Katie Hamstead's Blog, page 15

Son of a Pitch is now CLOSED!

CLOSED
email to:
sonofapitchcomp@yahoo.com.au
I will respond to ALL emails to let you know if you made it or not. I will be at work at that time, and I personally check each email for correct formatting etc, so the response may take some time. Please be patient with me :)

Subject line: Son of a Pitch! (Category and Genre of your manuscript)

Formatting:
Title: (Name of Manuscript)
Category and Genre: (YA/NA/Adult then Genre)
Word Count: (to the nearest thousand)
Query:Insert query here. No bio or comparisons please.
First 250 Words:I don't care if this is from a prologue or chapter one. That's up to you.



Incorrectly formatted  emails and those who jump the gun will be returned.

Son of a Pitch Round One

ROUND ONE!
A chance to refine your query and first 250 words. Post your query and 250 words on your blog then leave a direct link in the comments below. Please leave feedback on the author's blog, and for a minimum of three other queries and first 250. 

All feedback left in the comments below will be deleted.


***You don't have to participate in this round to join Round 2. It is highly recommended to get that extra polish before the voting round.***
GOOD LUCK!

Brownlow Baby is now LIVE!

Grab my latest release, Brownlow Baby now! Get it on Amazon and add it on Goodreads. I am also hosting a Facebook Live session on my author page (Click ME!!) at 8 PM Arizona time, which should be the same as MST. 
So grab your copy and come join me!

Son of a Pitch Requesting Publishers

For the third round of our events, I've lined up an amazing collection of publishers who are ready to read the efforts of the finalists. Many have returned from previously, so I'm really excited! I also have an agent who will be coming by the twitter pitch party, Jen Linnan. Exciting! Check them out.

At Blaze, we're committed to bringing you high-quality, hard-hitting books full of heart. Whether the story is a mystery, a thriller, horror, steampunk, or some goofy comedy, there will be a message woven into the pages for readers to find and fall in love with. We want you to walk away inspired, in awe, or just happy to be alive. Or maybe you'll look at other people differently, in a less negative light. Whatever the case, you will find heart in our stories.

City Owl Press is a cutting edge indie publishing company, bringing the world of romance and speculative fiction to discerning readers. 
Co-founded by award-winning authors, Yelena Casale and Tina Moss, the City Owl Press team brings together more than a decade of business, writing, editing, design, marketing, advertising, and publishing experience. 

We believe in connecting every book with the right reader and every reader with the right book.

What do you believe?


Curiosity Quills Press (CQ) is a hybrid press founded in 2011 that specializes in fresh, unique fiction of the highest quality.At CQ, we believe that everyone needs an escape, and we want to be yours. Come grab a book and nerd out with us for a while.Over the past three years we have successfully tripled our business going from writer-advice blog to full-service publishing press. If you are an author interested in submitting, please visit our submission page: http://curiosityquills.com/submission-guidelines/


Falstaff Books is a digital and print publishing company based in Charlotte, NC dedicated to bringing to life the best in fantasy, science fiction, horror, mystery, and dramatic literature. We love bringing amazing stories to light and giving incredible writers a voice. The battered, ignored, rejected “misfit toys” of fiction are all welcome at Falstaff Books, where we understand that every scar is a story and only with different voices can harmony be created. Immortal Works is a full-service small press that specializes in genre fiction for those looking for an enthralling tale, but don’t want to have to worry about graphic violence, obscene language, or pornographic content. That doesn’t mean our titles don’t have dark villains, irreverent humor, or thrilling romance. It just means that you don’t have to hide our books from your mom, wife, and bishop. Immortal Works publishes mainstream genre fiction in print, as eBooks, and every one of our titles will be available on Audible! So many wonderful stories struggle to find homes and an opportunity to reach readers; Lakewater Press was founded to offer some of these a chance. They’re small, personal, and savvy, focusing on quality not quantity, and ensuring each book isn’t simply released then abandoned, but nurtured for its entire life.


WHO ARE WE? Simply put: we’re authors, lovers of the written word. Whether we started as readers, editors, designers or television personalities, our driving passion is the creation and growth of incredible stories. Collectively, our team has over a dozen years of experience in all aspects of the industry–from the traditional query, agent, publisher pathway . . . to the wild and fast-moving world of advertising . . . to the complex and delicate workings of bottom-line driven marketing. We use these valuable skills to magnify the talents of our authors and showcase their works to the fullest degree.REUTS is an boutique YA/NA publisher that offers an unconventional, yet advantageous and author-friendly approach to traditional publishing.WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? It means we offer our authors the enhanced creative control usually associated with self-publishing, while also providing the expert level of support one might expect from a professional publishing house. Essentially, we’ve combined the best of both worlds while leaving behind the undesirable or inconvenient parts of either.Join the movement– get REUTED in an amazing book.


Soul Mate Publishing welcomes you to romance, where two become one.  We offer high-quality romantic fiction for readers around the world.  Our novels, written by only the finest authors, will be available both electronically and in paperback.Whether you enjoy traditional romance or are searching for stories that push the limits, you'll find what you're looking for.  We are NOT the same old thing! 


World Weaver Press, LLC is an independently owned and operated publisher of fantasy, paranormal, and science fiction founded by Eileen Wiedbrauk and Elizabeth Wagner, and currently based in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
We believe that publishing speculative fiction isn’t just printing words on the page — it’s the act of weaving brand new worlds.
We believe in great storytelling. We believe in challenging genre boundaries and engaging the fundamental human drive to tell stories that resonate emotionally. The way we do this is by partnering with great writers to craft and edit the best fantasy, paranormal, and science fiction stories possible. By creating beautiful, well designed paperbacks and ebooks. By growing their publicity. And by fostering a family of authors and editors excited to work with us. 

Son of a Pitch Hosts and Critiquers

Today you get to meet the Hosts for the Author Critique Round and the Authors who will be critiquing and voting for round three. The hosting authors will also be critiquing and voting, so go crazy with the bribery! Heh heh heh... Hosts will decorate their blogs with stuff with the Force, and you can vie to be on a specific host's blog by tweeting team whatever the host is!

Blog Hosts:


Kathleen Palm loves the weird, the scary, and the fantastical. She started writing about twelve years ago with no idea of what she was doing or where the road lined with words would take her. She wrote several manuscripts before finally facing the haunting truth. She wanted her words to be a real book! Choosing the best of the bunch, she queried her YA fantasy FAERIE WIND and, well, failed. The following year, she polished her YA fantasy DOORS and decided to query small presses. After receiving two offers to publish DOORS, she chose REUTS Publishing. The making of the books is a slow endeavor, and she waits for her turn to be a debut author. She writes to pass the time…writing new manuscripts and revising old ones…and has found a love of creating short stories. Her stories DARK WOLF and TOGETHER can be found in the anthology FAIRLY TWISTED TALES FOR A HORRIBLY EVER AFTER. Her horror short WHAT LURKS IN THE DARKNESS can be found in the anthology HALLOWEEN NIGHT: TRICK OR TREAT. Of course, she has a few more on sub, because short stories are fun.She likes to read mostly YA fantasy, the darker the better, and horror. Stephen King, J.K. Rowling, Neal Shusterman, Holly Black, Scott Westerfeld, and Amy Lukavics are some of her favorite authors.

HALLOWEEN NIGHT: TRICK OR TREAT AnthologyFAIRLY TWISTED TALES FOR A HORRIBLY EVER AFTER Anthology
DOORS (Goodreads)

Twitter Blog Facebook

Samantha Bryant believes in love, magic, and unexplainable connections between people. Her favorite things are lonely beaches, untamed cliff tops, sunlight through the leaves of trees, summer rains, and children's laughter. She has lived in many places, including rural Alaska, Kansas, Kentucky, Vermont, England and Spain. She is fierce at heart, though she doesn't look it.

She's a fan of Charlotte Brontë, William Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson, Neil Gaiman, Nicole Perlman, and Joss Whedon, among many others. She would like to be Amy Tan when she grows up, but so far it doesn't look like she'll be growing up any time soon.

Samantha writes blogs, poems, essays, and novels. Mostly she writes about things that scare or worry her. It's cheaper than therapy. Someday, she hopes to make her living solely as a writer. In the meantime, she also teaches middle school Spanish, which, admittedly, is an odd choice for money-earning, especially in North Carolina.

When she's not writing or teaching, Samantha enjoys time with her family, watching old movies, baking, reading, and going places. Her favorite gift is tickets (to just about anything).
Her debut novel, Going Through the Change: A Menopausal Superhero Novel is now for sale by Curiosity Quills as is the sequel, Change of Life. You can find her online on her blog,  Twitter, on Facebook, on Amazon, on Goodreads, on the Curiosity Quills page, or on Google+ , and now on Tumblr.


How I Came to Get my Book Deal: Getting my first book contract was a matter of lucky timing and paying attention. While I was still writing the book, I began participating in a lot of forums and groups for writers (digitally and in real life). When authors talked about their experiences, I listened for names as well as direct advice. I'd go look up publishers who had worked with writers I liked and keep a list of places I thought might be a good fit for my work. That's how I heard of Curiosity Quills. Because I'd just spent a year querying another novel at bigger publishers and it had taken that long just to get two nonspecific and non-helpful refusals, I was looking at small, independent publishers. My theory was that the time frame, at least, would be shorter. Because I liked what I saw on their website and couldn't find anything scary about them in the usual places (Preditors and Editors; Writers Beware), I decided to query CQ. I was very lucky in my timing and hit the acquisitions editor at less busy moment. We moved from query to full to contracted book in the space of two weeks, and the book was produced eight months later. That's got to be some kind of speed record!Two years later, I have two other publications out with CQ and a third on the way, so I would say this relationship is going well!
What I Like to Read:

I'm a diverse reader. I like science fiction, fantasy, superhero, cyberpunk, weird, historical, steampunk, comics, post-apocalyptic, literary, women's fiction, fairy tale, ghost, poetry, nonfiction, memoir, horror, comedy, mystery, classic, paranormal, and (some) romance. Really, I'll give just about any sort of book a try. I am drawn in by beautiful language and interesting characters. I love it when a book can surprise me, going a different way than I anticipated, but still going in a way that makes sense to the story as a whole. Since this already feels like a personals ad for books, I'll add: turn-offs include clunky dialogue and stereotypical portrayals.


Like most mad scientists, Rena Rocford has made an art form of living as a muggle. Today the bills, tomorrow the world. From her secret base in California, Rena builds her armies of books, one word at a time. When she isn’t planning for world domination, Rena creates nerdy art and enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She unleashed her first book Acne, Asthma, And Other Signs You Might Be Half Dragon, on the world in late 2015.

How I got my book deal:  I had a story that I had queried too early. I'd ambitiously sent it out into the world without as much work as I could have. It came back to me in form rejections, so I kept my chin up and moved on to another project. The second project didn't find a home either, but it did get several revise and resubmits. One of the suggestions in one of those R&Rs seemed like they were talking more about my earlier project, so, for grins and practice (and to keep myself from pulling out my hair), I revised my earlier project. And there just happened to be a contest on the Aussie Owned and Read website. I submitted my pitch and they took me in the contest. Kathleen of Curiosity Quills requested chapters of my manuscript, and the rest happened very quickly. 

Reading preferences: Fantasy, Science Fiction, both in YA and Adult. I've been known to pick up a good general fiction, but I really like there to be a taste of the fantastical.


Elsie Elmore lives in North Carolina with her husband and two kids.
She loves the color red, has an appreciation for chocolate and coffee that borders on obsession, writes stories that challenge the laws of nature, and wishes fall temperatures would linger year round. 
Elsie is a member of  SCBWI, and WSW. The Undead : Playing for Keeps is her debut novel. Find her on the web: on twitter at @ElsieWriter, her blog at www.elsieelmore.com, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/elsieelmorewriter.

Road to Pub storyI wrote The Undead during the winter and finalized it mid-summer. I started querying a few agents and then participated in the September #pitmad. I had two requests for partials.That such a great feeling to know you've piqued someone's interest in your work.  About a week afterwards, the full manuscript was requested and I couldn’t push SEND fast enough.

In November, I was offered a contract. I withdrew my queries / partials from other agencies and signed on the dotted line. And of course, went out to dinner to celebrate.


ELIZABETH RODERICK is the author of the LGBT romantic suspense novel, Love or Money, and the magical realism The Other Place Series, which includes The Hustle, The Other Place, Love and War (release date 3/7/17), and Synchronicity, (release date 5/2/17). She has written ten other novels in a wide range of genres, which are in various stages of revision and pitching.She grew up as a barefoot ruffian on a fruit orchard near Yakima, in the eastern part of Washington State. After weathering the grunge revolution and devolution and migrating up and down the West Coast, she is back in Yakima, where she lives in a (mostly) off-grid tiny house she renovated and built herself, and grows most of her own food.She earned a bachelor's degree in Spanish from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, and worked for many years as a paralegal and translator. She is a musician and songwriter, and has played in many bands, rocking some instruments she doesn't even know the real names for, but mostly guitar, bass and keyboards. Elizabeth’s stories are about love, death, gang warfare, and madness. Her characters tend to be of the type that society generally shuns: addicts, convicts, and the neurodiverse. She herself is a neurodiverse person, and has struggled with addiction and other issues. Elizabeth believes if people get to know people who live on the fringes of society, both in stories and in real life, they'll find them more likeable than they originally thought.

Find her on:Amazon Goodreads Twitter Facebook Website

Publication Story:My publication story, like most, is one of perseverance and the desire to learn and improve.I got tired of hearing that my novels were well-written, but that they didn’t quite fit agents’/publishers’ expectations with regard to plot, and/or that they had a hard time identifying with my neurodiverse, homeless, addicted and criminal characters. So, I tried to write a more “traditional” novel—Love or Money, a LGBTQ romantic suspense book. It was my first attempt at romance, and I think I did okay…even though my characters still turned out to be criminals and ruffians. I think I sent one regular query, but otherwise I just pitched it on #PitMad. I got several requests, and two offers. It was published by Limitless Publishing. Limitless has now taken on a good chunk of my backlist, and I’m busy revising my other books, and drafting more, in hopes that more of my stories will find a home.

Wish List:I love pretty much all the books. I write in a stupidly-large range of genres, because I read all those genres.With regard to what I love most, it would be books of all genres with neurodiverse/mentally ill characters, and/or characters that are down-and-out, especially when those characters aren’t objects of pity or contempt, but just people with their own stories to tell. The book doesn’t have to be about “overcoming” their situation or diagnosis…in fact, I’d prefer it weren’t.I also love humorous books, or books with humor as a large part of the voice. I’m also a big fan of YA fantasy of all sorts.Can’t wait to hear about your stories!


Critiquers:


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Yolanda Ashton is the alter ego of a forty year something mother of three. During the day she’s an educational professional and during the nights (when she’s not daydreaming, reading, cooking, or recovering from a day spent with middle school students) she’s writing. 
My two favorite things to do in the world (outside of family) are reading and writing-I became obessed with words at an early age. I love creating worlds with them and entering new worlds designed by them. Throughout my life I’ve always felt the epitome of a great “me” day is one spent reading a book or creating one.



Things I love:The Vampire Diaries (Hate that this is the last season :( )ButterfliesPop music (I LOVE 90's Music)Super Hero MoviesFavorite Genres to Read:Romance (New Adult, and Paranormal)Young Adult
How I came to get my book deal:In 2011 (after a year of writing and rewriting and building my confidence up) I sent my first manuscript  Sarim's Scent to various epublishers. I was rejected...A LOT!. I did another read through of it and made some changes and submitted to Soulmate Publishing. I was working on my second manuscript and had pretty much accepted that Sarim's Scent was not what epublishers were looking for when I got an email from Soulmate Publishing. After making a few changes Debby suggested, she accepted Sarim's Scent!  It was  along and painful process but definitely worth it!

[image error]Marianne Kirby writes about bodies both real and imagined. She plays with the liminal space between vanishing and visibility: she thinks the things that go bump in the night need to spend some time in the sun.A long-time writer, editor, and activist, Marianne is a frequent contributor to women’s interest publications, news outlets, and tv shows that require people to have opinions. She has been published by the Guardian, xoJane, the Daily Dot, Bitch Magazine, Time, and others. She has appeared on tv and radio programs ranging from the Dr. Phil Show to Radio New Zealand.Marianne was born in Florida and returned there, because Florida Weird calls to its own. She has briefly escaped again but is already plotting her eventual winter migration.This is her first novel.
How I came to get my book deal can actually be found as part of this interview: http://www.scifipulse.net/marianne-kirby-discusses-her-career-florida-and-her-first-book-dust-bath-revival/ The teal deer is that I originally built a career in nonfiction and then when I had a novel ready, my agent was interested - and so were the people who already read my work.
I LOVE good speculative fiction. I read a lot based on recommendations and I go to WisCon every year and load up my book list there based on what I hear folks discussing. I read romance and erotica without shame - the smuttier the better. My actual guilty pleasure is books about writing process; it's fascinating to me to see how other people think writing should be done.
Marianne Kirbymariannekirby.com
Order Dust Bath Revival now!https://curiosityquills.com/kindle/dustbath/


Tyrolin Puxty: I'm a Jack, or more accurately, a Tyrolin of all trades.

Broken Dolls, the first in the trilogy, is an award-winning, international #1 bestseller and appeared on Buzzfeed's Top 24 Best SciFi/Fantasy Books of 2015.

I have been in the Top 25 of the Australian Songwriters Association and Top 5 of the Australian Independent Music Awards, was awarded an Australia Day Award for Music in 2014 and for Arts in 2015. I own a performing arts school, teach creative writing and host a podcast called HooPod, which is part of Felicia Day's community.

I love cats. I love every kind of cat. I just want to hug all of them, but I can't.

Book deal: I've been talking about becoming an author since I was three. In fact, I toddled up to Mum and asked if she could teach me to read, just so I could write. I mean, why play wth Barbies when I could WRITE about playing with Barbies?

From eighteen onwards, I queried a billion agencies, a zillion publishers and never heard back from any of them. Eventually, I stumbled across Curiosity Quills and submitted a story that took me ten weeks to complete. I didn't expect to hear anything, but low and behold, a full request came through five hours later. Five days later, I woke up, checked my email and burst into tears because Curiosity Quills offered to sign me. I was 23 years old. Nothing can compare to living your dream, so I'm determined to help others!

What I like to read: I'll be honest, I'm the pickiest reader in the world. I love original ideas with a good sense of humour. Weird and twisted, but never crass. The Giver, The Night Circus and Talking to Dragons are the only books I've ever read more than once.

Sara O. Thompson’s first attempt at a book was prepared on a Remington typewriter and bore a suspicious resemblance to a famous novel whose title rhymes with ‘Gourd of the Spies.’ In her spare time, she performs improv comedy, occasionally tells stories on stage, and loves ballroom dancing. Sara lives in Louisville, Kentucky, with her family.
How you came to get your book deal.I participated in a twitter pitch contest and was "acquired" by Curiosity Quills. My tweet was something like, "Solving crimes. Doing magic. Drinking bourbon."



What you like to read
I used to be huge into literary fiction, but now it's pretty solidly in the SFF realm. Love anything funny. I want to see Science fiction and fantasy, especially urban fantasy, especially funny stuff. No love triangles, love rectangles, love rhomboids. Pretty much ixnay on the kissy stuff. Love writing that doesn't take itself too seriously. Anything that turns tropes on their heads. 

Growing up, Melody Winter showed a natural ability in art, a head for maths, and a tendency to write far too long English essays. Difficult to place in the world when she graduated, she pursued a career in teaching, but eventually ended up working in finance. Melody is convinced that the methodical time she spends working with numbers fuels her desire to drift into dream worlds and write about the illusory characters in her head.Melody lives in North Yorkshire, England, with her husband and two sons. When not dealing with football, rugby, and a whole plethora of ‘boy’ activities, she will be found scribbling notes for her stories, or preparing for another trip to the beach. With an obsession for anything mythical, Melody revels in reading and writing about such creatures.Sachael Dreams was her debut novel, and the first in the New Adult Romantic Fantasy series—the ‘Mine Series’. The second book in the series, ‘Sachael Desires’, was released in November 2015, and the third book in the series, ‘Sachael Delusions’, is due to be released this year.Melody has also published ‘Iniquity’, the first book in a Dark New Adult Romantic Fantasy series— ‘The Ascent’. The second book in the series, ‘Adversity’, is also due for release this year.
How I got my publishing dealI’m contracted with Reuts Publications for the four books in the Mine Series.
I first noticed REUTS on twitter and started following them, they followed back, and after a few tweets I sent them my submission in line with their guidelines. I heard back very quickly, within two weeks, and they asked for the full manuscript. Then began the waiting. I noticed on twitter through various tweets that they were inundated with manuscripts. I think I was one of the last to pass through the initial submission before this hit them. I waited months for an answer from them, only sending my manuscript out to a few others during this time, as I really wanted to sign with REUTS. Their friendliness and general support are areas they excel at, and I had my eyes on their editor, Kisa Whipkey. I really wanted to work with her.
When I received the news that they wanted to publish Sachael Dreams I was over the moon, and was ecstatic when they asked to see my outlined plans for the rest of the series and offered to publish all four books. It was a dream of mine to have found a home for not only the first book, but for the whole series! Kisa is my editor on the series and is so in tune with my characters. When she gave me initial feedback on Sachael Dreams I knew there wasn’t anyone else I wanted to work with.
Wishlist:
I read mainly romance. I tend to stick to fantasy but also love contemporary romance books. I also like mystery books, something to keep me guessing about the ending.

Kate Miller is a Florida native who began writing fiction at the age of 13. Growing up as a competitive figure skater left Kate with a fervent love of glitter, which intensified when she joined her sorority in college. She graduated from the University of Florida and went on to medical school and residency, but remains involved on the UF campus as an advisor for Sigma Kappa. Like all Gators fans, Kate dreams of a world where football season lasts all year.
I found my agent through pitch madness (the free for all version). I can write up a paragraph if you want - I also have a blog post that details the process here: https://katemillermd.com/2016/04/07/the-life-cycle-of-the-great-american-novel/

Wish list:
YA/NA/Adult fantasy, science fiction, or romantic suspense, but I'll read anything if someone needs a critiquer.


Anoosha Lalani
I have always had an insatiable desire to escape reality. When I’m not writing, you may find me at McGill University in Montreal. Having lived in Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Poland, I have had the wonderful opportunity to be exposed to a vibrant range of cultures, which often seem to find their way into my stories. I was born in Pakistan, the setting of my most recent novel, THE KEEPERS.
Before finally finding a forever home for THE KEEPERS, I had been working on several other short stories and manuscripts. I was able to exchange ideas and improve my work with other aspiring authors on the now deceased, Inkpop. When I finally decided I wanted to publish THE KEEPERS after several rounds of edits. I started doing my research on publishing presses and I came across REUTS. I decided to submit. To my surprise, they liked my work and I loved them! I signed a contract on my 18th birthday and we began the long yet rewarding process of publishing.
My manuscript wish list would consist of well-written high fantasy, the kind that steps away from the worlds of Harry Potter and Lord of The Rings and does something entirely unique. I would also love to see this done with a diverse cast of characters.
Also on my wish list would be a story with elements of the well-known myth and fairy tales that we have all come to love. Bonus points if it empowers women!
You can find me on twitter @anooshalalani or on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/anoosha.lalani/.

Blog Tour: Capturing the Captain by @authorckbrooke

Capturing the Captain (America Pirate Romance #1)
by C.K. Brooke
Genre: Adult Historical Adventure Romance
Release Date: April 26th 2016
Limitless Publishing

Summary from Goodreads:

In 1720, it’s a pirate’s life for Abigail Clear, daughter of a notorious colonial pirate captain… 

But when a rival crew invades Abigail’s ship, she is taken prisoner. Now aboard the enemy vessel, she must contend with its formidable captain. But who is the real captive? 


Locked away in the belly of The Indomitable is no place for a woman… 

Captain James Morrow is more than displeased to discover his sole captive to be none other than an untamable young lass who will earn him no bounty. Yet if he can soften the little rogue, she just might switch her loyalties to him, and reveal the whereabouts of the infamous thief who sired her—and his stolen treasure. But two can play that game, as Abi is equally inclined to charm the dogged sailor off her father’s tail. 

Might she and Captain Morrow run the risk of falling for their own charades? 

They dance about their disguises as genuine developing emotions clash against deeper motives, and suspicion runs high. When the captain finally steals a first kiss, Abi decides it’s high time to make her escape—fleeing not only his vessel, but her fondness for the man who intends to see her father hang. 

The high seas heat up as Captain Morrow’s quest to recapture Abi is halted by her pirate father, Captain Clear. Will James succeed in pursuit of his captive love, or will his desires conspire to make him a captive himself?

*Advisory: Contains some sensual/sexual content
Add to Goodreads
Buy Links
Amazon B&N BAM Limitless Publishing
Excerpt:“Well, don’t just stand there, gaping like a codfish,” snapped the captain, the corner of his mouth twitching. “I want my decks shining by noon.” If Abi had been gaping before, now her jaw truly dropped. “You want me to wash your decks?” Morrow stepped in. Nearby, more sailors looked up from their labor to watch. “Scrub it spotless,” he growled. Abi rested her hands on her hips. “I’m no one’s swabber. I did no such task on my father’s ship, and I sure as hell ain’t doing it on yours.” She shook her head. “Clean an enemy vessel,” she scoffed, turning back. A large, cool hand gripped her arm, just above her elbow. Abi had to stop. “Excuse me.” The captain reeled her in, speaking under his breath. “But do ye notice anyone absent here? None of my crew is above maintaining the cleanliness and orderliness I expect. Least of all, you. Pirate.” Abi knew he must have meant it as an insult, the way he spat the last word. And yet, her pride couldn’t help but inflate. “You’re right.” She looked him square in the eye. “I am a pirate. Which means I’m not part of your crew.” She whipped her arm out of his hold. “And I don’t have to answer to you.”
About the AuthorC.K. Brooke is a 2015 Shelf Unbound Notable Indie author with a five-star rating by Readers' Favorite. She holds numerous fantasy and romance publications with 48fourteen, Limitless Publishing, and Elphame Press. Her lifelong passion is books - reading, writing, editing, publishing and blogging about them. When not blissing out in literary land, she enjoys info-tainment podcasts, singing, songwriting and playing the piano. She lives in Washington, Michigan with her husband and young son. There's tons to check out at the new CKBrooke.com, so come and see what she's up to! Check out her V.I.P. Readers Club (Subscribers get a free eBook!)
Author Links:Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook│Amazon Page
GIVEAWAY:Subscribe to the author’s newsletter (www.ckbrooke.com/vipclub) and get a free eBook!

Blog Tour Organized by:
YA Bound Book Tours

Say What?! Son of a Pitch is Back!

Yup, we're back for another round of this crazy game!

Follow along with the silliness and discussion under #sonofapitch on Twitter. This time our theme is Star Wars!! Our hosts will be decorating their blogs using the force within them! So join the Rebels or the Republic and join  the battle.

It's a month until the first round, so although it's short notice, I hope you jump in. Below are all the details, my little padawans.

This comp is for Young Adult, New Adult, and Adult manuscripts of all genres.


Week 1 starts February 13, 2017: A chance to refine your query and first 250 words. Post this on your blog then leave a direct link in the comments of a post I will put up on my blog the week of Feb 13. Please leave feedback on the author's bog, and for a minimum of three other queries and first 250. All feedback left in the comments of the post for links will be deleted.
***You don't have to participate in Round 1 to join Round 2. It is highly recommended to get that extra polish before the voting round.***
Week 2 starts February 20, 2017:
This week, published authors will give you feedback. This time there are a huge group of authors joining in this round to help you. They write a wide range of genres, so don't miss this opportunity. The Son of a Pitch team, who are all published, will post your emailed in queries and 250 words on their blogs. Please use the formatting below and email to:
sonofapitchcomp@yahoo.com.au

Subject line: Son of a Pitch! (Category and Genre of your manuscript)

Formatting:
Title: (Name of Manuscript)
Category and Genre: (YA/NA/Adult then Genre)
Word Count: (to the nearest thousand)
Query:Insert query here. No bio or comparisons please.
First 250 Words:I don't care if this is from a prologue or chapter one. That's up to you.

Incorrectly formatted emails will be returned.
The team will vote for their favorites from the fifty who make it through to go onto the final round. They will cast five votes each, anywhere they want, and the top 20 will go onto the next round. Feel free to coax judges your direction however you want! But please, only you and the judges can comment on your entry, or the comments can get confusing for tallying votes at the end. Votes will close on Thursday 11:59 p.m. MST.
The  first fifty entries  will go into this round. So get your clickers ready to email at precisely 10 a.m. Mountain Time on Friday February 17th.
But don't be discouraged! You will get good feedback to help you even if you don't make the top twenty. So please go and query elsewhere afterward, and let us know your success story so it can be shared on the blog.


Week 3 starts February 27, 2017: We have a fantastic line up of editors and publishers. They'll swing by the final contestants to try to bribe you into subbing to them. The final Twenty will post right here on this blog, where editors will come and make requests for you. If you make the top twenty, you will be emailed on Friday 24th, and all updated entries sent to the email address by Saturday 25th 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time. If you don't make the deadline, the next highest voted entry will be emailed, and will have 24 hrs to get the entry into the inbox.
Feel free to email any requests made whenever you feel like it, but note that the editors are allowed to give feedback on your entry. Also, make sure to include that your query to them is from the comp by putting Son of a Pitch Request in the title.
EXTRA FEEDBACK! This time, one of our round 2 blog hosts will be hosting a twitter pitch critique session to help you prepare for the Twitter Pitch Party. The host will set up a blog post at the same time as round 3, and you leave your twitter pitch in the comments. To critique, just hit reply to the comment in the post! Not only will your peers be patrolling, but the published authors will swing by to leave feedback during this time as well.

Twitter Pitch: March 6, 2017: And finally, we'll have a free-for-all twitter pitching opp under the hashtag #sonofapitch
Rules: Makes sure to include #sonofapitch and your genre/age category with the tweet. You can tweet any number of manuscripts, but only once every hour each.
It will open all day, but since I'm in Arizona, I won't be monitoring the earlier stages since that's like 5 in the morning here.

So there you have it! Come back on Monday to meet the hosts and published authors who will be leaving feedback.

Blog Tour: Remnants of Yesterday (Broken by the Sea #3) by Ava Wood @btfl7

Remnants of Yesterday (Broken by the Sea #3)by Ava WoodGenre: YA RomanceRelease Date: January 6th 2017
Summary:
“Saying goodbye is never easy.”

Missy Shaw has lived through her fair share of heartache and abuse, mostly at the hands of her own father. After finally taking a stand against her abusers, Missy is faced with a new dilemma when her father unexpectedly falls ill. Longing to take care of the man who’s never really been a father to her, she’s forced to make a difficult decision that could cause a cataclysmic collision with her past and her future.

Now that Adam Miller was a major fixture in Missy’s life, making those hard decisions shouldn’t be so difficult, but when Missy heads to Tampa for college and Adam returns to Kansas, she’s left feeling vulnerable and alone. Moving forward is harder than she imagined when the demons from her past continue to haunt her. 

In this gripping finale to the Broken by the Sea trilogy, find out if Missy is finally able to find her happy ending, or if the demons of her past become the nightmares of her future.

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Buy Links:Amazon  B&N  iTunes  Kobo

Excerpt: “Missy,” Mr. Miller caught my attention, momentarily halting my pacing. “He’ll be here any minute. Just remember to breathe.”Had I forgotten? Oh my gosh, I can’t remember. Frozen where I stood, I intentionally began breathing in and out, in and out. With my focus briefly off of Adam’s impending arrival, I was finally able to calm my nerves and anxiousness.And then people started to emerge from Adam’s gate and all of the clarity I’d slowly started to feel was quickly erased. As I watched men and women approach, I shifted from foot to foot, craning my neck trying to find him. Catching sight of ash–brown hair, I started bouncing in place. “There he is!” I shouted as he and Zander neared. The instant Adam’s eyes met mine, he started pushing past people, jogging toward me. His carry–on fell from his shoulder as he picked up his pace and, instead of trying to right it, he tossed it to Zander and came barreling toward me. As soon as he passed the restricted line, his arms wrapped around me just before he spun me in a circle. Squealing with delight, I hugged him tightly as we slowed and my feet were eventually placed firmly on the ground.
Forgetting Yesterday (Broken by the Sea #1) on Goodreads
Return to Yesterday (Broken by the Sea #2) on Goodreads
About the AuthorAva Wood is an insomniac who writes to calm the voices. When the voices get too loud, stories are formed.

Ava was born and raised in Texas but got to Florida as quick as she could, enjoying the fresh sea air and summer storms. She believes there is nothing more beautiful than an evening summer light show.

She’s married to the love of her life whom she shares two beautiful daughters and four sweet fur babies. Their marriage is the perfect “North-meets-South” pairing.

When she’s not writing, Ava can be found chasing her children all over the county, snapping photos of any and everything, visiting one of her local theme parks, or just spending quality time with her family.
Author Links:
Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook


GIVEAWAY:
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Blog Tour Organized by: YA Bound Book Tours

Son of a Pitch Success Story: Kimberly A. Riley

I am so excited to share another wonderful Son of a Pitch success story today! It's so great to see the feedback given is helping people reach their publication goals!
Keepers of Earth, Book 1: Stone of PowerPre-Order: January 1, 2017Release: January 25, 2017
Our world is alive and often in trouble. 
When Earth faces a serious threat from collapsing alternate dimensions, it handpicks individuals, called Keepers, to locate and obtain special Stones that have the power to restore balance to the universe. 
Andrew is trying to impress his new girlfriend Christine at the carnival when he meets the Keepers. Drawn to them by an unidentifiable familiarity, Andrew follows them. Thrust into a world of harrowing adventure, he journeys through various dimensions and encounters Venom, a man who holds the one thing the Keepers desperately need to save Earth—the Stone of Power. 
But Venom has other ideas about what Earth needs and threatens the Keepers’ plans at every phase of their mission. In these new realms of danger and even horror, Andrew must find his own power in order to make the sacrifices necessary to save Earth. As Andrew begins to fight back, he realizes he and Venom have a lot more in common than he thought.


Request link for reviewers: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf5Nl_aHS9sR_N747LuE-zBu4TnQwDB4C4uprZLFxodER9iNA/viewform
Pre-order HEREJourney:
I have been writing since high school, but I did not seek publication until about four or five years ago. I queried more agents than I care to admit, but I was always working to improve the book and my query letter. Eventually, I stumbled upon the online writing community, which led me to Twitter and query contests. 
In early 2016, I joined Son of a Pitch. With the help of the mentors and the other contestants, I worked and reworked my query letter and first 250 words. The final contest results came in, and while I was not one of the top placers, my persistence paid off. Those running the contest decided to post my pitch, for which I am grateful. 
Elephantine Publishing contacted me, asking for a full. They loved the universe and characters I had constructed. I signed with them and I started working with a wonderful editor, Allisyn, who pushed me to improve the book, tightening up plot lines and getting the wording just right. 
Almost a year later, and the Stone of Power is being published.

Author info: 
Kimberly Riley grew up in a small town in Southeast Texas and now lives in the outskirts of Austin with her husband, dog, birds, and numerous fish. Originally a high school science teacher, she has taken a break from teaching to become a full time author. Her love of science fiction and fantasy influences her writing and her artwork. She spends her free time painting (mostly dragons), playing D&D, and teaching her birds to whistle the Imperial March.
Links:Twitter: @KARileyHomepage: KimberlyARiley.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/kimberly.riley.12382
Elephantine Publishing: elephantinepublishing.com

Blog Tour: Unexpected Rewards (Not Every Girl #2) by Jane McGarry

Unexpected Rewards (Not Every Girl #2)
by Jane McGarry
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: August 11th 2016
Clean Reads

Summary from Goodreads:

Olivia Davenport is looking forward to her future. After all, Prince Liam has professed his love and King William has promised her a reward for her role on a recent mission. She fully expects to continue her knightly training while enjoying a blossoming romance with her Prince. The King, however, has other ideas, appointing her as a lady-in-waiting to Queen Helen.
Thrust into unfamiliar territory and left to fend against the malicious women of court, Olivia feels awkward and confused. With the help of her new friend, Kat, and her sister, Anne, she tries to find her footing among the courtiers, their protocol, and the added complication of Jocelyn Crawford, a lady who has her eyes set on becoming Liam’s bride.
When, a disturbing prophecy puts the safety of the King in question, fear spreads through kingdom. Intrigue abounds at the palace with an enigmatic witch and a strict Friar at the center of the controversy. Olivia must use her training and instincts to unravel what is truly going on in order to protect the King. Through it all, she questions if she will ever be able to fit into Liam’s life and if, in the end, their love can prevail. 
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Amazon Barnes & Noble   Kobo   Smashwords   Amazon Canada Excerpt:
Niobe hunches over a bush at the far end of the garden. Her fingers deftly examine each leaf before cutting those she deems satisfactory off the branch. Does she expect me? Did she request an assistant, or will my arrival be news to her? I’m not too keen to get off on the wrong foot with a supposed witch. Perhaps she will see through the ruse and know I am here to spy on her. My feet inch towards her in trepidation.Before I am even halfway through my approach, a thin voice travels from her direction. “Please, dear, if you would be so kind, hand me my basket.”I look around, unsure if it is me she addresses. There is no one else in the vicinity, but how she knows I am here is a mystery.“It’s right there. By your feet, on the left.”Indeed, a partially filled basket lies less than six inches from my left toes. I scoop it up, then cross the remaining space between us, somewhat on edge with the whole transaction. When I hand it to her, she raises her eyes to meet mine, one blue, one green. They are surprisingly bright, keen little orbs against her withering face. And, apparently, they have the ability to see behind her back.“I am Niobe, child. I appreciate your willingness to help me.”Good. At least I was expected.“My pleasure. I am Olivia Davenport.” I hold out my hand. She envelopes it in her own, the skin so paper-thin it is almost transparent, but her grip is firm. In fact, this strength, combinedwith the ageless wisdom in her eyes, puts my uneasiness to rest. “Her Highness, the queen, asked me to provide you with whatever assistance you need.”“Thank you, dear. It was good of Helen to be concerned for my welfare.” She drops her handful of clippings into the basket while I digest the fact she is on a first-name basis with our queen. “Come, let us go inside where it is warmer.”Her gait is slow, yet purposeful along the uneven path through the herbs. She leads me to a door in the outer wall, just down from the kitchens. When I saw her enter it the day she helpedthe young boy, I mistook it for some type of shed or storage room for the gardens. Instead, we step into a well-lit room, heated nicely by a crackling fire. Beyond it, another door leads to a darkened chamber where I can just make out the outline of a low bed. These are the rooms where Niobe works and lives. Not the cave full of cobwebs and dankness I pictured for a witch. “Have a seat, my dear.” She guides me to a plush chair next to the fire. “So you are here to keep an eye on me, eh?” Niobe’s words startle me as she settles into a chair across from mine.“No, um, just to help you, um…” I am the picture of eloquence, as always.“And if I just happen to tell you more about the prophecy, well, it wouldn’t hurt, right?” The gleam in her eye is knowing, but not malicious.“No, ma’am,” I admit. No sense in pretending. It will be better to start things off with the truth rather than a lie.“It’s Niobe, not ma’am, and I appreciate your honesty. Now let’s get to work.” She pats my hand. “You and I are going to get along just fine.”




Book One:Not Every Girl
by Jane McGarry
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: April 27th 2015
Clean Reads

Summary from Goodreads:Olivia Davenport’s plan is destined to fail.

She is going through with it anyway, of course. After all, it is the chance of a lifetime. The unreasonable rules of others should not stand in her way.

In her small kingdom of Stewartsland, Olivia trains with the squires and harbors a secret dream. She longs to become a knight under the command of the Master-of–Arms, who just happens to be her father. He has indulged her passion so far, but they both know a simple fact – girls may not attain knighthood. Dismayed by the constant discouragement of her ambitions, she makes an impetuous decision to disguise herself as a boy in order to sneak on a mission. The consequences are not at all what she anticipated.

When her deception is revealed, she is sent home in disgrace; however, an unexpected turn of events puts her at the center of a dangerous plot against the King. The ensuing adventure finds her grappling with mercenaries and outlaws, yet these pale in comparison to her newly awakened emotions. She finds not only her life at risk, but also her heart, when the aloof Prince Liam begins to affect her in ways she never thought possible. In the end, it is her courage and unique spirit which must guide her through the challenges she encounters both physical and emotional. 
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About the Author
Reading was always a big part of my life. Creating my own stories developed out of this love. Finally, I decided to try my hand at writing a novel and that was when Not Every Girl was conceived.
I live in New Jersey with my husband, two sons and an extremely spoiled cat. When I am not running around with my family or writing, I can be found curled up with a good book and said cat. It is my belief that a good book, a loyal pet and anything made of chocolate can brighten just about any day.
Author Links:Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook
GIVEAWAY:
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Blog Tour Organized by:
YA Bound Book Tours