill out the registration form, including a one line (25 words or less) answer to the question, “What is your favorite scene from The Boxcar Children?”  2. Contest submissions will be accepted starting August 15, 2012 through October 31, 2012 at 11:59pm Central Time. 3. One winner will be selected at random from all complete entries.  4. Entry form must be completed by the parent or legal guardian of the participating child. There is a limit of one entry per child participant. 5. No purchase is necessary to enter or win.  Contest registration is free.  6. The winner’s role will be taped in late Fall 2012 to Spring 2013 and will be within driving distance of the winner’s home.   PRIZE ELIGIBILTY: Only persons residing in the United States may enter. Entry form must be completed by the parent or legal guardian of the child participant.   SELECTION OF THE WINNER: Contest submissions will be accepted between August 15th and October 31st, 2012 at 11:59 pm (central times).  One winner will be selected at random from all complete entries.   OPERATORS: This Contest is operated by Albert Whitman & Company and Hammerhead Productions LLC. To contact the Operators, write to Albert Whitman & Company, 250 South Northwest Highway, Suite 320, Park Ridge, IL 60068; mail@albertwhitman.com  

Wicked Pleasure Scavenger Hunt: Q & A with Juanita Samborski

 Hosted By:  Book & Trailer Showcase & Queentutt's World of Escapism  Sept 7th thru Oct 7th I love scavenger hunts!! They are so much fun, and it's always exciting to discover and connect with new authors along the way. So, of course, I jumped at the chance to join Book & Trailer Showcase & Queentutt's World of Escapism, on what promises to be a thrilling hunt with many fabulous prizes up for grabs.

There is one rafflecopter which will be shared on each blog site and as you hop along, all you have to do it answer the question pertaining to the blog site that you are visiting :) Therefore, as you are visiting me right now, you will click on the option that says "Hunt - Author Roxanne Kade" and answer the question. Easy Peasy :)
 



My prize donation is an eCopy of my debut novel, Therian ( The Bloody Crescent #1)  Because I love scavenger hunts and blog hops so much, I have invited a very special guest to my blog for an interview. She is responsible for making all my dreams come true and I am so honored to have her here today.  Who am I talking about??  The amazing Juanita Samborski, publisher and founder of 48fourteen.
  
 
  Hi, Juanita. It's so wonderful to have you with us today. Thank you for joining us. 1. Tell us a little more about yourself. We are off to a nail-biting start. This, for starters, is my first official interview. This question is perhaps the most dreaded. Personally, you know who you are, what moves you, pulls you, brings you up or takes you down. But how do you summarize all of you in a few words? It's nearly impossible, but I'll do my best. So who am I? A thinker, over-analytical, thrive on drama, passionate, a believer, a dreamer, a doer. I'm incapable of sitting down for a span of more than two hours without doing more than just watching a movie. There is so much to life, why do one thing at a time? Do two, even three, get stimulated. 2. Have you always had a passion for books? Yes. Although I admit there was a period of time when I did not indulge as frequently as I do now. The advent of eBooks have allowed for the reading of novels on multiple devices, including cell phones. Now, I find myself living in two worlds simultaneously - reading while I wait on the check-out line in the grocery store, waiting for maintenance on my car to be completed, while a passenger on a long ride, and even while cooking as I wait for the rice to come to a boil… okay, perhaps I'm a bit obsessed. 3. Have you ever tried your hand at writing? Yes. My writing has taken a back seat since I decided to take on the publishing world - it is only fair to the 48fourteen authors. It is in no way a regrettable decision. There is a safe-box in a corner of my closet stuffed with eight notebooks filled with the words of my story - words that have not yet made it into digital form. I find that I think better on paper, the words flow seamlessly from my mind and moves my mechanical pencil across the page. One day, when the enthusiasm strikes, I will sit down for several hours, maybe days or weeks, and type up my first novel. 4. What genre do you love to read? And who is your favorite author? I go through phases. Prior to 48fourteen, I mostly enjoyed comedy and romance - including "chick-lit", paranormal romance and historical romance. Recently, thanks to the 48fourteen authors, I also enjoy thrillers, literary fiction, and science fiction. Favorite authors: Philippa Gregory, author of historical fiction novels; Chelsea Handler, a comedian who authored several laugh-til-it-hurts novels; and Karen Moning, author of the Fever Series. 5. If you could be a character from any book, who would you be? Why? I don't think I would want to be a character from any book. I read to escape to another world. If I were a character from any book, I would most likely want to escape from that characters world into another. 6. How did you get started in the publishing industry? Sean Samborski began as an editor for small publishing companies. While editing, he was not particularly thrilled with the quality of books he was receiving to edit and decided he would launch a publishing company and print novels that rivaled the books in the market. After browsing through author websites, he came across a few chapters of a novel and said to me "you have to read this". In front of me was Notes on an Orange Burial. After the second or third page my vision became blurred as tears welled up in my eyes from laughing. The novel was daring, witty, unique, well-written, a literary work of art, and… hysterical. My response was "you have to publish this novel". From that point on, putting my education in English and Psychology to good use, I joined Elixirist as an editor. Because the cost of print is very high, the company had to be excruciatingly selective. Several rejections later, I thought "some of these novels deserve a chance", and 48fourteen was born… then I took over Elixirst.    7. Tell us a bit more about 48fourteen. Our novels, each and every one, are carefully selected and given personal attention. From the moment a manuscript is accepted, the author and I work together with editors and cover designers. Our covers feature original work and are unlike any other; manuscripts undergo several rounds of meticulous editing. We are committed to offering our readers the highest quality writing and an unforgettable reading experience. In addition, 48fourteen is a social community for readers and authors. Our website allows for authors to interact with their readers, answer questions, and blog about their writing experience, their current ventures, and even post excerpts of their novel(s). 8. What most excites you about being a publisher? The authors. The stories. Having the opportunity to breathe life into an incredible novel, and be a part of the creative process, through the editing and cover design, is the driving force behind 48fourteen. When an author tells me they are doing a "happy dance" because someone finally gave them the attention they deserve, well, that puts a smile on my face and is most rewarding for me, personally. It keeps me and 48fourteen going. 9. What do you look for in a manuscript? A sleepless night. There is no formula to my selection process. There is a general outline of what I will accept, but the ultimate decision rests on whether or not I feel passionate about a novel. If I devour a manuscript in a few hours, or if I find myself so immersed within the words that putting my eReader down, for even a second, becomes a feat, and after the last words are read I find myself wondering what the characters will do next, then the moment I complete the novel, I jump up, open my computer, and e-mail an acceptance letter to the author. Some novels may be good but I am looking for novels that will hold my attention throughout and will not allow me to become distracted with other things. The choice is a personal decision and is intended to give our readers the same experience. The 48fourteen collection is pretty eclectic but all of the novels have forced me to stay awake until the wee hours of the morning. 10. If you weren't a publisher, what would you be? A lawyer. As I mentioned before, I thrive on drama. Reading offers you the opportunity to experience various emotions within a span of mere hours. Emotions, whether good or bad, makes your heart pump faster, fills your veins with adrenaline. I suspect being a family law attorney  would give me the same experience. Instead of reading about human experiences, I would hear about them first-hand, and have the opportunity to engage and offer legal assistance. 11. Is there any exciting news you'd like to share with us?    Yes! We are releasing three much anticipated novels - Dead Heart, Chemical Attraction, and Born in Flames. Notes on an Orange Burial will be released in eBook format. And Rose's Will by Denise DeSio and The Debutante Detective by Lisa McDivitt will soon be available in print. We will continue to hold contests and giveaways for our readers and we will be returning to submissions to find new additions to 48fourteen! For more information, visit www.48fourteen. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/48fourteen and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/48fourteen.   Thank you to the fabulous and talented Roxanne Kade, author of Therian: The Bloody Crescent Book I for giving me this opportunity. Therian was one of the first novels I read on an author site that I had to have. It captured my attention, and pulled me into Amberlyn Darksky's world and through her emotional journey as she finds herself, learns the truth, and comes to understand her gift.
 
Juanita has been fantastic throughout my entire publishing journey. She puts her heart and soul into every book 48fourteen releases into the world, and I will be forever grateful for her guidance, support and for truly believing in me.

Thank you, Juanita! 

If you'd like to know more about 48fourteen check out their website, follow them on Twitter and like their Facebook page.   So are you ready to hunt??? Well then, let me give you a little something that will help you with the question for my blog, which is...


Who created 48fourteen?  HINT: She is my special guest today.
   Just enter the answer in the rafflecopter below, and hop along to the next blog on the linky list :)

(The great thing about Rafflecopter is that it remembers you once you sign in, so you won't have to do it at every stop!!)


Have fun, and make sure to visit every blog!
 a Rafflecopter giveaway

#RCCleanup Wrap Up

 I have been meaning to get this post up for some time now but time seems to be a commodity I have very little of these days! My plan was to go into the Review Copy Cleanup with guns blazing but I failed miserably :(Out of the 10 or so books I listed TBR, I only managed to read four ( one being a novella ) 
  The month of August was crazy busy and with so many different projects on the go at once, I just didn't manage to read as often as I'd have liked. I also made BIG promises to post all my reviews and I will do so over the next few days :) Happy reading!!   

Indie Book of the Day Award Winner

I am so very excited. Therian was selected as the Indie Book of the Day Award Winner!! *happy dance*
 This is a very proud moment for me, and it's just more motivation to continue writing :) You can check out the feature post for Therian at Indie Book of the Day I also received this lovely certificate...   and this awesone badge... 

A huge thank you to the Indie Book of the Day team, for making my day!!  

Born In Flames Blog Tour Sign Ups

Hello, all my Therians!!

I am super excited about the release for Born in Flames by Candace Knoebel. The first time I saw the cover for this book I was mesmerized. It is honestly one of the most beautiful book covers I have ever seen, and the synopsis promises for an amazing read :) So in honor of it's release ( date still to be confirmed ), I am organizing a Blog Tour and I really would love it if you guys would join in the fun.

  Synopsis 
Red mirrored scales race up my arms as the haze of pain blurs my vision. My bones crack, breaking to realign. I scream. It is then that the realization of my unavoidable fate sinks in; I am of a dying race. I am dragon.

Aurora Megalos, orphaned and teetering on the edge of adulthood, thought finding her past would curb the sting of being an outcast .Having no memories of the time before she awoke on her foster mother’s doorstep, she yearns for the emptiness inside her to be filled. With her fellow orphaned best friend, Fenn, by her side, she has nothing to lose and everything to gain. But something powerful stirred within her that she couldn’t explain. Something wanted out.

In the dark of night, a crazed Seer, dubbed Mr.Creepy, erases everything she’s ever known with an impending prophecy. She now faces two paths. Return to her true home to protect a dying race against a growing evil, or stay hidden in the safety of our realm with a shot at a true love. With a vengeful Arch Enemy stopping at nothing to see her dead, she’s running out of time; a decision must be made. What would you choose?


Sounds amazing, right??!! I cannot wait to get my hands on this book and give it a read.



About the author   
Candace Knoebel dreamed of being a dancer ever since she could remember. With a love of all things art, she saw herself moving to New York and pursuing her passion as an artist. But all that changed on October 10th 2002 when she met the love of her life. Her dreams diverged and after marrying her high school sweetheart and having two beautiful children, she realized she missed her creative side.
Growing up alongside the Harry Potter series, Candace found herself missing the epicosity of a story that pulls you in and won’t let you go. In 2009, she began dreaming up characters that would mold her first novel. Through lunch breaks and late nights, after putting her kids to bed, she built a world where she could escape the ever-pressing days of an eight to five Purgatory. She found her calling in life and knew this was more than dancing could’ve ever meant to her.Once complete in 2010, she began the grueling process of finding a publisher. With relentless determination, she was finally able to realize her dream in December of 2011 when 48fourteen offered her a publishing contract. With a HUGE yes and a happy dance, she now continues her Trilogy. 

About the tour  It will run Sept 24th through Sept 30th. You may post any time during this time.There are multiple options for you to add to your post eg. Book Cover, Trailer, Excerpt etc. It's up to you what you want to post. ( I'll send details closer to the time )I will be giving away 2 copies of Born in Flames. the first will be gifted to one lucky reader and the second will be gifted to the Blogger with the most exciting/interesting post. ( I will send you the rafflecopter link for the first giveaway closer to the time. The Blogger giveaway will be decided by myself and Candace. )Sign up using the Linky tool below. Sign ups end  Sept 17th.Please bear with me, this is my first time organzing a tour :) :)Thanks to everyone who joins. It means the world to me!!

Giveaway Winners!!

Time to announce my winners :)
I know this post is a little late, but I decided to wait for both my Feed Your Reader Giveaway Hop and The Portrait of Alatiel Salazar giveaways to complete before I made the announcement.


The winner of my Feed Your Reader Giveaway Hop is...

Seyma Bennett Shabbir  Congratulations!! ( I have already contacted Seyma regarding her prizes! )      And because Seyma was the only entrant for my The Portrait of Alatiel Salazar giveaway, of course she is the lucky winner!! So once again, congratulations :) and happy reading. A huge thank you and plenty of hugs and kisses to everyone who took the time to stop over at my blog during the hop!!  Have a fantastic day!!xxxo

Rose's Will: Book Cover Contest Finalist

Hey everyone,

Rose's Will by Denise DeSio is a finalist in the Book Cover Contest over at Bookplex. Please take a moment to go on over and VOTE for it. Pretty Please :) :) :)


 This cover was created by the amazing Sean Samborski, the man behind Therian's cover!! Voting ends September 3rd. 

Review & Giveaway: The Portrait of Alatiel Salazar

Hello, and welcome to my stop on The Portrait of Alatiel Salazar by Steven Katriel Blog Tour.  
   When Gabriel Holland’s beloved Helena vanishes from his life, he journeys to the home of disgraced artist Cristian Salazar, the man he holds responsible for her disappearance and the death of several friends. Once in the town of Carliton, Gabriel finds only malice and mystery in the tales told by the few brave enough to speak ill of Salazar and the sinister Cousin Beatriz. And within shadows, in the guise of night, walks Alatiel, the creature Helena has become. . . .


REVIEW

First off let me just say that the cover of this novella reminds me of a Lady Gaga music video!! It's weird and creepy, and is a beautiful impression of what to expect under the cover.


This story is probably one of the best horror tales I have read in forever. I only wished it was a full length novel and not a novella. From the very beginning of the story, the reader is introduced to so many characters that it was easy to become a little lost trying to keep up with all of them, and if this story had been stretched out a little, perhaps they could have been better developed.

However, Katriel's writing style is superb and flows so easily, that even with everything going on it wasn't difficult settling into the macabre and twisted story of Alatiel Salazar, the muse who lures her victims in with her innocent looks and then turns their passion and desire into a dark obsession that leads to their ultimate demise.


It is quite clear from her first introduction that Alatiel is not exactly normal, and as Gabriel Holland goes in search of his beloved Helena, a chilling mystery reveals the truth of Alatiel’s existence and the darkness that stalks Carliton; A town under the control of Christian Salazar, a man stricken by grief and out for vengeance.

 
This is an unnerving ghost story that will send shivers down your spine. Just check out the book trailer to see what I mean!!







About the Author

Steven Katriel writes Gothic Horror, Paranormal Fantasy, and Literary Fiction. He has lived in Wales, UK all his life. In recent years, he wrote history articles for a community magazine. Steve’s literary heroes and heroines range from Oscar Wilde to Hilary Mantel. He has a passion for past times and this is reflected in his writing.To learn more about Steven Katriel and his writing projects, please visit the website below:

http://stevenkatriel.wordpress.com/ or check him out on Twitter.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- And now onto the giveaway!! 5 x eCopies of this amazing novella are up for grabs, just fill out the rafflecopter below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ahoy! Stop ePiracy Blog Hop

What is E-Piracy, and why are we making such a big deal about it??

Well, quite simply put, E-piracy is THEFT!!

That's right, when you click on that free download link, you are in every sense of the word stealing!

As an author, I'm thankful that I haven't fallen victim to this trend, yet. As a reader, I cannot believe that anyone would want to disrespect the very people who provide the tools that keep our imagination alive!!

Having said that, I prefer to give people the benefit of the doubt before prosecuting them, so I have to believe that readers who download free books from unauthorized sellers are ignorant to the detrimental effect their actions will have. So I'd like to help them better understand why E-piracy can be so damaging. Time to bust some myths!

Myth 1: It's only one download, what harm can it do.
Imagine if a hundred, or even a thousand people all shared that sentiment. And let me assure you that illegal downloading equates to much more than a few thousand downloads!!

Myth 2: Authors can afford the loss.
Authors do not make millions from book sales. It normally takes months, or at least 10 000 or more copies sold before an author even starts to reap the rewards. Even then, the amount an author receives on each copy sold is not substantial. We write because it's our passion, not the path to becoming rich.

Myth 3: Illegal downloading doesn't hurt anyone.
Of course it does! Authors spend weeks, months, and in some cases years perfecting the art of writing, creating characters and stories for our entertainment. They pour their heart and soul into everything they write. Stealing their work is a slap in the face! But authors are not the only ones hurt in the process. The time and resources spent on making a book the best it can be, will mean that publishers are forced to increase the price of books, which means readers will have to fork out more for the books they love!

Myth 4: Only Indie Authors are affected by E-piracy
E-piracy has no bounds. Whether an author is self-published or represented by a large publishing house, there is a chance they will fall prey to pirates.

Myth 5: Books are too expensive to buy through an authorized seller
There are many other ways to get your hands on a book you want to read! Go to the library, borrow a book from a friend or save up until you have enough money to buy the book. Just don't steal it!!




There are so many torrent and free download sites, but if readers stop supporting their illegal activity, perhaps we can stop these pirates from destroying the industry we all love so much!!

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. I hope I have shed some light on this topic, and I hope you will take a moment to think before pressing that download button!

Remember to check out the other blogs participating in this hop:

http://www.passionatebookdivas.com/
www.lovlivlifereviews.com
http://darkobsessionchronicles.blogspot.com/
http://mybookboyfriend.blogspot.com
http://karlacc-bookaddict.blogspot.mx/
http://kaidansseduction.blogspot.com/
http://nicsquared.com/
http://magluvsya03.wordpress.com/
http://k-booksxo.blogspot.co.uk/
http://thinksbooks.blogspot.com/
http://wefancybooks.blogspot.com/
http://tana-someofmyfavoritebooks.blogspot.ca/
http://makingconnectionsgroup.blogspot.com/
http://randomjendsmit.blogspot.com/
http://adiaryofabookaddict.blogspot.com/
http://wheneverlifegetstough.blogspot.com/
http://robincovingtonromance.com/
http://www.alwaysyaatheart.blogspot.com/
http://www.shannondermott.wordpress.com