Roxanne Kade's Blog, page 350

Wicked Wildfire Read-A-Thon Goals

I have finally made my selection of books for the Wicked Wildfire Read-A-Thon :)


Hosted by Rebecca @ Kindle Fever and April @ My Shelf Confessions
 

My top five books are:



1.Asher's Invention by Coleen Kwan
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2.Undercover Alliance by Lilly Cain [image error]











3.Secret of the Wolf by Cynthia Garner [image error]











4.Four in the Morning by Christi Goddard [image error]











5.Wake of the Bloody Angel by Alec Bledsoe [image error]













And if I manage to get through all five, I will move on to these:


6.One Moment by Kristina McBride [image error]











7.Fallen Angel by Eden Bradley [image error]










8.Tarnished by Karina Cooper











9.Scandal Wears Satin by Loretta Chase











10.Prince of Ravens by Richard Baker [image error]

Wicked Wildfire Read-a-thon

It's my first time taking part in the Wicked Wildfire Read-a-thon and I'm really excited about it :)

I have a ton of books on my TBR pile that have seriously been neglected, and this read-a-thon is the perfect way to get a few of those out of the way!


Hosted by Rebecca @ Kindle Fever and April @ My Shelf Confessions
To sign up for the Read-A-Thon click on the picture above.

Here’s the schedule for the challenges that will be held during the week. Every challenge will go on for 24 hours and feature an international giveaway as well!

8AM Wednesday – 8AM Thursday | Something Wicked This Way Comes… | Rebecca @ Kindle Fever √

4PM Wednesday – 4PM Thursday | Slake Your Thirst | Kimberly @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer √

8AM Thursday – 8AM Friday | Cover Lover | Marie @ Ramblings of a Daydreamer

4PM Thursday – 4PM Friday | Wicked Title Trouble | Melissa @ Melissa’s Eclectic Bookshelf

8AM Friday – 8AM Saturday | Sonnets & Songs | Amanda @ Letters Inside Out

4PM Friday – 4PM Saturday | Beach Soiree | Kriss @ The Cabin Goddess Reviews

8AM Saturday – 8AM Sunday | Mix ‘n Match | Benji @ The Non Reluctant Reader

4PM Saturday – 4PM Sunday | Party Up With Literature | Preet @ A Written Rhapsody

Midnight Saturday – Midnight Sunday | Wicked Summer Scorcher | April @ My Shelf Confessions

I haven't yet decided which books I'll be reading. I just finished with on last night so I'll look over my TBR list today and update my post with my choices later today :)

Good luck to everyone taking part, have fun and happy reading!!

Zombie Candy whirlwind tour Day 5

Welcome to the final day of the Zombie Candy whirlwind tour! Thank you so much for joining me on my blog. I hope you entered all the amazing giveaways, and more importantly I hope you won something :)







Title: Zombie Candy Subtitle: An Annie Ogden MysteryISBN: 9781477491409Source: Novel Publicity

SYNOPSIS ( Taken from Goodreads )

You know early on, from the color of the inappropriate bra in the opening scene, that Zombie Candy is going to be a black comedy. Most people could sympathize with the male obsession for sex and zombie movies, but who would put up with a husband who covered every dish with cilantro?

Frederick Lee Brooke serves up another literary treat with this bizarre and comical tale of love and betrayal. Candace Roach enlists her best friend Annie Ogden (our favorite sleuth from Doing Max Vinyl) to find out what her husband is really up to on his weekly business trips – but their home-cooked aversion therapy gets out of hand and hurtles along an astonishing highway of the undead.

Home from Iraq but unsure about her future, Annie Ogden isn't your typical woman sleuth. Her best friend, Candace Roach – gourmet cooking instructor, owner of a house in Tuscany – isn't your typical wronged woman either. Candace teaches gourmet cooking, and loves nothing more than orchestrating a four-course meal full of flavorful surprises and artistic touches. A selection of her recipes is found in an appendix to the book.

But with each shocking discovery in the investigation of her husband, the friendship between Candace and Annie is further put to the test. Candace ultimately takes matters into her own hands and, in an elaborate ruse, stages a nightmarish zombie drama in which her husband plays the starring role.

Weaving elements of mystery, horror and romance in a story that starts in Chicago and ends in a quaint medieval town in sun-drenched Tuscany, Zombie Candy transcends any single genre. Embark on a journey that will tickle your taste buds as it wakes up your funny bone

REVIEW

Anyone who has ever been scorned by their significant other needs to read this book. If not for a good laugh, then perhaps to show them that getting even doesn't always have the desired effect. Sometimes it's better to cut your losses and walk away with your head held high.

I wasn't entirely sure what to expect when I first started reading this book. The opening scene sets up the rest of the story perfectly, and I have to applaud Candace for her gutsy show. I would never have the nerve to do what she did! It showed great character, which to my disappointment seemed to fizzle in the next few chapters. But then I supposed that was the aim, because it allowed for clear character developement throughout the rest of the book.

Candace went through every emotion one would expect in her situation. One second she was angry, then confused, guilty and desperate to prove her worth, outraged, and finally she was able to find self-acceptance. At one point I wanted to slap her across the face, shake her by the shoulders and ask her, "What the hell are you thinking!?!" But I guess the disbelief of her husband's lies mixed with low self-esteem would make anyone desperate to understand the whys, while holding onto whatever was left of the life they thought was perfect.

I was glad that Candace had a friend like Annie to support her. Annie was often the voice of reason when Candace wasn't thinking straight. And even though she knew it was a bad idea to get involved in the whole mess, she did it for her best friend.

I found some of Candace's actions to be a little extreme. I'm not sure if anyone would actually do some of the things she did, but I suppose, if pushed far enough, people are capable of the most outrageous acts. It was entertaining, though, and Larry, the slimeball, deserved every bit of it. Not once, did I feel even a tiny bit sorry for him. He had it all coming, and the audacity of him, even after his life fell apart he couldn't control his "urges"!

The final few chapters of this book were the most entertaining. I loved the zombie ruse Candace came up with. It was brilliant. I loved the solidarity of the women who gathered to help in her time of need. Let's face it, as women, we'd hate to be treated the way Candace was, so when we see someone like her going through such a tough time, it's what we do. Band together and nail the sucker who dared to mess with her heart!

The ending was quite a shocker. I did not see it coming at all. It changed the whole tone of the book, which for the most part was comedic, even when it was dark, or touched on serious subject matter.

Another thing I loved was the addition of the recipes at the very end of the story. I can't wait to try them out, especially the Penne Pasta with Sage and Apple...sounds delish!

So there you have it. Zombie Candy gets...

Thank you to Frederick Lee Brooke and Novel Publicity for giving me the opportunity to take part in this tour! And now, staying in the spirit of cilantro free food :) I'd like to share two of my favorite recipes!

Spaghetti Pie: ( 6 - 8 people )

Ingredients:

1 pack of Spaghetti
1 tin of Carnation Evaporated Milk
1 cup of Ketchup
4 Eggs
1 cup of grated Cheddar Cheese

Boil spaghetti in salted water until al dente and drain. Beat eggs and combine with evaporated milk, ketchup and cheese. Add liquid mixture to spaghetti. Pour spaghetti into a greased oven-proof dish and bake at 180C/356F for 20 mins. Spinkle top with extra cheese and bake for a further 10mins.
Feel free to add anything you like to the mixture before baking. Cooked bacon, onion, diced tomato and even feta cheese all add to the deliciousness of this dish :)

My second dish is a fabulous warm salad, but it can also be refrigerated and eaten cold. It makes a great topping for toasted french bread...kind of like bruschetta :)

Ingredients:

1 punnet of Roma tomatoes
1 tub of feta cheese
4 - 6 Chorizo sausage
Olive oil
Fresh herbs finely chopped / dried herbs ( you can decide on what herbs to use )

Slice sausages and fry in a little oil until they begin to crisp. Slice tomatoes in half and add to the pan. Cut feta cheese into large cubes. In a bowl toss the feta with the sausage and tomatoes. Drizzle with olive oil and top with herbs. Mix and serve.

This makes a divine side dish for breakfast, lunch or even dinner :)
Hope you guys enjoy these recipes! As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the Zombie Candy eBook edition is just 99 cents this week. What’s more, by purchasing this fantastic book at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes. The prizes include $550 in Amazon gift cards, a Kindle Fire, and 5 autographed copies of the book. All the info you need to win one of these amazing prizes is RIGHT HERE. Remember, winning is as easy as clicking a button or leaving a blog comment--easy to enter; easy to win! To win the prizes:
Purchase your copy of Zombie Candy for just 99 centsEnter the Rafflecopter contest on Novel Publicity or below.Visit today’s featured social media eventAbout the book: Weaving elements of mystery, horror and romance in a hilarious romp that starts in Chicago and ends in a quaint medieval town in sun-drenched Tuscany, Zombie Candy is a genre-hopping knee-slapper of a novel. Get it on Amazon. About the author: Frederick Lee Brooke has worked as an English teacher, language school manager and small business owner and has travelled extensively in Tuscany, the setting of part of Zombie Candy. V isit Fred on his website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.


Don't forget to enter the rafflecopter giveaway!!

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Zombie Candy whirlwind tour Day 4

Welcome to the fourth day in the Zombie Candy whirlwind tour!! Today Frederick is sharing a bit of Italy with us!



Please enjoy this guest post by Frederick Lee Brooke, author of the genre-bending mystery Zombie Candy. Then read on to learn how you can win huge prizes as part of this blog tour, including $550 in Amazon gift cards, a Kindle Fire, and 5 autographed copies of the book.  
What Dad and I saw in Italy by Frederick Lee Brooke  I was on the train yesterday returning from Rome back to Basel, where I live, and I mentioned Monte Chianti to my seatmate. We were on the Red Arrow, the Italian bullet train, which cruises at 180 mph and covers the distance from Rome to Milan in just under three hours. Rossana is a banker who was travelling to Milan on business; in her hand was a paperback mystery in English. That's how we started talking. She sort of nodded and looked to the heavens and tried out the name: "Monte Chianti, hmmm. Nice." I like Italy so much I decided that the action in Zombie Candy, my latest mystery, should move to a fictional town in Tuscany called Monte Chianti in the second half. The action starts in Chicago, and moves to Tuscany. But this trip wasn't really research for Zombie Candy; for me, more of a victory lap. Plus Dad wanted to see Rome once in his life, so off we went on the train. On the way to Rome we spent three days in Como, in Northern Italy. We did not see Giorgio (that's what the locals call George Clooney) but we did see some beautiful lake vistas. In the picture below we are coming down the side of the mountain in a cog railway. Sure hope the brakes hold on this thing! I learned Italian at a language school. I also married an Italian speaker, but don't ever try and learn a language from the person you're married to. You have enough to argue about without her correcting your grammar. My wife's English is better than my Italian anyway, but she likes it when I make the effort. While in Rome Dad and I visited the Trevi Fountain. If you throw in a coin, legend has it that you'll come back to Rome one day. I threw in a pocketful, just to be sure. Then we hit the Colosseum. The ancient brick dividing walls in the floor of the amphitheater kept the animals penned in before they were sent in to the ring to fight. How can this thing still be standing, after two thousand years? This is what was left of our rental car after ... no wait, just kidding! This mess was parked right outside our hotel, not far from the Vatican. The hotel desk clerk told us a moped caught on fire next to the unfortunate Mercedes. I didn't believe him -- do you? We took an all-day excursion to the island of Capri, off Naples. This involved a long, cramped bus ride and a transfer to a ferryboat, but let me tell you, the views were worth it. Just look at the color of the Mediterranean, from halfway up the mountain. And here is a picture looking up at the branches of a mature maritime pine tree. I couldn't resist. It was a great trip. Dad and I had some nice talks, we did a lot of walking, we ate like kings, and we saw some beautiful places. I hope that Trevi Fountain legend really works, and we'll go back to Rome again soon.


Oh my GOSH!! How amazing are these pics! So much beauty and history! I wanna go to Italy so bad right now!!


  As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the Zombie Candy eBook edition is just 99 cents this week. What’s more, by purchasing this fantastic book at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes. The prizes include $550 in Amazon gift cards, a Kindle Fire, and 5 autographed copies of the book. All the info you need to win one of these amazing prizes is RIGHT HERE. Remember, winning is as easy as clicking a button or leaving a blog comment--easy to enter; easy to win! To win the prizes:
Purchase your copy of Zombie Candy for just 99 centsEnter the Rafflecopter contest on Novel PublicityVisit today’s featured social media eventAbout the book: Weaving elements of mystery, horror and romance in a hilarious romp that starts in Chicago and ends in a quaint medieval town in sun-drenched Tuscany, Zombie Candy is a genre-hopping knee-slapper of a novel. Get it on Amazon. About the author: Frederick Lee Brooke has worked as an English teacher, language school manager and small business owner and has travelled extensively in Tuscany, the setting of part of Zombie Candy. V isit Fred on his website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.

Review: Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown

Title: Lies Beneath
Author: Anne Greenwood Brown
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Imprint: Delacorte BFYR
Pub Date: June 12, 2012
ISBN: 9780385742016
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance
Source: Netgalley








SYNOPSIS ( Taken from Goodreads )
Calder White lives in the cold, clear waters of Lake Superior, the only brother in a family of murderous mermaids. To survive, Calder and his sisters prey on humans, killing them to absorb their energy. But this summer the underwater clan targets Jason Hancock out of pure revenge. They blame Hancock for their mother's death and have been waiting a long time for him to return to his family's homestead on the lake. Hancock has a fear of water, so to lure him in, Calder sets out to seduce Hancock's daughter, Lily. Easy enough—especially as Calder has lots of practice using his irresistable good looks and charm on ususpecting girls. Only this time Calder screws everything up: he falls for Lily—just as Lily starts to suspect that there's more to the monsters-in-the-lake legends than she ever imagined. And just as his sisters are losing patience with him.
REVIEW

I was extremely excited when my request for this book was accepted. I have heard great things about it, and I've been anticipating it's release.

The very idea of murderous mermaids is fantastic! Yes, the mermaids in this book are nothing like Ariel from The Little Mermaid. They won't think twice about sucking the life right out of you.

It was refreshing to read a YA Paranormal Romance told from the male character's POV, I loved it. For once we get to feel every emotion he experiences throughout the book, we get to know his inner most fears and desires. Calder White is of course gorgeous and charming and it would be difficult for any girl not to fall for him, so it was again refreshing to have Lily find his stalkerish behaviour a little weird. Even though she secretly feels something for him, she is always pushing the idea out of her mind, letting her head take the lead rather than her heart. She's not a clumsy-by-nature kind of girl, but as most of us can relate with, when there is a handsome guy around, she sometimes loses her co-ords making her seem awkward.

My heart went out to Calder as he struggles with what is right and what is wrong. Family loyalty and the love for a girl he barely knows. Calder hates his life - the constant killing of humans just to survive - and the revenge plot against the Hancock family is what finally draws him over the edge. He is nothing like his sisters, and he wants nothing more than to break the bond that ties them together.

There are beautiful moments shared between Calder and Lily throughout the book. I especially loved a particular scene that takes place in a cave just after Lily discovers the truth about Calder ( Sorry guys, can't say more than that. You'll just have to read the book to see what I mean! )

Over all this book flowed so well off the page. Each character is so well written and defined that there was never a moment when I wondered what their role was, or why they were even in the story in the first place. Calder's evil sisters are sinister, but there was also this emotional "human" element to them that made them endearing.

I really enjoyed reading Lies Beneath, it offered everything I was expecting and so much more. Readers of Paranormal Romances will love every second spent in the world of Calder and Lily.

It gets...


Thank you to Random House Children's Books for giving me the opportunity to read this fantastic book.

Zombie Candy whirlwind tour Day 3

Welcome back for the third day of the Zombie Candy tour!

I finished reading this book last night and it was really such and enjoyable, fantastic read filled with plenty of dark humor. You will have to wait for Friday, when I'll be posting my review, but to whet your appetites here's and excerpt. Enjoy!!




Please enjoy this excerpt from Zombie Candy, a genre-bending mystery by Frederick Lee Brooke. Then read on to learn how you can win huge prizes as part of this blog tour, including $550 in Amazon gift cards, a Kindle Fire, and 5 autographed copies of the book.   They sit at long tables under grape arbors. Heavy bunches of grapes hang from the vines. An eight-piece dance band in white tuxes and black bow ties plays tunes from every decade. Heavy silver dessert forks and coffee spoons rest untouched on the linen tablecloth. She can’t eat another bite. All the glasses, at least, she has used: white wine, red wine, water. A light breeze comes up. It feels heavenly on her face. With nightfall, the heat has gone out of the air. The heat must be trapped in these old stone walls — the walls of the farmhouse, the walls surrounding the vineyard. The aroma of fresh herbs floats from a nearby garden, rosemary, and mint, she thinks as she watches people dancing. The bride, her beautiful white dress with the daring silk bodice; the groom’s parents, a man with close-cropped gray hair and a red rose in his lapel, and his wife in a shimmering blue dress that looks specially made by an Italian designer. She keeps one eye on the young man in the navy suit with the green silk tie. He looks like something Michelangelo might have sculpted, then breathed life into. This young man knows everyone here, and has danced every dance for the last hour. But he’s dancing with both older and younger women, probably cousins, friends, the mothers of cousins and friends. She has no idea who he is. She feels outclassed in her red silk dress from Bloomingdale’s. She had worn the same dress at a wedding in June in Chicago. No one here has ever seen it. If there are any more weddings this fall, she will just have to go shopping in Siena or even Florence, that’s all there is to it. “May I have this dance?” Like a vision, Michelangelo man stands beside her. Has somebody cast a magic spell here? How did he sneak up on her like that? She didn’t even notice the song had ended. Or that another one had started. “I’m not much of a dancer.” “We’ll see.” He tugs her hand. “Really, you don’t have to.” He obviously feels a duty to make sure every woman in the place gets at least one dance. “Of course I don’t have to. I’ve danced with all the women I was obligated to dance with. Now I want to dance with you.” She doesn’t need more arm-twisting than this. He leads her to the dance floor. The band is playing a quiet song from the 1940s, she thinks, something familiar. Grape arbors surround the dance floor and fill the air with sweet perfume. He turns and puts one hand around her waist. “My name is Giancarlo,” he says, switching to Italian. “Candace,” she says. “I’ve been here for three weeks. I can’t believe I’m at this beautiful wedding.” “Your Italian is marvelous.” Your lips are marvelous, she thinks. Your curly hair, the color of black coffee, and your handsome chiseled face are marvelous too. But you can’t say such things to a man you’ve never met before. Not in Tuscany. At least not before the end of the first dance. He glides around the floor, leading her with slight shifts in his weight, slight pressure with his hands. Her feet know where to go, just as her mouth knows how to form the words. “We don’t have weddings like this in Chicago. The food ... the music ... the grapes.” “My uncle’s house is nice,” Giancarlo agrees. “But I am sorry for Lucia. She has married a playboy. I do not think they will be happy.” “They certainly look happy.” Giancarlo makes a face. “I should not talk about the details. I know him. I’ve known him all my life, and he will never change. I tried to talk to my cousin, but she is in love and blind. What can we do?” Giancarlo’s smile, Candace realizes, has a hypnotizing effect. Thank God a fast dance is starting, the Bee Gees. He makes no attempt to bring her back to the table, merely releases his hold on her waist. “You are a beautiful dancer,” he says when the Bee Gees song ends. The band takes a break. Everyone is leaving the dance floor. Her heart sinks. Somehow she has managed to cling to him for two dances, something no woman before her had managed. Now he will bring her back to her table, his duty done. He will go back to his people. “Thank you for the lovely dances.” “Come, let’s get some fresh air. I’ll show you around,” Giancarlo says. And the really amazing thing is he doesn’t let go of her hand.


 

As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the Zombie Candy eBook edition is just 99 cents this week. What’s more, by purchasing this fantastic book at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes. The prizes include $550 in Amazon gift cards, a Kindle Fire, and 5 autographed copies of the book. All the info you need to win one of these amazing prizes is RIGHT HERE. Remember, winning is as easy as clicking a button or leaving a blog comment--easy to enter; easy to win! To win the prizes:
Purchase your copy of Zombie Candy for just 99 centsEnter the Rafflecopter contest on Novel PublicityVisit today’s featured social media eventAbout the book: Weaving elements of mystery, horror and romance in a hilarious romp that starts in Chicago and ends in a quaint medieval town in sun-drenched Tuscany, Zombie Candy is a genre-hopping knee-slapper of a novel. Get it on Amazon. About the author: Frederick Lee Brooke has worked as an English teacher, language school manager and small business owner and has travelled extensively in Tuscany, the setting of part of Zombie Candy. V isit Fred on his website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.

Zombie Candy whirlwind tour Day 2

Welcome to the second day of the Zombie Candy whirlwind tour! Today is interview day :)


Please enjoy this interview with Frederick Lee Brooke, author of the genre-bending mystery Zombie Candy. Then read on to learn how you can win huge prizes as part of this blog tour, including $550 in Amazon gift cards, a Kindle Fire, and 5 autographed copies of the book.  

1. What was the inspiration behind your novel, Zombie Candy?
There was a famous golfer whose wife chased him out of the house with a golf club in the middle of the night a couple of years ago. It was funny that she attacked her husband with his own weapon of choice. I got to thinking what must be going through a woman's mind in that situation? I thought it would be interesting to explore the thought processes of a woman who discovers that her husband is a serial cheater. After the denial comes anger, but there is also a phase of grief. There's guilt. Maybe she blames herself, rightly or wrongly. Candace oscillates between wanting revenge and wanting her husband back, and as the novel winds up she makes discoveries about herself that I thought a woman in her situation would be likely to make.

2. Do you think Zombie Candy will appeal to true zombie fans?
What's a true zombie fan? I don't want to give anything away, but any active zombie fan who participates in zombie walks, goes to festivals, etc. will love Zombie Candy. That being said, this is a book that has elements of mystery, horror and romance all in one. It had quite a few early readers, fans of all different genres, and the consensus is that it really works.

3. The book contains some of Candace's favorite recipes. Why?
I confess, I love to cook, and it's such an important part of my life, it just felt natural to have Candace want to share her recipes. We are all vulnerable to being attacked through our taste buds. I like reading about cooking, and I love watching cooking shows on TV. I feel like I'm learning something and tasting it at the same time. It felt right for this to be really important for Candace. At the same time, her husband Larry is so incredibly lacking in appreciation of her talents, not just the cooking itself, but organizing complex meals and directing the preparation of them by her class of twelve people. These are amazing skills, and Larry is blind to them. I thought marriages are sometimes like that, where people get to a point where they are totally ignorant of what their partner is great at.

4. There is a no-cilantro label on the back cover of the book. What is the significance of it? Candace is a gourmet cook, and her cheating husband Larry insists on covering all his food with cilantro. This is one of those minor points of contention in a marriage that flares up and becomes important, like a trigger. I thought it was funny. And it seems a lot of people really do have strong feelings about cilantro, either for or against. When I was searching for a good graphic I came across pages on the internet like ihatecilantro.com and facebook.com/i-hate-cilantro.

5. After starting out in Chicago, why did you decide to set the story in Tuscany?
I've been fortunate enough to travel to Italy forty or fifty times in my life, sometimes for a two-week vacation, sometimes just for a very short trip. I absolutely love it there, from the food to the language to the beauty of the countryside and the architecture. In Zombie Candy, Candace realizes at a certain point that she has to get Larry out of his comfort zone. This is a guy who travelled all over the country every week for his work, and cheated on Candace with waitresses, flight attendants, whoever. He can adapt just about anywhere. But in Tuscany Larry discovers two things: 1) it's not so easy to find a willing waitress or flight attendant to spend the night with him; and 2) there are zombies here.

6. How would you describe the way you work as a writer?I guess I'm a bit of a chameleon, able to adapt pretty well to circumstances around me. My wife and I have three boys and they are not quiet. I can do most revision with significant background noise and interruptions. Only when I'm writing a first draft or doing some serious planning work do I need peace and quiet. Then I'll often take a walk in the forest anyway. It helps a lot to be adaptable. If I had to put off writing every time someone asked me to cook dinner or help them with their homework, my book would never have been finished. For me, being able to jump right back in has been the key to being able to finish big projects.

7. Did you always want to be a writer?
I was an early reader and this led to curiosity about writing stories. My sister and I wrote stories during long car trips. In high school and then in college I dreamed of writing novels, but I only started writing short stories after graduating from college. That writing phase lasted about five years, and I learned a lot about writing, but life got in the way, with marriage and job and career and kids. Only when my kids were halfway grown and my career reached a certain level of success did I find a way to return to writing. Now I'm fulfilling a lifelong dream.

8. What process do you go through to define your characters?
I start with an image of them as basically good or basically evil, and put them into a context or a situation, and then just basically make sure there is plenty of conflict. My characters are never perfectly white or black. I think we're drawn to weaknesses. We want to watch them mess up, and see how they'll extricate themselves. Of course, sometimes all my planning goes out the window. It's a cliche to say that characters surprise you with their actions, but they do. They're defined by what they do and what they say. I did some acting in high school and have always loved the theater, and knowing what it means to be in character helps me be in character when I'm writing dialogue. My books are fairly dialogue-driven. What the characters say reveals what they are thinking and feeling.

9. What writing advice did you receive that was most beneficial to you?
I had to learn to love conflict. The conflict is the story. The conflict shows the true colors of your characters. I grew up in the suburbs in a family where we avoided conflict at all costs. We talked like diplomats. So embracing conflict has been something I had to learn.

10. You're an indie author. Any thoughts on the divide between independent publishing and traditional publishing?
I think the market will sort itself out, but it's going to take time. Good books will find their way into readers' hands somehow, whether in printed or electronic form. We need our stories every day. We can't live without stories. For me personally, independent publishing has been the perfect solution. I found an excellent editor who professionally edited my manuscript. I like the idea that I can control the timing of the publication of my books. If my first book, Doing Max Vinyl, had been traditionally published in April 2011 instead of the way I did it, it probably would have hit the remainder tables by Thanksgiving, and it would be out of print now. I think Zombie Candy might spark some interest in Doing Max Vinyl, so it's a benefit to readers as well as to me that it continues to be available, rather than going out of print and being forgotten. E-books are clearly here to stay, because the consumers (readers) and providers (authors) are the big winners. The only losers are the bookstores, publishing companies, agents and others who refuse to adapt.


 

As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the Zombie Candy eBook edition is just 99 cents this week. What’s more, by purchasing this fantastic book at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes. The prizes include $550 in Amazon gift cards, a Kindle Fire, and 5 autographed copies of the book. All the info you need to win one of these amazing prizes is RIGHT HERE. Remember, winning is as easy as clicking a button or leaving a blog comment--easy to enter; easy to win! To win the prizes:
Purchase your copy of Zombie Candy for just 99 centsEnter the Rafflecopter contest on Novel Publicity or you can also enter through my blog - http://roxykade.blogspot.com/2012/06/frederick-lee-brooke-s-zombie-candy.htmlVisit today’s featured social media eventAbout the book: Weaving elements of mystery, horror and romance in a hilarious romp that starts in Chicago and ends in a quaint medieval town in sun-drenched Tuscany, Zombie Candy is a genre-hopping knee-slapper of a novel. Get it on Amazon. About the author: Frederick Lee Brooke has worked as an English teacher, language school manager and small business owner and has travelled extensively in Tuscany, the setting of part of Zombie Candy. V isit Fred on his website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.

Author Interview with J.R.Wagner

Welcome to my second stop on the Exiled Book Tour! As promised, J.R. is here today for an interview, so let's get right to it :)


ABOUT THE AUTHOR(Taken from J.R's website)
J. R. Wagner was born on January 20th, 1978 in West Chester, Pennsylvania during a blizzard.  The snow made travel by car impossible so his father, Robert (Bob) called an ambulance when his mother, Dianne went into labor.  The ambulance became stuck at the bottom of Wagner’s driveway prompting the dispatch of a fire truck, which towed the ambulance, Dianne, still with child, and Bob to the hospital where Joshua was born.
Joshua’s mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1997.  She died less than a year later.  Joshua was 19.
Joshua’s father was a small business owner in Downingtown, Pennsylvania.  With nothing more than an idea, tenacity and the love of a great woman, he rose from poverty and grew his business into a multi-million dollar flooring company still in business today.  Bob died in 2009 leaving his company and his legacy to his children.
Wagner attended Pickering Valley Elementary School then Lionville Junior High School before graduating from Downingtown High School (now known as Downingtown West).  He began writing at a young age.  When he was ten, he wrote a sequel to Return of The Jedi and had lofty aspirations of working with George Lucas on filming the project.  Other writing and film projects followed.  In 1990 Wagner began filming his version of The Lord of The Rings in his parent’s basement but the plug was pulled after he nearly burned down the house with the torches he’d created.  Since then he’s written a full-length science fiction screenplay, a thriller Novel and a second screenplay (which Wagner is still determined to film himself). None have been published. 
Taking a 180 degree turn in his career path, Wagner went to college and earned his bachelor of science in Kinesiology from Arizona State University.  During that time, Wagner’s creative endeavors were supplanted by studying, sports and girls.
In 2001, Wagner returned to Downingtown, where his creative fires were re-stoked.  He married and fathered two beautiful daughters, Iris and Sydney.  Wagner divorced shortly after Sydney’s birth.
Not long after meeting Lisa Stojowski, Wagner fell in love.  During a trip to Maine together, Wagner began writing Exiled.  He completed the first draft in the fall of 2010.  Lisa and Joshua married in June of 2011. Wagner endearingly considers his wife, his muse, his facilitator, his solid ground.  Exiled is currently in the ‘editorial washer’ and is scheduled to release June 5,  2012.v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
1.     Tell us a bit more about yourself.
I live in Pennsylvania with my wife and two daughters.  We have two dogs, a German Shepherd (Sorin) and a Carin Terrier (Corky) and one cat (Merlin). 
2.     How would you describe yourself in three words?
Ambitious, motivated, passionate.
3.     What do you do when you are not writing?
I can usually be found outside –either working on the landscaping (I have big dreams), riding my bike or running.
4.     What five things do you never leave home without?
My clothes, my glasses, my phone, my sense of purpose and a comfortable pair of shoes.
5.     Who/What inspired you to write your first novel?
I’d been writing different stories nearly my entire life.  I’d recently returned to Pennsylvania from Arizona and was searching for focus in my life.  That’s when this thing called creativity, which has been poking at my subconscious for some time, finally reared its head and I decided to do something about it.
6.     What has been your most rewarding experience on the road to being published?
Meeting the amazing people along the way.  I’ve spoken for several troubled teen groups who helped me realize how much writing and reading can impact lives if presented in the right light.
7.     What is the best piece of advice you have been given as an author?
Write every day.
8.     What advice would you give aspiring authors?
Write every day (didn’t see that one coming, did ya’?) If you haven’t created a blog, make one. Build an online following.  Check out figment.com –don’t be afraid to show your work to others, it’s the only way you’ll learn how to improve. 
9.     Who are your favorite authors to read?
Patrick Ness, Tolkien, Rowling, King, Greer, and so many others.
10.  How did you come up with the idea for Exiled?
Exiled evolved from a single scene –the opening scene, actually.  I let this scene grow and develop into The Never Chronicles.  I didn’t ‘come up’ with the idea one day –it grew from the progression of the story. I let the story take me where it wants to go; I’m just along for the ride.
11.   Are any of your characters based on someone you know?
None are specifically based upon one person I know.  There are traits that many of the characters share with people in my life as well as people who have, as Gandalf would say have not met their end but… “End? No, the journey doesn't end here. Death is just another path... One that we all must take. The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all turns to silver glass... And then you see it. White shores... and beyond, a far green country under a swift sunrise.
12.  Who is your favorite character, and why?
Akil Karanis.  He is shrouded in mystery and very misunderstood (even by me), which makes him intriguing.  I’ve always wanted a mentor –a father figure to offer guidance throughout my life and I believe that needy part of me had a role in creating Akil.
13.  Which chapter was the most enjoyable/memorable to write, and why?
The final chapter in book one. We finally get to see a bit of Akil in action and we get a taste of what’s to come.  There are also hints of some rather disturbing turns of events… if you look for them.
14. When can we expect the second book in The Never Chronicles to be released?Hopefully this time next year.
15. Where can readers stalk you?My website: www.theneverchronicles.comFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/WhatisTheNeverTwitter: @JRWagner2Blog: http://whatisthenever.blogspot.com/Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5448774.J_R_Wagner
Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by my blog, J.R. And thank you for all the wonderful advice for those aspiring authors! I wish you everything of the best with The Never Chronicles and I really can't wait for the second book to be released!!So everyone, if you'd like to get your hands on a copy of Exiled check out the following links:Chester County Book & Music Co.
Barnes & Noble
Amazon

Frederick Lee Brooke ’s Zombie Candy whirlwind tour

Hello everyone, and welcome to the first day of the Zombie Candy whirlwind tour!!



As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the Zombie Candy eBook edition is just 99 cents this week. What’s more, by purchasing this fantastic book at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes. The prizes include $550 in Amazon gift cards, a Kindle Fire, and 5 autographed copies of the book. All the info you need to win one of these amazing prizes is RIGHT HERE. Remember, winning is as easy as clicking a button or leaving a blog comment--easy to enter; easy to win! To win the prizes:
Purchase your copy of Zombie Candy for just 99 centsEnter the Rafflecopter contest on Novel Publicity or belowVisit today’s featured social media eventAbout the book: Weaving elements of mystery, horror and romance in a hilarious romp that starts in Chicago and ends in a quaint medieval town in sun-drenched Tuscany, Zombie Candy is a genre-hopping knee-slapper of a novel. Get it on Amazon. About the author: Frederick Lee Brooke has worked as an English teacher, language school manager and small business owner and has travelled extensively in Tuscany, the setting of part of Zombie Candy. V isit Fred on his website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.

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Review: Exiled: The Never Chronicles #1 by J.R.Wagner

Hello everyone!

Welcome to my stop on the Virtual Book Tour for Exiled, the first book in The Never Chronicles saga by J.R.Wagner.



Title: Exiled
Subtitle: Book One in The Never Chronicles
Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group
Imprint: Live Oak
Pub Date: June 05, 2012
ISBN: 9781936909407
Genre: Fantasy & Sci-Fi
Source: Netgalley













Synopsis ( taken from Goodreads )
James has never known an ordinary life. As long as he can remember, he and his family have been on the run—moving from place to place, never settling down, never growing roots. Now, just when he’s on the brink of manhood, the very thing his family has been trying to prevent tears him from all he has ever known and thrusts him into a place where he is powerless and alone.

Bent on finding a way back, James must brave a place reserved for the worst of his kind. He quickly learns that the land itself poses a greater threat than its inhabitants and if he is to have any chance of returning, he must work with the very people he’s been raised to fear.

James has known magic since just after he was born. As a sorcerer, his skills are exceptional yet when he wakes in The Never, his abilities are gone. Armed with nothing but determination and the will to survive, he braves a land wrought with dangers, mysteries and temptations meant to ensnare both body and mind and prevent escape forever.


REVIEW

Exiled is an exciting adventure which takes place within the realm of The Never as well as the everyday world. James, a young sorcerer destined to become the Anointed One, is forced to live a life on the run, as his parents do everything they can to protect him.

A twist of fate sees James being banished to The Never, a magical realm created for those found guilty of various crimes. He wakes up to find he no longer has his powers, and he struggles with the new, strange world he finds himself in. But James soon meets up with others who have been sent to The Never, and that is when the adventure really begins. Along with his new friends, he goes in search of a way back to the normal world. Their explorations lead to a number of interesting discoveries, as James' destiny as the Anointed One begins to take shape.

This book was an exciting read. What I loved most of all was the world building, especially when it came to The Never. Wagner's descriptions made it feel like I was actually there, exploring this strange land for myself. I loved the idea of the fire plants. They were a tiny detail in the book but the imagination that brought them to life left me in awe. I love stories set in fictional worlds, because I am fascinated by their creation and what it must take to think of such things. It's sheer brilliance!!

Throughout the book the timeline changes. It goes from the present to the past and then back again. Although I enjoyed reading about the occurences that led up to James' current situation, I would have preferred them to run in chronological order, because at times it got a bit confusing. Having said that, it didn't take away from the overall pleasure of reading this book, and believe it had a lot to do with the easy flow of the story.

The ending is a definate cliffhanger. I got to the last page and I wanted to scream. I wasn't sure if I should be mad that I was left hanging, or if I should be excited by the cleverness of it all. I need the second book, and I need it now!

Exiled gets...



A huge thank you to Greenleaf Book Group and Live Oak for allowing me the opportunity to read Exiled. If you'd like more information about The Never Chronicles check out the book website or visit J.R.Wagner on his blog.

Another thanks goes to JKS Communications!


If you'd like to check out the other stops on the virtual book tour CLICK HERE. Also be sure to check in a little later when J.R will stop by for an interview :)