Karen Swart's Blog, page 29

Book Blast & Interview: Remember The Maelstrom by @JRSinason

 

Remember The Maelstrom

Josh Sinason

Genre: Sci-fi Romance

Publisher: TWB Press

Number of pages: 40

Word Count: 10,000

Book Description:

A botched investigation into the past triggers a domino effect, thrusting T.I. Agent Amanda West into a race to get home to the man she loves in a future that may no longer exist.

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/q7SzyIivKXk

Available at Amazon Smashwords TWB Press

 

 

 

 

 

“Let’s go, rookie.” I set my blaster on stun. “I want to be home in time for dinner.”

Corporal Winger nodded and drew his gun.

I noticed his hand shake. That should have been my first cue something was wrong. He clutched his gun so tense his knuckles turned white. This was his first op, and it already went way far south way too soon. This was just supposed to be a routine run: bring back a fugitive who had bolted through an unauthorized time portal. We were the closest ship to it. He was just one guy, but he had a gun. Who would have thought things could’ve gone so wrong?

I kissed the scar on my right hand before we chased him through Central Park in the year 2014. It was a silly ritual, but when I found myself far from home, I started to get superstitious. On cold nights, when time, space, and a universe kept me away, I’d look at that scar and think about Parker.

Winger was a hair faster than me catching up with our time jumper. Maybe if I’d been there a second or two sooner I could have stopped him, but I arrived just in time to watch him aim his gun. I was just within view when our jumper pulled in a hostage, a little girl, something that would’ve made any experienced agent hold his fire.

Winger was just reacting on instinct. He didn’t pull back in time, and the guy held the kid in front of him. The scene played out in slow motion. Maybe Winger thought he could make a head-shot on the perp, or maybe he just fired in the heat of the moment; we were both tired. All I knew was, as the girl and our jumper fell to the ground, the look of horror on Winger’s face didn’t last long.

I’d never seen a person fade from existence before, not until that moment. The theory, according to Temporal Investigations, was that one dies before actually disappearing completely. Sheer shock and horror was the killer, like falling off a tall building. But Winger looked me in the eyes the entire time, silently pleading for help as he faded right in front of me. I reached out to grab his hand, but it vanished, and that’s when I noticed my scar begin to ghost.

I didn’t know who that little girl was. Maybe she had invented something that made the Galactic Conferences possible, or maybe she was the grandmother of the grandmother of someone who assigned cores in the Academy, and because she no longer existed in the future, Parker and I may have ended up in different course plans. Or maybe she did something at just the right moment, a move in one direction or another, a decade from now, and things just fell into place for us. It was impossible to tell what could happen without her influence, but I feared something was wrong. I could have lost Parker already without even knowing it.

When I saw that scar on my hand ghost, I knew it was a sign that the time stream was starting to realign. We were briefed on ghosting at the Academy. They told us to run; they said always run back to the ship, flat out as fast as we could. But we all knew the truth. We couldn’t outrun a time realignment. It would be like outrunning the hand of the universe.

The moment I saw that scar flicker, I took off in a dead sprint back to the ship and leaped into the captain’s chair. As the controls came on around me I felt the hum of the hyperspace time bubble curling around the ship like a warm blanket. Then, when I tried to catch my breath, I felt a hot sting in my gut. Our jumper had managed to get off a shot, and as luck would have it, his blaster charge went straight through Winger’s ghosting body and hit me in the stomach. I did my best to breathe slowly, but each inhale felt like razor blades slicing through my chest. I winced and put pressure on the singed and bloody wound then throttled up the engines.

“Well today just sucked, didn’t it.” I looked at the picture of Parker I kept on my dashboard. We had our pictures taken when we were assigned to The Bartlett. Knowing this meant I hadn’t forgotten about him...at least not yet. Then I looked to make sure the hyperspace time bubble had restored the scar on my hand. Yes. I gave it another kiss for luck. Just lifting my arm sent shooting pains through my stomach, but I figured I needed a fair amount of luck right about then, so the pain was worth the effort.

“Just make it home for dinner.” I clutched the steering yoke tightly. “Just one more trip.” I forced a breath. “Let me see that everything is all right with Parker. Then let whatever changes I’ve made to the future do what they will to me.”

“Some time cop I turned out to be.”

I slammed on the thrusters hard and gunned the engine boosters through the time jump, but the inertia field didn’t have time to boot up, so I felt my ribs crack as my chest slammed against the crash belt and the back of my head bounced off the top of my chair.

I screamed in pain.

In flight school I had experienced what happened without an inertia field. Senior cadets would watch Parker and I train in the flight deck sim. We’d shoot to hyperspace without any problems. But every once in a while the cadets would program in an inertia field glitch just to see how we’d respond to the stress, at least that’s what they told the instructors. It was really a rite of passage made worse by the fact that the simulator didn’t have crash belts, so the only way to go was flying backwards. If it wasn’t for the crash helmets, our brains would’ve splattered against the cold metal exit door.

“Stupid prank,” I said, spitting blood. I was bleeding internally. The scar on my hand ghosted again. The time bubble was weakening already, so I started going over my past, wondering just how much of it I would forget.

I decide to listen to my personal logs and make sure everything was just as I remembered. Hopefully that last ghosting wasn’t a sign that I was too late. The computer accessed my files, starting with my first week studying for the Academy mid-terms.

I remembered that day by the lake on the Academy grounds, fresh in my mind no matter what time jump I was in. The lake was clear blue enough that I could see the incoming spaceships reflected in the surface. I had sat there so often over that first month I could tell how low the ships were flying by the ripples their wakes made in the water.

I sat near a tree, hoping to keep my mind on my introductory engineering midterm studies. Sometimes the Academy felt like a monster looking to swallow cadets whole, but out there, under the shuttles flying by and the transport ships jumping to hyperspace like little daylight shooting stars, the Academy grounds felt peaceful. That day the transports lit up the clouds like purple and red lightning. I listened to the low rumble of the shuttles as I skipped a rock across the water. Then I cracked open a book.

 

Did you always wanted to be a writer? If not what did you want to be?

There was a long time when I wanted tobe a stand up comic, I actually did it for a  few months some time ago but I started writing stories and it hit the spot.

When did you first consider yourself a “writer”?

Probably when I sold my first story a few years ago or when I was asked to read at an event.  It was in one of those hipster bars that was a bar and a …something else…and I was followed by a guy who did a twenty minute, nonstop spoken word poem but it was still pretty awesome.  I signed autographs and everything.

How long did it take to get your first book published?

I published a few little things in college but I didn’t actually get anything published that made a dime until I was about 28-sih

Do you do another job except for writing and can you tell us more about it?

I’m a copywriter and editor working on digital advertising for a few companies around Chicago.  It’s a good job and it’s actually using my English major which is kinda cool.

What is the name of your latest book, and if you had to summarize it in less than 20 words what would you say?

Remember The Maelstrom is out now.  It’s a science fiction, romantic comedy.  It’s got love, space travel, ray guns and time travel, what more do you want.

You can also check out Vienna Sky from me later this year.  It’s a spy novel with a little superhero-ness thrown in.

Who is your publisher? Or do you self-publish?

I’m currently at Eternal Press with Vienna Sky and TWB Press with Remember The Maelstrom out now.  I don’t think I have the self publishing gene in me.  I need an editor to tell me when I suck.  I’m afraid of being one of those self published people who aren’t self aware about their own work.  Although I guess I admire that kind of courage too.

How long does it usually take you to write a book, from the original idea to finishing writing it?

I usually bang out a first draft in about two months, one for something shorter.  Then I try and leave it for a few weeks and start on something else so I can come back to the second draft a little fresher.

What can we expect from you in the future?  ie More books of the same genre? Books of a different genre?

It’s weird because I’ve only recently started writing more genre heavy stuff, a lot of what I’ve shopped around would be considered literary fiction.  But most of the stuff I like is genre so I guess I’m getting into that.  Remember The Maelstrom is sci fi and Vienna Sky (Coming Soon) is a bit of sci-fi so I guess that’s where I’m focusing on but I have some dramatic hopefully in the pipeline.

What genre would you place your books into?

It’s a hard science fiction, with a little bit of a 40s rom-com thrown in.

What made you decide to write that genre of book?

Well, everything I write is kinda influenced by those kinds of movies but I’ve always been a science fiction guy in my free time.

Do you have a favorite character from your books? And why are they your favorite?

I try my best not to have a favorite character but sometimes it sneeks in.  In Malestrom I do really like Parker.  He knows what he wants even if it seems crazy to the rest of the universe.  I never meant to write him like that but it just happened.

How long have you been writing?, and who or what inspired you to write?

I’ve been writing since my high school creative writing class.  I had a great teacher.

Do you have a certain routine you have for writing? ie You listen to music, sit in a certain chair?

I don’t really listen to music when writing.  My favorite place to write is the couch with my coffee table.

Do you read all the reviews of your book/books?

I try to, I try to encourage people to review my stuff so it’d be a little disingenuous if I didn’t.  Although sometimes I know I shouldn’t.

Do you choose a title first, or write the book then choose the title?

Titles change a lot in my work.  Although Remember the Maelstrom came pretty easy.  It has a nice ring to it and invokes a lot of the vibe of the story without being too on the nose.

How do you come up with characters names and place names in your books?

Sometimes I just flip through my dvd shelf and grab something good.  Although for Remember The Maelstrom I chose West because it sounded kind explorer-ish.

Are character names and place names decided after their creation? Or do you pick a character/place name and then invent them?

I tend not to spend a lot of time on names.  If I don’t have something off the top of my head I’ll just use something as a place holder.  I don’t like to use fictional places.  I grew up reading Marvel Comics and one big thing there is they take place in the New York and Chicago not Gotham and Metropolis. 

Do you decide on character traits (ie shy, quiet, tomboy girl) before writing the whole book or as you go along?

I usually hit upon a lot of the character traits as I go.  I think a big mistake is to try and write draft one, chapter one with what you think are fully formed characters and try to illustrate all that right from the start.  That’s how you end up with a bunch of quirks instead of a character.

Are there any hidden messages or morals contained in your books? (Morals as in like Aesops Fables type of "The moral of this story is..")

I think there are, Remember The Maelstrom is about being happy where you are instead of trying to find happiness in where you want to be.  Vienna Sky is about using the things you can do to help people.

Which format of book do you prefer, eBook, hardback, or paperback?

I’m mostly a paperback guy but I’ve been switching to Ebooks slowly but surely.

What is your favorite book and Why?  Have you read it more than once?

White Noise by Don Dellillo is one of my all time favorites but I haven’t read it in years.   So much happens in that book that I feel like I could read it again and find something new.  There isn’t a lot of filler in that book.

Do you think books transfer to movies well? Which is you favorite/worst book to movie transfer?

The problem with a lot of film adaptations is that the books tend to get so much into the characters heads that it makes it hard to illustrate all that is going on.  I just read about how people tried to adapt Kavelier and Clay into a movie and there is just too much internal conflict to make that work right.  I haven’t seen the Mysteries of Pittsburg movie but I’ve heard bad things and I’d imagine they had the same problem.

I think the most successful is probably the Jeremy Irons adaptation of Brideshead Revisited. 

Your favorite food is?

I love Indian Food.  In Chicago I’m surrounded by awesome Indian Restaurants.

 

Your favorite singer/group is?

Lately I’ve kinda been into ChVrchs.  They’re not usually my type of music but they’re solid.  I have a lot of Collin Hay on my spotify mix recently.

Your favorite color is?

I love writing about a midnight blue sky.

Your favorite Author is?

Don Dellilo, I feel like every time he writes something new he plays with narrative but never lets that get in the way of character development.

 

Josh Sinason grew up in DeKalb, Illinois, and has been featured in the Two With Water reading series and at DIY-Film.com.

In addition he has won the Creativity in Media award for his work on www.stairwellblog.com

His work has been recently featured in Burroughs Publishing Lunchbox Romance Line and Eternal Press’ young adult fiction line.

https://twitter.com/JRSinason

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8094737.Josh_Sinason/blog

#99c Sale !! Legally Undead by @MargoBondCollin

A reluctant vampire hunter, stalking New York City as only a scorned bride can.

Elle Dupree has her life all figured out: first a wedding, then her Ph.D., then swank faculty parties where she’ll serve wine and cheese and introduce people to her husband the lawyer.

But those plans disintegrate when she walks in on a vampire draining the blood from her fiancé Greg. Horrified, she screams and runs--not away from the vampire, but toward it, brandishing a wooden letter opener.

As she slams the improvised stake into the vampire’s heart, a team of black-clad men bursts into the apartment. Turning around to face them, Elle discovers that Greg’s body is gone—and her perfect life falls apart.

$.99 for One Week Only

A Top-10 Preditors and Editors Readers' Poll Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Novel

Excerpt

The worst thing about vampires is that they're dead. That whole wanting to suck your blood business runs a close second, but for sheer creepiness, it's the dead bit that gets me every time. They're up and walking around and talking and sucking blood, but they're dead. And then there's the whole terminology problem--how can you kill something that's already dead? It's just wrong.

I was twenty-four the first time I . . . destroyed? dispatched? . . . a vampire. That's when I found out that all the books and movies are wrong. When you stick a wooden stake into their hearts, vampires don't disintegrate into dust. They don't explode. They don't spew blood everywhere. They just look surprised, groan, and collapse into a pile of corpse. But at least they lie still then, like corpses are supposed to.

Since that first kill (I might as well use the word--there really isn’t a better one), I've discovered that only if you're lucky do vampires look surprised before they groan and fall down. If you're unlucky and miss the heart, they look angry. And then they fight.

There are the other usual ways to kill vampires, of course, but these other ways can get a bit complicated. Vampires are notoriously difficult to trick into sunlight. They have an uncanny ability to sense when there's any sunlight within miles of them, and they're awfully good at hiding from it. Holy water doesn't kill them; it just distracts them for a while, and then they get that angry look again. And it takes a pretty big blade to cut off someone's head--even an already dead someone--and carrying a great big knife around New York City, even the Bronx, is a sure way to get arrested. Nope, pointy sticks are the best way to go, all the way around.

My own pointy stick is actually more of a little knife with wood inlay on the blade--the metal makes it slide in easier. I had the knife specially made by an old Italian guy in just about the only ratty part of Westchester, north of the city. I tried to order one off the internet, but it turns out that while it’s easy to find wood-inlay handles, the blades themselves tend to be metal. Fat lot those people know.

But I wasn’t thinking any of this when I pulled the knife out of the body on the ground. I was thinking something more along the lines of “Oh, bloody hell. Not again.”

_____________________________________________

99-cent Sale Links

Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Legally-Undead-Vampirarchy-Margo-Collins-ebook/dp/B00KKV44BK/

Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/legally-undead-margo-bond-collins/1119607989?ean=2940149615803

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/legally-undead

Universal Kindle Link: http://bookShow.me/B00KKV44BK

_____________________________________________

About the Author

Margo Bond Collins is the author of urban fantasy, contemporary romance, and paranormal mysteries. She has published a number of novels, including Sanguinary, Taming the Country Star, Legally Undead, Waking Up Dead, and Fairy, Texas. She lives in Texas with her husband, their daughter, and several spoiled pets. Although writing fiction is her first love, she also teaches college-level English courses online. She enjoys reading romance and paranormal fiction of any genre and spends most of her free time daydreaming about heroes, monsters, cowboys, and villains, and the strong women who love them—and sometimes fight them.

_____________________________________________

Connect with Margo

Newsletter: https://confirmsubscription.com/h/d/03A21E5E161401F0

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/margocollins

Email: MargoBondCollins@gmail.com

Website: http://www.MargoBondCollins.net

Blog: http://www.MargoBondCollins.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MargoBondCollin  @MargoBondCollin

Google+: https://plus.google.com/116484555448104519902

Goodreads Author Page: http://www.goodreads.com/vampirarchy

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/MargoBondCollins

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/mbondcollins/

Tsu: http://www.tsu.co/MargoBondCollins

Book Blast, Giveaway & interview: The Enchanted Rose by @nadia_nader

 

The Enchanted Rose

Misty Hills

Book One

Nadia Nader

Genre: YA Paranormal

ASIN: B00S99Y4I8

Number of pages: 135

Word Count: Roughly 45,000

Cover Artist: Consuelo Parra

Book Description:

When Vivian’s mother dies in a tragic accident, Vivian’s world is turned upside down. Her life, as she knows it, is over. A new life, full of her mother’s secrets, begins…

Sent away by her father to live with two eccentric aunts on the mysterious Tremaine Estate, Vivian comes to learn that a powerful curse lurks over her family – one that only she may have the power to break. With each day she spends in Misty Hills, Vivian uncovers more unsettling discoveries about the town, her reclusive family, and herself.

Can Vivian let go of every truth she’s ever believed and discover who she really is, before the dark secrets hidden within the supernatural town threaten to consume her and those she loves?

Available at Amazon BN and Kobo

“Actually, I lived abroad. I just moved back to the US. My dad sent me to live with my aunts when my…” My breath hitched. I couldn’t say the words aloud. The bus driver gave me a sympathetic look in the mirror. I realized he must have noticed me carrying the urn. I sank lower in my seat, staring out the window at the dreary landscape. Grey clouds covered the sun and bleached the color out of our surroundings. The only familiar thing at the moment was the fog rolling over the hills. It reminded me of San Francisco, where I'd lived the last few months. I had been so excited to move there. How could I have known it would end in such tragedy?

“Well, Misty Hills may not be the most exciting place to live, but there are plenty of stories about it.”

“What kind of stories?” I had tried googling it, but the search engine hadn't yielded much information. It was as if that one town in Colorado were cut off from all technology.

“All sorts of things. There are rumors that the original founders of the town were runaway witches from Salem. You know, from the Salem witch hunts back in the day?”

“Really?” I felt pretty skeptical. “So, they’re superstitious?”

“A little. I’ve heard all kinds of wild tales about the goings-on in Misty Hills. Too many crazy stories, but I guess the sources aren’t the most reputable. Try to take in as much as you can right now because we’re arriving around the time the sun sets.”

I hadn't believed my father was serious about sending me away until he instructed me to get on the bus. I begged to stay with him, but he was adamant. I got angry and threatened to run away as soon as I arrived at my aunts' house. He asked me to come to terms with what had happened. What about me? I thought. Don’t I get to have some time to get used to having lost my mother? Do I have to lose my father too?

Character Name: Vivian

Character Bio: I’m a sophomore that recently moved to Misty Hills after my mom passed away. My father didn’t know what to do with me so he sent me to live with my mom’s two sisters. I didn’t even know my mom had two sisters! It’s been a crazy rollercoaster ride finding out all this stuff about my mom’s past and where she grew up. I’m not sure my dad would have sent me here if he knew what I know now. 

 

Describe yourself what is your worst and vest quality?

My best quality is that I can adapt to any place you take me to. I’m really good at making friends. I got used to new places after living in so many different countries. My worst quality is sometimes I care more about things than other people, so they think I’m meddling but I really just want to help.

What is the one thing you wish other people knew about you?

I wish they knew that

What are you most afraid of?

Losing people again

What do you want more than anything?

My old life back. Also, to have Rose treat me like a friend instead of an enemy.

What is your relationship status?

Single. But I like a guy and I’m not sure but I think he likes me too…

How would you describe your sense of fashion?

Casual chic.

How much of a rebel are you?

Not much. I’ve always been a pacifist. It’s only recently that I have started rebelling against people who tell me I can’t do something.

What do you considered to be your greatest achievement?

Only punching Allison once. I keep wanting to punch her smug face every time I see her.

What is your idea of happiness?

Spending time with family and friends. I like traveling too. One of the happiest moments in my life happened over a backpacking trip across Europe my parents and I went on.

What is your current state of mind?

Confused. I’ve been on such an emotional rollercoaster I don’t know how to process everything I’ve been through over the past two months.

What is your most treasured possession?

My mother’s necklace. She never took it off when she was alive.

What is your most marked characteristic?

I’d have to say my hair. It’s so black it has a blue sheen under sunlight. I’ve had strangers come up to me to touch my hair. It’s weird but I’ve gotten a little used to it.

What is your greatest regret?

I feel like I should have spent more time with my mother. Not sure if that would have been possible, but given what’ s happened, I wish I had spent more time with her and asked her more questions about her childhood and family.

What is the quality you most like in a man?

A sense of humor, I enjoy someone who can make me laugh.  

If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

I’ve always wanted to be a little shorter, just like my mother.  

What is your motto?

Never give up.

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Nadia Nader lives in Kuwait with her family.

You can contact Nadia on her blog http://www.nadianader.com

www.twitter.com/nadia_nader

www.goodreads.com/nadianader

www.facebook.com/nadianaderwriter

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/zo7Sn

Series Blast, Giveaway & Interview: War Kids by @hjlawson1

Presented by: Sparkle Book Tours War Kids - War Kids # 1 by HJLawson Audience: YA/NA - Genre: Thriller / Action - Formats: E-book and Paperback - Publisher: HJLawson - Pages: 297 – pages - ISBN: 978-0692254776 - ASIN: B00MS8QWYA = Date Published: Aug 21, 2014 When Jada wakes up in a hospital, the last thing she thinks is that her life has completely changed forever. But when the very real civil war forces her to flee from every open space, she must use the firearm skills her father taught her to reunite with him and protect herself. Armed with a single gun and a key to an unknown locker, Jada crosses Syria on a journey with a group of children called the Fearless Freedom Fighters. With the leader, Zak, they mount a plan to rescue their fathers while they try to cope with the merciless murders of their families. As Jada and Zak lead the group together, love blossoms, but with soldiers hot on their tail, they need to stay vigilant in the face of war. Amazon / Goodreads ‘My childhood was stolen, and they took it.’ ‘Their Corridor of Death is my Corridor of Freedom.’ ‘I am Alive. I am Alive. Protect Me.’ “No, let him find his chargrilled family. He can spread the word of what we great soldiers did today. Let him be our voice.” ‘Follow my Beating Heart Back Home.’ ‘God, Lord, please stop them; stop them from killing the innocent… are you going to be a spectator to slaughter, Lord? Please help!’     Survive The Day - War Kids # 2   Jada and her friends have been living in America for over a year now. At school she blends in with the other children, but she knows that she is different. They didn’t have to kill for their freedom. The memories of her past haunt her each time Gerard takes her to visit someone from her father’s list as they try to find out where he is being held. But what they don’t realize is they would have been safer in Syria… A hidden enemy is attacking America from the inside, and no one is safe… Annabel dreams of a happier life. One with a normal family instead of one that chooses heroin and the Wild Boar Riders biker over her. The only person she can trust is Brandon, another person living on the streets. They bond over their hatred towards Troy, a pimp and drug dealer who takes great pleasure in ruining lives. As the passion grows between Brandon and Annabel, so does the chaos in New York City as it is now under attack. They are forced to flee to an unknown hideout beneath the heart of the City. Ethan is scarred by his father’s death. He has spent his entire life planning for revenge. …And the day has finally come... Amazon Survive The 9nite -  War Kids # 3   Jada and her friends are trying to escape the terrorist attack. Unfortunately their flight doesn’t get out of New York fast enough, and now all of their lives are in even more danger. And not just from the nuclear radiation, but from the even more frightening demons of Jada’s past. Annabel wakes up to find herself underground – literally underneath the city in the sewers. But she has more to worry about than just sewer rats and filth… deranged escaped convicts are hunting her down, determined to make her pay for what she did. And if she tries to escape, it will mean her certain death for above… Ethan’s greatest day takes an unlikely twist when he finds out his whole life is a lie. All these years he thought he was avenging his father. But now he knows he was a merely a puppet… and he wants revenge… Amazon 1, Avicii – Wake me up. Chapter 5 Follow my beating heart, back home Jada escaped from the hospital were the soldiers were chasing her; entering in black abyss of night, only memories to guide her back home. 2, Time is on my side – The Rolling Stones. Chapter 4 Evil cowards. Solider Heen Dara, sings the first lines in his head, as he enters the bathroom.  Where Zak, and Jacob are hiding from the sound of gun shots. 3, Mad World - Gary Jules Chapter 4 Evil cowards. Zak, leaves the bathroom to find his classmates, died in the hallway. He prays his brother is alive. 4, Snow Patrol – Chasing Cars Chapter 11 Black as Liquorice. Jada returns hope to find her mother, and brother lying on the path in front of their family home. No one saved them. 5, Eminem - The Monster  ft. Rihanna Chapter 13 Goodbye Jada. After leaving her praying over her mother and brother all that is left are the demons in her head pleading for revenge. 6, Plan B – Prayin. Chapter 17 Beware: you do not know what you have woken. Jada can sense a dark shadow standing at the foot of her bed; he is peering down on her like a piece of meat, but he selected the wrong girl to prey on. Kill or be killed! The wander is die; Jada is riddled with guilt, praying to Lord to repent her sins, but she had no choice he was going to rape her. 7, Chase and Status – Alive Chapter 17 Beware: you do not know what you have woken. Her Father was teaching her how to use a gun before he was kidnapped. Jada is ready and squeezed the trigger. The bullet flew out with lighting speed. She felt alive. 8, Delilah - Love You So Chapter 21 God bless my beautiful daughter. Jada’s shadow appears on the horizon as she enters soulless city, where the orphaned children are hiding. 9, Example – Kids again Chapter 35 First taste of happiness. Zak wakes Jada up, to have firing range practice, and fun in the freedom in the field behind the church as everyone is sleeping. There young love beings to blossom. 10, Johnny Cash Hurt Chapter 44 Lambs to the slaughter. Jada leads the group of orphans’ into a trap, she is betrayed by someone she cares for, and resulting in the death of someone she loved.   

Did you always wanted to be a writer? If not what did you want to be?

I wanted to be a designer, which I currently am. I see writing as my second career.

When did you first consider yourself a “writer”?

When I received my first reviews and they liked it.

How long did it take to get your first book published?

It took me one year.

Do you do another job except for writing and can you tell us more about it?

I work as a designer, I have design accessories for the thirteen years.

What is the name of your latest book, and if you had to summarize it in less than 20 words what would you say?

Purenet – The Sanction Series.

Purenet is one of six wealthy Sanctions, formed by the Emperor and the Untouchables after a devastating world war. Only those born in Purenet have the privilege of living under the dome, protecting their bodies from the sun’s deadly UVA rays.

Who is your publisher? Or do you self-publish?

Self-published

What can we expect from you in the future?  ie More books of the same genre? Books of a different genre?

I am currently working on the second book in the Sanction Series, then War Kids 4 the final book in the series. I have plans for more thriller books.

What genre would you place your books into?

Thriller

What made you decide to write that genre of book?

I just started writing and they all became thrillers.

How long have you been writing?, and who or what inspired you to write?

I started writing August 2013, and haven’t been able to stop. I get ideas from everywhere, I have enough books planned out to keep me writing for the next 3 years.

Do you have a certain routine you have for writing? ie You listen to music, sit in a certain chair?

I write on my lunch break and as soon as my daughter is in bed.

Do you read all the reviews of your book/books?

Yes, and I act on the reviews if there is a pattern.

Do you choose a title first, or write the book then choose the title?

Title normal changes from the being of the book until the end.

Are character names and place names decided after their creation? Or do you pick a character/place name and then invent them?

For the names, I normally start off with people’s names I know, then as the characters start to build their own personally I then start to search for their name.

Which format of book do you prefer, eBook, hardback, or paperback?

Paperback

Your favorite color is?

Purple

Your favorite Author is?

    a Rafflecopter giveaway   I was born in Lancaster, England. Growing up in a single parent household with five other siblings was hard and also character building. As a young child I found a passion for drawing and continued this into adulthood. I graduating from the University of Central Lancashire, England with a BA(Hons) in fashion design. At aged twenty seven, my husband and I packed up our belongings for a lifelong dream to move to California. Our America dream was complete with the birth of my daughter. A new job positioned opened up New York, we decide to relocate to Long Island, NY, which is where I currently resides. Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Amazon Tour Schedule – One Month Blog Tour for The War Kids Series by HJ Lawson from February 9 – March 6, 2015 February 9 Coffee Book & Art – Promo & Book Soundtrack http://sarityahalomi.blogspot.com/ February 10 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too! - Promo http://3partnersinshopping.blogspot.com February 11 JeanzBookReadNReview - Author Interview, Playlist & Book Soundtrack http://jeanzbookreadnreview.blogspot.co.uk/ February 12 Deal Sharing Aunt - Promo www.dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com February 13 The Avid Reader - Promo, Author Interview, Book Soundtrack & Playlist http://the-avidreader.blogspot.com February 16 The Idle Musings of a Writer's Mind – Promo & Author Interview http://theidlemusingsofawritersmind.blogspot.com February 17 United Indie Book Blog - Promo http://unitedindiebookblog.blogspot.com/ February 18 Booky Ramblings of a Neurotic Mom – Promo & Top Ten http://bookyramblingsofaneuroticmom.blogspot.co.uk/ Bibliophile Mystery - Promo, Top Ten & Book Soundtrack http://bibliophilemystery.blogspot.ro February 19 Cajun Book Lover - Promo http://www.cajunbooklover.blogspot.com February 20 Archaeolibrarian - I dig good books! - Promo http://archeolibrarianologist.blogspot.de/ February 23 Word to Dreams - Promo http://wordtodreams.blogspot.com February 24 What Shall We Blog About Today? - Promo, Book Soundtrack & Playlist http://kenowinsky.blogspot.com February 25 2 Girls & A Book – Promo & Top Ten http://2girlsandabook.wordpress.com/ February 26 Eclipse Reviews - Promo,Top Ten, Playlist & Book Soundtrack http://eclipsereviews.weebly.com February 27 Kimber Leigh Writes - Promo, Author Interview & Playlist http://www.kimberleighwheaton.com March 2 Books Books Books – Promo http://www.booksbooksbooksblog.com March 3 Angels with Attitude Book Reviews - Promo, Author Interview, Book Soundtrack & Playlist http://angelswithattitudebookreviews-joelle.blogspot.com March 4 Bookworm for Kids - Review Book #1 - War Kids http://www.bookwormforkids.blogspot.com March 5 Portals to New Worlds - Promo, Author Interview, Playlist & Book Soundtrack http://authorkarenswart.blogspot.com March 6 Fictional Rendezvous Book Blog - Promo http://fictionalrendezvousbookblog.blogspot.com/

Book Blast, Giveaway & Interview: Before Time by @xunairaj

Presented by: Sparkle Book Tours


Before Time - The Time Series # 1 by Xunaira J.
Audience: NA - Genre: Tragic Romance - Formats: E-book and Paperback - Publisher: Xunaira J. -Editor: Michelle Browne - Date of Published: 20th November 2014  


His eyes told her what his tongue could not.

Nineteen-year-old Onaiza Shahid is a loner and a dreamer, bookish and socially isolated. A chance ramble into chatting software changes everything. The words of a stranger compel her. Addicted and falling fast, their secret love changes her life. But will the idealistic teenager get her happily ever after?
Amazon / Smashwords / Itunes / Kobo / Goodreads       Impassioned: I don’t have the strength to stay away from you anymore.
ME: Then don’t!
Impassioned:  How different a feeling it is to stay on the main stream and then say it here.
ME: Of course. On the main stream, I just thought it was chatter without any meaning.
Impassioned: It was never mere chat, and still isn’t. Only you understood it now.
I smiled.
ME: Yes, I guess so.
Impassioned: Onaiza!
ME: Yes?
Impassioned: Asher!
Oh!! He was finally telling me his name. Wow! Just wow!
ME: Nice to meet your, Asher :)

• Richard Marx – Right Here Waiting For You
• Back Street Boys – Incomplete
• Enrique Iglesias – Somebody’s Me
• Miley Cyrus – Wrecking Ball
• Lionel Richie – Hello
• Unbreak My Heart
• Bleeding Love
• No Mercy – Where do you go
• Evanescence – My Immortal
• Lady Antebellum – Can’t take my eyes off you
• Enrique Iglesias – Addicted
• Maroon 5 – One More Night
• Micheal Learns to Rock – Breaking my heart
• Micheal Learns to Rock – Take me to your heart
 

Did you always wanted to be a writer? If not what did you want to be?
As a child, I dreamt of becoming a doctor when I grew up but deep down, I aspired to be a writer as well. I always believed that I could have two professions at the same time.

When did you first consider yourself a “writer”?

In 2012 when I published my first short story, “The Cursed City.”

How long did it take to get your first book published?
I opted for self-publishing with Amazon.

Do you do another job except for writing and can you tell us more about it?
During the day, I’m studying software engineering which takes up a lot of time. I’m a Java Developer and look forward to my graduation in coming June.

What is the name of your latest book, and if you had to summarize it in less than 20 words what would you say?
It’s called Before Time, it’s part of series of three books. The story is about internet chatroom romance where the heroine meets a stranger and falls in love over chat.

Who is your publisher? Or do you self-publish?
I self-publish with Amazon.

How long does it usually take you to write a book, from the original idea to finishing writing it?
It takes me about three to four months to complete a novel.

What can we expect from you in the future?  ie More books of the same genre? Books of a different genre?
Well, experience with genres is tough. I love writing romance but in the future, I may come up with a story in a totally different genre. Right now, I have no such plans.

What genre would you place your books into?
Contemporary Romance, New Adult Romance and YA Romance.

How do you come up with characters names and place names in your books?
Research, research and more research.

Do you decide on character traits (ie shy, quiet, tomboy girl) before writing the whole book or as you go along?

I’m more of a person who writes first and decides later, so my characters are as unpredictable as I am J

Which format of book do you prefer, eBook, hardback, or paperback?
Paperback

Do you think books transfer to movies well? Which is you favorite/worst book to movie transfer?
Not all books translate better to movies. The only adaptation that I loved was the Harry Potter series. It was a movie well done.

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

As a thirteen year old teenager, Xunaira J. aspired to be an author someday. From short stories to novellas, she has written them all but as an adult now, she has published two short stories and is now aiming to publish her first Novel, Before Time, scheduled for November release. Xunaira resides in Islamabad, Pakistan and enjoys a hot cup of cappuccino, a good romance novel and her favorite music from the 80's. Apart from that, when she's not working on her current literary project, she loves developing mobile applications and studies as a software engineer.
 

 

 

 
 

Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Amazon / Pinterest



Tour Schedule – One Week Blog Tour for Before Time – The Time Trilogy #1 by Xunaira J. from February 23 – March 3, 2015
February 23
Book Reviews by Xunaira J. - Promo, Playlist, & Book Soundtrack
http://thesaucryreviewer.wordpress.com/
Daily Pinner - Promo
http://dailypinner.eraniapinnera.com
What Shall We Blog About Today? - Promo, Book Soundtrack, & Playlist
http://kenowinsky.blogspot.com


February 24
Tammy's Tea Time - Review
http://tammysteatime.blogspot.com
Angels with Attitude Book Reviews - Promo, Author Interview, Book Soundtrack, & Playlist
http://angelswithattitudebookreviews-joelle.blogspot.com
Eclipse Reviews - Promo, Author Interview, Playlist, & Book Soundtrack
http://eclipsereviews.weebly.com

February 25
Hooked On Books Forever - Promo & Review
http://hookedonbooksforever.blogspot.co.uk
The Avid Reader - Promo,Author Interview,Book Soundtrack, & Playlist
http://the-avidreader.blogspot.com


February 26
Deal Sharing Aunt - Promo
www.dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com
Melissa m Wolff - Promo & Author Interview
www.melissamwolff.com


February 27
Fictional Rendezvous Book Blog - Promo
http://fictionalrendezvousbookblog.blogspot.com/
Booky Ramblings of a Neurotic Mom – Promo
http://bookyramblingsofaneuroticmom.blogspot.co.uk/


March 2
Reading by the Book - Promo
http://www.readingbythebook.com
Indy Book Fairy - Promo & Book Soundtrack
http://paranormalbookfairy.blogspot.com/
Books Books Books - Promo
http://www.booksbooksbooksblog.com
Book Groupies - Promo
http://bookgroupies2.blogspot.com/


March 3
Rustys Reading - Promo
http://www.rustysreading.blogspot.com
United Indie Book Blog - Promo
http://unitedindiebookblog.blogspot.com/
Portals to New Worlds - Promo, Author Interview, Playlist, & Book Soundtrack
http://authorkarenswart.blogspot.com

Cover Reveal: Savannah Sins by @jennafoxrox

BOOK INFORMATION TITLE – Savannah Sins SERIES – N/A AUTHOR – Jenna Fox GENRE – erotic/horror PUBLICATION DATE – March 3rd 2015 LENGTH (Pages/# Words) – 15,300 words PUBLISHER –Dark Hollows Press COVER ARTIST – 3 Rusted Spoons BOOK SYNOPSISHer prison became his hell. The only thing standing between Beverly Price and a prison cell is her well connected attorney, Jackson McNabb. Jackson pulls some legal strings, getting Beverly sent to his family’s plantation to work out her sentence at an isolated setting- the perfect place for sexual escapades. When Jack and Beverly act on the pent-up lust burning between them, their passion rouses an angry spirit, setting off a series of frightening paranormal events and sending Beverly fleeing the arms of her lover, leaving Jack to fight for both of their lives.Where will you run when your sins come back to haunt you? EXCERPT

Beverly’s libido was assailed at being around a man she wasn’t totally immune to and she shivered when Jack got behind her, bracketing her sides with his arms. She stood still as her scantily clothed skin absorbed his body heat, trapping it between them. She took the cutting knife, and he covered her hand with his, directing the chopping mechanisms. The close proximity was pressing on her, making her question everything she thought she knew about herself. He was teaching, but she wasn’t listening, only slipping into feelings she’d never meant to feel with him.

They were nearly meshed together when Jack’s hands wrapped her waist and he guided her toward the sink. He washed and she dried while a play-by-play reverie of Jack stripping her down and bending her over the counter projected in her head like a movie screen. Beverly’s breath caught in her throat when the bulge in his pants skipped across the back of her thigh.

AUTHOR BIO Jenna Fox is a civilized hillbilly, mother, wife and multi-published author of erotic romance residing in Eastern Tennessee. Besides juggling a busy family life, Fox reviews and critiques for other authors and crafts her own dark erotic tales. Stories always feature a mysterious alpha male with unexpected twists to shock the reader. She believes in HFN and HEA endings, although not always in a romantic or conventional way. Her work is born from real life experiences, an overactive imagination and a consuming caffeine addiction. Fox is a listener of bad-ass music and a watcher of classic slasher films. In short, she’s a multi-tasker – a writer, a storyteller, able to make a boo-boo all better with just one kiss and a proud, world class expert at screwing up recipes and scaring away closet monsters. She believes in ghosts and God and is absolutely convinced chocolate soothes the savage beast. AUTHOR FOLLOW LINKS Blog - Facebook - Facebook Fan Page - Pinterest - Twitter: @jennafoxrox - Goodreads - Amazon Author Page

Tour Organized & Hosted by:

Book Blast & Interview: Wildest Dreams by @StrlngGry

 

Wildest Dreams

Sweet Dreams Series

Book 1

Stefany Rattles

Genre: Contemporary Romantic Suspense

ISBN: 978-1500659530

ASIN: B00MV3TO42

Number of pages: 172

Word Count: 50,863

Cover Artist: Stefany Rattles

Book Description:

When nineteen year old Alaina Sanders scores a position as an assistant at L&A law firm where her lifetime crush Rayden Matthews happens to work, feelings and emotions from the past resurface. With the physical attraction stronger than ever, soon they find themselves in a complicated situation. Rayden is engaged to his high school sweet-heart, but things are not what they seem and Rayden must make a choice before it’s too late.

L and A is Alaina’s first professional job, needless to say that the last thing she wants is drama or to lose her job. Unfortunately she finds herself surrounded by a series of events that are out of her control… like a stalker for one.

When her work and personal life intertwine, how will she be able to handle them? In a boring town like Springdale, Arkansas how much worse can things get for Alaina?

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/r6HWhZpWUnw

Available at Amazon Kindle and Paperback

Free download for the Kindle Feb 23 and Feb 24

The first time that I saw Rayden Matthews, I was in seventh grade. We were both on a bus on our way to school I was talking to my friend at the time, Daisy.

"I'll give you back your homework before you go to math class." she was saying.

I nodded, 'Okay, don't forget because if I don't turn it in today I’ll get an__ Ow!"

My hair had been pulled.

That day, I had it up in a ponytail and it wasn't short.

I turned around in my seat and scowled at the stupid boy that pulled it.

Boys...

There were two of them.

"What was that for?" I glared at both of them.

They both looked a little older than me about two years but not much.

The boy sitting by the window pointed at his friend who was intentionally looking away from me.

Daisy giggled beside me.

Since neither one responded I turned back around in my seat and forgot about them, that is, until my hair was lightly pulled again.

"Hey!" I spun around, "why are you bugging me?"

The boy by the window laughed hard while his friend turned a little red, "he likes you," explained the friend.

I looked from one to the other, trying to figure out if it was a joke. But as I looked at the kid that wouldn't look me in the eye I could tell he was blushing.

Hmm…

He was cute.

"What's your name?" I asked him and just when he met my eyes and was about to answer, the bus came to an abrupt stop and all the kids jumped out of their seats shoving one another.

The kid that liked me and his friend quickly walked past me and left the bus. Daisy and I shared a confused look and then we both stepped off the bus.

"His name's Rayden," said Daisy as she handed me back my math homework, "he's in the ninth grade."

We were both now in the cafeteria getting lunch. Daisy had told me that she had seen the kid -Rayden- before, she had friends who had friends who were friends with him. Finding out his name was not going to be a problem, she'd said.

In a matter of hours she managed to find out what it was.

"Ninth grade?" I asked a little skeptical.

She gave me a look. "That's only two years! It's not like's old or something."

Conversation stops for a few minutes while we get our tray with food and sit to eat.

"So anyway, his name's Rayden Matthews, he's in the ninth grade and he's cute." So Daisy thought so too, well that made two of us.

I rolled my eyes. “Do you see him anywhere?” I asked while I looked around the cafeteria myself but there were too many kids, hard to find one out of over a hundred.

Daisy shook her head, “he’s a ninth grader, so he’s probably the other half that eats after we do.”

She had a point.

Days later I don’t really pay attention to Rayden, I didn’t think he was taking the bus to or from school.

I didn’t see him.

Daisy wanted to talk about him and his friend, she said that his friend’s dad had been taking them to school extra early because of band practice and they also stayed after school.

I told her that I didn’t care. There were many boys and it’s not like at that point I was old enough to date yet, especially a ninth grader.

But I saw him again.

I was at the school library, looking through books. After searching for over fifteen minutes I picked one of those mystery/scary books and was ready to check out, Daisy was with me.

“Oh my god,” she covered her mouth.

I looked over at the direction where she was staring.

“Oh.” There he was, standing by a window looking at some books on a shelf. The sun light was hitting him directly and he’s hair looks a little lighter, it almost looks like there’s a halo. He’s__

Our eyes met and we stare at each other for a minute…

In that very moment, it’s like the world had stopped and it literally revolved around us. We had made a connection deeper than anything I could have felt in my life. It was a weird feeling that as young girl I could not possibly explain to anyone, ever. The only word that could come to mind was mesmerizing.

It was mesmerizing.

And then I’m being pulled.

“Ah!” Daisy is pulling my arm and I’m trying to shove her out of the way.

“Hey,” He said to me and smiles.

I smiled back.

“We have to go back to class,” said Daisy pointing at the clock on the wall.

“Fine,” I looked over my shoulder one more time. And catch Rayden looking at me and then he walked away.

I didn’t understand why Daisy didn’t want me to talk to Rayden and then other times when she where she would be such a brat.

Later I found out she had a crush on him.

Well wasn't that great!

She was my best friend for about a year until I realized what a sneaky… you know, she really was.

A little later I met Brie.

Rayden and I spoke on a few occasions. I finally got his phone number a year later and called him.

We had the longest conversations and it was nice talking to him. There were times where we even passed notes during school but it never went beyond that. I even tried to hook him up with some Costa Rican chick that he’d been crushing on but unfortunately for him -and fortunately for me- she was never interested.

Daisy transfers to a different school and as far as I know, she has no communication with Rayden.

One day I discovered he had a girlfriend, he was dating a teacher’s daughter her name wasn’t important. I still talked to him and we still wrote to each other, once in a while.

Eventually they broke up.

One day we stopped talking, I was fifteen and new to high school. I learned that he had a new girlfriend, Jessica. She had a pretty face, not a great body. But I could tell he really liked her, not because of her looks but maybe it was her personality, that’s just the kind of guy he was.

It wasn’t fair but all through high school they continued dating. I did meet someone and we started a relationship that lasted a few years, we even lived together.

But it wasn’t the same and that’s why I was single again.

I saw him from a distance for the rest of the week. We didn’t end up in the elevator together again.

Which was only a little disappointing but I got over it.

From a distance I could see a few changes in Rayden. He had more of a toned body than he used to, he had a confident walk unlike the shy boy I remembered.

I wished I could talk to him...

***

 

Did you always wanted to be a writer? If not what did you want to be?

  I have always loved reading and writing but at first I didn’t think about being an author. When I was in High School I thought I wanted to be a teacher but after graduating, I realized that it wasn’t something I liked to do.

When did you first consider yourself a “writer”?

  I first considered myself a writer when I published the first book in my Dark Night series.

How long did it take to get your first book published?

  After deciding that I wanted to publish Dark Night, it didn’t take me more than a few months to get it ready for publishing.

Do you do another job except for writing and can you tell us more about it?’

  I work at JB Hunt Transport as an Application Specialist. Basically I do driver applications over the phone and pre-qualify them.

What is the name of your latest book, and if you had to summarize it in less than 20 words what would you say?

My latest book is called Bad Romance. It is a spin-off of Wildest Dreams and it has mostly new characters with appearances by favorite characters from Wildest Dreams.

Who is your publisher? Or do you self-publish?

At this time I self-publish my books and do it through Amazon.

How long does it usually take you to write a book, from the original idea to finishing writing it?

My first published book took me years to finish but that was mainly due to the fact that I wasn’t planning on publishing Dark Night at first. I wrote the first draft when I was eighteen and then left it alone for a year or two. Later I went back to it and did some editing. Eventually in 2013 I thought about it and realized that I could easily self-publish it, so I worked hard to make it better and then released it. On the other hand, Wildest Dreams only took me 3 months to write and then I listed the book on Wattpad so people could read it for free. Then I decided to publish that one too in 2014.

What can we expect from you in the future?  ie More books of the same genre? Books of a different genre?

 I have major plans. Currently I have 3 books that I’ll be working on releasing this year with a possibility of a 4th one. I’m also planning on attending a few author events which will be posted on my website. Several book giveaways throughout the year.

What genre would you place your books into?

  I would place my Dark Night series into YA Paranormal Romance category and the Sweet Dreams series into Contemporary Romantic Suspense category.

What made you decide to write that genre of book?

  I really enjoy reading those specific genres and some of my favorite books are YA Paranormal Romance and Contemporary Romance.

Do you have a favorite character from your books? And why are they your favorite?

  My favorite characters surprisingly are not the protagonists of my stories (though I do love them too). To me when I write from their point of view, it’s like I’m living their life and I have to say that it’s not all that. What I mean is that I really like the surrounding characters. My favorite character from Wildest Dreams is Brie, she’s just so awesome! She’s a great best friend and I know she’s had her rough patches but she’s doing great.

How long have you been writing?, and who or what inspired you to write?

I have been writing since I was in school but back then it started out as writing songs. Eventually, after reading Twilight I was inspired to write my own books.

Do you have a certain routine you have for writing? ie You listen to music, sit in a certain chair?

I have to sit at my desk at home. It is my own little spot where I can just write (mainly because I have a desktop right now). That’s where I usually tune out everything and do work.

Do you read all the reviews of your book/books?

  Yes I do. I like to know what people think. Some message me on Facebook and I appreciate it. I think it’s cool when the author messages back, if he/she has the time.

Do you choose a title first, or write the book then choose the title?

At first I started out writing the book and then choosing the title but now it kind of comes at the same time. I’ll know what the book will be about and come up with a title then I’ll start writing it.

How do you come up with characters names and place names in your books?

With my characters, I choose names based on where they come from usually (like with Dark Night) or try to find unique names that are not too over the top and I know people would like. With places I usually pick the first thing that pops into my head and go with it.

Are character names and place names decided after their creation? Or do you pick a character/place name and then invent them? Main character names and places are decided before their creation. Everything else is decided as I write.

Do you decide on character traits (ie shy, quiet, tomboy girl) before writing the whole book or as you go along? Most of the time, I let their traits develop as I go along.

Are there any hidden messages or morals contained in your books? (Morals as in like Aesops Fables type of "The moral of this story is..")

I would say the message is that if it that relationship is meant to be, it will be. But I like for the readers to tell me what they got from the story. What is the message or morals that they got?

Which format of book do you prefer, eBook, hardback, or paperback?

I like all them! But for work I use the Kindle app on my phone. At home usually books either hardback or paperback (I’m not picky). I’ll use a tablet for traveling.

What is your favorite book and Why?  Have you read it more than once?

  I don’t have just one favorite book… But I love the Fallen series by Lauren Kate and the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead.

Do you think books transfer to movies well? Which is you favorite/worst book to movie transfer?

  In my opinion some do and some don’t. It just depends on the director, cast, etc. I don’t have a favorite or worse book to movie transfer yet.

Your favorite food is?

Sushi!

Your favorite singer/group is?

My favorite band is Linkin Park and favorite singer is Adele.

Your favorite color is?

Black.

Your favorite Author is?

Richelle Mead.

   

Stefany Rattles, lived in Los Angeles California for eight years and then moved to Arkansas and has been living there ever since. She has a full time office job and writes on her free time.

She wrote Dark Night when she was eighteen years old after it sat on her computer for several years. One day that she decided to work on it and finish it. Now, she has published 3 books, one of them is her first New Adult- Contemporary Romantic Suspense book in the Sweet Dreams Series.

She graduated Springdale High in 2007. Currently she is also attending Post University and hopes to get her degree in Computer Science.

She loves to read, write, read and write… when she’s not playing with her two little ones.

Web: http://stefanyrattles.wix.com/strlnggry

Blog: http://stefrattlesblog.blogspot.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/StrlngGry

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stefany-Rattles/628466587263459

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8292431.Stefany_Rattles

Enter to win a paperback copy at Stefany’s website

Book Blast, Giveaway & Interview: Infected- Prey by @aspeed

 

Infected: Prey

Infected Series

Book One

Andrea Speed

Genre: Gay mystery/urban fantasy

Publisher: DSP Publications

ISBN: 163216325X

ASIN: B00NJRJZGG

Number of pages: 376

Word Count: 152,000

Cover Artist: Anne Cain

Book Description:

In a world where a werecat virus has changed society, Roan McKichan, a born infected and ex-cop, works as a private detective trying to solve crimes involving other infecteds.

The murder of a former cop draws Roan into an odd case where an unidentifiable species of cat appears to be showing an unusual level of intelligence. He juggles that with trying to find a missing teenage boy, who, unbeknownst to his parents, was “cat” obsessed. And when someone is brutally murdering infecteds, Eli Winters, leader of the Church of the Divine Transformation, hires Roan to find the killer before he closes in on Eli.

Working the crimes will lead Roan through a maze of hate, personal grudges, and mortal danger. With help from his tiger-strain infected partner, Paris Lehane, he does his best to survive in a world that hates and fears their kind… and occasionally worships them.

Available at DSP Publications Amazon

HE was on his third beer of the evening when he thought he heard a noise in the backyard.

Hank DeSilvo scowled and looked out the window over the kitchen sink full of dirty dishes. He could see nothing but darkness, and maybe a bit of reflected light from the television. This was probably a bad time to remember the back porch light had blown out two days ago, and he’d forgotten to replace it.

Not that it mattered. The only light currently in the house was coming from the television, and as long as he ignored it, he developed enough night vision to make out a shape moving in the back garden. Or was it the wind moving a shrub? Kind of hard to say.

He slammed his can down with an annoyed grunt. It was probably the Hindles’ stupid ass dog again, shitting all over the place and tearing through his garbage. He hated that fucking thing, some ugly Rottweiler mix they insisted was a “friendly” dog, and yet it always had a look in its flat, black eyes that was just this side of rabid. They never leashed the damn thing either, and apparently his yard destruction was “cute.” He was just about out of this fucking place and that damn thing had to make a final appearance. And it was final all right; he was going to make damn sure of that.

He went back to the living room, glancing at the game as he walked past—it was a fucking damn boring game anyway—and got his shotgun from the cabinet. It was illegal as all hell, a sawed-off thirty ought six with the barrels cut so short you could have stowed it under a jacket, but the barrels had been filed down expertly; it wasn’t just the rough work of a desperate amateur but the sign of a pro. Which was why, when they’d searched the drug mule’s truck and he’d found it wedged under the front seat, he hid it in his trunk and didn’t report finding it. It wouldn’t have added that much to the mule’s sentence; he already had enough rock in his glove compartment to put him away for the rest of his pointless life, especially if it was his “third strike” (and it was, no surprise there), and he doubted the guy was so stupid that he’d actually ask why he wasn’t charged with owning an illegally modified weapon. Yeah, he was dumb; you had to be dumb if you were speeding and had a few thousand in rock in the car, as well as being obviously stoned yourself. But asking after that was a special kind of stupid, the kind only politicians and people on reality television ever seemed to crest.

He cracked open the gun and made sure he had some shells loaded in it before snapping it shut again with a sharp flick of his wrist. Man that felt good. This was a real man’s weapon, made him feel a foot taller and made of pure muscle, and he knew why that meth fuckhead was carrying it around with him. A weapon like this was a real god-killer; it made you feel invincible.

It was pure overkill, of course. The Hindles’ dog was fairly big, and yet one shot from this gun would rip it in half clean down the middle, as well as make a boom loud enough to set off every car alarm on the block. But what the fuck did he care? He was an ex-cop; he’d say the dog charged him, and on his property he could shoot the fucking thing if he wanted. He’d swap out the sawed-off for his Remington before they arrived. Ballistics wouldn’t match, but by the time they proved that, he’d be long gone. Good-bye, shit-hole city; hello, tropical paradise. It was just a shame that it took him this long to collect.

He stood at the back door for a moment, cradling the shotgun gently, and let his eyes get adjusted to the dark before going out onto the concrete patio. He had a mini Maglite with him with a red lens over the bulb, so if there was something he needed to see he could twist it on without losing his night vision. Not that he needed to make a direct hit; even if he just winged the dog, he’d probably rip half its face off, maybe a leg.

First step off the patio his foot squelched in something; it felt too liquid to be shit, but the smell that hit him was meaty, redolent of shit and offal and God knew what else. Had that fucking dog already strewn his garbage about? Goddamn it.

Holding the shotgun in one arm, he turned on the flashlight and looked down at what he’d stepped in.

At first it looked like a puddle, which didn’t make sense since it hadn’t rained in a week, and the thought that it was dog piss was dismissed since it was dark, and dog piss wasn’t usually black. Or was that red-black? Swinging the light outwards, he saw greasy, ropey strands that couldn’t have come from his garbage can, and then a big hunk of raw, bloody meat like a lamb shank… only it was too long and thin to be a shank, too dark, and ended in a paw.

It was a Rottweiler leg.

Someone—something—had dismembered the Hindles’ psychotic dog and spread about a third of it all over his backyard. He saw the leg, which was the biggest piece, an assortment of internal organs, loops of intestines laid out like fallen party streamers, and lots of blood. But where was the other two thirds of the dog?

The hair stood up on the back of his neck, and he knew he had to get the fuck inside now. But as he turned, shotgun at the ready and braced against his hip, he saw the flash of white teeth in the dim moonlight, and his brain sent out the impulse to pull the trigger.

He didn’t have time to wonder why it never happened as the teeth ripped open his throat.

 

Character Name: Paris Lehane

Character Bio: Born in suburban Vancouver to a couple of college professors, Paris was the only son, and was gifted with a natural, overwhelming charm and great beauty. So of course he used it to his advantage, and was a bisexual libertine for much of his teens. It all changed in college, when he hooked up with the wrong woman and found himself infected with the tiger virus. He had a bit of a nervous breakdown.

Describe yourself what is your worst and best quality?

My charm is actually the answer to both questions. It’s my gift, and my curse. Which doesn’t work as well if you can’t see me pulling up my cape dramatically and stalking from the room.

What is the one thing you wish other people knew about you?

I’m really sorry for being a dick when I was younger. I was kind of insufferable.

What is your biggest secret something no one knows about?

If I put my mind to it, I can juggle. Not more than three items, and I have to be in a good mood. Also, if you told anyone about it, I’d have to kill you.

What are you most afraid of?

Changing into a tiger and eating someone.

What do you want more than anything?

A cure? Or more time. I’d take either.

What is your relationship status?

Seriously taken. I have met the greatest guy in the world.

How would you describe your sense of fashion?

Fabulous, of course. I am stylish and sexy.

How much of a rebel are you?

You think I’d be a huge one, and Roan, being an ex-cop, would be the fuddy duddy, but he likes to fight. Roan doesn’t follow rules blindly, and while I like a good, sexy rebellion, I’m not fully committed to it, especially if it gets hard. So I’ll be the spokesmodel of your revolution, but it’ll be Roan doing the heavy lifting.

What do you considered to be your greatest achievement?

My hair.

What is your idea of happiness?

Being snuggled under the cover with Roan.

What is your current state of mind?

 Content.

What is your most treasured possession?

I don’t really have one. Possessions are ultimately meaningless. It’s people that matter.

What is your most marked characteristic?

Being as charming as sin, and twice as lovely.

What is it that you, most dislike?

Bigoted bastards. And hypocrites are pretty odious too.

Which living person do you, most despise?

I try not to despite people too much, because all that negative energy gets to you after a while.  But I suppose Louis Gorse. He knows what he did.

What is your greatest regret?

That I didn’t meet Roan sooner.

What is the quality you most like in a man?

A sense of humor. I know everyone says that, but I mean it. Being hot is also a plus.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?

Again, a sense of humor is nice. And being hot is still a plus.

Who is your favorite hero in fiction?

Hmm. That’s a tough one. Maybe D’Artangon?

Which living person do you most admire?

Oh, Roan, of course. Once you get to know the guy, it’s hard not to admire him.

If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

Well … I probably wouldn’t be infected.

What is your motto?

 As I go, so goes the party.

 

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Andrea Speed was born looking for trouble in some hot month without an R in it. While succeeding in finding Trouble, she has also been found by its twin brother, Clean Up, and is now on the run, wanted for the murder of a mop and a really cute, innocent bucket that was only one day away from retirement. (I was framed, I tell you - framed!)

In her spare time, she arms lemurs in preparation for the upcoming war against the Mole Men. Viva la revolution!

Website: www.andreaspeed.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/andrea.speed.3

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Andreaspeedwriter

Twitter: @aspeed

Google+: https://plus.google.com/109420358312270961913/posts

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/andreaspeed

Book Blast: Forever in My Heart - Tangled Hearts # 2 by @MKAlexander1

 








 

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Forever in My Heart - Tangled Hearts # 2

by Maria K. Alexander

Audience: Adult - Genre: Romance - Formats: E-book and Paperback - Publisher: The Wild Rose Press - Cover by: Diana Carlile - Editor: Eilidh MacKenzie - Pages: 334 pages - ISBN: 978-1-62830-810-5 -  ASIN: B00SEEN6OQ -  Date Published: February 20, 2015









Vicky DiFrancesco is ready to put the past behind her. After a humiliating divorce, she’s determined to make her new café a success. The last thing she needs is her first love around, reminding her of what they’d lost. But when her life is threatened, could he be the very man she needs?



Jamie DiSilva’s homecoming after retiring from the army isn’t the one he’d been hoping for. Now, he’s trying to start a home improvement business in a town settled on holding him accountable for the sins of his late brothers. Redeeming himself to the girl he never stopped loving and her family is difficult when his brothers’ secrets come back to haunt him.



Untangling themselves from the past means righting several wrongs and deciding if their love is meant to last forever.





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“What happened today between us can never happen again.”

“Because of your sister?”

“Because of my entire family. Kate isn’t the only member with a grudge against the DiSilva family.”

Just his bad luck.

“My parents and I have never done anything to warrant being shunned by them. Our parents were best friends.”

“That doesn’t change what your brothers did or how it’s impacted my family. It’s one thing to deal with you living in the same town. It’s another for them to accept what just happened between us.”

“What happens between us has nothing to do with your family,” he snapped. He was tired of being judged. It wasn’t like she didn’t feel something for him. He lowered his voice and cupped her cheek. “Things can be good between us, Vick. You know it.”

She held his gaze, and he felt her tremble. He leaned forward, determined to convince her to give them a chance.

Her hand shot out and stopped him from doing more than graze her lips. “Stop. Nothing good will come of this.” She rolled off the bed and kept her back to him.

“You’re choosing them over your own happiness?”

She wiped at her face before turning to him.

Despite the tears that dampened her eyes, her answer was clear from the stubborn set of her chin. “What choice do I have?”

“There’s always a choice.”

“And a price to pay. They’re my family. I pick them. I’ll always pick them.”



Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYEvdG2TZBg


























A romantic at heart, Maria K. Alexander spent hours as a young girl getting lost in and wishing to be one of the heroines in the stories she read. Books gave her the ability to go to another world where she loved meeting new characters, learning about their problems, and watching them fall in love.

Maria is an award-winning author of contemporary romance. She blogs about her writing journey with The Violet Femmes at http://thevioletfemmes.com. When not writing, Maria loves to read, bake, downhill ski, visit the beach, and watch romantic comedies. Maria lives in New Jersey with her husband and children, and writes in her “spare” time between juggling a full-time job and her kids’ busy schedules.





















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Book Blast: Stitches by Jeremy L Blunt @stitchesforlife

BOOK INFORMATION TITLE – Stitches- Because Some Wounds Need More Than a Band-Aid Cure AUTHOR – Jeremy L Blunt PUBLICATION DATE – February 10, 2015 LENGTH (Pages/# Words) - 184 PUBLISHER – Upland Avenue Publishing Group COVER ARTIST – Daniela Frongia BOOK SYNOPSIS Have you ever found yourself at a loss when trying to figure out why relating to the very people you feel you have to or should be able to communicate well with just doesn’t work? Have you ever had that feeling after you come out of something which gave you the blues while in it, was actually not as bad as you made it if only you had paid attention to the signs and lessons from previous events? If either of these things sound like you then “STITCHES” are what you need. We look for answers from everywhere in the world, our friends, church members, parents, celebrities and sometimes even our enemies but never inside ourselves. STITCHES are the tools we need to address the issues we have. If you’re tired of putting a Band-Aid on wounds that seem to just keep resurfacing and don’t seem to go away, then I encourage you to start using stitches instead. AS you read “STITCHES”, allow it to broaden your perspective and increase your confidence that you are not as lost as you may have believed. BUY & TBR LINKS AMAZON KINDLE US – AMAZON PAPERBACK EXCERPT

The problem with most relationships is not the baggage that people knowingly bring into them, it is with the baggage that they have, know they have but act like it is not there. Now let's be honest. We all have baggage. Baggage is what we pick up from life's experiences that affect how we react to things, how we deal with people, and how we carry ourselves. All baggage is not bad baggage. For instance, it is only after you deal with someone who is independent that you determine if moving forward, you want someone else who is also independent or if you would rather have someone who just has independency. Either way, the baggage we carry from situation to situation affects us differently.

Ideally when we met someone we would like for their baggage to be displayed and scanned as it would be going through check in at an airport. First giving them an opportunity to dispose of anything that would be hazardous to anyone else around and then going through a thermo scan. The problem with baggage does not come when we are dealing with someone who is upfront with baggage that is not necessarily healthy but rather when things pop up that they claim to know nothing about. On my last trip to the airport, I remember hearing several announcements about baggage not being left unattended or taking packages from people that you do not know. We should treat the people we deal with every day with the same level of security and caution. Until we know what at least pops up during their initial scan, we should not pursue them past the outer lobby of our life. In other words, they should remain associates. They should not get VIP treatment or otherwise they may feel and act like they are entitled to more than they are. Then you will feel guilty and try and fast track them to the exclusive area prematurely. To catch a plane now, they tell you to be at the airport at least two hours before your flight so you can go through all of the proper checks and still make your flight on time. We should treat everyone we meet with the same expectation. If they are not willing to show up early, stand in a line or two for a few minutes, and undergo pre checks, then they may as well be labeled as a terrorist and should be treated hostile. I mean let's face it, what is the point of blood, sweat, and tears if you are not going to use the lessons it has taught you to better yourself. Would you knowingly let a terrorist come on a plane that you are boarding? Of course not! Then why do we let people in our lives without proper clearance. You need to know something about the people you deal with. Where they are from? Who have they been with? Who they people are? Have they picked up any habits, I mean packages, from strangers along the way?

Even after going through baggage check, people still can have extra stuff that can threaten your life. An example of this is insecurities. Let us say you have met this guy and he seems to have it pretty much together. He is a dream come true. You open up and allow him to board your life. Once in the air you realize he has tendencies. He always wants to know about the names of people from a previous manifest. He also asked repeatedly about current passengers who are just temporary passengers until the next stop or two. You understand his concerns but point out that none of these issues surfaced or questions were asked during initial boarding. You pacify him by giving him everything it seems that he would need but nothing is helping. He wants to dig deeper and ask more questions. This is a classic example of what I call “unauthorized baggage”. Unauthorized baggage can have you off balance with very little to no clue as to why. When a partner is overly aggressive or possessive, it can weigh you down to the point where you are ready to start throwing things off. When nothing you do seems to be working, you will start eliminating things that are actually in your life to help you; like fuel, food or even extra oxygen (friends who give you life). Again, those closest to you will give you warning signs when this happens. Your body will also be a good sign of indicators. Do not ignore the signs. Pay attention, life has a way of getting your attention. If you are not careful you will find yourself starting to become distant with friends and even point the figure at others as the reason to why things are the way they are.

BOOK SOUNDTRACK Life and Favor – John P. Kee and New Life feat. James Fortune Her Heart – Anthony Hamilton My Favorite Thing – Ronald Isley featuring Kem Rise and Fall – Craig David feat Sting All of Me – John Legend Sweat – Toni Braxton & Babyface AUTHORS PLAYLIST Medelssohn: Octet in E flat, Op. 20-1 Van Cliburn Tchaikovsky: Concerto No. 1 & Rachmaninoff: Concerto No. 2 Michael Meets Mozart More Than Anything – Lamar Campbell & Spirit of Praise Grateful – Hezekiah Walker, Love Fellowship Choir AUTHOR BIO Jeremy L. Blunt is a capitol city native of Louisiana and a graduate of the East Baton Rouge Public School System. He is a proud Husband, Father, and Mentor. He is married to the former LaTrisha Earline Milton, also of Baton Rouge. He has two daughters, Kaylie and Amerie Blunt. His hobbies include traveling, reading, exercising, and interacting with people. He is honorably retired from the Louisiana National Guard. While also defending his country, Jeremy has and continues to be very active in his community. He serves as a Minister to young people and serves and advises several boards in his community. Jeremy attended Louisiana State University and attends HOPE Bible Institute for Theology and Religious Studies. Jeremy is a motivated speaker and teacher who delivers a message of self empowerment and change to audiences of all demographics. He continues to work with “at-risk” youth and considers it as one of the most rewarding experiences of his life. He is an advocate for service and continued education. Jeremy lives by the motto: “Change comes from those willing to do things differently”. AUTHOR FOLLOW LINKS WEBSITE / BLOG – FACEBOOK – TWITTER – PINTEREST – LINKEDIN INSTAGRAM – stitches4life Tour Organized & Hosted by