Ariella Moon's Blog, page 17

A New Kick-Butt Heroine from Kadee Carder

I am so excited about this new Young Adult series from Kadee Carder! Amanda Mathews (who created the covers for The Beltane Escape and The Teen Wytche Saga) designed an amazing cover!

InsurrectionBy Kadee Carder
Saylor had always been told she was a stain on the cloth of mankind. Escaping the girls’ home with her orphan sisters Micah, Denise, and Patricia, the four find themselves enduring storms at sea and imprisoned on a mysterious Caribbean island. Separated from her sisters, Saylor must learn to fight for her life and theirs, enduring dark and strange noises, discovering dazzling beaches, and ensnared in the secrets of a covert military base. Forced to trade her freedom for a contract with Alliance Military Group, Saylor develops her inner warrior. Wavering between terror and ecstasy, she must face an enemy who exposes her indispensable abilities. In order to rescue her sisters, impress the hunky Australian, and protect innocent lives on a global scale, she must master techniques of fighting an army created to destroy with a single, scorching touch – or die trying. They wanted a warrior. They got one.


Excerpt:“Don’t tell me what you don’t want to do. The Commander wouldn’t have put you in this company if he thought you couldn’t do it. This is the ECB. We don’t waste people. We win. We defeat.” Logan spat out the words. “I’d prefer you to have several more weeks of training, but we have to deal with what we got.” He let a devious smile filter across his lips. “Use that moxie, kid.” Water dripped down his face, his blue eyes sparkling. Tense jaw, muscles rigid from neck to toe, I could almost see his skin rippling with adrenaline. A shiver fluttered down my spine. A loud, thunderous boom—not thunder, but the same crashing, familiar boom of destruction—cracked nearby. We sought out the source of the sound, deep in the beast’s lair, disguised in ivy and wooded terrain. “Be powerful,” he yelled over the ruckus, stepping closer and turning his face toward me. He scanned the area around us for unwanted observers, and then just inches from my face, he added, “Be strong. Be fearless. You are all those things. You’ve proven it before—now’s your time to shine.”

Purchase Links

Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Insurrection-Kadee-Carder-ebook/dp/B01M8F5YZR/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1476404793&sr=8-1&keywords=insurrection+kadee+carder
Nook/Barnes&Noble:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/insurrection-kadee-carder/1123393886?ean=2940156756322
iTunes:
https://itun.es/us/5rqpfb.l
Review for Insurrection
I loved this story. The characters are so witty, well developed and real. The growth Saylor goes through is touching and had me rooting for her every step of the way. The technology introduced is intriguing and frightening. Like what would happen if your favorite pass time started fighting back and you were thrown into the deadliest game of baseball you could ever imagine. In the midst of the awesome kick butt-ness are the girl giggles of a first crush that will have you swooning and wanting more.

An amazing first novel in a series that I can already tell will become one of my favorite series.If you are looking for a unique science fiction book you need to pick this book up! You will be mesmerized by the story, the wonder of the strange island, the romance developing, and the unwavering friendship.


~ Amazon Customer ~ ****





Author Bio:Deep in the heart of Central Texas, Kadee Carder resides with her husband and two daughters. Carder earned a BA in Public Relations at Howard Payne University and an MFA in Creative Writing from National University. She teaches English courses on the university level and plans her schedule around coffee availability.Writing and language have been her life-long pleasure, wordsmithery offering the ability to twist emotion in to sense and cosmos. When she’s not dancing around the living room with her daughters, she helps at church activities, creates encouraging blogs, and orders pizza like a boss.


Follow Kadee on social media:Twitter: @kadeecbooksFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/kadeecarderbooks/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/saranwrap28

Fight for family. Believe in yourself. Fulfill your purpose. Join Saylor on this exciting, harrowing adventure. See more at http://www.kadeecarder.com!

Spell Check: Where First Love and Magic Collide

Halloween is almost upon us! Everyone is looking for a great Halloween-themed read. I am fortunate that many fabulous authors are spotlighting The Teen Wytche Saga, and especially the first book, Spell Check on their blogs and websites. Here are a few:


Ever wonder about the origins of Halloween and trick-or-treating? Read my guest post on Krysten Lindsay Hager's blog.http://www.krystenlindsay.com/blog/halloween-post-by-ariella-moon

“Spell Check is a great story for the young adult or the young at heart. I enjoyed the vicarious experience of falling in love, dealing with secrets, and working out best friend issues.” ~ Long and Short Reviews

Ashley Stambaugh places the entire Teen Wytche Saga in the spotlight. http://ashleystambaugh.blogspot.com/2016/10/book-spotlight-teen-wytche-saga.html?m=1

TC Booth is featuring great Halloween reads on her wonderful blog, including Spell Check!
http://awritersdevotion.blogspot.com/...

Tens lists from Evie and Salem, and Halloween guest posts on shamanism, Halloween/Samhain, and more coming soon!

~Ariella Moon

Empower: A New Release from Ashley Stambaugh

Do you enjoy urban fantasy, suspense, new adult/adult series? Then you are in for a treat, because today's spotlight shines shines on Ashley Stambaugh and her NEW RELEASE,Empower, BOOK THREE of The Collide Trilogy Back cover blurb
Over a month has gone by since Melina won her internal battle between good and evil. She and the elders have been vigilantly waiting for Maura and Adelia to enact their plan, but there have been no signs of them anywhere. Then one day, Melina sees a Noxin demon lurking behind an old building. As more and more demons start to appear around town, she begins to worry that their plan may have already been put into play.
While Melina tries to figure out what the demons are up to, she starts to notice a sudden increase in her negative emotions, which in turn seem to be amplifying her powers. At first, she likes how strong it makes her feel. But when she realizes that her newly acquired demon powers are the cause of her sense of empowerment, she wants nothing to do with it. Even though she has reversed her demon powers to do good, she still sees them as coming from an evil source and fears that by using them the evil she fought so hard to overcome will rise up in her again.
But as the demon activity increases, and the people in her town, including all the people she cares about the most, start to display strange and violent behavior, Melina finally understands that if she wants to stop the demons and help her friends, she must embrace not only the good in her but also the bad. Because the only way to truly empower herself is by finding a way to use them together.
You have to have the dark to see the light. Excerpt
            She turned to look at the front of her store and saw that the huge front window had been completely busted in, allowing the chilly winter air to blow right through the room. The rest of the store wasn’t in any better shape. Broken glass, splintered wood, and burnt, ripped up books and paper covered the entire floor. She felt like she should be having déjà vu, seeing as how her store had been destroyed by Noxin demons before, but there was a difference this time. She didn’t have her friends to help her pick up the pieces.            Before she was able to get teary-eyed again, she heard footsteps coming from behind her. She turned around and saw that Walter was back, and he had Phinneas, Cecil, and Helene with him. They all nodded at Henry, who nodded back at them, and then they all returned their focus to Melina.            “Hi,” Melina said as she gave them all a slightly confused look. “What are you all doing here?”            “I thought it was necessary to tell them what’s happening with you,” Walter said.            Melina pulled her robe a little tighter around her and turned her gaze down to the floor. She wondered if they were disappointed in her for not telling any of them sooner.            “Melina,” Phinneas said as he took a step toward her. “None of us blame you for feeling the way you do. The fear you have of your anger and of your demon powers is completely valid. But it’s nothing to be afraid of, or ashamed of. I’ve told you before, not everyone is all good or all bad. We all have good and evil in us.”            “Yes,” Melina said as she nodded her head. “I remember you saying that. But then you also said that we just have to choose which one is going to win, and I chose good.”            “And I’m so glad you did,” Phinneas said. “But just because you chose good and were able to reverse the demon powers to use them for good, doesn’t mean that the bad aspects of the demon powers aren’t still a part of you, too.”            “Melina,” Walter said as he took a step toward her. “To truly embrace all of your powers, you must accept not only the good aspects of them but also the bad. I can only imagine how strong it must make you feel when your emotions amplify your powers, but instead of fighting them and trying to stop them, feel all of those emotions and use them in a good way. Use them to empower yourself.” He paused for effect and then continued. “You have become a force to be reckoned with. You just need to learn to accept them and then control them.”            Melina’s eyes were filled with tears again. His words reminded her of what Lee had told her—that she needed to accept all of herself. She knew they were both right, but she still couldn’t let go of her hesitation and fear.            “But what if it makes me susceptible to being taken over by evil again?” She bit down on her lip as she stared over at Walter with eyes full of distress.            He gave her a reassuring smile. “I know you’re scared, but I also think that you know, deep down, that you’re not going to be taken over by evil again. This is just how the demon powers are going to work in you. We all experience negative emotions, Melina. But it's what we do after the emotions arise that matters. We can act upon those negative feelings and let them control us, or we can feel them, acknowledge them, but then choose not to act on them. And instead of letting them control us, use them as motivation for something good.” He was silent for a moment then said, “You have to have the dark to see the light.”            Melina sat quietly as his last words sunk in. She had never thought of it that way, but he was right. She had both light and dark in her, just like everyone else, but she just needed to make sure that her light always shone brighter.


Purchase Links
Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LY3LYYJ
Barnes & Noble:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/empower-ashley-stambaugh/1124771929?ean=2940157073169



About the author
Ashley Stambaugh grew up in a small town in Illinois where she and her two siblings created some of the best memories playing on their family’s farm. She stayed in the southern region of the state to attend college where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and also met her husband.
Now, she and her husband live in central Illinois and spend their time creating new memories with their two rambunctious boys. She also enjoys reading, taking long walks, and finding great bargains. When her sons are a little bit older, she has a great desire to travel with her family. Oh, and she also has a slight obsession with chocolate.
When she’s not busy chasing after her two young children or losing herself in a good book, you can find her curled up on her couch with her laptop, writing.
Social media links
Website: www.ashleystambaugh.blogspot.com
Facebook author page: www.facebook.com/ashleystambaughauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ashleystambaughGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8054295.Ashley_Stambaugh

Fantasy Book Blast and Gift Card Giveaway

The Ever Fiendby Randy Ellefson

GENRE: Fantasy

Only a fool steals from a wizard.
Talon Stormbringer thought he knew the risk of stealing from Viland Shadowbreaker - until he got caught. The wizard will spare him if Talon performs a service - fetch the deadly silver elixir from the Everway, a supernatural land that Talon assumed wasn’t real. Only children believe the stories about what lies within - lost souls, corrupted magic items, and mysterious destinations that most people never escape. Ruling over it all is the Ever Fiend, a bogeyman that people use to scare unruly youngsters into behaving.
Talon agrees to go, if only to stop Viland from doing something unholy with the potent elixir once retrieved. Joining him are a band of people he can’t trust. Their leader, a sorelia with nefarious plans of his own. The sorelia’s battle-trained mynx, a large cat who obeys only its master. An alluring swordswoman who wants to enchant her blades with the elixir. A cocky guard whose bravado might prove more liability than asset. A warrior kryll whose curiosity about the elixir might cost him more than his life. And a tortured Knight of Coiryn who seeks redemption in a place where most are damned. Of all the things they might discover on their journey, one is the most obvious and yet the hardest to learn...
Only a fool steals from the Ever Fiend.

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EXCERPT

While most in Talendor slumbered, Talon Stormbringer crept through a hallway dark with flickering shadows, his human ears and eyes alert. He’d already slipped undetected past a jhaikan and a mynx, undeterred by their ferocity and taste for man-flesh. Even the dozen sleeping riven in the courtyard hadn’t given him pause, when even fully armored knights would have turned away. The little monsters were infamous for stirring at the slightest sound and waking to become like a whirling dervish of steel, not unlike what Talon himself could unleash from the sword he gripped in one hand.
Now he heard nothing, not even his own passage, the supple black leather pants and tunic he wore never squeaking as he crept toward the doorway and his prize—the gold figurine of a great bird of prey, said to be magical and worth a fortune. Stories in taverns had piqued his interest but also warned him of the dangers, the greatest of those being the wizard whose white tower he now prowled. Some said Viland Shadowbreaker enjoyed unsavory habits when few were looking, his public persona of benevolent charm masking a dark truth. But men with great secrets often hide things of greater importance than their private sins.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Randy Ellefson has written fantasy fiction since his teens and is an avid world builder, having spent three decades creating Llurien, which has its own website. He has a Bachelor’s of Music in classical guitar but has always been more of a rocker, having released several albums and earned endorsements from music companies. He’s a professional software developer and runs a consulting firm in the Washington D.C. suburbs. He’s married and loves spending time with his son and daughter when not writing, making music, or playing golf.
www.RandyEllefson.com
www.llurien.com
FREE eBook: http://fiction.randyellefson.com/freebook/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/randyellefson
FaceBook (as author): www.facebook.com/RandyEllefsonAuthor www.facebook.com/RandyEllefsonAuthor

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Randy will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Be sure to visit the many tour stops and comment, to increase your chance to win!https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f1934/https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com...
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A New Inspirational Series From Sue Searles

Today's spotlight is on: 

SUE SEARLESDream Catcher










BLURBJust when Dana thinks she has found true love, her mother drops a bombshell that turns her world upside down. Now she must find a way to quench a love that was never supposed to happen.After twenty-five years, Lorraine finds her missing son—just not in the way she’d expected—and is forced to reveal the plethora of family secrets that has remained hidden for decades.
Dana delves into her grandfather’s past to uncover the story of this one man’s destructive lifestyle, and how it ultimately led to the unraveling of the entire family line. At the same time, she must piece together the mystery surrounding herself and her brother—two siblings deliberately kept apart so they would never find each other.
With three generations of women affected, will Dana get to meet the man responsible and solve the mystery?
EXCERPTDana sat stiffly in the passenger seat while Shaun drove them the short distance to Umdloti Beach on Saturday afternoon. She couldn’t stop her hands from shaking and her palms were sweaty. Umdloti Beach seemed like the perfect place to break the news—their special place to get away from the pressures of life and kindle their growing love.But today would be different. They wouldn’t be leaving the confines of the parking lot this time, but could only watch other happy couples from a distance, laughing, playing, and frolicking in the waves or along the shore. Dana feared the process was going to be more heart-wrenching than she’d expected. More than anything else, it was the physical attraction that scared her, not knowing whether she’d just be able to turn it off. Was there something wrong with her that she still wrestled with those sorts of feelings? Her whole world had suddenly gone crazy. Shaun knew her well enough to give her space when she needed it, but today she could see his trepidation as they drove the route in silence. They turned into the parking lot and pulled up alongside a wooden railing, the sound of seagulls squawking overhead and children playing on the beach. It was one-thirty, but already the sky was becoming overcast and turning an eerie gray, and a hint of thunder rumbled in the distance. Shaun started to open the door on his side and she touched his arm. “We can’t . . . We have to talk here.”The apprehension on his face broke her heart. “Honey, just tell me what’s going on. You’re starting to freak me out.”“There’s something I have to tell you.” Her voice cracked. Lord help me, this is so hard. She drew a steadying breath and eased it out slowly, blinking back angry tears. He took her hand and started weaving his fingers through hers. She pulled back.“No, we can’t do that; it’s wrong.” How had she been able to hold back the flood of tears until now? “Okay, honey, you’re worrying me. Whatever it is, we can work through it together.” His tone was tender but commanding. “It’s obviously about your mom because this all started last night.” Dana gave a slow nod, desperate to stall him, wanting so badly to prolong the inevitable.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sue Searles has written several books, ranging from women’s fiction and short stories to poetry and children’s books. Having worked on various forms of storytelling since childhood, writing has been a lifelong passion.
Now somewhat older and wiser, she is passionate about thinking outside the conventional box, and conveys messages that are thought-provoking and life-changing. Her inspiration comes mainly from studying people, reading, and daily life. Sue is happily married and lives in sunny South Africa with her husband and son.

AUTHOR’S SOCIAL MEDIA LINKSBlog/Website: www.suesearlesbooks.wordpress.comEmail: sue-mic@mighty.co.zaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sue-Searles-Author-1505707636405524/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/sue_searles Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/searles0490/ Instagram: Sue Searles

BUY LINKAmazon: https://amzn.com/B01M0USJDV

Writing Tips and a New Young Adult Novel From Brigid Amos

Author Brigid Amos talks about choosing the best point of view for her protagonist, Ruthie, in A Fence Around Her, a Young Adult Historical novel.  

One of the biggest decisions a writer makes when she begins a new story is choosing a point of view (POV). There are many ways to define POV, but I like to think of it as the means by which the writer guides the reader through the story and what she allows the reader to see, hear, and know. It is as if the reader arrives at a theater to watch a performance, and the writer is the usher who shows the reader to his seat. But the seat isn’t necessarily in the audience. Sometimes, it’s inside the head of one of the characters, sometimes, it is even inside the writer’s head. Where the reader sits will completely affect how he experiences the story. The usher can move the reader around during the performance, but must do so in such a way that he does not get confused and lose track of the story.
When I first started writing, I gravitated toward an omniscient point of view, or so I thought. I wanted to tell the reader what everyone was thinking and feeling, as if I were a camera floating about a scene, but one that could also dive in and out of characters’ heads at will and somehow record their thoughts. I think this tendency to the omniscient POV is very common among beginning writers. For me, it was probably an effect of being steeped in classic literature. But the problem was that I was not writing in a true omniscient POV. Instead, I was “head hopping,” that is, changing POV from one character to another and completely confusing the reader. I learned early on that if I were going to write in third person, I had to stick to one character for an entire chapter or at least an entire section. In this way, I could write in a close third person POV without getting into too much literary mischief.

When I started writing A Fence Around Her, I so strongly identified with my protagonist Ruthie Conoboy, that I naturally switched my usual close third person POV to first person POV. Ruthie tells her story directly to the reader, and when the reader comes to my theater, I seat her right there in Ruthie’s head so that she can look through Ruthie’s eyes and hear with Ruthie’s ears. When I was writing, I felt that I was Ruthie writing the story as if in a journal or diary. People always ask me if I journal. When I was studying for my Master's degree years ago, I bought myself one of those cute little fabric covered blank books and dutifully filled the pages every day. Then I stopped, because frankly, journaling wasn’t as fun for me as it is for others. The strange thing is that when I write in first person, it feels as if I am journaling, but I’m doing it in character. And when I’m journaling from the point of view of one of my characters, it is most certainly fun!
A Fence Around Her
By Brigid Amos
Can a girl break free from her mother’s past?
About the book:Having a mother with a past is never easy. For Ruthie Conoboy it becomes the struggle of a lifetime in 1900, the year Tobias Mortlock arrives in the gold mining town of Bodie, California. Ruthie is suspicious of this stranger, but her trusting father gives him a job in the stamp mill. Soon, Ruthie suspects that her mother and Mortlock have become more than friends. Can Ruthie stop this man from destroying her family?
Excerpt:When I left the house that day to go to the Sawdust Corner Saloon to fetch my father, the day we met Tobias Mortlock, my mother was still lying in bed moaning as if from a mortal wound and threatening to do herself harm. While I was gone, she had gotten up and tried to console herself by working on her latest landscape. But something had gone wrong, for when we came through the front door into the parlor, we found my mother slumped on the floor. Her silk dressing gown lay in folds around her and her blond curls stuck to her head in a multicolored array. Little pots of oil paint were scattered across the floor dribbling the last of sky blue, forest green, and yellow ochre onto the Persian rug.“Lilly, what have you done?” My father reached down and lifted her to her feet, then walked over to where the easel lay collapsed on the floor and righted it also. He peeled the wet canvas from the rug and set it on the easel, then stepped back to have a look at it.Somewhat distracted by the bits of red fuzz from the carpet embedded in the wet paint, I fixed my eyes on the canvas, trying to sort out the swirls of color into a cohesive image. My mother waited silently for our verdict. She seemed, in that moment, as fragile as a sparrow. I was relieved when my father broke the silence with his jovial critique.“Why Lilly, it is the spitting image of Mono Lake. Yes, here are the islands in the center, and here the mountains rising up in the background. It is quite an impressive site, just as we saw it that day.” Two summers before, my father had taken us on a trip to the lake on the narrow gauge railroad that brought us firewood from the lumber mill on its southern shore. I remember how much my mother enjoyed that rare outing, saying over and over that the lake reminded her of the San Francisco Bay.“It’s a fine painting, Mother,” I said. She moaned.“What was that, Lilly?”“No, Father, she didn’t say anything. She only made a sound.”“Not good enough!” Mother wailed. Her sticky, colorful curls quivered like bunting in a light breeze.“That’s not true, dear,” my father said. “You are a fine artist. It’s these fools in this town who don’t appreciate it. Look around at all the beauty in this parlor! Every day, I come home and think, who else has so many beautiful works of art on their walls? Maybe just Leland Stanford, Randal Hearst, and me.” He reached out to brush back her sticky hair. She slapped his arm away, smearing paint on the cuff of his sleeve.“I’m not talking about the stupid painting," she said. “It’s me. I’ll never be good enough, not in Bodie.”“Of course you are. I married you, didn’t I?”At this she let out a wild scream and shook her head as if fending off a swarm of bees. Oil droplets sprayed in all directions, and I looked out the window to see if anyone could have heard. Mortlock had long moved on, and the street was deserted.My mother stopped shaking and screaming, but she was still furious. “I am so sick of hearing about how you did me this grand favor by marrying me. If you’d wanted to do something for me, you would have taken me away from this awful place. You would have taken me somewhere people didn’t know me, where I could have been a regular woman.”My father looked at the paint-spattered rug. “Ruthie, why don’t you go in the kitchen and start boiling water. I think your mother needs a bath.”As I lit the stove and poured water into pots, I could hear their voices in the parlor, still going back and forth as they always did. Hers was like a mournful violin, his like a jolly French horn hopelessly out of step with the violin. Together they made a dissonant sound like musicians trying to play a duet, but each playing a different piece of music. And it never mattered what they were playing since it was always a variation on the same theme.
Buy the book:
Amazon:  getBook.at/AFenceAroundHeriTunes:   https://itun.es/us/qzAQeb.lKobo:  https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/a-fence-around-her   Smashwords:  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/664339 
About Brigid Amos:
Brigid Amos’ young adult historical fiction has appeared in The MacGuffin, The Storyteller, Wilderness House Literary Review, and Words of Wisdom. A produced playwright, she co-founded the Angels Playwriting Collective and serves on the board of the Angels Theatre Company. She is also an active member of Women Writing the West and the Nebraska Writers Guild. Although Brigid left a nugget of her heart behind in the California Gold Country, most of it is in Lincoln, Nebraska where she currently lives with her husband.
Connecting with Brigid:Join Brigid’s mailing list:  http://www.brigidamos.com/mailing-list-signup.htmlLike Brigid on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/brigidamoswriter/?fref=tsFollow Brigid on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Brigid_AmosVisit Brigid’s website:       http://www.brigidamos.com/

Crowned Heart Review For The Beltane Escape!

I am super excited that The Beltane Escape received an elite Crowned Heart review from InD'Tale Magazine!



Here's the full review: InD'Tale Magazine Review
Amazon US
Barnes and Noble
iTunes
Amazon UK
Kobo

Comic Con Palm Springs

 Adventures at Comic Con Palm Springs

Ariella Moon
Comic Con Palm SpringsOn Saturday, I was the lone half-Viking/half-fairy (impersonating Talfryn from The Beltane Escape) in a convention hall packed with people embodying Poison Ivy, Storm, Superman, Batman, and various other beings from Star Wars, Marvel Comics, and The Walking Dead, etc. I owed my appearance at the inaugural Comic Con Palm Springs to Bob Gibbs, Community Relations Manager, at Barnes & Noble Palm Desert.
Three of my books, The Beltane Escape, Spell Check, and Spell Struck, filled my tiny book signing table. With a bit of squishing, we made room for my fairy lantern and some swag. Foam board posters for The Two Realms Trilogy and The Teen Wytche Sagahad to be tucked under the table as the crowds swelled.
3 Things I Learned About Comic Con Palm Springs
1.     Most of the attendees were Con veterans.I met only a handful of people who, like me, had never attended a Comic Con before. Most of the people I spoke with were San Diego Comic Con regulars, and they all had high praise for the Palm Springs event. Most were from Los Angeles and other southern California cities.
2.     Comic Con attracts a wide demographic.Families with babies, young children and pre-teens were out in force, along with teens, and every age up to 92 if you count Stan Lee. No single gender, ethnicity, or age group dominated. Comic Con Palm Springs was a true melting pot.
3.     Photo opportunities abound. People dressed to be seen and photographed. Barnes and Noble had secured an end booth located on a pedestrian intersection. A steady stream, and in the case of poor Pikachu—a mob—gathered to photograph and meet an amazing array of costumed folk. For the most part, conventioneers were very respectful, and asked permission before photographing. I felt like a Disney princess whenever children reacted with happy surprise when they saw me, a benign little fairy with purple and blue hair. I was the least scary costumed person at Comic Con. An unfortunate zombie stampede proved way to scary for some children.
Comic Con Palm Springs has made me a convert. I look forward to next year’s event.
Thank you, Bob, Brian, Marisol, and Brooke, at Barnes and Noble, Palm Desert, for your kind and generous support!
Copyright 2016 Ariella Moon
For more Comic Con Palm Springs photos, follow Ariella Moon on Online:
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Comic Con Palm Springs Book Signing

Meet Ariella Moon!
Comic Con Palm Springs 
Saturday, August 27, 2016
10AM until 6:00 PM
The Palm Springs Convention Center
277 N. Avenida Caballeros
Palm Springs, California
For ticket information to the event, Click Here.




Look for Ariella at the Barnes and Noble booth.
See you at Comic Con Palm Springs!
To read samples from the books, 
Click Here







About Ariella Moon
Ariella Moon draws upon her experiences as a shaman to create magical Young Adult fiction. Her series include The Two Realms Trilogy, a medieval fantasy adventure, and The Teen Wytche Saga, a series of sweet contemporary paranormal romances. Ariella spent her childhood searching for a magical wardrobe that would transport her to Narnia. Extreme math anxiety and taller students that mistook her for a leaning post marred her youth. Despite these horrors, she graduated summa cum laude from the University of California at Davis. She lives a nearly normal life doting on her extraordinary daughter, two shamelessly spoiled dogs, and a media-shy dragon.Ariella loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her at: http://www.ariellamoon.comhttp://www.ariellamoon.blogspot.comhttp://www.facebook.com/ariellamoon.authorhttp://www.goodreads.com/AuthorAriellaMoonhttp://www.pinterest.com/ariellamoon/ http://instagram.com/authorariellamoon

New Release: A Regency Romance from Bethany Swafford

Today's spotlight is on Bethany Swafford's new release, A Chaotic Courtship.

Back Cover Blurb:Twenty year old Diana Forester, a country bred young woman fears that her inexperience and uncertainties has driven Mr. John Richfield away. On arriving back home from London, she learns that he is already there, ready to continue their acquaintance. If Diana thought that it was difficult in London, courting takes on a whole new aspect when Diana's younger siblings become involved. She finds herself dealing with her own feelings, her sister, her younger brother, jealous members of a house party, a jilted suitor, and a highwayman as she falls in love with the charming Mr. Richfield.
Excerpt: “You recall I met a Mr. Richfield in London, shortly after I first arrived?”“Yes, you mentioned him several times in your letters.”Her tone was matter of fact, giving absolutely nothing away.“Well...” I hesitated as I sought the right words. I rubbed my palms against my skirt. “At Aunt Forester’s last dinner party, Mr. Richfield asked for my permission to come speak to Father.”For a moment, there was silence. “What was your answer?” Mother asked, as calm as ever.I bit my lip and found I could no longer meet her gaze. “I fear I may have spoken without thinking.” Back when I had said the words, I had been surprised. Now though, I realized just how mistaken I had been. “I said it’s always pleasant to have someone new visit.” “I see. Do you like him?”Ah, there was the question. “I think so.” I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “He is respectable, at least as far as Uncle Forester could discover. No one ever had a word to say against him. I think he is a good man.”“And yet, you don’t seem enthusiastic about marrying him.”“I have only known him for a few weeks.” It felt good to be able to talk this out with my mother, now that the awkwardness of saying the words had passed. If anyone could help me untangle my feelings, it was her. “Is that enough time to know a person? You knew Papa your whole life before he proposed.”Mother’s hand came over mine. “Diana, look at me.” I lifted my eyes to hers. “You are the only one who can make this decision. It is your right to refuse an offer you find distasteful. However, you need to understand it is not likely you will have the opportunity to travel again and meet other people.”“I don’t find the offer distasteful. I just don’t think I know him well enough to accept his hand in marriage.” I sighed. “I wish I had had the time to know more of him.”“Perhaps you will.”I shook my head. That seemed an impossibility. “Mama, you didn’t see the look on his face when I pretended I didn’t understand. He was so disappointed. I acted as if I were a senseless, empty-headed child! What kind of man would pursue me in the face of that?”“A man who would be understanding. Someone who would realize your shy nature.”As soon as I pulled my hand away, I reached to pour myself some much-needed tea. “There are other, much prettier girls with better dowries than I,” I remarked, adding just the right amount of cream and sugar. “I doubt I will ever see him again.” Of that I was quite certain. I’d had hours to consider the whole mess. I sipped my tea as I watched my mother’s face. Her smile was one I couldn’t quite understand. Why did she look so amused?“Mr. Richfield is already here.”
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Author’s Bio:For as long as she can remember, Bethany Swafford has loved reading books. That love of words extended to writing as she grew older and when it became more difficult to find a ‘clean’ book, she determined to write her own. Among her favorite authors is Jane Austen, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and Georgette Heyer. 
When she doesn’t have pen to paper (or fingertips to laptop keyboard), she can generally be found with a book in hand. In her spare time, Bethany reviews books for a book site called More Than A Review.




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