Heather Self's Blog, page 8

Weekly Update!

Morning folks! This will hopefully be a fast update as I have a BAJILLION things to try and get done before the insanity of tomorrow. What's tomorrow? Hell on earth, people. Just kidding (but not really). Tomorrow is the first day of *trumpet blast*

You can click on the badge to learn more but needless to say...it's crazysauce. 50 THOUSAND words. 30 Days. So if you see me on twitter or FB tell me to shove off. Seriously. Unless I have my daily word count done--1667.
NEXT item on the agenda--tomorrow I will be (automatically) posting a HUGE giveaway/fundraiser. My amazing friends are adopting and I want to do SOMETHING to help them with the crazy cost. You may have seen this sneak peek of some of the SIGNED books I'm saying goodbye to. There are also quite a few ebooks being donated too so check back tomorrow!
Finally--THE COVER FOR KIERAN'S NOVELLA IS DONE!!!! AHHHHHHHH!! Here's a bit of a tease for ya'

I can't wait to share the whole thing later in November. Ok that MIGHT be a bit ambitious given it's November. Expect the weekly update through November to be short, possibly just a word count, though if there is something from the WIP I REALLY like it may get shared!
Peace!~h

Cover Reveal: Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins

Finally! Finally we have a cover and an official release date of the sequel to Sweet Evil!  It's so perfect!

Anna Whitt, daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a claim. She’d been naive about a lot of things. Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind.
When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life?

Can't wait for this one!! You can pre-order it all over the interwebs:

Preorder on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sweet-Peril-Wendy-Higgins/dp/0062265946/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1351179630&sr=1-1&keywords=sweet+perilPreorder on Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sweet-peril-wendy-higgins/1113200731?ean=9780062265944Preorder on The Book Depository: http://www.bookdepository.com/Sweet-Peril-Wendy-Higgins/9780062265944
Find Wendy (and Kai) online!
Author's website:  http://www.wendyhigginswrites.comWendy Higgins on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Wendy_HigginsCharacter Kaidan Rowe on Twitter: https://twitter.com/KaidanRoweSweet Peril on Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15768191-sweet-perilAuthor's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wendy.higgins.315?ref=tn_tnmnSweet Evil's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sweet-Evil-novel-by-Wendy-Higgins/118348174915427
About Wendy:

Wendy Higgins was born in Alaska, grew up an Army brat, and lived all over the United States before settling in the Washington, DC area. She attended George Mason University for her undergrad degree in creative writing, and Radford University for her masters in curriculum and instruction. Wendy taught 9th and 12th grade English in a rural school before becoming a mother and author. She now lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, daughter, and son. Sweet Peril is her second novel.

Blog Tour: Losing It by Cora Carmack Review + Giveaway

Virginity. Bliss Edwards is about to graduate from college and still has hers. Sick of being the only virgin among her friends, she decides the best way to deal with the problem is to lose it as quickly and simply as possible-- a one-night stand. But her plan turns out to be anything but simple when she freaks out and leaves a gorgeous guy alone and naked in her bed with an excuse that no one with half-a-brain would ever believe. And as if if that weren't embarrassing enough, when she arrives for her first class of her last college semester, she recognizes her new theatre professor. She'd left him naked in her bed about 8 hours earlier.

My review is going to be super short, cause I have some fun facts about the book from Cora so here goes. The blurb sets up the story nicely and the comedy of errors that ensues after left me laughing out loud more than once--ok, snickering quietly so I didn't wake up the husband--BUT there was lots of laughter. Garrick is an absolute charmer as Bliss' stand in college professor. Sweet, funny, caring, and HELLO English! I dare you to try and not read is dialogue with an English accent. Bliss is so awkward when it comes to relationships that it's both funny and pathetic, but in a way that you root for her and don't pity her. The secondary cast of characters is a riot, as it should be with a group of theater majors, especially Cade!! Cade NEEDS his own book if for nothing else so we can see Bliss and Garrick again (BTW, how much do you LOVE that name?) There was one pivotal scene in the book that I questioned in it's genuineness but I understood the necessity of said scene later in the book. REGARDLESS, Losing it is a FANTASTIC  new adult read. Please note that it IS a new adult book and some content may not be appropriate for younger teens.

Now, the fun part (besides the giveaway). I asked Cora for a list of "fun facts" about Losing It. This was something I did on the FB page with the One and may have to now ask every author I "interview" to do because it's neat to see now each book came about and how much it changes from beginning to end. So here goes:


10 Fun Facts about LOSING IT

10. LOSING IT is the first thing I’ve written that’s not YA and not fantasy. And I have no plans to stop writing Contemporary Romance. This was so fun, and practically wrote itself.

9. Parts of LOSING IT were written in five different states (and in an airplane, which should count as all the states).

8. Cade (Bliss’s best friend) was originally named Wade. I wrote Cade by accident once, and then it kind of stuck.

7. The Epilogue was actually a last minute addition (something I’m very glad I added).

6. LOSING IT draws on a lot of events that really happened in my life (and my own innate awkwardness). True Event number 1: I really did have a friend who really did say once upon a time, “I just want to sit in my car and play my accordion until I’m sober.” That thought was followed by a night of walking around town (barefoot, I might add) singing along to an accordion.

5. True Event Number 2: I’ll make this as spoiler free as I can, but sometimes parties happen in college (shocker, I know), and sometimes they have really sucky consequences for everyone involved.

4. True Event Number 3: I really did have a really young professor in college who taught only for a semester while another professor was doing a show Off-Broadway. No, I didn’t almost sleep with him. :)

3. Cade wasn't in my original plan at all. He was a secondary character I added just so that all of her friends weren't girls, and then he kind of took on a life of his own.

2. Garrick wasn't British when I first conceived of the idea. I was writing the scene in the bar, and he said something, and then before I really even thought about it Bliss was freaking out about his accent. Again with the characters taking on a life of their own.

1. The entirety of LOSING IT was written in about three weeks time, a very busy three weeks when I had plenty of other things that needed to be done, but I ignored them. What can I say? When it flows, it flows.



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Weekly Update!

Wow. It's that time again already *blows trumpet* do doo doo dooooooooo! Another exciting edition of the weekly update which will be not exciting at all since I have nothing really new to report! :D
However I do have some information to impart. Currently, the information has not been confirmed but I know some of you write a lot of reviews for Amazon so I thought I'd share the "warning". One of my loverly author friends has heard that Amazon will begin removing reviews that have the author's first name in them because they think it's a "fake" review from the author's friend. Obvs this is completely stupid since there is so much online communication between an author and their readers these days that readers can't help but think of authors by their first names (I do the same thing). But forewarned is forearmed, right?
And speaking of reviews...
You may recall my little incentive post from last Wednesday's Weekly Update. Well, I've only seen 1 new review posted and I know there's a bunch of you out there who have read the book. Reviews don't have to be long (I think amazon minimum is like 20 or 50 words) and it doesn't have to be five star. I absolutely do not expect that. I want you to be honest. If you hated it, say you hated it. I'll still write Chase's scene and to give you a little snippet of what you're missing...
"As Brennan and I exited the door to the basement, I heard her laugh. My lips twitched in response and..."
Muhahahahahahahaha! That's all you get for now! 
Peace!~h

Cover Reveal + Giveaway: Shadow of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

 Ok. Y'all!! I'm so super excited to be participating in this cover reveal. Carrier of the Mark had an instantly recognizable cover--see! And the cover for book two is just as awesome. All right. I'll confess. I really like the second one better.  So check it out below and then enter the giveaway! What do you think? Cover for #1 or #2?

Life for Megan Rosenberg just got a lot more complicated.
While she evoked the air element, and her feelings for Adam
intensified, a web of lies, deceit, and betrayal has been spun around her. With the Order tightening its hold, and the
reinstatement of the Mark Knights, Megan has more questions than answers as the
Marked Ones grow in strength.
New people arouse suspicion, the DeRises start behaving
strangely, and Megan begins to unravel a destiny shrouded in mystery. It?s a destiny the Order has struggled to hide,
and a destiny someone from the past?far in the past, has already laid claim to.
Alliances will be made, and friends will be lost, as the
Order's dark secrets are revealed by the very thing they sought to destroy. 

Pre-order on Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Mark-Leigh-Fallon/dp/0062128000/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1350828346&sr=1-1&keywords=shadow+of+the+mark+by+leigh+fallon


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About Leigh:

I started out life in South Africa. A year later
my parents moved home to Dublin, Ireland. When I was older and realized my
parents had moved me from exotic Durban, to sedate Rathfarnham, Dublin 16, I
was rightly ticked off.
Giving up lions for sheep, I grew up in the foothills of
the Dublin Mountains where I went to a convent school and had to contend with
uniforms, gabardines, and nuns. When not dodging the beady glare of the Sisters
of Mercy, I was devouring every book I could get my hands on.
I traveled all over Europe while working in banking and
treasury, but I gave up my calculator in favor of a keyboard and haven?t
stopped writing since. My first book, Carrier of the Mark, was published by
HarperTeen in 2011.
Our home is in Cork in the south of Ireland, but we're currently on loan
to Massachusetts in the US where I continue to write books about magic, ghosts,
and romance, with a bit of Irish flavor.

Weekly Update

Howdy folks! I can't believe another week has passed by already yet when I walked into my regular Wednesday coffee shop (which just so happens to be the cafe at the Younger's school) I felt like I hadn't been here in ages. One of those weird things. So--what's going on? 
First, confession. I didn't get a whole lot of writing done last week. I ended up beta reading Ten Tiny Breaths  for the amazing KA Tucker. She's working to push that baby out the door by mid-November and y'all. This is NOT to be missed. It's a fantastic New Adult (she says mature YA/NA) read. I loved this book and can't wait for y'all to get a hold of it.
Second, there have been some requests for more Chase. There is a poll up on the FB page to choose which scene will be written from an alt POV. Now. This is participatory so here's what you have to do to get the scene. Drumroll.....reviews. I know some you right now are thinking Ugh, Heather. WHY do authors ask for reviews all the time? And the short answer is because it helps sales. (Longer answer--reviews are a factor in determining placement on page and location on list during searches) And more sales mean more traveling. And by traveling I mean book events. So help me come see you! ;) If you've already left a review--THANKS A TON! And guys jsut so you know it doesn't have to be a positive review. I don't expect everyone to like my book. Anyway...
Here's how it will go. Right now there are 15 reviews on Amazon and 6 on Barnes and Noble. For every five reviews on each site (so at 20 on Amazon or 11 on Barnes and Noble) I will post a portion of the alt POV scene on the blog beginning tomorrow. Bonus: If  BOTH sites hit 50 reviews I'll reveal the title AND a scene from Kieran's novella.
I can't tell you enough how much I appreciate you guys. I love hearing from y'all and seeing how much you've loved these characters. Now back to work for me!
Peace~h

Pick My City: Top Reasons DaemonInvasion 2.0 Should be in Austin

Austin, Tx from Tripadvisor.com
There are a TON of reasons y'all should pick Austin for DI2.0. So many that I seriously couldn't list them all but here's a few:

1. Weather! December weather in Austin is pretty darn nice. None of that darn snow mess to worry about. Check out the averages: (from weather.com)                                 High     Low    Mean      
11 7:18 AM 5:32 PM 63°F 43°F 53°F 83°F (1950) 24°F (1978)
12 7:19 AM 5:32 PM 63°F 43°F 53°F 86°F (1973) 21°F (1957)
13 7:19 AM 5:32 PM 63°F 42°F 53°F 82°F (1933) 22°F (1989)
14 7:20 AM 5:33 PM 63°F 42°F 52°F 82°F (1933) 20°F (1919)
15 7:20 AM 5:33 PM 63°F 42°F 52°F 82°F (1924) 17°F (1901)
16 7:21 AM 5:33 PM 62°F 42°F 52°F 82°F (1924) 16°F (1989)
17 7:22 AM 5:34 PM 62°F 42°F 52°F 82°F (1990) 21°F (1932)
18 7:22 AM 5:34 PM 62°F 42°F 52°F 82°F (1924) 22°F (1983)

2. Cool unique to Austin events take place in December...like the Trail of Lights!
A display of Christmas tree lights that you walk through with a TALL "tree" made entirely of lights as the feature at the end. Stand under the tree, look up, and spin as fast as you can, then stay upright without hurling. It's a right of passage and a fun way to go through Zilker Park.
3. Speaking of Zilker Park you may recognize it from one of the BEST movies of all time. Here's a hint: "Party at the moontower?"



You can also eat at the drive-in everyone went to in the movie--

    (Delish fried chicken)

Tex Mex!4. Did someone mention food? Austin has some of the most AMAZING restaurants!
Sushi!












And my personal fav for BBQ:
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The city of Austin is home to the most restaurants and bars per capita

5. Speaking of capita...I mean people...you may spot some familiars faces while visiting Austin (all these peeps have homes in or live here full-time):

 
Friday Night Lights was filmed here as well as too many movies to list!
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6. Bats! Huh you say? Austin is home to one of the largest bat colonies in North America. They live under the Congress Street Bridge and bat watchers come out every sunset to watch them emerge:
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7. Austin is home to the LBJ presidential library so if you're into history it's a pretty neat place to check out:


8. WHOLE FOODS! Now, I get it can be a little bit pricey, but I'm talking their corporate headquarters so this is a really cool store just to go walk through:
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9. Just a short walk from Whole Foods is Texas's #1 independent bookstore: Book People. Their calendar is jam packed with awesome events for both young readers (Rick Riordan was just here) and adult readers (Lois Lowry was here too!). They also have a Teen Press Corp comprised of teens of the Austin community. The teens recently got to attend the Austin Teen Bookfest as press.

 

10. And finally, the BEST reason to come to Austin? It's home to some of the most outstanding YA bloggers out there! (These gals are ridiculously awesome, y'all).

     




Why Austin? Here's what Lonely Plant has to say about this fabulous city:


An eclectic pick-and-mix of retro funk and new-age entrepreneurial spirit, Austin’s best side is a mystic soup of social consciousness and capitalist development, tattoo-covered artists and internet millionaires. Quality of life reigns supreme. Here even the buttoned-down businessmen are likely to take a day off to go swimming in spring-fed pools, jogging along Town Lake or kayaking on the river. Almost any night here you can listen to live indie rock, jazz-funk, alt country, punk ska, acoustic rhythms, Latin sambas, Tejano trumpets, world beat… Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/usa/austin#ixzz29NvPoBk6
But don't take their word for it, or even mine, come see for yourself!

Weekly Update!

What's up my people?! Another short and sweet update here. SO....the novella was not going well. i have all these scenes written and couldn't figure out how to link them all together. How was I going to get all this information into a semi-coherent format, especially when it covers such a WIDE time-frame. We're talking 100+ years here. So here's the dealio. Part of the novel is going to be in third person--anything that Kieran can't tell you himself will be relegated to a portion of the book labeled...past? before? then? And the other will be labeled as...present? now? I'm going to do my best to make sure the separation between each is clear so you don't get thrown going from 3rd to 1st person.  Cool?
I just figured this out a couple days ago so must now go back and rewrite everything I've already done in first and change other tenses as well. So #HOTMESS.
Add to this, my car completely crapped out and I've had to spend a ridiculous amount of time searching for a stinkin' car instead of fixing the #hotmess
All that to say I'm not sure if it will be done when I wanted it to be. Granted it's not as many words as a full novel so chances are still good it will be out by Thanksgiving. I will know for sure soon.
Peace!~h

Cover Reveal: Centaur Legacy by Nancy Straight

Nancy was kind enough to have me in her blog last week, and today I'm happy to help reveal the cover of her soon to be released second novel in her Touched series. And y'all. Centaurs? How freaking creative is THAT! Check it!
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Camille and Drake are on the run, bound for the mythical pasture of Thessaly. They search for the family heirloom that will keep them safe from Zandra while trying to unlock the secrets of her mother’s past. As their journey progresses from the rolling hills of Ireland to the snow covered forests of South Dakota, they find Zandra is no longer the only danger pursuing them. 
Camille's Centaur lineage puts their future at risk; they don't know who to trust or where to hide. Camille’s family is quick to come to her aid but even they are ill prepared for their ancestor’s Centaur Legacy.
Help comes from an unexpected benefactor in an unwelcomed way. Drake has to choose between being the man he wants to be and the Centaur warrior Camille needs him to be.

Author Bio: Nancy was born in Sioux City Iowa, left the cold of the Midwest in 1991 and only returns to see family in the summer time. She spent ten years traveling the world as a US Marine and settled in rural SC with her husband and two children. 
She enjoys reading all types of Paranormal and Young Adult literature.

Find Nancy on the Web: 
Goodreads | Blog | Twitter

Weekly Update!

What's up y'all?! Another quick update as I have much writing to be done but wanted to check in as usual. :) 
Ok. So first--super fun exciting news: Stephanie Mooney, who did the cover for the One (and many other books), has started working on the cover for Kieran's novella! I'm SO excited to see what she comes up with as she's pretty freaking brilliant at what she does. If you're interested in being part of the cover/title/blurb reveal you can shoot an email to me authorheatherself @ gmail . com.
Though I HATE to put dates on things as I never know how easily a story will unfold, look for Kieran's novella to be available the end of November, hopefully in time for Turkey day.
Currently there are NO entries in the art contest and that makes me a:

But I know there are some super creatives out there so I'm holding out hope :) If you need some musical inspiration you can use this playlist created by readers. These are the songs that remind them of the One.


 That's it peeps. I gotta work!Peace!~h