Katie Hamstead's Blog, page 13

NEW Covers For the KIYA TRILOGY

Here they are, the NEW Covers!!!!

Katie Hamstead's bestselling trilogy is getting a new look! Check out the new covers below!

Hope of the Pharoah (KIYA Trilogy #1)by Katie Hamstead
Summary:
When Naomi’s sisters are snatched up to be taken to be wives of the erratic Pharaoh, Akhenaten, she knows they won’t survive the palace, so she offers herself in their place. The fearsome Commander Horemheb sees her courage, and knows she is exactly what he is looking for…

The Great Queen Nefertiti despises Naomi instantly, and strips her of her Hebrew lineage, including her name, which is changed to Kiya. Kiya allies herself with Horemheb, who pushes her to greatness and encourages her to make the Pharaoh fall in love with her. When Akhenaten declares Kiya will be the mother of his heir, Nefertiti, furious with jealousy, schemes to destroy Kiya.

Kiya must play the deadly game carefully. She is in a silent battle of wills, and a struggle for who will one day inherit the crown. If she does bear an heir, she knows she will need to fight to protect him, as well as herself, from Nefertiti who is out for blood. 


Mother of a King (KIYA Trilogy #2)by Katie Hamstead
Summary:
Nefertiti has forced Naomi to flee Amarna with Malachi and the three children. But even under the protection of Naomi's family in Thebes, Nefertiti still hunts her and Tut. Nefertiti sends assassins to kill them, and while Naomi fights to protect the children, Malachi fights to keep her safe.

With three children in tow, one of which isn't her own, she is labeled the harlot outcast wife of the pharaoh and is shunned. She isn't safe among her own people, and flees from being stoned to death. Although her family protects her, she must find a way to survive.

While Naomi struggles to keep herself and Tut alive, old adversaries return as Smenkhkare takes advantage of Akhenaten's ailing health. Naomi must rely on Horemheb's promise to protect Tut's birthright, but her feelings for Malachi could cause more problems with Horemheb than she expects. 

Rise of a New Dynasty (KIYA Trilogy #3)by Katie Hamstead
Summary:
Tut has grown into his position as Pharaoh, but he is a wild young man. Naomi fears for him, not only because of his recklessness, but because he has put his trust in Ay—the man determined to destroy Naomi—despite her and Horemheb advising against it.

Meanwhile, death and slavery hang over Naomi and her family. With fear of the booming Hebrew numbers causing talk of enslaving them, conscription is reinstated and Naomi fears for the lives of her other children. Especially since Ay's children are now adults, and just as dangerous as their father. They threaten to take Itani, conspire against Tut, and push for power.

But Tut is in trouble. While Ay's daughter draws Horemheb's attention, and Naomi deals with the struggles of her family, everyone's distraction could spell death for the young Pharaoh. 

You can find the series on Amazon HERE!
The Author has signed copies of the original covers on sale! Check that out HERE! 
About the AuthorBorn and raised in Australia, Katie's early years of day dreaming in the "bush", and having her father tell her wild bedtime stories, inspired her passion for writing.
After graduating High School, she became a foreign exchange student where she met a young man who several years later she married. Now she lives in Arizona with her husband, daughter and their dog.
She has a diploma in travel and tourism which helps inspire her writing.
When her debut novel, Kiya: Hope of the Pharaoh, climbed into bestselling status, she believed she was onto something, and now has a slew of novels now available, and is published through Curiosity Quills Press, Soul Mate Publishing, and REUTS Publishing.
Katie loves to out sing her friends and family, play sports, and be a good wife and mother. She now works as an Acquisitions Editor to help support her family. She loves to write, and takes the few spare moments in her day to work on her novels.
Author Links:      

Cover Reveal Organized by:

Review: 18 Things by Jamie Ayres

From Goodreads:
Olga Gay Worontzoff thinks her biggest problems are an awful name and not attending prom with Conner, her best friend and secret crush since kindergarten.

Then, Conner is killed in a freak boating accident and Olga feels responsible for his death.

When she downs an entire bottle of pills to deal with the emotional pain, her parents force her into counseling. There, her therapist writes a prescription in the form of a life list titled “18 Things”: eighteen quests to complete the year of her eighteenth birthday.

But there’s more to Olga’s quests than meets the eye and when her therapist reveals a terrifying secret, her world is shaken.

There’s only one thing she knows for certain: her choices won’t just affect her future, but all eternity.



My Thoughts:
This book... I'm not sure how to put into words my thoughts without giving away too much. I'll start from the beginning.
18 Things starts out strong; heartbreaking, and powerful. I really felt Olga's grief. That shows real skill. I was hooked, and, since it was on audible, I listened while I worked around my house and in my car pretty much non-stop.
Nate is the perfect match for Olga. He's sweet and kinda goofy and nerdy, just like her. Although, the narrator gave him a ridiculous TMNT kind of voice, I did enjoy him, even if Olga was totally oblivious to his obvious liking of her.
There were some super cheesy moments that made me cringe as it moved into the second half of the book. Things that teens haven't said or done since the 90s. The guys all having TMNT voices only highlighted the awkward. And what was with the dis of Bill and Ted?? No. Next it will be Ferris Bueler and BTTF. Not acceptable.
That end... ohh, I was pretty mad about it actually. At work all day I brewed over that twist. But the fact that I cared so much said how involved I got with the book. I hated it because it felt so unjust for the characters I'd come to care about.
So yes, I'll be "reading" aka audible, the rest of this series. Excited to see what happens next, because there were some big loose ends with this one!

Review: Because I Love You by Tori Rigby

From Goodreads:
Eight weeks after sixteen-year-old Andie Hamilton gives her virginity to her best friend, “the stick” says she’s pregnant. 

Her friends treat her like she’s carrying the plague, her classmates torture and ridicule her, and the boy she thought loved her doesn’t even care. Afraid to experience the next seven months alone, she turns to her ex-boyfriend, Neil Donaghue, a dark-haired, blue-eyed player. With him, she finds comfort and the support she desperately needs to make the hardest decision of her life: whether or not to keep the baby.

Then a tragic accident leads Andie to discover Neil’s keeping a secret that could dramatically alter their lives, and she's forced to make a choice. But after hearing her son’s heartbeat for the first time, she doesn’t know how she’ll ever be able to let go.





My Thoughts:
This is one of the rare times I'm inclined to give something an extra half star. I didn't enjoy it enough to give it four stars, but I didn't not enjoy it enough for three. It definitely kept me interested and I kept going right until the end, so something about it caught me. But there were just so many... well, flaws I guess.
This comes across as a teen pregnancy book. It's really not. It's a romance with a girl who happens to be pregnant which makes her finally get past herself and notices a boy. The details about doctor visits, and symptoms, and sensations make it pretty clear the author has never had a baby before.
The stuff at the beginning with her peers feels pretty accurate. I can see her friends and the father running away at sixteen years old. This was the best part of the book, the early stages where she has to deal with the teen pregnancy and the consequences.
The rest gets kind of... off. When you're pregnant, you think about being pregnant ALL THE TIME. Andie, the MC, is more concerned with boys, and friends, and parents, and drama, and the third trimester and labor is brushed over and poorly represented, which are probably the hardest parts of the whole forty weeks.
I did like the romance. I think that was what kept me going. Niel was a pretty strong, thoughtful, and interesting character. 
I also read this as an audible, and the voice irritated me! Haha! I wouldn't let that deter me from the story though. Most audio voices are a bit on the annoying side.

All up, it had good points and bad, but I did finish it, which says quite a bit when I have so many other books I need to read!

Release Day Facebook Live Giveaway Prizes!

As I have mentioned, for the Release of Myths of Mish (FTGC #2) I will be having a Facebook Live session. With that, I will be open for Q&A and also a huge giveaway. Below are the giveaway prizes I will be giving out throughout the event.

Prizes up for grabs during the FB Live release day event for Myths of Mish:Signed copy of Princess of Tyrone3 ecopies of Myths of Mish5 ecopies of any of my books, reader's choice.Signed paperback of The Undead: Playing for Keeps by Else ElmoreEmma and the Banderwigh (Tales of Widowswood Book 1) by Matthew CoxBroken Dolls by Tyrolin PuxtyThe Last Condo Board of the Apocalypse by Nina PostFive: Out of the Dark by Holli AndersonFairy Keeper by Amy BearceBleed Through by Adriana Arrington
Today, Book 1, Princess of Tyrone is on SALE! So join in the countdown fun and grab you copy and read it in time for book 2's release on March 28.

The Myths of Mish Release Countdown!

Seventeen days until the release of book two in the Fairytale Galaxy Chronicles, Myths of Mish! For those who read Princess of Tyrone I hope you're excited!
To celebrate, I'll be sharing teasers from Myths of Mish, as well as some excerpts, and teasers and fan art from Princess of Tyrone. All of this will be on my Facebook Page, and finishing the day of release with a Q&A and giveaway on Facebook Live. So leave your questions in the comments, on my page, on twitter, and I'll answer them all then.



Also, send me anything you would like me to share, things like links to reviews, teasers you made, your favorite quote from book one, fan art etc. I'd LOVE see them and share them and you will go into the running to win one of my ebooks of your choosing.

I'm excited for this release, and I hope you are too!

Review: The Captain and the Healer's Heart by Besty Love

From Goodreads:
With an impending murder charge, Giada must escape Earth before the Amahrian enforcers find her. Desperate, she accepts an offer to be a StarBride to a wealthy governor on another planet. What she didn’t account for was the handsome and irksome pilot whose only thoughts are about profits. 

Captain Skyler Rohn can’t go back to Earth; he’s a wanted man, and he needs money to prove his innocence. When a job offer comes in that pays handsomely to transport a StarBride, Skyler can’t resist. His ship damaged, Skyler’s only choice is to land on a habitable moon before their oxygen runs out. 

If only Giada and Skyler had met before she had agreed to be another man’s wife. 







My Thoughts:
I had the wonderful privileged of reading this before its release. This book brings back the feel-good in reading, a true escapism. It's light, short, and easy to read, while still having a well thought out plot and characters. A sweet romantic tale with adorable characters for people who enjoy reading light space opera. I can't wait to read the rest of this series!

Son of a Pitch Round 3

Here is Round 3 of Son of a Pitch! I am so proud of the efforts of all involved to take the critiques and improve and refine their queries. Although these are the final twenty, they are by no means the only fantastic entries, so we wish the best of luck to everyone who learned something from Son of a Pitch. Great job to all, and good luck to the final twenty.
Now, here are the links:The Social SeasonDylanKiller's Day OffCheater, Faker, TroublemakerThe BookshopSilver & IceThe Light WitchLunar Base LostThe Iceni and the RomanThe Ramblin' Hand of Sherry AnneDeadly DreamsUnqueenlyPlaying GodPrisoner of FateThe DeservedEmpathy: Imminent DawnLucidA World ApartNo Rest for the WickedA Tulip in Winter

Son of a Pitch Entry: The Social Season

****Only editors/agents and the writer of the entry can comment on this post.


Title: The Social SeasonCategory and Genre: Adult Speculative FictionWord Count: 110,000
Query:
The forty-fourth Social Season isn’t optional for Natalie James. She’s being forced to participate, a stipulation from her trial for treason back when she was a child.
Desperate, Natalie must try to use the system to her advantage. Her plan is to go unnoticed through the various events, meant to showcase the qualities that would make her a good wife, mistress, or servant to a member of the elite.
If she succeeds, she’ll be able to marry her best friend, a man who won’t control her and will help her take down the tyrannical government controlling their lives.
There’s just one problem. While searching for weaknesses in the government, she’s caught trespassing by one of the most powerful men in the city: Nicholas Olsen, future lord of Dolfian.
Under orders from his father to find a wife, Nicholas is simply uninterested in the boring, obedient women offered through the Season. 
When he catches Natalie, however, Nicholas finds himself intrigued. And he’s determined to make her his wife, a task that will please both his family and his city.
Most girls in the Season would be delighted by his proclamation. But Natalie isn’t most girls, and she has no plans to let Nicholas Olsen take over her life and mark her as his legal property.
When Nicholas bends the rules of the Season to go after what he so desperately wants, Natalie must use every tool at her disposal to remain free from his control.
Told in alternating points of view, THE SOCIAL SEASON is a work of speculative fiction complete at 110,000 words.
First 250 words: 
I was pacing in my father’s office, searching for an escape route from this horrid conversation. He’d doubtless spent many hours crafting this particular speech. It had been lingering at the edge of our meetings for months now. My hands clenched into fists.The wood floor creaked as I made another turn. I tuned it out, focusing instead on my father’s words. “Son, it’s time for you to choose. I’m not saying it has to be this season. I’ll give you…let’s say…three seasons. But you will attend each one until you’ve claimed a mate. Do you understand?”He was just barely speaking, his voice a bit louder than a whisper. He didn’t need to yell. I’d spent enough time with him to know when to argue. But I’d no interest in a wife; I didn’t need a woman following me around, groveling at my feet.“Father.” I planted my feet. He was reclining in his chair, staring up at me expectantly. He looked perfectly calm.I swallowed heavily, trying to find a solid argument. “I’m only twenty-five. I’ve been training under you for five years now. I shadowed you for a long time before that. Don’t you think I should be able to relax for just a bit before I take on a wife? And if I’m going to be the next Lord of Dolfian, do you really think I should be distracted? Why don’t I go through a season looking for a servant or a mistr-”I broke off quickly, seeing his eyes narrow. He dropped his hands to the desk and pushed himself upright. I forced myself to stay perfectly still, hiding my fear just like he’d taught me. I’d gone too far in my desperation. But I wouldn’t apologize.

Son of a Pitch Entry: Dylan

****Only editors/agents and the writer of the entry can comment on this post.

Title: Dylan
Category and Genre: Literary Fiction/Magical Realism
Word Count: 70K
Query: 
A FORREST GUMP meets PRACTICAL MAGIC tale.

Most everyone in the family calls Dylan “slow.” Worse, his abusive mother claims he’s wicked. He might not think fast, and it takes him awhile to form the words he wants, but Dylan has magic. He can spin marbles from oyster shells, and whip up Chicken Alfredo by tapping his thumbs together. In fact, he hopes to be a famous chef someday and put his magic to good use. Right now, the only one to appreciate his supernatural abilities is his loving uncle and caretaker, a disabled Vietnam veteran. When Uncle Jim dies, Dylan’s Aunt Agnes sells the house the two lived in, and ships Dylan off to an adult boarding home. There Dylan meets an equally gifted but troubled young lady named Liona.

With a rocky beginning, Dylan finally finds a friend in Liona whose mind-reading abilities makes it easier for him to communicate. Just when he settles into his new life a precious gift from his deceased uncle is destroyed. Despondent, Dylan flees to the beach and the oyster beds where he feels most at home, and where his magical empowerment comes from. His old Vietnamese friend, Tim Lan offers him a room in his shanty in exchange for his magically-made pearls. Dylan is tormented by the suspect requests of Tim Lan, for the old man takes his pearls to town and they mysteriously disappear. He’s muddled by his feelings for Liona for he’s never had a girlfriend before. His nightmare ensues when his drug addicted mother, who had once washed her hands of him, returns to exploit his gifts. He’s never stood up to her, and he risks losing everything he’s worked for - his relationship with Liona, with Tim Lan, and any hopes of independence - if he lets her destroy him.

250 Words:

By the time I was eighteen I didn’t care what Aunt Agnes said about me. I was happy. I had the two things that I needed most. Uncle Jim, and magic.

“He doesn’t connect the dots right,” Aunt Agnes complained to my cousin Shirley the night she drove me and Uncle Jim home from my graduation ceremony. My cousin always sat in front whenever we went anywhere. 
Shirley looked over her shoulder at me and scoffed while Aunt Agnes kept talking. “He can’t carry on a civil conversation. In fact, I don’t know if he is past the third-grade level of reading.”

I rolled my eyes. But Uncle Jim growled and then went into a coughing fit. He didn’t say anything though. How could he? He was facing the back of the van sitting in a wheel chair behind me. Once we got home, Aunt Agnes lowered the lift, and Uncle Jim steam-rolled into the house. I followed him inside with Aunt Agnes at my heels. Uncle Jim threw his baseball cap on the couch, and grumbled something fierce, maneuvering his chair through the litter in our living room. I could see a fight coming because Aunt Agnes and Uncle Jim fought a lot. Usually about me. I appreciated his support, but I didn’t like him yelling. The noise reminded me of my mother and the wicked years. I dodged into my room and waited for Aunt Agnes to leave, holding my hands over my ears until the front door slammed.

Son of a Pitch Entry: Killer's Day Off

****Only editors/agents and the writer of the entry can comment on this post.

Title:  KILLER'S DAY OFF
Category and Genre:  Adult Urban Fantasy
Word Count:  84,000
Query:

Eleven doesn’t feel like killing the President of the United States today. Every other profession gets sick days, so why not genetically-enhanced android super-assassins? Unfortunately, that’s not how his owner/creator/father-figure, Simon Cordova, sees it. A few threats, a little brainwashing, and Eleven is off to the White House. Only when he gets there, he finds that Simon has lied to him about Eleven being the only android around. Sure, meeting this other guy doesn’t stop Eleven from killing Mr. President, but it certainly raises some questions, such as ‘Why has Simon lied to me?’ and ‘What am I?’ and ‘Why the hell am I being brainwashed?’ Except those answers need to wait, because this job didn’t end in DC. No, it followed Eleven home and found where his friends live.Now Eleven has to protect those around him while working through a budding existential crisis. But none of that will stop him from finding answers to every one of his questions, even if it takes a few explosions, abundant violence, and at least one hostage situation to do so.
First 250:“What?” Agent Olsen’s voice hissed through the telephone. “You’re calling out sick from assassinating the president?”“Yeah, sorry about that.” I nestled the phone between my head and shoulder while I pulled the bag of Cheetos open. Olsen probably heard it, but who cares? “I’m just feeling a little under the weather.”“Under the weather?” Static screeched over the line, the cords and tubes of the phone company cracking under the pressure of Olsen’s rage. “You’re a genetically modified android, Eleven. You can’t feel under the weather!”“Oh, did I say I felt sick? Meant to say tired.” I kicked my shoes off into the rest of the junk comprising my man-cave apartment, then fell backwards onto the couch. “Didn’t sleep very well last night. Etcetera.”Static hissed through the phone again before Olsen’s voice simmered down enough to be heard. “—any idea how much time and money and planning went into—“I pulled the phone away from my ear and glared at it. I had nearly four years of perfect attendance under my belt, and they couldn’t give me even one damned vacation day? Sometimes people just weren’t up to the task of going outside and being productive—or, in my case, murdering politicians in cold blood. Today was definitely one of those off days for me.Hopefully Agent Olsen and his boss could understand that. If not, then my status as a badass super-assassin earned me some other undeniable privileges.