C.M. Brown's Blog, page 19

TEASER TUESDAY / BLOG TOUR -- MARGOT BOND COLLINS (WAKING UP DEAD)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by
http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/of Should Be Reading.Anyone can play along!Just do the followingGrab your current readOpen to a random pageShare two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that pageBE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE ANY SPOILERS!
Make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away!


You don't want to ruin the book for others!



Waking Up Dead :By Margot Collins

When Dallas resident Callie Taylor died young, she expected to go to Heaven, or maybe Hell. Instead, she met her fate early thanks to a creep with a knife and a mommy complex. Now she's witnessed another murder, and she's not about to let this one go. She's determined to help solve it before an innocent man goes to prison. And to answer the biggest question of all: why the hell did she wake up in Alabama?

Blurb
When Dallas resident Callie Taylor died young, she expected to go to Heaven, or maybe Hell. Instead, she met her fate early thanks to a creep with a knife and a mommy complex. Now she's witnessed another murder, and she's not about to let this one go. She's determined to help solve it before an innocent man goes to prison. And to answer the biggest question of all: why the hell did she wake up in Alabama?

Excerpt
As Molly straightened up, the man slipped the wire over her head and twisted it around her neck. She struggled, but he pulled the garrote tighter and tighter.I was screaming at the top of my ghostly voice, for all the good it did me. I moved up behind the man and beat at his back with closed fists--fists that slipped in and out of his back without ever making real contact. He shuddered a little--clearly he was one of the very slightly sensitive ones--but he didn’t loosen his hands.I reached up and tried to grab the wire, tried to pull against the pressure he was exerting on the wire and it did loosen for an instant. But only for an instant. The living have more control over solid objects than the dead do. I never resented that fact more than at that moment.But I kept trying. I kept trying as Molly’s face turned purple, then blue, then black, kept trying even as she drooped in the man’s grip.Then he loosened the wire and it was too late. I watched that wispy, light-on-fog life force slip out of Molly and move on to wherever it is that other people go when they die. I was glad she didn’t show up next to me as a full-blown ghost. At that moment, I wouldn’t have wished my impotent half-existence on anyone. I couldn’t help thinking that if I’d been alive, I might have been able to save her.If I could have cried real tears, I would have. As it was, I was sobbing hoarsely and calling the man every dirty name I could think of.I was still cursing as I followed him around the kitchen. First he opened the pantry and pulled out a box of Hefty garbage bags. Then he grabbed a knife out of the block on the counter. And finally, he picked up Molly’s body and carried it to the bathroom.



Margo Bond Collins lives in Texas with her husband, their daughter, several spoiled cats, and a ridiculous turtle. She teaches college-level English courses online, though writing fiction is her first love. She enjoys reading urban fantasy and paranormal fiction of any genre and spends most of her free time daydreaming about vampires, ghosts, zombies, werewolves, and other monsters. 
Buy Waking Up Dead on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Waking-Up-Dead-ebook/dp/B00FOXWLM8/Connect with MargoAmazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/margobondcollinsEmail: MargoBondCollins@gmail.comWebsite: http://www.MargoBondCollins.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/MargoBondCollin  @MargoBondCollinGoogle+: https://plus.google.com/116484555448104519902Goodreads Author Page: http://www.goodreads.com/vampirarchyFacebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/MargoBondCollinsFacebook Novel Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Waking-Up-Dead/502076076537575Tumblr: http://vampirarchybooks.tumblr.com/Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/mbondcollins/

Be sure to add Waking Up Dead to your Goodreads bookshelves: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18428064-waking-up-dead
 MY TEASER: I didn’t have to wait long. A gruesome murder like this one was big news, not only in Abramsville, but in all the nearby towns and cities. It might even hit the national news soon. A still photo of Rick flashed across the screen, then a picture of Molly, taken at her wedding. The photo receded to a corner of the screen, replaced by a moving image of Rick, in handcuffs, being shoved into a police car.

Collins, Margo Bond (2013-10-06). Waking Up Dead (Kindle Locations 227-230). Solstice Shadows Publishing. Kindle Edition.

HOW I MISS YOU BLOGFEST

The Second Annual Oh, How I Miss You Blogfest! 
November 8, 2013 - hosted by Andrew Leon, Alex J. Cavanaugh, and Matthew MacNish
eremy Hawkins. Jeremy
The bloggers we really miss…and the ones we would really miss!

Do you have a couple blogger buddies who aren’t posting as often? Those who’ve pulled back and seem absent from the blogging world? Do you have blogger buddies you are grateful they are still around and would miss if they vanished? Now is your chance to show your appreciation and spotlight them!

On November 8, list one to three bloggers you really miss and one to three bloggers you would miss if they stopped blogging. Then go leave a comment on those blogs.

Our blogger friends are special – time to let them know!

A choice of blogger friend whom I would miss if he gave up blogging entirely,  is Jeremy Hawkins (Retro Zombie.  Jeremy, is a co-host of the A-Z Challenge and designs all the logos for challenge each year. 
He has a quirky personality and is a genuine person, with a witty sense of humour which makes me laugh.


Elise Fallson would be another blogger I would miss if she decided not to take part anymore. She is someone very special and has a heart of gold, (and I only know her through this experience)! I know that she is busy in her world of writing at the moment, she is close to releasing her first novel and has not been as active with her blogging as she once was. Don't you disappear Elise!


It goes without saying that Alex Cavanaugh would also be another choice and I am sure a lot of bloggers would agree! We really appreciate all you do Alex! But unfortunately I must apologize, I have no photo of the man, as he keeps his face hidden to our world. Ha, ha......lol!

INSECURE WRITER'S SUPPORT GROUP

   IT IS TIME FOR 
INSECURE WRITER'S SUPPORT GROUPTo find out more about this group,visit:Alex J. Cavanaugh (The Ninja Captain)
at http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com.au
TO SIGN UP TO BE PART OF THIS MONTHLY MEME, JUST FOLLOW THIS LINK:http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html
 THIS MONTH THE CO-HOSTS ARE:
  CD Coffelt, Tina Downey, Isis Rushdan, and Michelle Wallace

 November Already!
Wow, just where has this year gone?This month I have been more focused on my writing and am quite happy with what I have achieved, although I still do not know where my time disappears to.
I am finding I have not been able to keep up with blogging as much as in the past, due to being committed in other life demands, so I apologize to my followers and blogger friends for not visiting their sites as often as I previously have. I do hope you are not offended and understand that for me to write, I have to give up time in other areas, blogging is just one of them.
I really envy everyone who is able to focus on NaNo. I just simple do not have the time to dedicate to a task as massive as this, but wish I did. Congrats, to all of you who are participating and I wish you all the best.

Carolyn
 

TEASER TUESDAY

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by
http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/of Should Be Reading.Anyone can play along!Just do the followingGrab your current readOpen to a random pageShare two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that pageBE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE ANY SPOILERS!
Make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away!


You don't want to ruin the book for others!


The Soulkeepers  (The Soulkeepers #1) byG.P. Ching
Blurb: 
When fifteen-year-old Jacob Lau is pulled from the crumpled remains of his mother's car, no one can explain why he was driving or why the police can't find his mother's body. A beautiful and mysterious neighbor offers to use her unique abilities to help him find his mom.

But in exchange she requires Jacob to train as a Soulkeeper, a protector of human souls. He agrees to her demands, desperate for any clue to the mystery of his mother's disappearance. But soon Jacob finds himself trapped in a web of half-truths, and questions her motives for helping him.

MY TEASER:

 The light returned. His eyes fluttered open against bright white and a face emerged from the radiance, materializing from the void. A rumbling voice called him by name. "Jacob. Jacob, can you hear me?" Behind the voice was the clink-clank of metal hitting metal and a smell like a copper penny soaked in Clorox.

Ching, G. P.  (2011-03-21). The Soulkeepers (The Soulkeepers Series) (p. 3). Carpe Luna Publishing. Kindle Edition. 

FROM THE GREAT BEYOND BLOG HOP

Tara Tyler,Angela, Gwen, and Roland Yeomans are hosting "From the Great Beyond Blog Hop!

We have been asked to write a post about a famous deceased author or celebrity who we would like to contact in a seance,


My choice would be Stieg Larsson, author of the series, Millennium Trilogy - The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest.

I would be fascinated with his response to learning that the series became an international success after his death and his reaction to learning his books were made into movies.

There would be many questions that could be asked about his writing and the creation of his characters.  The focus character of his books, is such a dark, strong woman it would be interesting to find out how he developed her and where his inspiration for his development came from.

CHRISTINE RAINS - 13TH FLOOR COMPLETE SERIES

Today, I welcome a very close blogger friend, Christine Rains, to my site. She has recently released her 13th Floor Series as a collection and having read most of the stories, I have no hesitation in helping her to get the word out about this awesome collection.

Christine, has written a piece, posted below on how her writing style has changed, which I believe is honest and open, and also holds insight into the development and progression of most writers.

Please welcome Christine and send her your thoughts and well wishes!



Title: The 13th Floor Complete Collection Author: Christine Rains Genre: paranormal romance
Release date: October 13th, 2013 Amazon
B&N
Kobo
Smashwords
Blurb: Six supernatural tenants Living in a haunted apartment building On a floor that doesn't exist.
Six novellas telling their tales.
A retired demon acquires a price on his head. A werewolf is hunted by her pack. A modern day dragonslayer misses his target. A harpy challenges Zeus for the soul of the man she loves. A vampire is obsessed with a young woman he can't find. A banshee falls in love with someone who's death she has seen in a vision. And a sweet ghost must battle a primal monster to save them all.
All the stories take place at the same time intertwining their lives together on the 13th Floor.




HOW MY WRITING STYLE HAS GROWN
Once upon a time, I was the Mistress of Horror. Okay, maybe not mistress, but an apprentice. A really bad apprentice. My stories were full of terribly written YA and NA angst and gore. I wanted to be the next Stephen King.
The first horror story I submitted was immediately rejected. My fragile writer's ego shattered. For over ten years, I wrote in secret. Yes, I did continue writing. Yet I hid the stories in the dark, burying them in a box under my bed.
During those years, I crept away from strict horror. I experimented with fantasy and science-fiction, and my biggest dirty secret, romance. My style was long-winded. Drawn out prose, overly done descriptions, and dragging backstories. One of the tales I wrote during that time was an epic fantasy of nearly 200,000 words. I dared to share this one with a few friends, and they loved it. With their support, I hesitantly started seeking publication again.
The next phase was all about practice, practice, practice. I joined online play-by-post RPGs and dabbled with fanfiction. These taught me to be flexible, how to improvise, and that not everyone is going to like you. The latter is the hardest lesson. I attended writing conventions where I eagerly drank in every tidbit shared. I worked on short stories which I always considered something I could not do. I lost my long-windedness and learned every word matters.
I wrote a couple of science-fiction dystopian novels. They were concise and unusual, but I tried too hard to be quirky, to force a style that wasn't me. My next project featured a witch I'd played in a few RPGs. She was tough, smart, and sexy. I finished the manuscript and it shined. This was the one. I had a couple of short stories published at this point. I was feeling brave.
The rejections came pouring in. There was some interest, but once the agent or publisher read the manuscript, they passed. Why? I'd found my style. I was passionate about it.
The problem: I had no idea how to market myself. I didn't even realize what I was writing was paranormal romance. I'd queried one story, and the agents and publishers read something different. Learning the business side to writing is even more nerve-wracking than learning about the craft. Yet through my education, my writing style shifted. Knowing about the business of writing helps a lot with your actual writing.
I've found a style that works for me: fast-paced, witty, and sexy paranormal romance. And while that's what I write right now, I'm always taking opportunities to learn and grow as a writer. I experiment with various styles and genres in short stories. I'm excited to see where my imagination takes me next.
How has your writing style changed over the years?


Author Bio:  Christine Rains is a writer, blogger, and geek mom. She has four degrees which help nothing with motherhood, but make her a great Jeopardy player. When she's not writing or reading, she having adventures with her son or watching cheesy movies on Syfy Channel. She's a member of Untethered Realms and S.C.I.F.I. The 13th Floor series is her first self-published series. She has eight novellas and twenty-one short stories published.
Website: http://christinerains.net/Blog: http://christinerains-writer.blogspot.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorchrist... https://twitter.com/@CRainsWriterGoodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...

HALLOWEEN SEDUCTION GIVEAWAY HOP!

 Welcome to the Halloween Seduction Giveaway Hop!
http://www.valerietwombly.com/blog/http://reneamason.com/blog/http://blog.danitaminnis.com/2013/10/halloween-seduction-hop/http://sexyforreview.blogspot.com/?zx=324850b055877ea2This hop is run by Renea Mason and Valerie Twombly and will run from Oct 25-Nov 1, 2013
Grand prize will be a $100 Amazon gift card (donated by Renea and Valerie)Second prize will be a copy of Eternal Flame, by Valerie Twombly




rafflecopter code: a Rafflecopter giveaway
As both of my books deal with Paranormal Romance, I have decided to give away 2 ebook copies of both books.
For a chance to win, simply fill out the second Rafflecopter giveaway at the bottom of the post!
Good Luck!
He Came For Me (The Protector #1) byCarolyn BrownBLURB:  Jazz, lives on the beautiful Sunshine Coast, in Queensland, Australia. She leads a normal teenage life busy with friends, TAFE College, a part time job as a waitress, surfing and searching for a boyfriend!

Until one day driving on her way to TAFE she is passed by a red Mazda Rx7. The driver holds her attention and as they both wait at a set of traffic lights to change to green, a sexual tension passes between them.

In the days that follow she finds that this guy moves into her life as she befriends him, his friends and family! But are Seb and his friends what they seem to be?

Attacks by groups of boys targeting girls Jazz's age are becoming noticed by the media. Eyewitnesses to the attacks state that these youths seem to possess abilities no normal human would be capable of. Is it drugs or is it something else?

Jazz finds that Seb, seems to be stalking her. What is his purpose? Is he really a friend or is he actually a foe?

A fantasy novel revolving around a love story between two young people, who should not by rights, come together. Crossing the dimensions of two worlds, this story embarks on a journey of love, duty and togetherness as the two young lovers fight to be together and keep each other safe. Overcoming many obstacles while fighting to protect one another this story will leave the reader intrigued and wondering what will happen next!

He Came for Mine  (The Protector #2) byCarolyn BrownBLURB: Desperate to save the life of a child he never knew he had, Sebastian returns to Earth to find Jazz in the arms of another man. A man he knows all too well. One who cannot be trusted! Sebastian worries if Jazz’s feelings for him have fleeted in his absence and he vows to win her back.

Jazz struggles to find ground between Sebastian and her new life, unsure who to trust and still holding resentment for Seb’s abandonment. She seeks solace through someone who was there for her when she needed to pick up the pieces.

After coming to terms with her new life, Jazz is struck down with confusion and longing when Sebastian suddenly returns. However, a dark battle is forthcoming, one that can only bring bloodshed.

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

WRITER'S FOR WRITER'S (W4W'S)

Stephen Tremp   Christine Rains M.Pax and (myself), C. M. Brown Writers helping other writers to succeed.
Twitter hashtag: #W4WS
Find us on Facebook An initiative to promote writers and their books (that’s you)!Our Mission:• Help writers bring awareness of their book(s) to tens of thousands of new people• Help writers reach Amazon Top 100 in at least one category (i.e., suspense, free, etc.)• Increase sales of their book(s) after the promo is over• Drive new traffic to their blog and increase following• Create verbal and viral buzz.W4W's is held the third Monday each month!

How it Works: The spotlighted author will choose a social media avenue, such as Twitter or Facebook (or both). Then, the good people of Blogdom will promote the author’s book to their Twitter followers or Facebook friends, that is, incredibly large new audiences the author could not reach on their own.Facebook: The writer posts an image of their book along with a short blurb and a link to Kindle on their blog. Visitors simply click the Facebook page, then share the link with their FB friends. https://www.facebook.com/Writers4WritersTwitter: The author posts pre-written Tweets on his/her blog. At your convenience, simply copy and paste Tweets into Twitter. Or go to #W4WS on Twitter and Retweet.To sign up, join the Linky List HERE!  This month our selected authors are:Alex Cavanaugh and Isis Rushdan Make sure you visit both our authors for this month and tweet and re-tweet their posted tweets!

TEASER TUESDAY

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by
http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/of Should Be Reading.Anyone can play along!Just do the followingGrab your current readOpen to a random pageShare two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that pageBE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE ANY SPOILERS!
Make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away!


You don't want to ruin the book for others!
 

My Zombie Dog byCharmaine Clancy  BLURB: Zane had the worst birthday ever. He spent it arguing with his Mum and burying a dead dog. Things just get worse. The next day Zane wakes to find the dog in his room, covered in dirt and… wagging its tail.

This is not Zane’s idea of the perfect dog. It’s shaggy, smells undead and bites people. And why does its victims all turn sluggish and keep asking for brains?

Can Zane can find the solution to save his neighbourhood from a zombie plague?     MY TEASER:   It must have been really sick, we had been certain it was dead. I’d even prodded it with my shoe to make sure. And yet, here it is, looking up at me and making growling noises that sound like my name.

Clancy, Charmaine (2012-02-25). My Zombie Dog (Zane and Kev versus Everything) (Kindle Locations 165-166). Hot Doggy Digital Press. Kindle Edition. 

BEYOND THE EDGE, BOOK 4 BLOG BLAST, BY M. PAX

BEYOND THE EDGE BOOK 4 IN THE BACKWORLD SERIES  BY M. PAX 
http://mpaxauthor.com/  Follow this link to find where to purchase your copy from Amazon, Smashwords, and Kobo:  http://mpaxauthor.com/mpaxworks-books-and-stories/the-backworlds-series/beyond-the-edge/  Blurb:   For two years Craze’s dear friend, Lepsi, has been missing. The murmurings of a haunted spaceship might be a message and may mean his old pal isn’t dead. The possibility spurs Craze and Captain Talos into space to uncharted worlds to find out. Searching an unfamiliar region of the galaxy beyond the Backworlds, they stumble upon pieces of a terrible truth.
 Meanwhile, Rainly remains on Pardeep Station as acting planetlord, dealing with the discovery of her man's dark and brutal past. Becoming more independent unlocks some of her latent protocols, forcing her to face a sinister secret of her own.