Brenda Maxfield's Blog, page 2
February 8, 2015
Welcome, Nancy Pennick!
Greetings, Friends! I’d like to give a warm welcome today to fellow author, Nancy Pennick! She has written a new YA historical romance, Broken Dreams. So, for those of you who love romance and history, this one’s for you! Nancy is offering an Amazon or BN gift card of $20 to a lucky reader! You can enter below. (I love it when my readers get the prize!)
Here is the blurb for Nancy’s story:
Two friends…
Blood sisters till the end…
Until they’re not.
One cold night in a boarding school dorm, two fourteen-year-old girls make a blood sister pact. Friends forever. As young schoolgirls, they’re determined to find true love, learning the hits and misses along the way. As graduation nears, the girls have different outlooks for the future. Lucinda longs for adventure. Anna chooses city life and marriage. Finding their way back together, the girls head west for an experience of a lifetime until a handsome cowboy bursts into their lives, changing the course of their friendship forever.
And here’s an excerpt to whet your appetite!
Anna tentatively put the other foot on the ice. “I’m doing it!” She grinned widely for a second until her body slipped out from under her.
“Anna!” Lucinda grabbed for her, but it was too late. Anna lay a few feet away from the boy who still struggled to get on his feet.
“Come on.” Lucinda seized Anna by one arm and the boy by the other and marched them to a bench. “Watch and learn.” She daintily walked away on her skates and slipped slowly back onto the ice. She caught up with her sister. Arm in arm they disappeared into the crowd.
“Hello, I don’t think we formally met.” The young man stuck out his hand. “James Trent.”
“Anna. Anna Douglass.” She shook his gloved hand. He had a nice smile, auburn hair and golden brown eyes. A few freckles were sprinkled across his nose.
James smoothed his hair back and replaced the cap he probably lost during the fall. “I’m a sophomore over at Lake Forest.”
“This is my first year at Ferry.” Anna gazed down at the snowy ground, suddenly nervous.
“First time on skates?” He laughed and snorted at the same time.
Anna relaxed and looked him in the eye. She saw a faint redness creep up his neck and knew he was embarrassed. “You couldn’t tell?” She giggled, hoping he noticed she forgave the snort.“Well, I’m not giving up. I hope you won’t either. What I mean is I hope I see you here again.”
A little bit about Nancy:
Born and raised in Northeast Ohio, Nancy currently resides in Mentor, Ohio with her husband and son, plus a delightfully entertaining lovebird. Her writing is influenced by all the years of working with young people as a teacher and raising her own son. When not writing, Nancy loves to travel with her husband and enjoys a good cup of tea. Broken Dreams is a stand alone companion piece to her young adult Waiting for Dusk series.
BUY LINK: Publisher- Fire and Ice
Links to Nancy:
Links to other books:
FREE short story:
Taking Chances: A Waiting for Dusk Story
Remember to enter the drawing for an Amazon/BN gift card! Enter to win a $20
That’s it for today, friends! Feel free to leave a comment – I love to hear from you.
And as always, thanks for stopping by.
Brenda
P.S. If you want to escape to the ocean, try this: Cornered
Tagged: Brenda Maxfield, Broken Dreams, gift card, Giveaway, Nancy Pennick, YA historical romance
December 23, 2014
He’s TOO Cute!!
Hello Friends! Last night we had a Christmas Cookie Decorating Party with the grandkids! FUN times! My youngest grandson had just learned the Lord’s Prayer, and he was eager to show off his skills!
Forgive my bragging, but I think he’s the cutest two-year-old ever!
Have a wonderful, blessed Christmas!
And as always, thanks for stopping by!
Brenda
P.S. If you need a last-minute gift, books are the best!
Tagged: Brenda Maxfield, Christmas, Christmas cookies, grandkids, the Lord's Prayer
December 11, 2014
Go Ahead, Take that Hour!
Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah, Friends!
Amidst the holiday bustle, why not give yourself a short 99 cent break! You deserve it!
Grab a copy of Seeking Christmas and take a short adventure across the state line with Tiffany. Is she in for another devastating disappointment? Or can Christmas really be merry, like everyone says?
For less than one dollar, you can find out! Grab it today, put your feet up, and pamper yourself with a fun escape.
Like I said, you deserve it! :-)
Happy Holidays!
And as always, thanks for stopping by!
Brenda
Tagged: Brenda Maxfield, Christmas, Holiday Read, Holiday Rest, Holidays, Ocean Mist series, Seeking Christmas
November 27, 2014
I’m Grateful for You!
My warmest wishes to all of my friends in the United States for a lovely Thanksgiving Day! May your day be overflowing with gratitude and blessings and special moments with your loved ones.
I am so grateful for your friendship, your support, and your wonderfulness! (Pretty sure that’s not a word, but it’s true!) Please know that you are appreciated no matter where you live!
And as always, thanks for stopping by!
Brenda
P.S. Here are three major reasons for my gratitude today (and always)! My beautiful grandkids!
Tagged: Brenda Maxfield, friendship, grandkids, readers, support, teens, Thanks, Thanksgiving, United States
November 3, 2014
Welcome, Angella Graff!
Friends, please help me extend a warm welcome to fellow author Angella Graff! Today, we’re celebrating the release of her middle grade book, Alexandra Fry, Private Eye. (Now, doesn’t that title intrigue?)
Be sure to enter the Angella’s Rafflecopter below for a chance to win a $10 Amazon/BN gift card. I love it when my readers win! ��:-)
Here’s the blurb for Angella’s new book:
Now an 8th grader and the senior of Sage Brush Middle School, Alexandra Fry is looking forward to having a nice, calm, mystery-free year. But her hopes are dashed when she’s visited by none other than the famous boy Pharaoh, Tutankhamun who has a very special request: to find the carved jade crocodile that once belonged to the mummy of his unborn child. With a fight brewing between Alexandra and her two best friends, Penelope and Jack, this case won’t be as easy as it seems.
New friends, a first crush, and a new threat from the spirit world, Alexandra must use everything she’s learned to uncover the mysteries in this case. Who is the bad guy this time? Who can she trust? And above all, what is the Shadow Man?
It’s up to Alexandra, her friends, and possible new allies to save the day in the thrilling new tale of Alexandra Fry, Private Eye.
And now to enjoy an excerpt:
���No!��� I said, feeling angry now. ���I mean, I don���t agree with them keeping it from you. I was really upset when I found out and I told your mom I didn���t want to do it, but she begged me. But Penelope, I like your mom, and so does my dad. They make each other happy, and I thought you could be happy for them.���
���I can���t even believe I���m hearing this. How can you take their side over mine!���
���Maybe because you���re being totally unreasonable!��� I was frustrated and the words slipped out before I even realized I���d said them. I instantly regretted it.
Going pale, Penelope narrowed her eyes and took three steps back. ���Maybe I am,��� she said, her voice low and furious. ���And maybe you and I aren���t friends anymore.��� She stormed toward the door, but before she opened it, she turned back to me. ���And maybe don���t expect me to save your stupid butt again next time some crazy person tries to kill you. It���s no wonder Jack���s using you for adventure. It���s all you���re good for.��� With that, she went in, slamming the door behind her.
Her last words hit me like a blow to the gut. Tears instantly sprang into my eyes and I sat down right in the middle of the grass. How did it get so messed up? For the first time in my life, I���d had friends, friends who knew my secrets and accepted me for them. Friends who cared, who were there for me. Then one small mistake and everything fell apart.
Here’s a bit about the Angella: Angella Graff was born and raised in the desert city of Tucson, Arizona. She married and became a mother very young, and after getting started with her family, began her University studies where she found her passion for creative writing, history and theology.
She now resides in Tucson with her husband Joshua, three children, Christian, Isabella and Adia, and their three cats and three dogs.
Links to stay in touch with Angella:
angellagraffbooks.wordpress.com
https://www.facebook.com/AngellaGraffAuthor
Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Angella-Graff/e/B009GLDA9C
And here’s where you can buy her book!
Buy the book at Amazon
Now to enter the giveaway:
Friends, I hope you enjoyed hearing about Angella’s book and will want to grab it for yourself and your middle graders.
How is everyone doing this getting-colder-by-the-minute November? I actually dragged��out my winter coat yesterday, and boy, did it feel good. Ha! Have a lovely week, everyone.
And as always, thanks for stopping by!
Brenda
P.S. Looking for a fun Thanksgiving book for your little ones? Here’s one you’ll like: ��(Click on the cover!)
Tagged: Alexandra Frye Private Eye, Angella Graff, Billy Boo's Turkey Trouble, Brenda Maxfield, Giveaway, Lynda Raymond Books, Middle Grade Fiction, Thanksgiving
Welcome Stefan Haucke!
Greetings, Friends! A very warm welcome today goes to fellow author, Stefan Haucke! ��We are cheering��the release of his book, Shadow of Ghosts. Since��we have recently celebrated Halloween here in the United States, this book seems especially timely! :-)
To whet your appetite, here is the blurb for Stefan’s book:
Shadows of Ghosts carries readers to Enara, a kingdom at war with itself, where for centuries centaurs have been treated like animals because of their horse-like lower bodies; they’ve been forced to work as slaves in the southern agricultural provinces, and have been bought and sold like livestock. But a strong abolitionist faction has convinced many that centaurs’ human torsos, heads, and intellectual abilities make them humans, who should be liberated from slavery and granted the same rights as any other person.
After four years of being forced to live in a remote village and having to keep his real identity a secret, Cal Lanshire, days away from his thirteenth birthday, is given the best birthday present he can imagine. He is told the war is almost over and he will soon be allowed to return home.
But then an old acquaintance unexpectedly arrives with news that changes everything. Cal’s father, the king, has been assassinated.
Suddenly the outcome of the war and the very fate of the kingdom depend upon Cal being able to reach the capital where he will take his father’s place.
With only his crafty best friend by his side and an escaped centaur slave to guide him, can Cal make it through an enchanted, hostile wilderness, past the assassins sent to kill him, and back to the capital before it’s too late?
And here’s a short excerpt for you:
After they had been walking for a while, Cal began to hear an occasional high-pitched noise, but he couldn���t tell which direction the noise was coming from. The noise echoed and seemed to be coming from every direction. Kozal started muttering unhappily to himself. The hard ground now felt soft, as if they were walking on a thin carpet. The high-pitched noise was becoming more frequent and seemed to overlap as if it was coming from different sources.
���What is that?��� Cal asked.
���They make such a nasty mess,��� Kozal grumbled. ���We���re stepping in filth.���
���What are they?��� Cal asked. ���Where are they?���
���They���re above us,��� Kozal said. ���Many of them. We���re in their home, and they���re not happy. They���re not used to visitors.���
Cal was about to ask Kozal if the creatures he was talking about were dangerous when there was an explosion that sounded as if the top of the cave was coming down. Cal let go of Kozal���s shoulders and instinctively threw his arms over his head and crouched low to protect himself from whatever was falling from above. The high-pitched noises were incredibly loud now, but the high-pitched noises were being drowned out by what sounded like hundreds of leather coats flapping in the wind. Cal felt something briefly touch the side of his face, and then something slapped the top of his head. He tried to crouch lower and fell forward, and when he thrust his hands out to break his fall his hands slid because the ground was covered with a thick, slimy substance.
���Bats!��� Mont called out.
It’s always fun to know a bit about the authors. (I love to see how their personalities shine through their writing!) Here’s the info��on Stefan: (And I see that Stefan is a fellow traveler!)
Stefan Haucke, driven by the desire to learn about other cultures and the need for adventure, has traveled to over twenty nations. He rode a camel near the pyramids in Egypt, swam with sea lions in the waters of the Galapagos Islands, climbed the Great Wall of China, hiked near the Acropolis in Athens, went dog sledding in northern Michigan, and photographed polar bears in Canada.
Along his many travels, Stefan has successfully worked as a deckhand, a shepherd, a dispatcher for an emergency services unit, an electric meter reader, and an office manger. He has also found the time to study the literature and history of ancient Greece, Russia, and the United States, and loves reading folktales, fairytales, and urban legends. He also enjoys astronomy, and on clear nights can be found gazing at the stars and planets with his telescope.
Here are the links you need for Stefan’s book and to stay in touch with him:
To purchase his book:��
Indie Bound – Independent Bookstores
And lovely readers, here is your chance to win a prize! Please let me know if you win! I’d love to celebrate with you. :-)
Prizes for the tour are as follows:
One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card.
One randomly chosen host will receive a $25 Amazon/BN.com gift card.
Enter to win a $50 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway
Are those of you in the Northern Hemisphere ready for winter? I’ve put on the flannel sheets, so I guess I’m moving in that direction! Ha! Stay warm! And read much!
As always, thanks for stopping by.
Brenda
P.S. You can still escape to the warmer weather with Mags in Buried Truth! (And visit the Pacific Ocean while you’re at it!)
Tagged: Brenda Maxfield, Buried Truth, Ghosts, gift card, prize, Shadows of Ghosts, Stefan Haucke, teen reads
October 30, 2014
Welcome Back, Angela Myron!
Greetings, Friends! I’m so happy to be welcoming back author Angela Myron!�� We’re here celebrating her book, Ennara and the Book of Shadows.
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Be sure and enter Angela’s prize raffle. I love it when one of my readers gets the prize!
Angela will be awarding a the winners choice of one of the following prizes (international giveaway — All photos used from Etsy shops that she plans to purchase the gifts from. Actual gift will be sourced from winner’s country and will likely look different for international winners):
1. ��Dragon earcuff. A tiny dragon that wraps around your ear just like Ennara’s wraps around her wrist! Ennara would not approve.
2. Potions master decal kit: Trick out your Kitchenaid with this decal kit! Ennara approved.
3. Emergency Potion Necklace: Potion/necklace dependent on winner’s location. Ennara approved.
Or the winner may choose something from Ennara Swag (if they live in the US).
When strange accidents start happening around thirteen year-old necromancer Ennara and her friends, she must search for the mysterious stolen artifacts causing the attacks while learning the highest form of magic–the spells that could prevent the fruition of a terrible prophecy.
Now enjoy an excerpt:
���You haven���t much time,��� Formult said, glancing again at the door. He crossed to the far edge of the dome and opened a huge glass panel. The winged horses enthusiastically trotted to the edge of the roof, and the griffins took up the rear.
The professor patted Snowflake���s neck. ���I���m fairly certain I saw the book when I was in Dordonne. That is, I saw the Bishop of Dordonne with an odd-looking book in the Royal Court. It was my last clear memory before the spell��� Anyway, when you find the bishop, I believe you���ll find that book.���
Ennara had heard of the Bishop of Dordonne once before, but where? She shook her head. Now they had two clues to look for���the crypts, and the bishop. Maybe hunting down the Book of Shadows was something they could do, after all.
Formult clapped Snowflake on the hindquarters and stepped aside. She leapt from the door and into the air effortlessly. Ferrus and the two griffins followed.
���Take good care and don���t worry about us,��� Formult called after them. ���We���ll have the school straight by the time you get back.���
The horses ascended as the door to the aviary burst open. The two druids from the hall tumbled forward. They quickly assessed the scene and raised their wands to the flying creatures. Smoos crouched to pounce and Formult unfurled his whip.
���Let���s get out of here!��� Kithe yelled.
Without further instruction, the pegasii and griffins pounded their muscular wings and lifted them away. Galdurlan retreated, quickly becoming a tiny village, then a bay, and then an island alone in a cold, dark ocean. Ennara wrapped her cloak tightly and pulled her hood up as she settled into Snowflake���s rhythmic flight. The air grew icy, and she leaned into the horse to share its warmth. Beside her, Cinne did the same, resting her face against Ferrus���s dark mane.
Gevin and his griffin flew slightly above and behind the pegasii, to the left. His bright green eyes shone from behind his heavy black hood. He was enjoying the flight as much as she. Kithe rode his lion-eagle ahead of the other. He���d bundled himself up in his hunter green cloak and smiled as he gazed into the distance. The hilt of the Sword of Gisilfrid glinted on his shoulder.
From the tiny castle on the retreating island, a screech tore through the air, then another. Two tiny black objects rose in pursuit. Then another, larger object. Two larger objects. The tattoo on Ennara���s hand prickled. Her stomach grew queasy. They would not be let off the island without a fight. Long necks and massive wings pulled the large creatures into the sky. Dragons.
A Little about Angela
Angela Myron was born in Vancouver, Canada in 1973. She grew up in the piney forests of southern British Columbia, studying tiny blue bells, dodging hidden cacti, and creating fantasy worlds in her back yard. She loved to imagine lands of fairies and goblins, then invite friends over to introduce them.
Angela studied biology and professional writing at university, starting her degree at the University of Victoria in Canada and finishing it at San Francisco State University. She wrote grant proposals for nonprofits, technical manuals for software, and freelance journalism before writing fiction.
https://www.facebook.com/myron.angela
https://twitter.com/AngelaMyron
http://www.pinterest.com/angelamyron/
Buy links:
http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/ennara-and-the-book-of-shadows
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/449530
Please leave��a comment. I’d love to know how you’re doing as we move into November.
And as always, thanks for stopping by.
Brenda
P.S. �� �� She never meant to be a bully. . . Buried Truth
Tagged: Angela Myron, Brenda Maxfield, Buried Truth, Ennara and the Book of Shadows, Giveaway, good clean teen reads, Ocean Mist series, Prizes, YA
October 8, 2014
Welcome, Marian Cheatham!
Greetings, Friends! Today, we’re extending a warm welcome to Marian Cheatham! She is the author of the YA book, Ruined. I absolutely love the cover! (BTW, Marian is giving some great prizes during her tour. Details are further down in this post!)
Here’s the BLURB to give you the gist of the story: (If any of you are Shakespeare lovers, you’re going to want to grab this book immediately!)
When your life has been ruined by lies, do you seek justice … or revenge?
Blythe Messina spends her senior year focused on her studies and college, and not on her ex, Stratford High’s lacrosse star, DB Whitmore. At least, that’s what Blythe keeps telling herself. But her younger cousin, Bonni, knows otherwise. Same goes for DB, who swears to be over Blythe and their breakup, but his teammates aren’t fooled.
When scandalous photos of Bonni and the team captain are texted around Stratford, Bonni’s virtuous reputation is ruined. She professes her innocence, but no one believes her. No one, except Blythe and DB, who come together to uncover the truth. But, will they stay together?
Ruined is a modern twist on a classic Shakespearean romance. “Deceit, loyalty, honor, and romance–Ruined has it all! A teen version of Much Ado About Nothing that Shakespeare aficionados are sure to savor!”
Kym Brunner, Author of Wanted: Dead or in Love & One Smart Cookie
All books in the Stratford High series will be modern retellings of a Shakespeare classic. Ruined is inspired by Much Ado About Nothing.
Here’s an EXCERPT to tickle your taste buds:
I watched through the sliding glass doors as my baby brother disappeared into the depths of Mr. M.’s house with DB. I hoped Jon wasn’t getting sick. The Mai Tais at this party were kind of sweet. Or maybe the sun had gotten to him. No denying it was hot outside, and this deck didn’t have a sheltered awning. Dad used to tell Jon to toughen up, and Jon had, once he’d started playing lacrosse. Wasn’t his fault, he was on the short side. Jon got that from his mother. She was just a pale wisp of a thing. Maybe that was what Dad had liked about her. She was the polar opposite of my long-legged, big-boned Amazon mom.
Dad. What a player. He had the best of both worlds in women and sons.
A hand clamped down on my shoulder. “Don’t worry about your brother,” Mr. M. said. “Jon’s in capable hands. That DB is a good guy. I only wish my niece could see his better qualities.”
Bonni shook her head. “Blythe’s too hung up on the past. At least she pretends to be. She’s always DB did this and DB did that. Acting annoyed when she’s really in love with him.”
“Same with DB,” said Cory. “He say he hates Blythe, but I know he’s always plotting ways to run into her on the sly.”
“Me thinks they doth protest too much,” said Mr. M. “Too bad. Those two seem perfect for each other. If only they could find their way back together.”
“Maybe they just need a push.” A seed of something had taken root in my brain.
“Go on.” Mr. M. smiled at me. “What’re you thinking, Paolo?”
“Maybe we can trick them into admitting how they really feel. What if you and Bonni let it slip that DB wants to work things out? You know, have a conversation when Blythe’s not supposed to be around, but really she is. Let her overhear you talking.”
“We can do that, right, Daddy? We can make Blythe believe DB still cares.”
“Absolutely!” Mr. M. high-fived her.
“And you and I will do the same with DB,” I told Cory. “When we’re sure he’s listening, we’ll drop the bomb that Blythe is still into him. Then we stand back and let nature take its course.” I extended my hand. My three co-conspirators piled their hands on top of mine.
“We’re all in?” Bonni, Cory, and Mr. M. nodded.
“Good. Operation Cupid is a go.”
Below is a short interview with Marian:
Where are you from?
I was born in Chicago where I spent the first five years of my life. Then my parents moved to the suburbs, Elmwood Park, IL, to be exact, where I attended grade school and high school. I went to Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL, and then returned to the suburbs after graduation to teach and work in business before marrying. Now we live in another Chicago suburb, Elk Grove Village, IL, northwest of the city near O’Hare airport. Guess you could say, I’m a true Chicagoan.
Tell us your latest news?
Right now, I’m writing Book Two of the Stratford High Series. No title yet, but the story is inspired by Shakespeare’s play, The Merchant of Venice. This summer, I started writing a blog for the Chicago Tribune’s Chicago Now site. My blog, Everyday Eastland, deals with the Eastland boat disaster of 1915 and is also the subject of my first novel, Eastland. I’ve also started giving guided tours about the Eastland, visiting sites associated with the disaster in and around Chicago. It’s really been a fun summer! I have a haunted tour scheduled for October. We’ll see if we can conjure up a few ghosts of the Eastland.
When and why did you begin writing?
I was teaching special education to primary-aged students and reading library picture books to them every day. I don’t know who enjoyed story time more – me or them. So I got it into my head that I could write picture books. They were short, only 400 words or so. A mere 36 pages long. Easy, right? Wrong! Writing a great picture book takes talent, something I just didn’t possess. I have a boxful of rejection letters from editors/agents to prove my point. So I tried my hand at middle grade novels. Again, many, many rejections. But I do have a few completed manuscripts in a box in my closet. They’ll never see the light of day again, but the writing was good practice. Finally, I made an attempt at young adult fiction and got an agent with my first novel. She never sold that novel, and we eventually parted ways, but I kept writing and writing, practicing my craft until I finished Eastland.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Probably when Eastland went ‘live’ on Amazon. That was a very exciting day. One that I’ll never forget. After several congratulatory calls from friends and family, I felt like a real, honest-to-goodness writer. And I was. But it was just the beginning of my journey. Now I write nearly every day, if not on my latest novel, then I’m working on a blog post or networking about my two published books, Eastland and Ruined. I always have something to write about.
Do you have a specific writing style?
Yes. When I’m writing a novel, I try to finish an entire chapter every time I sit down at my laptop. Then I make notes for the next chapter before logging off for the day. This way when I start that next chapter, I have some guidelines to use. This system seems to work for me.
How did you come up with the title?
‘Ruined’ came from the storyline and theme of the play, Much Ado About Nothing. A young bride’s virtuous reputation is ruined by lies and trickery. For me, the key word was ‘ruined,’ so I went with that for the title. It seems to say it all.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
I hope they take away the notion that revenge is never the right answer. Yes, we can be angry over a destructive situation, but retaliation only prolongs the conflict. Justice, not some hot-headed, crazy revenge scheme, is the right way to settle the problem.
How much of the book is realistic?
I think a great deal of the book is realistic, at least, I was going for that genuine high school feeling when I wrote Ruined. I heard from a reader on Goodreads who said that she knew people from this book in her senior year in high school. That made my day. She could relate my story and my characters to her life. Ruined had struck a realistic chord with her, and I’m was very glad and grateful to hear that.
Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
In other novels I’ve written, characters have had some of my characteristics and/or personality traits of people I know. It’s hard for a writer not to use their own experiences, their own emotions, when creating a character. If you need a bossy character, you envision that bossy co-worker you had years ago and put some of him/her onto the page. But in Ruined, I was focused on re-creating Shakespeare’s characters. I had personality guidelines to work with, and not just a blank slate like I have when I create my own characters for my own stories. So I’d have to say, a piece of me might have snuck into Ruined, but it wasn’t my intention.
What books have most influenced your life most?
In classical literature it would have to be anything by Shakespeare, of course. I love Jane Austen, especially Pride & Prejudice and Sense & Sensibility. Charles Dickens wrote one of my most favorite books, A Tale of Two Cities. I admire John Steinbeck for his Of Mice and Men, and Cannery Row. J.R.R. Tolkien’s Hobbit and all of the Lord of the Rings books. Contemporary writers that I love include, Stephen King and his Richard Bachman stories like The Running Man. J.K. Rowling and her incredibly imaginative, Harry Potter. Any southern lawyer novel by John Grisham. Scary, sci-fi books by Robin Cook. But my favorite writer was Michael Crichton. Jurassic Park blew me away. I still can’t believe he’s dead. Oh, well, his writing lives on! Yay!
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Marian is a full-time writer of contemporary and historical young adult fiction. A native Chicagoan and a graduate of Northern Illinois University, Marian taught special education and worked in the business world before pursuing her dream of becoming a writer. She would rather be at her desk than almost anywhere else, but of course, that isn’t always possible. So when she’s not writing, she enjoys reading, gardening, walking the dog, travelling with her husband, and researching new projects. Not necessarily in that order.
She adores anything Shakespeare. An avid reader of Shakespeare biographies, she has traveled the world to see his plays, visiting Stratford, Canada as well as Stratford-Upon-the-Avon, Great Britain, and the new Globe Theater in London. Her latest YA novel, Ruined, Book One in her new Stratford High series – modern retellings of Shakespeare’s plays – is inspired by the Bard’s classic romance, Much Ado About Nothing. Book Two, inspired by the Merchant of Venice, is due out fall 2014.
Her debut YA, Eastland, came out in February 2014. Based on the real-life story of the 1915 Eastland boat disaster in Chicago, Marian lectures about the Eastland to schools, libraries, and book clubs, as well as co-hosting haunted Chicago tours of Eastland disaster sites. She writes a post on the subject on the Tribune’s Chicago Now blog site. Visit her at:
Twitter @CheathamMarian
PRIZE NEWS: Marian will be awarding an eBook copy of Ruined to a randomly drawn commenter at each stop during the tour. A Grand Prize of a signed paperback copy of Ruined plus a new DVD of Much Ado About Nothing starring Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson will be awarded to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour (US ONLY). A signed paperback copy of Ruined will be awarded to a randomly drawn host (US ONLY).
Enter to win a signed book and a DVD! A Rafflecopter Giveaway
I’d love one of my readers to win this prize!!
Friends, I’m also a real Shakespeare lover, how about you? Let me know!
And as always, thanks for stopping by!
Brenda
P.S. Still time to escape to the beach before the weather turns cold! Join Tiffany in The Return.
Tagged: Brenda Maxfield, Giveaway, Marian Cheatham, prize, Ruined, Shakespeare, The Return, YA Fiction
July 21, 2014
Christmas in July Blog Hop
Happy July, Friends!! And welcome to Christmas in July! (I’m reminded of the years I lived in the Caribbean, and Christmas was always hot. Santa came in on a jet ski! Ha!)
Our blog hop fun this month is to feature and give away a Christmas book. I’m delighted to offer Seeking Christmas as my giveaway. I’ll be giving a copy to TWO winners. To enter, simply leave a comment below and be sure to include your email address.
Here’s the blurb:
The Christmas season has eighteen-year-old Courtney crossing the state line with her little brother Dennis to rendezvous with the man who deserted them years ago. Courtney remembers him only as the tall man who ran away. Dennis doesn’t remember him at all.
Courtney is furious, but Denny is curious. Will their meeting result in a happy Christmas memory or another miserable disappointment?
And a little taste:
My phone buzzed against my leg. I pulled it from my pocket and checked the screen.
Doyle.
Such a stupid name.
For such a stupid man.
My gaze darted to where my mom lay slumped on the couch, her mouth hanging open and a gentle snore escaping her saggy lips. My brother Denny sat hunched over his math workbook at the kitchen table, a death grip on his pencil. His short, scrawny legs swung to and fro.
I pressed the phone to my chest and took the stairs two at a time to my room.
“What do you want?” My voice was tense, short. With a steel hold on the phone, I strode to the window and stared out. Across the street, strings of Christmas lights drooped over a fir tree, winking at me in all their sparkling glory.
I turned away.
“You know what I want. Please, Courtney.” The pleading in his voice rankled like a cat scratching at the back door.
“No.”
“But it’s been over seven years. It’s time.”
“And whose fault is that?” My words cut.
“You don’t need to remind me.” A heaving sigh came across the line.
I stood ramrod straight beside my single bed and gazed around the empty expanse of the master bedroom. I attempted to shove down the lump of anger in my throat.
“Dad, the answer is no.”
“I would meet you way more than halfway. I’ve got it all arranged. There’s a motel room for you. Your own. No sharing.”
“Mom would come unglued.” I sank onto the mussed flannel sheets and impatiently kicked aside a stray slipper. It struck my dresser and lay over like a dead animal.
“Your mother won’t talk to me.”
I went quiet and listened to his raspy breath. Despite my objections, despite my bitterness, curiosity pulled. I attempted to stifle it, knowing that giving in would mean wading into quicksand.
“Court? Come on, for old time’s sake?”
Resentment ripped through me. “Old time’s sake? Are you freakin’ kidding me?”
“How’s Tiffany?” he asked, changing the subject to my sister.
“Horrid, as usual. Seeing you last year didn’t help her any.”
“I tried. I wanted her to stay.”
“Yeah, well, you had a weird way of showing it.” I grew tired of the conversation. Such a pathetic waste of time.
I threw my cell onto the covers and moved to the walk-in closet. My gray hoodie sagged on a row of pegs running above an unused shoe rack. My four pairs of shoes lay scattered across the floor, resembling lonely children in a deserted playground. Like the massive room, the closet was wasted on me. My meager collection of clothes barely took one third of the space.
I pulled on my hoodie, adjusted my glasses, and went back downstairs. Bending over, I plugged in the lights on the waist-high Christmas tree perching on the coffee table.
Denny looked up, and his face relaxed into a grin. “Thanks, Court. I forgot to plug ‘em in.”
“Finished with your math yet?”
“One more problem.”
“There are some chips in the cupboard if you’re hungry.”
Denny jumped off his chair and scrambled into the kitchen. The cupboard door slammed shut, and he returned with his arm elbow-deep in the foil bag.
I chuckled. “I’m going for a walk. And no more banging around. Let Mom sleep.”
I grabbed my heavy wool jacket and carefully opened the condo door, clicking it shut behind me. The cold December air lent a crisp clarity to the stars. They seemed near enough to gather in my pocket. I headed west toward the ocean. A biting breeze brought the sour smell of seaweed and blew my dark, feathered hair against my cheeks. I checked the time on my phone. Keegan should intercept me any minute.
For those of you that like to escape to the beach during the summer months, you’d probably enjoy Buried Truth, Player, Cornered, and The Return. (See the covers above and right.) If you’re like me, you’re always in the mood for a good beach read! :-D
Remember to leave a comment below (with your email) to be entered in the drawing!
To visit other blogs in the hop, click here. I wish you all a super day!
And as always, thanks for stopping by.
Brenda
Tagged: Blog Hop, Brenda Maxfield, Christmas in July, Free books, Prizes, Seeking Christmas
July 1, 2014
Giveaway Hop
Greetings, Friends! Welcome to our Freedom to Read Giveaway Hop! I hope you have a great time “hopping” around between all of the participating blogs. Remember that there are free books or prizes at each stop, so you won’t want to miss any blogs!
I’m delighted that you’ve stopped by my blog. Here, you will find many contemporary teen reads. (I have adult fans, too! Personally, I love reading YA.) Please give a glance at the books in the side margin. I hope you’ll find one or two that intrigue you. Some of them are bargain-priced!
As we’re focusing on freedom for this blog hop, I’d like to share some quotes with you:
For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. Nelson Mandela
The most important kind of freedom is to be what you really are. You trade in your reality for a role. You give up your ability to feel, and in exchange, put on a mask. Jim Morrison
If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter. George Washington
I thought these quotes were especially thought-provoking. I hope you enjoy them, too.
For this blog hop, I am giving away a copy of Cornered and Player. To be entered in the drawing, simply click on the link below!!
To find the other blog hop participants, click here.
Good luck! I’d love to hear from you. What does freedom mean to you?
Thank you, again!
And as always, thanks for stopping by,
Brenda
Tagged: Blog Hop, Brenda Maxfield, Cornered, freedom, good clean teen reads, July 4, Player, YA Lit
