C.M. Brown's Blog, page 25

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

This month has been great and I am feeling truly positive with how it has panned out!  Work is progressing well on all three books and I am quite pleased with the results. 
My month started great when I entered Elise Fallson and D.L. Hammond's -  The Wip It Good Blogfest on the last day of May. The results were the beginning of this incredible month.  I found four new beta readers for my upcoming books and a new Critique partner! Suzanne @ www.suzannes-tribe.blogspot.co.uk Meredith Houston @ /http://meradethhouston.blogspot.com.au/   CourtneyBarr @http://princesscourtneysbarr.blogspot.com.au/And, the fabulous host, herself: Elise Fallson @ http://elisefallson.blogspot.com.au/
I would like to take this opportunity to thank them all for their generous offers, so thanks to all of you, thanks - it means a lot!
Then throughout the month things continued going well, right up until the end of June, with my win in the Thrill of It All Blogfest hosted by Heather Gardner and Tara Tyler.
I hope you have all had a great month this June, and now I would just like to wish all of my American blogger friends a happy 4th July! Enjoy!
 

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!


  Soul Avenged  By Keri Lake

GoodreadsAmazon 

Blurb:
Passion is blind in vengeance and love  …Ayden’s suburban home was invaded by a pack of Lycans.The brutal attack is the only memory she carries of her former life.Now, one motive burns in her soul:KILL THEM ALL.The Sons of Wrath—a brood of vengeance-dealing warrior demons—band with Ayden to hunt the Lycans on Detroit’s most deadly feeding grounds.
Kane Walker should’ve been her easiest kill.Unfortunately, the newly bitten Lycan has something she wants—clues that may finally lay her past to rest.  To reach them, she must be willing to submit to the sensual pleasures awakened by his touch.
Time is running out.In seven days, Kane will become what Ayden despises most.  She can halt his transformation but the antidote requires the ultimate sacrifice.  As the beast takes hold, Kane becomes more of a threat.
Ayden must choose between her lust for revenge, or surrender to her enemy and discover a horrible truth.

My Teaser:

Kane awoke, his body humming as though pumped with power. His skin prickled as he stretched out, his feet hitting the end of the bed where they’d not touched before. With probing fingers, he examined his lean body, grasping his chest where his lungs breathed easy as if he could sprint a track.

Keri Lake (2013-01-04T00:00:00+00:00). SOUL AVENGED (Kindle Locations 4319-4321). Kindle Edition.

FREEDOM TO READ GIVEAWAY HOP

Hosted by  Bookhounds & I Am A Reader, Not A Writer
For the Freedom to Read, Giveaway HopI have decided to giveaway two prizes:
First Prize - a signed, printed copyof Book One, in the Protector Series,He Came For Me & Second Prize - an ebook copy of Book Two, from the Protector Series,He Came For Minewhich the winner is welcome to have signed using  authorgraph (available from this blog site)
Simply enter the Rafflecopter below, 
for your chance to win!
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? 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!
SMASHWORDS        BARNES AND NOBLE    SONY      KOBO    AMAZON    APPLE    

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 is bound to bring bloodshed.
  SMASHWORDS      APPLE     BARNES AND NOBLE     KOBO     SONY     AMAZONa Rafflecopter giveaway

 

UPDATE AND WHAT IS COMING UP

Wow! I had a busy weekend and didn't get to my emails until late last night and when I opened the one from Tara, I was just over the moon about being chosen as one of the four winners in Heather and Tara's - The Thrill of it All Blogfest. This was a writing comp held to celebrate Tara's new book, Pop Travel , available this month. 
Below is the list of winners, taken from Heather's post on her site @ The Waiting is the Hardest Part. Drop by to read more.
1. Amazon Gift Card - C.M. Brown - A short passage from her WIP, Forces of Mist. I'm SO ready for more! Thank you, C.M. Brown!
2. Copy of Maguire's Corner - Christine Rains - Her story about the actual first dollar she made publishing a story about alien pet care. I love this story, and it's true! Thank you, Christine Rains!
3. Pop Travel ARC - Huntress/CD Coffelt - Excerpt from her current WIP, book two of The Magic Withheld. Very cool scene. Thank you, Huntress!
4. Original art from Tara Tyler - Beverly Fox -  Poem, His Sweet Breath. Epic love poem. Thank you, Beverly Fox!
Congratulations to Christine, Huntress and Beverly and to all the other participants, it was a fun Blogfest!Thanks Heather and Tara for being our hosts!
The winner of a $10 Amazon Gift Card for participating in the Midsummer's Eve Giveaway Hop,  hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer, is Entry #193Mary P.Congratulations Mary, an email has just been sent to you!
The Freedom to Read Giveaway Hop starts tomorrow 2nd July and finishes on 9th July. This Hop is hosted by Bookhounds and I Am A Reader, Not a Writer and with almost 200 blogs participating there will be lots of great reading material to be won!







And, of course this Wednesday is IWSG, hosted by Alex Cavanaugh! Guest hosts this month are: Nancy Thompson, Mark Koopmans, and Heather Gardner!

THE THRILL OF IT ALL BLOGFEST

To celebrate reaching the end a long, tiring journey to be published - and embarking on the next long, tiring journey of marketing and writing more, Heather and Tara are inviting participants go share their personal or character thrills.

Anything from  Love to Sci Fi ...The Thrill of it All blogfest!

On June 24th, share a big thrill with Heather and Tara and everyone else, and be part of  The Thrill of it All blogfest contest! Heather and Tara will judge the biggest thrills and give out some thrilling prizes. Entries may be real or fiction. All they ask is that you keep them to a paragraph or so.


Listed below are the prizes up for grabs!
1) A copy of M'S CORNER, ebook
2) An ARC copy of POP TRAVEL
3) A $20 Amazon GC
4) A banner or caricature by moi (or substitute if the winner has another need)


My entry for Heather and Tara's Thrill of it All Blogfest is a short passage from my current WIP, Forces of Mist, which is a science fiction romance, set in Sydney, Australia. This story is set in the future, planet Earth has been ravaged by an alien attack which few humans survived. The MC, Sarah was a young teenager when she survived the initial onslaught. Now a young adult, she has been trained to scout the terrain, investigating the alien forces, reporting their movement to her superiors.

The Forces of Mist


Sarah drove up the steep goat track of a road heading towards her hidden base. Distracted by her thoughts, she was taken by surprise when the near bald tyres of her rusted truck slipped on the loose gravel. Gasping for air, she screamed with fright as the tyres spun, finding no traction.
 She frantically tried to bring her vehicle under control, desperately struggling with the steering wheel, the tyres continued to spin. Dust, rocks and smoke from the burning tyres filled the air, almost choking her. Her heart pounded against her chest, racing with the rush of adrenalin. She broke into a sweat while pressing her foot flat to the floor, trying to will the vehicle forward. 
The back end started sliding and she braced herself for the inevitable, but was shocked with disbelief when the vehicle suddenly jerked itself upwards and hovered above the ground, becoming suspended in mid-air above the ravine. The tell-tale signs of her enemy began enveloping her truck. The curling tendrils of mist enveloped the cabin making their way around the metal frame, cushioning it as she sat inside. There was only one thing possible which could cause this outcome and Sarah took a lung full of air, before trying to locate the Mist Warrior.

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!

Soul Avenged (Sons of Wrath, #1)By Keri LakeBlurb: Passion is blind in vengeance and love …

Ayden’s suburban home was invaded by a pack of Lycans.

The brutal attack is the only memory she carries of her former life.

Now, one motive burns in her soul:

KILL THEM ALL.

The Sons of Wrath—a brood of vengeance-dealing warrior demons—band with Ayden to hunt the Lycans on Detroit’s most deadly feeding grounds.

Kane Walker should’ve been her easiest kill.

Unfortunately, the newly bitten Lycan has something she wants—clues that may finally lay her past to rest. To reach them, she must be willing to submit to the sensual pleasures awakened by his touch.

Time is running out.

In seven days, Kane will become what Ayden despises most. She can halt his transformation but the antidote requires the ultimate sacrifice. As the beast takes hold, Kane becomes more of a threat.

Ayden must choose between her lust for revenge, or surrender to her enemy and discover a horrible truth.


Adult-content rating: This book contains content considered unsuitable for young readers 17 and under, and which may be offensive to some readers of all ages.

MY TEASER:

Ayden, appeared, carrying a white towel, which she threw at his chest. Cold water sloshed from it and prickled his skin. “Clean yourself up before I puke at the sight of you.” Kane wiped away the blood and vomit still clinging to his chest and arms. Despite the icy coldness of the water, it felt good to wash the crap off. Ayden stared his way from the chaise beside the bed, her lip curled and disgust in the twist of her features.

Keri Lake (2013-01-04T00:00:00+00:00). SOUL AVENGED (Kindle Locations 900-903). Kindle Edition.

MIDSUMMER'S EVE GIVEAWAY HOP

Kathy @ I am a Reader not a Writer is hosting her annual Midsummer's Eve Giveaway Hop! 
This year as she is pressed for time, she has decided to make it  a “spontaneous” giveaway hop, which means it has been put together on the run! 
So from 21st to 30th June, be part of the Midsummer's Eve Giveaway Hop and join in on the fun. 
I must now pull on my uggies, light the fire and get another jumper, as I am in the middle of winter, here and believe it or not it is cold, this week here in Oz!
For the hop I am giving away a $10 Amazon Gift Card, just fill out the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win!Best of luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

EXPRESS YOURSELF

HOSTS:Dani @ Entertaining Interests&Jackie @ Bouquet of Books
This week- "What are some questions you get asked time and time again?"

How do I come up with the ideas for my stories?When do I find the time to write?Are you busy?Can you spare a moment?What's for dinner?

BLOG TOUR - HEAVEN'S CORE BY ERIKA LINDSEN - CHARACTER POST BY HANNIBAL

 Today, it is my pleasure to welcome Hannibal, a member of the Core, from Erika Lindsen's novel, Heaven's Core! Thanks for giving up some of your precious time Hannibal to share a few of your valuable tips on swordsmanship. I would just like to say, that I love the cover of the novel, it appeals to the side of me who enjoys anime, and I wish Erika success with her release! Carolyn   Hannibal’s Tips and tricks for sword fighting My name is Hannibal and I am a member of the Core, a special ops team that deals with Rebels, both human and alien, in order to retain peace.  If you’ve been lucky enough to read my journey in Heaven’s Core, you’ll know that sword fighting is one of my skills. Well, to tell the truth, it could very well be my only skill. School wasn’t for me and a regular day job didn’t seem to fit. Anyway, I enjoy giving three tips and tricks to make yourself a better swordsman. 1)      Know your weapon. What do I mean by that? Always know that you’re handling. Is it heavy? Light? Is the weight balanced or off side? What is it made of? What can it do? What can’t it do? It’s best to know these things, especially before a fight. Knowing your weapon, whether it be sword or gun, could save your life. Get to know it. I named my sword Petra Secare. I call it Petra for short. It is an extension of me, of my arm. I obey it and take care of it with all that I have. I can predict it’s movements in all weather and temperatures done to the slightest millimeter. Why should you care? Because it could save your life. 2)      Always be on guard. An enemy can come in all directions. Most of the time in my past, enemies are cowards and enjoy sneaking up from behind. You have ears. Use them. 3)      Always guard your vital organs. I’m right handed so Petra is on my right side. I hold her hilt at the base of my rib cage a few inches from my body. The metal guards my face. It gives me enough maneuverability to cover my stomach, chest, and head. I can deflect any attack just by using this stance. Some may say this or that. To me, keeping back to simple and center has kept me alive in hundreds of battles. Well, those are me three top tips for sword fighting. Hopefully the world I come from won’t become yours. But I can’t complain. I’ve found the love of a beautiful woman. Please take the time to comment. Ms. Lindsen tells me that a winner drawn from the blog tour will win a print copy of my story and I’d love to show you a bit of action. Those with weak stomachs beware.
HEAVEN'S CORE Erika Lindsen
Author of paranormal romance TYRAN'S THIRST and sci-fi romance HEAVEN'S CORE
www.erikabooks.webs.com 
Barnes & Noble 
Amazon
Smashwords
All Romance eBooks
Kobo  When lives are decided by the end of the blade, what happens when it’s forever sheathed?

Ten years ago, aliens made contact with Earth, offering technology and cures for diseases in exchange for water. The world watched as peace was made, seventy billion miles brought together.

But not all felt this union was a good thing. On both alien and human sides, Rebels opposed the treaty and some would do anything to break up this intergalactic bond. Earth had an answer to those who threatened it: the Core, a group of mercenaries that dealt with Rebels by any means necessary.

As a cyborg and member of the Core for three years, Hannibal is good at what he does. But the bodies he’s piled up are starting to weigh heavily on his shoulders and he knows what the Core does isn’t justice, but murder.

Hannibal escapes the Core headquarters in search of his own peace. While on the run, he’s injured but is taken in by a Tez. Problem is, she is beautiful, vivacious, and a Rebel, his sworn enemy. Hannibal’s training has taught him to kill her on sight. He finds his duties get much harder with each passing day. But if he doesn’t do the job, there’s a long list of colleagues that will.

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!

Frailties of the Bond (NEO Chronicles, Characters Revealed #1) byAngela Brown
BLURB:
In Frailties of the Bond, it only takes one bite to change a life…

After a hiking trip gone wrong, sixteen-year-old Luca should have been dead. Since then, he’s drifted from one school day to the next, annoyed by the looks of suspicion. When a vampire attack claimed his mother and forced his first shift into animal form, Luca set out for Texas, vengeance bound, only to discover so much more when Aimee crossed his path.

Flesh-born of vampire parents sixteen years ago, Aimee shouldn’t exist. Magic, though, made dreams come true for an undead couple desperate for a child all their own. But this magic came with a price, a cost Aimee discovered after one forbidden bite.

Frailties of the Bond is the first in a series of Characters Revealed novellas/short stories for...

NEO – Network of Extraordinaires and Otherworldlies:

Those who answer the call from NEO play their part in maintaining balance in our ever-changing times. With power-hungry malcontents, jealous gods, and even those with misguided good intentions, the fate of our world has oft been held in the hands of unsung heroes such as those that are members of NEO.

But before NEO, these heroes and heroines had lives, loves, issues and interests that didn’t involve saving mankind.

MY TEASER: 

Luca shot forward so fast he didn’t realize he was on the vampire until his teeth sank into the vamp’s arm. His mom tumbled free, lame on the floor. The vampire leaped to his feet. Luca clamped his jaw tighter. The crack of breaking bone drowned beneath the vampire’s scream.

Angela Brown (2013-03-04 00:00:00-07:00). Frailties of the Bond (Kindle Locations 272-273). Angela Brown. Kindle Edition.