Mikey Brooks's Blog, page 15

BOOKMARKED BARGAINS

BOOKMARKED BARGAINSWin a free KindleFind ebooks at discount pricesFor ebook lovers everywhereOur authors at BookMarked Bargains are amazing, and to prove it, we’re holding a huge online extravaganza ebook sale!You’re invited!!! 

WHEN: Wednesday, Oct. 16 to Friday, Oct. 18, 2013
WHERE: www.bookmarkedbargains.blogspot.com Three days of deals, discounts, and dynamite reads!Come check out our online site to findyour favorite authors and their fantasticebooks at great discount prices. Also, be sure to enter for your chance towin a free Kindle!

Killer Book Launches

I was able to take on a different role today on the Authors' Think Tank Podcast and actually be a special guest instead of a co-host. If you have a book launch coming up or are planning on having one anytime soon, this is the show for you. On this podcast will be discussed where to start and tips on how to make your launch successful. I’d love to hear any extra tips you have that made your book stand out from all the others. Follow this link to hear the show: http://www.foreverwriters.com/2013/10/07/episode-33-killer-indie-books-launches-with-mikey-brooks/

Feature: Indie Author Survival Guide

Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Goodreads TBRThis book is for every author who's thinking about indie publishing, or has already taken the leap, and wonders why no one told them about the sharks, the life-sucking social media quicksand, or the best way to avoid sales-checking, yellow-spotted fever. This is a guide for the heart as much as the head. And because I promised myself that I wouldn't write a book about how I made a gazillion dollars publishing ebooks, I would write about the fear: owning it, overcoming it, facing it. From a person who didn't pursue a creative life for a long time, and then discovered creativity can set you free. Note: gazillion is a technical term, which in this case means something less than a million and more than the average income in my state.Susan Kaye Quinn is the author of the bestselling Mindajck Trilogy and Debt Collector serial and has been indie publishing since 2011. She’s not an indie rockstar or a breakout success: she’s one of thousands of solidly midlist indie authors making a living with their works. This book is a compilation of her four years of blogging through changes in the publishing industry—updated, revised, and supplemented to be relevant in 2013. It’s a guide to help her writer-friends take their own leaps into the wild (and wonderful) world of indie publishing... and not only survive, but thrive. You can friend her on Facebook or follow her on twitter or check out her blog where she'll be doing who knows what next.Grab the Badge for your blog! link: http://www.susankayequinn.com/p/for-writers.htmlSign up for bookmarks! Win the t-shirt!a Rafflecopter giveaway FAQ About the Guide Q: What prompted you to write the Guide?I resisted a long time in putting this together. I had this silly idea I was a fiction writer (which is also true), in spite of spending the last four years blogging consistently about the industry, and especially the changes wrought by indie publishing. It took the goading of several friends, over a period of time, before I realized that the blog was actually non-fiction writing (I can be excessively slow for Ph.D. engineer sometimes). The trigger for blogging the book - revising and updating old posts as well as organizing the content - was seeing writer friend after writer friend take the leap, often after reading something I had posted. And I realized there wasn't a book out there that addressed the fears as well as the nuts-and-bolts about going indie. I could have just left the Guide on my rinky-dink blog, but I knew the power of Amazon (and other retailers) to connect people to books, and I figured it would help more people this way. Q: Why should I read a book about indie publishing by Susan Kaye Quinn? I'm pretty sure she's not a NY Times Bestseller.I'm not an indie rockstar. I haven't made the news as one of those "exceptional" breakout indie authors. I'm a solidly midlist indie author, which means I make a living off my works. I'm one of thousands of invisible indie midlist authors who, I believe, are the core of indie publishing, and why it's changing the industry. The rockstars of indie publishing can inspire and lead, they can use their leverage to break barriers, but they can't transform the industry on their own. The true change has to come, as it always has, from the grass-roots. I'm part of that grass-roots movement. Q: Will this Guide help me get rich quick from ebooks?No. Q: Will this Guide help me decide if indie publishing is right for me?Yes. Q: What if I'm afraid?We're all afraid. Fear is an integral part of being vulnerable in the world by daring to do brave things. Fear stops many people from becoming the full expression of who they are. I won't tell you not to be afraid in this book - I'll help you see the fear for what it is, manage it, and not let it stop you from reaching for the amazing things you have ahead of you. Q: What if I don't have the first clue how to start with self-publishing?The Guide is designed to take a first-time-publishing author from the decision to go indie through to writing that second book (and starting the whole process over again). It's also designed to help indie authors who have already published, but are struggling: either with keeping perspective for the long-term, trying to scale up their businesses from the first book, or just trying not to drown in social media quicksand. My hope is that all my indie author friends will find something worthwhile in it, or pass it on to someone who will. The culture in indie publishing of sharing information is part of what inspired this book in the first place.

Cover Reveal: A Fantasy Christmas

What do Witches, Elves, and Greek Gods (Oh My) have in common? They are part of the romantic Christmas anthology, A Fantasy Christmas, written by Cindy C Bennett, Stephanie Fowers, and Sherry Gammon. This exciting collection of fantasy stories will be available on November 1st. Click the link to our blog for a sneak peek at a couple of the individual covers and watch for blog tour info! http://afantasychristmasthenovel.blogspot.com/

Halfling by Cindy C BennettBanished from the South Pole, Kara tries to carve out a new life among the elves of the North. It’s not easy with a secret to protect—a secret she's cursed with by the unusual circumstances of her heritage: half-elf, half-fairy. In the North, she’s assigned to work with Seb on a special project. He's the most gorgeous elf she’s ever seen - and the orneriest. 
As if being banished wasn’t punishment enough. 
Seb introduces her to Trystin, a fairy from the nearby fairy forest. Trystin discerns her secret right away and promises to teach her how to use the powers given to her by the very thing she’s fighting to keep hidden.
Aphrodite  by Stephanie Fower
Nothing is simple for Aphrodite’s daughter, especially love. 
Scorned by society in regency England, Affry longs for romance. Upon encountering a dashing nobleman at her aunty's Christmas' ball, Affry gets caught in a lovely intrigue with disastrous results. Worse, she wins the interest of the gods. Now the furies of the underworld and Hades himself are after her. 
When all is fair in war,  Affry must use love as her weapon—but only for the one who’s stolen er heart.
Loving Marigold by Sherry GammonYoung Marigold Yarrow has a secret. She’s also in love with Jack Mahoney. In the middle of her ninth grade year, Jack's family up and moves to Port Fare, New York, leaving the small town of Sugar Maple, West Virginia - and Marigold - far behind.
Nine years later Jack and Marigold meet again. They join forces to weed out the shady Abbott boys. The unscrupulous brothers are illegally selling moonshine near her home on Sugar Maple Ridge. And they'll do anything to get Marigold to leave the ridge. Anything.
But this time it could be magic that tears Jack and Marigold apart.

Awakening Blog Tour

About the Book

. . . because some Celtic stories won’t be contained in myth.

A little magic has always run in sixteen-year-old McKayla McCleery's family—at least that’s what she’s been told. McKayla’s eccentric Aunt Avril travels the world as a psychic for the FBI, and her mother can make amazing delicacies out of the most basic of ingredients. But McKayla doesn't think for a second that the magic is real—it’s just good storytelling. Besides, McKayla doesn’t need magic. She recently moved to beautiful Star Valley, Wyoming, and already she has a best friend, a solo in her upcoming ballet recital—and the gorgeous guy in her physics class keeps looking her way.


When an unexpected fascination with Irish dance leads McKayla to seek instruction from the mute, crippled janitor at her high school, she learns that her family is not the only one with unexplained abilities. After Aunt Avril comes to Star Valley in pursuit of a supernatural killer, people begin disappearing, and the lives of those McKayla holds most dear are threatened.

When the janitor reveals that an ancient curse, known as a geis, has awakened deadly powers that defy explanation, McKayla is forced to come to terms with what is real and what is fantasy. A thrilling debut novel based in Celtic mythology, Awakening is a gripping young adult fantasy rife with magic, romance, and mystery.




Praise for Awakening
"AWAKENING is a wonder and a delight. Christy Dorrity is a talent to watch."
~David Farland, New York Times bestselling author of Nightingale


"I thoroughly enjoyed AWAKENING, a captivating and unique debut novel that creatively integrates Irish dance."
~ CHRIS NAISH, Riverdance member and Creative Director of Fusion Fighters Irish dancers.
About the Author

Christy Dorrity lives in the mountains with her husband, five children, and a cocker spaniel. She grew up on a trout ranch in Star Valley, Wyoming, and is the author of The Geis series for young adults, and The Book Blogger’s Cookbooks. Christy is a champion Irish dancer and when she’s not reading or writing, she’s probably trying out a new recipe in the kitchen.
Purchase Awakening by Christy Dorrity:
 


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Cover Reveal: THE DREAMSTONE

I got enough requests that I thought I'd go ahead and show you the cover for the next installment of the Dream Keeper books, THE DREAMSTONE, scheduled to release December 2, 2013. I had a lot of fun creating this cover and owe most of the ideas for it to my beautiful wife, Brooklyn, who basically told me how to do it. I think it's fun and has lots of hidden things in it. So here you go:



“There is a world inside our own, but we can’t see it when we areawake—only when we sleep.It’s called Dreams.” When Parker’s mom is dreamnapped by the wicked Mab,it is up to him and Kaelyn to save her. When they return to Dreams, they discover Mab isn’t their only problem. Gladamyr has lost his powers and the only way to get them back is to become what he fears the most—a nightmare.

If you haven't had a chance to read THE DREAM KEEPER you can follow this link to Amazon. There you can read the first few chapters and decide whether it is a book for you. I think it's pretty awesome but here is what others have said about it:

"My heart hammered and I couldn't tear my eyes away from the page. I felt every emotion the characters did, I laughed, I cried, I felt fear while reading this book."—Amazon reviewer

"If you like the Percy Jackson, Fablehaven, or the Harry Potter series, you'll love this!"—Amazon reviewer

"I found the story to be uniquely imaginative and very creative…the feelings of ninth grader’s was right on the money. I will be recommending it to all my middle grade and young adult friends!"—Amazon reviewer

Tween the Weekends: Great Tween Books

I write middle-grade because I LOVE to read middle-grade. These are the books that I wish were around when I was young. I especially enjoy stories that find magic in the most unlikely of places or ones that take me on an adventure. Today for Tween the Weekends, a fun promotion hosted by Emblazoners.com, I thought I’d share three of my favorite middle grade books and why I think you’ll like reading them as much as I do. I also give a list of my personal recommendations.

First up is a book that has made it to the top of my list, THE FALSE PRINCE, by Jennifer A. Nielsen. Why is this book at the top of my list? Because it is filled with heroic adventures, compelling conflict, and best of all it has a strong main character that makes me root for him every step of the way.  Another reason why this book means so much to me is that aside from its terrific plot and twisty ending, is that it's about a boy trying to come to terms with who he really is and accepting that. So often I see kids struggling to accept their roles in life, whether that is the role of a sibling, child, student, or prince. This book shows them how they can be true to themselves no matter the consequences.   Next on my list is a super fun series. GILDA JOYCE PSYCHIC INVESTIGATOR, by Jennifer Allison. If you are in the mood for a spooky story that will have you rolling on the floor from laughing so hard I recommend these books. Gilda is a tween trying to overcome the loss of her father with herself proclaimed psychic powers. As each story leads her to solve one strange mystery after another you might wonder, like I have, if Gilda really is psychic after all. This is a fun book series about freaky ghosts and chasing after your dreams. Gilda is hilarious and will make you laugh—but be warned these books might get a little creepy if read late at night.

Last on my list today is a fun story about finding magic in everyday places, namely, grade school. In JANITORS, by Tyler Whiteside, the main character, Spencer, learns that magic is real and it’s affecting the way kids learn. This book answers the question of why kids fall asleep during math or history—yes, there is a reason. Janitors are wizard like guardians protecting education from magic gone bad. It’s a pretty cool book about finding the unexpected in the most boring of places. I really enjoyed the themes presented in this book including being true to yourself and not being a chameleon, someone who changes sides on a whim. This book is one of the books I wish I had read when I was a kid.
If these books aren’t enough, try these on as well:
A MEASURE OF DISORDER, by Alan TuckerARROW OF THE MIST, by Christina MercerANDY SMITHSON: BLAST OF THE DRAGON’S FURY, by L. R. W. LeeCASSIDY JONES AND THE SECRET FORMULA, by Elise StokesCURSE OF THE DOUBLE DIGITS, by Lynn Kelley CYCLES, by Lois D. Brown THE DREAM KEEPER, by Mikey Brooks (that's me) GANGSTERLAND, by Ansha Kotyk JUMP BOYS: SOS, by Alex Banks THE LAST TIMEKEEPERS AND THE ARCH OF ATLANTIS, by Sharon Ledwith MAGIAN HIGH, by Lia London MICHAELA’S GIFT, by Cordelia Dinsmore MONSTER MOON: CURSE AT ZALA MANOR, by BBH McChiller NOAH ZARC: MAMMOTH TROUBLE, by D. Robert Pease PRINCESS KANDAKE: WARRIOR BY CHOICE…APPOINTED TO RULE, by Stephanie Jefferson THE SUPER SPIES AND THE CAT LADY KILLER, by Lisa Orchard TAYLOR DAVIS AND THE FLAME OF FINDUL, by Michelle Isenhoff
Find more great books for tweens at: http://emblazoners.com/

Author Invasion

Those local to Southern Idaho and Northern Utah wont want to miss this. An Author Invasion at the Tremonton Library. Come see some fun authors present on the craft and participate in a book signing. I'll be there 12pm-3pm. I hope to see you there!!

Celebrating Teachers & Librarians

Attention teachers and librarians! The Emblazoner's New Catalog - filled with great middle grade and tween titles your students and patrons will love - is coming soon! To celebrate, we're holding a giveaway of stuff you can use: gift cards to add books to your collection and swag to hand out to your students and patrons. Grand Prizes (2): $15 Amazon Gift cards (to add a book to your library) + SWAG Bags Less Grand But Still Auspicious Prizes (8): SWAG Bags (bookmarks, collector's cards, etc. to give away to your students/patrons) Note: Signing up for the catalog is required for entry. Winners must reside in the United States or Canada. You must be a teacher or librarian to win.
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A New Picture Book Blog

I wanted to take a brief moment and introduce you to the blog that my daughter's and I run. It's called Daddy's Girls Book Reviews and it's all about Picture books, as well as tips on reading with kids.

We read a lot of books in our house. Every night the girls get to pick out two-three books each. They have their favorites that get read again and again, and then they had some we didn't get past the first four pages. I noticed my girls had their opinions of what made a good and not so swell book. So I had a crazy thought, "why not start a review blog and share what these two girls think?" So I asked the girls. They were all for it. Why not? This would make sure daddy didn't cop out when it was reading time. (Yes, sometimes when I am tired, reading a picture book is the last on my list, but I do it for my girls.) So we started Daddy's Girls Book Reviews.

I'd love for you to check it out, follow it, and share it with a friend. We primarily want to reach out to parents of small children because that is what we are all about. As my girls grow older we plan on reviewing chapter books and middle-grade but we will continue to share some of the best picture books out there. I hope you take a moment to check us out. Thanks!!

Go there now: http://daddysgirlsbookreviews.blogspot.com/