Cathrina Constantine's Blog, page 66

TALLAS COVER REVEAL

I'm So Excited to Reveal the Cover for My Novel. 


I Love the Back Cover Too! Freaky, Huh?I have to add this: The back is a picture of a 3 headed snake! Some people think it's fish. I'd Like to Thank Melissa Stevens, The Illustrated Author for Creating this Awesome Cover!!You can find Melissa at www.THEILLUSTRATEDAUTHOR.NET
Tallas will be released on February 1st!
Here Is The Blurb:
In a decimated world, setting foot outside the protected village of Tallas is certain death—or so they say. Mutations caused by those in the wilderness have plagued Tallas’s citizens—or so they say…
For Doogan and Keeyla their belief in a Free Tallas has lost its glimmer. And when their young son, Fabal, is given a very dangerous assignment, they risk everything to protect him. Fleeing Tallas, they head for the wilderness. But when they are ambushed by cruel Mediators, Doogan is recaptured, and while Keeyla and Fabal escape, she is severely injured.
Can the two of them survive in the wilderness? Will Doogan get away from the clutches of the Mediators? And are the terrible legends about the monsters beyond the walls of Tallas true?

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Constantine Reviews: The Ghosts of Aquinnah by Julie Flanders

Blurb: A brilliant flash of light transcends through time. 
Another freezes a cloaked figure within a frame of salty mist as waves crash against a rocky shore. Her harrowing expression shadows the beacon to a pinprick. 

By the next blaze, she is gone. Only the lighthouse remains. 

Hannah’s eyes blink in step with each heartbeat. Images of her deceased parents and Martha’s Vineyard explode like firecrackers inside her mind. 

She shakes her head. 

For weeks this eerie woman dressed in nineteenth century garb has been haunting my webcam, but tonight she stared into my soul. 

Why? ... 

Who is she? ... 

Casting aside months of research on historic lighthouses, Hannah drives to the coast and boards a ferry. 

What is the strange connection she has to this mysterious woman suspended in time? 

Hannah finds out. 

But, it’s not at all what she expects... 

The Ghosts of Aquinnah is available on Amazon

My Review:
Julie Flanders is a remarkable and talented writer and while 
reading The Ghosts of Aquinnah I was transported to the 
year 1884. Julie writes with such clarity and feeling that you 
sympathize, or despise her characters with real emotion. 
Unlike her debut novel, Polar Night, which was way creepier 
(I mean that in a good way) and has me believing in 
Vampires, Ghosts of Aquinnah has a warmer ghostly feel. (If 
you understand that) I love the historical aspects of the 
book, and you want to scream at the injustice society labeled  women in that time period. The book transcends time from 
1884 to modern day, devoid of confusion in any way while 
reading. If you've all read the blurb I don't feel the need to 
describe the context of the story. However tragic and heart 
wrenching for the souls in 1884, all will come to light. The 
Ghosts of Aquinnah will haunt you well after you've finished 
reading the last page.
You can find Julie Here:

Celebrate the Small Things and IWSG

Everyone join in the weekly Celebrate the Small Things. Go here to add you name to the list at Scribblings of An Aspiring Author.This week I'm celebrating getting back to normalcy after the Holidays. Also, my second novel, Tallas will be released on February 1st. My cover reveal will take place on my blog on January 14th with others blogs to follow. I also have a wonderful Giveaway!
a Rafflecopter giveaway








A Great Big Thank You to Alex J. Cavanaugh for this brainchild and everyone associated with the support group! The awesome co-hosts this month are Bob Milne, River Fairchild, Julie Dao, and Sarah Foster!

A few weeks ago I woke in the middle of the night and instantly my mind flew to my writing. The doubts overflowed like a tsunami. Mainly due to the fact I've spent so much time editing, I haven't written anything new in months. 

I feel totally blocked. 

I can read 4 books at a time. I can cook while reading and watching a movie, however, I am unable to edit while working on a wip. I'm floored when I see writer's with multiple books being written. I've edited 2 books at the same time, but then I get confused---"Did I say that sentence or use that word numerous times before?"

My new manuscript which I thought was my best writing thus far has not met approval with my agent. I'm crying a river so to speak. What would you do in a case like this? Major overhaul? Restart the query process? 

On January 1, 2014, I actually felt somewhat secure and figured I'd have nothing to write about for this post. In a blink of an eye, things change.

I need to dry the tears and get cracking on self-promotion (which I despise) because my second novel is being published by Black Opal Books on February 1st. TALLAS Cover Reveal is Coming!

Thank you for listening to my insecurities. What are you insecure about this month?

Guest Author: Jeanne Arnold

Please Welcome a Gifted Author: Jeanne Arnold. Her novel, Stubborn was released on January 6th. Check It Out! 


Stubborn With a train ticket, a bad attitude, and an unfortunate scribbling of obscenities across her forehead, seventeen-year-old Avery Ross is tossed out of the frying pan and into the fire when she’s sent from New York to the vast oil field region of North Dakota.  When a green-eyed boy with a sultry Texan accent comes to her defense, Avery has no clue that his actions will lead her into a passion-charged summer, full of temptation and loss.Defiant and relegated to work at her aunt’s boarding house, Avery discovers a connection between her aunt and the striking boy. He and his brothers are seeking revenge for the wrongful death of their sibling, and Avery becomes entangled in their battle over oil rights, loyalty, and love.  Avery falls for the brooding, younger brother, Gabriel Halden, against her aunt’s forewarnings and creates more tribulations than any of them could anticipate.
Excerpt: I was pretty confident the vulgar obscenities scribbled across my forehead with black indelible marker got me this righteous seat on the Empire Builder heading to the flat, endless, barren nowhere land of the Midwest. But I could have been wrong. I was known to be wrong.I’d inadvertently kicked my ferocious texting habit cold turkey and wiped out all my summer plans in one unfortunate, random weekend. My parents wouldn’t listen when I swore to China and back that I was sober at my best friend Janie’s end-of-school party when some drunken joker, whose lame advances I probably shot down a gazillion times, decided to use my face as a canvas. I insisted that I simply fell asleep following a demanding cross-country meet.I failed to see what was so horrible.I failed to see why I was being punished.On top of that, it wasn’t my fault I got caught cutting the last week of my junior year of high school after somebody spread a venomous rumor about me that I couldn’t stomach to repeat.Since my original outburst when I learned I would be spending the summer of my seventeenth year with my Aunt Meggie in North Dakota, I held silent, communicating only with gestures and grunts. I could hardly swallow the truth. They were sending me to help out in the wake of the oil boom. Whatever that meant. Don’t get me wrong, Meggie was my favorite aunt, but who in their right mind would want to spend summer vacation maintaining a boardinghouse for lowly oil field hands?

Find out how 
Stubborn Buy List:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Stubborn-Jeanne-Arnold-ebook/dp/B00HPPHREK/Champagne Books: http://champagnebooks.com/store/index.php?id_product=128&controller=productAll Romance EBooks https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-stubborn-1382969-149.html
Kobo http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/stubborn Bio: Jeanne Arnold is an author of young adult romance. At a young age she found her creative outlet in art, and for years her fictional characters came to life in drawings and paintings, until they demanded a voice. Now they grace the pages of her stories. Jeanne shares her time with her fictional teenage counterparts and her human family in Central New York. Her young adult romance Stubborn is available now. The Haunt of Thirteen Curves will be released in June, 2014.

Website: www.jeannearnoldbooks.comBlog: www.jeannearnoldbooks.com/blogFacebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Jeanne-Arnold-BooksTwitter: twitter.com/jeannesbooksGoodreads: www.goodreads.com/jeannesbooksTumblr: jeannesbooks.tumblr.comPinterest: www.pinterest.com/jeannesbooks/boards/

Celebrate the Small Things

My first Celebrate the Small Things of 2014. Thanks to Vikki at Scribblings of an Aspiring Author for starting this hop. Press on her name to join in the weekly celebration.





A Worldwide Celebration Happened This Week!

Welcome to the Year 2014!!








New Year's Day was great! In my home it was a restful day, a calm after all the festivities. 

Unfortunately, I now have to get back to work on shedding the excessive poundage after all the savory delights and return to work mode.

I Hope 2014 is a Successful Year for everyone, and Hope it Holds Plenty of Magic!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It's hard to believe another year has slipped by. On January 12th it will my blogs first anniversary,and much has happened since then. My first novel, Wickedly They Come has been published by Black Opal Books. With my second novel, TALLAS to be released in February. Black Opal Books is a small press and they are wonderful to work with. And they are accepting submissions.

I have been extremely fortunate to be represented by The Belcastro Literary Agency. My two fantastic agents, Sharon Belcastro and Ella Marie Mohan Shupe have helped me tremendously with my writing. (Ella Marie--love your suggestions. You and Sharon are always right-on)

I am a writer. I am truly humbled to be an author. I am working harder to become a better writer than a year ago. For me writing doesn't come easy. It's a process of exhaustive mental contemplation. 

I am very grateful to have met so many online, supportive friends over this past year and hope to meet many more. I feel like we've become a great, big family!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

If anyone is interested in helping me with a a cover reveal during the month of January, please let me know. 

Celebrate the Small Things

Thank you Vikki at Scribblings of an Aspiring Author for starting this fun hop. Press on Vikki's name to join in the fun and add your name to the list.

Christmas is not a Small Celebration---it's HUGE! And it all begins with a tiny infant in a manger. So peaceful and calm. The birth of a humble King to show us the way...

It has been days of family and friends. Laughter, Remembrances, Love, Faith, and Joy.

And an overdose of scrumptious culinary delights! 

What have you been Celebrating?

Holy Night, Silent Night!

Holy Night, Silent Night! 



Blessed Christmas to All!




Sleep in Heavenly Peace!



MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Celebrate the Small Things

Thanks to Vikki at Scribblings of an Aspiring Author for starting this hop. It's a small celebration so join in the fun. Press on Vikki's name and sign up.

1. Just received my final edits for my second book! 

2. Swamped with last minute Christmas tidings, but "Tis the Season"

3. Wishing all my online friends a Very Merry Christmas!!
                  

                           **A BLESSED CHRISTMAS TO ALL**

What Does This Season Mean To You?

Are you feeling the pressure of Christmas zooming into your homes? Every year I tell myself I won't panic. And, like every year with 8 days left until the Eve, I'm not ready.

I like receiving beautiful Christmas Cards, and this year I'm finding it a chore to get mine into the post. 

I'm known for my Christmas Cookies. My children are wondering when those tasty treats will be popping out of the oven. So far, I've baked one batch. *Phew* Need to step it up!

We finally put up our Tree and now it feels like Christmas. I inhale the pine scent like freshly brewed coffee. That's not my tree, I have yet to take a picture of mine. 

 Why do decorated Christmas Trees make me feel all cozy and peaceful on the inside? Do they have the same effect on you?  Now, I must tackle the bevy of gifts loitering around my bedroom. Wrapping is another big job, but I take pleasure in personalizing them with homemade ribbons and bows. I've even cut my Holly Bush and added raffia and Holly to the gifts. It makes a pretty presentation. No wonder it takes me forever. 

However, for me, this is the real meaning of Christmas... Jesus is the Reason for the Season!He's so pure and simple, and full of Love!
What does the season mean to you?