S.M. Boyce's Blog: My Journal, page 30

Welcome to the treasure hunt tour for The Forever Girl by Rebecca Hamilton!

Welcome to the treasure hunt tour for The Forever Girl by Rebecca Hamilton!

Here’s how it’s done:

Each stop on the tour will have a small excerpt with a code hidden it. Visit all the stops to gather the letters, unscramble the phrase, and email it to: sandra.ashton-holtzman[at]bookandblogservices[dot]com

The stops list can be found here: http://www.bookandblogservices.com/book-tour-for-the-forever-girl-by-rebecca-hamilton

 

The winner will receive a goody bag including:

1 Forever Girl Ring
1 Forever Girl Keychain
1 Forever Girl Necklace
1 Forever Girl Bookmark
1 Forever Girl Candle
1 signed copy of The Forever Girl
1 signed copy of the companion novella, Her Sweetest Downfall
IMMORTALIZATION: The author will also immortalize the lucky winner by giving them a cameo appearance in the next Forever Girl book.

Bonus: If you’ve already reviewed The Forever Girl on Amazon, include the link to your review along with the unscrambled phrase for an additional entry!

 

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The Forever Girl

Sophia’s family has skeletons, but they aren’t in their graves.

At twenty-two, practicing Wiccan Sophia Parsons is scratching out a living waiting tables in her Rocky Mountain hometown, a pariah after a string of unsolved murders with only one thing in common: her.

Sophia can imagine lots of ways to improve her life, but she’d settle for just getting rid of the buzzing noise in her head. When the spell she casts goes wrong, the static turns into voices. Her personal demons get company, and the newcomers are dangerous.

One of them is a man named Charles, who Sophia falls for despite her better judgment. He has connections that might help her unveil the mystery surrounding her ancestor’s hanging, but she gets more than she bargains for when she finally decides to trust him.

Survival in his world, she learns, means not asking questions and staying out of the immortal council’s way. It’s a line she crossed long ago. If Sophia wants to survive the council and save the people she loves, she must accept who she is, perform dark magic, and fight to the death for her freedom.

The Forever Girl is a full-length Paranormal Fantasy novel that will appeal to lovers of paranormal romance, urban fantasy, witches, vampires, ghosts, paranormal mystery, and paranormal horror.

 
 

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Urban Fantasy Fans: Book Review of Zombie Rising by Thomas Winship

[image error]Zombie Rising: The Short Version

Zombie Rising is a fast-paced, action-packed thrill ride that tells a new side of this series’ story. It’s a tad gory and not for the sensitive readers out there, but those who enjoy fight scenes and strong characters should love anything in the Vaempires series by Thomas Winship.

 

Zombie Rising: The Details

The Vaempires series by Thomas Winship is a blend of some of my favorite things: dystopian worlds; advanced technology; vampires; romance; action; powerful characters; zombies; magic powers; and new creatures.

I mean…seriously. All of that is packed into one series.

So far, we have the first core novel (Revolution), a novella (White Christmas), and this second core novel (Zombie Rising).

Zombie Rising picks up where Revolution left off. Well, sort of. It picks up the story at about 2/3 of the way through and continues past Revolution’s end, but sticks primarily to the new perspective of Linq (a previously minor character from the first book). There are a lot of elements from and references to the other two books, so I highly recommend you reread them both before diving into Zombie Rising.

We also get teaser appearances from my favorite character: the badass and very epic Princess Cassie. She fights for what & who she loves up to the very end, and she keeps a remarkably level head for a teenager.

There is a lot of action and dismemberment, so much so that I feel it detracted from the plot at times. This was rare, but it did happen; I sometimes just wanted to get back to the plot or characters and stop hearing about all the murdering and death. Like I said, this is a gory book, but the plot calls or it. I believed the destruction…I just wanted more about the characters at times.

One or two logical choices came to the characters too late, in my opinion, and that made the choices seem forced. These weren’t deal breakers for me, just something I noticed while reading.

Spoiler (click to expand)
 For instance, Cassie goes into her bedroom and pretty much forgets about Linq and Ray until she has a “d’oh” moment and metaphorically slaps her forehead. Likewise, Linq and Ray continue to kill zombies far after they should have realized killing Iris was the obvious choice.

Also, there is a cliff hanger ending. It seems Tom enjoys these! Even though I’m not exactly a fan of HEAs, I wanted more resolution. But I always will, and this is simply a preference of mine. Tom is good about writing quickly, and I have no doubt he’ll get the next installment to us soon…at least, he damn well better.

Bottom line? You’ll burn through this book. It has short chapters and a lot going for it, so I definitely recommend this for urban fantasy and paranormal fans of any kind.

I received an advance review copy (ARC) from the author in exchange for an honest review.

 

Official Book Website

Buy the Books

Vaempires: Revolution
Vaempires: White Christmas
Vaempires: Zombie Rising



Vaempires: Revolution

It is the morning of Princess Cassandra’s sixteenth birthday. Everyone’s attention is focused on the heir to the vampire throne. World leaders, the rich and famous, and VIPs from every corner of the globe have gathered in the nation’s capital to celebrate the momentous event.

Cassandra’s boyfriend, Daniel, is late for the party. He’s still outside the city when all hell breaks loose. What he believes is an act of terrorism proves to be a full-fledged revolution. Væmpires–former vampires who mutated into warm-blooded creatures with an insatiable hunger for cold blood–have launched coordinated attacks across the globe, with three goals: the eradication of humanity, the enslavement of vampires, and the ascension of væmpires as the dominant species on the planet.

The vampire and human leaders are killed. Cassandra is missing. Daniel is the acting king. Desperate to find the princess, Daniel and his friends fight their way across the besieged city. With the hopes of the free world resting on the shoulders of four vampire teenagers, væmpires unleash their secret weapons: a new breed of væmpire that is far deadlier than any ever seen before.

What can four teens do against an enemy that can shape-shift, fly, and walk through walls?

Amazon USA | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Vaempires: White Christmas

It’s almost Christmas. With the global holiday days away, the people of the world should be turning their attention toward celebrating peace and goodwill, but tension between humans, vampires, and væmpires is at an all-time high. Desperate for solutions, King Brant schedules a secret summit deep in North America’s Northern Forest. Along with Queen Anne, Princess Cassandra, Daniel’s family, and the human President and First Lady, the vampire leader seeks to reaffirm the ties between humans and vampires, while brainstorming ways to respond to the growing hostility among væmpires.

Meanwhile, Daniel and Cassie’s relationship is at an all-time low. The princess is still reeling from her breakup with Vielyn, and Daniel doesn’t know what he should or shouldn’t do to help. Little does he know that the summit will be flooded with surprises–guests, allegations, accusations, proposals, and even Christmas Eve revelations–but not all of the surprises will be pleasant.

**Author’s note: This story takes place six months before the events in Væmpires: Revolution. However, it is designed to be read after Væmpires: Revolution.**

Amazon USA | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Vaempires: Zombie Rising

The tale of the Evolutionary War resumes in Væmpires: Zombie Rising.

Væmpires have taken control of twelve major cities. Their leader, Vielyn, seeks the atomic weapons that will bring the rest of the world to its knees.

Vampire forces are reeling. As Linq and Ray race to the royal estate to rendezvous with Cassandra and Daniel, the princess is captured and Daniel falls.

With the fate of world shifting to their teenage shoulders, Linq and Ray must deal with tremendous losses while battling a most unexpected—and undeadly—new foe.

Amazon USA | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Get The Re-release Of “Embers At Galdrilene” By A.D. Trosper For Only $1.99 From 11/17/12 Through 11/24/12 – Don’t Miss The Dragon’s Call!

Embers at Galdrilene by A.D. Trosper has undergone a huge transformation! It now sports a beautifully  redesigned front cover, spine and back cover. It also has an awesome custom designed interior and has been professionally edited. All thanks to the incredible team at Blue Harvest Creative. And as an added bonus, when you read the final page of Embers at Galdrilene, you’ll get an exciting sneak peek for the prologue Tears of War, the second book in the Dragon’s Call series.

In celebration of its re-release, Embers at Galdrilene will be available for only .99 cents! But this price only lasts from November 17th to November 24th. Embers won’t turn into a pumpkin at the end of its re-release promotion, but it will return to its regular price of $3.95. Don’t miss out on this bestselling fantasy book. Wrap up the holidays with the gift of reading!

Click HERE to buy at Amazon

 

 
[image error]BLURB

“A ray of light, a stain of shadow, shall endure to breathe life and death into the future”

The war between the Guardians and the Shadow Riders ended in total devastation. The final battle killed all the dragons and left nothing but fields of ash. A small clutch of dragon eggs was all that remained to provide hope for the future.

Five hundred years later, the ability to use magic is a death sentence and dragons are remembered as a curse. But the unhatched dragons sing for their riders…and soon six lives will be changed forever.

The elements of magic are drawn together as the dragons’ call leads them on an epic and dangerous journey of discovery. They soon learn everything they’ve been taught to believe about magic and dragons is wrong.

With the last of the dragons and the world at stake, they will risk everything to heed the call.

But an evil from the past soon threatens their discovery and newfound joy. Shadow Dragons ride the dawn once more…

 

 

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT EMBERS AT GALDRILENE

“Evil lurks at every corner and eventually bursts, bringing forth a vivid confrontation that kept me at the edge of my seat, turning page after page.” ~ Annamaria Bazzi

“The characters are well thought out, and the plot is great. I loved Galdrilene itself, and the idea of the dragon eggs singing to those who are meant to hatch them.” ~ The Crooked Word

“I was so impressed by this excellent story! The characters and setting were vividly detailed, and the storyline was unique and enticing. I loved that the characters had strong bonds and connections to other beings, and Trosper did a magnificent job with pacing and stringing together the plot.” ~ Katie Jennings (author of the Dryad Quartet and When Empires Fall)

“There is something about dragon stories that is truly captivating and Trosper has certainly encapsulated this in her novel. This story follows the lives of young men and women as they escape a life of control and fear to find their true talents and true selves… Expect to be entertained with dragon fights, romance and witty comebacks in Trosper’s creation of an idyllic world. You are even given a rare insight into the workings of a dragon’s mind.” ~ Elizabeth Wright of Bestchicklit.com

“Anne McCaffrey’s Legacy… I was extremely wary when this book was immediately evocative of every story Anne ever told about dragons, their ‘Impression’ on their destined riders, and the immutable bond between the two. Like Asimov’s laws of robotics, Pern’s dragon lore is indelibly etched as ‘fact’ in my psyche and anything markedly different does not sit very well with me at all.

I am immensely pleased to say that A.D. Trosper did not let me down. There was enough of Pernish dragon-lore to satisfy my need for continuity, whilst at the same time enough differences to make this clutch of dragons her very own. Well done Ms. Trosper!” ~ Richard King

 

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ABOUT A.D. TROSPER:

Here is where I’m supposed to talk about myself in third person for whatever reason. But, even though there are a lot of people in my head, referring to myself in third person still sounds too strange.

Born in Kansas, I spent a lot of my childhood moving around. I lived in Kansas, Oklahoma, Washington State (around Seattle), and southern California. I had many great adventures growing up. I’m now settled down in Kansas with my wonderful husband, three children, my wonderful dog Katie, assorted cats, and small flock of chickens.

I’ve been an avid lover of fantasy since I was young child. Dragons, elves, fairies, dwarves, and other denizens of the fantasy world as well as magic have always fascinated me. As I grew up, I developed an interest in vampires, zombies and my interests branched out to take in paranormal and urban fantasy.

I don’t have any special writing credits to my name other than a wildly active imagination and the ability to form that imagination into written stories.

Want to know more or connect with me? Follow the links, I promise there is no wicked witch of the west at the end…most of the time.

CONNECT WITH A.D. TROSPER:

Website

Blog

Facebook

Twitter

 

A Quick Question: What’s the best cup of tea you’ve ever had?

This is a series I run every Friday. It’s all about sharing those little moments that make life more fun. Each week, I’ll ask a question, answer it, and open the floor to you. You can answer in a blog post and link to it in the comments below, or simply answer below. I’ll update the post later on to feature the best responses—sometimes the funniest, or most original, or sweetest…you get the idea.

 

I probably can’t compete with most of you world travelers out there, but the best cup of tea I’ve ever had was a blend of loose teas available at my local Teavanna. In case you don’t know, Teavanna is a store dedicated to loose teas. They have dozens of teas on their back wall, and because you can mix teas together, your options are virtually limitless.

They put out samples each day, and I recently tasted a blend of Acai Mateini and Citrus Lavender Sage. The two teas together invigorate and relax at the same time—and the fruit flavor is just delicious. I bought a bit to make the tea for myself at home.

For those of you who don’t have a Teavanna nearby, you can go on their website. The downside is you can’t smell the teas before you buy them, but I haven’t tasted something there I don’t like. I recommend you stop by their local store and see if you can find something yummy.

 

So clue the rest of us in. What’s the best cup of tea you’ve ever had?

Upload a picture and link us if you can! If you want to blog your answer and link back, make sure you include the link in your comment below. Can’t wait to see your responses.

The Literacy Council of Benton County is calling all amazing authors!

[image error]On January 26, 2013, the Literacy Council of Benton County in Arkansas is going to hold Scrabble Wars! Authors, this is the perfect chance for you to get your name out there and donate to an amazing cause at the same time.

About the Literacy Council of Benton County

The Literacy Council will hold a silent auction alongside the Scrabble Wars tournament. Their goal is to raise $25,000 to dramatically increase adult literacy in Benton County, Arkansas. Scrabble Wars will help them improve the lives of the over 45,000 in our county who cannot read, write, or speak English. All of their tutoring is done by volunteers, as they are a true grass roots non-profit that teaches students learning skills that you and I take for granted…for free.

How to Help

So what can you do to help out? It’s so easy you’ll laugh.

Just autograph a print edition of one of your novels (hard as it is, pick your favorite) and donate it. I already sent them an autographed copy of Lichgates! You can mail your print edition to:

Literacy Council of Benton County

205 NW A St.

Bentonville, AR 72712

And hey, you can write it off as a tax deduction, too. Seriously…everyone wins here.

All authors who donate a print edition of their book will help this awesome charity raise money to be spent on instructional materials specific for their adult students and tutors, pay the rent, and keep their doors open. You can help them  reach even more people in need.

So are you in? Thought so! I knew you were awesome.

Go ahead and mail an autographed print edition of one of your novels to:

Literacy Council of Benton County

205 NW A St.

Bentonville, AR 72712

If you have any questions, you can leave a comment or contact me via the link in the menu. I’ll relay the message to the Literacy Council of Benton County.

You rock!

Giveaway Alert! Plus, an Excerpt from ‘A Prescription for Delirium’ by Noree Cosper

[image error]Today, we have an excerpt from Noree Cosper’s A Prescription for Delirium, a paranormal novel filled with betrayal, murder, and revenge. Check it out. (The giveaway is at the bottom of the post.)

 

Hampton, TX, Present Day

Not five minutes in this backwater town and I had a demon sniffing my trail. He scanned the room with the nostrils of his wide nose flaring. His hair lay plastered against his forehead in greasy brown locks. He towered over everyone, even the people standing, as he squeezed between the large round tables and the gathering at the bar. The frayed threads of his jeans and his leather vest matched the dress of the rest of the roadhouse.

I lifted my drink to my mouth and shifted to my second sight. Most people say the eyes are the windows to the soul. Those people can’t see auras. The lights on the walls dimmed, and the air took on a gray haze, like seeing things under water. Colors bloomed out from each human in the building, blending together in a rainbow. The demon was another matter.

The shaggy black dog the size of a pony stood semi-imposed on all fours over the form of the man. Flames blazed from its eyes as it scanned the room. Was there really a dog walking through a busy Texas bar? No. Demons had no corporeal form and had to possess physical bodies. This one chose a werewolf. Dio, I had a hellhound on my ass.

Talk about bad timing. Ose already had some of his minions patrolling. If it found me, it would go running to its master to let him know I was in town. My hunt was in danger of ending before it even started.

Breathe, Gabby.

I leaned forward and let my black curtain of hair obscure my face. The lid of the salt shaker twisted off in my empty hand and I knocked it over, allowing the grains to spill on the floor. The salt should cover my scent. I slid closer to the group at the next table until I looked like I belonged with them.

One of the men grinned at me, his aura a happy yellow orange. “Hey babe.”

I nodded and raised my glass, but kept my gaze on the hellhound. He paused at a man at the bar who had caught my attention, or more his aura did. A ghostly image of a woman leaned over him, whispering in his ear. My hand tightened around the beer mug, but the mutt moved on. I relaxed. The colors around the people in the bar faded, as did the ghost woman when my sight returned to normal. The haze remained, more from cigarette smoke. I turned my head to the front of the bar. One window and one door were not much of an escape route. Fifty feet of inebriated patrons stood between me and freedom.

Two of the three men I had been waiting for walked through the door. A familiar tingle ran down my spine. For a moment, I flashed back to a dressing room, staring down another Romanian hunter. We’d come across the same prey, though he thought it was a vampire. I inhaled, bringing myself back to the present. This wasn’t the twenties, I wasn’t in Paris, and these brothers weren’t Dimitri.

Both had his chiseled features and his straight nose, though their hair was more of a burnt sienna. The one in front wore his cut short and had a tuft on his chin. He towered over his brother, which meant he would be a mountain compared to my small height. The other kept his hair tucked behind his ears. He stood with his arms crossed, wearing a smirk to let the world know he knew everything.

They cast their eyes over the room. The tall one adjusted the glasses on his face and approached the man sitting at the bar. Several women watched them as they passed. A smile touched my lips. The boys knew how to dress to make an impression. Their leather coats and slacks spoke of sophistication yet still provided enough flexibility to move if needed.

I stood and nodded at the boys who’d been trying to talk to me. Rude, but it was time to work. Besides, they were too young for me. I straightened my red tank top and brushed any wrinkles from my jeans. I couldn’t approach them looking like a guttersnipe. A stool opened up on the other side of them. I took the seat and tried to look casual while listening in on the brothers’ conversation. The bartender stood in front of me, waiting for an order.

I pointed to a beer and leaned back to get a better look at the third man. His back remained mostly to me, giving me a glimpse of his bearded cheek and a ponytail a shade darker in color than the other two. Brother number three. I inched forward to hear better over someone’s bad rendition of “Bad Moon Rising.”

“Ader.” The tall man spoke in Romanian. “Your prison sentence hasn’t ended yet.”

“I got out for being brilliant,” the man at the bar said without turning around.

“Does the warden know that?”  the third one asked.

If I remembered correctly, this generation of Van Helsings had four boys. Adam, the oldest, had passed away ten years ago. So that left Esais, Adrian, and Tres. The smirking boy had to be Tres he looked the youngest. Was Ader short for Adrian?

Ader chuckled. “The warden didn’t have much of a say.”

Esais, the tall one, pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. He shook his head, letting out a long sigh as he looked at his brothers.

“Honestly,” he said. “First you end up in jail, and now you’re breaking out. You haven’t changed.”

“You expected me to?” Adrian asked.

“Why are you here?” Esais asked.

“Same reason as you. Revenge.”

Tres crossed his arms. “Why do you even care? You were never around when we needed you.”

Adrian turned to face his brothers, causing both of them to gasp. A patch covered his right eye while the other stared hard at Tres. Esais reached out to touch Adrian’s arm, but he pulled away.

“What happened?” Esais asked.

“Not important.” Adrian turned back to the bar. “Who were you told to meet?”

“A woman named Gabriella Di Luca.”

“Any idea what this woman looks like?”

Esais glanced in my direction with hesitation and opened his mouth.

I cleared my throat, raising my hand in a small wave. “Buna seara.”

Adrian and Tres turned their heads with near identical expressions of distrust. They didn’t expect someone to speak their native language here. I was a stranger invading their family circle.

“Who are you?” Adrian asked.

“Gabriella.”

“Convenient.” The word dripped with sarcasm.

We didn’t have time for this. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. My gaze traveled to the table-filled area further in the room. The hellhound’s wiry form had disappeared through a large door to the right. The atrocious singing wafted through there. This would be a perfect time to exit.

“We need to speak, but not here,” I said.

“We’re not going anywhere with you.”

“Ader,” Esais said.

Adrian looked back at his brother. “We have no proof she is who she claims to be.”

“He’s right. You could be a demon,” Tres said.

“Then you already revealed yourselves with your conversation,” I said. “Look, how much do you know of demons?”

“I’ve read several books on the subject,” Esais said. “That question doesn’t answer our doubts.”

“Do I fit the description you were given?”

Esais adjusted his glasses before nodding.

“Then, can we leave? I may not be one, but there is a demon here.”

Two turned their heads, their muscles tensing as they scanned the bar while Adrian kept his eye on me. The hellhound stepped back into the room and turned his head in my direction. His gaze locked on me, and he began shoving his way through the crowded tables and chairs.

I stood. “Too late.”

 
A Prescription for Delirium [image error]

 

Blurb:

Ninety years ago, Gabriella di Luca promised to protect the family of her dying lover. She failed to keep that promise.  She was too far away to stop the devil that murdered the eldest Van Helsing son. Years later, Gabby learns the devil has resurfaced. She arrives in Hampton, TX, determined to stop the devil before it can lay a bloody hand on the remaining three brothers.

However, madness is spreading through Hampton. She suspects the devil is using this madness to test a drug which has a side effect of demonic possession.  Gabby rushes to end the source of the madness only to fall victim to it. For a woman cursed with eternal life, dying is no threat. However, Gabby must stop the devil’s plot or risk losing her most precious possession: her mind.

A Prescription for Delirium is released on December 1st, 2012.

 

About Noree Cosper

[image error]Noree Cosper loves writing about magic in the modern world. While growing up in Texas she constantly searched for mystical elements in the mundane. She buried her nose in both fiction and books about Wicca, Religion, and Mythology. Everyday became an adventure as she joined a group of role-players, acting out her fantasies of vampires, demons, and monsters living in the world.

She embraced her nerdom wholeheartedly.

Noree grew, but never left her love for fantasy and horror. Her dreams pushed her and her hand itched to write the visions she saw. So, with her fingers on the keys, she did what her heart had been telling her to do since childhood. She wrote.

Noree can be found stalking people on Twitter and Facebook.

Be sure to check out her website for news on her works and tidbits of information

She also likes to ramble about things magical and supernatural on her blog Trip the Eclipse.

The Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Do Readers Care About Author Interviews?

Readers and bookworms, you gotta help me out here. I’m wrapping up posts on my Treason blog tour and have to ask, does anyone actually read or care about author interviews? Does an author’s fame, the interview’s questions and content, or the medium play into whether or not an author interview is effective and successful?

Written interviews take a fair bit of time to answer, especially when we authors write up character interviews (from the perspective of the characters in our novels). We—at least, I—try to be witty and fun in each one. I keep my answers short as possible to make them easy to read. I add new details to every interview so that they don’t get dull.

But does it matter?

 

The Problem with Author Interviews

I can’t remember the last time I hopped over to a blog to read an author interview, and that’s not because I’m heartless or live under a rock. It’s just that all the questions feel the same to me. All the answers seem similar (“I’ve been writing since I could hold a pen” comes to mind).

If I’m head over heels for a book, I might read a character interview if it’s with McDreamy Steamboat or something, but even then, I’d rather just go to an author’s blog to learn more about the writer behind the magic.

And that’s the point of an interview, right? To learn more about the author. If we can go to the blog, read the “About Me,” and subscribe, why read an interview?

Some might argue that the point is to gain exposure to new readers on various blogs. But how many people actually read interviews about authors they haven’t heard of?

 

Theories Behind Effective Author Interviews

That could be the problem: the most common way for authors to interview nowadays is on a blog. It’s written. We read the interview instead of watching or listening to it. So it could just be the medium.

Seeing someone or listening to their voice gives you added inflection and expressions that aren’t always conveyed in a written interview, however clever and witty the banter may be. I mean, you don’t get a narrative voice in a text interview to explain inflection and facial expressions…at most, you get blips of subtext (a few short words to describe action like laughing or sighing).

One could say it’s an author’s level of success or fame that makes an interview effective, and that may indeed be true. A lesser-known author might simply not have the draw to pull in readers on a written blog, whereas a popular author like Stephen King or JK Rowling could bring countless hits. But when you can listen to plenty of other interviews by these big names or watch their TV appearances, doesn’t that give you more personality than a written post?

Ironic, I know, but that’s my theory.

 

Author Interviews & Content

Another theory is that written interviews are more effective (that is, impactful and engaging) depending on the content.

So here’s a thought: if the author interview has typical questions about what (a) inspired the author to write this series or (b) which is their favorite character, maybe people are more likely to zone out. But if the interviewer asks technical questions that leave their readers curious and enriched, maybe they’ll tune in.

So what are some curiosity-inducing, life-enriching questions? I think that depends on the blog’s audience.

For my writing and publishing guide, Boyce’s Guide to Writing, I would ask author interview questions that would inspire my audience: writers. I’d ask about mistakes made in the past and what they would or wouldn’t do again. I’d ask about vendors that have made their lives easier and experiences that left them stronger. I’d ask about the technical aspects of writing technique and publishing because that’s what draws my readers to that particular blog. That’s what I want to share with them.

But what about a book review blog like this one?

Maybe book bloggers can ask authors about favorite ways to engage with fans, or the coolest fan letter they’ve ever gotten. We can ask about their respective genre or age category in an effort to goad a discussion in the comments and encourage interaction.

It’s a thought. What do you think?

 

The Forum

Are you an author or book blogger? Maybe you just like to read?

I’m curious as to which book blogs you follow and whether or not you read author interviews. Do you care about them? Why or why not? What was the best/worst author interview you’ve ever read? Thanks in advance, and stay awesome!

Book Review of Her Sweetest Downfall by Rebecca Hamilton

The Short Version

Rebecca Hamilton wrote this novella as a companion journal to the Forever Girl series. It offers a glimpse into the life of a minor character who saves the day in the Forever Girl (Book One). Hamilton’s smooth writing voice submerges you into the story after just the first couple pages, and you don’t ever feel the need to come up for air. Fans of the series should definitely take the detour and read this novella.

 

The Details

I think this story needed to be told, because a criticism of mine for the first book was that this character, Ophelia, really comes out of nowhere in The Forever Girl. It’s neat to get a peek into her life, but also, you uncover secrets about the villain that I’m sure will come into play later. Even cooler, you see glimpses of other characters who appear in The Forever Girl. It gives you a broader view of the world Hamilton created with her series, and it was a fun, short read.

The plot flowed believably, and the forbidden love that develops between Ophelia and her certain sexy someone intrigued me. The ending wrapped everything up nicely, and I feel better established and ready to read the second book now that I’ve read this novella. Sometimes novellas can come off as a money grab, but Her Sweetest Downfall works wonders for Hamilton’s world.

Fans of the Forever Girl series should definitely take the detour to Her Sweetest Downfall while they wait for book two in the full series…which I’m itching to read now that Hamilton has been feeding me bits of the story. She’s such a tease.

 

Buy Your Copy

Amazon (USA) | Amazon (UK) 

Add to Goodreads

Book Review of The Sin Collector: Thomas by Jessica Fortunato

The Short Version

The Sin Collector: Thomas is a novella within the Sin Collector series by Jessica Fortunato. Thomas gives insight into the life of Thomas, who was a quiet character in the first Sin Collector novel. This story is quick and pulls you along many twists and turns as you discover new vendettas and lost love. It’s an emotional story with bits of humor to get you through.

 

The Details

The Sin Collector: Thomas is a novella in the Sin Collector series, a contemporary paranormal series that explores the secret world of the sin collectors, which absorb humans’ sins so that we can rest in peace when we die. While the first Sin Collector novel was written in Lily’s first person POV, Thomas uses third person to explore Fortunato’s world a bit further.

Thomas appeared in a minor role in the Sin Collector series, and in the first book, he never gave much light as to where he’d come from. His secretive nature sparked this novella, which explains exactly what he endured to become so secretive and withholding. All in all, it’s an action-packed story with a few surprises thrown in for good measure.

Though I wouldn’t mind immortality, I sure wouldn’t want to absorb the sins of others. The weight of the sin collectors’ duty is a heavy burden to bear, and that shapes these characters in curious ways. The characters were interesting, and though I couldn’t relate to Thomas once or twice, the rest supported the story even if he didn’t.

Paranormal fantasy fans and urban fantasy fans will probably enjoy this story and the whole Sin Collector series, as will anyone who likes a bit of historical fiction thrown in with their magical creatures.

 

 

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Cover Reveal for From Where I Stand by Robert Zimmermann

You can add an intro here if you’d like, whatever works for you.

Book Description

From Robert Zimmermann comes From Where I Stand, an emotional debut poetry collection.  Zimmermann explores strained parental relationships, loss of life, and the despair associated with grief.  Alongside these darker themes, he delves into the small areas of life that often go unnoticed but become the hope we are searching for.

Expected release November 2012

            An example’s of Robert’s poetry can be found in the poetry section on his blog. He also has poems published by Albany Poets.

 ”Rob writes with an incredible sense of observation and feeling made all the more poignant by his struggles. Every verse is genuine and ever”

– Ben Ditmars, author of Night Poems

“Zimmermann has achieved something rarely seen in modern poetry. Each poem is a personal and detailed story that will strike the heart of the reader with a torrent of emotion.  Zimmermann balances the dark and light beautifully and without a hint of hesitation.”

– Jessica Fortunato, author of The Sin Collector Trilogy

“Rob’s poetry has a very real tone to it and in some ways creates a tragic yet poetic story.”

– Paulina Ulrich, author of the Flightless Bird Series

“Honest, heartfelt and moving”

– Amber Jerome~Norrgard, author of In The Gloaming

 

[image error] About Robert Zimmermann

Robert has been writing poetry since the eleventh grade. His writing started as impulsive rambling, but soon became a passion. A few years later he attended SUNY Potsdam where he received a B.A. in Creative Writing.

His main focus is poetry, but at times you can find him dabbling in short fiction. Robert has also created the blog A Life Among The Pages, where he posts his writing as well as book reviews.

When he’s not reading or writing, Robert enjoys spending time with his dog, Deuc. Deuc ran out of the woods in August 2011 and that have been inseparable ever since.

 

Connect with Robert Zimmermann

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