S.M. Boyce's Blog: My Journal, page 31

A Quick Question: What’s the best cup of coffee you’ve ever had? Where did you have it?

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.

 

What’s the best cup of coffee you’ve ever had? Where did you have it?

I had my best cup in 2009, when my husband and I went on a trip to Paris. It was an engagement gift, courtesy of my in-laws (I know! It was so cool). The city is beautiful, but the jet lag was terrible. To stay awake and see all the historic city had to offer, he and I basically lived off of espresso.

Across from our hotel was a café—and for the life of me, I can’t recall what the café was called. However, they had the best espresso I’ve ever tasted. It was freshly ground, and they even melted a square of milk chocolate in it to sweeten the cup. We had one every morning, and then we would hunt down another café to have another at lunch. Nothing compared to that cup of espresso, though. I’m not sure what they did differently, but it was amazing.

 

So clue the rest of us in. What’s the best cup of coffee you’ve ever had? Where did you have it?

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.

Book Review of The Burning of Isobel Key by Jen McConnel

The Short Version

The Burning of Isobel Key by Jen McConnel is a Scottish romp through the past with a small cast of characters and clever moments that really bring the story to life. Though the pacing occasionally dragged and motivations sometimes left me wanting, this book is a fun way to explore the Scottish history of witch hunting.

 

The Details

The Burning of Isobel Key starts off with a bang. Right from the first page, you see the accused witch in question—Isobel Key—being burned at the stake. You hear whispers of the people she supposedly murdered, and you wonder if this woman really is a witch of the evil sort after all.

Then you jump into the modern day. Our MC, Lou (a girl), quits her job in a flurry. She stomps out into the street and has a slew of “why the hell did I just do that” regrets, which I think anyone can relate to.

These two high-energy scenes are a magnificent way to start out. What’s more, the dual story arc continues—the narrative constantly shifts between two stories: Isobel’s, and Lou’s. This past-and-present movement is really neat and well done. Only one moment in this balance seemed out of synch to me: when Lou discovered a key plot point after we had already seen it in Isobel’s story. I wanted Lou to discover it, and then Isobel’s story to confirm it, but I guess that’s really just personal preference.

Spoiler (click to expand)
Another great aspect about this book was actually a moment later in the novel. In a surprise chapter after Isobel is tried and convicted in her story arc, we actually see her ghost hovering over her grave. This was so awesome that I perked up in my chair.  I wasn’t expecting it, and I loved the idea that McConnel would come out and say, “yeah, she’s still there.” It made the ritual at the crossroads all the more significant knowing that it needed to happen. I only wish we’d seen her rest in peace, too…that would have been a powerful—and, frankly, awesome—scene.

As you can read from the synopsis, Lou travels to Scotland with her friend over the winter holiday. While there, she discovers a Scottish fling—and as short as this romance is (two weeks), it’s believable. I was kind of amazed. The instant attraction is there, of course, but they don’t stare at each other longingly upon first sight until one caves and asks the other out. This romance is slower, and I liked where it went.

The motivations in this novel sometimes irked me because on occasion, Lou was led to do things without any real reason besides “she wanted to do it and didn’t know why.” While I get that she’s on a path to self-discovery and has a unique sixth sense of sorts, this wasn’t enough for me to fully buy in. This isn’t a constant thing, but it did happen more than once.

A major conflict that crops up in the novel is accepting others’ religions: Lou is Wiccan, while her family and best friend Tammy are very Christian. Lou hasn’t even told anyone about her new religion, which she discovered in college—her family is that conservative. The religious conflict pops up about halfway through the book, and honestly, I just didn’t relate to it. That might just be me, though. I don’t buy into religious debates. There’s no right answer, and I just don’t give those debates attention. So I think that’s why I couldn’t relate to this conflict or the emotional moments that followed.

The characters were pretty realistic. I could relate to Lou, the quiet book nerd, and I think most introverts can. In the novel, she finds her voice and learns to stand up for herself, and that’s admirable. In multiple ways, she discovers who she is.

Tammy,  her best friend, pissed me off. I think it’s because I had a selfish and loud best friend exactly like her, once, and that ended badly. So I’m probably biased. Tammy starts redeeming herself about halfway through, but then the religion conflict crops up. Once she started debating religion with Lou, I just lost all respect for Tammy. Even though there is resolution to this debate in the end, she sounded too narrow-minded to me and didn’t really bounce back from it in my eyes.

There are a few minor characters through the novel, and they were all well done. The love interest—I’ll keep his name secret so he’s a surprise—is dreamy and adorable in every way. The Scots the girls come across are fun and lively, and I enjoyed reading these side characters a lot.

All in all, I think fans of both historical fiction and contemporary fiction will enjoy this novel. There isn’t much in the way of paranormal, so this might not appeal to paranormal romance fans as much as I thought it would originally. However, you should give it a go. At a minimum, read the first few chapters and see what you think.

Buy Your Copy

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Introducing: Boyce’s Guide to Writing, Publishing, and the Written Word

For a while, I added writerly “how to” posts and other observations of the publishing world to this blog. Well, this is the last such post I’ll make on this site. From now on, blog.smboyce.com is purely for bookworms and readers. This blog will be about sarcasm, laughs, books, and giveaways, as well as updates on my novels and novels I think my fans will like. It’s all about engagement and entertainment.

I created a new blog for authors: Boyce’s Guide to Writing. I will continue to post how-to’s, discussions, and writerly-themed posts there. If you think of any posts it’s missing, just let me know. It’s still growing, and will probably always grow. I plan to keep it updated right alongside this blog.

So head on over and check it out:

Visit Boyce’s Guide to Writing

Young Adult Paranormal Fantasy Fans, Unite! Release Notice for Treason (Grimoire Trilogy #2)

Exciting news for all young adult paranormal fantasy fans!

Today, Treason (Grimoire Trilogy #2) releases. Treason, the sequel to Lichgates, is part of the Grimoire Trilogy: a paranormal fantasy series with a bit of romance and a lot of action. It all takes place in a beautiful world full of terrifying things called Ourea. Check out Lichgates today and get hooked on this trilogy.

I’m also starting a blog tour today. We’ll be kicking it off with a tweetchat party, so head over there if you want some freebies and want to meet the author (just remember to add the #TreasonKickoff tag to all your posts to join in the conversation). You can also check out my blog tour calendar to join in the fun (it lasts until Dec 31—can you believe that?), as well as the grand prize giveaway. You can enter the giveaway daily, so make sure you bookmark it to get extra entries.

Here’s a bit more about the Grimoire Trilogy for anyone who wants the refresher. Enjoy!

 

Lichgates
Grimoire Trilogy #1

The Grimoire turns its own pages and can answer any question asked of it…and Kara Magari is its next target.

Kara has no idea what she’s getting herself into when she stumbles across the old book while hiking along a hidden trail. Once she opens it, she’s thrown into Ourea: a beautiful world full of terrifying beings that all want the Grimoire’s secrets. Everyone in this new world is trying to find her, but most just want to control the new-found power the Grimoire bestows upon her.

Braeden Drakonin grew up in Ourea, and all he’s ever known in life is lying. The Grimoire is his one chance at redemption, and it lands in his lap when Kara Magari comes into his life. He has one question to ask the book—one question that can fix everything in his broken world—and he’s not letting Kara out of his sight until he gets an answer.

There’s no escaping Ourea.

 

Grab Your Copy:

Amazon: USA | UK | Germany |  France | Spain | Italy

Buy the Paperback

Bonus Features

Goodreads | Book Trailer | VIP List 

 Win a guest appearance in Heritage (The Grimoire Trilogy #3)

The Grimoire Store

Real Grimoire Pendant | Blank Grimoire Journals

Treason
Grimoire Trilogy #2

Ourea has always been a deadly place. The lichgates tying the hidden world to Earth keep its creatures at bay—for now.

Kara Magari ignited a war when she stumbled into Ourea and found the Grimoire: a powerful artifact filled with secrets. To protect the one person she has left, she strikes a deal that goes against everything she believes in. But things don’t go as planned.

Braeden Drakonin can no longer run from who—and what—he is. He has to face the facts. He’s a prince. He’s a murderer. He’s a wanted man. And after a betrayal that leaves him heartbroken, he’s out for blood.

To survive, both Kara and Braeden must become the evil each has grown to hate.

 

Grab Your Copy:

Amazon: USA | UK | Germany |  France | Spain | Italy

Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | Buy the Paperback

Bonus Features

Goodreads |  VIP List 

Win a guest appearance in Heritage (The Grimoire Trilogy #3)

The Grimoire Store

Real Grimoire Pendant | Blank Grimoire Journals

 

 
About S. M. Boyce

Boyce writes fantasy and paranormal fiction with a splash of humor. She’s a sarcastic twit, but she still has friends because some people seem to like that. Her B.A. in Creative Writing qualifies her to serve you french fries. Feel free to connect with her online or check out more about writing on her blog.

 

Connect with Boyce

Website | Blog | Advice for Writers

Facebook | Twitter | Google + | Pinterest | Youtube

Goodreads Page | Amazon Page

A Quick Question: What’s your favorite Epic Fantasy book?

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’ve enjoyed epic fantasy (aka high fantasy) since I read The Hobbit. Suffice to say, it’s my favorite epic fantasy book ever, even over the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

In case you haven’t read this book yet, here’s the back cover copy (taken from Amazon):

A great modern classic and the prelude to THE LORD OF THE RINGS

Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely traveling any farther than his pantry or cellar. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard Gandalf and a company of dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an adventure. They have launched a plot to raid the treasure hoard guarded by Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon. Bilbo reluctantly joins their quest, unaware that on his journey to the Lonely Mountain he will encounter both a magic ring and a frightening creature known as Gollum.“A glorious account of a magnificent adventure, filled with suspense and seasoned with a quiet humor that is irresistible . . . All those, young or old, who love a fine adventurous tale, beautifully told, will take The Hobbit to their hearts.” – New York Times Book Review

It’s a great story about how big heroes can come in small packages. I learned not to let myself get hung up on the expectations others have of me—because the expectations I have of myself are what matters. It’s a great story filled with trolls, dwarves, a dragon, a war, and a little hobbit who does big things. Not to mention…Gandalf!

For Tolkien geeks don’t have to wait much longer for the movie, either. Peter Jackson releases the first part of the movie on XX. He originally split the movie in two, but he’s now saying it should be a trilogy. I…disagree. I mean, come on. It’s a great book, yes, but there isn’t that much going on. It looks more like a money grab to me than a real attempt to preserve the artistry of the novel.

…and I’ll see every stupid movie. Opening weekend.

 

So clue the rest of us in. What’s your favorite Epic Fantasy book?

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.

Dystopian Novel Cover Reveal: After the Fear by Rosanne Rivers

Rosanne Rivers is a talented writer, and I fell in love with After the Fear when I was editing it. This is a new favorite, and I highly recommend you check this one out!

 

You have not attended a Demonstration this month.

In Sola’s city, everyone obeys the rules. Stay away from the trigger cameras and regularly update your Debtbook, and you just might survive. But having to watch the way criminals are dealt with—murdered by Demonstrators in the Stadium—is a law Sola tries to avoid. When a charming Demonstrator kisses her at a party, however, she’s thrust into the Stadium and forced into the very role she despises.

Armed with only natural resourcefulness and a caring nature, Sola narrowly survives her first bout. Her small success means she’s whisked off to a training camp, where she discovers a world beyond the trigger cameras and monitoring—a world where falling in love with a killer doesn’t seem so terrible.

Yet life as a Demonstrator has no peace. Sola must train her way through twenty-five more Demonstrations before she can return home to her father. At the end of each battle, only one survivor remains.

Sola could face anyone in the Stadium . . . even a loved one.

** Coming December 2012 **
 

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Rosanne Rivers

Rosanne lives in Birmingham, UK and considers it one of her favourite cities, second only to Rome. She delights in writing for children and young adults and hopes to bring readers to an unfamiliar yet alluring setting. Rosanne was inspired to write when she read the Harry Potter books, and at age fourteen, she wrote romance fanfiction on just about every pairing you could dream up from the HP series. She currently lives with her partner and two bunny rabbits and is working on a post-apocalyptic adventure book for middle grade readers.

 
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10 Publishing Tips I Wish I Knew About Being an Author Before I Published (Guest Post by Christie Rich)

 Christie Rich decided to stop by and chat about tips, writing, publishing, and her debut novel Five. Enjoy!

 

I’m excited to be here today to talk about my experiences in publishing and give you some publishing tips.

Writing is amazing.  It has the ability to set my mind spinning with ideas and allows me to dream like when I was a child without people questioning my attention span or sanity.  The problem is, it’s not all rainbows.  There’s a difference between being a writer and an author.

Semantics, some of you are no doubt shouting right now, but hang on there.  I’ll explain.

Being a writer means focusing on the writing.  Being an author means focusing on what you have written.  See the difference?

Now that I have traveled a few miles down the publishing path, I have realized there are some things I wish I’d known before I embarked into Author territory.  I’d like to share those with you now:

Being an author takes time away from being a writer:  The minute I placed my first book, Five (Elemental Enmity) up for sale on Amazon and Barnes and Noble, I became an author.  No longer was my writing just about completing a book.  It also became about promoting the book I’d written.  Some might find they love being an author more than a writer, but for me, the most joy comes from discovering that new world or learning more about my protagonist.  It isn’t necessarily as great to promote, especially when I didn’t know the first thing about doing it. *grins*
Writing is a business:  So it turns out there is a lot to think about when you are a writer.  Not only do you have to worry about promoting, you have to worry about accounting.  I don’t know about you, but I happen to hate keeping track of numbers.  This is one time in my life when I wish I was feeling the love.  For me, not so much.  You see, if you want to know how you are doing as an author, you have to either hire someone to keep track of sales for you, or figure out how to keep track yourself.  Just because I know how to use excel doesn’t mean I want to *grins*.
Covers count:  Being a new writer, especially of the independent variety means there is a lot to think about and a lot you have to know.  I’m not sure how publishing houses decide on cover design, but for Indies, there is a plethora of choices.  Do we try it ourselves?  Anyone with PowerPoint or image editing software can come up with a cover, but will it be the best for our book?  I actually like this part of being an author.  I paint on the side, so design is second nature to me.  Unfortunately, I haven’t learned how to use Photoshop well enough to pull off the kind of covers I want.  My first cover for Five was very simple and not as appealing to readers as I had hoped.  When I found the Fivefold Symbol that is on my current covers, I was floored.  It represented the themes in my books, but incorporating it into my artwork has sometimes been a challenge.  Good thing for me I found an awesome cover artist that sees my vision.  So even though I love messing around with Photo Shop, I don’t have the expertise I need to produce the product I want which leads me to…
You have to be willing and able to spend money for your books.  I’m okay with investing the money I need to in order to make sure I’m producing a quality product.  The trouble is sometimes you pay for things that might not really help you.  For example, I hired a “developmental editor” on my first version of Five and spent $3,000.00 to have the editor question every single thing I did within the manuscript.  I had no idea that there was a difference between a developmental editor and a copy editor which was what I needed.  Author beware is the phrase of the day where I am concerned.  The key is to check into every aspect of publishing before you agree to shell out any money.  There are several options for writers and a lot of them are affordable.
Get ready to talk about your books:  Some might think this is a given when you publish a book, yet how to go about talking up your new book is not that easy for some of us.  You might be surprised how hard it is to narrow an entire book down to a sentence, which is usually what people expect when they say, “So what’s your book about?”
Look for likeminded people to befriend:  One of the best things I ever did as a writer was to join goodreads.  Not only have I found a great platform to talk about my books (not as much as you might think), I have found a community of likeminded people who can give me advice about what books to read and help me know my market better.
Social media takes time:  As much as I like to chat it up with people online, it can take over my writing time if I’m not careful.  I’m still trying to figure this out, but there are several options available to busy people to help us manage social networking.  I’ve met some amazing people online.  I even have a good friend in South Africa because of the internet.  This is an exciting time to live in the world, but with so much demanding our time, we have to be careful to not only focus too much on promotion.  When we finally find our audience, we need to have something to offer them, and that just won’t happen if we don’t spend time writing.
Opinions are just that:  I didn’t know going into publishing that there was such a wide variety of opinions on how to format, edit, promote…well, you name it, someone has an opinion about it.  It’s actually up to the author to decide what will work best for their book.  You can and should get advice, but just because someone says something doesn’t make it true for you.  Research is key, and taking the time to make sure you have everything set the way you want it before you publish will make your life much easier.
There is no perfect book:  No matter how many eyes have scanned a manuscript there will be errors.  I see errors all the time when I’m reading traditionally published books, but most people don’t mention them in reviews or whatnot.  Taking the Independent path isn’t for everyone, but if that is the course you choose, be prepared to have people question every aspect of what you have done, from editing to your cover.
Don’t take reviews personally:  It’s hard when someone doesn’t like your book, but it’s going to happen.  Every bestseller out there has one star reviews and many of them have thousands of one star reviews.  As a writer, I can’t control how someone reacts to my books, but I can control how I react to reviews.  The truth is I have learned not to react, and I think that is the key to a long writing career.  As in anything, we can’t please everyone.  Not every reader will connect with your story.  That doesn’t mean it is bad.  It just means you have had different life experiences than your reader.  They don’t understand where your protagonist is coming from and that’s okay.  I don’t love every book I read, so how can I expect every reader to love mine?

So there you have it.  Are you contemplating writing a novel?  Have you a manuscript your dying to release into the world?  Great!  Congratulations.  That’s quite an accomplishment.  But before you send out those query letters or hit publish on KDP, make sure you’re ready for the ride of your life.  Being a writer is great, and being an author can be just as great as long as you are prepared.  Have you had a similar experience?  I’d love to hear your thoughts.

 

Five

[image error]Rayla Tate’s life is about to turn vertical…again. As if it wasn’t bad enough her mother disappeared under questionable circumstances leaving Rayla to be raised by her aunt in a horrendously small town. Her overprotective guardian is determined to ruin Rayla’s life. She refuses to let Rayla out of her sight or out of the state. Provincial living might be what her aunt demands of her purposely sheltered niece; but, Rayla has other ideas. In a desperate attempt to follow her dreams she flees the safety of her home and runs away to college with her best friend toward a bright future in the art world.

However, excitement over her newfound freedom turns into terror when she is chased by a mysterious stranger on her way to school. When his motorcycle suddenly morphs into a fire-breathing pegasus, Rayla questions her sanity. Worse, the man riding next to her stirs a burning desire in her soul she has never known or could have ever imagined. Using all the will she owns, she manages to resist the compulsion she feels; yet, as he disappears into the night, she is certain he hasn’t gone far.

Rayla quickly dismisses the encounter to her overactive imagination. She is determined to settle into her new life, yet the images and feelings of that night still haunt her. To make matters worse, her aunt seems to be in on the act, insisting that Rayla will soon be hunted by a pack of fae lords for a power over the elements she never knew she possessed—a power that could change the world. Quicker than she ever thought possible, she finds herself surrounded by stunning men that all seem determined to win her heart. Why does she feel drawn to each one of them? More importantly, what dark power do they hold over her? Rayla must quickly learn to fend off these beautiful and seductive pursuers using whatever means necessary or find herself lost to the fae world forever.

 

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About Christie Rich

[image error]I grew up daydreaming about fairytales, and my love for discovering new worlds has never died. I am not one of those writers who always knew I would write. I thought that was what other people did until one day a few years ago, I took a challenge from a friend and typed my first words. My journey has been wonderful, and I cannot imagine a day where I would ever give up writing now. My love for reading is what fueled my imagination in the first place and still does. When I am not writing or reading, I am enjoying family time with my husband and two children. We live in a quiet community under the Wellsville mountains in Utah, and I am so thankful for the rich life I have been blessed with.

 

Connect with Christie

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YouTube | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page

 

 

New Paranormal/Urban Fantasy Release! Vaempires: Zombie Rising by Thomas Winship

Say hello to yet another amazing book by Thomas Winship!

 
Blurb

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.

Watch the Trailer

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Freebies!

Click on the image below to download the FREE wallpaper!

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Excerpt

 

Ray battled a bruiser whose arms sported a multitude of colorful tattoos, as Linq squared off against the sandy-haired businessman, whose neck perforations had long since healed.

They circled each other, seeking an opening. Linq waved his claws. “Are you sure you want to test your luck again?”

The businessman scowled. “You and your friend might’ve taken down the lot of us, but it’s nothing compared to how many of you we put down.” He spit on the ground at Linq’s feet. “Or how many more we’ll put down.”

The væmpire’s words struck home. Images and feelings crowded at the edge of Linq’s perceptions, a tsunami of them—all of them related to the horrific events of the last twenty-four hours, all of them clamoring and vying for attention. He held them at bay, because distraction meant death, but their intrusion caused his body to relax and his claws to retract.

Sensing an opening, the væmpire attacked, coming straight at Linq in a full-frontal assault.

Standing his ground, Linq swept the væmpire’s claws to the side with his left hand. With his right, he clubbed the vaempire on the side of the head, a thunderous shot that drove the businessman back three steps.

Linq moved in to follow it up with a decisive blow, his senses already searching for new threats. Claws stained black from spilling so much blood extended on impulse and flashed toward the væmpire’s neck.

They slashed nothing but air as the sandy-haired man dropped into a forward roll.

Linq let him roll by, and turned with a sigh. It was almost too easy. The man had obviously received no instruction in hand-to-hand fighting, or else he’d know that you never turn your back on an opponent.

The væmpire came out of his roll and jumped to his feet. He realized his mistake—he had rolled past Linq, but was facing the wrong direction—in time to flinch as Linq’s claws separated his head from his neck.

Crimson blood spurted as the body and head fell in opposite directions. Hot væmpire blood that smelled like rancid meat hit the sidewalk in uneven splatters, reminding Linq of a drunken man urinating in a back alley.

Then two things happened at once: he sensed a væmpire—yet another new arrival—drop in, while Ray yelled, “Watch out!”

Before he could react, Linq was grabbed from behind. Strong arms encircled him—hot, sweaty væmpire arms that felt like steel pincers. Linq’s own arms were pinned to his sides as his adversary squeezed him like a vise.

The pressure was tremendous and Linq panicked, throwing his head back in an attempt to crush the væmpire’s nose. He knew it was a mistake as he did it, but his reaction was quicker than his thoughts.

The væmpire dodged the blow, and then did the unthinkable: his head flashed forward and he sunk his fangs into Linq’s exposed neck.

Every cell in Linq’s body erupted in unmitigated pain. Nothing in his training, nothing in his imagination—in his nightmares, perhaps, but not his imagination—nothing in his experience or education had prepared him for such pain.

His eyes rolled back in his head and his jaw snapped shut, his fangs slicing deep into his tongue. He didn’t even notice.

Then the væmpire drank.

 

 

About Thomas Winship

Thomas Winship lives in New York. He holds an MBA in Management from St. Thomas Aquinas College, where he serves as MBA Director and adjunct professor of courses in English Composition, Communications, and Business. He also spent fifteen years working for a global pharmaceutical company, specializing in organizational development, talent management, and training.

Tom writes in his spare time. His first novel, Temporary Insanity, was a 2008 finalist in a national contest but failed to garner industry attention. Væmpires: Revolution, his second novel (first in the Væmpires series) was published in October and Væmpires: White Christmas followed in December.

He is an avid collector of books, comic books, music, and movies. His interests are diverse: on any given day, Tom is likely to be found watching a horror movie, attending a hard rock concert, or enjoying a Broadway show.

He is currently working on the next installment of the Væmpires series, which is scheduled for a 2013 release.

Links

Website I Facebook I Twitter I Pinterest I YouTube

Goodreads I Shelfari I Amazon Author Page

 

A Podcast Discussion: Publishing Advice for Indies & Why Indies Are Here to Stay

Listen to a podcast full of publishing advice and get hooked on a great new podcast series:

Listen to the podcast

A little while ago, I sat down with Arlin Crisco to record the first episode for his new podcast series on e-publishing. It was great! We discussed the indie and publishing worlds, publishing advice, and talked about books and marketing. I also shared some mistakes I’ve made and lessons I’ve learned in my time as a published author.

To celebrate his first episode, I’m giving away an eBook copy of both Lichgates and Treason. The giveaway ends next Saturday at midnight, so hurry and hop in while you can.

Make sure you check out the podcast and subscribe to Arlin’s e-publishing podcast series (see the top right of his site for subscribing options):

Listen to the podcast

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Cover Reveal: Light of the Moon by David James

David James brings a new fantasy tale to the world with Light of the Moon. Here are the details.

 

BOOK TITLE: LIGHT OF THE MOON

SERIES: LEGEND OF THE DREAMER (BOOK ONE)

RELEASE DATE: 11/06/12

COVER DESIGNER: KEARY TAYLOR (http://www.kearytaylor.com/)

Connect with David James

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OFFICIAL BLURB from Goodreads: “One night long ago, a constellation disappeared and fell from the sky in the form of a boy.

Secrets are being kept in the sleepy town of Lakewood Hollow, Colorado. Nothing but pools of blood and dripping words are left where bodies once were, and no one but Calum Wade seems to be worried. Life unfolds in shades of red for Calum, until a mysterious girl named Kate Black enrolls at his school and everything changes. Suddenly a dangerous world of dream demons, elemental enchanters, and blood witches unfurls before Calum. He learns that the stars have forever held his destiny, and that the constellations above are much more than what they seem. As Kate and Calum sink deep into a paranormal war, they realize that an ancient prophecy might hold the answers they seek. But life is not so easy for Calum, and he can feel his heart beat faster whenever Kate is close. Worse, Kate’s blood holds a dark secret even more dangerous than the war between the demons and enchanters. Soon the two find that there are worse things than loving someone you shouldn’t. For Calum and Kate, even love and the fiery power of stars may not be enough to break a curse as dark as the blood that binds their destiny.

A romantic story of true love and dark curses, LIGHT OF THE MOON will leave you breathless.”