Magan Vernon's Blog, page 32
February 13, 2013
Faster We Burn Cover Reveal
Faster We Burn by Chelsea M. Cameron (Deeper We Fall #2)Genre: New Adult ContemporaryPublication date: April, 2013Blurb Teaser:
The last thing Katie Hallman needs is another guy in her life, but Stryker Grant is there anyway. What starts out as just an escape from her previous relationship disaster soon turns into something more. Stryker gets under her skin the way no one has before, and soon she realizes she can't shake him, even if she wanted to. But is Katie ready to trust her already-battered heart to the guy who could shatter it into a million pieces?
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17283748-faster-we-burn
What do you all think of the cover? I think it goes perfectly with the story since I beta read Deeper We Fall and am definitely looking forward to seeing where the pink-loving Katie and tattooed love boy are going to go!
Chelsea M. Cameron Chelsea M. Cameron is a YA/NA New York Times and USA Today Best-Selling author from Maine. Lover of things random and ridiculous, Jane Austen/Charlotte and Emily Bronte Fangirl, red velvet cake enthusiast, obsessive tea drinker, vegetarian, former cheerleader and world's worst video gamer. When not writing, she enjoys watching infomercials, singing in the car and tweeting. She has a degree in journalism from the University of Maine, Orono that she promptly abandoned to write about the people in her own head. More often than not, these people turn out to be just as weird as she is. Author Links:Website: http://www.chelseamcameron.com/Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5752359.Chelsea_M_CameronFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chelsea-M-Cameron-Official-Author-Page/304422529610919Twitter: https://twitter.com/chel_c_cam
February 11, 2013
Cover Reveal for FAKING IT
FAKING IT by Cora Carmack
releases 06/04/2013 from William Morrow Paperbacks
Mackenzie "Max" Miller has a problem. Her parents have arrived in town for a surprise visit, and if they see her dyed hair, tattoos, and piercings, they just might disown her. Even worse, they're expecting to meet a nice, wholesome boyfriend, not a guy named Mace who has a neck tattoo and plays in a band. All her lies are about to come crashing down around her, but then she meets Cade.
Cade moved to Philadelphia to act and to leave his problems behind in Texas. So far though, he's kept the problems and had very little opportunity to take the stage. When Max approaches him in a coffee shop with a crazy request to pretend to be her boyfriend, he agrees to play the part. But when Cade plays the role a little too well, they're forced to keep the ruse going. And the more they fake the relationship, the more real it begins to feel. AHHHHHHHHH. I am so excited for this! I think I need to go pre order it like now. I loved Losing It and would probably follow Cora Carmack wherever she went, no joke. What do you think of the cover? Have you read Losing It, yet?
February 8, 2013
Books for a Buck Hop
Bestsellers * Award Winners * Hot New Releases
30 authors offering 35 titles at an amazing 99¢ price (limited time offers)
Savor the Savings
Titles by Category:
Young AdultDefy the Stars by Stephanie Parent(romance/verse)Ghost Handby Ripley Patton (paranormal)Seenby Heather Sutherlin (fantasy)Sally Singletary's Curiosity by JM Cataffo (fantasy/mystery)Blue Sky Days by Marie Landry(contemporary)Duplicity (Spellbound #2) * 1st book NOW FREE! * by Nikki Jefford
New Adult/Upper Teen: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal RomanceTreason (Grimoire Saga #2) * 1st book NOW FREE! * by S. M. BoyceThe Renaissance of Hetty Locklear by M. PaxReVamped by Ada AdamsTroll Or Derby, a Fairy Wicked Tale by Red TashNeverloveby Angela BrownFlight (The Crescent Chronicles, #1) by Alyssa Rose IvyVaempires: Revolution and Vaempires: Zombie Rising by Thomas WinshipWhat Kills Me by Wynne ChanningAurora Sky: Vampire Hunter by Nikki Jefford
New Adult/Upper Teen: Contemporary RomancePreservation (Preservation, #1) by Rachael WadeThe Unloved by Jennifer SnyderMake It Last by Bethany Lopez My Paper Heart by Magan Vernon
Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, HorrorDay of Sacrifice Omnibus by Stacey Wallace BenefielFall for Me by K. A. Last The Forever Girl by Rebecca HamiltonReunion by Jeff Bennington
Red Fox (Experiment in Terror #2) * 1st book FREE! * by Karina HalleGuardian Of Fate by L.J. KentowskiEmber's Curse by Gena D. LutzFEARLESSby Tawdra Kandle
Science Fiction and FantasyPerfection Unleashed by Jade KerrionTo Ride a Puca by Heather McCorkle
Contemporary Romance and Chick LitThe Reunion by Elizabeth AloeThe Game Changer by Marie LandryBrokenand Mending by J.B. McGee
a See full hop list with book covers at Shop the Hop.
February 5, 2013
Destiny Gift Cover Reveal
Don't forget the giveaway is still going on for another Juliana Haygert book and four others until Friday!
Destiny Gift by Juliana Haygert (Everlast, #1)-- April 9th, 2013Thirty years in the future, a sinister New York City exists in permanent darkness.
A student at the secured NYU, nineteen-year-old Nadine has visions of Victor Gianni, an imaginary guy she has real feelings for. Afraid of being truly insane, she explains the visions away as simple daydreams, but she can no longer deny them when she bumps into Victor in real life. But this Victor doesn’t know her, and turns her away. After the encounter, Nadine’s visions change to those of eerie fates, gods she’s never heard of, demons with sharp claws they are not too timid to use … and instructions.
To discover if she’s losing her mind, Nadine follows the vague directions—with the real, rude and reluctant Victor—leading to a man who knows it all: Nadine can restore an ancient creed by unveiling the clues on her visions, and bring sunlight and peace to the world again. But that’s only if the demons and the other evil forces behind the darkness don’t stop her first.Isn't it Purdy? And Juliana is one of my critique partners with a flair for New Adult! Add it to Goodreads And a GoodReads giveaway!AUTHOR BIO
Author Links:Website: http://www.julianahaygert.com/Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6609948.Juliana_HaygertFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/juhaygertTwitter: https://twitter.com/Juliana_Haygert
February 4, 2013
Don't forget there is still time to win the giveaway for ...
Don't forget there is still time to win the
giveaway
for five New Adult books!
And now onto the main attraction. I'm so happy I got to help with this cover pre-publication, since Lee is a member of The Indelibles. And without further ado...
Introducing VOLITION!
Book 2 in the dramatic PERCEPTION Series coming April 16!
Zoe Vanderveen is on the run with her captor turned rescuer, Noah Brody.
They're in love.
Or at least that’s what he tells her. Her memories have returned but her feelings are dreamlike—thin and fleeting. Her heart can’t be trusted. Just look at what happened with Taylor Blake.
Senator Vanderveen’s new team of cyborg agents are in hot pursuit, and a reward for their capture is broadcast nationwide. Record breaking cold and snow hinder their escape. Someone dies helping them.
And their fight for survival has only begun.
To celebrate Lee Strauss is giving away a $200.00 Amazon, Nook or itunes gift card!
Read on to find out how to enter.
VOLITION is the exciting continuation of Noah and Zoe's story from Perception.
Seventeen year old Zoe Vanderveen is a GAP—a genetically altered person. She lives in the security of a walled city on prime water-front property along side other equally beautiful people with extended life spans. Her brother Liam is missing.
Noah Brody is a natural who lives on the outside. He leads protests against the GAPs and detests the widening chasm they’ve created between those who have and those who don’t. He doesn’t like girls like Zoe and he has good reason not to like her specifically.
Zoe’s carefree life takes a traumatic turn. She’s in trouble and it turns out that Noah, the last guy on earth she should trust, is the only one who can help her.
Want to read PERCEPTION? It's available on Amazon, Kobo, itunes, and Nook.
About the author:
LEE STRAUSS
Lee Strauss writes historical and science fiction/romance for upper YA and adult readers. She also writes light and fun stuff under the name Elle Strauss. To find out more about Lee and her books check out her facebook page. Follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/elle_strauss To find out about new releases sign up for her newsletter at www.ellestraussbooks.com
a Rafflecopter giveaway
And now onto the main attraction. I'm so happy I got to help with this cover pre-publication, since Lee is a member of The Indelibles. And without further ado...
Introducing VOLITION!
Book 2 in the dramatic PERCEPTION Series coming April 16!
Zoe Vanderveen is on the run with her captor turned rescuer, Noah Brody.
They're in love.
Or at least that’s what he tells her. Her memories have returned but her feelings are dreamlike—thin and fleeting. Her heart can’t be trusted. Just look at what happened with Taylor Blake.
Senator Vanderveen’s new team of cyborg agents are in hot pursuit, and a reward for their capture is broadcast nationwide. Record breaking cold and snow hinder their escape. Someone dies helping them.
And their fight for survival has only begun.
To celebrate Lee Strauss is giving away a $200.00 Amazon, Nook or itunes gift card!
Read on to find out how to enter.
VOLITION is the exciting continuation of Noah and Zoe's story from Perception.
Seventeen year old Zoe Vanderveen is a GAP—a genetically altered person. She lives in the security of a walled city on prime water-front property along side other equally beautiful people with extended life spans. Her brother Liam is missing. Noah Brody is a natural who lives on the outside. He leads protests against the GAPs and detests the widening chasm they’ve created between those who have and those who don’t. He doesn’t like girls like Zoe and he has good reason not to like her specifically.
Zoe’s carefree life takes a traumatic turn. She’s in trouble and it turns out that Noah, the last guy on earth she should trust, is the only one who can help her.
Want to read PERCEPTION? It's available on Amazon, Kobo, itunes, and Nook.
About the author:LEE STRAUSS
Lee Strauss writes historical and science fiction/romance for upper YA and adult readers. She also writes light and fun stuff under the name Elle Strauss. To find out more about Lee and her books check out her facebook page. Follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/elle_strauss To find out about new releases sign up for her newsletter at www.ellestraussbooks.com
a Rafflecopter giveaway
February 1, 2013
GoodReads Appreciation Giveaway
I made the announcement that once The Only Exception had 200 people adding it on GoodReads not only would a do a teaser, but a giveaway as well.
I WAS going to give away my own book, but I decided to give away some Ebooks by my friends instead. You may recognize them since they are on the top of Amazon's best seller lists and even a New York Times best seller.
Since these ladies helped me out with The Only Exception, I thought it was time to give away their books!
This is international (Since this is Ebooks ONLY)and open for one week!
Thank you to everyone for adding The Only Exception on GoodReads and look out for more contests! a Rafflecopter giveaway
I WAS going to give away my own book, but I decided to give away some Ebooks by my friends instead. You may recognize them since they are on the top of Amazon's best seller lists and even a New York Times best seller.
Since these ladies helped me out with The Only Exception, I thought it was time to give away their books!
This is international (Since this is Ebooks ONLY)and open for one week!
Thank you to everyone for adding The Only Exception on GoodReads and look out for more contests! a Rafflecopter giveaway
January 29, 2013
The Only Exception Cover Reveal
Yeah, it's definitely sexy. When I was looking for covers for this book I had a few ideas in mind, but nothing was just coming through. After seeing the cover for The Secret of Ella and Micha and The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden, I thought "Who is this designer that does such panty dropping covers?" That was what led me to Regina Wamba at Mae I Design. There were many hard hours spent looking at photos of hot people, but this was the one that gave the best effect, combined with the flag motif. This is a book that has political undertones (hello hot governor's son), but it's not a book about politics. It's about love, making exceptions, and finding yourself even when you don't think you need to be found. I took a huge risk by writing this book and dealing with some heavy subject matter, but hopefully you'll love it come April 9th. Until then add it to your GoodReads and just for your entertainment, I've posted a little teaser below.Add it to your GoodReads
"So challenging, even this early in the morning. I like it." He folded his hands on the desk and kept his face just inches from mine. That’s when I first noticed the freckles that paraded his nose and down to his cheek. It gave him a boyish charm that stood out among his usual political facade. What the hell was wrong with me? All I had been doing was arguing with the guy and now I was sitting and staring at his freckles. Something definitely had to be wrong with me.
Maybe it was the heated political debates that had my blood boiling. Or it could have been the very delicate curve of his jaw line as it dipped down into his chin. I was a sucker for a guy with a great jaw line, especially one with the faintest hint of stubble like he left it there for me to stare at. A guy that prim and proper shouldn’t have stubble, but it set him apart from the rest of his put-together attire and made him seem almost human.
"Sorry to interrupt y'all but I think it's time for class."
January 28, 2013
The Writer's Dojo
The Writer's Dojo is returning to its roots and invites you to join in on the fun!
When I first started the writer's dojo in 2008, she did it as a way to keep the glory of National Novel Writing Month alive all year long. I loved the camaraderie and support I received during the month of November and desired that same feeling of community every month of the year, in every aspect of writing--not just the drafting.
Beginning February 1st, 2013, the writer's dojo returns to its roots and ushers in a new age of ninjawesomeness. Each month we will open three training rooms at the writer's dojo website. A room for drafters (Writing Month, aka WriMo), a room for revisers (Revising Month, aka ReMo) and a room for those querying (Querying Month, aka QuMo).
We invite you to set your own goals, whether it's to write a thousand words a day, revise ten pages a week, or submit twenty queries in a month, and register your goal in the appropriate training room.
Every Monday we'll post the leaderboard for the previous week, and at the end of each month those who met their goal will be able to post the coveted Writing Ninja Warrior badge on their blog or website.
To help you reach your goals, we have a number of ways to support you:
CHATS: At the dojo every Thursday at 4:00 p.m. Eastern time.
TWITTER: Anytime, day or night, at #writingninja.
GOOGLE+: Join our community for random write-ins and sprints.
NEWSLETTER: Subscribe to our Ninja News and once a month you'll receive an email with an encouraging note and a list of the top performers for the previous month. There will also be opportunities for giveaways, starting with February's newsletter!
We hope to see you at the dojo as you reach for--and achieve--your goals!
When I first started the writer's dojo in 2008, she did it as a way to keep the glory of National Novel Writing Month alive all year long. I loved the camaraderie and support I received during the month of November and desired that same feeling of community every month of the year, in every aspect of writing--not just the drafting.
Beginning February 1st, 2013, the writer's dojo returns to its roots and ushers in a new age of ninjawesomeness. Each month we will open three training rooms at the writer's dojo website. A room for drafters (Writing Month, aka WriMo), a room for revisers (Revising Month, aka ReMo) and a room for those querying (Querying Month, aka QuMo).
We invite you to set your own goals, whether it's to write a thousand words a day, revise ten pages a week, or submit twenty queries in a month, and register your goal in the appropriate training room.
Every Monday we'll post the leaderboard for the previous week, and at the end of each month those who met their goal will be able to post the coveted Writing Ninja Warrior badge on their blog or website.
To help you reach your goals, we have a number of ways to support you:
CHATS: At the dojo every Thursday at 4:00 p.m. Eastern time.
TWITTER: Anytime, day or night, at #writingninja.
GOOGLE+: Join our community for random write-ins and sprints.
NEWSLETTER: Subscribe to our Ninja News and once a month you'll receive an email with an encouraging note and a list of the top performers for the previous month. There will also be opportunities for giveaways, starting with February's newsletter!
We hope to see you at the dojo as you reach for--and achieve--your goals!
January 25, 2013
Why I believe in Insta-Love
There are a lot of blog posts out there talking about the cliche of insta-love and how they don't believe it. I used to think that Cinderella rubbish was for the stupid and then insta-love happened to me.
At twenty I started my junior year of college and just got out of a year and a half long relationship when I moved into my new apartment. I wasn't looking for love. I had too many relationships that did nothing but fail and decided to have some fun.
And fun I did. I dated random guys from my political science classes, went out to parties, and had to do the "walk of shame" more than once. But none of it felt right. None of these guys gave me the butterflies. By November I just got out of another bad fling in which the guy had a girlfriend the entire time we were together. So one of my sorority sisters finally decided she was going to hook me up with one of her boyfriend's friends.
I wasn't so sure about that one.
She told me he was looking for a girlfriend and older, so he would actually be able to take me out instead of the many guys I believe just hung out with me because my sorority house had a chef. I reluctantly agreed, put on a pair of heels and headed with her to a hockey game.
One look at the guy she wanted to hook me up with and I curled my upper lip. Not that looks are everything, but come on now. BUT his cute friend was sitting next to him. His VERY cute friend.
One of my sorority sister's friends gave me the scoop on the cute friend. He wasn't like the guys I was used to dating. He had a real job, a house, a new car, and was basically a southern gentleman. Helllooooo.
I walked right up to him and started talking and didn't stop. The moment I sat down I knew it wasn't going to be some fling. A guy like him didn't do flings. Within a night I was twitterpated and in less than a month I knew I was going to spend the rest of my life with him.
Almost six years later I'm still with the cute friend from the hockey game. We were married in 2010 and had our first child in 2011. I believe in insta-love because I felt it the moment I saw him. He was everything I needed in my life and then some.
I may not always believe in the insta-love that characters have in some books, but there are exceptions to every rule and my husband was definitely my exception.
Do you believe in insta-love? Why or why not?
At twenty I started my junior year of college and just got out of a year and a half long relationship when I moved into my new apartment. I wasn't looking for love. I had too many relationships that did nothing but fail and decided to have some fun.
And fun I did. I dated random guys from my political science classes, went out to parties, and had to do the "walk of shame" more than once. But none of it felt right. None of these guys gave me the butterflies. By November I just got out of another bad fling in which the guy had a girlfriend the entire time we were together. So one of my sorority sisters finally decided she was going to hook me up with one of her boyfriend's friends.
I wasn't so sure about that one.
She told me he was looking for a girlfriend and older, so he would actually be able to take me out instead of the many guys I believe just hung out with me because my sorority house had a chef. I reluctantly agreed, put on a pair of heels and headed with her to a hockey game.
One look at the guy she wanted to hook me up with and I curled my upper lip. Not that looks are everything, but come on now. BUT his cute friend was sitting next to him. His VERY cute friend.
One of my sorority sister's friends gave me the scoop on the cute friend. He wasn't like the guys I was used to dating. He had a real job, a house, a new car, and was basically a southern gentleman. Helllooooo.
I walked right up to him and started talking and didn't stop. The moment I sat down I knew it wasn't going to be some fling. A guy like him didn't do flings. Within a night I was twitterpated and in less than a month I knew I was going to spend the rest of my life with him.
Almost six years later I'm still with the cute friend from the hockey game. We were married in 2010 and had our first child in 2011. I believe in insta-love because I felt it the moment I saw him. He was everything I needed in my life and then some.
I may not always believe in the insta-love that characters have in some books, but there are exceptions to every rule and my husband was definitely my exception.
Do you believe in insta-love? Why or why not?
January 23, 2013
Original Titles
There are a lot of books out there that didn't start out with the titles they have now. Gone with the Wind is a classic one and there are a lot of others. Some get changed in editing and some authors just have a change of heart. But what about with Indies?
The self-published author has the freedom to hold on tight to their title, but sometimes their critique partners know better and tell them that a change is probably better.
How to Date an Alien was originally that title, but had a brief stint as "Interstellar Starplex" Yes. I know. I wouldn't have read it either.
My Paper Heart was originally My Own Summer and that was what I queried it on and got the most responses with, but after googling the title I found it was the same as a Deftones song that wasn't a pleasant one and I changed it. That ended with me changing some elements of the story as well.
I also decided to ask some other Indies about their original titles and here are there responses:
Rashelle Workman: "Exiled" started out as "Connected." But I knew I would be writing more than one book and I wanted words that all ended the same. The series was also called The Connected Series, but I had a marketing friend tell me that the name of my series was too vague, and didn't give enough information about the story. So I changed it to Immortal Essence - which is exactly what the story is about. =)
Sleeping Roses was changed to Distorted by the publishing company it was with, but when I took my rights back, I changed it back to Sleeping Roses because of Exiled, Beguiled, Dovetailed (I didn't want another "ed" title that didn't go with the Immortal Essence series. I actually like Distorted better, but... Sleeping Roses works and makes sense in the story).
Blood and Snow was always Blood and Snow. When I came up with the story idea, I thought of different ideas, but knew Blood and Snow was what I needed to call it, even though there is another book with the same title. Leigh T. Moore: All my books start out as something different b/c I'm awful at titles... LOL!
TTAF was originally "Shadow Falls" after the neighborhood where it takes place (which is neither shadowy nor has waterfalls)TTALG was Shadow Creek after the new development/McMansion neighborhood adjacent to SF
I was advised by agent to change the name of TTAF from Shadow Falls b/c it "sounded too paranormal." I agreed.
Rouge was originally Cheveux Roux, which means "red hair" in French. Teeny, the little girl Hale's trying to protect has red hair, and she's sort of the motivation for all of Hale's choices.
Everyone, and I mean everyone, advised me against using a foreign language title.
And yes, I am aware Rouge is a French word--LOL! That was also agent's idea.
In hindsight, I'm thinking I probably should've changed it to something completely new to distance it from that situation. (In south Louisiana, when you hear "Rouge," you do not automatically think "Moulin Rouge." I think Baton Rouge.)
The science fiction novel that's with Agent Eric was originally called Jackson, but then Jackson turned out to not be such a great character, and everyone (including me) knew it had to change.
At the moment, I'm calling it 21 DAYS because that's how long their captivity lasts.
But that kind of sounds like zombies to me. So who knows what it'll end up being... LOL! Cindy Hogan: I wanted Created to be called Ravaged, but people associate ravaged with sexual things, so I brainstormed for about a month and then looking at synonyms of synonyms, I came up with Created, which I love!Have your books had different titles? What made you change them?
The self-published author has the freedom to hold on tight to their title, but sometimes their critique partners know better and tell them that a change is probably better.
How to Date an Alien was originally that title, but had a brief stint as "Interstellar Starplex" Yes. I know. I wouldn't have read it either.
My Paper Heart was originally My Own Summer and that was what I queried it on and got the most responses with, but after googling the title I found it was the same as a Deftones song that wasn't a pleasant one and I changed it. That ended with me changing some elements of the story as well.
I also decided to ask some other Indies about their original titles and here are there responses:
Rashelle Workman: "Exiled" started out as "Connected." But I knew I would be writing more than one book and I wanted words that all ended the same. The series was also called The Connected Series, but I had a marketing friend tell me that the name of my series was too vague, and didn't give enough information about the story. So I changed it to Immortal Essence - which is exactly what the story is about. =)
Sleeping Roses was changed to Distorted by the publishing company it was with, but when I took my rights back, I changed it back to Sleeping Roses because of Exiled, Beguiled, Dovetailed (I didn't want another "ed" title that didn't go with the Immortal Essence series. I actually like Distorted better, but... Sleeping Roses works and makes sense in the story).
Blood and Snow was always Blood and Snow. When I came up with the story idea, I thought of different ideas, but knew Blood and Snow was what I needed to call it, even though there is another book with the same title. Leigh T. Moore: All my books start out as something different b/c I'm awful at titles... LOL!
TTAF was originally "Shadow Falls" after the neighborhood where it takes place (which is neither shadowy nor has waterfalls)TTALG was Shadow Creek after the new development/McMansion neighborhood adjacent to SF
I was advised by agent to change the name of TTAF from Shadow Falls b/c it "sounded too paranormal." I agreed.
Rouge was originally Cheveux Roux, which means "red hair" in French. Teeny, the little girl Hale's trying to protect has red hair, and she's sort of the motivation for all of Hale's choices.
Everyone, and I mean everyone, advised me against using a foreign language title.
And yes, I am aware Rouge is a French word--LOL! That was also agent's idea.
In hindsight, I'm thinking I probably should've changed it to something completely new to distance it from that situation. (In south Louisiana, when you hear "Rouge," you do not automatically think "Moulin Rouge." I think Baton Rouge.)
The science fiction novel that's with Agent Eric was originally called Jackson, but then Jackson turned out to not be such a great character, and everyone (including me) knew it had to change.
At the moment, I'm calling it 21 DAYS because that's how long their captivity lasts.
But that kind of sounds like zombies to me. So who knows what it'll end up being... LOL! Cindy Hogan: I wanted Created to be called Ravaged, but people associate ravaged with sexual things, so I brainstormed for about a month and then looking at synonyms of synonyms, I came up with Created, which I love!Have your books had different titles? What made you change them?
