Karen Swart's Blog, page 102
September 4, 2013
Kasadya Hellhound Born Tour–Today our stop is over at…
![Born Blog Tour_thumb[1]_thumb](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-VgzyytB0_tQ/UhsHJEBupXI/AAAAAAAABqc/vKrmY9Jatdk/s1600-h/Born%252520Blog%252520Tour_thumb%25255B1%25255D_thumb%25255B2%25255D.png)
Guest Author Alexandrea Weis - Listmania and Goodreads's list good or bad thing?
Listmania and Goodreads's list good or bad thing?
Like most things that start out with the best of intentions, I feel Goodreads and Amazon’s Listmania have begun to try on the nerves of many writers. We are used to people categorizing our books into a genre, but some of the lists individuals come up with are just short of astonishing. When one sets out to write a novel, they never imagine a day where they end up in the “best books with no story whatsoever” list.
But categories proposed on Goodreads seem to have taken the list thing to a new level. With the ever-present review bullying, the uptick in solicited reviews, and the exploding use of ads clogging the site, the use of lists to categorize books has become yet another in a long a list (excuse the pun) of offenses that has turned Goodreads into a network site many writers dislike using. When we start creating lists like “aggravating female leads who get on our nerves” or “books I have no intention of reading,” then the list epidemic has begun that slippery slide toward oblivion. When you trivialize what was once useful, you make it no longer palatable to those readers and writers who are seeking genuine opinions, and not fodder for foolishness. Which is the problem with any site that strives to be commercial and in the end only becomes a mere shadow of the professional and well-intentioned vista it started out as.
I have watched Goodreads and Amazon grow into the powerhouses of book promotion. Rivaled by no other sites, Goodreads and Amazon perhaps need to start curbing the overzealous ardor of its members and helping readers and reviewers stick to the facts of a book, and steer clear of the fluff. I’m not advocating either site change everything, but perhaps execute a little more discretion when it comes to silly lists, and go back to the book-oriented sites they once were.
But don’t get me wrong, I am all for the use of lists on these sites. As a Southern writer whose books are usually based in and around New Orleans, I do treasure lists that allow me to highlight the individual flavor of my work, but do I need a list that touts best “awful sex scenes” or “books a sex stalker can relate to” or my personal favorite from Listmania, “Nude photos UFO aliens erotica + classic Shakespeare.” Really? I wonder what Bill wouId think of that list? I understand 50 Shades of Grey has changed the sexual landscape of books, and trust me, my books have a hefty dose of panty dropping in them as well, but how much is too much? When does the list pass the point of being useful and become comical and almost offensive.
In the end, I guess the lists that are started on these sites are in a strange way a reflection of the world we live in. It seems the rise of the social media has allowed everyone to voice those once silent thoughts, and even given them the opportunity to make lists glorifying their varied viewpoints. After all, freedom of speech is in our constitution, but somehow I wonder if our founding fathers had to publish their work on Goodreads or Amazon what kind of list would they have ended up on? “Hot men in wigs do destiny?” It boggles the mind.
Alexandrea Weis is an advanced practice registered nurse who was born and raised in New Orleans. Her first novel, To My Senses, introduced readers to the world of Nicci Beauvoir and garnered numerous awards and rave reviews. Her popular second Nicci Beauvoir novel, Recovery, won the Gold Medal for best romantic suspense from The Reader’s Favorite Book Awards 2011, and was named best Romantic Suspense novel by the Spring 2011 NABE Pinnacle Book Awards.
Her fourth novel, Broken Wings, won best Contemporary Romance by the NABE Pinnacle Book Awards in 2012, was a Silver Medal winner in the ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards for Romance, as well as a finalist in the USA Book Awards for Romance in 2012, and a finalist in the Reader’s Favorite Book Awards for Contemporary Romance for 2012.
Diary of a One-Night Stand, was released in August 2012 and was named a Paranormal Romance Guild’s Best Reviewed of 2012. Her last novel, Acadian Waltz was a Readers’ Favorite Book Awards finalist for Best Contemporary Romance and Best Southern Fiction.
A permitted wildlife rehabber with the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries, Weis rescues orphaned and injured wildlife. She lives with her husband and pets in New Orleans.
http://alexandreaweiscom.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/To-My-Senses/113609858681394
https://twitter.com/alexandreaweis
http://www.alexandreaweis.com/index.html
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1211671.Alexandrea_Weis
Book Blitz: The Satyr’s Curse by Alexandrea Weis
The Satyr’s Curse
Alexandrea Weis
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: World Castle Publishing
ISBN: 1939865360
ASIN: B00D493ETI
Number of pages: 264
Word Count: 79,000
Book Description:
Gruesome murders shock New Orleans. But Jazzmyn Livaudais is too busy running her restaurant to pay attention to the sensational headlines. And when the charismatic Julian Devereau enters Jazzmyn’s life, she becomes even more distracted by the handsome stranger.
Seduced by Julian’s charm, Jazzmyn is swept up in a passionate romance. Then she learns the horrific truth about Julian and the murders. Cursed to an unending life where no woman can satisfy his lust and no wine can quench his thirst, Julian needs Jazzmyn’s love to free him from his torment.
But Jazzmyn is in love with someone else. And Julian isn’t very happy about it. He vows to keep on killing until Jazzmyn submits to his will. For Jazzmyn Livaudais the nightmare is just beginning.
Alexandrea Weis is an advanced practice registered nurse who was born and raised in New Orleans. Her first novel, To My Senses, introduced readers to the world of Nicci Beauvoir and garnered numerous awards and rave reviews. Her popular second Nicci Beauvoir novel, Recovery, won the Gold Medal for best romantic suspense from The Reader’s Favorite Book Awards 2011, and was named best Romantic Suspense novel by the Spring 2011 NABE Pinnacle Book Awards.
Her fourth novel, Broken Wings, won best Contemporary Romance by the NABE Pinnacle Book Awards in 2012, was a Silver Medal winner in the ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards for Romance, as well as a finalist in the USA Book Awards for Romance in 2012, and a finalist in the Reader’s Favorite Book Awards for Contemporary Romance for 2012.
Diary of a One-Night Stand, was released in August 2012 and was named a Paranormal Romance Guild’s Best Reviewed of 2012. Her last novel, Acadian Waltz was a Readers’ Favorite Book Awards finalist for Best Contemporary Romance and Best Southern Fiction.
A permitted wildlife rehabber with the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries, Weis rescues orphaned and injured wildlife. She lives with her husband and pets in New Orleans.
http://alexandreaweiscom.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/To-My-Senses/113609858681394
https://twitter.com/alexandreaweis
http://www.alexandreaweis.com/index.html
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1211671.Alexandrea_Weis
September 3, 2013
Kasadya Hellhound Born Tour–Today our stop is over at…
![Born Blog Tour_thumb[1]_thumb](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-m6bFWWU_WJQ/UhsGQIvK3AI/AAAAAAAABp4/3PkBPFrgZbA/s1600-h/Born%252520Blog%252520Tour_thumb%25255B1%25255D_thumb%25255B2%25255D.png)
September 2, 2013
Kasadya Hellhound Born Tour–Today our stop is over at …
Book Blitz: American Girl On Saturn by Nikki Godwin
Book Info-
Title- American Girl on Saturn
By- Nikki Godwin
Publication Date- August 28, 2013
Blurb-
The summer after graduation is supposed to be that first real taste of freedom - but not for eighteen-year-old Chloe Branson. Just as that breeze of freedom is making its way into her galaxy, her secret-service-agent dad drops a meteor-sized bomb of bad news on her and her sisters. An attempt has been made on the lives of Canadian boyband, Spaceships Around Saturn, during their USA tour, and the guys have to go into hiding ASAP. The only problem? In the midst of the crisis and media frenzy, their dad volunteered to hide the guys...in their house.
Six-year-old Emery is as ecstatic as any self-proclaimed Saturnite would be, but Chloe and her seventeen-year-old sister Aralie watch their summer plans crash and burn like a falling star. The SAS guys aren't happy with the situation, either. Bad boy Jules picks fights with Aralie about everything from his Twitter followers to his laundry, and heart-throb Benji can't escape Emery's fangirlisms for more than three minutes.
But after the super-cute Milo kisses Chloe during a game of hide-and-seek, she finally understands what Emery means when she talks about SAS being "out of this world." If this is what Saturn feels like, Chloe doesn't want to come back to Earth.
Links-
Goodreads- http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17798679-american-girl-on-saturn
Nikki Godwin is a Young Adult/New Adult author from the southern USA. She is a city girl who can't live without Mountain Dew, black eyeliner, Hawthorne Heights, and candles from Bath & Body Works. When not writing, she's not-so-secretly internet-stalking her favorite bands. She may or may not completely love One Direction.
Links-
Goodreads- http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6895711.Nikki_Godwin
Blog- http://nikkigodwin.blogspot.com/
Twitter- https://twitter.com/NikGodwin
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/NikkiGodwinWrites
Amazon- http://www.amazon.com/Nikki-Godwin/e/B00BUXE30Y/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1377568699&sr=8-1
Facebook Events-
Book Release Blast- https://www.facebook.com/events/478929452202382/
Character Interview with Noah Pierre Winters of the American Girl on Saturn Novel by Nikki Godwin
Today we have a character interview with Noah Pierre Winters from the American Girl on Saturn novel by Nikki Godwin. Let’s find out more about Noah and his world.
Character Name: Noah Pierre Winters
Character Bio: Singer in Spaceships Around Saturn. Drummer. Canadian. 19. Lover of strawberry milk. Has a tendency to end up in swimming pools (not always by choice).
Describe yourself - what is your worst and best quality?
I’m not a morning person, but my loyalty is solid.
What is the one thing you wish other people knew about you?
I actually do have other talents than just being in a boyband.
What is your biggest secret, something no one knows about?
If I told, it wouldn’t be a secret.
What are you most afraid of?
Having to get a 9-to-5 kind of job. That’d suck after this.
What do you want more than anything?
To ride this Saturn train as long as I can
What is your relationship status?
Very much single. Girls are drama.
How would you describe your sense of fashion?
I don’t think I really have a sense of fashion. I usually just grab whatever’s in my closet… unless our stylist puts me in something because of an endorsement. But I may have to be a diva from now on about stuff like that because some of those clothes...ugh.
How much of a rebel are you?
I’m as rebellious as they come ;)
What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?
Being part of Spaceships Around Saturn
What is your idea of happiness?
Hanging out with my 4 brothers, making music, and living the life - basically what I do everyday anyway
What is your current state of mind?
Tired. This job requires little to no sleep.
What is your most treasured possession?
My lockdown memories + my Saturn memories. The great thing is that no one can ever take them from me.
What is your most marked characteristic?
Personality? My mood swings. Physically? My tats.
What is it that you most dislike?
Bad ink jobs
What is your greatest regret?
I don’t have a ton of regrets. If I had to say something, probably hitting Jules during lockdown. He deserved it, but it wasn’t my place to do it.
Who is your favorite hero in fiction?
Batman
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Nothing, I’m pretty happy with myself… Maybe I’d sleep more?
What is your motto?
Life’s too short to let people piss you off, so ditch them and live free.
Remember to check out today’s book blitz to find out where you can find Noah.
New Release and Giveaway: Fairies in My Fireplace Monster Haven Book Three by R.L. Naquin
![clip_image002[4]](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JGvWmcEbyGI/Uh0ElX5PxII/AAAAAAAABws/taHTRMyhhY4/s1600-h/clip_image002%25255B4%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg)
Fairies in My Fireplace
Monster Haven Book Three
R.L. Naquin
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Carina Press
Date of Publication: Sept. 3, 2013
ISBN: 9781426896279
ASIN: B00CV30XCE
Number of pages: 226
Word Count: 86,000
Cover Artist: Kix by Design
Book Description:
Sometimes it’s the monsters who need to be saved…
A migration of mythical creatures has begun, and more and more of them are landing on Zoey Donovan's doorstep. As the only Aegis left in the country, it falls to her to protect the Hidden and keep them safe—and her house has become a sanctuary for water sprites, goblins, harpies, djinn and more.
Keeping track of her boarders is a full-time job, and Zoey's already got her hands full trying to run her wedding planning business. Good thing she has a resident closet monster to keep her organized, and a hot Reaper boyfriend to help her relax every once in a while.
But she can't keep up monster-triage indefinitely, and as more Hidden arrive, it becomes clear that someone—or something—is hunting them. In the midst of planning an event for a notoriously difficult client, Zoey's got to figure out who's behind the hunt…and she's got to stop them before there are no Hidden left.
Rachel’s head is packed with an outrageous amount of useless Disney trivia. She is terrified of thunder, but not of lightning, and tends to recite the Disneyland dedication speech during storms to keep herself calm. She finds it appalling that nobody from Disney has called yet with her castle move-in date.
Originally from Northern California, she has a tendency to move every few years, resulting in a total of seven different states and a six-year stint in England. Currently, she’s planning her next grand adventure. Rachel has one heroic husband, two genius kids, a crazy-cat-lady starter kit, and an imaginary dog named Waffles.
She doesn’t have time for a real dog.
https://www.facebook.com/rlnaquin
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5323230.R_L_Naquin
3 copies of one Monster Haven ebook, winner’s choice of one book from the series
1winner of all three Monster Haven ebooks
Cover Reveal: Rogue’s Possession Covenant of Thorns Series Book Two by Jeffe Kennedy
![Rogues_Possession_final_thumb[1]](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Do6T589Po3A/Uh0HZLgXysI/AAAAAAAAByI/8-oM9nmSCdQ/s1600-h/Rogues_Possession_final_thumb%25255B1%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg)
Rogue’s Possession
Covenant of Thorns Series
Book Two
Jeffe Kennedy
October 7, 2012
Book Description:
A human trapped in the world of Faerie, in possession of magic I could not control, I made a bargain for my life: to let the dangerously sensual fae noble known as Rogue sire my firstborn. And one does not break an oath with a fae. But no matter how greatly I desire him, I will not succumb. Not until I know what will happen to the child.
Though unable-or unwilling-to reveal the fate of human-fae offspring himself, Rogue accompanies me on my quest for answers. Along the way he agrees to teach me to harness my power, in exchange for a single kiss each day and sleeping by my side each night. Just as I am about to yield to temptation, I find myself in a deadly game of cat and mouse with an insane goddess. Now my search for the truth will lead me to the darkest of all Faerie secrets.
![clip_image002_thumb[1]](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-razhjbGzHL0/Uh0Hb72lpZI/AAAAAAAAByY/dWhEMPKizUo/s1600-h/clip_image002_thumb%25255B1%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg)
Rogue’s Pawn
Covenant of Thorns Series
Book One
Jeffe Kennedy
Publisher: Carina Press
ISBN: 978-14268-9406-0
Book Description:
This is no fairy tale…
Haunted by nightmares of a black dog, sick to death of my mind-numbing career and heart-numbing fiancé, I impulsively walked out of my life—and fell into Faerie. Terrified, fascinated, I discover I possess a power I can’t control: my wishes come true. After an all-too-real attack by the animal from my dreams, I wake to find myself the captive of the seductive and ruthless fae lord Rogue. In return for my rescue, he demands an extravagant price—my firstborn child, which he intends to sire himself…
With no hope of escaping this world, I must learn to harness my magic and build a new life despite the perils—including my own inexplicable and debilitating desire for Rogue. I swear I will never submit to his demands, no matter what erotic torment he subjects me to…
Jeffe Kennedy is an award-winning author with a writing career that spans decades. Her fantasy BDSM romance, Petals and Thorns, originally published under the pen name Jennifer Paris, has won several reader awards. Sapphire, the first book in Facets of Passion has placed first in multiple romance contests and the follow-up, Platinum, is climbing the charts. Her most recent works include three fiction series: the fantasy romance novels of A Covenant of Thorns, the contemporary BDSM novellas of the Facets of Passion, and the post-apocalyptic vampire erotica of the Blood Currency.
Jeffe lives in Santa Fe, with two Maine coon cats, a border collie, plentiful free-range lizards and a Doctor of Oriental Medicine. Jeffe can be found online at her website: JeffeKennedy.com or every Sunday at the popular Word Whores blog.
She is represented by Pam van Hylckama Vlieg of Foreword Literary.
http://www.jeffekennedy.com/category/blog/
![Born Blog Tour_thumb[3]](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-E4k55TTNf-k/UhsA7ksV8dI/AAAAAAAABow/6UkiHB1iGyc/s1600-h/Born%252520Blog%252520Tour_thumb%25255B3%25255D%25255B2%25255D.png)
