Ashley Stoyanoff's Blog, page 10
March 27, 2013
Pure Jonel: Interview with Ashley Stoyanoff
Hey Everyone,
I'm back over at Pure Jonel Book Reviews today for an interview.
Pure Jonel: Interview with Ashley Stoyanoff: A big thanks to Ashley Stoyanoff for joining us on Pure Jonel today for an interview. Q ~ Can you tell us a bit about yourself? We...
Stop by if you get a chance. :)
I'm back over at Pure Jonel Book Reviews today for an interview.
Pure Jonel: Interview with Ashley Stoyanoff: A big thanks to Ashley Stoyanoff for joining us on Pure Jonel today for an interview. Q ~ Can you tell us a bit about yourself? We...
Stop by if you get a chance. :)
March 24, 2013
Blog Tour: The Soul’s Mark: FOUND (Week 1)
Starting today, I’m taking my award winning debut novel The Soul’s Mark: FOUND on a 4 week long blog tour with Black Lion Tours. During the tour, you'll get to read some excerpts and reviews, and there will also be a tour wide giveaway, so make sure not to miss it. :)
The Giveaway Prizes Include:
3 paperback copies of The Soul's Mark: FOUND
1 $25 e-gift card for Amazon
1 $25 e-gift card for GelaSkins
Each week, I’ll keep you guys updated on where I’ll be, so without anymore preamble from me here is the schedule for this week …
Week 1 Tour Schedule
March 25: Black Lion Tours Blog
March 26: MK McClintock Blog
March 27: Le Vanity Victorienne
Lindsay's Scribblings
March 28: Tina's Book Reviews
March 29: Clean Romance Reviews
March 30: Vanilla Moon Blog
March 22, 2013
Stacking the Shelves (5)
Stacking the Shelves, a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This mean you can include books you buy in a physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course, ebooks.
Note: All title's link back to goodreads.
Well, it’s been awhile since I’ve done a Stacking the Shelves post. I tried to go on a ‘book buying ban’, because I always seem to get a bit carried away. There are just so many great books out there! But the ‘buying ban’ didn’t work. I’ve still been buying like crazy. :)
Here are the new additions to my virtual book shelf …
Intrinsical (The Yara Silva Trilogy) by Lani Woodland
Taken (A Magical YA Paranormal Romance) by Charlotte Abel
Enchantment (A Magical YA Paranormal Romance) by Charlotte Abel
Rewrite Redemption by J.H. Walker
Enchanted Immortals by C.J. Pinard
Forest of the Forsaken: An adult re-telling of Grimm's Hansel and Gretel by Joanne Brothwell
What the Heart Wants (Soulmate Series: Book One) by Kelli McCracken
Arcadia's Gift by Jesi Lea Ryan
Soul Search (A Soul Thieves Book) by Amber Scott
Night Visions (Night Series) by Elena Gray
The Hunted (The Hunted Series) by Kristy Berridge
Requiem for Blood by Alexandra Hope
Ageless by Cege Smith
The Wanderers by Jessica Miller
Soul Walker (A Touched Girl Series) by Robyn Jones
Wow, I better get reading! What did you get this week?
March 21, 2013
I’m at Pure Jonel Book Reviews today!
Hey Everyone!
I’m at Pure Jonel Book Reviews today with the lovely Jonel in Peterborough, Ontario. Come on over and check out my guest post: So, you’re ready to self-publish your masterpiece .
I’ll also be with Jonel on March 27th for an interview, and on March 31st with another guest post. And with each of these visits, you’ll be able to enter some giveaways.
The first is for participants in Canada & the US only. You can enter to win 1 papberback copy of The Soul's Mark: BROKEN, coupled with a 'book cushion'.
The second contest is open internationally. You can to win 1 of 3 sets of The Soul's Mark series. That's right, each of the 3 winners will win a copy of The Soul's Mark: FOUND, The Soul's Mark: HUNTED, and The Soul's Mark: BROKEN.
I hope to see you all there. :)
I’m at Pure Jonel Book Reviews today with the lovely Jonel in Peterborough, Ontario. Come on over and check out my guest post: So, you’re ready to self-publish your masterpiece .
I’ll also be with Jonel on March 27th for an interview, and on March 31st with another guest post. And with each of these visits, you’ll be able to enter some giveaways.
The first is for participants in Canada & the US only. You can enter to win 1 papberback copy of The Soul's Mark: BROKEN, coupled with a 'book cushion'.
The second contest is open internationally. You can to win 1 of 3 sets of The Soul's Mark series. That's right, each of the 3 winners will win a copy of The Soul's Mark: FOUND, The Soul's Mark: HUNTED, and The Soul's Mark: BROKEN.
I hope to see you all there. :)
March 19, 2013
Reviews and Giveaways!
Only 12 more days until the release of The Soul’s Mark: BROKEN!
Want to know what people are saying about The Soul's Mark: BROKEN? Check out the below posts by Helena at Accepted Wisdom and Jonel at Pure Jonel to find out, and while you're there don't forget to enter the giveaways.
Happy reading!
Accepted Wisdom - *REVIEW & GIVEAWAY* The Soul's Mark: BROKEN by Ashley Stoyanoff
The Giveaway
You can enter to win 1 of 5 eBook Sets of The Soul’s Mark series. That's right, each of the 5 winners will win a copy of The Soul's Mark: FOUND, The Soul's Mark: HUNTED, and The Soul's Mark: BROKEN.
Pure Jonel - Giveaway Launch & Review: The Soul's Mark: Broken by Ashley Stoyanoff
The Giveaway
The first is for participants in Canada & the US only. You can enter to win 1 papberback copy of The Soul's Mark: BROKEN, coupled with a 'book cushion'.
The second contest is open internationally. You can to win 1 of 3 sets of The Soul's Mark series. That's right, each of the 3 winners will win a copy of The Soul's Mark: FOUND, The Soul's Mark: HUNTED, and The Soul's Mark: BROKEN.
Want to know what people are saying about The Soul's Mark: BROKEN? Check out the below posts by Helena at Accepted Wisdom and Jonel at Pure Jonel to find out, and while you're there don't forget to enter the giveaways.Happy reading!
Accepted Wisdom - *REVIEW & GIVEAWAY* The Soul's Mark: BROKEN by Ashley Stoyanoff
The Giveaway
You can enter to win 1 of 5 eBook Sets of The Soul’s Mark series. That's right, each of the 5 winners will win a copy of The Soul's Mark: FOUND, The Soul's Mark: HUNTED, and The Soul's Mark: BROKEN.
Pure Jonel - Giveaway Launch & Review: The Soul's Mark: Broken by Ashley Stoyanoff
The Giveaway
The first is for participants in Canada & the US only. You can enter to win 1 papberback copy of The Soul's Mark: BROKEN, coupled with a 'book cushion'.
The second contest is open internationally. You can to win 1 of 3 sets of The Soul's Mark series. That's right, each of the 3 winners will win a copy of The Soul's Mark: FOUND, The Soul's Mark: HUNTED, and The Soul's Mark: BROKEN.
March 14, 2013
Description: How much is too much?
Recently, I received an email from an aspiring author seeking guidance on descriptions. Her question to me was how much is too much? So I’m going to try to answer that question today.
One of the first things you learn when you start to write is show, don’t tell. I think the easiest way to explain this rule is by comparing a movie to a book. In a movie, we are told what to think. We see it on the screen, there’s really no room to dream up what the hunky hero looks like, or the house, or the school.
But in a book … well, that’s an entirely different world. As a writer, you get to create everything. You get to set the location, dream up the characters, explore their emotions … really the sky is the limit. But, while you are doing it, you need to remember, show, don’t tell.
Readers do not want to be told he was angry, they want to see it. Did he ball his fists into white knuckled rocks? Did his jaw twitch? Did his neck flush red? His cheeks? Little descriptions can make a huge difference in how a reader visualizes the scene.
But … how much is too much? Stephen King says: "Description begins in the writer’s imagination, but should finish in the reader’s."
So what does this mean? Well, simply, it means that when you are describing things leave pieces out. For example, maybe you are describing a house. Give us the color of the exterior, describe the entrance. Is there a picket fence? What about the little garden in front? But leave something out, like maybe the color and shape of the roof. Let the reader envision the missing pieces. Let them make the house their own in some way.
As an author, I know how easy it is to get carried away with description, but as an avid reader, I also know how frustrating this can be when it happens. When reading, one of my biggest pet peeves is when an author goes overboard in the description area, and essentially buries the actual story in fluff or gives so much detail that there is no room for my imagination to come up with anything.
The key is, knowing when it’s enough. Use all of your senses, but it’s not necessary to use them all at the same time. Give bits and pieces throughout the scene. Description overload can easily happen when you try to put all the pieces in one paragraph. Start the image, and then continue with it through the scene, dropping little morose as you go. Give your reader enough to spark their own imagination without leaving them in a tunnel, or boring them with so much at once that they lose the story all together.
One of the first things you learn when you start to write is show, don’t tell. I think the easiest way to explain this rule is by comparing a movie to a book. In a movie, we are told what to think. We see it on the screen, there’s really no room to dream up what the hunky hero looks like, or the house, or the school.
But in a book … well, that’s an entirely different world. As a writer, you get to create everything. You get to set the location, dream up the characters, explore their emotions … really the sky is the limit. But, while you are doing it, you need to remember, show, don’t tell.
Readers do not want to be told he was angry, they want to see it. Did he ball his fists into white knuckled rocks? Did his jaw twitch? Did his neck flush red? His cheeks? Little descriptions can make a huge difference in how a reader visualizes the scene.
But … how much is too much? Stephen King says: "Description begins in the writer’s imagination, but should finish in the reader’s."
So what does this mean? Well, simply, it means that when you are describing things leave pieces out. For example, maybe you are describing a house. Give us the color of the exterior, describe the entrance. Is there a picket fence? What about the little garden in front? But leave something out, like maybe the color and shape of the roof. Let the reader envision the missing pieces. Let them make the house their own in some way.
As an author, I know how easy it is to get carried away with description, but as an avid reader, I also know how frustrating this can be when it happens. When reading, one of my biggest pet peeves is when an author goes overboard in the description area, and essentially buries the actual story in fluff or gives so much detail that there is no room for my imagination to come up with anything.
The key is, knowing when it’s enough. Use all of your senses, but it’s not necessary to use them all at the same time. Give bits and pieces throughout the scene. Description overload can easily happen when you try to put all the pieces in one paragraph. Start the image, and then continue with it through the scene, dropping little morose as you go. Give your reader enough to spark their own imagination without leaving them in a tunnel, or boring them with so much at once that they lose the story all together.
March 9, 2013
And the winners are...
Winners! Winners! Winners!
We have winners for the Meet Eric Carter Giveaway!
The lucky winners of the 2 $15.00 Amazon/B&N/Kobo eGift Cards (winner’s choice) are...
Bieke P. AND Carrie F.
Congrats Bieke and Carrie!
We have winners for the Meet Eric Carter Giveaway!
The lucky winners of the 2 $15.00 Amazon/B&N/Kobo eGift Cards (winner’s choice) are...
Bieke P. AND Carrie F.
Congrats Bieke and Carrie!
February 28, 2013
Meet Eric Carter and Giveaway
Hey Everyone!
Here is the third Meet a Character from The Soul's Mark. For those of you who missed the last couple posts and giveaways, these posts are to celebrate the upcoming release of The Soul’s Mark: BROKEN, book #3 of The Soul's Mark Series. It’s just a quick questionnaire that will introduce a character. Over the next few weeks, you’ll get to meet different characters and with each post there will also be a giveaway so make sure not to miss them. :)
The Basics
Full Name: Eric Andrew Carter
Birthday: October 10th
Age: 121
Zodiac Sign: Libra
High School: I didn’t go to high school.
College: University of Willowberg.
Job: Personal chauffer.
Boyfriend/Girlfriend: Why? *Wink* You interested?
Best Friend: Definitely Amelia.
Physical Attributes
Height: 6'0"
Hair: Usually brown, but today…green
Eye Color: Green
Piercing/Tattoos: Nope
Favorites
Favorite Person: Me, of course. I’m awesome. Oh crap, that came out wrong. I mean…Mitch. Yep, definitely Mitch.
Favorite Food: Mmmmm…pancakes.
Favorite Books: Do comic books count?
Favorite Place: I’ve always liked going to the Zoo.
Favorite Movie: The Breakfast Club
Favorite Beverage: I’m a vampire. Kind of a stupid question.
It’s giveaway time!
This week we have 2 $15.00 Amazon/B&N/Kobo eGift Cards (winner’s choice). The winners will be announced here and via email. They will have 72 hours to respond to the email with their choice of eGift Card, otherwise a new winner will be chosen. Just login to the Rafflecopter widget below to find out how to enter. Good Luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Here is the third Meet a Character from The Soul's Mark. For those of you who missed the last couple posts and giveaways, these posts are to celebrate the upcoming release of The Soul’s Mark: BROKEN, book #3 of The Soul's Mark Series. It’s just a quick questionnaire that will introduce a character. Over the next few weeks, you’ll get to meet different characters and with each post there will also be a giveaway so make sure not to miss them. :)
The Basics
Full Name: Eric Andrew Carter
Birthday: October 10th
Age: 121
Zodiac Sign: Libra
High School: I didn’t go to high school.
College: University of Willowberg.
Job: Personal chauffer.
Boyfriend/Girlfriend: Why? *Wink* You interested?
Best Friend: Definitely Amelia.
Physical Attributes
Height: 6'0"
Hair: Usually brown, but today…green
Eye Color: Green
Piercing/Tattoos: Nope
Favorites
Favorite Person: Me, of course. I’m awesome. Oh crap, that came out wrong. I mean…Mitch. Yep, definitely Mitch.
Favorite Food: Mmmmm…pancakes.
Favorite Books: Do comic books count?
Favorite Place: I’ve always liked going to the Zoo.
Favorite Movie: The Breakfast Club
Favorite Beverage: I’m a vampire. Kind of a stupid question.
It’s giveaway time!
This week we have 2 $15.00 Amazon/B&N/Kobo eGift Cards (winner’s choice). The winners will be announced here and via email. They will have 72 hours to respond to the email with their choice of eGift Card, otherwise a new winner will be chosen. Just login to the Rafflecopter widget below to find out how to enter. Good Luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
February 26, 2013
Meet Mitchell Lang Giveaway Winner
And the lucky winner of the book pillow and signed copy of The Soul's Mark: FOUND from the Meet Mitchell Lang Giveaway is...
Heather C.
Congrats Heather!
Stay tuned for the next Meet a Character from The Soul's Mark and giveaway coming soon. :)
Heather C.
Congrats Heather!
Stay tuned for the next Meet a Character from The Soul's Mark and giveaway coming soon. :)
February 23, 2013
Stacking the Shelves (4)
Stacking the Shelves, a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This mean you can include books you buy in a physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course, ebooks.
Note: All title's link back to goodreads.
Here's what I got this week:
Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side (Jessica #1) by Beth Fantaskey
The Wedding...
