Intisar Khanani's Blog, page 12
May 20, 2015
Why Books Can Take Me Years
A couple nights ago, after a movie and ice-cream with my husband (in the living room–because we have wakeful little people!) my husband and I started talking writing. This isn’t as random as it sounds, seeing as the movie was “Authors Anonymous.” I’m not recommending you see this movie unless you (a) really want to laugh at wannabe writers and those with author envy and (b) have nothing else you really want to see. Also, don’t expect to learn anything relevant about indie publishing from it. It gets better as it goes along, and it has its moments, but–well, this post isn’t a movie review. So, moving on…
My husband and I were talking writing. And I mentioned how often I see indie authors putting out two books a year, sometimes even more, but even the slow ones seem to put out one a year. Traditional publishing has its own brick-and-mortar publishing timeline, so it’s a bit hard to compare there. I guess I was just feeling a bit guilty that it’s going on two years that I’ve been working on Memories of Ash.
My husband, being the wonderful man that he is, pointed out that different authors write different kinds of books, and have different processes and different goals. I’m a perfectionist, and I won’t be happy unless I put out the best story I can. I also need to let stories gel, to write them and let them sit for months (or more) until I really, really know what it’s about and have stepped far enough back that I can view it all in perspective. And, of course, I’m a stay-at-home mom with little people: I only manage to write at night. That’s not my most productive time, so it’s slow going.
It is possible I would be more productive with a cat to help me.
That time ruminating on my stories… that’s critical for me. Case in point: the night before our conversation, as I lay in bed thinking about Memories of Ash, trying to figure out what was missing, what I wasn’t getting right, I had a eureka moment. Mind you, I wrote the first draft of this book (then novella) five or six years ago. I’m on the second major revision and expect to have a third. And now, just now, I have finally figured out what is really driving Hitomi through this novel. Not the obvious drivers, but the deep-down, never-admitted motivator that really pushes her through this book.
I’m either that dense, and it takes me that long to unpack what I’m really writing about, or … well, I’m probably that dense. So yeah, this book couldn’t have been ready sooner, not without that time and perspective to get me to this point. And Memories is probably not that different from all my other books (including the half dozen or more drafts sitting on my hard drive). One day, as I get more efficient at revisions, I’ll be able to cycle through revisions, switching from one story to another and back again to give me that spacing. In the meantime, I’ll just remind myself that every writer does things a little differently, and it’s okay if it takes me a while.
So here’s to time, writer density, and eureka moments!
Cat pic photo credit: Do you want my opinion or not? via photopin (license)
April 23, 2015
“The Key of Amatahns” Debut Novel Blog Hop @wheatley_e
To celebrate the re-release of The Key of Amatahns by Elisabeth Wheatley, Inkspelled Faery is hosting ten days of visiting your favorite authors as they talk about their very first novels, topped off by an all-day Facebook party with fun, games, and giveaways. Read on for more about my own debut novel, Thorn.
Be sure to also check out the full line up of authors and don’t forget to join the Facebook party on the 25th! I’ll be hosting an hour at 1 pm EST this Saturday, so come out and join me!
For Princess Alyrra, choice is a luxury she’s never had … until she’s betrayed.
Princess Alyrra has never enjoyed the security or power of her rank. Between her family’s cruelty and the court’s contempt, she has spent her life in the shadows. Forced to marry a powerful foreign prince, Alyrra embarks on a journey to meet her betrothed with little hope for a better future.
But powerful men have powerful enemies—and now, so does Alyrra. Betrayed during a magical attack, her identity is switched with another woman’s, giving Alyrra the first choice she’s ever had: to start a new life for herself or fight for a prince she’s never met. But Alyrra soon finds that Prince Kestrin is not at all what she expected. While walking away will cost Kestrin his life, returning to the court may cost Alyrra her own. As Alyrra is coming to realize, sometimes the hardest choice means learning to trust yourself.
Amazon | B&N | Apple | Diesel | Sony
To start us off, can you sum up your first novel in a tweet, 140 characters or less?
Sometimes betrayal is the best thing possible. A Brothers Grimm-inspired fairy tale of a princess torn between responsibility and freedom.
What are you most proud of in this title?
I love that this is a story of growth. Alyrra is not a kick-ass character, she never learns to be a prodigal sorceress, and she certainly doesn’t save the day by being anything other than herself–which is more than enough. I set out to write a story where a character is surrounded by power and feels powerless, and over the course of the story, without changing herself or her abilities, she comes into her own. Alyrra does just that, and I am about as proud of her as I am of my own kids!
Do you think your writing has changed since your debut? In what way?
I’m honestly not that sure. I try to let go of stories faster (I held on to Thorn for ten years!), but I find that I still need to do the same major overhauls and revisions of each manuscript as I did when I first set out. Hopefully, I’m getting better at spotting plot bunnies before they multiply, as well as learning to combine and improve the effectiveness of each revision round. But writing has definitely not gotten suddenly easier, nor am I convinced that I am a much better writer than what I was when I finally published.
If you could give one piece of advice to yourself when you were writing your first book, what would it be?
Revise something else. Seriously, I wish that, instead of continuously coming back to Thorn, I had also taken a swing at revising any of the other seven or eight manuscripts I also generated over those ten years. I wrote a variety of first drafts, but I only ever revised Thorn. I suspect I would have learned more faster by working with different stories, and also giving myself more downtime in thinking about Thorn.
Worst piece of writing advice anyone’s given you?
Write every day. Sorry, but I am not cut out like that. Writing every day had me hating writing. So I make sure to write most days, but I give myself days off (or nights off, now that I’m a full-time mom during the day). I’m also more effective when I recognize that some nights off, staring at the wall and going for walks is actually my writing time, when I’m processing scenes and issues that I need to let simmer for a little while before trying to write.
I think every writer needs to understand their rhythm and how writing works best for them. I do think you should make a habit of writing–because if you don’t, you won’t sit down to get through those miserable chapters where you’re not sure how to work through things, or smash your way through writer’s block. But what that rhythm is will differ by writer. Know yourself, and know your writing.
If you thought this was fun, drop by the Facebook party going down on the 25th for more interviews with your favorite Fantasy authors as well as games and goodies galore!
April 20, 2015
The Awesome #Fae20KGiveaway by @FaeBooks
Hey there! It’s Sarah Fae here from FaeBooks.co.uk. Today I’m celebrating! I am celebrating not only reaching 20,000 followers, but now over 25,000 followers !
I’ve teamed up with a bunch of authors, crafters, bloggers and more and together we’re bringing you this awesome event! Squeeee!!!!
I just want to point out that this is another INTERNATIONAL giveaway of mine. So nobody gets excluded! Always awesome, right?
Anyway…
Welcome to the
#Fae20kGiveaway
… Oh yes, it has a hashtag!
I’m super excited right now, so let’s just get straight down to business and tell you who the fabulous sponsors of this giveaway are. You’ll find the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post!
Sponsors:
FaeBooks.co.uk (Sarah Fae Graham)
Talia Jager
Author JD Nelson
Author Emery Lee
Wandering Thoughts of A Writer
Ash Krafton / AJ Krafton
KC McDonald
Katrina Jack
Author John Paul Bernett (JP Bernett)
Authors To Watch
Mistral Dawn
Cheryllynn Dyess
Romance Novel Giveaways
Author Wendi Starusnak
Lisa Beth Darling
T. Hammond
Scrummie Crafts
Kelly Gendron
Ashlynne Laynne
Alex James
Vered Ehsani
Author Danielle Annett
Brandy L Rivers
Jasmine Flower Editing & Proofreading
Author Aurora Zahni
AngieSkelhorn.com
Katie M John
Nancy Pennick
Michelle Muto
BK Walker Books
Rachel Morgan
Author S. Cu’Anam Policar
Lee Ryder Author
Not Everyone’s Mama
Allison Merritt
Samantha Coville
Jess Watkins
amyjoylutchen.com
Kate Marie Robbins
A.R. Von
Author Kat de Falla
LJ Baker
Julia Mills
Intisar Khanani
Author Kylie Price
C. J. Medley
R.w.Foster
Australian Author Ellen Mae Franklin
Ramblings From SEKS
L Chapman
Ell Jay
K.A. Young
Author SA Smith
The Maze of Twisty Passages
Georgiana Derwent
Angela Fattig
Jody A. Kessler
Ichabod Temperance
Aleya Michelle Author
Indy Book Fairy
Sally Slayer
Giveaway Details:
Start: Live now!
End: 22nd June 2015OPEN INTERNATIONALLY
Remember to share this link with your friends:
http://www.faebooks.co.uk/2015/04/20kGiveaway.html
PRIZE PACK DETAILS:
Okay so I have NINE top prize packs, all details are listed below.
In addition to those nine top prize packs, there are an additional 43 ebooks which I need to give away to runners up. The ebooks will be ONE PER PERSON.
So… 9 x Top Prize Packs & 43 x Runners Up ebooks
That’s 52 WINNERS!
Take a look at all of the awesome prizes we have in store for you…
PRIZE PACK ONE
To one winner.
1. 1 FaeBooks.co.uk Bookmark
2. 1 set of the first four ebooks in The Reaper Series by JP BERNETT (mobi or epub)
3. 1 set of the first four signed paperbacks of The Reaper Series.
4. 1 $5 Amazon Gift Card from ROMANCE NOVEL GIVEAWAYS
5. 1 Handmade Blue Gem & also Pink Skull Necklace & Earrings Set from SCRUMMIE CRAFTS (pictured right)
6. 1 Choice of BLEEDING HEARTS: Demimonde #1 (KIndle-gifted or epub) or WORDS THAT BIND (Kindle-gifted or PDF) by ASH KRAFTON
7. 1 Limited edition PRINT proof copy of THE HEARTBEAT THIEF, signed by author (2015 release) from AJ KRAFTON
8. 1 Smashwords coupon for ebook copy (mobi, epub, pdf) of Firebound and Unbound from TRICIA DRAMMEH at AUTHORSTOWATCH.COM
9. 1 set of two bookmarks from WENDI STRUSNAK
10. 1 ebook of JAX (Breaking the Declan Brothers) by KELLY GENDRON
11. 1 ebook of Ghosts of Tsavo (ePub or mobi) by VERED EHSANI
12. 1 Kindle copy of The first Progeny Trilogy (The Progeny, Blood Bonds, Blood Promise) by ASHLYNNE LAYNNE
13. 1 HB copy of #1 The Silver Flute Trilogy, Land of Midnight Days by KATRINA JACK
14. 1 eBook No Reins (pdf or mobi) by ANGIESKELHORN.COM
15. 1 signed postcard (Tibetan silver and semi-precious stone charm bookmark attached) from KATIE M JOHN
16. 1 ebook of NATURE’S FIFTH SEASON (kindle or epub) by MICHELLEMUTO.WORDPRESS.COM
17. 1 K.A. Young Stylus pen
18. 1 ebook from The Adventures of Ichabod Temperance (winner’s choice)
PRIZE PACK TWO
To one winner.
1. 1 FaeBooks.co.uk Bookmark
2. 1 set of the first four ebooks in The Reaper Series by JP BERNETT (mobi or epub)
3. 1 set of two bookmarks from WENDI STRUSNAK
4. 1 ebook of JAX (Breaking the Declan Brothers) by KELLY GENDRON
5. 1 ebook copy of Cursed by Fire (ePub or mobi) by AUTHOR DANIELLE ANNETT
6. 1 eBook of In Too Deep (ePub or mobi) by BRANDY L RIVERS
7. 1 eBook of Calastan (The Jein’s Journey #1) (Smashwords) by CHERYLLYNN DYESS
8. 1 $10 Amazon Gift Card from AUTHOR T HAMMOND
9. 1 eBook of Marcellus: The Mantle by ALEX JAMES
10. 1 key chain with horse theme charms each with an e-book copy of No Reins (pdf or mobi) from ANGIESKELHORN.COM
11. 1 signed postcard (Tibetan silver and semi-precious stone charm bookmark attached) from KATIE M JOHN
12. 1 ebook of NATURE’S FIFTH SEASON (kindle or epub) by MICHELLEMUTO.WORDPRESS.COM
13. 1 ebook of Pleasure in the Tales: A Short Story Collection by S. CU’ANAM POLICAR
14. 1 PDF Ebook Irish Eyes by LEE RYDER
15. 1 $5 Amazon or B&N GC from NOT EVERYONE’S MAMA
16. 1 signed Escaping Rapture bookmark and postcard from JESS WATKINS
17. 1 K.A. Young Stylus pen
18. 1 ebook from The Adventures of Ichabod Temperance (winner’s choice)
PRIZE PACK THREE
To one winner.
1. 1 FaeBooks.co.uk Bookmark
2. 1 set of the first four ebooks in The Reaper Series by JP BERNETT (mobi or epub)
3. 1 set of two bookmarks from WENDI STRUSNAK
4. 1 ebook of JAX (Breaking the Declan Brothers) by KELLY GENDRON
5. 1 signed paperback copy of Echoes of Immortality by KC MCDONALD
6. 1 ebook of Genesis (mobi or ePub) by LISA BETH DARLING
7. 1 eBook of Storm Mistress (ePub or mobi) by BRANDY L RIVERS
8. 1 eBook of Team Red Omnibus by T HAMMOND
9. 1 $5 PayPal cash from JASMINE FLOWER EDITING & PROOFREADING
10. 1 key chain with horse theme charms each with an e-book copy of No Reins (pdf or mobi) from ANGIESKELHORN.COM
11. 1 ebook of NATURE’S FIFTH SEASON (kindle or epub) by MICHELLEMUTO.WORDPRESS.COM
12. 1 ebook of Abomination by S. CU’ANAM POLICAR
13. 1 PDF Ebook Broken Earth by LEE RYDER
14. 1 signed Escaping Rapture bookmark and postcard from JESS WATKINS
15. 1 K.A. Young Stylus pen
16. 1 ebook from The Adventures of Ichabod Temperance (winner’s choice)
PRIZE PACK FOUR
To one winner.
1. 1 FaeBooks.co.uk Bookmark
2. 1 set of the first four ebooks in The Reaper Series by JP BERNETT (mobi or epub)
3. 1 ebook (Kindle) of Taken By The Huntsman OR Bound By The Summer Prince by MISTRAL DAWN
4. 1 ebook of OF WAR 1 & 2 (mobi or ePub) by LISA BETH DARLING
5. 1 $5 Amazon GC & 1 Set of three Kindle books (Ellie Stanton, Terminal Romantic, The Island And The Kite) from AURORA ZAHNI
6. 1 key chain with horse theme charms each with an e-book copy of No Reins (pdf or mobi) from ANGIESKELHORN.COM
7. 1 ebook Broken Dreams (mobi or pdf) by NANCY PENNICK
8. 1 ebook of NATURE’S FIFTH SEASON (kindle or epub) by MICHELLEMUTO.WORDPRESS.COM
9. 1 x paperback of any of the author’s books – AUTHOR RACHEL MORGAN
10. 1 signed Escaping Rapture bookmark and postcard from JESS WATKINS
11. 1 e-copy of Indigo (Kindle or PDF) by KATE MARIE ROBBINS
12. 1 K.A. Young Stylus pen
13. 1 ebook copy of The Dragon’s Portal by AUTHOR SALLY SLAYER
14. 1 ebook from The Adventures of Ichabod Temperance (winner’s choice)
PRIZE PACK FIVE
To one winner.
1. 1 FaeBooks.co.uk Bookmark
2. 1 Ebook copy (Kindle or Nook) of Wystan and Eban (The Heckmasters, Book 1 & 2) by ALLISON MERRITT
3. 1 ebook copies of Blood Oath and Blood Island (mobi, epub, or PDF) and a CHAT with the author SAMANTHA COVILLE
4. 1 $10 Amazon gift card from NANCY PENNICK
5. 1 eBooks: Old Souls & The Ties that Bind the Soul (Old Souls Book 2) (mobi or ePub) by C.G. GARCIA
6. 1 signed Escaping Rapture bookmark and postcard from JESS WATKINS
7. 1 signed hardcover of Renhala, book #1 of the Renhala series from AMYJOYLUTCHEN.COM
8. 1 e-copy of Saving Rosalind (Kindle or PDF) by KATE MARIE ROBBINS
9. 1 Amazon gifted ecopy of Jailhouse Rock (contemporary romance 18 +) from AUTHOR A.R. VON
10. 1 ebook of NATURE’S FIFTH SEASON (kindle or epub) by MICHELLEMUTO.WORDPRESS.COM
11. 1 set of the first four ebooks in The Reaper Series by JP BERNETT (mobi or epub)
12. 1 K.A. Young Stylus pen
13. 1 ebook Duane Dexter’s Bigfoot Adventures Part 3 by SIMON ONEILL
14. 1 ebook from The Adventures of Ichabod Temperance (winner’s choice)
PRIZE PACK SIX
To one winner.
1. 1 FaeBooks.co.uk Bookmark
2. 1 Amazon gifted ecopy of Lady’s Destiny (fantasy romance 18 +) from AUTHOR A.R. VON
3. 1 signed Escaping Rapture bookmark and postcard from JESS WATKINS
4. 1 PDF Ebook Shattered Hearts by LEE RYDER
5. 1 ebook of NATURE’S FIFTH SEASON (kindle or epub) by MICHELLEMUTO.WORDPRESS.COM
6. 1 set of the first four ebooks in The Reaper Series by JP BERNETT (mobi or epub)
7. 2 signed bookmarks from AUTHOR A.R. VON
8. 1 ebook copy of The Seer’s Lover by KAT DE FALLA
9. 1 ebook copy of First Contact by KAT DE FALLA
10. 1 ebook copy of YA Fantasy novella “Sunbolt” in (Kindle/mobi/epub) by INTISAR KHANANI
11. 1 ebooks of Whispering Wind The Legend by C.J. MEDLEY
12. 1 K.A. Young Koozie
13. 1 Nephilim Warrior Series ebook Box sets by AUTHOR K.A. YOUNG
14. 1 ebook Duane Dexter’s Bigfoot Adventures Part 2 by SIMON ONEILL
PRIZE PACK SEVEN
To one winner.
1. 1 FaeBooks.co.uk Bookmark
2. A signed paperback, tote and swag from JULIA MILLS
3. 1 eBook copy of The Unseen Promise (Tarkeenia #1) by AUTHOR ELLEN MAE FRANKLIN
4. Ebook copy of Undeniable (Bound Together, book 1) (kindle format) by LJ BAKER
5. 1 ebooks of Whispering Wind The Legend by C.J. MEDLEY
6. 1 ebook copy of Wings of Vengeance by KYLIE PRICE
7. 1 ebook copy of Trinity – The Prophecy by KYLIE PRICE
8. 1 ebook Into the Realm (The Chronicles of Carter Blake #1) by R.W. FOSTER
9. 1 PINK GLITTERY plaster vampire skull painted, sealed and varnished from ELL JAY (crafts)
10. 1 ebook of Trust by AUTHOR L CHAPMAN
11. 1 paperback copy of No Limits by Lori Foster donated by RAMBLINGS FROM SEKS
12. 1 K.A. Young Koozie
13. 1 Blood Moon ebooks by AUTHOR K.A. YOUNG
14. 1 ebook Duane Dexter’s Bigfoot Adventures Part 1 by SIMON ONEILL
PRIZE PACK EIGHT
To one winner
1. 1 FaeBooks.co.uk Bookmark
2. 1 eBook copy of The Unseen Promise (Tarkeenia #1) by AUTHOR ELLEN MAE FRANKLIN
3. 1 ebooks of Whispering Wind The Legend by C.J. MEDLEY
4. 1 ebook copy of Wings of Vengeance by KYLIE PRICE
5. 1 ebook copy of Trinity – The Prophecy by KYLIE PRICE
6. 1 set of signed bookmarks and surprise swag gift from KYLIE PRICE
7. 1 ebook of Veiled by AUTHOR L CHAPMAN
8. 1 K.A. Young Books coffee mug from AUTHOR K.A. YOUNG
9. 1 K.A. Young Koozies
10. 1 ecopy of Forever on Kindle by AUTHOR SA SMITH
11. 1 e-book copy of SNOW IN JULY by Kim Headlee from THE MAZE OF TWISTY PASSAGES
12. 1 Ecopy of Angel Dreams by JODY A KESSLER
13. 1 ebook Blood of the Eternal Moon by SIMON ONEILL
14. 1 ebook copy of Deviate by AUTHOR SALLY SLAYER
15. 1 $5 book from Amazon from INDY BOOK FAIRY
PRIZE PACK NINE
To one winner
1. 1 FaeBooks.co.uk Bookmark
2. 1 Blood Moon ebooks by AUTHOR K.A. YOUNG
3. 1 Nephilim Warrior Series ebook Box sets by AUTHOR K.A. YOUNG
4. 1 paperback copy of Forever by AUTHOR SA SMITH
5. 1 set Ebooks of the Cavaliers Trilogy by AUTHOR GEORGIANA DERWENT
6. 1 ebook of Beauty and the Beast by ANGELA FATTIG
7. 1 ebook of Sam: Claiming My Cowboy Collection Vol. 3 by ANGELA FATTIG
8. 1 set of signed paperback of Night Aberrations and The Fire within The Night, plus swag from AUTHOR JD NELSON
9. 1 set of eBook copies of the first 2 books in The Between Worlds Series by TALIA JAGER
10. 1 ebook copy of Tangled Roots by REBEKKAH FORD from WANDERING THOUGHTS OF A WRITER
11. 1 $10 Amazon Gift Card from AUTHOR EMERY LEE
12. 1 ebook Magic Is Murder by SIMON ONEILL
13. 1 ebook set of My Heart Series by AUTHOR ALEYA MICHELLE
14. 1 ebook copy of Time Shifters by AUTHOR LAURA N. ANILE
EBOOK PRIZES
One ebook per winner – 43 WINNERS!
List of all prizes and entry form at:
http://www.faebooks.co.uk/2015/04/20kGiveaway.html
1. 4 sets of the first four ebooks in The Reaper Series by JP BERNETT (mobi or epub)
2. 2 Kindle ebook of Detached (#1 the Fleischer Series) by WENDI STARUSNAK
3. 2 eBook No Reins (pdf or mobi) by ANGIESKELHORN.COM
4. 14 ebook of NATURE’S FIFTH SEASON (kindle or epub) by MICHELLEMUTO.WORDPRESS.COM
5. 1 PDF Ebook Shattered Hearts by LEE RYDER
6. 1 PDF Ebook Irish Eyes by LEE RYDER
7. 1 PDF Ebook Broken Earth by LEE RYDER
8. 2 ebook copy of YA Fantasy novella “Sunbolt” in (Kindle/mobi/epub) by INTISAR KHANANI
9. 1 eBook copy of The Unseen Promise (Tarkeenia #1) by AUTHOR ELLEN MAE FRANKLIN
10. 2 ebooks of Whispering Wind The Legend by C.J. MEDLEY
11. 2 ebook2 of Trinity – Defying Destiny by KYLIE PRICE
12. 1 ebook of Redeemed by AUTHOR L CHAPMAN
13. 1 ebook of Do you Believe by AUTHOR L CHAPMAN
14. 4 sets of eBook copies of the first 2 books in The Between Worlds Series by TALIA JAGER
15. 5 ebook copies of Scorpio Moon by Kayla Purtizo (Smashwords)
BLOGGER ONLY GIVEAWAY
(6 winners) (INTERNATIONAL)
Each time you put up a blog post about the #Fae20kGiveaway, enter its link into THIS FORM to be entered to win the prizes below.
FORM LINK: http://goo.gl/forms/ukmN5r61xt
Blogger Only Giveaway Prizes:
First Place: 1 week FREE Small Ad at FaeBooks.co.uk for YOUR blog
{See the Advertising page at FaeBooks.co.uk for details}
AND 10 x FaeBooks.co.uk 2015 bookmarks – one for yourself and nine to use in giveaways on your blog!Runners Up: 5 Runners Up will each get 2 FaeBooks.co.uk 2015 bookmarks. One for yourself and one to give away on your blog.
Terms & Conditions:
Only those legally allowed to may enter. Under 18’s must have permission from a parent or guardian to enter. Any found to be entering false information, commonly known as cheating, will have their details logged and be banned from winning a prize in this or any other giveaways managed by FaeBooks.co.uk or Sarah Fae indefinitely. Repeat offenders may have their details passed on to other giveaway coordinators/bloggers to enable them to continue ensuring their events remain to be fair also. By entering this giveaway you agree FaeBooks.co.uk may contact you to A) announce winners and B) email from time to time about giveaways, events & other interesting things that are going on at FaeBooks.co.uk and in the book industry/community. If at any point you wish to unsubscribe from this service you can do so at the bottom of the email by clicking “unsubscribe”. This giveaway is monitored and managed by FaeBooks.co.uk. FaeBooks.co.uk is not responsible for all of the prizes, only those specifically donated by FaeBooks.co.uk. Winners will be chosen randomly by the Rafflecopter platform, as always. By entering this giveaway you agree to all of these terms.
The Fae20kGiveaway:
But first…
Share the giveaway with your friends and help to support the
bloggers, authors and crafters who have donated kindly to the event.
www.faebooks.co.uk/2015/04/20kGiveaway.html
a Rafflecopter giveaway
*~~**~~**~~*
April 2, 2015
Thorn Hits #1 on Three Amazon Best Seller Lists!
*Happy Dance*
If you didn’t catch my post yesterday, Thorn is on sale for only 99 cents through April 7, with all proceeds going towards the adoption fund for Evan and Raymond (more info below). We’ve already raised over $400! Please help us spread the word! Thorn is available on Amazon, B&N Nook and Google Play.
Facebook It:
Invite your friends to the “Thorn Flash Sale” event on Facebook and share it on your timeline!
Tweet About It!
“Unflinching and exquisite” #Fairytale retelling “Thorn” is #99cents April 1-7. Kindle http://viewbook.at/Thorn
or
#1 Best Seller #Fairytale “Thorn” #99cent #sale
Proceeds help a friend cover #adoption costs
http://on.fb.me/19HgBRJ
Share it!Have you already read Thorn and loved it? Consider giving a digital copy (or three) to friends and family. Amazon allows you to gift copies as long as you have the e-mail address for your recipient. Just click on that second yellow button in the purchase box (example to the left).
Read About More Books Too!
Today, Free Kindle Books and Tips is also featuring the sale, please click on over to support them too, and check out their mailing list for free and bargain books while you’re there!
Amazon Worldwide | Barnes & Noble | Nook UK | Google Play
Thorn Flash Sale
Nab Amazon bestselling YA Fantasy novel Thorn for 99 cents April 1- 7 and help bring these two young brothers home. Described as “unflinching and exquisite,” Thorn is a story of choice and betrayal, justice and compassion. Recommended for fans of Robin McKinley and Mercedes Lackey.
For Princess Alyrra, choice is a luxury she’s never had … until she’s betrayed.
Princess Alyrra has never enjoyed the security or power of her rank. Between her family’s cruelty and the court’s contempt, she has spent her life in the shadows. Forced to marry a powerful foreign prince, Alyrra embarks on a journey to meet her betrothed with little hope for a better future.
But powerful men have powerful enemies—and now, so does Alyrra. Betrayed during a magical attack, her identity is switched with another woman’s, giving Alyrra the first choice she’s ever had: to start a new life for herself or fight for a prince she’s never met. But Alyrra soon finds that Prince Kestrin is not at all what she expected. While walking away will cost Kestrin his life, returning to the court may cost Alyrra her own. As Alyrra is coming to realize, sometimes the hardest choice means learning to trust yourself.
Amazon Worldwide | Barnes & Noble | Nook UK | Google Play
About Evan & Raymond
All proceeds from this sale will go towards helping a good friend cover the cost of international adoption of a pair of biological brothers with Saethre-Chotzen Syndrome–a condition that results in brain damage if left untreated. Evan (age 7) and Raymond (age 9) were each given up at birth, and were unable to receive treatment for their condition. They have been in an orphanage in Eastern Europe their whole lives. You can find out more about the boys and Jamie, link to their blog, or donate directly, here: http://reecesrainbow.org/83163/sponso...
April 1, 2015
“Thorn” Flash Sale for a Cause
This sale is actually about a good friend of mine named Jamie, and the two little boys she and her husband are in the process of trying to adopt. These beautiful little brothers are in an orphanage in Eastern Europe. They’ve already had one adoptive family back out on them, and they desperately need a family. As (a) boys (b) who are older and (c) suffer from developmental disabilities, it’s almost impossible to find adoptive families for them. But Jamie has her heart set on bringing them home, and I do too. All of the proceeds from this sale are going towards that adoption–so please, share, tweet, buy, and gift to your heart’s content. Here’s some more detail…Thorn Flash Sale
Nab Amazon bestselling YA Fantasy novel Thorn for 99 cents April 1- 7 and help bring these two young brothers home. Described as “unflinching and exquisite,” Thorn is a story of choice and betrayal, justice and compassion. Recommended for fans of Robin McKinley and Mercedes Lackey.
For Princess Alyrra, choice is a luxury she’s never had … until she’s betrayed.
Princess Alyrra has never enjoyed the security or power of her rank. Between her family’s cruelty and the court’s contempt, she has spent her life in the shadows. Forced to marry a powerful foreign prince, Alyrra embarks on a journey to meet her betrothed with little hope for a better future.
But powerful men have powerful enemies—and now, so does Alyrra. Betrayed during a magical attack, her identity is switched with another woman’s, giving Alyrra the first choice she’s ever had: to start a new life for herself or fight for a prince she’s never met. But Alyrra soon finds that Prince Kestrin is not at all what she expected. While walking away will cost Kestrin his life, returning to the court may cost Alyrra her own. As Alyrra is coming to realize, sometimes the hardest choice means learning to trust yourself.
Amazon Worldwide | Barnes & Noble | Nook UK | Google Play
About Evan & Raymond
All proceeds from this sale will go towards helping a good friend cover the cost of international adoption of a pair of biological brothers with Saethre-Chotzen Syndrome–a condition that results in brain damage if left untreated. Evan (age 7) and Raymond (age 9) were each given up at birth, and were unable to receive treatment for their condition. They have been in an orphanage in Eastern Europe their whole lives. You can find out more about the boys and Jamie, and link to their blog, here: http://reecesrainbow.org/83163/sponso...
Our goal is to raise $2,000 over the course of the week. International adoption is prohibitively expensive (often over $20,000), so every dollar makes a difference… And today, your help can make this goal a reality. Please share, tweet, and/or re-blog this post, and buy and give “Thorn” as a gift to friends and family! Help us bring Evan and Raymond home.You can also invite your friends to the “Thorn Flash Sale” event on Facebook.
March 24, 2015
Review: The Seventh Magpie by Nancy Chase
A couple three weeks back, I posted my Top Five Indie Fantasy Reads as part of the book launch extravaganza for The Seventh Magpie. Come to find out, The Seventh Magpie should probably be on that list. I’m not going to say more because I can’t bear to drop any of the other reads off the list. So I guess I’ve now got a Top Six . 
Without further ado, The Seventh Magpie…
Sometimes you must give up what you value most to gain what you want even more.
Princess Catrin is just a child when her mother vanishes, leaving her a cryptic legacy: a priceless magical book and the warning that if Catrin ever loses it, she’ll surely die. But she is a young woman on the brink of a whole new life when, in a moment of defiance, she forgets that warning and triggers a catastrophe that shatters all her hopes.
Stricken with grief and seeking a way to correct her terrible mistake, Catrin risks everything on a dangerous bargain. Too late, she realizes just how much more she has to lose.
With advice from a half-mad witch and help from companions she meets along the way, Catrin embarks on a desperate quest to defeat seven riddling Magpies–magical tricksters who can shapeshift into anything or anyone–and win back her book or face losing everything she holds dear.
With each step the stakes get higher, and there are secrets she still doesn’t suspect. How much is Catrin willing to sacrifice to finally unmask the Seventh Magpie?
A dark fairy tale of loss and renewal.
My Review
Rating: 4.5 stars
Series Type: Standalone
Genre: YA Fantasy / Original Fairy Tale
A lyrically-told fairy tale, poignant and bittersweet to the end, The Seventh Magpie is an exquisite debut by author Nancy Chase. Billed as a tale of “loss and renewal,” this novel offers a story of hope and despair, life and death, intertwined and inseparable by their very nature.
We begin the tale when Princess Catrin is a young child, and witness both her mother’s mysterious and terrible disappearance, and the gifting of a bejeweled golden book to Catrin. Chase expertly takes us through Catrin’s early years, navigating the important points of the ensuing twelve years while Catrin grows up with exceptional pacing, the magical book locked away from her. At no point does the story lag, and soon enough Catrin has her book back, as she journeys home to a wedding she does not want. And, in those first moments of having the book back in her hands, Catrin ignores the warnings she was given…
In the aftermath of the effects of her decision, Catrin sets out to recover the book from the magical Magpies who initially gave it to her mother. Each day, for seven days, she must solve a riddle set by them. But there are two sides to every riddle, two sides to every story, two sides to every person.
My only frustration in this story was that I felt that, in dealing with the Magpies, Catrin was a slightly different person–rude, impatient, almost violent. She felt immature in those scenes in a way that she did not through the rest of the book. I realize that in those scenes she was also facing the creatures that she believed stole her mother from her, but her approach in how she dealt with them didn’t shift / develop at all until the very end. I loved Catrin through out the book, except for those scenes.
For the lyrical beauty of the prose alone, this is a fantastic read. For the story itself, it is a definite read. Highly recommend.
About the Author
Nancy Chase writes fantasy, science fiction, fairy tales, and paranormal fiction, often inspired by mythology, dreams, folklore, or history.
She was born in Maine. Over her lifetime, she has worked as a summer camp cabin cleaner, apple picker, stable girl, political activist, beauty consultant, inventory taker, t-shirt silk screener, pet shop cashier, art model, convenience store clerk, hotel banquet manager, university secretary, magazine editor, freelance book doctor, and farmer.
She can write a sonnet, dance a pavane, train a horse, shear a sheep, or milk a cow. She is slightly synesthetic. She has been inside the Tomb of the Eagles in the Orkneys and has done a Native American vision quest in the Sierra Nevadas. She prefers summer over winter, tea over coffee, her favorite color is green, and she has a peculiar obsession with collecting beautiful blank books in which she never writes.
She lives in Virginia with her husband and an ever-changing array of pets.
February 18, 2015
My Top 5 Favorite Indie Fantasy Reads and a Giveaway @BooksByIntisar
Today, as I help celebrate the release of The Seventh Magpie, I bring you my Top Five Favorite Indie Fantasy Reads. Caveat: I haven’t read The Seventh Magpie yet, so it might edge out one of the contenders below. It sounds like a fantastic read, and the excerpt I did get the chance to read was definitely intriguing. You can find out more about The Seventh Magpie at the bottom of this post… and you can also check out the Facebook Event for neat stuff going on all week long. Today, I’m offering a giveaway as well. What could you win? …An e-book copy of the indie fantasy read you most want to read next! So definitely scroll down!
My Top Five Indie Fantasy Reads
(In no particular order, because, are you kidding me? I cannot possibly choose a number one.)
The Touchstone Trilogy by Andrea K. Host
First book free on Amazon.
I usually find diary-style books somewhat underwhelming, but it worked fantastically in this sci-fi / fantasy / psychic space-ninja story. Can I say that again? Psychic space-ninja story.
What I loved: first, there were so many commentaries layered into this story. On the surface, you have an intriguing story of an Aussie high school girl who walks through a wormhole on her way home from her final exams, ends up on an abandoned world and struggles to survive, only to be rescued by psychic space-ninjas (yay! I got to say it again!) … who are totally irritated to have found her. Oh I loved that. She’s processed as a “stray” and starts trying to find her way in a far-advanced technological world, until an accident proves she isn’t without her own psychic abilities… and promptly gets reacquired by the military. And here’s where all those interesting issues begin surfacing: what does it mean to be human? What rights should a foreigner have under military purview? Just how do you treat someone who has trouble learning your language–are they, perhaps, just dumb? Or hard of hearing? … and on and on. But don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a heavy read. It’s fast and enjoyable and the questions and issues raised are dealt with using a touch of humor and left for the reader to think about (or not).
The pacing might feel slow here and there, but the narrator’s sense of humor and character will pull you along. The only drawback is the immense cast of secondary characters–I sometimes wish that about half were left unnamed because it was a struggle to remember who was who on occasion. But there’s a list of characters at the back, which should help anyone who hates that sort of confusion. I found the final climax in the third book to be a slightly disappointing, but there were some fantastic moments just before it, and clearly I still loved the trilogy.
The Pygmy Dragon by Marc Secchia
Totally worth the $2.99 price tag on Amazon.
I wasn’t sure what I’d think of this book when I first picked it up, but the fact that I was sneaking time away from my toddler and preschooler to get in a few more pages (screens? How do you say that for a Kindle?) pretty much says it all. I almost never manage daytime reading. The Pygmy Dragon follows the story of Pip (she has an ultra-cool long warrior name, but that’s what she goes by for short), a Pygmy girl who is enslaved and taken to… a zoo. Okay, I just want to send Marc Secchia a virtual high five right now. This book is about a person of color, a girl coming of age, someone whose humanity is routinely and disgustingly denied them, and she has to deal with short people jokes too. And you know what? Pip is awesome. She has her low moments, but she’s resilient, intelligent, and full of heart. And you keep rooting for her, even more so when you see both her courage and her vulnerability.
The story follows Pip’s life at the zoo for a little while, enough so you get a sense of what it was like, how humiliation and de-humanizing a person can break them down, and the hope Pip experienced when a single person begins to interact with her as a human, and then… dragons. Yes! The book just takes off from there, so stick with the story. A whole new plot of dragon intrigue, shapeshifters, and shadowy danger unfolds once the dragons make an entry and whisk Pip away from the zoo…
Note that the prologue is written in first person, and the remainder in third person, which I think works much better. So go give this book a try!
The Cats Eye Chronicles by T. L. Shreffler
Get the first book free on Amazon.
About to be put on display to attract a suitor (i.e. the highest bidder), Sora decides to run away directly after her dance performance. Unfortunately for her, she’s not the only one planning something: an assassin crashes the performance and kills her father. Fleeing in the ensuing chaos, Sora manages to escape the party, only to run into (quite literally) the assassin. Since he can’t afford for her to blow his cover, he takes her with him. And things go from bad to worse. Including finding out she’s psychically bound to the necklace her mother left her, a Cat’s Eye with the power to eat magic…something the assassin could definitely use.
Sora’s Quest is a fast-paced adventure story about a naive but strong-willed heroine who intends to set out into the world, only to have the world set upon her. As the series progresses, Sora learns more about herself and the powers in flux in her world, escapes and then takes on a pretty freaky blood mage, and develops a slow-building romance that has absolutely no love triangle in sight. What is there not to enjoy?
The Fanged Princess Series by Elisabeth Wheatley
Hey! The first installment in this series is free on Amazon too!
A twist on your average paranormal love story, this series is a keeper. Yes, there’s a vampire-human love story–in fact, there’s even one in the past. But the love that makes our main character, Haddie, tick, and pushes her to make the decisions she does, is a strong, healthy sibling love. What a breath of fresh air! Haddie is an awesome main character in her own right: smart, snarky, brave and loyal to a fault, she’ll mouth off at the guy holding a gun on her because, well, that’s better than showing her fear.
Both novellas in this series are a quick read with a tight storyline and some good twists. I highly recommend Fanged Princess to fantasy and paranormal fans…and for folks who like a touch of romance for the heroine as well, there’s hope here (and that’s all I’ll say for fear of spoilers). I’m definitely looking forward to the next installments!
The Emperor’s Edge by Lindsay Buroker
And here we are again–first book free on Amazon.
So this is the one book on this list that isn’t technically Young Adult. The characters vary in age, but the only one who is all that young is Sespian, the emperor in question. And while I don’t remember very well, I think he might be more new adult than young. At any rate, this is a fun, fast-paced, and intriguing fantasy steampunk series. Amaranthe, the heroine, is intelligent, resourceful, and has an incredible aptitude for finding a (seemingly impossible) way out of some pretty serious situations.
While I haven’t read all the books that are out yet, this is definitely a series I’d like to follow. It isn’t going to make you think deep thoughts, but sometimes you just need a good adventure. And you’ll get one with this book–lots of twists and turns, very unique cast of characters, and just the right dose of humor and irony.
And that’s my top five favorite indie fantasy series! I would love to hear about some of your favorite reads–leave me a comment and tell me what I need to add to my TBR list! And, keep scrolling down for a chance to win… An e-book copy of the indie fantasy read you most want to read next!
And now, a little bit about the star of the show, this week’s new release…
Sometimes you must give up what you value most to gain what you want even more.
Princess Catrin is just a child when her mother vanishes, leaving her a cryptic legacy: a priceless magical book and the warning that if Catrin ever loses it, she’ll surely die. But she is a young woman on the brink of a whole new life when, in a moment of defiance, she forgets that warning and triggers a catastrophe that shatters all her hopes.
Stricken with grief and seeking a way to correct her terrible mistake, Catrin risks everything on a dangerous bargain. Too late, she realizes just how much more she has to lose.
With advice from a half-mad witch and help from companions she meets along the way, Catrin embarks on a desperate quest to defeat seven riddling Magpies—magical tricksters who can shapeshift into anything or anyone—and win back her book or face losing everything she holds dear.
With each step the stakes get higher, and there are secrets she still doesn’t suspect. How much is Catrin willing to sacrifice to finally unmask the Seventh Magpie?
And now… a Rafflecopter giveaway
February 11, 2015
Cover Reveal & Giveaway: The Elemental Series by Elana Johnson
Today I’m happy to take part in revealing the new covers for Elana Johnson’s Elemental series–that’s right, the whole series if getting a facelift! And I have to say, I love the new covers. I’ve read Elemental Rush, which is available for free, and certainly enjoyed it. You should too! There’s also a giveaway at the end, so don’t forget to scroll through. Without further ado, here they are!
Eighteen-year-old Adam Gillman has trained for twelve years to earn a coveted spot on the Supreme Elemental’s elite sentry squad. His brother, Felix, is the commander, but Adam is still thrilled when his official assignment to serve Alexander Pederson comes.
He moves into nicer quarters and can stop getting up at four a.m. to complete his mandated work out time. He still rises early though, because he needs the solitude of early morning to practice his airmaking Element—something that Adam has kept secret from everyone, even Felix, because he can’t be both an Airmaker and a sentry.
When Alex assigns him to kill a group of rogue Elementals, he balks at completing his mission for the first time. See, his only friend is Isaiah Hawking, and he’s the Earthmover on the accused Council. When faced with the prospect of killing him, Adam finds he can’t do it.
He’s well trained in assassination, but he thought he’d be murdering bad guys—not innocents.
When Alex buries the Elemental Academy—and kills over one thousand Elementals—in a fit of rage, Adam’s loyalty cracks. When he discovers that Alex is really a woman, and his brother’s lover, he defects. He hops from city to city, from Elemental school to Elemental school, always escaping only minutes before Felix can embed a knife in his heart or a tsunami can make a classroom his watery grave.
He tries to fight back, but he’s just one Airmaster with exceptional tracking skills. He does his best to warn those in danger, but as the last Elemental school goes up in flames, he knows he needs to get some real firepower on his side.
ELEMENTAL RUSH is a free prequel novella to the full-length futuristic fantasy novel, ELEMENTAL HUNGER.
Find it on…
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KFM3JJM
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/elemental-rush-elana-johnson/1119569676?ean=2940150184190
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/elemental-rush/id962939892?mt=11
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/elemental-rush-an-elemental-novella-volume-1
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=3SZtBgAAQBAJ
The second installment in the Elemental series, a new futuristic fantasy for young adults and new adults from acclaimed author Elana Johnson, ELEMENTAL HUNGER is a full-length novel that continues the story that began in ELEMENTAL RUSH, an Elemental novella.
Sixteen-year-old Gabriella Kilpatrick can shoot fire from her hands, which would be great if she didn’t get blamed for a blazing inferno that kills 17 schoolmates. When Gabby is commanded to Manifest her Element, everyone knows what she is: a genetic abnormality. Not to mention guilty.
So she does two logical things to survive.
She runs.
She hacks off her hair to assume a new role—that of “Gabe”, because in her world, only boys are Firemakers.
Not only does she have to act like a guy, she has to pretend to know everything a Firemaker should know. When Gabby meets Airmaster Adam Gillman, he believes her act and pledges to serve on “Gabe’s” Council. But Adam has the mark of a sentry and spent years obeying Alex, the Supreme Elemental. And Alex wants Gabby-the-genetic-freak dead and gone before she can gather the magical protection of a full Council.
With Adam’s lies that sound like truths and rumors that Alex isn’t really a Firemaker—or a man—Gabby sets out to charter a Council of her own. In order to uncover the truth, Gabby will have to learn who she can trust, how to control her own power, and most of all, how to lead a Council of Elementals, most of whom have more control over their power than she does. If she can’t, she’ll find herself just like those 17 schoolmates: burned and six feet under.
Find it on…
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KWF9PLI
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/elemental-hunger-elana-johnson/1119673756?ean=2940149745685
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/elemental-hunger/id962939784?mt=11
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/elemental-hunger-an-elemental-novel-volume-2
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=HjBtBgAAQBAJ
Two months after returning to the capital city of Tarpulin with a Council of his own, Airmaster Adam Gillman is ready to start repairing the relationships in his life. Up first: his Councilman and the girl he’d like to be more than friends with, Gabriella Kilpatrick.
But first, he has to figure out how to be the Airmaster his Firemaker needs. In order to do that, Adam attends Elemental training and discovers that to truly command the air, he must first be in control of his emotions. And in order to master those, he has to grieve for the loss of Hanai, make amends with his brother, and earn the trust of Gabby.
Amidst all that, Adam must also learn how to grapple with the jet stream, because a dangerous Airmaster is loose in Tarpulin. And Adam will need to find his emotional center in order to work with the atmosphere and defeat the threat.
Find it on…
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00L4HTBZS
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/elemental-release-elana-johnson/1121137547?ean=2940150154391
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/elemental-release/id962940235?mt=11
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/elemental-release-an-elemental-novella-volume-3
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=3zNtBgAAQBAJ
About the Author:
Elana Johnson’s work, including Possession, Surrender, Abandon, and Regret, published by Simon Pulse (Simon & Schuster), is available now everywhere books are sold. Her popular ebook, From the Query to the Call, is also available for download, as well as a Possession short story, Resist.
Her self-published novels include two YA contemporary novels-in-verse, Elevated and Something About Love, as well as a YA/NA futuristic fantasy series, which includes Elemental Rush, Elemental Hunger, and Elemental Release.
School teacher by day, Query Ninja by night, you can find her online at her personal blog or Twitter. She also co-founded the Query Tracker blog and WriteOnCon, and contributes to the League of Extraordinary Writers.
Website/blog: http://elanajohnson.blogspot.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ElanaJ
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorelanajohnson
Tumblr: http://elanajohnson.tumblr.com/
Wattpad: http://www.wattpad.com/user/elanajohnson
League of Extraordinary Writers: http://leaguewriters.blogspot.com/
WriteOnCon: http://writeoncon.com/
Elana on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4044383.Elana_Johnson
And don’t forget … a Rafflecopter giveaway
February 9, 2015
New #Release! Greta and the Glass Kingdom – Guest Post and #Giveaway @Jacobs_Chloe
Today I’m excited to take part in the Release Day Blitz for Greta and the Glass Kingdom by Chloe Jacobs. This is book two in the Mylena Chronicles, and book one was a fast-paced and thought-provoking ride. I’ll admit to some grumbling over the requisite love triangle, and concern over one of the love interests… ways of showing he cared. Not that it didn’t bother Greta too, yay! It’s still a great read and I definitely recommend it.
5 Things You Don’t Know about Isaac from Greta and the Glass Kingdom
1) Isaac has always been fascinated by technology. Mylena is a technological wasteland because of the harsh environment, but if there was ever a person who was meant to be an inventor, it’s Isaac. Before he became the goblin king, he tinkered around with things, looking for ways to help his people survive better in the harsh, endless winter of Mylena, and now that he’s the goblin king…he’s thinking BIGGER.
2) Nobody has ever said Isaac’s name without wanting something from him, and he’s never had friends because of his position in the goblin kingdom, and the fact that the people who didn’t want the benefit of his gift to enter their dreams were afraid. So Isaac has spent a lot of time by himself growing up. He travels by himself, he works by himself, and it’s made him a very reflective, thoughtful person—which is the polar opposite of Greta’s energetic, fireball personality.
3) When the previous goblin king—Isaac’s father—was killed by his uncle, Isaac knew he had to step in, even though he never wanted the responsibility of becoming the goblin king. When Isaac issued the challenge, his uncle actually laughed. He was so sure he’d be able to take his young nephew. But Isaac surprised everyone when he bested his uncle. He was fueled by a determination to protect his people from a tyrant taking over the kingdom, and also by a desire to make Mylena a more tolerant place…because he’d met Greta, and knew she was human.
4) Isaac fell for Greta because of her capacity for understanding and compassion. Before they met, she believed that she lost the ability to feel those things, but he saw them in her even when she couldn’t. It’s in the way she refuses to hunt someone just because there’s a bounty on their head. She only hunts the Lost. And it’s in the way that she protects the Mylean people even when most of them wouldn’t cry a tear to see her dead.
5) Becoming the goblin king isn’t something Isaac ever really wanted, but now that the gig has been thrust upon him, he’s determined to do a good job. He’s got big plans, not only for the goblin kingdom, but for all of Mylena. Oh, but he’d kill me if I ruined everything by spilling the beans before he’s ready for everyone to know…
Greta and the Glass Kingdom (Mylena Chronicles #2)by Chloe Jacobs
Release Date: 02/09/15
Entangled Teen
Summary from Goodreads:
Once upon a dark time… Greta the human bounty hunter never quite fit into the shadowed, icy world of Mylena. Yet she’s managed to defeat the demon Agramon and win the love of the darkly intense Goblin King, Isaac. Now Isaac wants her to rule by his side—a human queen. And the very announcement is enough to incite rebellion…
To make matters worse, defeating Agramon left Greta tainted with a dark magick. Its unclean power threatens to destroy her and everything she loves. With the Goblin King’s life and the very peace of Mylena at stake, Greta must find a cure and fast.
Her only hope lies with the strange, elusive faeries in the Glass Kingdom…if she can get there before the evil within her destroys everything.
Buy links:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Indigo/Chapters
Book Trailer:
Book One:
Greta and the Goblin King (Mylena Chronicles #1)
by Chloe Jacobs
Release Date: 12/11/12
Entangled Teen
Summary from Goodreads:
While trying to save her brother from a witch’s fire four years ago, Greta was thrown in herself, falling through a portal to Mylena, a dangerous world where humans are the enemy and every ogre, ghoul, and goblin has a dark side that comes out with the eclipse.
To survive, Greta has hidden her humanity and taken the job of bounty hunter—and she’s good at what she does. So good, she’s caught the attention of Mylena’s young goblin king, the darkly enticing Isaac, who invades her dreams and undermines her will to escape.
But Greta’s not the only one looking to get out of Mylena. An ancient evil knows she’s the key to opening the portal, and with the next eclipse mere days away, every bloodthirsty creature in the realm is after her—including Isaac. If Greta fails, she and the lost boys of Mylena will die. If she succeeds, no world will be safe from what follows her back…
Buy Links:Amazon?Barnes & Noble?Kobo Books
(Only $0.99 for a limited time at select online retailers!)
About the Author
Chloe Jacobs is a native of nowhere and everywhere, having jumped around to practically every Province of Canada before finally settling in Ontario where she has now been living for a respectable number of years. Her husband and son are the two best people in the entire world, but they also make her wish she’d at least gotten a female cat. No such luck. And although the day job keeps her busy, she carves out as much time as possible to write. Bringing new characters to life and finding out what makes them tick and how badly she can make them suffer is one of her greatest pleasures, almost better than chocolate and fuzzy pink bunny slippers.
Author Links:
GIVEAWAY:
Book Blitz Organized by:
January 29, 2015
Everything You Know About Archery … Is Probably Wrong
This is what archery really looked like back in the day.
If you think you know something about archery… you just might not. The way to keep your arrows with you is via a belt quiver, not on your back (unless you want to lose them); it’s best to hold a couple spare arrows in your shooting hand while shooting, so you can shoot three in quick succession; don’t notch that baby on the left side if you’re right handed, you’re not going to have time to sight your quarry down it with one eye anyway; yes, you can shoot your arrows at the chumps on the other side of the table and easily kill them because archery is not just for long distances; and for the love of God, remember that historic archers didn’t stand in front of a target and slowly take aim. They moved, and man did they know how to shoot while moving. Watch this guy, Lars Anderson. He’s amazing.
