Kristi Helvig's Blog, page 2

64 Sci-Fi/Fantasy Novels and Urban Fantasy ARC Offer

Like sci-fi and fantasy?

If you’ll have some down time over the holidays and love a good book to read, but want to do it on a budget, you can now grab 64 FREE (yes, free) sci-fi/fantasy novels, novellas, and short stories in the November Art of the Arcane giveaway here: http://bit.ly/NovAotAAuthor11 You just click on each story you want and download it free, though the site organizer is awesome and welcomes any donations if you are so inclined!

One of the short stories available in the above giveaway is my short story, Wingless, which leads into my upcoming urban fantasy novel, The Wing Collector, about a teenage half-human/half-faerie who sees a pair of faerie wings on eBay and realizes her kind aren’t only being oppressed–they’re being hunted.

I now have final edits from my editor, so I’m looking for a few good readers (hint: YOU) to read an Advanced Copy Review (ARC) of the novel before it’s out in the world. I would send you the novel at the end of December, and the only requirement would be that you would read it within one month and then write an honest review of it on Amazon, etc. If interested, just reply to this email or email me at kristi (at) kristihelvig.com and I’ll add you to my Readers of Awesomeness.

Hope you all enjoy some great down time with family, shopping or football (if those are your things), and turkey or Tofurky (is that still a thing?) Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Grab Your Free Copy of My New Urban Fantasy Short Story, WINGLESS!

 

Hello lovelies,

I’m so excited to give you a free copy of my new short story, WINGLESS. It’s an urban fantasy story that takes place in London, and is the precursor to my upcoming novel, THE WING COLLECTOR. What’s it about?

17-year-old Jemma looks just like all the other students at her private school in London, but she has something different underneath her uniform–wings. Half-human and half-faerie in a world where faeries hide their wings due to extreme discrimination and prejudice by humans, Jemma does her best to fit in with her classmates. She’s lucky to have a best friend, Kate, who accepts her despite the extra appendages, but when Jemma sets her sights on star footballer, Matthew Taylor, she knows something has to give. When her best friend discovers a doctor who can perform a risky operation on Jemma, she dares to hope for a normal wingless existence…until a faerie is murdered in Epping Forest, and Jemma realizes it may be too late for her.

Grab your FREE copy of WINGLESS here and I hope you enjoy it: https://instafreebie.com/free/zlYa6

Thanks! Kristi

New Book Release and Free E-Book Offer!

First, congrats to RHI who won the copy of OFF BEAT in the YA Scavenger Hunt!

NEW RELEASE: Wicked Ink Books is so excited to announce the print release of the 2017 anthology, OFF BEAT: Nine Spins on Song! 

Inspired by favorite songs, nine fantasy and science fiction authors spin tales of adventure, intrigue, mystery, and horror.

A boy follows his girlfriend’s suicide note to its disturbing conclusion.

A man must pass on an ancient curse of immortality before his time finally runs out.

Two lost beings fight for life, for each other, and to find a way home.

A serial killer from the future, banished to present day, must control her homicidal urges in order to survive.

A thief and a sex worker find their paths unexpectedly entwined in ways that threaten both of their lives.

For a caged girl, one hand gives, but the other takes away all she’s ever known.

To gain their freedom, quarreling townsfolk must find a way to cross a bottomless ravine.

A man interrupts a monster at work and is determined to entertain the creature long enough to stay alive.

When his father’s ghost appears, a businessman is forced to reflect on his life.

Grab your print copy here on Amazon.

OFF BEAT Paperback Giveaway: I’m giving away one free print edition of OFF BEAT by picking a newsletter reader at random who answers the following question in one sentence: If you wrote a short story inspired by song, what song would it be and what would the story involve? (Make sure you sign up for the newsletter first using the sign-up on right side of this page).

FREE E-BOOK OFFER: Want a free e-book version of OFF BEAT right now? I am looking to build a special ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) Team of fabulous dedicated readers who will get free advanced copies of my future books. I have several other upcoming releases in 2017 and would love to gift free e-books to my fabulous readers. So, I am starting with a free e-book version of the newly released OFF BEAT.

If you would like to get free e-books (starting now with OFF BEAT) and become a member of my super special ARC Team, there are only two steps:

1) Email me at kristi [at] kristihelvig.com and let me know you would like to be a member and want a free e-book version of OFF BEAT (I’m only taking a limited number of people so email ASAP if interested).

2) Review the book. Within 30 days of receiving your free e-book, please leave an honest review of the book on Amazon (or wherever you have reviewed it) and email me the link to the review. If you can’t commit to leaving a review within 30 days, then please don’t sign up! Those who email me the review link within 30 days will remain on my ARC Team and I will have several additional free books/short stories to send you in the coming months.

Thanks! Next time, I have an awesome cover reveal to share of my upcoming YA Urban Fantasy novel. Until then….:)

Welcome to the Spring 2017 YA Scavenger Hunt

I’m so excited to be part of the Young Adult Scavenger Hunt (YASH) yet again, where you can enter to win tons of books by your favorite authors. This bi-annual event was first organized by awesome author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors…and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize–one lucky winner will receive one book from each author on the hunt in my team! I’m happy to be part of TEAM RED this time around:

If you’re new to the hunt or need a refresher, go to http://www.yash.rocks/ for all the info.

SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE
 
Directions: Below, you’ll notice that I’ve hidden my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the RED team, and then add them up (don’t worry, you can use a calculator!).

Entry Form: Once you’ve added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.

Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian’s permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by SUNDAY APRIL 9th, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.

After you read the bonus material below, don’t forget to enter the extra giveaway at this blog stop where you can win a copy of the newest Wicked Ink Books anthology which just released April 3, 2017 (details below).

BONUS MATERIAL: 

I’m so excited to be hosting the uber-fabulous Aprilynne Pike on the hunt this year.

Aprilynne Pike is a critically acclaimed, #1 New York Times best-selling author of young adult fiction. At the age of twenty she received her BA in Creative Writing from Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho. When not writing, Aprilynne can usually be found running; she also enjoys singing, acting, reading, and working with pregnant moms as a childbirth educator and doula. Aprilynne lives in Arizona with her husband and their four children. Learn more about Aprilynne at http://www.aprilynnepike.com/.

Aprilynne’s book for the hunt is Earthbound:

As the sole survivor of a plane crash that left her orphaned and injured, Tavia Michaels spends a lot of time in therapy. So when she starts seeing things nobody else can, it’s easy to blame the road to recovery.

Unfortunately for Tavia—and soon, the rest of the world—her troubles have barely begun…

You can find Earthbound on Amazon, and Aprilynne’s bonus material she sent me is a deleted scene:

I don’t mean to steal it.

Well, obviously I mean to. It doesn’t jump into my hands all by itself or anything—though certainly that wouldn’t be the strangest thing that’s happened to me in the last week.

But it wasn’t my plan. I was going to find another way.

Then the woman who’s silently sitting beside me stands and leaves her purse just sitting there. Maybe a foot away.

In my mind I tell myself I’m doing the right thing—that I’ll return it.

Eventually.

But shame burns bright on my cheeks as I scoot over and tuck my arm around the purse. Hug it close to my hip like it’s been mine all along. I wait ten seconds. Long enough for her to realize her mistake and turn around. But her nose is buried in her magazine.

My arm loops through the handles and I stand, pulling the purse against my chest and turning away from its rightful owner.

Walk, Tavia. But it’s strangely difficult. Like strolling through thick molasses. I wait for the yelling, the pointing, the cell phones dialing 9-1-1. Part of me even expects an undercover cop to pull out a gun and point it at me.

But the truth is theft isn’t that hard. No one notices. And if they do, they say nothing.

The end result is that it’s four o’clock in the afternoon and I’m walking down the street, carrying someone else’s purse. I feel utterly superficial telling myself that everything will be better if I can just get a clean hotel, but on some level it’s true. I’ll sleep better, I’ll smell better, I’ll look better, and maybe one night in a decent, fresh, soft bed will help me soften the haggard look in my eyes.

And I promise I’ll put the purse in a box and mail it right back to her. As soon as I study her driver’s license. Figure out how to make one of my own that will pass a hotel clerk’s scrutiny.

And maybe a cop’s too.

Two hours later I’m trembling as I stand in front of the registration desk at a simple Marriott hotel.

“I just need a current credit card and a driver’s license,” the woman chirps, her eyes never leaving the screen.

“I only have cash,” I say nervously. “But I can pay in advance plus a deposit.”

She hesitates, tap-tap-taps on her keyboard a few more times, then nods. “ID?”

I raise my hand and as I do, a plastic rectangle fills my palm and I glance at the clock.

Five minutes.

Sweat trickles down the back of the jacket that I’m wearing—despite the heat—to cover my welt-covered arms. The clerk takes my brand-new driver’s license and sets it on a ledge over her keyboard and continues to tap.

I’m wearing my own face. I went back and forth on that, but figured the check-in process might take longer than five minutes and I can’t refresh my disguise without drawing attention. Very, very bad attention. So, for a little while, I’ll be myself.

And be terrified.

But then, it’s hard to remember the last time I wasn’t terrified.

She glances at the picture, looks up at me over the edge of her glasses—the picture, me, the picture, me. Then her eyebrows go up in what I hope is an expression of approval and she returns to her screen.

“One king-sized okay?”

Okay? I’m ready to jump up and down in glee. I nod silently.

She taps away and as I glance at the clock I feel the heat rise from my belly and creep up my neck. Three minutes. Perspiration is gathering in the hollow of my back and I have to force myself to breathe slower.

“That’ll be $258.00 even plus the $100.00 deposit,” she says with a slight inflection at the end that tells me she expects an argument about the high price.

I couldn’t care less. I hand over four hundreds like it’s nothing. And it may as well be.

Four minutes.

I get my change. My palms itch like mad and not from the bedbugs.

“Just sec, hon.” The woman turns, searching for something or other and my heartbeat flies like hummingbird wings. My eyes remain fixed on my ID and I’m sure this is where everything goes wrong.

She’s wrestling with a box, trying to break the tape that holds it closed. Finally she gets it open with a mutter of satisfaction and sets a box of shiny new key cards beside her monitor. “One or two?” she asks.

“Two,” I reply with my last vestiges of fragile hope. One for him, one for me. Please gods, let it happen.

She scans the keys, tucks them into a little tri-fold packet and begins directing me to the elevator, listing the many conveniences of the hotel available to me. I resist the urge to snatch the keys away.

She proffers the tri-fold with one hand and her other brushes over the edge of her monitor in a smooth, practiced move. She looks down at her empty fingers, confused. “Did I give you your ID?”

I nod, having watched it dissolve into nothingness more than a full minute ago.

She doesn’t pause. Doesn’t sense my lie. She’s just happy to have done her job correctly. So with a lipstick smile she sends me off to the fifth floor.

I don’t have a home anymore—today this is my home. Maybe tomorrow I’ll be somewhere else.

I lean back against the elevator wall and for the small amount of time it will take to reach the fifth floor, I close my eyes and let myself miss him. I don’t do that very often—it would be too easy to get lost in the hurricane of mourning, and never escape.

But for a few moments, I wish . . .

And then the elevator dings.

As soon as I get into the room I pull out one of the plastic bags that lines the trash can and strip off my clothes. I look longingly at my favorite jeans for about two seconds before I catch sight of the reddened bumps on my arms.

I stuff them inside. Everything right down to my underwear. I’m never wearing those clothes again. I grab another bag and shove the first bag in there, tie it shut, and then set the whole parcel outside my door.

This one thing is not my problem anymore. Someone else can deal with it.

An hour later I emerge from a scalding bath and pull on a brand new pair of yoga capris and a T-shirt from the shopping bag I carried in with me. A not-exposed-to-bedbugs plastic bag.

I’ll go shopping for real tomorrow.

I’m feeling a little better. Having clean hair helps. And I came up with a new idea while I was soaking. I’ve always said I do my best thinking in the bathtub.

One more shot. If it doesn’t work I’m back to the land of hopelessness—but not yet.

I have to blink away tears of relief as I pull back the soft comforter and sink down onto clean, white sheets. My life is a nightmare, but maybe, for the next few hours, I can escape into a real dream.

Cool scene, right? Deleted scenes excite me so much that I could eat 11 Cadbury Eggs all at once.

BONUS CONTEST:

Now enter to win a copy of OFF BEAT: Nine Spins on Song in which nine authors (including yours truly) penned speculative fiction short stories inspired by a song. To enter is simple: leave a comment below this post and make sure your email is in there in case you win + 5 bonus entries if you subscribe to my newsletter (right side of this page) and leave the name you used to subscribe in your comment (if it’s different than your comment name). My song for the anthology was inspired by Imagine Dragons and you can check out my story inspiration bonus material on fellow RED TEAM member Michele Bacon’s blog: http://www.michelebacon.com/blog.) 

CONTINUE THE HUNT:

Last but definitely not least: don’t forget to head to the next stop on the hunt, which happens to be my awesome fellow YA Valentine, the lovely Sara B. Larson! Good hunting!

Welcome to the Spring 2017 YA Scavenger Hunt

I’m so excited to be part of the Young Adult Scavenger Hunt (YASH) yet again, where you can enter to win tons of books by your favorite authors. This bi-annual event was first organized by awesome author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors…and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize–one lucky winner will receive one book from each author on the hunt in my team! I’m happy to be part of TEAM RED this time around:

If you’re new to the hunt or need a refresher, go to http://www.yash.rocks/ for all the info.

SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE
 
Directions: Below, you’ll notice that I’ve hidden my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the RED team, and then add them up (don’t worry, you can use a calculator!).

Entry Form: Once you’ve added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.

Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian’s permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by SUNDAY APRIL 9th, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.

After you read the bonus material below, don’t forget to enter the extra giveaway at this blog stop where you can win a copy of the newest Wicked Ink Books anthology which just released April 3, 2017 (details below).

BONUS MATERIAL: 

I’m so excited to be hosting the uber-fabulous Aprilynne Pike on the hunt this year.

Aprilynne Pike is a critically acclaimed, #1 New York Times best-selling author of young adult fiction. At the age of twenty she received her BA in Creative Writing from Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho. When not writing, Aprilynne can usually be found running; she also enjoys singing, acting, reading, and working with pregnant moms as a childbirth educator and doula. Aprilynne lives in Arizona with her husband and their four children. Learn more about Aprilynne at http://www.aprilynnepike.com/.

Aprilynne’s book for the hunt is Earthbound:

As the sole survivor of a plane crash that left her orphaned and injured, Tavia Michaels spends a lot of time in therapy. So when she starts seeing things nobody else can, it’s easy to blame the road to recovery.

Unfortunately for Tavia—and soon, the rest of the world—her troubles have barely begun…

You can find Earthbound on Amazon, and Aprilynne’s bonus material she sent me is a deleted scene:

I don’t mean to steal it.

Well, obviously I mean to. It doesn’t jump into my hands all by itself or anything—though certainly that wouldn’t be the strangest thing that’s happened to me in the last week.

But it wasn’t my plan. I was going to find another way.

Then the woman who’s silently sitting beside me stands and leaves her purse just sitting there. Maybe a foot away.

In my mind I tell myself I’m doing the right thing—that I’ll return it.

Eventually.

But shame burns bright on my cheeks as I scoot over and tuck my arm around the purse. Hug it close to my hip like it’s been mine all along. I wait ten seconds. Long enough for her to realize her mistake and turn around. But her nose is buried in her magazine.

My arm loops through the handles and I stand, pulling the purse against my chest and turning away from its rightful owner.

Walk, Tavia. But it’s strangely difficult. Like strolling through thick molasses. I wait for the yelling, the pointing, the cell phones dialing 9-1-1. Part of me even expects an undercover cop to pull out a gun and point it at me.

But the truth is theft isn’t that hard. No one notices. And if they do, they say nothing.

The end result is that it’s four o’clock in the afternoon and I’m walking down the street, carrying someone else’s purse. I feel utterly superficial telling myself that everything will be better if I can just get a clean hotel, but on some level it’s true. I’ll sleep better, I’ll smell better, I’ll look better, and maybe one night in a decent, fresh, soft bed will help me soften the haggard look in my eyes.

And I promise I’ll put the purse in a box and mail it right back to her. As soon as I study her driver’s license. Figure out how to make one of my own that will pass a hotel clerk’s scrutiny.

And maybe a cop’s too.

Two hours later I’m trembling as I stand in front of the registration desk at a simple Marriott hotel.

“I just need a current credit card and a driver’s license,” the woman chirps, her eyes never leaving the screen.

“I only have cash,” I say nervously. “But I can pay in advance plus a deposit.”

She hesitates, tap-tap-taps on her keyboard a few more times, then nods. “ID?”

I raise my hand and as I do, a plastic rectangle fills my palm and I glance at the clock.

Five minutes.

Sweat trickles down the back of the jacket that I’m wearing—despite the heat—to cover my welt-covered arms. The clerk takes my brand-new driver’s license and sets it on a ledge over her keyboard and continues to tap.

I’m wearing my own face. I went back and forth on that, but figured the check-in process might take longer than five minutes and I can’t refresh my disguise without drawing attention. Very, very bad attention. So, for a little while, I’ll be myself.

And be terrified.

But then, it’s hard to remember the last time I wasn’t terrified.

She glances at the picture, looks up at me over the edge of her glasses—the picture, me, the picture, me. Then her eyebrows go up in what I hope is an expression of approval and she returns to her screen.

“One king-sized okay?”

Okay? I’m ready to jump up and down in glee. I nod silently.

She taps away and as I glance at the clock I feel the heat rise from my belly and creep up my neck. Three minutes. Perspiration is gathering in the hollow of my back and I have to force myself to breathe slower.

“That’ll be $258.00 even plus the $100.00 deposit,” she says with a slight inflection at the end that tells me she expects an argument about the high price.

I couldn’t care less. I hand over four hundreds like it’s nothing. And it may as well be.

Four minutes.

I get my change. My palms itch like mad and not from the bedbugs.

“Just sec, hon.” The woman turns, searching for something or other and my heartbeat flies like hummingbird wings. My eyes remain fixed on my ID and I’m sure this is where everything goes wrong.

She’s wrestling with a box, trying to break the tape that holds it closed. Finally she gets it open with a mutter of satisfaction and sets a box of shiny new key cards beside her monitor. “One or two?” she asks.

“Two,” I reply with my last vestiges of fragile hope. One for him, one for me. Please gods, let it happen.

She scans the keys, tucks them into a little tri-fold packet and begins directing me to the elevator, listing the many conveniences of the hotel available to me. I resist the urge to snatch the keys away.

She proffers the tri-fold with one hand and her other brushes over the edge of her monitor in a smooth, practiced move. She looks down at her empty fingers, confused. “Did I give you your ID?”

I nod, having watched it dissolve into nothingness more than a full minute ago.

She doesn’t pause. Doesn’t sense my lie. She’s just happy to have done her job correctly. So with a lipstick smile she sends me off to the fifth floor.

I don’t have a home anymore—today this is my home. Maybe tomorrow I’ll be somewhere else.

I lean back against the elevator wall and for the small amount of time it will take to reach the fifth floor, I close my eyes and let myself miss him. I don’t do that very often—it would be too easy to get lost in the hurricane of mourning, and never escape.

But for a few moments, I wish . . .

And then the elevator dings.

As soon as I get into the room I pull out one of the plastic bags that lines the trash can and strip off my clothes. I look longingly at my favorite jeans for about two seconds before I catch sight of the reddened bumps on my arms.

I stuff them inside. Everything right down to my underwear. I’m never wearing those clothes again. I grab another bag and shove the first bag in there, tie it shut, and then set the whole parcel outside my door.

This one thing is not my problem anymore. Someone else can deal with it.

An hour later I emerge from a scalding bath and pull on a brand new pair of yoga capris and a T-shirt from the shopping bag I carried in with me. A not-exposed-to-bedbugs plastic bag.

I’ll go shopping for real tomorrow.

I’m feeling a little better. Having clean hair helps. And I came up with a new idea while I was soaking. I’ve always said I do my best thinking in the bathtub.

One more shot. If it doesn’t work I’m back to the land of hopelessness—but not yet.

I have to blink away tears of relief as I pull back the soft comforter and sink down onto clean, white sheets. My life is a nightmare, but maybe, for the next few hours, I can escape into a real dream.

Cool scene, right? Deleted scenes excite me so much that I could eat 11 Cadbury Eggs all at once.

BONUS CONTEST:

Now enter to win a copy of OFF BEAT: Nine Spins on Song in which nine authors (including yours truly) penned speculative fiction short stories inspired by a song. To enter is simple: leave a comment below this post and make sure your email is in there in case you win + 5 bonus entries if you subscribe to my newsletter (right side of this page) and leave the name you used to subscribe in your comment (if it’s different than your comment name). My song for the anthology was inspired by Imagine Dragons and you can check out my story inspiration bonus material on fellow RED TEAM member Michele Bacon’s blog: http://www.michelebacon.com/blog.) 

 

CONTINUE THE HUNT:

Last but definitely not least: don’t forget to head to the next stop on the hunt, which happens to be my awesome fellow YA Valentine, the lovely Sara B. Larson! Good hunting!

On Writing, Star Wars, and Politics

 

This is a long post, so here we go. The recent election has stirred up a lot of emotions and thoughts about where our country is headed, and it brought up questions on social media about whether it was wise for authors to voice their opinions versus keep their heads down and focus on “entertaining people.” One author wisely noted that “all art is inherently political,” and I agree with that. Over Christmas break, my family went to see Star Wars: Rogue One. We all loved it (though my son had an issue with the ending that I won’t spoil here), but the entire Star Wars franchise is heavily political with rebel forces fighting against a fascist government. We even have an incoming member of the president’s administration who used Star Wars as an analogy when he proudly compared himself to Darth Vader. Let that one sink in a minute. Anyway, the Star Wars franchise is entertaining, but also tackles serious issues regarding government and the cost of a “free” society.

What do politics have to do with YA books? A lot. Pick any YA book and there’s an issue in there somewhere. My Burn Out series explores an oppressive government set in an apocalyptic world, while a new book I’m writing examines the dark side of our youth correctional system. I have a YA urban fantasy coming out this year about a serial killer stalking faeries who bind their wings out of fear in an attempt to look human. It’s creepy, and hopefully entertaining, but also addresses the prejudice that faeries experience by humans, and oh yeah, they have to register with the government. A writer’s words are a form of expression the same way a sculpture or painting is for an artist. It’s entertainment—with a purpose.

So why am I and other authors talking more about political views on social media, rather than just sticking to book and candy tweets? Well, here’s one of many reasons. Our anthology through Wicked Ink Books (Tick Tock: 7 Tales of Time) almost did not come out in Turkey, because last summer, 29 publishers were closed down by the Turkish government in an attempt to repress free speech. Now, journalists and free speech are under attack in our own nation and you know it’s not good when the Turkish leader praises how our incoming president handles the press. Therefore, it’s more important to me to speak out to help ensure we still have publishers and a free press, so there can be more books in the world. When threats to basic rights like freedom of speech are on the table, my tweets about Cadbury Eggs will just have to wait for happier times.

I think authors have a responsibility to use their words when necessary, and I’m also a psychologist who feels a responsibility to be a voice for the marginalized and others who feel they are not heard. Though I’m one of the 20-30 million who will be impacted by the repeal of Obamacare, which due to a pre-existing condition was the first time in my life I could get health insurance on my own, I’m not as concerned about myself as I am for others. I’m very concerned for the millions of children out there with diseases, and the millions of adults with life-threatening conditions, many of whom will die without ACA. And here’s a really political statement for you: I believe someone is the worst kind of hypocrite to call themselves a “pro-life Christian” but only when it refers to the unborn, and then vote for millions of children and adults to die by taking away their health insurance. That’s the exact opposite of Christ-like behavior and I’m not overly religious, but I hope there’s a special place in hell for those people. I refuse to be quiet about children and other vulnerable people dying, no matter what someone else thinks.

But won’t you lose readers? As to the argument that voicing your beliefs could cost you readers, well, here’s the thing about that. The people out there who are white supremacists, homophobic, or sexist would hate my books anyway. Like really hate them, as they include strong kick-ass females, diversity, and LGBT characters. I believe that all people are created equal, which is, in fact, one of the main tenets of our nation’s Declaration of Independence. I’m not against any political party. In fact, I live in a conservative county inside a mostly blue state, and have a mix of Republican, Democrat, and other party friends, but here’s what I am against: fascism, racism, sexism, and all the other -isms that oppress any groups of people. If you support hate, I don’t want you buying my books anyway.

What am I doing in addition to writing? I’m still writing because it is a much needed outlet right now, but my main goals right now are speaking out, standing up, and fighting back. Ironically, I’m now part of a group called The Resistance who oppose a fascist society, and if you have read Burn Out, you know it involves a group named… wait for it… The Resistance, who fights a government that uses terror and weapons to keep order. I wrote that book years ago, and truly thought I was making up a “worst case scenario” at the time. Thank you, life, for imitating art and once again reminding us that truth will always be stranger than fiction.

Final thoughts: Before this election took place, I was speaking on a panel at Comic Con, and someone asked about the issue of authors openly addressing political views. Though I had no idea what was to come in November, I quoted Spider Man to this person (because if you know me, of course I did), and said “With great power, comes great responsibility.” Writers with a platform or audience of any kind have some power, and therefore have a responsibility (IMHO) to use that power for good. A bonus to speaking out more has been a “yuge” increase in social media followers of people who share my passion for this country. When I recently expressed feeling exhausted about speaking out so much, a fellow author wrote to me and said, “We need you right now. Please keep going.” So I will. And I will be there for my fellow authors who are also tired, for my fellow citizens who are scared or angry, and for my fellow Resistance members who are determined and brave—because I am all of these things too. Sometimes all at once. Above all, be kind to each other, stand up for your neighbor’s rights as well as your own, and remember that we will always be strongest when we stand together. May the Force be with you all!

Happy 2017 and Thoughts for the New Year

Happy 2017 all! I don’t know about you, but the end of 2016 was a rough one for me. I attended two funerals within three weeks at the end of the year for people who died way before their time, one at age 39 and one age 18. The 39-yo, Cicily Janus, had been a mentor to me years back and I credit her writing retreat with why I received several offers of representation from agents soon thereafter. Cicily also assigned fellow author, Sue Duff, as my roommate for the week, and though I had never met her before, we became instant friends who stayed up giggling like we were in high school every night until 4a. The 18-yo was a boy at my 9-yo daughter’s dance school and she had danced in a Nutcracker production with him a year ago. It was her first funeral and there were so many tears, but the service was beautiful and multiple videos were shown of him doing what he loved to do, which was dance. It prompted a lot of discussion afterward in our household about death and dying, souls, and what life on this planet is all about. Combined with the political climate following the election (entire post on that coming soon because if you follow me on social media, you know I have thoughts), and the death of many beloved icons from my childhood, from Prince to Princess Leia *shakes fist at 2016*, I can’t remember a time when I felt so heartbroken all at once.

Yet, if you know me, I always look for the silver lining in all things because I was made that way. What is the point of so much loss and pain? One positive was that the deep discussions in our household brought our already close family even closer. It was also a huge reminder of what’s important to me. To take every opportunity to express your love and gratitude for family, friends, and other loved ones because, in the end, you never know when it could be the last holiday you have with someone. To fight for freedom and equality for all people because you never know when democracy could disappear. In my other job, as a psychologist and career coach, I often give an exercise for homework called “One Year to Live,” and this year really brought home for me that I want to live every year in the way that is most meaningful to me. I’ve seen multiple people on social media saying similar things. Saying they want to simplify and reevaluate their lives, some stepping away from social media, and others (like me) stepping on it. I’ve been doing more consistent meditation and yoga, and I know others who are training for ultra marathons. Do whatever feels right for you without worrying about what others think, or as my 12-yo son says, “You do you.”

I also have exciting book news, writing goals and other aspirations for the year which I will share in future posts, but first felt the need to reflect on the past year as it has directed where I’m headed. I’m choosing to let the pain of the past year motivate me to keep moving forward. I wish all of you peace and happiness in the year ahead, and hope that you all continue reaching for your dreams and goals no matter what obstacles may land in your path. Here’s hoping that 2017 brings great things to you!

The Fall 2016 YA Scavenger Hunt is HERE!!!

 

Hi there, all you book-loving Scavengers! Ready to win some books?  I’m Kristi Helvig, your hostess on this stop: Welcome to TEAM GOLD!!!

 

The Fall YA Scavenger Hunt goes live on Tuesday, Oct 4th at 12 pm Pacific Time and comes down on Sunday, Oct 9th at noon Pacific time.

Make sure to read this whole post, and then enter to win an extra bonus prize of my own by commenting below! Also, check out my top-secret bonus material where I share a true tale from the other side over on fellow gold team author’s site, Sharon Biggs Waller.

This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors…and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize–one lucky winner will receive one book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: Enter by Sunday, October 9th, at noon Pacific time.

If you’d like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes up for grabs, go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page.

SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE 

Directions: Below, you’ll notice that I’ve hidden my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the gold team, and then add them up (don’t worry, you can use a calculator!).

Entry Form: Once you’ve added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.

Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian’s permission to enter.

 

I am so excited to be hosting fabulous author, E. KATHERINE KOTTARAS. How excited? So excited that I did 6 cartwheels across my lawn.

Here is lovely E. Katherine Kottaras:

E. Katherine Kottaras is originally from Chicago, and now she writes and teaches in the Los Angeles area. She is interested in the stories we tell, the stories we are given, and the ways we can redefine our worlds by discovering which stories are true. She is the author of the YA contemporary novel, HOW TO BE BRAVE (2015) and the forthcoming THE BEST POSSIBLE ANSWER (2016), both from St. Martin’s Press/Griffin Teen.

Find out more about Katherine here and you can buy her book here!

Katherine’s latest book is THE BEST POSSIBLE ANSWER:

Ultra-high-achiever Viviana Rabinovich-Lowe has always had a plan—and no room to be anything less than perfect. But her quest for perfection comes to a screeching halt when her boyfriend leaks racy pictures of her to the entire school. Making matters worse, her perfect family is falling apart. For the first time, Viviana feels like a complete and utter failure.

Then she meets a new group of friends who know nothing about her past, including Evan, who makes her want to do something she never thought she’d do again: trust. For the first time in her life, Viviana realizes she can finally be whoever she wants. But who is that? While she tries to figure it out, she learns something they never covered in her AP courses: that it’s okay to be less than perfect, because it’s our imperfections that make us who we are.

She tells her story through a series of exam questions that point to her awareness of the complicated ironies of her life. In that spirit, here are some multiple-choice practice questions for you to answer as you listen to the playlist and read the book.

Katherine’s Bonus Material: FULL PLAYLIST for THE BEST POSSIBLE ANSWER. Click here for the link:

https://open.spotify.com/user/12132835764/playlist/7epMdfXwT6FGDZsp7Dx05h

From the opening page of THE BEST POSSIBLE ANSWER:

AP Physics Exam : Sample Question

  A girl is traveling home from the AP Physics exam on her bicycle. She is travelling at x m/s and can stop at a distance d m with a maximum negative acceleration. If the bicycle travels at 2x m/s, which of the following statements are true?

The girl is so stressed, exhausted, and overworked that she falls asleep while riding her bike.
That’s right; she loses momentum after taking a three-hour exam on the laws of gravity.
The girl won’t know for a few months how she did on the actual test.
But it couldn’t have been good considering she couldn’t get from point A to point B without falling on her face.
All of the above.  

You know the answer. 

(Hint: Test prep research shows you should actually always pick E.)

DATE OF EXAM: November 1, 2016

Be sure to study hard!

 

PRACTICE QUESTION #1:

Which of the following songs BEST speak to Viviana’s feeling of utter betrayal, the sheer loss of trust that is irreparable?

 

(A) Sia’s “Elastic Heart.” Viviana a fighter. She’s been hurt, but still, she’s got thick skin and a heart that is willing to be open, despite everything she’s weathered.

And let’s be clear, I trust no one…

And I want it, I want my life so bad

And I’m doing everything I can

Then another one bites the dust

It’s hard to lose a chosen one

You did not break me (You did not break me, no, no)

I’m still fighting for peace

Well I’ve got thick skin and an elastic heart

 

 

(B) Lorde’s “Biting Down.” For the first time, Viviana feels like a complete and utter failure. As a result, Viviana is experiencing severe panic attacks that are so bad, when the book opens, she has landed in the hospital. The heavy rhythm of the song is like the pounding of a heartbeat inside a head, which echoes Viviana’s deep panic about her present situation, as well as her future.

Breathed so deep I thought I’d drown

 

(C) Feist’s “The Bad in Each Other.” Viviana’s father has suddenly disappeared and now her perfect family is falling apart. Viviana starts to discover truths about her father – terrible truths, worse than anything she could have ever imagined, ones that threaten to tear her family apart forever.

Where to love to find it now

When we’ll become two

Floating into the blue and the neon river

The sadness can move either without or with him

 

(D) Alicia Keys’s “Falling.” Viviana thinks she failed her AP Physics exam, not only on paper (after falling flat on her face while riding her bike home from the test), but also in life. And now, once again, she’s falling: this time for a cute and nice and incredibly sensitive guy named Evan. Is she doomed to fail a test of the heart once more?

 

(E) All of the above.

 

PRACTICE QUESTION #2:

Evan knows nothing about her past and who make her want to do something she never thought she’d do again: trust. But she’s been hurt by so much.

Which of the following songs BEST speak to Viviana’s confused, hurting heart?

 (A) Arctic Monkey’s “Do I Wanna Know?”

(Do I wanna know?)

If this feeling flows both ways

 

(B) First Aid Kit’s “Stay Gold”

What if to love and be loved’s not enough?

What if I fall and can’t bear to get up?

 

(C) Jon and Roy’s “Every Night”

I want your love/ Every night

 

(D) Sia’s “Dressed in Black”

 

You found me dressed in black

Hiding way up at the back

Life had broken my heart into pieces

 

(E) All of the above.

 

PRACTICE QUESTION #3:

For the first time in her life, Viviana realizes she can finally be whoever she wants. But who is that?

Which of the following songs BEST speak to Viviana’s future that, if she opens her heart, will be filled with love?

 

(A) Santigold’s “Disparate Youth.” Thankfully, Viviana has her best friend, Sammie, remind each other of their strengths and compel each other to move forward.

Don’t look ahead, there’s stormy weather

Another roadblock in our way

But if we go, we go together

Our hands are tied here if we stay

 

(B) Lana Del Rey’s “Young and Beautiful.”

I know you will, I know you will

I know that you will

 

(C) First Aid Kid’s “My Silver Lining”

There’s no starting over, no new beginnings, time races on

And you’ve just gotta keep on keeping on

Gotta keep on going, looking straight out on the road

Can’t worry ’bout what’s behind you or what’s coming for you further up the road

I try not to hold on to what is gone, I try to do right what is wrong

I try to keep on keeping on

 

(D) Pink’s “Fucking Perfect”

Pretty, pretty please, don’t you ever, ever feel

Like you’re less than fucking perfect

Pretty, pretty please, if you ever, ever feel

Like you’re nothing, you’re fucking perfect to me

 

(E) All of the above.

 

NOT-SO-SECRET ANSWER KEY:

Viviana learns something they never covered in her AP courses:

that it’s okay to be less than perfect,

because it’s our imperfections that make us who we are.

GIVEAWAY: In addition to a copy of HOW TO BE BRAVE, Katherine is giving away a copy of her second book, THE BEST POSSIBLE ANSWER, hot off the presses! (Note: Publication is November 1, 2016, so the books will be sent after that date.) Check out her blog for details!

 

BONUS GIVEAWAY at this host stop:

I’m giving away a copy of our award-winning speculative fiction anthology, TICK TOCK: 7 Tales of Time from Wicked Ink Books. Seven science-fiction and fantasy authors present their takes on time in these stories involving romance, horror, and the supernatural.

TO ENTER: Simply leave a comment below to enter. For 5 additional bonus entries, just sign up for my author newsletter, then leave the name you used to sign up in the comment box. Good luck!

NEXT STOP ON THE HUNT: Go check out ERIN E. MOULTON and best of luck scavenging!

 

 

Last Call for Submissions for the Spring 2017 Wicked Ink Books Anthology

Hello lovelies–are you a writer who writes speculative fiction, sci-fi, or fantasy? If so, it’s not too late to enter your short story for consideration for our Spring 2017 Anthology. We are looking for a few additional stories to include, along with the 7 Wicked Ink Authors. Our 2016 anthology focused on the concept of time, and for next year, we’re looking for speculative fiction stories based on a song. Music has always been a huge influence for me, and certain songs have influenced my novels (i.e. Center of the Sun by Conjure One for BURN OUT), so this is an exciting theme for me. I already have my song picked out and the outline for my story (no, I’m not telling), and can’t wait to read yours! The full submission guidelines are here, so read carefully, but basics are that the stories must be between 8-10K words in length, you should not include actual song lyrics or write a literal interpretation of a song, and the deadline is midnight on August 31, 2016. Let us know if you have questions, and get writing!

YA Scavenger Hunt Spring 2016 is Here!

Hi Scavengers! I’m Kristi Helvig, your hostess for this stage of the hunt and I’m so excited to be part of Team Pink:

Make sure to read this whole post, and then enter to win an extra bonus prize by commenting below!

This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors…and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize–one lucky winner will receive one book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: Enter by Sunday, April 3rd, at noon Pacific time.

If you’d like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes up for grabs, go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page.

SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE



Directions: Below, you’ll notice that I’ve hidden my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the pink team, and then add them up (don’t worry, you can use a calculator!).

Entry Form: Once you’ve added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.

Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian’s permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by March 31st, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.

SCAVENGER HUNT POST

I’m so excited to be hosting the lovely Amy Rolland on this hunt:

A. Lynden Rolland is a former high school English teacher, and she enjoys visiting classrooms, camps, and book clubs to discuss reading, writing and publishing. When she isn’t chasing her young children around town, she moonlights as a writing tutor and gymnastics instructor. Her debut novel, Of Breakable Things, was published in 2014. The sequel, Of Delicate Pieces, released last fall. You can connect with A. Lynden Rolland online through Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Instagram, or Tumblr.

I loved Amy’s debut novel, Of Breakable Things, and am so excited for this awesome sequel, Of Delicate Pieces, which is on my TBR list!

From Amy:

Hello hunters! I hope you’re having fun with the bonus material and adding tons of books to your TBR piles! The book I’m featuring is Of Delicate Pieces, part two of my supernatural series!

When I was writing the sequel to Of Breakable Things, I wanted the reader to see more of the mind-bending magic of the afterworld. My characters live in a place where walls can breathe, where objects have personalities, and where reality is distorted. It’s beautifully haunting, but the difference between the first book and the second is that Alex, the main character, finally begins to see the imperfections. It’s the afterlife but it’s not heaven, and spirits are not angels. They’ve done horrible things which have affected the foundation of the society they’ve established.

The afterworld is its own character in the series, and my Pinterest board gives readers a taste of what I see when I’m writing.

Follow Amy’s board Of Breakable Things/ Of Delicate Pieces on Pinterest.

Thanks for being on the hunt, Amy–and those Pinterest pics are eerie and awesome! Aside from being a talented author, Amy is also super nice and recently added a sweet baby girl to her family. Hmmm…I wonder if she’ll end up with 7 children someday?

BONUS PRIZE:

Leave a comment below and enter to win a signed copy of the new speculative fiction anthology, TICK TOCK: 7 Tales of Time from Wicked Ink Books which just released 3/28/16. It features 7 sci-fi/fantasy authors, including yours truly, and shows how everything can change in a second…a minute…an hour. I’ll use a random number generator to choose the winning comment so good luck!

Make sure to continue on the hunt by visiting author Julia Embry next! Good luck to all!