Crystal Collier's Blog, page 21
February 26, 2014
10 Ways to Review a Book
It is WRITERLY WEDNESDAY! Are you ready to meet a new author and enter to win an awesome book?
Last week, Kai Strand shared with us her Super Villain Academy book, King of Bad, along with two truths and one lie about herself. Those who guessed the lie correctly were entered into a random drawing to win an eBook!
Kai's game:
1. A long-term guest of the hotel Kai worked for became smitten with her (to be fair, as an employee she was like a captive audience for the man). He owned a high end used car dealership and allowed her to pick out any car she wanted. She chose a Porsche 928, but only kept it for a few months.
2. To celebrate the opening of a manufacturing plant in Dublin, the company she worked for raffled off big prizes. She won a 60 inch screen television with surround sound and a trip to Ireland. She was one number away from also winning the African safari!
3. As the night manager of a fancy hotel in Southern California, she saw a lot of unusual things; Tungan royalty, a drug-induced freak out requiring the police and a straight jacket. One night she found a bottle of expensive moisturizer on the front desk with a card that said, “You are so beautiful and I want to help you stay that way.”
And the lie is:
#1. This actually happened to Kai's coworker.
Way to guess those of you who got it right! You are officially human lie detectors. And the winner is:
...DRUM ROLL...
Stina Lindenblatt!
Congrats, Stina!
Today I have the privilege of sharing a wonderful mother-daughter duo, Barb and Hannah Taub along with their amazing two (mature) books:
Superpowers suck. If you just want to live a normal life, Null City is only a Metro ride away. After one day there, imps become baristas, and hellhounds become poodles. Demons settle down, become parents, join the PTA, and worry about their taxes.
Null City is the only sanctuary for Gaby Parker and Leila Rice, two young women confronting cataclysmic forces waging an unseen war between Heaven and Hell. Gaby and her younger brother and sister are already targets in the war that cost their parents' lives. Should they forsake the powers that complete their souls and flee to Null City? Meanwhile, Leila has inherited a French chateau, a mysterious legacy, and a prophecy that she will end the world. Gaby and Leila become catalysts for the founding and survival of Null City.
It just would have been nice if someone told them the angels were all on the other side.
BUY HERE
Hope flares each morning in the tiny flash of a second before Lette touches that first thing. And destroys it.
Every day whatever she touches converts into something new, from bunnies to bombs. Her online journal spans a decade, beginning with the day a thirteen-year-old inherits an extreme form of the family 'gift'. Lette's search for a cure leads her to Stefan, whose fairy-tale looks hide a monstrous legacy, and Rag, an arrogant, crabby ex-angel with boundary issues. The three face an army led by a monster who feeds on children's fear, but it's their own inner demons they must defeat first.
BUY HERE
And now, let me introduce you to the wonderful authors:
In a former life before children in need of luxuries like food and college,
Barb Taub
wrote a humor column for several Midwest newspapers.When child #4 joined her research staff, she veered toward the dark side and a career in human resources. Now an expat living in one corner of a castle with her prince-of-a-guy and the world's most spoiled Aussie dog, she enjoys travel, translating from British to American, and collaborating with her daughter Hannah on the Null City series.
Hannah Taub started writing fantasy in kindergarten and never stopped. Computer science is the other great love of her life, and she writes and runs murder mystery parties in her spare time. She lives, creates, and studies in Scotland.
Hannah and Barb LOVE Wensleydale with cranberries from the Wensleydale Creamery and can be found eating it for picnics on a Yorkshire hillside.
Barb gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Those who figure out the lie will go into my magic hat for a chance to win BOTH BOOKS. (eBooks) Eek! How cool is that? You have until Tuesday, March 4, at 1 p.m. EDT to guess--and be sure to come back for the answer on March 5.
TRUTH OR LIE
1. Barb's roommate is the ghost of the abandoned sweetheart in the Bobby Shafto nursery rhyme.
2. As the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter, Barb's sister would be considered a witch in many places. On the plus side, she will never have to pay for her own beer in Ireland.
3. Barb was a Pillsbury Bake-Off (R) regional semi-finalist.
10 Ways to Review a Book
I know how intimidating it can be to write a book review--even when you're elbow deep in the industry. The first time I volunteered to review a book for a friend was Kerri Cuevas' Deadly Kisses. Kerri and I had rubbed shoulders and exchanged laughs over our efforts with three separate Choose Your Own Adventure bloghops. I didn't want to get this wrong. And yet when I stared at that blank box on Amazon, I totally froze.
What?!?
I mean, I've written my whole life. How hard should it have been to say a few nice words about a book I really liked for a friend I totally adored?
Because I get how rough it can be, today I'd like to share a few techniques or approaches that will TOTALLY take the pressure off.
THE FACTZ:
First of all, you have to realize that book reviews are like book food. If you love a book and want it to succeed (or to see more books from the author) YOU BETTER get out there and leave them a review. Reviews boost visibility in Amazon's store. Which means they boost sales. Which means the author is motivated to put out more content.
But wait, that book already has thirty reviews. Why does it need another one?
People are lemmings, or sheep. I hate to say it, but it's true. They say, "Ooh, everyone is reading this book--see, it has two hundred reviews. I bet it's awesome."
A book cannot have too many reviews.
But you really didn't like something about this book. Boo hoo. Seriously? I bet there were a TON of things you did like, and good vibes always come back around. Say what you can that's positive and reward the author who put their blood, sweat and tears into it. Don't be an author killer.
Now to the HOW
All of these ideas can be used separately for a simple review or a few combined for a longer one. When I review a book, I usually include one to three of these aspects.
1. THE SHORT REVIEW: If you're not confident writing a long review, don't. One sentence is sufficient. "I love this book." "I can't wait for the sequel." etc.
2. THE COVER: Did it get you? Were you intrigued by it? What questions did it have you asking?
3. THE EMOTIONAL RESPONSE: What did this book make you feel?
4. THE HOOK: When or how did this book grab you? The end of the first chapter? The first page? The first line?
Image courtesy of Feliciti
5. SETTING: How was the story world? Realistic? Beautiful? Uninspired? Strange? A place you'd like to visit? Somewhere you're glad you'll never live?
6. THE CHARACTERS: Was there a character you absolutely loved or hated? Tell us about it. (This can comprise an entire review with multiple characters.)
7. PLOT: Book reviews aren't book reports. You don't need to rehash the plot. In fact, please don't. Only summarize when you need it to expound upon a point you want to make. Was there a twist in the story that took your breath away? What was your favorite scene? Did the story move too fast, too slow? Any glaring plot holes? Did you like the way it ended?
8. ORIGINALITY: What makes this book stand out from others?
9. STYLE: What is the author's writing style? Poetic? Filled with imagery? Abrupt? Gritty? Comical?
10. RECOMMENDATION: Do you recommend this book, and if so, to whom? (Age and genre preference.)
And there you have it, ten approaches to writing a book review. And here's an opportunity to test you new skills and WIN.
REVIEW RACE
Anyone who reviews MOONLESS between now and MARCH 10, 2014, and tells me about it HERE, will be entered to win...
An advanced copy of book 2 in the Maiden of Time Trilogy (set to release July, 2014), AND a signed copy of MOONLESS.
Time is running out!
Pst! If you'd like one more chance to win MY book, check it out.
Okay, which is the lie? Do you have review phobia? Are you going to enter the race?
Last week, Kai Strand shared with us her Super Villain Academy book, King of Bad, along with two truths and one lie about herself. Those who guessed the lie correctly were entered into a random drawing to win an eBook!
Kai's game:
1. A long-term guest of the hotel Kai worked for became smitten with her (to be fair, as an employee she was like a captive audience for the man). He owned a high end used car dealership and allowed her to pick out any car she wanted. She chose a Porsche 928, but only kept it for a few months.2. To celebrate the opening of a manufacturing plant in Dublin, the company she worked for raffled off big prizes. She won a 60 inch screen television with surround sound and a trip to Ireland. She was one number away from also winning the African safari!
3. As the night manager of a fancy hotel in Southern California, she saw a lot of unusual things; Tungan royalty, a drug-induced freak out requiring the police and a straight jacket. One night she found a bottle of expensive moisturizer on the front desk with a card that said, “You are so beautiful and I want to help you stay that way.”
And the lie is:
#1. This actually happened to Kai's coworker.
Way to guess those of you who got it right! You are officially human lie detectors. And the winner is:
...DRUM ROLL...
Stina Lindenblatt!
Congrats, Stina!
Today I have the privilege of sharing a wonderful mother-daughter duo, Barb and Hannah Taub along with their amazing two (mature) books:
Superpowers suck. If you just want to live a normal life, Null City is only a Metro ride away. After one day there, imps become baristas, and hellhounds become poodles. Demons settle down, become parents, join the PTA, and worry about their taxes.Null City is the only sanctuary for Gaby Parker and Leila Rice, two young women confronting cataclysmic forces waging an unseen war between Heaven and Hell. Gaby and her younger brother and sister are already targets in the war that cost their parents' lives. Should they forsake the powers that complete their souls and flee to Null City? Meanwhile, Leila has inherited a French chateau, a mysterious legacy, and a prophecy that she will end the world. Gaby and Leila become catalysts for the founding and survival of Null City.
It just would have been nice if someone told them the angels were all on the other side.
BUY HERE
Hope flares each morning in the tiny flash of a second before Lette touches that first thing. And destroys it.
Every day whatever she touches converts into something new, from bunnies to bombs. Her online journal spans a decade, beginning with the day a thirteen-year-old inherits an extreme form of the family 'gift'. Lette's search for a cure leads her to Stefan, whose fairy-tale looks hide a monstrous legacy, and Rag, an arrogant, crabby ex-angel with boundary issues. The three face an army led by a monster who feeds on children's fear, but it's their own inner demons they must defeat first.
BUY HERE
And now, let me introduce you to the wonderful authors:
In a former life before children in need of luxuries like food and college,
Barb Taub
wrote a humor column for several Midwest newspapers.When child #4 joined her research staff, she veered toward the dark side and a career in human resources. Now an expat living in one corner of a castle with her prince-of-a-guy and the world's most spoiled Aussie dog, she enjoys travel, translating from British to American, and collaborating with her daughter Hannah on the Null City series. Hannah Taub started writing fantasy in kindergarten and never stopped. Computer science is the other great love of her life, and she writes and runs murder mystery parties in her spare time. She lives, creates, and studies in Scotland.
Hannah and Barb LOVE Wensleydale with cranberries from the Wensleydale Creamery and can be found eating it for picnics on a Yorkshire hillside.
Barb gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Those who figure out the lie will go into my magic hat for a chance to win BOTH BOOKS. (eBooks) Eek! How cool is that? You have until Tuesday, March 4, at 1 p.m. EDT to guess--and be sure to come back for the answer on March 5.
TRUTH OR LIE
1. Barb's roommate is the ghost of the abandoned sweetheart in the Bobby Shafto nursery rhyme.
2. As the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter, Barb's sister would be considered a witch in many places. On the plus side, she will never have to pay for her own beer in Ireland.
3. Barb was a Pillsbury Bake-Off (R) regional semi-finalist.
10 Ways to Review a Book
I know how intimidating it can be to write a book review--even when you're elbow deep in the industry. The first time I volunteered to review a book for a friend was Kerri Cuevas' Deadly Kisses. Kerri and I had rubbed shoulders and exchanged laughs over our efforts with three separate Choose Your Own Adventure bloghops. I didn't want to get this wrong. And yet when I stared at that blank box on Amazon, I totally froze.
What?!?I mean, I've written my whole life. How hard should it have been to say a few nice words about a book I really liked for a friend I totally adored?
Because I get how rough it can be, today I'd like to share a few techniques or approaches that will TOTALLY take the pressure off.
THE FACTZ:
First of all, you have to realize that book reviews are like book food. If you love a book and want it to succeed (or to see more books from the author) YOU BETTER get out there and leave them a review. Reviews boost visibility in Amazon's store. Which means they boost sales. Which means the author is motivated to put out more content.
But wait, that book already has thirty reviews. Why does it need another one?
People are lemmings, or sheep. I hate to say it, but it's true. They say, "Ooh, everyone is reading this book--see, it has two hundred reviews. I bet it's awesome."
A book cannot have too many reviews.
But you really didn't like something about this book. Boo hoo. Seriously? I bet there were a TON of things you did like, and good vibes always come back around. Say what you can that's positive and reward the author who put their blood, sweat and tears into it. Don't be an author killer.
Now to the HOW
All of these ideas can be used separately for a simple review or a few combined for a longer one. When I review a book, I usually include one to three of these aspects.
1. THE SHORT REVIEW: If you're not confident writing a long review, don't. One sentence is sufficient. "I love this book." "I can't wait for the sequel." etc.
2. THE COVER: Did it get you? Were you intrigued by it? What questions did it have you asking?
3. THE EMOTIONAL RESPONSE: What did this book make you feel?
4. THE HOOK: When or how did this book grab you? The end of the first chapter? The first page? The first line?
Image courtesy of Feliciti5. SETTING: How was the story world? Realistic? Beautiful? Uninspired? Strange? A place you'd like to visit? Somewhere you're glad you'll never live?
6. THE CHARACTERS: Was there a character you absolutely loved or hated? Tell us about it. (This can comprise an entire review with multiple characters.)
7. PLOT: Book reviews aren't book reports. You don't need to rehash the plot. In fact, please don't. Only summarize when you need it to expound upon a point you want to make. Was there a twist in the story that took your breath away? What was your favorite scene? Did the story move too fast, too slow? Any glaring plot holes? Did you like the way it ended?
8. ORIGINALITY: What makes this book stand out from others?
9. STYLE: What is the author's writing style? Poetic? Filled with imagery? Abrupt? Gritty? Comical?
10. RECOMMENDATION: Do you recommend this book, and if so, to whom? (Age and genre preference.)
And there you have it, ten approaches to writing a book review. And here's an opportunity to test you new skills and WIN.
REVIEW RACE
Anyone who reviews MOONLESS between now and MARCH 10, 2014, and tells me about it HERE, will be entered to win...
An advanced copy of book 2 in the Maiden of Time Trilogy (set to release July, 2014), AND a signed copy of MOONLESS. Time is running out!
Pst! If you'd like one more chance to win MY book, check it out.
Okay, which is the lie? Do you have review phobia? Are you going to enter the race?
February 21, 2014
Amazing Cheese with Dyslexia
I have a treat for you today! It's not very often I HAVE to interview someone. In fact, I can say this makes a first. Today I'd like to introduce you to my wonderful author friend, Kate Scott and her amazing new book, Counting to D. If you haven't met Kate yet, REMEDY that NOW!!!!
Kate Scott lives in the suburbs outside Portland, Oregon with her husband Warren. Kate was diagnosed with dyslexia as a young child but somehow managed to fall in love with stories anyway. Counting to D is her first novel. When Kate isn’t writing, she enjoys listening to audiobooks, camping, and spending time with her friends and family. Kate also spends a lot of time doing math and sciency things and is a licensed professional engineer.
And now, let the interview commence!
Counting to Dis amazing and so realistically grounded, I wonder how much of it is based on real life. Kate, when and how was it discovered you dealt with dyslexia?
Kate: The academic aspect of Counting to D is based upon my own experience. Like Sam, I was diagnosed with dyslexia in elementary school and underwent extensive private tutoring to gain an understanding of basic phonics. Also, like Sam, I am naturally gifted in math and have a sharp oral memory. That being said, this book is still a work of fiction. I did not have a high school boyfriend as adorable as Nate. I wasn’t forced to move away from all my friends as a teen. And thankfully, my parents are nothing like Sam’s.
Has that complicated your writing process, and how have you overcome?
Kate: Probably. I’ve always been dyslexic, so I really don’t know what other writers do and don’t have to deal with. For me, making up stories has always been easy. Writing those stories down, though—not so much. My spelling has improved a lot over the years, but it’s still not good! I probably misspell about ten percent of all the words I write. Usually, I can correct my mistakes quickly with spellcheck. But I do get that nasty “no spelling suggestions” message far more than I would like. It can be tedious at times, constantly having to stop and figure out not only what to write, but also how to write it.
I can imagine how frustrating that must be. What inspired you to write Counting to D?
Kate: I've known I wanted to write a book with a dyslexic main character for years. Dyslexia is a complicated condition that is often misunderstood. I've never been happy with the way it’s normally addressed in fiction, and I decided the best way to remedy that would be to write a dyslexic story myself.
And I applaud you for it. What scene did you struggle with writing most? Which was easiest?
Kate: I probably “struggled” the most with the opening, just because openings are so important. Figuring out where and how to start the story was a bit of a challenge. I didn’t write the scene that ultimately became the first page until about my fourth draft.
As for the easiest scene to write? Probably the flashbacks to Sam’s diagnosis and her educational experience in elementary school. Those scenes are by far the most autobiographical. Like Sam, I spent a lot of time writing in rice as a little kid.
I hear you about those opening pages. They're an art unto themselves.
Samantha has a difficult time fitting in socially because of her dyslexia. Did you struggle with the same thing?
Kate: Thankfully, no. I was never super popular, but that’s because I was a big, fat nerd, not because I couldn’t read. While my high school friends didn’t call themselves the Brain Trust, they were VERY COMPETITIVE about academics. As many of them had known me since elementary school, my dyslexia was never a secret. Most of them found my inability to read fascinating. One of them even wrote a research paper about the condition and used me as a test subject.
Oh my. *hiding testing material* Next question: I ADORE the dynamic between Samantha and Nate. (Can I just get that out there?) They’re geeks cut from the same rind. Because I’m obsessed with cheese, what cheese do you feel is your own geek-worthy soul mate?
Kate: Hmm, I feel like I don’t know enough about cheese to properly answer this question.
My favorite cheesy dish is bacon-wrapped stuffed dates. You stuff dates with goat cheese, wrap them in bacon, and bake to deliciousness. It’s the greatest appetizer in the world! I think that goat cheese center might be my geek-worthy cheese soul mate.
Mmm... Goat cheese. Oh, sorry, I'm interrupting.
Kate: Normally, I don’t like goat cheese. It’s too bitter. But combined with the sweetness of the dates and the saltiness of the bacon, it’s perfect. I’m not an average author, or an average engineer, or an average anything else. But in the right setting, I’ve figured out how to make my life work. And when mixed with the right ingredients, goat cheese can be amazing.
Thank you so much for the interview, Kate.
You can read my review of her wonderful book HERE.
The kids at Sam's school never knew if they should make fun of her for being too smart or too dumb. That's what it means to be dyslexic: smart, and illiterate. Sam is sick of it. So when her mom gets a job in a faraway city, Sam decides not to tell anyone about her little illiteracy problem. Without her paradox of a reputation, she falls in with a new group of highly competitive friends who call themselves the Brain Trust. When she meets Nate, her charming valedictorian lab partner, she declares her new reality perfect. But in order to keep it that way, she has to keep her learning disability a secret. The books are stacked against her and so are the lies. Sam's got to get the grades, get the guy, and get it straight--without being able to read.
One last, quick thing. Today I'm hanging out with the fabulous Andrea at Virtual Writers Inc, chatting about my AMAZING secondary characters, the themes and motivations behind MOONLESS. Stop in and say "hello?"
Have you dealt with learning challenges or disabilities? How have you overcome?
Kate Scott lives in the suburbs outside Portland, Oregon with her husband Warren. Kate was diagnosed with dyslexia as a young child but somehow managed to fall in love with stories anyway. Counting to D is her first novel. When Kate isn’t writing, she enjoys listening to audiobooks, camping, and spending time with her friends and family. Kate also spends a lot of time doing math and sciency things and is a licensed professional engineer.And now, let the interview commence!
Counting to Dis amazing and so realistically grounded, I wonder how much of it is based on real life. Kate, when and how was it discovered you dealt with dyslexia?
Kate: The academic aspect of Counting to D is based upon my own experience. Like Sam, I was diagnosed with dyslexia in elementary school and underwent extensive private tutoring to gain an understanding of basic phonics. Also, like Sam, I am naturally gifted in math and have a sharp oral memory. That being said, this book is still a work of fiction. I did not have a high school boyfriend as adorable as Nate. I wasn’t forced to move away from all my friends as a teen. And thankfully, my parents are nothing like Sam’s.
Has that complicated your writing process, and how have you overcome?
Kate: Probably. I’ve always been dyslexic, so I really don’t know what other writers do and don’t have to deal with. For me, making up stories has always been easy. Writing those stories down, though—not so much. My spelling has improved a lot over the years, but it’s still not good! I probably misspell about ten percent of all the words I write. Usually, I can correct my mistakes quickly with spellcheck. But I do get that nasty “no spelling suggestions” message far more than I would like. It can be tedious at times, constantly having to stop and figure out not only what to write, but also how to write it.
I can imagine how frustrating that must be. What inspired you to write Counting to D?
Kate: I've known I wanted to write a book with a dyslexic main character for years. Dyslexia is a complicated condition that is often misunderstood. I've never been happy with the way it’s normally addressed in fiction, and I decided the best way to remedy that would be to write a dyslexic story myself.
And I applaud you for it. What scene did you struggle with writing most? Which was easiest?
Kate: I probably “struggled” the most with the opening, just because openings are so important. Figuring out where and how to start the story was a bit of a challenge. I didn’t write the scene that ultimately became the first page until about my fourth draft.
As for the easiest scene to write? Probably the flashbacks to Sam’s diagnosis and her educational experience in elementary school. Those scenes are by far the most autobiographical. Like Sam, I spent a lot of time writing in rice as a little kid.
I hear you about those opening pages. They're an art unto themselves.
Samantha has a difficult time fitting in socially because of her dyslexia. Did you struggle with the same thing?
Kate: Thankfully, no. I was never super popular, but that’s because I was a big, fat nerd, not because I couldn’t read. While my high school friends didn’t call themselves the Brain Trust, they were VERY COMPETITIVE about academics. As many of them had known me since elementary school, my dyslexia was never a secret. Most of them found my inability to read fascinating. One of them even wrote a research paper about the condition and used me as a test subject.
Oh my. *hiding testing material* Next question: I ADORE the dynamic between Samantha and Nate. (Can I just get that out there?) They’re geeks cut from the same rind. Because I’m obsessed with cheese, what cheese do you feel is your own geek-worthy soul mate?
Kate: Hmm, I feel like I don’t know enough about cheese to properly answer this question. My favorite cheesy dish is bacon-wrapped stuffed dates. You stuff dates with goat cheese, wrap them in bacon, and bake to deliciousness. It’s the greatest appetizer in the world! I think that goat cheese center might be my geek-worthy cheese soul mate.
Mmm... Goat cheese. Oh, sorry, I'm interrupting.
Kate: Normally, I don’t like goat cheese. It’s too bitter. But combined with the sweetness of the dates and the saltiness of the bacon, it’s perfect. I’m not an average author, or an average engineer, or an average anything else. But in the right setting, I’ve figured out how to make my life work. And when mixed with the right ingredients, goat cheese can be amazing.
Thank you so much for the interview, Kate.
You can read my review of her wonderful book HERE.
The kids at Sam's school never knew if they should make fun of her for being too smart or too dumb. That's what it means to be dyslexic: smart, and illiterate. Sam is sick of it. So when her mom gets a job in a faraway city, Sam decides not to tell anyone about her little illiteracy problem. Without her paradox of a reputation, she falls in with a new group of highly competitive friends who call themselves the Brain Trust. When she meets Nate, her charming valedictorian lab partner, she declares her new reality perfect. But in order to keep it that way, she has to keep her learning disability a secret. The books are stacked against her and so are the lies. Sam's got to get the grades, get the guy, and get it straight--without being able to read.One last, quick thing. Today I'm hanging out with the fabulous Andrea at Virtual Writers Inc, chatting about my AMAZING secondary characters, the themes and motivations behind MOONLESS. Stop in and say "hello?"
Have you dealt with learning challenges or disabilities? How have you overcome?
February 19, 2014
Love to be BAD
Lovelies!
The lovely Freda Mans is featuring MOONLESS today, including a GIVEAWAY. Yay!
Also, Jessie Anderson and I are talking about our love of character weaknesses. Come chip in!
Do you ever find yourself disconnected with the world around you?
SourceI had a wonderful experience this week. We move around A LOT. As in, the longest my hubby and I have lived anywhere is three and half years, and in our fourteen years of marriage, we've moved thirteen times, soon to be fourteen--two of those moves being cross country.
With pulling up roots so often, it's hard to let people in. I want to, but chances are we're just going to leave (or they will) and we'll lose contact. That kills me. I'm the type who loves instantly and deeply, but in recent years I've started to build some walls.
So the other day I sat in front of a group of fifty kids, children I know and love, ones I teach weekly, and it hit me how much I care about each of them. I realized I had let each and every one of them into my heart. And the best part? It doesn't matter that I will be moving again in six months. While I'm here, I have the privilege of loving and being loved by each and every one of them. How could I NOT appreciate that opportunity?
I think often we allow our past wounds to stop us from truly enjoying life, so my encouragement today? Don't. Open your heart. Let someone in. Sure there may come a time when you'll have to say goodbye or let go, but for today love and be loved.
And now, as you know, it is WRITERLY WEDNESDAY! Are you ready to meet a new author and enter to win an awesome book?
This is one I've been looking forward to for a long time, so I'm very stoked to share it with you.
Jeff Mean would rather set fires than follow rules or observe curfew. He wears his bad boy image like a favorite old hoodie; that is until he learns he has superpowers and is recruited by Super Villain Academy – where you learn to be good at being bad. In a school where one kid can evaporate all the water from your body and the girl you hang around with can perform psychic sex in your head, bad takes on a whole new meaning. Jeff wonders if he’s bad enough for SVA.
He may never find out. Classmates vilify him when he develops good manners. Then he’s kidnapped by those closest to him and left to wonder who is good and who is bad. His rescue is the climactic episode that balances good and evil in the super world. The catalyst – the girl he’s crushing on. A girlfriend and balancing the Supers is good, right? Or is it…bad?
Buy it: Whiskey Creek Press, Amazon, Barnes and Noble
Add it to Goodreads
And now, let me introduce you to the wonderful author:
When her children were young and the electricity winked out, Kai Strand gathered her family around the fireplace and they told stories, one sentence at a time. Her boys were rather fond of the ending, “And then everybody died, the end.” Now an award winning children’s author, Kai crafts fiction for kids and teens to provide an escape hatch from their reality. With a selection of novels for young adult and middle grade readers and short stories for younger children, Kai entertains children of all ages, and their adults.
King of Bad released from Whiskey Creek Press in July of 2013. It has been on their Top 5 Best Sellers list since its release. Book two in the series, Polar Opposites, releases this June. It’s already on Goodreads and it would make Kai ridiculously happy if you added it to your to-read shelf also.
Kai loves cheese: sharp cheddar and muenster, brie and pepperjack, but if she could only pick one, it would be a good gouda on crackers on a fancy hotel room balcony overlooking the Pacific Ocean. (With the cry of seagulls, the shoosh of the rising tide, a glass of Shiraz, and her hubby.)
Find more about Kai and her books at www.kaistrand.com
Kai gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Can you figure out the lie? Those who do will go into my magic hat for a chance to win King of Bad. (Paper for US residents, eBook for internationals.) Eek! How cool is that? You have until Tuesday, February 25, at 1 p.m. EDT to guess--and be sure to come back for the answer on February 26.
TRUTH OR LIE
1. A long-term guest of the hotel Kai worked for became smitten with her (to be fair, as an employee she was like a captive audience for the man). He owned a high end used car dealership and allowed her to pick out any car she wanted. She chose a Porsche 928, but only kept it for a few months.
2. To celebrate the opening of a manufacturing plant in Dublin, the company she worked for raffled off big prizes. She won a 60 inch screen television with surround sound and a trip to Ireland. She was one number away from also winning the African safari!
3. As the night manager of a fancy hotel in Southern California, she saw a lot of unusual things; Tungan royalty, a drug-induced freak out requiring the police and a straight jacket. One night she found a bottle of expensive moisturizer on the front desk with a card that said, “You are so beautiful and I want to help you stay that way.”_________________________________________
A quick reminder about the...REVIEW RACE
Anyone who reviews MOONLESS between now and MARCH 10, 2014, and tells me about it HERE, will be entered to win...
An advanced copy of book 2 in the Maiden of Time Trilogy (set to release July, 2014), AND a signed copy of MOONLESS.
Okay, which is the lie? Have you had an experience where you let someone in? And what do you think of my amazing Soulless logo? (My graphic artist needs some validation--so let it rip, eh?)
The lovely Freda Mans is featuring MOONLESS today, including a GIVEAWAY. Yay!
Also, Jessie Anderson and I are talking about our love of character weaknesses. Come chip in!
Do you ever find yourself disconnected with the world around you?
SourceI had a wonderful experience this week. We move around A LOT. As in, the longest my hubby and I have lived anywhere is three and half years, and in our fourteen years of marriage, we've moved thirteen times, soon to be fourteen--two of those moves being cross country. With pulling up roots so often, it's hard to let people in. I want to, but chances are we're just going to leave (or they will) and we'll lose contact. That kills me. I'm the type who loves instantly and deeply, but in recent years I've started to build some walls.
So the other day I sat in front of a group of fifty kids, children I know and love, ones I teach weekly, and it hit me how much I care about each of them. I realized I had let each and every one of them into my heart. And the best part? It doesn't matter that I will be moving again in six months. While I'm here, I have the privilege of loving and being loved by each and every one of them. How could I NOT appreciate that opportunity?
I think often we allow our past wounds to stop us from truly enjoying life, so my encouragement today? Don't. Open your heart. Let someone in. Sure there may come a time when you'll have to say goodbye or let go, but for today love and be loved.
And now, as you know, it is WRITERLY WEDNESDAY! Are you ready to meet a new author and enter to win an awesome book?
This is one I've been looking forward to for a long time, so I'm very stoked to share it with you.
Jeff Mean would rather set fires than follow rules or observe curfew. He wears his bad boy image like a favorite old hoodie; that is until he learns he has superpowers and is recruited by Super Villain Academy – where you learn to be good at being bad. In a school where one kid can evaporate all the water from your body and the girl you hang around with can perform psychic sex in your head, bad takes on a whole new meaning. Jeff wonders if he’s bad enough for SVA.He may never find out. Classmates vilify him when he develops good manners. Then he’s kidnapped by those closest to him and left to wonder who is good and who is bad. His rescue is the climactic episode that balances good and evil in the super world. The catalyst – the girl he’s crushing on. A girlfriend and balancing the Supers is good, right? Or is it…bad?
Buy it: Whiskey Creek Press, Amazon, Barnes and Noble
Add it to Goodreads
And now, let me introduce you to the wonderful author:
When her children were young and the electricity winked out, Kai Strand gathered her family around the fireplace and they told stories, one sentence at a time. Her boys were rather fond of the ending, “And then everybody died, the end.” Now an award winning children’s author, Kai crafts fiction for kids and teens to provide an escape hatch from their reality. With a selection of novels for young adult and middle grade readers and short stories for younger children, Kai entertains children of all ages, and their adults. King of Bad released from Whiskey Creek Press in July of 2013. It has been on their Top 5 Best Sellers list since its release. Book two in the series, Polar Opposites, releases this June. It’s already on Goodreads and it would make Kai ridiculously happy if you added it to your to-read shelf also.
Kai loves cheese: sharp cheddar and muenster, brie and pepperjack, but if she could only pick one, it would be a good gouda on crackers on a fancy hotel room balcony overlooking the Pacific Ocean. (With the cry of seagulls, the shoosh of the rising tide, a glass of Shiraz, and her hubby.)
Find more about Kai and her books at www.kaistrand.com
Kai gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Can you figure out the lie? Those who do will go into my magic hat for a chance to win King of Bad. (Paper for US residents, eBook for internationals.) Eek! How cool is that? You have until Tuesday, February 25, at 1 p.m. EDT to guess--and be sure to come back for the answer on February 26.
TRUTH OR LIE
1. A long-term guest of the hotel Kai worked for became smitten with her (to be fair, as an employee she was like a captive audience for the man). He owned a high end used car dealership and allowed her to pick out any car she wanted. She chose a Porsche 928, but only kept it for a few months.
2. To celebrate the opening of a manufacturing plant in Dublin, the company she worked for raffled off big prizes. She won a 60 inch screen television with surround sound and a trip to Ireland. She was one number away from also winning the African safari!
3. As the night manager of a fancy hotel in Southern California, she saw a lot of unusual things; Tungan royalty, a drug-induced freak out requiring the police and a straight jacket. One night she found a bottle of expensive moisturizer on the front desk with a card that said, “You are so beautiful and I want to help you stay that way.”_________________________________________
A quick reminder about the...REVIEW RACE
Anyone who reviews MOONLESS between now and MARCH 10, 2014, and tells me about it HERE, will be entered to win...
An advanced copy of book 2 in the Maiden of Time Trilogy (set to release July, 2014), AND a signed copy of MOONLESS. Okay, which is the lie? Have you had an experience where you let someone in? And what do you think of my amazing Soulless logo? (My graphic artist needs some validation--so let it rip, eh?)
February 14, 2014
VALENTINES WINNERS
You're a winner. It's true. Know how I know? Because you're here, smiling at this post. (And if you're not smiling, fix that right now, buddy--and here's some cheese to help.)
Today I'm going to introduce you to a few other (TONZ of) winners--including our Valentines Day raffle winners...below, but first, I'm over at
Tara Tyler's place today talking about Newsletters. Check it out!
AND I'm super stoked today to introduce my buddy, Jessie Anderson and her STUNNING short story, Lemons.
Hi, everyone! Thanks for stopping by to check out the cover. I’d like to thank Crystal for having me. I’m really excited to share my new cover with you, but first, let me tell you a bit about Lemons, which released yesterday, FEBRUARY 13, 2014. Be sure to check it out on Amazon.
LEMONS BLURB:
They say when life throws you lemons to make lemonade, but when Ally finds herself in the biggest pickle of her life—stranded on an island in the middle of a lake—fruit and veggies are the least of her worries. Now she’ll have to face the harsh realities of her selfish choices, which means dealing with what happened between her parents a few years ago.
Wanna see the cover now? Well, here it is:
If you’d like to know a little more about me and my writing, read on.
My first book, At What Cost was published in 2012. I’ve been writing and writing since then and have nearly completed a dystopian series, which is being sent to publishers. In the meantime, I wrote a short story. Not sure exactly where it came from. I don’t consider myself a short story writer, but hey, when it comes to you, you have to get it out.
Find out more about my writing here:www.readbetweenthelinesbookclub.blogspot.com(Author blog)
_______________________________________________________
BOOK REVIEW
I was given the wonderful opportunity to review an advanced copy My Bloody Valentine, a story collection by Tiffinie Helmer, Alex Bledsoe, V.R. Barkowski, Erica Hayes, Lizbeth Lipperman, Charlie N. Holmberg, Coreene Callahan, and S.G. Redling. So are you ready for this?
First of all, this is not a young adult collection. So okay, I occasionally read outside my genre (all the time), but typically I stay away from the adult romance stuff...because I'm sensitive and like my innocent perspective on the world. This book was filled with hard decisions, bitter-sweet outcomes, and I would have liked a language filter. Alas... If you're like me, you'll skip quite a few pages in this anthology, but you can read all of Charlie's SALT AND WATER without worry.
Her story in one word: Awesome.
The premise: A slave to a war-torn society for eighteen months, Chellis has been tortured for one purpose: to make her cry, for the healing properties of her tears can mend any soldier’s wound.
I SO loved Chellis and her keeper, Ahad. The world they occupy is brutal. They should be enemies, but having grown up somewhat sheltered, Ahad is not your typical slaver. The themes of compassion and love stretch well beyond romance, and I wanted to story to keep going. I wanted a whole novel. (Please?) Yes, the story was that great.
Many of the others were well written, but again, read with your adult filter on.
_______________________________________________________
VALENTINES WINNERS
And now for the winners...
Sun & Moon = Holly LetsonMaguire's Corner = Sarah ChafinModel Position = Diana Steele NelsonThree Daves = Trisha FarnanMasked Love = Samantha Geary JonesColors like Memories = Julia CosgroveChasing Anya = Sheri LarsenFate Intended = Shelly HammondBeyond the Binding and Composers for Relief CD = Mary K. HillMOONLESS signed = Elizabeth Seckman
Congrats, winners!
Lastly, because it's Valentines Day, here's a sweet little something for your reading pleasure:
The Kiss of Death
What are you doing with this weekend? Anything romantic? Anti-romantic? Read anything thematically appropriate recently you'd like to recommend?
Today I'm going to introduce you to a few other (TONZ of) winners--including our Valentines Day raffle winners...below, but first, I'm over at
Tara Tyler's place today talking about Newsletters. Check it out!
AND I'm super stoked today to introduce my buddy, Jessie Anderson and her STUNNING short story, Lemons.
Hi, everyone! Thanks for stopping by to check out the cover. I’d like to thank Crystal for having me. I’m really excited to share my new cover with you, but first, let me tell you a bit about Lemons, which released yesterday, FEBRUARY 13, 2014. Be sure to check it out on Amazon.LEMONS BLURB:
They say when life throws you lemons to make lemonade, but when Ally finds herself in the biggest pickle of her life—stranded on an island in the middle of a lake—fruit and veggies are the least of her worries. Now she’ll have to face the harsh realities of her selfish choices, which means dealing with what happened between her parents a few years ago.
Wanna see the cover now? Well, here it is:
If you’d like to know a little more about me and my writing, read on.
My first book, At What Cost was published in 2012. I’ve been writing and writing since then and have nearly completed a dystopian series, which is being sent to publishers. In the meantime, I wrote a short story. Not sure exactly where it came from. I don’t consider myself a short story writer, but hey, when it comes to you, you have to get it out.
Find out more about my writing here:www.readbetweenthelinesbookclub.blogspot.com(Author blog)
_______________________________________________________
BOOK REVIEW
I was given the wonderful opportunity to review an advanced copy My Bloody Valentine, a story collection by Tiffinie Helmer, Alex Bledsoe, V.R. Barkowski, Erica Hayes, Lizbeth Lipperman, Charlie N. Holmberg, Coreene Callahan, and S.G. Redling. So are you ready for this?
First of all, this is not a young adult collection. So okay, I occasionally read outside my genre (all the time), but typically I stay away from the adult romance stuff...because I'm sensitive and like my innocent perspective on the world. This book was filled with hard decisions, bitter-sweet outcomes, and I would have liked a language filter. Alas... If you're like me, you'll skip quite a few pages in this anthology, but you can read all of Charlie's SALT AND WATER without worry.Her story in one word: Awesome.
The premise: A slave to a war-torn society for eighteen months, Chellis has been tortured for one purpose: to make her cry, for the healing properties of her tears can mend any soldier’s wound.
I SO loved Chellis and her keeper, Ahad. The world they occupy is brutal. They should be enemies, but having grown up somewhat sheltered, Ahad is not your typical slaver. The themes of compassion and love stretch well beyond romance, and I wanted to story to keep going. I wanted a whole novel. (Please?) Yes, the story was that great.
Many of the others were well written, but again, read with your adult filter on.
_______________________________________________________
VALENTINES WINNERS
And now for the winners...
Sun & Moon = Holly LetsonMaguire's Corner = Sarah ChafinModel Position = Diana Steele NelsonThree Daves = Trisha FarnanMasked Love = Samantha Geary JonesColors like Memories = Julia CosgroveChasing Anya = Sheri LarsenFate Intended = Shelly HammondBeyond the Binding and Composers for Relief CD = Mary K. HillMOONLESS signed = Elizabeth Seckman
Congrats, winners!
Lastly, because it's Valentines Day, here's a sweet little something for your reading pleasure:
The Kiss of Death
What are you doing with this weekend? Anything romantic? Anti-romantic? Read anything thematically appropriate recently you'd like to recommend?
February 12, 2014
Guns, Gratitude, Babies and Reviews?
This is the most eclectic post of all time. Are you ready for this? First of all, how about a few laughs?
Source
Source
Source
Source
Source
SourceI must be in a baby mood. Okay, now that we've all had some cheese...
Last week, Elizabeth Seckman shared with us her amazing romances Past Due, Healing Summer and Fate Intended , along with two truths and one lie about herself. Those who guessed the lie correctly were entered into a random drawing to win THREE of her amazing eBooks!
Elizabeth's game:
1. Elizabeth failed kindergarten and didn't know how to read until second grade.2. She was named the Tyler County Fair Cow Queen.3. She asked, or rather told her husband he was going to marry her.
And the lie is:
#2. Elizabeth did actually fail kindergarten *gasp* and she's apparently a bossy woman, but her husband loves that about her because he obeyed.
Way to guess those of you who got it right! You are officially human lie detectors. And the winner is:
...DRUM ROLL...
Pk Hrezo!!!
Congrats Pk. _____________________________________________________________
My pal Sheri Larsen is hosting a gratitude hop!
The hop will run from March 3 - 5. Post any of those three days - using this badge and linking back to this list on Sheri's site - and tell us about what you learned about yourself over the course of the month. Did it help you? How do you plan on implementing your findings? Just signup with Mr. Linky on Sheri's site, and of course, spreading the word would be greatly appreciated! ________________________________________
And next, do you have an Indie book published and want more reviews? The fabulous Susan Kaye Quinn is looking for people to join her on a Netgalley group, and you can't do better than being on Susan's team. She's a winner. Check it out HERE. ______________________________________________________Only two more days to enter. DO IT NOW.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
And have you heard about my
REVIEW RACE???Anyone who reviews MOONLESS between now and MARCH 10, 2014, and tells me about it HERE, will be entered to win...
An advanced copy of book 2 in the Maiden of Time Trilogy (set to release July, 2014), AND a signed copy of MOONLESS.
Writerly Wednesdays will resume next week, but be sure to stop back in Friday to see if you won the Valentines Giveaway. Oh, and enter my review race, or join my Goodreads Giveaway. You can be a winner too!
Did any of those funnies get you chuckling? What's the funniest thing you've seen in the last couple days?
Source
Source
Source
Source
Source
SourceI must be in a baby mood. Okay, now that we've all had some cheese...Last week, Elizabeth Seckman shared with us her amazing romances Past Due, Healing Summer and Fate Intended , along with two truths and one lie about herself. Those who guessed the lie correctly were entered into a random drawing to win THREE of her amazing eBooks!
Elizabeth's game:
1. Elizabeth failed kindergarten and didn't know how to read until second grade.2. She was named the Tyler County Fair Cow Queen.3. She asked, or rather told her husband he was going to marry her. And the lie is:
#2. Elizabeth did actually fail kindergarten *gasp* and she's apparently a bossy woman, but her husband loves that about her because he obeyed.
Way to guess those of you who got it right! You are officially human lie detectors. And the winner is:
...DRUM ROLL...
Pk Hrezo!!!
Congrats Pk. _____________________________________________________________
My pal Sheri Larsen is hosting a gratitude hop!
The hop will run from March 3 - 5. Post any of those three days - using this badge and linking back to this list on Sheri's site - and tell us about what you learned about yourself over the course of the month. Did it help you? How do you plan on implementing your findings? Just signup with Mr. Linky on Sheri's site, and of course, spreading the word would be greatly appreciated! ________________________________________And next, do you have an Indie book published and want more reviews? The fabulous Susan Kaye Quinn is looking for people to join her on a Netgalley group, and you can't do better than being on Susan's team. She's a winner. Check it out HERE. ______________________________________________________Only two more days to enter. DO IT NOW.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
And have you heard about my
REVIEW RACE???Anyone who reviews MOONLESS between now and MARCH 10, 2014, and tells me about it HERE, will be entered to win...
An advanced copy of book 2 in the Maiden of Time Trilogy (set to release July, 2014), AND a signed copy of MOONLESS. Writerly Wednesdays will resume next week, but be sure to stop back in Friday to see if you won the Valentines Giveaway. Oh, and enter my review race, or join my Goodreads Giveaway. You can be a winner too!
Did any of those funnies get you chuckling? What's the funniest thing you've seen in the last couple days?
February 10, 2014
MOONLESS Book Release Blog Fest, and GIVEAWAY
It's time to PARTY!!!!!
First of all HUGE thanks go out to my epic co-hosts Pk Hrezo, Tammy Theriault and Michael Di Gesu. If you haven't met these amazing peeps, DO IT NOW! (Ahem, or after you've commented.)
In the English society of 1768 where women are bred to marry, unattractive Alexia, just sixteen, believes she will end up alone. But on the county doorstep of a neighbor’s estate, she meets a man straight out of her nightmares, one whose blue eyes threaten to consume her whole world—especially when she discovers him standing over her murdered host in the middle of the night.
Her nightmares become reality: a dead baron, red-eyed wraiths, and forbidden love with a man hunted by these creatures. After an attack close to home, Alexia realizes she cannot keep one foot in her old life and one in this new world. To protect her family she must either be sold into a loveless marriage, or escape with her beloved and risk becoming one of the Soulless.
BUY IT HERE
Or today through Valentines day, buy HERE
Use this code LQJM3F84 and get $2.00 off.
So here's the question: If you lived in a society where arranged marriages were a la mode, whom would you beg your parents to set you up with? Why? (Literary characters and celebrities welcomed.)
This was a difficult one for me because I'm totally in love with my hubby (like soul-mate, bleeding-heart kind of love), so I found the literary character who most reminds me of my other half.
Are you ready for this?
This is Colm Wilkinson (the Sean Connery of musical theater) who first played Jean Valjean in Les Miserables. Besides having an EPIC voice, he's the ultimate Jean Valjean. And while I like Colm, if I'd had to choose my own match, I'd have chosen Jean Valjean. (And not just because my hubby played him in a high school.) This is the most compassionate, selfless person in all of literature (barring the bible), and I literally bawled my eyes out while reading his story. Best. Character. EVER.
Have you read Les Miserables? And if not, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!?!? (Just get the abridged, abridged version.)
Find the rest of the hop below!
And while you're at it, enter to win one of these great prizes!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
One more thing. This month I'm running a contest. Yup. More chances to win. This is a
REVIEW RACE
Anyone who reads and reviews MOONLESS between now and MARCH 10, 2014, and tells me about it HERE, will be entered to win...
An advanced copy of book 2 in the Maiden of Time Trilogy (set to release July, 2014), AND a signed copy of MOONLESS.
So what are you waiting for? Go review it, eh?
Who is your dream match? Have you read Les Miserables? Are you going to buy my AMAZING book? And review it? And win? *batting eyes* Because you're awesome like that...
First of all HUGE thanks go out to my epic co-hosts Pk Hrezo, Tammy Theriault and Michael Di Gesu. If you haven't met these amazing peeps, DO IT NOW! (Ahem, or after you've commented.)
In the English society of 1768 where women are bred to marry, unattractive Alexia, just sixteen, believes she will end up alone. But on the county doorstep of a neighbor’s estate, she meets a man straight out of her nightmares, one whose blue eyes threaten to consume her whole world—especially when she discovers him standing over her murdered host in the middle of the night.
Her nightmares become reality: a dead baron, red-eyed wraiths, and forbidden love with a man hunted by these creatures. After an attack close to home, Alexia realizes she cannot keep one foot in her old life and one in this new world. To protect her family she must either be sold into a loveless marriage, or escape with her beloved and risk becoming one of the Soulless.
BUY IT HERE
Or today through Valentines day, buy HERE
Use this code LQJM3F84 and get $2.00 off.
So here's the question: If you lived in a society where arranged marriages were a la mode, whom would you beg your parents to set you up with? Why? (Literary characters and celebrities welcomed.)
This was a difficult one for me because I'm totally in love with my hubby (like soul-mate, bleeding-heart kind of love), so I found the literary character who most reminds me of my other half.
Are you ready for this?
This is Colm Wilkinson (the Sean Connery of musical theater) who first played Jean Valjean in Les Miserables. Besides having an EPIC voice, he's the ultimate Jean Valjean. And while I like Colm, if I'd had to choose my own match, I'd have chosen Jean Valjean. (And not just because my hubby played him in a high school.) This is the most compassionate, selfless person in all of literature (barring the bible), and I literally bawled my eyes out while reading his story. Best. Character. EVER.
Have you read Les Miserables? And if not, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!?!? (Just get the abridged, abridged version.)
Find the rest of the hop below!
And while you're at it, enter to win one of these great prizes!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
One more thing. This month I'm running a contest. Yup. More chances to win. This is a
REVIEW RACE
Anyone who reads and reviews MOONLESS between now and MARCH 10, 2014, and tells me about it HERE, will be entered to win...
An advanced copy of book 2 in the Maiden of Time Trilogy (set to release July, 2014), AND a signed copy of MOONLESS. So what are you waiting for? Go review it, eh?
Who is your dream match? Have you read Les Miserables? Are you going to buy my AMAZING book? And review it? And win? *batting eyes* Because you're awesome like that...
February 5, 2014
We all need encouragement, right? It's so easy to ma...
We all need encouragement, right?
It's so easy to make mistakes. My hubby gave a talk about this recently, about how we can get so trapped in the quagmire of our past. If we don't make a concerted effort to forgive ourselves and move on, we will never reach our goals, never become better. We'll always be bogged down by the guilt we've strapped to our backs and unable to soar to our true potential. It's like the monkey trap.
Image courtesy of The Business MuseYup, that one. ---->
We have to give ourselves permission to fail sometimes, even (for writers) to write crap. My favorite choir teacher always said if you were going to make a mistake, make a bold one.
So here's my challenge today: let go of something in your past--something you can't change that brings you bad memories or feelings. Forgive yourself. Move on. Free those wings to reach new heights!
In honor of that message, here's a song to help us remember.
Now that you're charged to conquer the world, who's ready to win a game and a book?
Writerly Wednesdays here are for readers and writers. Get to know authors, test your human lie detector skills, and WIN books.
Last week, Nicole Zoltack shared with us her Superhero suspense, Black Hellebore, along with two truths and one lie about herself. Those who guessed the lie correctly were entered into a random drawing to win an eBook!
Nicole's game:
1. Nicole hasn't gone horseback riding in over six years.2. She hates talking on the phone and begs her hubby to make phone calls for her.3. She's training for a marathon this fall.And the lie is:
#3. Nicole says she includes horseback riding in her bio because it's a promise to herself that she'll go back to it eventually. On the marathon thing, while she loves working out and exercising, she's not a runner. Growing up, running was the only thing that set off her exercise-induced asthma. (ME TOO, NICOLE.) She might train for a race someday, that's not in the cards right now.
Way to guess those of you who got it right! You are officially human lie detectors. And the winner is:
...DRUM ROLL...
Christine Rains!
Congrats, Christine!
Today I have the privilege of sharing a wonderful self-proclaimed procrastinator, Elizabeth Seckman. She's a romance author, and with one of the warmest smiles I've ever seen, she cracks me up. You HAVE to check out all her works...
Past Due: The price of happily ever after may be too steep to pay once the past comes due.
Healing Summer: Maybe it's love, not time, that heals all wounds.
Fate Intended is the third book in the Coulter Men Series.
Trip is the last of the Coulter sons to find love. He’s a handsome man with all the skills a young spy needs to succeed. But when it comes to love, he misses the target. Jane is a sweet beauty who may or may not be wanted for murder. She’s hiding out as a cleaning lady when chance brings her and Trip together. It looks like a happily ever after is in the cross hairs until reality tries to destroy what fate has intended.Pick up your copy HERE.
And now, let me introduce you to the wonderful author:
Elizabeth Seckman is a simple chick with a simple dream…to write stories people want to read.After complaining loudly about me making her pick, she confessed her favorite cheese is mozarella because you can put anything with it. (The black dress of cheeses.)
Elizabeth gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Can you figure out the lie? Those who do will go into my magic hat for a chance to win ALL THREE eBooks. Eek! THREE! Seriously, can we get a better Valentines gift in here? (I don't think so!) You have until Tuesday, February 11, at 1 p.m. EDT to guess--and be sure to come back for the answer on February 12.
TRUTH OR LIE
1. Elizabeth failed kindergarten and didn't know how to read until second grade.2. She was named the Tyler County Fair Cow Queen.3. She asked, or rather told her husband he was going to marry her. _________________________________________________
Remember to join my SUPER FUN blogfest on Monday. Details HERE. Oh, and enter to win a free PHYSICAL copy of my book today on Goodreads (open to US, CA, GB, and AU) or here:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
______________________________________________________
And lastly, I need to mention, my buddy Samantha has an AWESOME something going up today. You should check it out--just as soon as you've commented. =D
__________________________________________________
Okay, what is the lie? Do you have any awesome books to read this Valentines Day? Are you struggling with letting go? Are you SO excited about my print book coming out? (*serious face* The answer is yes, by the way.) ;)
February 3, 2014
Valentines Giveaways, like Elephants on Stampede
Do you totally geek out over Valentines day? Flowers, candy, hearts and romantic candles? And BOOKS. (Of course.) Well, this is the day of giveaways. LIKE SERIOUSLY.
So first...
MOONLESS is releasing to print NEXT WEEK!!!
!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(I'm a little excited. Can you tell?)
To celebrate, I'm giving away a SIGNED PRINT COPY. Not only that, several wonderful authors have agreed to offer their amazing books along with mine in a VALENTINES GIVEAWAY. (Winners will be announced Valentine's morning.)
Check it out and enter below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
But the awesome doesn't stop there!________________________________________________________
What is Steampunk with Heart?
8 Authors, 5 Blog Posts, and an Abundance of Steampunk Giveaways**see bottom of post for steampunk giveaways****see Steampunk With Heart Page for Facebook Party schedule**
Below is an introduction to eight authors, a peek at one of their steampunk books (many of our authors have several), and what "Steampunk with Heart" means to them."Steampunk with Heart is a romantic look backward at a bygone Victorian era (or entirely fictional analogue of one), where we alleviate some of the oppressive ideas of the past while keeping the lush aesthetics and romantic ideals about relationships and love."
Susan Kaye Quinn is the author of the bestselling Mindjack Trilogy, which is young adult science fiction. The Dharian Affairs trilogy is her excuse to dress up in corsets and fight with swords. She also has a dark-and-gritty SF serial called The Debt Collector and a middle grade fantasy called Faery Swap. It's possible she's easily distracted. Her business card says "Author and Rocket Scientist" and she always has more speculative fiction fun in the works. You can subscribe to her newsletter (hint: new subscribers get a free short story!) or stop by her blog to see what she's up to.
Third Daughter (The Dharian Affairs #1) Kindle | Nook | Print
The Third Daughter of the Queen wants to marry for love, but rumors of a new flying weapon force her to accept a barbarian prince’s proposal of a peace-brokering marriage.
"Steampunk With Heart is for those whose steampunk tastes lean more to the romantic than the gadgetry."
Scott Tarbet is the author of A Midsummer Night’s Steampunk from Xchyler Publishing, Tombstone, in the paranormal anthology Shades & Shadows, and the forthcoming Lakshmi, Dragon Moon, and Nautilus Redux. He writes enthusiastically in several genres, sings opera, was married in full Elizabethan regalia, loves steampunk waltzes, and slow-smokes thousands of pounds of Texas-style barbeque. An avid skier, hiker, golfer, and tandem kayaker, he makes his home in the mountains of Utah. Follow Scott E. Tarbet online at his website or on Twitter.
A Midsummer Night's Steampunk Kindle | Nook | Print
Immerse yourself in this Steampunk retelling of Shakespeare’s classic, replete with the newfound wizardry of alternative Victorian technology, mistaken identities, love triangles, and deadly peril, set against the backdrop of a world bracing itself for war, and Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee.
"Steampunk is all about questioning authority and challenging conventions. That's where the PUNK aspect of Steampunk comes from."
Jay Noel: After doing some freelance writing and editing for more than a dozen years, Jay decided to stop procrastinating and pursue his dream of being a novelist. He's been blogging since 2005. Jay spends his days working in medical sales, but he can be found toiling over his laptop late at night when all is quiet. He draws inspiration from all over: H.G. Wells, Jules Verne, Shakespeare, Ray Bradbury, Douglas Adams, and Isaac Asimov. You can find Jay at his website.
Dragonfly Warrior Kindle | Nook | Print
The tyrannical Iberian Empire is bent on destroying his kingdom, and Zen must live up to his nickname, the Dragonfly Warrior, and kill all his enemies with only a sword and a pair of six-guns. He is called upon to somehow survive a test of faith and loyalty in a world so cruel and merciless, it borders on madness.
"Steampunk is the genre where the oober nerd is the hero, and the athletic type gets to be the laughed-at sidekick. LMAO! Science geek trumps the strong brute. How could you not love that?"
SM Blooding lives in Colorado with her pet rock, Rockie, and Ms. Bird who is really a bird. The guitar and piano have temporarily been set aside. She's learning to play the harmonica. The bird is less than thrilled. Her real name is Stephanie Marie (aka SM), but only family and coworkers call her that, usually when they’re screaming at her. Friends call her Frankie. You can find out more about her and her writing at her website.
Fall of Sky City (Devices of War) Kindle | Print
When Synn El’Asim is captured, his Mark is brutally awakened. He finds himself the most powerful Mark, and quickly becomes a coveted weapon in the war between the Great Families and the Hands of Tarot. However, only he can decide how he will be used to shape the lives of all the tribes.
"To me, Steampunk is an alternate look at a period of history that fascinates almost everyone. What would have been different if technology had taken a slightly different direction? And it is fun to play with the gadgets."
Rie Sheridan Rose's short stories currently appear in numerous anthologies. She has authored five poetry chapbooks, and collaborated with Marc Gunn on lyrics for his “Don’t Go Drinking With Hobbits” CD. Yard Dog Press is home to humorous horror chapbooks Tales from the Home for Wayward Spirits and Bar-B-Que Grill and Bruce and Roxanne Save the World...Again. Mocha Memoirs published the individual short stories "Drink My Soul...Please," and “Bloody Rain” as e-downloads. Melange Books carries her romantic fantasy Sidhe Moved Through the Faire. Zumaya Books is home to The Luckless Prince as well as her newest novel, The Marvelous Mechanical Man. You can find her at her website.
The Marvelous Mechanical Man (A Conn-Mann Adventure) Kindle | Nook | Print
Josephine Mann is down to her last two dollars when Professor Alistair Conn hires her to work on a wonder--a 9-foot-tall automaton Jo dubs Phaeton. When an evil villain steals the marvelous mechanical man, Jo's longing for adventure suddenly becomes much too real...and deadly.
"Steampunk is being able to mix together all the things you love from the Victorian, modern and all eras in between, along with the addition of future tech and fantasy."
Cindy Spencer Pape firmly believes in happily-ever-after and brings that to her writing. Award-winning author of 18 novels and more than 30 shorter works, Cindy lives in southeast Michigan with her husband, two sons and a houseful of pets. When not hard at work writing she can be found dressing up for steampunk parties and Renaissance fairs, or with her nose buried in a book. You can find her on her website.
Ashes and Alchemy (The Gaslight Chronicles) Kindle | Nook | Audio
London, 1860 Police inspector Sebastian Brown served Queen and country in India before returning to England to investigate supernatural crimes. Minerva Shaw is desperately seeking a doctor for her daughter Ivy who has fallen gravely ill with a mysterious illness when she mistakenly lands on Sebastian's doorstep. Seb sniffs a case and musters every magickal and technological resource he can to uncover the source of the deadly plague, but it's he who will need protecting—from emotions he'd thought buried long ago.
"Steampunk with Heart is all about freedom of expression. The opportunity to create unique and diverse characters in unprecedented and unusual worlds. It's about adventure and inventions and romance...oh my..."
I'm Jacqueline Garlick. Author of YA, New Adult, and Women's Fiction. I love strong heroines, despise whiny sidekicks, and adore a good story about a triumphant underdog. I love to read, write, paint (walls and paper) and plan cool writing events for cool writers (check out niagarawritersretreatandconference (dot) com.) I have a love/hate relationship with chocolate, grammar, and technology.You will always find a purple wall (or two) in my house (perhaps even a door) and a hidden passageway that leads to a mystery room. (Okay, so you won’t find a hidden passageway but a girl can dream, can’t she?) Oh, and tea. There will always be tea. I love specialty teas...and collecting special teacups from which to drink them. (See website for collection, plus Facebook and Goodreads.)
In my former life, I was a teacher (both grade school and college-don't ask) and more recently, I've been a graduate of Ellen Hopkin’s Nevada Mentor Program and a student of James Scott Bell, Christopher Vogler and Don Maass. An excerpt from Lumière earned me the 2012 Don Maass Break Out Novel Intensive Scholarship. Lumière—A Romantic Steampunk Fantasy—is my debut novel, Book One in my young adult The Illumination Paradox Series.
Lumiere (The Illumination Paradox) Kindle | Nook | Print
One determined girl. One resourceful boy. One miracle machine that could destroy everything. After an unexplained flash shatters her world, seventeen-year-old Eyelet Elsworth sets out to find the Illuminator, her father’s prized invention. With it, she hopes to cure herself of her debilitating seizures, but just as Eyelet locates the Illuminator, it’s whisked away by an alluring thief. She follows the boy, enduring deadly Vapours and criminal-infested woods in pursuit of the Illuminator, only to discover the miracle machine they both hoped would solve their problems may in fact be their biggest problem of all.
"Steampunk is at least in part a yearning for technology on a more human, intimate scale--handmade, ornate and wondrous."
MeiLin Miranda writes literary fantasy and science fiction set in Victorian worlds. Her love of all things 19th century (except for the pesky parts like cholera, child labor, slavery and no rights for women) has consumed her since childhood, when she fell in a stack of Louisa May Alcott and never got up.MeiLin wrote nonfiction for thirty years, in radio, television, print and the web. She always wanted to write fiction, but figured she had time. She discovered she didn't when a series of unfortunate events resulted in a cardiac arrest complete with electric paddles ("clear!") and a near-death experience. She has since decided she came back from the dead to write books. MeiLin lives in a 130-year-old house in Portland, Oregon with a husband, two teens, two black cats, a floppy dog and far, far too much yarn. You can find her at her website.
The Machine God (The Drifting Isle Chronicles) Kindle | Nook | Print
Folklore Professor Oladel Adewole leaves his homeland for the University of Eisenstadt to pursue his all-consuming interest: the mysterious island floating a mile above the city. The first survey team finds civilization, and Adewole finds a powerful, forbidden fusion of magic and metal: the Machine God. The government wants it. So does a sociopath bent on ruling Eisenstadt. But when Adewole discovers who the mechanical creature is--and what it can do--he risks his heart and his life to protect the Machine God from the world, and the world from the Machine God.ENTER TO WINa Rafflecopter giveaway
What are you doing for Valentines day? Any awesome movies or books you'll be watching/reading?
So first...
MOONLESS is releasing to print NEXT WEEK!!!
!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(I'm a little excited. Can you tell?)
To celebrate, I'm giving away a SIGNED PRINT COPY. Not only that, several wonderful authors have agreed to offer their amazing books along with mine in a VALENTINES GIVEAWAY. (Winners will be announced Valentine's morning.)
Check it out and enter below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
But the awesome doesn't stop there!________________________________________________________
What is Steampunk with Heart?
8 Authors, 5 Blog Posts, and an Abundance of Steampunk Giveaways**see bottom of post for steampunk giveaways****see Steampunk With Heart Page for Facebook Party schedule**Below is an introduction to eight authors, a peek at one of their steampunk books (many of our authors have several), and what "Steampunk with Heart" means to them."Steampunk with Heart is a romantic look backward at a bygone Victorian era (or entirely fictional analogue of one), where we alleviate some of the oppressive ideas of the past while keeping the lush aesthetics and romantic ideals about relationships and love."
Susan Kaye Quinn is the author of the bestselling Mindjack Trilogy, which is young adult science fiction. The Dharian Affairs trilogy is her excuse to dress up in corsets and fight with swords. She also has a dark-and-gritty SF serial called The Debt Collector and a middle grade fantasy called Faery Swap. It's possible she's easily distracted. Her business card says "Author and Rocket Scientist" and she always has more speculative fiction fun in the works. You can subscribe to her newsletter (hint: new subscribers get a free short story!) or stop by her blog to see what she's up to.Third Daughter (The Dharian Affairs #1) Kindle | Nook | Print
The Third Daughter of the Queen wants to marry for love, but rumors of a new flying weapon force her to accept a barbarian prince’s proposal of a peace-brokering marriage.
"Steampunk With Heart is for those whose steampunk tastes lean more to the romantic than the gadgetry."Scott Tarbet is the author of A Midsummer Night’s Steampunk from Xchyler Publishing, Tombstone, in the paranormal anthology Shades & Shadows, and the forthcoming Lakshmi, Dragon Moon, and Nautilus Redux. He writes enthusiastically in several genres, sings opera, was married in full Elizabethan regalia, loves steampunk waltzes, and slow-smokes thousands of pounds of Texas-style barbeque. An avid skier, hiker, golfer, and tandem kayaker, he makes his home in the mountains of Utah. Follow Scott E. Tarbet online at his website or on Twitter.
A Midsummer Night's Steampunk Kindle | Nook | Print
Immerse yourself in this Steampunk retelling of Shakespeare’s classic, replete with the newfound wizardry of alternative Victorian technology, mistaken identities, love triangles, and deadly peril, set against the backdrop of a world bracing itself for war, and Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee.
"Steampunk is all about questioning authority and challenging conventions. That's where the PUNK aspect of Steampunk comes from."Jay Noel: After doing some freelance writing and editing for more than a dozen years, Jay decided to stop procrastinating and pursue his dream of being a novelist. He's been blogging since 2005. Jay spends his days working in medical sales, but he can be found toiling over his laptop late at night when all is quiet. He draws inspiration from all over: H.G. Wells, Jules Verne, Shakespeare, Ray Bradbury, Douglas Adams, and Isaac Asimov. You can find Jay at his website.
Dragonfly Warrior Kindle | Nook | Print
The tyrannical Iberian Empire is bent on destroying his kingdom, and Zen must live up to his nickname, the Dragonfly Warrior, and kill all his enemies with only a sword and a pair of six-guns. He is called upon to somehow survive a test of faith and loyalty in a world so cruel and merciless, it borders on madness.
"Steampunk is the genre where the oober nerd is the hero, and the athletic type gets to be the laughed-at sidekick. LMAO! Science geek trumps the strong brute. How could you not love that?"SM Blooding lives in Colorado with her pet rock, Rockie, and Ms. Bird who is really a bird. The guitar and piano have temporarily been set aside. She's learning to play the harmonica. The bird is less than thrilled. Her real name is Stephanie Marie (aka SM), but only family and coworkers call her that, usually when they’re screaming at her. Friends call her Frankie. You can find out more about her and her writing at her website.
Fall of Sky City (Devices of War) Kindle | Print
When Synn El’Asim is captured, his Mark is brutally awakened. He finds himself the most powerful Mark, and quickly becomes a coveted weapon in the war between the Great Families and the Hands of Tarot. However, only he can decide how he will be used to shape the lives of all the tribes.
"To me, Steampunk is an alternate look at a period of history that fascinates almost everyone. What would have been different if technology had taken a slightly different direction? And it is fun to play with the gadgets."Rie Sheridan Rose's short stories currently appear in numerous anthologies. She has authored five poetry chapbooks, and collaborated with Marc Gunn on lyrics for his “Don’t Go Drinking With Hobbits” CD. Yard Dog Press is home to humorous horror chapbooks Tales from the Home for Wayward Spirits and Bar-B-Que Grill and Bruce and Roxanne Save the World...Again. Mocha Memoirs published the individual short stories "Drink My Soul...Please," and “Bloody Rain” as e-downloads. Melange Books carries her romantic fantasy Sidhe Moved Through the Faire. Zumaya Books is home to The Luckless Prince as well as her newest novel, The Marvelous Mechanical Man. You can find her at her website.
The Marvelous Mechanical Man (A Conn-Mann Adventure) Kindle | Nook | Print
Josephine Mann is down to her last two dollars when Professor Alistair Conn hires her to work on a wonder--a 9-foot-tall automaton Jo dubs Phaeton. When an evil villain steals the marvelous mechanical man, Jo's longing for adventure suddenly becomes much too real...and deadly.
"Steampunk is being able to mix together all the things you love from the Victorian, modern and all eras in between, along with the addition of future tech and fantasy."Cindy Spencer Pape firmly believes in happily-ever-after and brings that to her writing. Award-winning author of 18 novels and more than 30 shorter works, Cindy lives in southeast Michigan with her husband, two sons and a houseful of pets. When not hard at work writing she can be found dressing up for steampunk parties and Renaissance fairs, or with her nose buried in a book. You can find her on her website.
Ashes and Alchemy (The Gaslight Chronicles) Kindle | Nook | Audio
London, 1860 Police inspector Sebastian Brown served Queen and country in India before returning to England to investigate supernatural crimes. Minerva Shaw is desperately seeking a doctor for her daughter Ivy who has fallen gravely ill with a mysterious illness when she mistakenly lands on Sebastian's doorstep. Seb sniffs a case and musters every magickal and technological resource he can to uncover the source of the deadly plague, but it's he who will need protecting—from emotions he'd thought buried long ago.
"Steampunk with Heart is all about freedom of expression. The opportunity to create unique and diverse characters in unprecedented and unusual worlds. It's about adventure and inventions and romance...oh my..."I'm Jacqueline Garlick. Author of YA, New Adult, and Women's Fiction. I love strong heroines, despise whiny sidekicks, and adore a good story about a triumphant underdog. I love to read, write, paint (walls and paper) and plan cool writing events for cool writers (check out niagarawritersretreatandconference (dot) com.) I have a love/hate relationship with chocolate, grammar, and technology.You will always find a purple wall (or two) in my house (perhaps even a door) and a hidden passageway that leads to a mystery room. (Okay, so you won’t find a hidden passageway but a girl can dream, can’t she?) Oh, and tea. There will always be tea. I love specialty teas...and collecting special teacups from which to drink them. (See website for collection, plus Facebook and Goodreads.)
In my former life, I was a teacher (both grade school and college-don't ask) and more recently, I've been a graduate of Ellen Hopkin’s Nevada Mentor Program and a student of James Scott Bell, Christopher Vogler and Don Maass. An excerpt from Lumière earned me the 2012 Don Maass Break Out Novel Intensive Scholarship. Lumière—A Romantic Steampunk Fantasy—is my debut novel, Book One in my young adult The Illumination Paradox Series.
Lumiere (The Illumination Paradox) Kindle | Nook | Print
One determined girl. One resourceful boy. One miracle machine that could destroy everything. After an unexplained flash shatters her world, seventeen-year-old Eyelet Elsworth sets out to find the Illuminator, her father’s prized invention. With it, she hopes to cure herself of her debilitating seizures, but just as Eyelet locates the Illuminator, it’s whisked away by an alluring thief. She follows the boy, enduring deadly Vapours and criminal-infested woods in pursuit of the Illuminator, only to discover the miracle machine they both hoped would solve their problems may in fact be their biggest problem of all.
"Steampunk is at least in part a yearning for technology on a more human, intimate scale--handmade, ornate and wondrous."MeiLin Miranda writes literary fantasy and science fiction set in Victorian worlds. Her love of all things 19th century (except for the pesky parts like cholera, child labor, slavery and no rights for women) has consumed her since childhood, when she fell in a stack of Louisa May Alcott and never got up.MeiLin wrote nonfiction for thirty years, in radio, television, print and the web. She always wanted to write fiction, but figured she had time. She discovered she didn't when a series of unfortunate events resulted in a cardiac arrest complete with electric paddles ("clear!") and a near-death experience. She has since decided she came back from the dead to write books. MeiLin lives in a 130-year-old house in Portland, Oregon with a husband, two teens, two black cats, a floppy dog and far, far too much yarn. You can find her at her website.
The Machine God (The Drifting Isle Chronicles) Kindle | Nook | Print
Folklore Professor Oladel Adewole leaves his homeland for the University of Eisenstadt to pursue his all-consuming interest: the mysterious island floating a mile above the city. The first survey team finds civilization, and Adewole finds a powerful, forbidden fusion of magic and metal: the Machine God. The government wants it. So does a sociopath bent on ruling Eisenstadt. But when Adewole discovers who the mechanical creature is--and what it can do--he risks his heart and his life to protect the Machine God from the world, and the world from the Machine God.ENTER TO WINa Rafflecopter giveaway
What are you doing for Valentines day? Any awesome movies or books you'll be watching/reading?
January 29, 2014
Screwing Up Your Friday
I'm loving this posting on Wednesdays only. TOTALLY doable. And rotating funnies with deep thoughts? Well, I'm pretty happy here. I have time for editing AND promoting. Oooh!
Anyhow, it's time for a laugh out loud moment. You ready for this?
Awesome, right? And who else is in the mood for Jack Sparrow funnies?
And now shall we away to our Writerly Wednesday feature?
Writerly Wednesdays here are for readers and writers. Get to know authors, test your human lie detector skills, and WIN books.
Last week, Misha Gericke shared with us her great book, The Vanished Knight, along with two truths and one lie about herself. Those who guessed the lie correctly were entered into a random drawing to win an eBook!
Misha's game:
1. Misha and her mom own about 8000 paperback books.2. She wanted to learn how to fence and speak French after reading The Three Musketeers. She learned both, although her French is rusty.3. Her first ever published piece of writing was a poem she wrote in Eleventh Grade.
And the lie is:
#1. Misha and her mom own OVER 15000 paperbacks! (They last counted 10 years ago.) 15000 FOLKS! I know where I want to go hang out for the weekend, or life.
Way to guess those of you who got it right! You are officially human lie detectors. And the winner is:
...DRUM ROLL...
Jess!
Congrats, Jess!
Today I'm super excited. My stellar writing buddy, Nicole Zoltack is here to share with us a book I CANNOT wait to read. Seriously. The blurb:
Once a year for the past decade, Nicholas Adams returns to Falledge and leaves a black hellebore on his girlfriend's grave. While departing Falledge, he chases after a man sneaking into the laboratory and dies for his trouble. A witch brings him back to life, but Nicholas soon realizes he's not the same man. Turns out, magic combined with a black hellebore in his pocket changed him into a kind of a super man.
His girlfriend's twin, Julianna Paige, is Falledge's deputy, struggling to solve several murders. Nicholas, and his alter ego the Black Hellebore, helps her, even as she helps him move on and even start to love again.
Unfortunately, Nicholas wasn't the only one changed in the laboratory explosion, and now there's a super villain bent on destroying Falledge, and killing the Black Hellebore. But falling in love might prove more dangerous than any super villain.
Pick up your copy HERE.
And now, let me introduce you to the wonderful author:
Nicole Zoltack writes speculative stories for all ages. When she's not writing about knights or superheroes, she loves to spend time with her loving husband and three energetic young boys. She loves riding horses (pretending they're unicorns, of course!) and going to the PA Renaissance Faire, dress in garb. She'll also read anything she can get her hands on. Her favorite current TV show is The Walking Dead.
Nicole loves all cheese everywhere and can be found eating them anywhere...except the bathtub.
Nicole gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Can you figure out the lie? Those who do will go into my magic hat for a chance to win an eBook of Black Hellebore. Eek! How cool is that? You have until Tuesday, February 4, at 1 p.m. EDT to guess--and be sure to come back for the answer on February 5.
TRUTH OR LIE
1. Nicole hasn't gone horseback riding in over six years.2. She hates talking on the phone and begs her hubby to make phone calls for her.3. She's training for a marathon this fall.
Remember to join my SUPER FUN blogfest. Details HERE. Oh, and enter to win a free PHYSICAL copy of my book today on Goodreads! (Open to US, CA, GB, and AU.)
Okay, what is the lie? What's your favorite Jack Sparrow moment? Do you like Super Heroes? How about Pirates?
Anyhow, it's time for a laugh out loud moment. You ready for this?
Awesome, right? And who else is in the mood for Jack Sparrow funnies?
And now shall we away to our Writerly Wednesday feature?
Writerly Wednesdays here are for readers and writers. Get to know authors, test your human lie detector skills, and WIN books.
Last week, Misha Gericke shared with us her great book, The Vanished Knight, along with two truths and one lie about herself. Those who guessed the lie correctly were entered into a random drawing to win an eBook!
Misha's game:
1. Misha and her mom own about 8000 paperback books.2. She wanted to learn how to fence and speak French after reading The Three Musketeers. She learned both, although her French is rusty.3. Her first ever published piece of writing was a poem she wrote in Eleventh Grade.
And the lie is:
#1. Misha and her mom own OVER 15000 paperbacks! (They last counted 10 years ago.) 15000 FOLKS! I know where I want to go hang out for the weekend, or life.
Way to guess those of you who got it right! You are officially human lie detectors. And the winner is:
...DRUM ROLL...
Jess!
Congrats, Jess!
Today I'm super excited. My stellar writing buddy, Nicole Zoltack is here to share with us a book I CANNOT wait to read. Seriously. The blurb:
Once a year for the past decade, Nicholas Adams returns to Falledge and leaves a black hellebore on his girlfriend's grave. While departing Falledge, he chases after a man sneaking into the laboratory and dies for his trouble. A witch brings him back to life, but Nicholas soon realizes he's not the same man. Turns out, magic combined with a black hellebore in his pocket changed him into a kind of a super man.His girlfriend's twin, Julianna Paige, is Falledge's deputy, struggling to solve several murders. Nicholas, and his alter ego the Black Hellebore, helps her, even as she helps him move on and even start to love again.
Unfortunately, Nicholas wasn't the only one changed in the laboratory explosion, and now there's a super villain bent on destroying Falledge, and killing the Black Hellebore. But falling in love might prove more dangerous than any super villain.
Pick up your copy HERE.
And now, let me introduce you to the wonderful author:
Nicole Zoltack writes speculative stories for all ages. When she's not writing about knights or superheroes, she loves to spend time with her loving husband and three energetic young boys. She loves riding horses (pretending they're unicorns, of course!) and going to the PA Renaissance Faire, dress in garb. She'll also read anything she can get her hands on. Her favorite current TV show is The Walking Dead.Nicole loves all cheese everywhere and can be found eating them anywhere...except the bathtub.
Nicole gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Can you figure out the lie? Those who do will go into my magic hat for a chance to win an eBook of Black Hellebore. Eek! How cool is that? You have until Tuesday, February 4, at 1 p.m. EDT to guess--and be sure to come back for the answer on February 5.
TRUTH OR LIE
1. Nicole hasn't gone horseback riding in over six years.2. She hates talking on the phone and begs her hubby to make phone calls for her.3. She's training for a marathon this fall.
Remember to join my SUPER FUN blogfest. Details HERE. Oh, and enter to win a free PHYSICAL copy of my book today on Goodreads! (Open to US, CA, GB, and AU.)
Okay, what is the lie? What's your favorite Jack Sparrow moment? Do you like Super Heroes? How about Pirates?
January 22, 2014
Vanished Awesomeness...
What are your feelings on the elderly?
Image courtesy of Ishai ParasolI met a gentleman this last week at the grocery store who had to be in his seventies. He was alone and purchasing a quick meal. I got the sense he didn't have anyone to go home to. His sunken cheeks were a testament to his ill heath and his clothing bagged over him, but when he spoke there was a dignity in his words.
I was reminded of my World War II veteran grandfather. Here was a man who had lived and worked his days to help build society. He was probably a husband and father at some point, but for whatever reason in this last season of his life, he was alone. My heart broke a little for him.
I've heard an attitude expressed by some, a fear of this older generation. That kills me. I grew up at the feet of my grandparents, listening to their stories and benefiting from their love and wisdom. Those who've experienced a full life have so much to give. Why would anyone deprive themselves of that? Do we just get so busy we forget? And what can we do to slow down and benefit from these wonderful individuals?
Well, enough with deeper thoughts. It's time for a game.
Writerly Wednesdays here are for readers and writers. Get to know authors, test your human lie detector skills, and WIN books.
Last week, Cathrina Constantine shared her BRAND NEW BOOK COVER along with two truths and one lie about herself. Those who guessed the lie correctly were entered into a random drawing to win TALLAS in eBook! --It releases Feb 1, so mark your calendars!
Cathrina's game:
1. Cathrina danced on a Vegas stage.2. A horse fell on top of her when she was 16.3. When an icy snowball hit her mouth, she needed 3 stitches.
And the lie is:
#3. This actually happened to her daughter. She did actually have a horse fall on her while performing a jump. Luckily she only broke her shoulder bone. OUCH!
Way to guess those of you who got it right! You are officially human lie detectors. And the winner is:
...DRUM ROLL...
Loni Townsend!
Congrats, Loni!
Today I'm super excited. I've been bloggies with Misha Gericke for YEARS, and I adore her. SO, when I heard about her debut novel, I jumped for joy, and then I read it. And loved it. The blurb:
Since the death of her parents, Callan Blair has been shunted from one foster family to another, her dangerous secret forcing the move each time. Her latest foster family quickly ships her off to an exclusive boarding school in the Cumbrian countryside. While her foster-brother James makes it his mission to get Callan expelled, a nearby ancient castle holds the secret doorway to another land...
When Callan is forced through the doorway, she finds herself in the magical continent of Tardith, where she’s shocked to learn her schoolmates Gawain and Darrion are respected soldiers in service to the king of Nordaine, one of Tardith's realms. More than that, the two are potential heirs to the Black Knight—Nordaine's crown prince.
But when the Black Knight fails to return from a mysterious trip, the realm teeters on the brink of war. Darrion and Gawain set out to find him, while Callan discovers there is more to her family history than she thought. The elves are claiming she is their princess.
Now with Darrion growing ever more antagonistic and her friendship with Gawain blossoming, Callan must decide whether to stay in Nordaine—where her secret grows ever more threatening—or go to the elves and uncover the truth about her family before war sets the realms afire.
Pick up your copy HERE.
And now, let me introduce you to the wonderful author:
M. Gerrick (AKA Misha Gericke) has been creating stories since she was a young child and is now creating better ones to get published.
She now lives on a farm in the Western Cape, South Africa, featuring a two-hundred year house, awesome scenery, horses, cows, sheep, dogs and her five muses (also known as cats).
Misha gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Can you figure out the lie? Those who do will go into my magic hat for a chance to win an eBook of The Vanished Knight. Eek! How cool is that? You have until Tuesday, January 28, at 1 p.m. EDT to guess--and be sure to come back for the answer on January 29.
TRUTH OR LIE
1. Misha and her mom own about 8000 paperback books.2. She wanted to learn how to fence and speak French after reading The Three Musketeers. She learned both, although her French is rusty.3. Her first ever published piece of writing was a poem she wrote in Eleventh Grade
Remember to join my SUPER FUN blogfest. Details HERE.
Okay, what is the lie? And what are your feelings about the elderly? Did you grow up with grandparents in your life?
Image courtesy of Ishai ParasolI met a gentleman this last week at the grocery store who had to be in his seventies. He was alone and purchasing a quick meal. I got the sense he didn't have anyone to go home to. His sunken cheeks were a testament to his ill heath and his clothing bagged over him, but when he spoke there was a dignity in his words. I was reminded of my World War II veteran grandfather. Here was a man who had lived and worked his days to help build society. He was probably a husband and father at some point, but for whatever reason in this last season of his life, he was alone. My heart broke a little for him.
I've heard an attitude expressed by some, a fear of this older generation. That kills me. I grew up at the feet of my grandparents, listening to their stories and benefiting from their love and wisdom. Those who've experienced a full life have so much to give. Why would anyone deprive themselves of that? Do we just get so busy we forget? And what can we do to slow down and benefit from these wonderful individuals?
Well, enough with deeper thoughts. It's time for a game.
Writerly Wednesdays here are for readers and writers. Get to know authors, test your human lie detector skills, and WIN books.
Last week, Cathrina Constantine shared her BRAND NEW BOOK COVER along with two truths and one lie about herself. Those who guessed the lie correctly were entered into a random drawing to win TALLAS in eBook! --It releases Feb 1, so mark your calendars!
Cathrina's game:
1. Cathrina danced on a Vegas stage.2. A horse fell on top of her when she was 16.3. When an icy snowball hit her mouth, she needed 3 stitches.And the lie is:
#3. This actually happened to her daughter. She did actually have a horse fall on her while performing a jump. Luckily she only broke her shoulder bone. OUCH!
Way to guess those of you who got it right! You are officially human lie detectors. And the winner is:
...DRUM ROLL...
Loni Townsend!
Congrats, Loni!
Today I'm super excited. I've been bloggies with Misha Gericke for YEARS, and I adore her. SO, when I heard about her debut novel, I jumped for joy, and then I read it. And loved it. The blurb:
Since the death of her parents, Callan Blair has been shunted from one foster family to another, her dangerous secret forcing the move each time. Her latest foster family quickly ships her off to an exclusive boarding school in the Cumbrian countryside. While her foster-brother James makes it his mission to get Callan expelled, a nearby ancient castle holds the secret doorway to another land...When Callan is forced through the doorway, she finds herself in the magical continent of Tardith, where she’s shocked to learn her schoolmates Gawain and Darrion are respected soldiers in service to the king of Nordaine, one of Tardith's realms. More than that, the two are potential heirs to the Black Knight—Nordaine's crown prince.
But when the Black Knight fails to return from a mysterious trip, the realm teeters on the brink of war. Darrion and Gawain set out to find him, while Callan discovers there is more to her family history than she thought. The elves are claiming she is their princess.
Now with Darrion growing ever more antagonistic and her friendship with Gawain blossoming, Callan must decide whether to stay in Nordaine—where her secret grows ever more threatening—or go to the elves and uncover the truth about her family before war sets the realms afire.
Pick up your copy HERE.
And now, let me introduce you to the wonderful author:
M. Gerrick (AKA Misha Gericke) has been creating stories since she was a young child and is now creating better ones to get published.
She now lives on a farm in the Western Cape, South Africa, featuring a two-hundred year house, awesome scenery, horses, cows, sheep, dogs and her five muses (also known as cats).
Misha gave me two truths and one lie to test your "lie detector" skills. Can you figure out the lie? Those who do will go into my magic hat for a chance to win an eBook of The Vanished Knight. Eek! How cool is that? You have until Tuesday, January 28, at 1 p.m. EDT to guess--and be sure to come back for the answer on January 29.
TRUTH OR LIE
1. Misha and her mom own about 8000 paperback books.2. She wanted to learn how to fence and speak French after reading The Three Musketeers. She learned both, although her French is rusty.3. Her first ever published piece of writing was a poem she wrote in Eleventh Grade
Remember to join my SUPER FUN blogfest. Details HERE.
Okay, what is the lie? And what are your feelings about the elderly? Did you grow up with grandparents in your life?
