Jen Naumann's Blog, page 12

BIG NEWS!

I'm giving everyone the chance to read my zombie book for FREE!
Yeah that's right, I said it, FREE! Now that the juggernaut that is Apple has finally released it (which only took forever and ever), The Day Zombies Ruined My Perfectly Boring Life is available to Amazon Prime members to loan from the lending library at no cost. And even better - you don't even have to own a kindle! You can download the kindle app for your Mac, PC, iPad, phone, or just about any other digital device here. Finding an excuse to use my favorite comedian jumping for joy totally just made my day.
So pick up this amusing adventure here, and then review it here. I thank you, dear readers, for all your support and hope that you'll give this fun book a chance. Happy reading!

BIG NEWS!

I have an exciting announcement to make: The Day Zombies Ruined My Perfectly Boring Life is now available to borrow for FREE to Amazon Prime members! Yeah, I said it: FREE! Remember, if you're a prime member but don't own a kindle, you can still download the kindle app to your PC, Mac or phone. So you totally need to check my zombies out. Oh, and don't forget to review the book when you're finished so that you can tell the wold just how awesome this unique zombie adventure is! So turn your lights on, sit back and enjoy. Happy reading!

Happy Birthday to the God of Rock

This post has really no meaning to it other than to pay homage to the legend who has been in TWO epic rock and roll bands and felt the need to create yet another (in addition to reappearing in Them Crooked Vultures). He's also in my top three favorite artists of all time.
Happy 44th birthday, David Grohl, you talented/funny/sweet/nerdy/hot man. May all my dreams about you your dreams come true.

Cover Reveal: The Forgotten Ones by Laura Howard

Title: The Forgotten Ones

Author: Laura Howard

Genre: NA Paranormal Fantasy Romance

Expected release date: May 15, 2013

Age Group: New Adult

Cover Designer: Stephanie Mooney 



Book Description:

Allison O'Malley just graduated from college. Her life's plan is to get a job and take care of her schizophrenic mother. She doesn't have room for friends or even Ethan, who clearly wants more.

When Allison's long-lost father shows up, he claims he can bring her mother back from the dark place her mind has sent her. He reveals legends of a race of people long forgotten, the Tuatha de Danaan, along with the truth about why he abandoned her mother.


Laura Howard | Facebook | Twitter



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Writers Are People Too. No, Really.

I’m not going to lie. When you're an author, negative reviews of your book hurt. Like really bad. Imagine being stabbed repeatedly in the chest, then having an Army tank run you over, only to be followed by a stray dog peeing in your face. That's maybe a small glimpse into how it feels.
Today I came across some negative reviews left for a book written by a Twitter friend of mine who is extremely nice and kindhearted. While I haven't read her book myself, I was appalled to read through the overly harsh comments left by these bloggers on Goodreads. And I felt inspired to explain why I think this is totally uncalled for.
As writers, we spend months pouring our heart and soul into these stories, creating these characters and the worlds they live in from nothing more than the darkest corners of our imaginations. Then we take this precious story we've created and release it to the wild, kind of the way a mother has to send her child to his first day of kindergarten. And we're just ordinary people, like everyone else. So of course it hurts when you use dramatic GIFs and foul language to describe just how much you hated our books. Probably the most ironic part about all of this is the fact that most writers I know are emotional creatures, often even socially introverted. Many of us have a hard time putting ourselves out there to begin with. And we're known to take things to heart.
Before I published my first novel, I didn't fully appreciate this concept. While I've always tried to be a fairly positive person and don't believe in putting others down, I sometimes gave out 2 star reviews to books I really didn't like. Now, as I stand in the awkward and sometimes ill-fitting shoes that writers are forced to wear, I understand just what an impact negative reviews can have. If I really can't stand a book, I will just decline to review it.
Many bloggers I've contacted state on their website that they won't tear a book apart and if they didn't enjoy it that they will do their best to point out the positive aspects, knowing everyone doesn't have the same tastes. This is so true. That's the most frustrating part about negative reviews - just because Joe Blow thought a book was stupid and tacky doesn't mean his 60 year old mother whose basement he's living in won't thoroughly enjoy it.
Next time you leave feedback on a book you've read, please keep in mind (whether you personally know the author or not) that they're just regular people trying to make a living doing something they really enjoy. It's not necessary to put down the author and go on a rampage that tears their books to shreds. And to my fellow authors who have to endure the sometimes immature comments left by people who either don't know or don't care that they're talking about a real person who put gallons of blood and sweat into their work, just remember: Thankfully, we live in a diverse world where there sill are people who are more interested in sharing the love than spreading the hate.

Writer Wednesday: London Cole

So this week I felt compelled to introduce all of you to one of my favorite Twitter friends. He's witty, charming and a big fan of rum. Plus he's really good at telling paranormal stories that involve ghosts, sexual tension and a dystopian world unlike any other. His book Whisper Walker just underwent a major redo, getting a new title (Splinter), cover (see below) and some scene rewrites.
In honor of London's new release, he's giving away one digital copy (ePub or Mobi) of Splinter! Enter on Rafflecopter giveaway below. Winner will be announced on January 30th.
Tell us about your new release, Splinter.
Ahh, straight to the point. I like that. Ok, that’s not entirely true, I don’t mind a little beating around the bush on occasion. Splinter is a New Adult Post-Apocalyptic novel with elements of romance and paranormal set around eighty years after WWIII. It's a story told from two points of view of two best friends, Kelsie and Drake, as they stumble onto a paranormal mystery and threat that will impact their entire existence.

What's your favorite scene in this book?

That’s a hard one. That’s like asking a Star Wars fanatic to pick their favorite Han Solo action figure. I’d have to say (even though it’s a few scenes) that the second chapter is my favorite. It’s the introduction to Kelsie and some of her dirty little secrets.

Were any aspects of the story brought on by either personal experience or inspiration?

Whoa. The answer to this question is quite extensive. I’ll try to keep it brief. I grew up on a large island in Washington State. Every inch of that island was fodder for how my imagination works. There are many haunted locations on the island, including two seriously creepy and awesome old concrete forts left over from the World Wars, as well as some heavy woods where some completely inexplicable things have happened to me over the years. The very first scene is quite similar to something that happened to me while I was playing night games with some friends in high school at one of the forts. I fell into a pit at the bottom of an ammunitions lift without a flashlight and scene one was more or less born. There are many more scenes inspired by actual locations on Whidbey Island, but I don’t want to spoil the book.

What are some of your personal favorite books?

The whole Harry Potter series. The Iron Druid Chronicles, The King Killer Chronicles, Poison Study, The Emperor’s Edge series, dude, I could keep going. I love reading.

What music do you listen to while writing?

I normally opt for silence or a really loud room full of people, such as a pub. But sometimes I listen to A Day to Remember or Four Year Strong when I’m writing action scenes. Yellowcard is a good all around one for me, too.

What's the most satisfying thing about writing?

Having a reader come up to you and shake your hand, saying how much they loved your book, how much they could relate to one of your characters. It’s surreal.

Hardest thing?

Editing and revisions. Revisions always make my head get turned inside out! If I could write the first two drafts and then let someone else do all the intensive revisions, I would totally do that.

What are you working on next?

I’m working feverishly hard on another NA book that’s paranormal. I also have the outline for the coolest Santa Claus book ever.

What’s your favorite scary movie?

Cabin in the Woods was pretty awesome. Other than that, I’m not really into scary movies. I have been to the house that’s in The Ring though, which was totally cool.

If you could shake the hand of anyone you wanted, who would that be?

That’s tough. Maybe J.K. Rowling. She has done so much to help bring the younger generations into reading and I have the utmost respect for her.

Ways to follow London: Twitter, Goodreads, Facebook, his website
Where to find his books: Amazon, Barnes and Noble


London Cole is the author of Paranormal Young-Adult novels and novellas. He resides in the large and highly over-heated state of Texas, though he's not originally from there. He was born in the Pacific Northwest, growing up on an Island very near Canada. That means that he slips up and occasionally uses words like “ehh” and pronounces “about” like “abooot”. He's also told that he unknowingly slips into a light accent on occasion and says “dude” in an odd fashion.

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Cover Reveal: Facade by Nyrae Dawn

Recently, I discovered the talented Nyrae Dawn, an author who really knows how to tell a great romance story. I'm way psyched to be able to reveal her newest book cover to you, Facade! The release is set for March 2013.
**This is a New Adult book and intended for mature audiences.**

Blurb:No one knows who twenty-one year-old Adrian Westfall is behind his façade. After what he’s done, he deserves to live alone with his pain, even if he’d do anything to forget. Anything for a moment of quiet without his past haunting him. Eighteen year-old Delaney Cross wants nothing more than to absolve her family from her father’s sins. To keep her suicidal mom off that ledge, and help her brother Maddox get the light back in his eyes. She thinks their road to freedom is through Adrian. Adrian and Delaney are bound together by tragedy… Only Adrian doesn’t know it. As their lives intertwine, they find a solace in each other they never knew existed. Laney knows she needs to tell him—to come out from behind her smoke screen, but to say the words could mean losing him. Two people. Two disguises. True love. Will it be enough to save them when all secrets are bared?
Goodreads link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16150320-facadeNyrae's website: http://www.nyraedawn.blogspot.com
Nyrae resides in sunny Southern California with her husband (who still makes her swoon) and her two awesome kids. When she’s not with her family, you can be pretty sure you’ll find her with a book in her hand or her laptop and an open document in front of her. Nyrae is represented by Jane Dystel of Dystel and Goderich Literary Management.

Book Review: Dizzy

When I started a blog, it was never my intention to become an actual book reviewer. But I'm always reading something and I've been asked so many times by fellow authors to swap books in exchange for my honest opinion that I figure I may as well start! For the most part I'm interested in reading YA (young adult) or NA (new adult) paranormal and romance, but occasionally I meet someone who writes outside of my preferred genre, so you may see a mix of that as well.

A word of warning before I begin: I am not a philosophical kind of person. I prefer more of a straight up, no nonsense kind of approach. So my reviews will not be in depth, nor will they tear apart anything that didn't sit well with me. As a writer, I know how much a bad review can really tear you up inside. If either I wasn't able to finish a book or couldn't find anything nice to say about it, just as momma said, I won't say anything at all.
And with that caveat, I give you my first official review of Dizzy, a young adult romance by the talented Jolene Perry and Nyrae Dawn. 
Sometimes I get a little too heavy into the paranormal and just need an easy to read, lighthearted book. I discovered Jolene Perry a few months ago through Twitter. Not only is her kindness and enthusiasm contagious, but the girl knows how to write and it would seem she can pump out new books like a PEZ dispenser. Of the four books I've read that she had involvement with, all of them involved a smart girl with a strong spirit and a pretty good head on her shoulders. And all four are something I will let my 13-year-old daughter read.
This story starts out with an egotistical guy named Dylan who is throwing a party at his house. The story then flips over to a girl named Ziah who finds herself at the party, surrounded by the type of people she normally doesn't hang around with. They both make a big impression on each other, only to find out later that their siblings are marrying each other. Neither of them is overly excited about the wedding, and the playful banter that ensues is quiet entertaining. Without rehashing the entire story, which I hate to do anyway because I'm very cautious of spoilers, I can tell you that this is a fun story that you won't be able to put down. The story is well told, making the reader feel as if you're hanging out with these two characters. Overall, I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars, only because it was a fun read and I can't find anything bad to say about it. Pick up your copy on Amazon or Barnes and Noble.
*I purchased this book and was not asked to review it by the authors.*

Sick-lit: What??

Today I came across a VERY frustrating article (click here to read). The journalist for a U.K. website went off on how "sick-lit" is becoming a disturbing phenomenon. At the top of the references was the book The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (if you haven't read it I highly recommend you do so). The journalist goes on to say, "While the Twilight series and its imitators are clearly fantasy, these books don't spare any detail of the harsh realities of terminal illness, depression and death."

I'm not sure what goes on this journalist's life, but it would appear that they live in a bubble.

 I've done the "raising a teenage girl" thing before with two stepdaughters who (thankfully) turned out to be intelligent, respectful, well-adjusted women. My daughter is about to turn 13 in just a couple of days (*sob*). I know there's some pretty dark stuff that can go on in a teen's life in today's society. My own slightly tainted childhood experiences include having a cousin die of cancer when I was just 8 and pulling up to his house just behind the hearse. If this journalist is suggesting we shelter our children from such literature because of these serious subjects, they're just living in serious denial. Terrible things happen. Young children die of cancer and commit suicide. Kids cut themselves to express their feelings. Small children are gunned down in their classroom by a madman. We know this from real life. If teens are reading books about these things, it's up to their parents to talk to them about these issues.

I read the same books as my daughter so I know exactly what goes into that intelligent brain of hers (she's an 'A' honor roll student). I'm going to have her read The Fault in Our Stars so she can see just what kids facing cancer have to deal with. I know it will make her a more compassionate person. She knows two kids in school who were very recently diagnosed with cancer. Would this U.K. journalist suggest it's better for my daughter to live in the dark and not understand the kinds of things her schoolmates will have to face? I promise you, there is nothing in this book that "glamorizes" cancer. It's a very sad, depressing book in which teens die. It's reality.

Tannith Carey of dailymail.co.uk really needs a wake up call.

**As as side-note: I certainly don't condone writing on these subjects to get higher sales. I don't think it was really a "trend" when John Green wrote this book.**

How Para is Your Normal?

Picture of clouds in our backyard. UFO cover?Personally, I've never experienced anything strange that could be explained only as a paranormal encounter (if you don't count the weirdness brought on by a bunch of teenaged girls with a Ouija board in junior high or the really strange clouds that once hung over our backyard). Yet one friend told me that she always saw her grandmother's ghost after she moved into her house, while another swears she saw some crazy lights that could only be UFOs. A few of my Twitter friends recently shared very detailed stories of some pretty creepy things that happened to them that really don't have any other logical explanation.

House I grew up in. Haunted?


Last weekend I met a man who lived in the same house as I did growing up. It was a rather large old house, built in the late 1800s. There were servant stairways, old-fashioned radiators for heat and stained glass windows throughout. This 50-something-year-old man looked me in the eye and said he knew there were ghosts in that house. Whatever wisdom he held in those eyes actually gave me the shivers. All I kept thinking was how happy I was that I didn't know this 20 years ago.
Still, I remain a skeptic. We live in a time where just about everyone knows how to photoshop images. Old houses have old boilers and really creaky doors that don't stay closed. How much of paranormal stuff is a result of imagines fueled by television shows and scary stories? If you see a shift in shadows, it could just be your overactive imagination telling you that you saw a ghost. If you ever watch the ghost hunter reality shows, you know how those guys are good at scaring the crap out of themselves just by walking through these old buildings more than anything. And I always get a good laugh out of the "voices" they "translate". How they ever get actual words out of those noises, I'll never understand.
Relax, I found this one on the internet.If there really are ghosts among us, I would think that every single person would have experienced an encounter of sorts. If there really are aliens that come and experiment on people in the night, I doubt the government would be able to keep a total lid on that kind of information.
I would love to tour a well-known haunted site (it's on my bucket list) or see strange lights floating in the sky. The very thought of it is exciting (did I mention I'm a big X-Files fan?). But I think the only reason I can get excited about these things is because in my heart I don't think it's real. Therefore, it's just fun entertainment. Or so I tell myself.
What do you think? Have you ever experienced anything that couldn't be explained by plain logic? I'd love to hear your stories!