Tanya Contois's Blog, page 22

Review of Return to Eden and a Vlog by G.P. Ching

As a part of the Return to Eden blog tour by G.P. Ching I asked how she would dress each of the characters from her popular series The Soulkeepers. Here is her answer.




Return to Eden, the third book in G.P. Ching's The Soulkeepers Series releases (officially) April 1st in eBook and Paperback. To celebrate, G.P. is going on a virtual tour. You'll see reviews, interviews, and never before seen video guest posts of G.P. answering some of your most pressing questions. Plus, you can enter to win some fabulous giveaways!

Here's more information on Return to Eden:

Dr. Abigail Silva has waited over 10,000 years for redemption and a chance at a real relationship with the angel she loves. But when you're made from evil itself, it's hard to remember if salvation is worth the wait. With Lucifer's plan coming to fruition, she must decide if God's offer of humanity is all it's cracked up to be, or if a deal with the devil is the more promising solution.

Available now on:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Smashwords

What can you win?

Weekly Prizes

Each week G.P. will award one prize per blog she visits, including:

A $10 customized Visa Debit Card! G.P. will give away ten of these throughout the tour. Use them anywhere Visa is accepted for anything you desire!

Or the winner's choice of eBook from either G.P. Ching or any of the Indelible authors along with some signed Soulkeepers bookmarks.

Grand Prize

A personalized, signed set of paperbacks (The Soulkeepers, Weaving Destiny, and Return to Eden) will be given away to one lucky winner at the end of the tour. (Open to US residents only)

Must be 13 years old or older to enter. International entrants are not eligible for the grand prize.

To enter the giveaway, visit one of these participating blogs on their tour date and fill out the entry form.

Date Blog

1-Apr http://livetoread-krystal.blogspot.com/

3-Apr http://thatbookishgirl.blogspot.com/

5-Apr All Things Books

9-Apr http://www.fiktshun.com/fiktshun/

10-Apr http://heathermccorkle.blogspot.com/

11-Apr http://www.hedanicreations.net/topic/...

12-Apr http://thesouthernscrawl.blogspot.com/

13-Apr YA Book Haven

15-Apr http://jessie-harrell.blogspot.com/

17-Apr http://ladysbookstuff.blogspot.com/

18-Apr http://kreagslistofawsomebooks.blogsp...

19-Apr http://mistygatlin.com/

21-Apr http://www.thebookishbabes.blogspot.com/

22-Apr http://merasyabooklist.blogspot.com/

23-Apr http://wordspelunking.blogspot.com/

26-Apr http://www.lettersinsideout.net/

28-Apr http://crazyfourbooks.blogspot.com/

29-Apr http://www.the-top-shelf.com/

To enter the contest head on over to G.P. Ching's blog www.gpching.com



Review of Return to Eden

Return to Eden is by far my favorite book in The Soulkeepers series because it allowed me to see a different side of Dr. Abigail Silva that made her seem less cold and unrelatable. I was pleased that Mara and Henry returned for the latest installment in The Soulkeepers series because they have real chemistry between them. I usually am not a fan of books that are told from alternating perspectives but G.P. Ching did it in such a way that it flowed smoothly and wasn't choppy or hard to follow.

Disconnect: by Dominique Weldon

Confusion,
Mind wrapped in its embrace,
One so tight it suffocates,
It gags,
It constricts,
Fingers claw, attempting to break free,
But realization hits too late,
Rushing down the throat,
Flooding through the veins,
The deadly embrace confusion claimed,
Victim left to wither,
To suffer,
To disappear

More Books Signed

Hello All Things Books, 


How are you all today? 


I have more great news.  I signed 4 more books with Barone Literacy Agency.  Things are going well with 'The Tennessee Prince and His Princess'. 


The books I signed with her, are the following. 


'Sex At Sea' -(Erotica)


Blurb:  'After a devastatingly, bad cruise of Scandinavia. Alice finds her every sexual need catered too by Alex. With mire hours left are they going to stick it out or go there separate ways? What's Alex's dark secret? Will he tell her before the end of the cruise?'




'Waking Up His Wife' -(Modern Romance)


Blurb: 'Strong, muscled, chiselled good looks and a gentlemen to boot. That was what Anna's friends thought she had married. Instead she had caught herself, a fighter, a wrestler and she knew what that meant!'




Norse Gods: The Lovers War-(Paranormal Erotica)


Blurb: 'Norse God Loki, needs a wife to anchor his soul.  It just happens his mate, is the woman that is here to take his child away from him. What will the Norse God do to swoop, Jennifer off her feet? Is Jennifer ready for a Norse God, in the shape of the God of trouble, himself?'


One Night With The Jarl -(Historial Erotica)
Blurb: 'Fire festival, marriage at midnight, all to be with her sweet heart. A love that bloomed at High School is about to get matched in a traditional Viking marriage. All for the most important night in Shetland. The night before Up Hellya Aa. Melinda's about to get rocked by her very own Viking.'
Some very interesting reads for you to sink your teeth into and before I leave, I would like to share with you.  The Straight to Print Book, that is coming soon with Night Publishing.  ALL THESE BLURBS/TITLES are COPYRIGHTED BY KRISTAL MCKERRINGTON. 
The Tennessee Prince and His Princess - (Wrestling Erotica) Blurb: '"He's all front and she's all aboutflying. There about to enter a war and she's got to pick a side. Willit be his?"

Which one of these, will you be racing to get? 
Thank you for having me here today.  It was an honour to be here as always. Stop back more for some more updates for Kristal McKerrington. 
MCKERRINGTON FACT: Always likes fresh coffee with loads of milk and three sugars. 

Excerpt of Ember by Madison Daniel

~Policy Of Truth: Depeche Mode~
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2VBmHOYpV8&ob=av2e
Excerpt of Ember by Madison Daniel
With a long deep breath I turned and took a pair of scissors from Sam's desk. I slowly opened them up, until the plastic handles stuck against the cold metal. I stared at her one last time and realized that this was it, no turning back now. Things would never be the same after this moment. Her eyes followed my hand without breathing and she was obviously scared now. The blades of the scissors were cold against my burning touch and I took another deep breath."Just breathe," I said to myself and quickly sliced open my left palm. I dragged the blade along my wrist and down my forearm."Max..." she gasped."Trust me," I said as I pulled the bloody scissors from my arm and set them back down. The faintest line of smoke danced upward and Sam's face fell white as her blood drained from it. I thought that she might run away in horror but she held her ground. My blood poured from the fresh wound before the steam started to rise from the open slit. As more steam came off my arm the wound began to pull together and a red and white flame glowed along my arm. Her eyes intensified and her body leaned backwards against her bed. The flame grew to the top of my arm and with one final burst, engulfed my hand in a yellow and orange teardrop of fire. It twisted and swayed with the movement of my fingers and I could feel that the wound was totally healed now. I watched her reaction from behind the flame and then let it fade away. The fire disappeared as quickly as it had appeared and I turned my arm toward her to show her that I was okay."Surprise," I said nervously.Sam only looked at me in disbelief. I brushed my hair from my eyes and crossed my arms impatiently. She leaned forward and stood up from her bed, stepping toward me. I took a slight step back."Please don't be scared of me. Sam, I would never hurt you," I swore. She said nothing and reached out for my arm. Her eyes inspected every inch closely. Her fingers felt freezing against my newly healed skin. I found that quite comforting."Does it hurt?" she asked in a whisper."The wound hurts like hell but only for a second. Then there is only the heat." I let a half smile creep from the side of my mouth."Could you do that to me too?" she asked as if she already knew the answer. My hand found her earlobe and I slowly caressed the scar behind it."Yes, I can fix that scar for you." My hand filled with heat again."No," she exclaimed as her hand pulled at mine. I froze with confusion."I think I want to keep it." Her smile returned."Why?" I didn't understand how she could possibly want to keep it."Because every time I see or feel it I will think of our first kiss." She moved her body into mine. "I don't ever want to lose that.""I guess this means you're not too scared of me?" I asked."A little..." Her confidence was back. "But it doesn't change the way I feel for you.""And how is that?" I swallowed and waited for the worst possible answer. Her arms wrapped themselves around me and she buried her head in my chest."I'm falling for you Max." Her words shook my very core but I felt safe at the same time."You are?"
"I can see the real you." She looked up at my scared expression. "The real me?" I choked."I see the boy who hides behind his bangs when he's nervous. The boy who believes that if he's alone he won't be hurt again." She took my wrist in her hand and covered Mia's name with her other hand."And I see the big brother that you will forever be."

The Bones of Writing

Before I begin this post, I have to announce that I'll be taking a leave of absence from blogging here for a while. I'm pushing to get my debut, full-length novel to publication. With the many technical detail checks, edits, formatting and publishing, I'm going to be a very busy writer. I hope you'll all welcome Elizabeth Lance, who'll be taking over for me until mid-August. I'll introduce her to you when she makes her first post the Friday after next. I'll miss all of you, until I get back! Now on to that post...

"Write what you know." It's the first lesson we all learn about writing. It's what we're taught in school and it's something we hear repeated by teachers, agents, and even publishing companies.

It's a good piece of advice, but not very practical if you take it literally. If everyone obeyed "write what you know", in a literal sense, we'd have nothing to read but textbooks, memoirs and autobiographies. After all, I highly doubt Edgar Allan Poe, a career writer, ever committed or investigated a murder. How about J.R.R. Tolkien? It seems unlikely that he ever visited Middle Earth, in person. And unless Isaac Asimov had a close encounter we've never heard about, his books weren't based on pure fact either.

"Write what you know", (aside from non-fiction), is more about the foundation of good creative writing. A successful writer uses their existing knowledge to build the framework for a story. If we think of a story as a living, breathing entity, (and the best stories certainly give that impression), the writer's personal experience makes up the skeletal structure. Their emotional experiences form the heart of the story. From there, imagination and investigation provide the necessary information to flesh it out.

It has been suggested that the bulk of Poe's writing is inspired by, "the repeated loss of women throughout his life, including his wife." (wikipedia) and an obsession with death. Tolkien wrote from his experiences in World War Two, and used his expertise in "word origins, mythology, and languages including Old English, Old Norse, and Finnish." (nndb) Asimov was a professor of Biochemistry, a member of Mensa, and has been published in all ten major categories of the Dewey Decimal System. (wikipedia) Combined, they certainly have a broad range of practical experience to write from.

Most writers don't have such an expansive store of expertise. That doesn't mean we aren't capable of creating first-rate fiction. It just means that we should take care to research, or request advice on technical aspects of our stories we may not be familiar with. For example: I'm writing a crime fiction/mystery which includes details of police procedure, Canadian law and the use of firearms. I do have some twenty-year-old experience with firearms, having done a little target shooting, but I'm not terribly knowledgeable in the other two areas.

Still, all three of these subjects are far too complex to write about, based on casual research, and twenty year old memories. As such, I sought out advisors in each field, to review my manuscript for the technical aspects their expertise covers. My forte, if I may humbly claim it, is human nature and emotion. I've been lucky to have lived in a variety of towns and cities, (though I didn't always feel so lucky when I was packing and unpacking, most of the time). I've met thousands of people, with unique personalities and experiences. Their stories and experiences have greatly enhanced my writing.

How else could I write my short story, "Daisy's Love at War", about an eighty-four year old woman with dementia, living in a nursing home? How could I recount her fear, during the blitz? How could I discuss her loss, when her lover is killed? It's simple, really. Daisy is based on several women I've known, including my two Grandmothers. The description of the blitz comes from my Gran's descriptions of huddling in the underground for hours, in the dark, praying the ceiling didn't crumble under a direct hit. The lost boyfriend was one of my other Gran's stories. The emotions, however, are my own.

When I wrote about the blitz, I remembered how it felt to huddle in the dark, as a child, when the power went out, waiting for a hurricane that never came. I placed myself in those tunnels, with my Grandmother, and imagined how I might feel. When I wrote about the loss of her lover, I remembered the sorrow of losing several people I've loved; to Cancer, to car accidents, and to suicide. These emotions are a fundamental part of me. The characters are often a blend of people I've met, befriended and/or loved, with a little of myself thrown in.

Taken figuratively, "write what you know" is an excellent start to the creative process, but writing only what you know will crush your literary aspirations more violently than bad grammar, spelling, or structure. I say, "Write what you don't know!" Research, study, ask questions, but don't stifle your creativity. Stretch your boundaries; just make sure to include your own emotions, experiences and observations. That's how you write what you know. At least, that's how I see it. I'd love to hear your perspective.

Interview with SJ Byrne, author of My Butterfly

1. Did you always know you wanted to be a writer or was there
something else you wanted to do as a career?

I knew early on I enjoyed writing and it came easily to me. I began writing my first book at the age of 21 and had approximately 200 pages of manuscript when life threw some curve balls my way that completely derailed my writing. I lost the disc for that book but kept the hard copy with me everywhere I moved to (and that was a lot of places!). It took me 10 years to get back to my writing and another 5 to pick back up that original manuscript.  Looking back, I don't know how I could have thought I should be doing anything OTHER than writing! It is my soul's respite and without the constant creative flow I don't function very well.



2. Is there one author that you have read every book that they have written?


There was a time I would have said Diana Gabaldon, but I have a few of Lord John's books I haven't read.  No, there isn't any author whose every book I have read. I flit around from author to author and especially now that I'm a part of the Indie Author scene, I've been reading A LOT of my fellow Author's works. There's tons of good books out there!

3. In you opinion what is the best movie adaptation of a book that you've read?


Honestly, I tend to stay away from reading books and then watching the movie; they never seem to match up to what I have in my head. I will say I LOVED the Harry Potter movies, but haven't read the books. I have them (thanks to my daughter) and while everyone else is sad because the journey is over, I still have the books to look forward to!



4. When you are browsing book stores what is the first section you go to?


Paranormal - I LOVE the paranormal section. I used to be a heavy romance reader, but that love has been replaced with a need to go to places unseen in today's world.



5. If your book was being made into a movie do you already have actors
in mind for each role? What bands/singers would you put on the
soundtrack?


Oh wow. Um...No. LOL I haven't even begun to think about that. I'd need several Scottish actors/actresses for my book and the thought of that just makes me weak in the knees! I do know that Eminem/Rihanna's  song Love the way you lie pt 2 is a perfect match for the book. That and Flogging Molly's Leave this world alive 



6.. When you're creating characters do you incorporate traits from
people you know?


I don't do it purposely, but I can see where it happens from time to time. I only hope anyone who sees themselves in my writing doesn't get offended by it. I find it to be the highest compliment!



7. If you had the chance to have a sit down with any author alive or
deceased who would it be and why?


I'd love to sit down with Karen Marie Moning. If you've read any of her blogs about writing the Fever series, you know the story line came to her in one dream. My writing works in a similar fashion and it would be great to sit and chat with someone who truly understands the up and downs that comes with channeling your work. I know how my characters behave when I get something wrong; frustration city! To have a connection with someone who understands that, out of this world!


http://amzn.to/MyBttrfly - Amazon book page

https://www.facebook.com/pages/SJ-Byrne/163037843739072  - Facebook


https://twitter.com/#!/SJ__Byrne  - Twitter
http://sj-byrne.blogspot.com/
http://amzn.to/MoDearPrint
http://amzn.to/MoDearKndl

As I...

Do you remember me,
As tears brush your cheeks,
As they hit your feet,
Do the memories flow,
As I kiss you lips,
As I take your wrist,
Only craving yes,
As I know it's less,
As I want the best,
Yet I know it's goodbye
As I accept the lies,
As I depart with cries

Writing Paranormal Romance by Gabrielle Bisset, author of Destiny Redeemed

Writing Paranormal Romance When I began writing, paranormal romance was such an oddity that very few people had ever heard of it. Sometimes people would lump it in with science fiction. Times have certainly changed, though. These days, paranormal romance is a hot seller and for good reason. With vampires, shapeshifters, weres, and any other kind of creature an author can dream up, the paranormal subgenre of romance is like the mind's sexy playground. I love writing paranormals because it allows me so much freedom to create anything I like. When I began thinking of a new kind of being to write a few years ago, I knew I wanted something different but something that readers could relate to. Out of those criteria came my Aeveren. Gifted with the ability of reincarnation, Aeveren live fifty lives before moving on. Each life offers the opportunity to be a king, a pauper, or anything else. In one life a man may be on top of the world, and in the next lifetime, he may be lower than one can imagine. But Aeveren have also been given other gifts to help them through the ups and downs fate can throw at them. Each Aeveren knows that after they reach their twentieth lifetime they will receive some special ability. For some, it can be the gift of empathy, telepathy, or even the ability to control others' thoughts. However, for a few chosen Aeveren, they are born with their powers. In Destiny Redeemed, the hero, Amon, and the heroine, Thea, are both unique in that they were born in their first lifetimes with their powers. Amon can manipulate time, which makes him extremely unique, even in the Aeveren world. It also makes him very powerful and dangerous. Thea, on the other hand, was born in her first lifetime with the ability to heal other Aeveren. In her own way, she's very powerful too. Finally, Aeveren are given the gift of a destined one, another Aeveren meant just for them. Some must wait lifetimes to find that one soul mate, but a few Aeveren aren't so lucky. Thea, as a healer, has spent forty-five lifetimes without a destined one because she's a healer. But fate hasn't forgotten her and finally in this lifetime, she's is given the gift of a destined one in Amon. Creating Aeveren has been a wonderful experience for me because it allows me the opportunity to combine some of my favorite aspects of paranormal romance in my stories. I get to have characters who have seen some of the most important days in history through their many lifetimes, and I am allowed to indulge my romantic side by giving them a happily ever after I wouldn't be able to provide if I wrote their stories in any other genre.


Where you can find Gabrielle Bisset on the web.

http://www.gabriellebisset.com/
http://gbisset.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002481284652
https://twitter.com/#!/gabriellebisset
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4885370.Gabrielle_Bisset
http://www.amazon.com/Gabrielle-Bisset/e/B00545PN8Khttp://darkmindbooktours.blogspot.co.uk/

Catching Up Tuesday

Dear All Things Readers, 

Today I'm writing with some awesome announcements.  I have had a strange week with great ones rushing to the surface and I'm really looking forward to getting them off the ground. There some Writing fantastic ones. 


My first one is that I signed a Straight to Print book deal with Night Publishing.  I haven't been this excited about a book for a while.  The book is in fact going to be my first Wrestling Erotica too! So its going to be a huge move forward for me.  I am looking forward to being able to promote with L Anne Carrington. 


A wonderful woman that has a lot of talent.  So make sure you give her a look up on Facebook, Twitter or Formspring.   She is like me, she is everywhere. 


The second piece of information I have for you, is that as of last night I signed a contract with Barone Literacy Agency.  For Talent and for Screenwriter.  I'm dead excited to see what that will bring out for me in the near future.  Its a great chance to do something very cool. 

I was asked recently what had happened to the Fun Facts of Kristal McKerrington and I don't know. I think we have been that busy that it slipped my mind and my old agents. 


So for that fan that asked. 


A Fun Fact:  Kristal can't eat mushroom's!  It makes her sick! 


I will be back next week with I hoped some great news about the Straight to Print book! 


Kristal McKerrington 

Interview with Lauren Harvey, author of Imperfect

1. Did you always know you wanted to be a writer or was there
something else you wanted to do as a career?

As a child, I had always wanted to be a writer.  Once I got into college, I realized just how competitive the field is.  Needing stability, I ended up becoming a licensed veterinary technician.  I love writing and am glad that I am able to pursue my childhood dream and still have my "fall-back" career as wel.  :)



2. If you had the chance to co-author a book with anyone who would it
be and why?

Wow.  That's a toughie.  To some extent, I have.  My first full-length novel, Imperfect became the incredible book it is due to the wonderful work of Chelle Cordero.  I also wrote the forward for and contributed to a book that will be published later this year by the incredible Lloyd Kaneko.  They are both writers that I admire greatly, so I feel as though I have already been privileged to have have co-authored those books.  :)



3. Is there any books you've read that were so emotional that you teared up?

Oh yes!  There have been many!  Call me an emotional fool, but I really allow myself to get swept up in the stories and the people.  I think the list would be too long if I named them all!  :)


4. What is the first book that you remember reading?

Another tough question!  I remember some of my favorite bed time stories as a little one.  As a child, we read the James Herriott books, Little House on the Prarie series and more.  My mother is an avid reader, so reading was a huge part of my childhood.  I'm not sure I remember which was the first book I read.


5. If your book was being made into a movie do you already have actors
in mind for each role? What bands/singers would you put on the
soundtrack?

Actually yes, I do have actors selected for my books!  :)  There is a great website called storycasting.com that allows authors to do just that!  All of my books are on there!  I love playing on there!  :)  As for music, my taste runs the gamut and I would love to see a lot of my favorite bands or songs make it on there.  Evanesence, Rammstein, Metallica, Carly Simon, Pink...You name it!  :)  I think music is really important for evoking emotion in a story, so music is really import in my writing process, in my stories and in my books if they were ever to become movies!  :)


6. What are 10 random facts about yourself?

1) I am very short.  I'm only 5'1". 
2) I am multi-racial.  I got to grow up hearing English, Spanish and Slavish.  Let's just say I know some colorful phrases in a few different languages.
3) I have a dog named Marquez, after the Hispanic writer, Gabriel Garcia Marquez (author of Tale of a Shipwrecked Sailor and 100 Years of Solitude).
4) My favorite game is Pass the Pigs.  If you haven't played it, I highly recommend it.  If you haven't heard of it, look it up!  :)
5) I am a hopeless romantic.
6) I met my fiancee in a super market parking lot.
7) I own a 1977 Chevrolet K-10 pick up.  It's my baby.  It's also two years older than me!  :)
8) I have 20 tattoos and still counting!  :)
9) I can't cook...at all!  :)
10) I was the head NSO (non-skating official) for a roller derby team.