Meradeth Houston's Blog, page 29

Giveaway Winners and Bookshelf Pictures

Before anything else, I want to shout-out a giant THANK YOU to all the awesome people who helped out with my Travelers giveaway! Seriously, you have all been amazing! And making my giant spreadsheet of who shared posts and pictures and everything else just made me all the more grateful. Travelers has been doing really well and I have all of you to thank for it. And as I said in my earlier post, I'd give a $5 giftcard to Amazon to one person who helped spread the word, and random.org has spoken: William Kendall is the winner! Congrats!! (And you should check out his blog--it's hilarious!)

On another note, whew, has it been a crazy couple of weeks! Awesome, for sure, but definitely a little nuts :) Between moving, and the release of Travelers, I also had a really fun road trip with my bestie--we made it to Bandlands and Mt Rushmore, and a ton of sites in between. (If you really want to see some pics, check out my Instagram...yes, that's a shameless plug.) It's been a wonderful time and I'm sad to see if pass, especially as that means the school year is about to start, haha!

So, between it all, I managed to get my books all unpacked and into my new bookshelves. They are still in need of a bit more organizing, but they're all out of boxes for the first time in 3 years. And I am rather happy about that! Granted, I totally ran out of space and still have to figure out where I'm going to put my music and videos, but that's something I'll worry about later :) But, as I promised a few weeks ago, a few pics:
BEFORE AFTER
Okay, so some of those photos aren't the best, but you get the idea. And yes, that is 4.5 bookcases full. I think I have too many books ;) This isn't even counting my work books, which are in my office on campus. But, yeah, lots of books, and lots of reading!!

Cover Reveal: PIPER MORGAN by Stephanie Faris

Okay, I have the *cutest* cover to share today! And Stephanie's books are the best, so be sure to say hello and check this one out!!

Piper Morgan Joins the Circus
Stephanie Faris


Cover illustration by Lucy Fleming.

Blurb:

When Piper Morgan has to move to a new town, she is sad to leave behind her friends, but excited for a new adventure. She is determined to have fun, be brave and find new friends.
And after learning her mom’s new job will be with the Big Top Circus, Piper can’t wait to learn all about life under the big top, see all the cool animals, and meet the Little Explorers, the other kids who travel with the show. She’s even more excited to learn that she gets to be a part of the Little Explorers and help them end each show with a routine to get the audience on their feet and dancing along!

But during Piper’s grand debut, her high kicks and pointed toes don't go quite as planned. After causing a dance disaster, she has to prove to everyone--especially queen of the Little Explorers, Lexie--that she belongs in the spotlight. 

Stephanie Faris:

Bio:

Stephanie Faris knew she wanted to be an author from a very young age. In fact, her mother often told her to stop reading so much and go outside and play with the other kids. After graduating from Middle Tennessee State University with a Bachelor of Science in broadcast journalism, she somehow found herself working in information technology. But she never stopped writing.


Stephanie is the Simon & Schuster author of 30 Days of No Gossip and 25 Roses, as well as the upcoming Piper Morgan series. When she isn’t crafting fiction, she writes for a variety of online websites on the topics of business, technology, and her favorite subject of all—fashion. She lives in Nashville with her husband, a sales executive. 

Links:

Website:Blog:Facebook:Twitter:Instagram

After Reading: Grave Sight (Harper Connelly #1) by Charlaine Harris

Harper Connelly has what you might call a strange job: she finds dead people. She can sense the final location of a person who's passed, and share their very last moment. The way Harper sees it, she's providing a service to the dead while bringing some closure to the living - but she's used to most people treating her like a blood-sucking leech. Traveling with her step-brother Tolliver as manager and sometime-bodyguard, she's become an expert at getting in, getting paid, and getting out fast. Because for the living it's always urgent - even if the dead can wait forever. (Goodreads)

Okay, I'm still playing review catch-up, and since I'm road-tripping with my bestie from the 4th grade, I figured I'd post another today :)

And don't forget, the TRAVELERS giveaway is still running if you're interested! 

Okay, on to the book!

I had Grave Sight recommended to me by a friend who said it reminded her some of my Coincidences book, and I can totally see the commonalities. A strange ability, a pair of characters who deny their feelings for one another, a dangerous job to complete--this was definitely a fun read :) Harris' writing has always struck me as a little bland, and I often find myself feeling like she's skirting the surface of her character's emotions and situations, to the extent that I don't really feel like I'm there with them and am more just an observer. It's kind of like while watching a movie or program, when you walk into it and find yourself observing the film and what's going on, more than being immersed in the story. It's not bad, just my personal take on how I've experienced her books. I still really enjoyed this one though and will definitely pick up the rest of the series, if mainly because I'm seriously curious about Harper and Tolliver!

Have you had a chance to read this one? Or any of Harris' work?

Also, my publisher is putting together a blog tour for TRAVELERS and asked me to see if anyone wanted to join in. So many of you have been SUCH amazing help with all the rest of the release stuff, so no pressure on this, m'k? Just throwing it out to the universe!


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After Reading: IMMORTAL CITY by Scott Speer

Jackson Godspeed is the hottest Angel in a city that revolves around idolizing Immortals like him. He grew up in the spotlight, and in less than a week he'll become the youngest full-fledged Guardian ever. People around the world are lining up to pay for him to keep them safe. His lifelong dream of becoming a hero is finally within his grasp - and he can't afford to let the parties, paparazzi, or red carpets distract him.

But Jackson's high-profile life takes an unexpected turn when he meets seventeen-year-old Maddy. She's smart and down-to-earth, and sees Jackson for who he is and not for his celebrity. They forge an instant - and electric - connection. Their vastly different backgrounds seem like the only obstacle in their path to being together... until something much more dangerous threatens to destroy their chance at love.

Because not everyone worships the Angels: a bitter killer is murdering the Guardians one by one. And it's up Maddy to save Jackson - he's next in the killer's sights.

Set in a reimagined Los Angeles that sparkles with glamour and celebrity worship, Scott Speer's Immortal City is charged with passion and haunted by themes of power and idolatry. (Goodreads)

I am seriously behind on book reviews!! So, for this lovely Friday, I thought I'd share a little of what I've been reading :)
So, I enjoyed Immortal City. It wasn't terribly different from other things I've read (the same girl-meets-supernatural-boy-and-events-ensue plot), but I did enjoy the rather different take on celebrity worship the book kind of pokes fun at. As someone who views our culture's obsession with celebrities with a lot of disgust, it's nice to see something new. Just in general, the book itself wasn't terribly good, or bad, just a middle of the road book with angels (and, yes, I do enjoy a good angel book, I'll admit it). Not much to write about, really. It was an interesting read, and if I can find copies of the next books in the series I might pick them up.
And now, the thing that kind of frosted my cookies: reading the author bio. Speer managed to get an agent without even a draft of this novel. Look, this is not a personal attack, but sometimes it really frustrates me to come across authors with books that, while not selling great, still have agents and a big publisher, from someone who got said agent and publisher just because they were personally connected. I know every author has their own path, but I've polished and worked and queried (and banged my head against the wall) for ages. Don't get me wrong, I am very proud of the books I've release and the publishing houses that I've worked with, but it's not like someone's given me national bookstore distribution or even an advance because I had an idea for a book (not even a draft!!!!) and knew the "right" people. Ugh. Sorry for the rant, but the bio clearly made me a little frustrated. And made me wish I knew these right people to manage to get an agent/big contract/etc. :)

Release Day for TRAVELERS!!! (and a #giveaway!)

It's time to let this book fly! TRAVELERS is officially out in the wild and available for purchase! *happy dances* I hope you all enjoy Sienna and Henry, and even Joan! They're some great characters and have some crazy adventures :) You can even check one out over on the Lightening Quick Reads blog today! So check it out and be sure to snag a copy!!
Also, a MAJOR shout-out of thanks to all the awesome people helping me share the word today!! I can't thank you enough!!
Sienna Crenshaw knows the rules: 1) no time traveling beyond your natural lifetime, 2) no screwing with death, and 3) no changing the past. Ever. Sienna doesn’t love being stuck in the present, but she’s not the type to to break the rules. That is, she wasn’t the type until her best friend broke every one of those rules to keep Henry, her twin brother and Sienna’s ex-boyfriend, alive.

Suddenly, Sienna is caught in an unfamiliar reality. The upside? Henry is still alive. The downside? Sienna’s old life, including the people in it, has been erased. Now, Sienna and Henry must untangle the giant knot in time, or her parents and all the rest of the Travelers, will be lost forever. One problem: the only way to be successful is for Henry to die... (Goodreads)






And the giveaway? I need some help sharing this around! So, spread the cover/trailer/teaser-pic love on twitter, facebook, instagram, your blog, whatever! Be sure to either comment with the link, or tag me so I can see it (and share!), and I'll do a drawing in one week (August 11th). The prize? A $5 Amazon giftcard. Sound good? Be sure to make sure I can see your post!
These would be good for sharing ;)




And one more shot of the trailer:

The Pre-Release Jitters: AKA TRAVELERS Releases Tomorrow!

I don't think I'll ever reach a point in my writing career where a book release doesn't give me some serious butterflies. Well, I hope I don't, because that would be kind of sad. A book release is supposed to be fun and exciting and new--of course it should make me a little nervous and jittery! So, today, I'm trying not to dwell too much on what this all means, and how I have a very complicated time-travel book headed out into the world tomorrow. I mean, what if no one likes it? What if it doesn't make sense? What if...well, just what if! So, today, I'm trying to just not think about the whirlwind this book will bring, and think more on some of the fun little bits of the story. Like these:





Sound like something you'd enjoy? Be sure to grab a copy tomorrow!! More details on Goodreads :)

TRAVELERS releases in less than a week! With @BookFishBooks

Okay, I've been a little MIA this past week. Sorry about that! Moving has thrown my whole life upside down, and even though I thought I'd managed to prepare for it, I hadn't managed enough. So, it's been a bit crazy around here. But, I have my bookshelves installed and they are very pretty. That's the important part, right? I may even have to share pictures soon :)

The other important thing? TRAVELERS is due out on August 4th! That's in less than a week! (Insert a small Eeep!) So, I realized I haven't shared my trailer here on my blog, so that's what I'm up to today. And if you haven't, check out the book on Goodreads, and be prepared for some book release related fun next week!

Cover Reveal for HOT PINK IN THE CITY by Medeia Sharif

I love Medeia's books, and her blog, and she's an incredible at helping spread the word about my book, so it's always a pleasure to share her new books. And this looks like so much fun, and a romp through the 80's! :)

Cover Reveal
HOT PINK IN THE CITY, Prizm Books
Author: Medeia SharifRelease date: August 19, 2015
Asma Bashir wants two things: a summer fling and her favorite '80s songs. During a trip to New York City to stay with relatives, she messes up in her pursuit of both. She loses track of the hunk she met on her airplane ride, and she does the most terrible thing she could possibly do to her strict uncle…ruin his most prized possession, a rare cassette tape. A wild goose chase around Manhattan and Brooklyn to find a replacement tape yields many adventures—blackmail, theft, a chance to be a TV star, and so much more. Amid all this turmoil, Asma just might be able to find her crush in the busiest, most exciting city in the world.
Find Medeia – YA and MG Author
Blog   |   Twitter   |   Goodreads   |   Instagram   |   Amazon

Fictional Setting – The Experience to Make It Up guest post by Kai Strand

Today we have an awesome guest post by the lovely Kai Strand! She's here to chat with us all about creating a fictional setting. Be sure to say hello!

Cara Cassidy always envisioned love as Thor, slamming his hammer into the earth, and the vibration resonating within her for a lifetime. She never expected love would be a thousand tiny actions from a normal boy. When international intrigue hits small-town America, more than the car chases will get your blood pumping.
Though the adventure in Finding Thor takes place in my
very real hometown of Bend, Oregon, I needed the main love interest, Nik Rock, to be from somewhere mysterious and exotic. I needed there to be royalty. I needed to make it up!
Just out of high school, I worked for a swanky hotel in Southern California near the Orange County airport. We had a lot of interesting guests, but one of the most memorable was the King of Tonga and his daughter, the princess. They had the entire seventh floor of the hotel rented out. Heavily guarded. I was the night manager, and they were well settled by the time I got to work at 11:00 pm, so I didn’t get a peek at them. However, the next morning before the end of my shift at 7:00 am, several California Highway Patrol officers showed up on their motorcycles, sporting bright blue bow ties, to escort the king and the princess to church.
Security called down to the front desk when the royals left their rooms. I waited and waited…and waited for them to come through the lobby. The anticipation of seeing royalty was enough for me to hang out long after my shift finished. At last several guards preceded the royals into the lobby. They looked just like secret service agents with black suits and earpieces. When the king and princess at last appeared, I admit, I was completely disappointed. They weren’t glamorous or beautiful. Though their clothes were cool. My illusions were completely shattered.
Fast-forward many years to when I needed a mysterious and exotic kingdom for my exceedingly handsome Nik Rock to hail from. I couldn’t get Tonga out of my mind; a Polynesian setting, striking dark skinned people, exotic native attire, and royalty. Yep, that was exactly what I needed to base my fictional island of Renlavia on. With a little research of commerce and history, I was able to fabricate a very believable fictional setting. One I’d love to visit, by the way. But I’d settle for a vacation on the white sandy beaches of Tonga instead.
More about Finding Thor:
Tragedy has left Cara Cassidy broken and the only thing keeping her from giving in completely is her guilt. Until Nik Rock.
Nik stirs up feelings in degrees she has never experienced, and causes her to do things that most assuredly give him the wrong impression – like kiss him before their first date. Somehow, he breaks down the walls around her emotions until she has no choice but to forgive herself and feel again.
But a mysterious, troubled past follows Nik, and Cara may prove to be his weakest link.
When a royal princess shows up looking for Nik, and an international gang arrives looking for missing jewels, Cara lands in mortal danger. Will she be able to save herself? What will happen to her newly repaired psyche if she loses Nik?
Romance, mystery, and high stakes – just another day in high school.
Amazon| Barnes & Noble| Whiskey Creek Press| All Romance| BookStrand| Goodreads
About the author:
When her children were young and the electricity winked out, Kai Strand gathered her family around the fireplace and they told stories, one sentence at a time. Her boys were rather fond of the ending, “And then everybody died. The end.” Now an award winning children’s author, Kai crafts fiction for kids and teens to provide an escape hatch from their reality. With a selection of novels for young adult and middle grade readers and a short story blog, Lightning Quick Reads, Kai entertains children of all ages, and their adults. Learn more about Kai and her books on her website, www.kaistrand.com.
Mailing List| Facebook| Twitter| Instagram|

Monday Mishmash: the "how did it get to be the end of July already?" edition

Anyone else wondering where the Hades July has gone? Because I swear it was *just* the 4th! Anyhow, here's a few things that are going on in the craziness that is this summer:
I have my first interview for TRAVELERS up on Cathleen Townsend's blog. Come say hi!I'm still working on the release day stuff for TRAVELERS. The dates may have to change (sigh, that's a long and weary story), but I'll keep you posted. If you're interested in helping out, click here!I am praying I get to sign final paperwork on my new place this week. Woot!! I want to move and get settled in my new place. Also, I've sold my old couch, so yeah, I need to move so I can actually have somewhere to sit ;)There's a new addition to these parts, of the furry variety: A slightly blurry shot (I was driving, don't tell anyone!) of Kate saying:
"If only I had thumbs, I'd be racing this thing!"I've been making some very fun images and videos for TRAVELERS. I love doing this kind of thing! I've actually thought about offering a book-trailer service, just because I enjoy it so much, but we'll see. I'll have to share a few here soon. Until then, just a little image:
Speaking of book-trailers, this is the one I made for a friend, Stuart R. West's GHOSTS OF GANNAWAY. I used a bunch of pics from the town the novel's based on, along with a few I hunted down, and it turned out rather awesome:
Other than that, I am just trying to survive the limbo of most of my life in boxes, and a whole lot of personal, well, hell. But it's going. Do tell, what's up with you??