Stephanie Faris's Blog, page 47

Introducing Once upon a Nightmare: A Collection by Cherie Reich

Today I'm helping out a blogging friend all of you know and love. Does this face look familiar?



You probably know Cherie Reich from her blog, where she regularly supports other authors in their own book releases. It's always exciting to help out someone who's a true giver!

Cherie's book, Once Upon a Nightmare: A Collection, published April 30th. You can get your copy on Amazon for $2.99. Here's the cover:



Keep reading to learn more about Cherie's great new book. And be sure to buy a copy!

Blurb:

A monster hunts us. After hibernating for a decade, it’s ravenous. We long to stop this nightmare, but the end of the road is far. There is no waking up once a legend sets its sights on you.

Disappearances every ten or so years make little impact on the small town of New Haven, Virginia. Hikers get lost. Hunters lose the trail. Even when a body is discovered, the inhabitants’ memories last about as long as the newspaper articles.

No one connects the cases. No one notices the disappearances go back beyond Civil War times. No one believes a legendary monster roams the forests in Southwestern Virginia.

I don’t either until the truck breaks down on an old mountain trail. Cell phones won’t work in this neck of the woods. It’s amazing how much a person can see by starlight alone. So what if we can’t feel our fingers or toes as we hike toward the main road. How many more miles left to go?

Crrraaack!

Hear that noise?

Bio:


Cherie Reich


Cherie Reich has more books than she can ever read and more ideas than she can ever write, but that doesn't stop this bookworm from trying, even if it means trying to curb her TV addiction. She is a speculative fiction writer and library assistant living in Virginia. Her short stories have appeared in magazines and anthologies, and her books include the paranormal horror collection Once upon a Nightmare and the fantasy series The Foxwick Chronicles and The Fate Challenges. Reborn is her debut novel. She is a member of the Virginia Writers Club, Valley Writers, and Untethered Realms. For more information about her and her work, please visit her website and blog.


Contact info:



Blog | Website | Twitter | Amazon | Goodreads | Barnes and Noble

Let Me Tell You About April

Okay, this post is a little overdue. I couldn't post in April because I had the A to Z posts. Then I had to squeeze in two pre-scheduled book posts and the IWSG post. Since I only blog on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, that means this is the first chance I've had to really talk to you!



So I wanted to tell you a few things that were going on behind the scenes as I struggled to get around to all your blogs each day. April was a crazy, crazy month. I'm not sure how I survived.



First we started shopping for houses...



Then we put an offer on a house. If you've ever bought a house, you know what followed that...



Finally the mortgage company had our entire life history on file and it was time for closing.



The last week of A to Z, we were packing. We started moving on May 1st and the movers showed up on May 2nd. I had an author event here on May 2nd...



And all the while, I was working my "day job" as a freelance writer. April brought three major writing firsts. I got my first piece on Cosmopolitan.com...



My first piece on GoodHousekeeping.com...



And my first piece on xoJane.



Oh, and I finished my second round of revisions on my 2016 chapter book, Piper Morgan Joins the Circus, and turned them in two days before we moved.



So when everyone else says, "April is over, it's time to rest," I say, "April is over...time to get going on my next big challenge!

How was your April?

IWSG: I Like What You're Doing...How Do I Do That?"

It's the first Wednesday of the month, which means hundreds of us will be posting about our insecurities. Add your name to the list to join in!



When people learn you're a writer, you tend to get a series of responses. They range from, "What do you write?" to, "I've always wanted to write a book." Most of the latter group wants to share their life stories with the world.



I'm guessing these are the same people who think we care every time they go to the gym or have a stomach virus.



Once you're published, you get those questions, plus a few new ones, including (but not limited to):
How did you get published?How much did you have to pay your publisher?Can you help me get published?
Yes, I've actually been asked that second question. When I informed the person that a legitimate publisher does not charge, she informed me that she Googled and yes, in fact, publishers are asking for $250 and up to just read your manuscript.



I first told her no legitimate publisher charges but then pointed her to a resource where she could get information about self-publishing. She said she didn't want to self-publish. I pointed her to this site and strongly suggested she get involved with a writer's group in her genre. Will she take my advice?



I get the same response when people ask me how I make a living writing all day. My answer, which is essentially, "Hard work," is generally met with this type of reaction:



You'll get a similar reaction if someone asks you how you lost so much weight or how you won the gold medal in the Olympics. Basically, if the answer is anything resembling this...



People don't really want to know. So make up an answer like, "I just woke up one morning, wrote a novel, and it sold. It must be magic." The person isn't going to actually try anyway. Do you know why?

People who actually want to get a novel published, lose weight, or win the gold medal have already researched it and know the work that goes into it. They don't see someone doing it and say, "What you're doing looks cool. I might give that a try."



Without realizing it, people who ask those questions actually insult a writer. They make it sound as if anyone can do it--as if all the hard work you did means nothing. They also make you wonder if maybe it was harder for you than most people. There are, after all, people who land publishing deals with the first book they write...

What are you insecure about this month?

Guest Post: Name a Drink by Chrys Fey

Today one of my favorite blogging buddies is stopping by for a fun post. Everyone roll out a big welcome mat for Chrys Fey, a very talented author and blogger. Be sure to read the blurb and excerpt and order a copy of her book before you go!

-----------------------------------------------------------Name a Drinkby Chrys Fey
The “IT” place to be if you’re a twenty-one-year-old college student in Ghost of Death is the Galaxy Bar. When I wrote about the Galaxy Bar, I picture it as your typical dark bar with clever drink names like Wormhole, Jolie’s favorite drink. Now that I think about it though, I imagine the bar to have a galaxy mural painted on the ceiling, stars swimming on the dance floor from spotlights, and metal chairs with spiral bases. Now that would be a bar I’d like to go to!

The only drink I mentioned in Ghost of Death was Wormhole, a purple drink in a long flute that my mom actually named.

QUESTION: Can you come up with a catchy space-inspired name for a drink that could be served at the Galaxy Bar? Comment with your suggestion!


The Blurb:

Jolie Montgomery, a twenty-one-year-old woman, wakes up in an alley next to her corpse. She has no memories of her murder or the night she died. She didn’t even see the killer’s face before he or she took her life. Wanting justice, Jolie seeks answers in the only way a ghost can...by stalking the lead detective on the case.
Avrianna Heavenborn is determined to find the person responsible for a young woman’s death. She gets closer to the killer’s identity with every clue she uncovers, and Jolie is with her every step of the way.

But if they don’t solve her murder soon, Jolie will be an earth-bound spirit forever.





Also Available for Pre-Order: Witch of Death

Detective Reid Sanders doesn’t believe in the supernatural, but when he’s faced with a crime scene that defies the laws of nature, he has no other choice but to start believing. And solving a magical murder involves working with a witch.

Liberty Sawyer embodies the look of your classic evil witch, so, it’s no surprise when she uncovers the murderer is a witch that she becomes Reid’s number one suspect. If she can’t convince him otherwise, more people could lose their lives to dark magic, including her.


Author Bio:

Chrys Fey is the author of Hurricane Crimes and 30 Seconds . She is currently working on the sequel to Hurricane Crimes that’ll serve as book two in the Disaster Crimes series. 

When Fey was six years old, she realized her dream of being a writer by watching her mother pursue publication. At the age of twelve, she started writing her first novel, which flourished into a series she later rewrote at seventeen. Fey lives in Florida where she is waiting for the next hurricane to come her way. You can connect with her on Facebook and her blog, Write with Fey. She loves to get to know her readers!

Facebook / Blog / Website / Goodreads / Buy Link

Best Books of April

April was cuh-razy, with the A to Z Challenge and moving. We closed on a house this week and as you're reading this, we're surrounded by moving boxes. But I still managed to read five books this month. It will probably be no surprise that two of those books were read via audiobook while I was packing and cleaning. Thanks to Lauren Myracle and Paula Hawkins for making moving so much more entertaining. 

And now...the best books I read in April.

My first book is by two authors I consider friends even though I haven't met them in person yet. This book is pure awesomeness! You must pre-order it now. It's on sale May 19.



You're Invited by Jen Malone and Gail Nall is the first in a two-part series about tween girls who run their very own party-planning business. The concept of a group of girls running a party-planning business is so fun, but these mega-talented authors make it about so much more than that. The themes of friendship and parental acceptance are something every reader can relate to.

My second book is another one for young girls that readers of all ages will enjoy. In Jo Whittemore's Colonial Madness, a tween and her mom are challenged to spend two weeks living in colonial times.



This book is a fun learning experience, especially for young girls, who don't realize how lucky they are to wear clean clothes every day and get milk from the refrigerator rather than the barn. But the overall message is even more important: family comes first, especially the bond between mother and child.

Next up is Defying Reason by Elizabeth Seckman. I'm sure I've already gushed about this author a million times, but I'll gush some more.



This is a new adult-ish romance, with characters in their early 20s. I haven't read the other books in the series, but this book stands completely on its own. Tanner and Jo leap off the page as incredibly realistic, likable characters. Best of all, the story is completely unpredictable, which I love in a romance!

The first book I read on audio was Lauren Myracle's The Fashion Disaster That Changed My Life.



I loved her book TTYL, so I was excited to see this on the list of books Audible recommended to me. Lauren has a knack for capturing the voice of her intended age group, usually in a unique format. TTYL was a story told in instant messages. The Fashion Disaster That Changed My Life is told through diary entries. Lauren perfectly captures the strains of peer pressure while also showing young girls that it's possible to find your own way in life.

My last book of the month is one that I've wanted to read since January. I always try to read the most-talked-about book of the year. This year, that book is The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins.



Let me just say, this book isn't what you expect. It's been compared to Hitchcock and in premise, I'd agree. Like Gone Girl, however, this book delves deep into unlikeable characters and makes you somehow like them despite their many (many) flaws. People said this one started off "slow," but I don't think so. If you're expecting a thrill-a-minute mystery, though, you might be disappointed. If you're just ready to settle in and enjoy the ride, I highly recommend this one. Catch it before they cast the movie. It's always more fun when you aren't picturing Hollywood faces on the characters, I've found!

Have you read any good books lately?

Z is for Zapped!

Well, folks, we've reached the end of yet another A to Z Challenge. I'm so glad to have made a few new friends. I hope we're still reading each other's blogs by the time this rolls around next year!

My theme is the 80s. The final letter is:




In 1982, a really bad movie came out. 



Did it matter that it was bad? Not really. At the time, people would have paid for movie tickets to see a soup commercial starring this guy.



In the 80s, teen heartthrobs were everything to young girls. They filled magazines like this, giving tweens pull-out full-color posters we could hang on our walls.



Of course, teen heartthrobs go way back. But the 70s and 80s were different because many of them came from TV sitcoms.



And soap operas.



They became TV stars first, then rock stars.


Rick Springfield on General HospitalOr they became rock stars, then starred in a movie.


They (sadly) died too young...


Andy GibbOr spent the majority of their post-fame years drinking and drugging.


Leif Garrett
Or they just proved all our male friends right and revealed they weren't really all that into us, after all.


George Michael
As the 80s moved into the 90s, the torch was passed to a new generation. That generation had these guys.


Luke Perry and Jason PriestleyAnd a slew of boy bands to enjoy.



What teen heartthrob did you love growing up?

Here's a little Andy Gibb to end the challenge.

Y is for Yuppies

This month I'm participating in the A to Z Challenge. My theme is the 80s. Today's letter is:




In 1980, Chicago magazine published an article by writer Dan Rottenberg titled About That Urban Renaissance. In the article, Rottenberg referred to an emerging group of young urban professionals, nicknaming them "yuppies." The term stuck. By 1984, the media was dissecting yuppies as though they were specimens in a lab.



Movies like Wall Street epitomize the excesses of the 80s. They wore expensive clothing and worked in plush offices with windows.



They were the first people to have cell phones. Big cell phones.



And sporty, ultra-expensive cars.



While it may have epitomized wealth and success in the 80s, when the stock market crashed in 1987, it took on an all new meaning. To put it in terms today's younger generations would understand, yuppie=douchebag.



Alex P. Keaton epitomized yuppies when they were cool. He went on to star in The Secret of My Success, which was essentially the end of "yuppie" having any positive connotation whatsoever. 



It was okay, though, because he worked his way up from the mailroom to become a yuppie.



Do yuppies exist today? Of course they do. They're "young urban professionals," after all. It's a little more challenging to spot them, though, since they dress a little more casually.



And they work from home.



Or from Starbucks.



But we have to appreciate the yuppies of the 1980s. They had to go to nine-to-five jobs, sit in cubicles, and work on computers that looked like these:



Do you think yuppies still exist?

X is for Xanadu

This month I'm participating in the A to Z Challenge. My theme is the 80s. Today's letter is:




X is a tough letter. So tough that I'm repeating last year's X for 2015!



Can I just tell you how awesome Olivia Newton-John was (is)? In 1980 when Xanadu hit theaters, ONJ was a major phenomenon. Every boy was in love with her. Every girl wanted to be her. I got to be her briefly during my MySpace blogging days (long story).



As a kid, I had no idea Olivia Newton-John had made such an impression on my entire generation until our high school drama club did a production of Grease. The line to audition wrapped all the way around the school. (It was a round school--another long story.) As I spoke to my classmates about my childhood adoration for ONJ, they all pretty much laughed and said, "Yeah. Join the club."



Xanadu may have been a really, really, really bad movie but it didn't matter. It had Olivia Newton-John on roller skates, wearing long flowing skirts and ribbon barrettes in her hair.



Plus it had Gene Kelly, a Hollywood legend. It was his last feature film. He apparently took the job because it was filming close to his house. But his scenes with ONJ make this movie a true classic.



While the movie was a massive bomb when it came out, it has become a cult favorite. It's even an award-winning Broadway musical.



Some things grow better with time. The movie still seems cheesy, but I'm sure the story makes a great play. I think this scene toward the end of the movie is all you ever really need to see of Xanadu.

W is for Walk This Way

This month I'm participating in the A to Z Challenge. My theme is the 80s. Today's letter is:



In 1986, hip-hop group Run-D.M.C. teamed up with rockers Aerosmith to record a remake of Aerosmith's song Walk This Way.




The video was the perfect illustration of the gradual transition from metal rock to the rap and hip-hop scene that would dominate music for...well...the rest of time, apparently.



The first use of the word "rap" to discuss rhythmic speaking in music was in 1971, with Isaac Hayes' album Black Moses.




But the style of music can be traced even further back--most notably to James Brown's funk music of the 60s. The first official rap song (as we know rap today) is considered Rapper's Delight by The Sugarhill Gang.




It was also a quick introduction into copyright laws for the rap industry. You see, The Sugarhill Gang liked the song Good Times so much, they decided to use its music for their song. After hearing Rapper's Delight, the songwriters for Good Times threatened to sue, at which point they were listed as songwriters. Many other groups (rap and otherwise) have learned that lesson the hard way over the years.



Soon after The Sugarhill Gang's song became a hit, mega rock star Blondie released her own rap song which was...a little weird. But it pushed rap/hip hop a little further into mainstream (she starts rapping at 1:54 and doesn't stop).




Like Rapture and Walk This Way, today's rap is usually incorporated into songs with sung lyrics, often to take a little of the edge off of what would normally be cutesy and girly:



Maybe Debbie Gibson should have given that a try.

V is for Video Games

A brief break in the action to announce that my first post for xoJane went live yesterday. Check it out if you get a chance!


This month I'm participating in the A to Z Challenge. My theme is the 80s. Today's letter is:



No retrospective of the 80s would be complete without a mention of video games. It was, after all, the era in which the medium came of age. But would you believe that video games can be traced as far back as 1950?



Bertie the Brain was an electronic game of Tic-Tac-Toe displayed at the Canadian National Exhibition for two weeks, then disassembled. There were many other games over the years, but the first commercially-available arcade game was 1971's Computer Space.



True 80s video game fanatics think of the Atari as the true beginning of gaming. When the Atari 2600 released in 1977, it definitely made an impact. Believe it or not, this seemed pretty advanced for the time.



What really popularized gaming in the 80s, however, was the arcade. Playing games became an event. You left your house and went to the mall or a nearby shopping center, where you could play whatever game you wanted for a few minutes for the cost of a quarter. The first arcade game was Space Invaders and it remained an arcade staple through much of the 80s.



Then came this game...which captured the interest of even total non-gamers like me.




There was even a hit song, Pac-Man Fever.




The industry "crashed" around 1983, with multiple video game equipment/console manufacturers going bankrupt. Arcades remained around for a few years, though. My friends and I always thought of it as "the place where all the cute boys hang out." Of course, they were too busy playing games to pay attention to us.



Arcades are still around (Dave & Buster's, mostly), but somehow it isn't quite the same.



Have you ever played an 80s-style video game?