C.K. Bryant's Blog, page 13

December 13, 2011


I'm proud to be a part of something so huge and importa...



I'm proud to be a part of something so huge and important today. Not only am I featuring a fabulous book and author, but a cause that I believe whole-heartedly in. For years I've loved the white tiger, an endangered species, and even put one as a character in my debut novel, BOUND. I've collected giraffe figurines and stuffed animals since before I can remember and marveled at other species that are rare and quickly depleting in numbers. So when I heard that Heather McCorkle was donating a portion of her book sales to save the endangered species, I was quick to get in line to host her and her book on my blog. And because the white tiger was already taken (dang it) I'm featuring the giraffe in today's post.



Here's a little about Heather's book, The Secret of Spruce Knoll.



Following the tragic death of her parents, Eren Donovan moves to Spruce Knoll to live with an aunt she's never met. Little does Eren know the entire town of Spruce Knoll is filled with "channelers"—a magical group of people who immigrated to the small Colorado town when they were driven out of their own lands. 

Channelers are tied to the fate of the world. As the world slowly dies, so do they—and they alone have the power to stop the destruction of Earth. Soon, Eren learns she not only lives among them, but she is one. When she meets local boy Aiden, his charm convinces her that being a channeler may not be all bad though. 

As Eren and Aiden's relationship develops, so too does a mystery in Spruce Knoll. The town holds many secrets—and many dangers. It soon becomes apparent that the untimely death of Eren's parents was no accident and that her life might be in danger too. Only time will tell if Eren can embrace her unwanted power and protect the only family she has left.

Add it to your Goodreads' list HERE!

A special edition of The Secret of Spruce Knoll is releasing from Compass Press this month and Heather's doing a special tour to go along with it. The special part, a percentage of the proceeds from every special edition sold (in every format) between its release date and 12-12-2012, will go toward Heather's favorite charity that protects endangered species. Her goal is to make at least $10,000 for the charity. YES! It's a lofty goal, but if we all do our part, it's totally doable.





Get your copies at Amazon or Barnes & Noble



Of course there are prizes during the tour which goes from December 1st through the 17th. Prizes include a symbolic endangered species adoption of the winner's choice (a $50 donation by Heather to the charity for the endangered species of the winner's choice, and cute stuffed animal for the winner!), signed copies of her novels and great swag. For full details, and to enter, go here:  http://heathermccorkle.blogspot.com

Now, I'd like to tell you a little about the Giraffe. And just in case you're wondering if I'm telling the truth about loving them, check out THIS POST I did a while back about them.





Now for a little Trivia:





These facts were taken from THIS awesome website! Hope they don't mind sharing.





1. The word Giraffe, comes from the Arabic word - zerafa, which means charming or lovely one. Giraffes can be found in southern, central and eastern Africa. As of now, their population is in good standing.



2. Giraffes graze in the savannas in Africa, eating leaves from the trees, mostly acacia trees. They can go several days with no water, and stay hydrated by the water of the leaves.

3. The Reticulated Giraffe has the most distinctive pattern of dark patches separated by thin lines. The most irregular pattern belongs to the Masai Giraffe of East Africa.

4. The neck of a Giraffe can be as long as 8 feet! Their tongue is a foot long. Both man and giraffes have the same amount of neck bones - 7. The heart of a Giraffe is very large in order to pump blood all the way up to it's head. 

5. The Giraffe is the tallest animal of all. Male giraffes normally weigh between 2,400 and 3,000 pounds and can stand up to 19 feet tall. Female giraffes can be up to 16 feet tall and weigh between 1,600 and 2, 600 pounds.



6. Giraffes have knobs or horns on the top of their heads that are used to protect the head in fights. These grow to be around five inches long.

7. Male giraffes do not use their horns as weapons against predators, the only time they use them is to fight peers.

8. Giraffes are social animals that travel in large herds consisting of both males and females of all ages.



9. The gestation period is typically 15 months. During the first week of life, the baby giraffe is carefully guarded. While the mothers feed, the calves are kept in nursery groups.



10. Spotted hyenas and lions are the predators of the calves. Between 50 to 75% fall prey, despite the mother's efforts to protect and hide. Adults are too big to be prey and can kick the lion to death if it comes too close.

11. Giraffes typically live to be about 25 years old in the wild.



What's your favorite endangered species? 
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Published on December 13, 2011 23:01

December 12, 2011

12 Days of Christmas - INDIE BOOK BLOWOUT!!!



I hope you're ready for this.

LOTS of books are now being offered for only 

99 cents

It's the INDIE BOOK BLOWOUT's 12 Days of Christmas

And of course, my debut novel, BOUND is one of them, so head on over to their website and check out all the great books they have to offer. You'll want to come back every day until the 24th to see more books. BOUND is on day 3 (December 14th), but you can purchase it at any of the links on my sidebar for the same LOW price. I'll have it that low until the end of the month, so you can give your new Nook or Kindle Santa brings you some BOUND love.
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Published on December 12, 2011 19:29

December 10, 2011

Looking for a great read? Here's a couple of books that w...

Looking for a great read? Here's a couple of books that will appeal to both girl and boy. Take a look.





Getting Sideways: Book 2 in the Full Throttle Series



Getting shipped off to live with his uncle Race was the best thing that ever happened to fifteen-year-old Cody. Then a wreck at the speedway nearly ruined everything. Cody's making every effort to get his life back on track—writing for the school paper, searching for the perfect girlfriend, and counting the days until he gets his drivers' license—but there's no escaping the nightmares that haunt him.



A chance to build his own car seems like the perfect distraction. Until Cody realizes he'll have to live up to Race's legendary status. But that's the least of his worries, considering he doesn't have his dad's permission. All he has to do is the impossible: keep Race from discovering his lie until he can convince his dad that racing's safe.



Yeah, sure. That'll be easy.

Buy it on Amazon
Buy it at Barnes and Noble
Buy it on Smashwords
Haven't read the first book? Running Wide Open is on sale now for 99 cents.







Running Wide Open: Book 1 in the Full Throttle Series



Cody Everett has a temper as hot as the flashpoint of racing fuel, and it's landed him at his uncle's trailer, a last-chance home before military school. But how can he take the guy seriously when he calls himself Race, eats Twinkies for breakfast, and pals around with rednecks who drive in circles every Saturday night?



What Cody doesn't expect is for the arrangement to work. Or for Race to become the friend and mentor he's been looking for all his life. But just as Cody begins to settle in and get a handle on his supercharged temper, a crisis sends his life spinning out of control. Everything he's come to care about is threatened, and he has to choose between falling back on his old, familiar anger or stepping up to prove his loyalty to the only person he's ever dared to trust.



Praise for Running Wide Open:



"It doesn't matter if you are a racing fan or not, Running Wide Open will captivate you and capture your heart." – Cari J, Amazon reviewer



"The roar of engines practically explodes off the page in this compelling, heart-thumping debut. Cody Everett is a straight-shooter with attitude, smarts, and whip-cracking wit; he doesn't pull any punches, and neither does author Lisa Nowak. The collision of Cody and the world of stock car racing makes for a great story, one of the best I've read in a long time. Running Wide Open is a book not to be missed." - Christine Fletcher, author of Tallulah Falls and Ten Cents a Dance



"The racing is easy to understand and does not get in the way of a rattling good story. I still couldn't put it down on a re-read." – Elisabeth Miles, Amazon reviewer



"We race stock cars during the summer and even though this is a recommended read for Young Adults, we are seniors and enjoyed every page. We can hardly wait for the sequel to come out. MUST READING!" – Maxci Jermann, Barnes and Noble reviewer



"I say read this book, it's fun, it's beautiful, it's a very cool read that will give you a feel-good state of mind. Awesome read." - L.E.Olteano, Butterfly-o-meter Books

Buy it on Amazon
Buy it at Barnes and Noble
Buy it on Smashwords




Author Bio:



In addition to being a YA author, Lisa Nowak is a retired amateur stock car racer, an accomplished cat whisperer, and a professional smartass. She writes coming-of-age books about kids in hard luck situations who learn to appreciate their own value after finding mentors who love them for who they are. She enjoys dark chocolate and stout beer and constantly works toward employing wei wu wei in her life, all the while realizing that the struggle itself is an oxymoron.



Lisa has no spare time, but if she did she'd use it to tend to her expansive perennial garden, watch medical dramas, take long walks after dark, and teach her cats to play poker. For those of you who might be wondering, she is not, and has never been, a diaper-wearing astronaut. She lives in Milwaukie, Oregon, with her husband, four feline companions, and two giant sequoias.



Connect with Lisa online:

Twitter: http://twitter.com/Lisa_Nowak
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LisaNowakAuthor
Google +: http://bit.ly/LisaNowakGooglePlus
Blog: http://lisanowak.wordpress.com/
Subscribe to her newsletter for updates about coming attractions: http://bit.ly/LisaNowakNewsletter
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Published on December 10, 2011 22:56

December 8, 2011

The Review Is In

Here's the review I've been waiting for today. Head on over to John Waverly's blog and read what he has to say about my heart throb MC, Octavion. It's not pretty.  Then come back and tell me what you think. Do you agree with him? It's okay if you do. I'd like to know what you really think about how some male characters are portrayed in YA novels. What will our kids get out of it?  Here's the link:  http://www.johnwaverly.com/2011/11/bound-by-ck-bryant-book-review.html
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Published on December 08, 2011 19:16

Another Day Perhaps

Okay, so the guy with the bad review never posted. Sorry about that. I'll keep watching his blog and as soon as it goes live, I'll post a link here. Can't wait to get your opinion on it.



In the meantime, isn't this a cool picture. I can't remember where I got it. Sorry. But I think it's beautiful. Kinda goes with my book a little, too.



I love white tigers.
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Published on December 08, 2011 17:51

December 7, 2011

A Goodie, a Deal & a Bad Review, OH MY!

Look what I got today!!  Isn't it beautiful?  

RaShelle Workman sent it to me and of course I cried. There's nothing like seeing your book cover on something awesome to bring out the tears. 

That's my son, Joshua peeking out from the top of the blanket. He thinks it's cool and wants to keep it, but NOT!  It's all mine. I'm always cold so this throw will come in handy while I'm writing in my office. 

THANKS, RaSHELLE!!!  You're the best. EVER!!!



Oh, and I've got some good news for anyone who wants to buy my book, but couldn't afford it. 

You can now!

The digital version (Nook, Kindle, E-reader) is now available for only 99 cents EVERYWHERE. That's Amazon, Barnes & Nobles AND Smashwords. And the paperback has been lowered on Amazon from $13.99 to only TEN BUCKS!!!  It's also got FREE shipping if you're on PRIME.  Can't beat that deal.  The links are on my sidebar.

Let's see, what else?

Oh, come back tomorrow for a unique look at BOUND. A man's point of view. This particular "male" reviewer has some harsh words to say about my heart-throb, main character, Octavion. He asked my permission to post it and I say, BRING IT ON!  So come back and I'll give you the link and let you decide if you agree with him or not. I'll also have a few things to say about his review.

See you tomorrow!





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Published on December 07, 2011 15:36

December 5, 2011

How To Date An Alien

Today I'd like to introduce YA author Magan Vernon!







HOW TO DATE AN ALIEN:



High school senior Alex Bianchi's estranged father gets her an internship at Circe Operations Center to pad her college applications. But Circe isn't your typical military base. It's an alien-run operation center and not all of the aliens are friendly, especially the one that tries to kill Alex on her first day. When Ace, a dark-eyed Caltian, enters and saves the day, she can't help but be drawn to him. Can these star-crossed lovers survive when they're on the brink of intergalactic war?

Buy it on Amazon
Buy it on Smashwords
AUTHOR BIO:Magan is self-proclaimed geek-to-glam poster child who channels her inner geek by writing science fiction for teens. Even though she slept with a night light until she was in middle school for fear of alien attacks. She now lives with her husband, daughter, and dog in central Illinois where she still sleeps with a night light...just in case. Magan's blog
Magan's Website
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Published on December 05, 2011 13:17

And the Winner Is . . .

First, I want to thank everyone who participated in the YA Scavenger Hunt. I gained over 70 new followers (friends), a ton of Facebook and Twitter followers and had 71 awesome comments. I can't wait to get to know all of you better.  So . . . I guess you want to know who won the big prize, eh?

Drum Roll Please!

And the Winner is . . . 

Sandra Lin

Colleen Houck will contact you (if she hasn't done already) and I will email you a free ebook of BOUND in the next day or so. I hope you enjoy it.

WAIT!! I'm not done!

I also need to announce the winner of ANOTHER e-copy of BOUND.

Are you ready?

#174 - Jessirae

I will also send you your e-book in a day or so.

CONGRATS to the winners and a big thanks to everyone who entered.

If you'd like to purchase BOUND, check out the links on my sidebar.If you'd like to read the first THREE chapters, head on over to WATTPAD and you can read them for FREE.





And watch for my holiday special beginning later this week.

The e-book version of BOUND will be available for 

only 99 cents.









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Published on December 05, 2011 11:21

December 1, 2011

YA Scavenger Hunt

Yippity Skippity!  I'm super excited to be participating in the YA Scavenger Hunt, hosted by the PHENOMENAL Colleen Houck (Tiger's Curse)! This is my first time and I have to say, IT ROCKS! The best part is that, not only am I hosting an AMAZING, NYTimes Bestselling  author, but my own secret content is somewhere out there in cyberspace on another great author's blog and you get to go find it. Don't panic. This is going to be fun and the rewards are SWEET!!  So here goes.



Here's how it works. Each blog will feature a different author and after you've read through all the material and fulfilled the requirements listed, there will be a link given for you to get to the next blogger. When you get back to my blog, you've gone full circle and should be able to submit the scavenger hunt with all the information you've gathered to be entered into the drawing for the grand prize. The hunt begins December 1st at NOON (Pacific) and ends December 4th at NOON (Pacific). It might take you a couple of hours to get through all the blogs and enter all their AWESOME contests, but it will be well worth your time. I promise. More info is at the bottom of this post.



For my blog, I'm lucky enough to feature Gregg Olsen.



About Gregg . . .

Gregg's interest in young adult (YA) literature comes from his fascination with that "moment when we define ourselves, plan our futures, and make the moves to get us to where we think we want to go." As a father of twin girls, he's seen those definitive moments and understands the rivalry among teenagers, particularly twins. "My girls were close, but also rivals in a way, too. . . . Hayley and Taylor in the series know that all too well." A Seattle native who lives in Washington State, Gregg has seen the darker side of the Pacific Northwest and knows a little more about the area than your average guy. "There is something dark and beautiful about the Pacific Northwest," he says. "We seem to have an overabundance of serial killers out here–so many, in fact, sometimes I wonder if they have a secret convention in Washington." A New York Times and USA Today best-selling author with thirteen books and sales of over one million copies to his credit, Gregg makes his young adult fiction debut with Envy.



Find out more about Gregg on his website by clicking HERE!





About ENVY . . .

Evil comes in all sorts of flavors. Some bitter. Some deceptively sweet. That's what Katelyn discovers on the day she dies. One minute she's a depressed teen with a loser life. The next, she's lying on a stainless steel slab, eyes glassy, skin frosted over, and very, very dead. Was it: suicide? Murder? Who's to blame? 





Twins Hayley and Taylor Ryan stumble upon the truth, which is far more disturbing than they could have ever imagined ... and which sheds light on another secret, a hidden past even they don't know about. 





Inspired by a ripped-from-the-headlines true crime about cyberbullying, Envy is the gritty first volume in a new bone-chilling series that takes you to the edge - and pushes you right over.



To purchase Envy click below . . .AmazonBarnes & Noble

BONUS MATERIAL

In Envy, twins Hayley and Taylor Ryan's defining moment is the death of their old friend and neighbor, Katelyn. Was it an accident or homicide? As they recover from the shock of her death, they realize how entwined they already are in the evil circulating Empty Coffin, WA. And while they can't explain it, an unknown force pushes them to uncover the truth. Is Katelyn Port Gamble's first and only victim?

Gregg's idea for Envy originally came from this short story he wrote: http://bit.ly/sc7coQ. Click on that link and get it for FREE! Enjoy!



YA SCAVENGER HUNT CONTESTAs an extra bonus we've put together a puzzle with one keyword found on each website. Complete it and you will be eligible for a fantastic GRAND PRIZE which will include signed editions of books, signed bookmarks, jewelry, and many more exclusive gifts with at least one gift from EVERY AUTHOR!Instructions: Copy and paste the puzzle below onto a document or print it out and unscramble the words as you proceed through the Scavenger Hunt. Search for keywords, one on each website that will be highlighted in RED. When you are finished, fill out the Google form  HERE .Rules: To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit this filled in puzzle before noon on Dec 4th (Pacific Time). All the keywords must be in the correct place and you must include your full name and address. Entries sent in without name and address will not be considered!Please unscramble the words below:NVSEIURE
MLTSIPIE
PEMETKIREE
IIHEDOMC
FMERLOAHTWER
DLENGO
IRDEEDEWLB
RSUERNEDR
AOCATTINA
AHNCEDNTE
GURENDOHY
GAUINDAR
RETECSS
EMCREAB
LORNDDWURE
AIRSFCCEI
RIASSMHCT
RWTHACES
RTAAENTNRSP
DETLGAN
YFNASAT
NTOAPHWYP
SLLESUOS
ECNNEOIP
LOENIOASTD
EORFWLWE
AREEHTFS
AAAOLRPMNR
HSIGDNA
DOBANADNE
LIECSHORCN
SPSESNEU
OTMYHLGYO
ELWLHAENO
TTOAINRTAC
UAUTFLBIE
BTRSUTEFEIL
OOOH!  And there's MORE!!  I have my own contest for you to enter.



Fill out the Rafflecopter form below, making sure to fulfill the requirements, and you'll be entered into a drawing to win an e-book of BOUND, my debut novel.  Note: To be eligible to win you also need to submit a valid entry for the YA Scavenger Hunt grand prize.























<a href="http://rafl.es/enable-js"&am... need javascript enabled to see this giveaway</a>.



When you've done that, click HERE to go to the next blog on the Scavenger Hunt.







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Published on December 01, 2011 11:50

November 29, 2011

Happy Book Birthday to UNTRACEABLE!

I'm thrilled to be a part of the Indelibles, a group of 20 authors who have either already launched their books this fall or are getting ready too. You'll find out more about us after the first of the year, but for now you can check out all our awesome books on my sidebar. Click on each pic and read the info on Goodreads.



Today, I'm pleased to announce the release of one of my Indelible sisters' new book, Untraceable. Here's a little more about it and the author, S. R. Johannes.





Untraceable

by S.R. Johannes





Grace has lived in the Smokies all her life, patrolling with her forest ranger father who taught her about wildlife, tracking, and wilderness survival. 

When her dad goes missing on a routine patrol, Grace refuses to believe he's dead and fights the town authorities, tribal officials, and nature to find him.

One day, while out tracking clues, Grace is rescued from danger by Mo, a hot guy with an intoxicating accent and a secret. As her feelings between him and her ex-boyfriend get muddled, Grace travels deep into the wilderness to escape and find her father. 
Along the way, Grace learns terrible secrets that sever relationships and lives. Soon she's enmeshed in a web of conspiracy, deception, and murder. And it's going to take a lot more than a compass and a motorcycle (named Lucifer) for this kick-butting heroine to save everything she loves.





About Shelli . . .







S.R. Johannes lives in Atlanta Georgia with her dog, British-accented husband, and the huge imaginations of their little prince and princess, which she hopes- someday- will change the world. After earning an MBA and working in corporate america, S.R. Johannes traded in her expensive suits, high heels, and corporate lingo for a family, flip-flops, and her love of writing. You can find her hanging out online and visit her at srjohannes.com

I'm so excited to read Untraceable. I've heard so many good things about it. If you'd like to read more, add it to your TBR list or purchase it, here are the links.

The paperback (can be purchased here.



* The Kindle ebook can be purchased  here .

* Other ebook Formats (including ePUB, Nook, iBooks, Sony and more) - can be purchased  here  
You can now add it to your Goodreads.

AND THEN . . . HEAD ON OVER TO WHY NOT? BECAUSE I SAID SO AND READ AN AWESOME REVIEW OF BOUND. Here's a snippet: 

"Move over Edward and Jacob, C.K. Bryant has written men/creatures that will blow you away! With crisp, descriptions and great characterizations, Bound will keep you reading quickly until the end."



Have you read any great books lately? 
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Published on November 29, 2011 10:03