Renée Swann's Blog, page 2
October 3, 2014
Pre-Order No Strings Attached for 99 Cents!
Psst! Over here! Did you know you can pre-order my upcoming novella NO STRINGS ATTACHED for only 99 cents? How cool is that? I’m also giving away a $10 Amazon gift card for those who do pre-order.*
Learn more about No Strings Attached.
Pre-order on Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon Aus | Smashwords
a Rafflecopter giveaway *Contest winner has to show proof of pre-order, so make sure you grab a screen shot after purchase, or save the e-mail!
Learn more about No Strings Attached.
Pre-order on Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon Aus | Smashwords
a Rafflecopter giveaway *Contest winner has to show proof of pre-order, so make sure you grab a screen shot after purchase, or save the e-mail!
Release Day: Michelle K. Pickett's Finding Willow
NEW RELEASE!!!! NOW AVAILABLE!!!! FINDING WILLOW by Michelle K. Pickett (An Unspeakable Novella)
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AVAILABLE NOW FOR $0.99 ON AMAZON!
“Finding Willow” is the prequel to “Unspeakable,” the touching romance between Brody and Willow that explores one girl’s quiet strength to survive the unbearable weight of a family secret alone, and the love and resolve of a boy determined to help her. Brody Victor lives life on the fringes. Moving from school to school with each transfer his mother’s job requires has taught Brody well: If there’s one thing harder than making friends, it’s saying goodbye to them. So he’s learned to close himself off. He’s a loner, and that’s how he likes it. When his mother accepts a permanent position in Wisconsin, Brody begins to slowly open up. But old habits die hard and, for Brody, making friends doesn’t come easily. That is, until he meets Annabelle. Brody loses himself in her. Their connection runs deep and, for the first time, Brody truly lets someone inside. But life can be cruel. An unexpected job transfer uproots Brody from his home in Wisconsin, and Annabelle. Vowing not to get involved with another girl after the heartbreak of losing Annabelle, Brody returns to life on the outside looking in. A loner by choice. Until the night he finds Willow. Friendly and beautiful, a guy can’t help but notice her, but Brody notices more than her beauty. When she flashes her full smile, a spark is missing from her hazel eyes and for reasons unknown to him, Brody needs to find the reason. Along the way, he stumbles across a secret bigger than both of them. COMING SOON! UNSPEAKABLE by Michelle K. Pickett [image error]
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Romance (Realistic Fiction) YAm Publisher: Clean Teen Publishing Release Date: February 10, 2015
“Breathe. No one will break me. I’m strong. Breathe. Just breathe.”
On the outside, Willow appears to have it all. She’s beautiful, smart, from an influential family, and she dates the most popular guy in school—Jaden. But she would walk away from it all in a second. Willow is tormented by lies and suffocating guilt, not the hearts and flowers people believe her life is full of. She carries a dark secret. Plagued by nightmares and pain, the secret dominates her life. If she hadn’t walked away. If she had just… but she didn’t. And now she has to live with her choices. But when someone uncovers her family’s past, they use it against her, crushing her spirit little by little. She tells herself she just has to make it to graduation. Then she can leave Middleton, and her secret, far behind. When Brody transfers to Cassidy High, he turns Willow’s life upside down. He shows her what it feels like to live again, really live. And suddenly, she isn’t satisfied with just surviving until graduation. She wants a normal life—with Brody—and he wants her. But the closer they become, the more it threatens to unravel the secret she’s worked so hard to hide. Willow finds true love with Brody. Will she let his love save her, or walk away from him to keep her secret safe?
“Finding Willow” is the prequel to “Unspeakable,” the touching romance between Brody and Willow that explores one girl’s quiet strength to survive the unbearable weight of a family secret alone, and the love and resolve of a boy determined to help her. Brody Victor lives life on the fringes. Moving from school to school with each transfer his mother’s job requires has taught Brody well: If there’s one thing harder than making friends, it’s saying goodbye to them. So he’s learned to close himself off. He’s a loner, and that’s how he likes it. When his mother accepts a permanent position in Wisconsin, Brody begins to slowly open up. But old habits die hard and, for Brody, making friends doesn’t come easily. That is, until he meets Annabelle. Brody loses himself in her. Their connection runs deep and, for the first time, Brody truly lets someone inside. But life can be cruel. An unexpected job transfer uproots Brody from his home in Wisconsin, and Annabelle. Vowing not to get involved with another girl after the heartbreak of losing Annabelle, Brody returns to life on the outside looking in. A loner by choice. Until the night he finds Willow. Friendly and beautiful, a guy can’t help but notice her, but Brody notices more than her beauty. When she flashes her full smile, a spark is missing from her hazel eyes and for reasons unknown to him, Brody needs to find the reason. Along the way, he stumbles across a secret bigger than both of them. COMING SOON! UNSPEAKABLE by Michelle K. Pickett [image error]
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Romance (Realistic Fiction) YAm Publisher: Clean Teen Publishing Release Date: February 10, 2015
“Breathe. No one will break me. I’m strong. Breathe. Just breathe.”
On the outside, Willow appears to have it all. She’s beautiful, smart, from an influential family, and she dates the most popular guy in school—Jaden. But she would walk away from it all in a second. Willow is tormented by lies and suffocating guilt, not the hearts and flowers people believe her life is full of. She carries a dark secret. Plagued by nightmares and pain, the secret dominates her life. If she hadn’t walked away. If she had just… but she didn’t. And now she has to live with her choices. But when someone uncovers her family’s past, they use it against her, crushing her spirit little by little. She tells herself she just has to make it to graduation. Then she can leave Middleton, and her secret, far behind. When Brody transfers to Cassidy High, he turns Willow’s life upside down. He shows her what it feels like to live again, really live. And suddenly, she isn’t satisfied with just surviving until graduation. She wants a normal life—with Brody—and he wants her. But the closer they become, the more it threatens to unravel the secret she’s worked so hard to hide. Willow finds true love with Brody. Will she let his love save her, or walk away from him to keep her secret safe?
Release Day: Julie Wetzel's Kindling Flames (Flying Sparks)
CRIMSON TREE PUBLISHING NEW RELEASE NOW AVAILABLE:
KINDLING FLAMES (FLYING SPARKS) by Julie Wetzel
We are excited to announce that Kindling Flames (Flying Sparks) is now available! This is the second book in The Ancient Fire Series by Julie Wetzel. The first book, Kindling Flames (Gathering Tinder) released a few weeks ago and has been a hit with readers all over! Make sure to grab your copy of both novels today!
THE ANCIENT FIRE SERIES KINDLING FLAMES— Part One and Part Two by Julie Wetzel Publisher: Crimson Tree Publishing Genre: Paranormal Romance
Fresh from college and with no real work experience, Victoria Westernly considers herself lucky to land the coveted position of personal assistant to Darien Ritter, the CEO and owner of a multibillion-dollar company. His busy schedule and eccentric ways are enough to keep her on her toes. But, all is not what it seems when she discovers the handsome man employing her just happens to be the most powerful vampire in the area.
When Vicky becomes the target of a serial arsonist plaguing the city, Darien calls on the supernatural community to help. Pulling the creatures of the night together to cooperate on any project is troublesome at the best of times. The fact that the one responsible for the city’s woes is a being of fire and magic leads the reluctant groups to a truce that makes Vicky start to think that her job might be a bit more than one normal human can handle.
Kindling Flames has been split into two books—part one and part two—due to the length.
KINDLING FLAMES— Part One
ABOUT AUTHOR JULIE WETZEL
Originally from Ohio, Julie always dreamed of a job in science. Either shooting for the stars or delving into the mysteries of volcanoes. But, life never leads where you expect. In 2007, she moved to Mississippi to be with her significant other.
Now a mother of a hyperactive red headed boy, what time she’s not chasing down dirty socks and unsticking toys from the ceiling is spent crafting worlds readers can get lost it. Julie is a self-proclaimed bibliophile and lover of big words. She likes hiking, frogs, interesting earrings, and a plethora of other fun things.
Julie Wetzel is the author of Kindling Flames, Book 1 in The Ancient Fire Series. Kindling Flames is scheduled to release through Crimson Tree Publishing in the Fall of 2014.
More from Crimson Tree Publishing:
WWW.CRIMSONTREEPUBLISHING.COM
KINDLING FLAMES (FLYING SPARKS) by Julie Wetzel
We are excited to announce that Kindling Flames (Flying Sparks) is now available! This is the second book in The Ancient Fire Series by Julie Wetzel. The first book, Kindling Flames (Gathering Tinder) released a few weeks ago and has been a hit with readers all over! Make sure to grab your copy of both novels today!
THE ANCIENT FIRE SERIES KINDLING FLAMES— Part One and Part Two by Julie Wetzel Publisher: Crimson Tree Publishing Genre: Paranormal Romance
Fresh from college and with no real work experience, Victoria Westernly considers herself lucky to land the coveted position of personal assistant to Darien Ritter, the CEO and owner of a multibillion-dollar company. His busy schedule and eccentric ways are enough to keep her on her toes. But, all is not what it seems when she discovers the handsome man employing her just happens to be the most powerful vampire in the area.
When Vicky becomes the target of a serial arsonist plaguing the city, Darien calls on the supernatural community to help. Pulling the creatures of the night together to cooperate on any project is troublesome at the best of times. The fact that the one responsible for the city’s woes is a being of fire and magic leads the reluctant groups to a truce that makes Vicky start to think that her job might be a bit more than one normal human can handle.
Kindling Flames has been split into two books—part one and part two—due to the length.
KINDLING FLAMES— Part One
ABOUT AUTHOR JULIE WETZEL
Originally from Ohio, Julie always dreamed of a job in science. Either shooting for the stars or delving into the mysteries of volcanoes. But, life never leads where you expect. In 2007, she moved to Mississippi to be with her significant other. Now a mother of a hyperactive red headed boy, what time she’s not chasing down dirty socks and unsticking toys from the ceiling is spent crafting worlds readers can get lost it. Julie is a self-proclaimed bibliophile and lover of big words. She likes hiking, frogs, interesting earrings, and a plethora of other fun things.
Julie Wetzel is the author of Kindling Flames, Book 1 in The Ancient Fire Series. Kindling Flames is scheduled to release through Crimson Tree Publishing in the Fall of 2014.
More from Crimson Tree Publishing:
WWW.CRIMSONTREEPUBLISHING.COM
National Bullying Prevention Month Giveaway!
Did you know that October is National Bullying Prevention Month? If you followed Clean Teen Publishing last year, you may have seen the many posts throughout October 2013 from our authors and team members about bullying. This year we have decided to participate in Bullying Prevention Month 2014! Bullying Prevention is important to us as it affects many of our teen readers and even our adult readers. (Yes, adults can get bullied too!) Please stay tuned to our blog and social media for upcoming posts from your favorite authors as we help spread the message that BULLYING IS FOR WIMPS!
To kick this month off, we are going to be hosting a huge—gigantic—unbelievable giveaway! We will have additional entry options for this giveaway with each new blog post we send! So make sure to subscribe to follow our blog by email to maximize your chances to win some amazing prizes that include:
GRAND PRIZE: $100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
ADDITIONAL PRIZES INCLUDE:
Jon Messenger- $10 Amazon Gift Card
Amanda Strong- Signed Copy of The Awakener (US Only- International will get The Awakener e-book) & a Hidden Monster Necklace
Kelly Risser- Signed copy of Never Forgotten (US Only- International will get Current Impressions e-book) and a Swag Pack (includes postcard and ribbon charm bookmark)
Julie Wetzel- Signed copy of Kindling Flames- Gathering Tinder (US Only- International will get Kindling Flames- Flying Sparks e-book) and a Bookmark.
Michelle Pickett- Milayna Swag Pack and a print copy of Finding Willow (US Only- International will receive an e-book ARC of Unspeakable.)
Angela J. Townsend- eBook Prize pack including Angus MacBain and the Island of Sleeping Kings, Moonflower and River of Bones.
Jennifer Anne Davis- eBook Prize pack including The Key, Red and War.
N.W. Harris- Signed copy of The Last Orphans (US Only- International will get The Last Orphans e-book) and a bookmark.
Rebecca Gober and Courtney Nuckels- Signed copy of Project ELE (US Only- International will get The entire ELE Series in e-book format) and a signed bookmark.
Sandy Goldsworthy- Swag Pack- postcard and ribbon charm bookmark.
Alicia Michaels- Autographed copy of The Bionics (US Only- International will receive The Bionics Boxed Set, digital format) and a bookmark.
Sherry Ficklin- Swag Pack!
Peggy Martinez- Audio book for Sweet Contradiction.
Holly Kelly- Autographed copy of Rising (US Only- International will receive Rising and Descending in digital format).
Lauren Nicolle Taylor- The Wounded iPhone 5 phone case! (International)
Erica Kiefer- Signed copy of Lingering Echoes (US Only- International will receive a digital copy of Lingering Echoes) and a bookmark
Sherry D. Ficklin- Losing Logan Audio Book
*The Grand Prize is open Internationally. Some other prizes may be US Only with an alternative International prize for International winners.
Before you enter this giveaway, let's add an extra 5 entries to this Rafflecopter today for anyone who comments and lets us know what they will do to help stop bullying in their community! We look forward to hearing your comments.
*You will see the entry option on the Rafflecopter Form.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
September 17, 2014
Book Trailers ~ Guest Post by Michelle Abbott
I don’t know about you, but I enjoy watching book trailers. I don’t think a book trailer alone leads to book sales, but if a reader is already considering your book, I think it can persuade them to hit the buy button. You can put the trailers on your website, Twitter and Facebook. Here are the YouTube links to my three book trailers. Let me know what you think, and share links to your own trailers in the comments so I can take a look.
In Chains Book Trailer: Locked Together Book Trailer: Just Stay Book Trailer: Connect With Michelle Abbott: Twitter | Facebook | Website | Blog | Amazon Author Page Author Bio:
Michelle Abbott lives in the UKand hates describing herself in 3rd person. She's a self-published author who loves to write new adult romance about heroes who begin as the underdog and are protective of their girl. She's an avid reader of romance, is addicted to coffee and loves wine and chocolate, so yeah, not the most healthy eating and drinking habits :-) She spends way too much time online when she should be writing. She collects teddy bears and occasionally knits a couple of rows on a sweater she started years ago, which she may eventually finish in time to wear for her funeral.
In Chains Book Trailer: Locked Together Book Trailer: Just Stay Book Trailer: Connect With Michelle Abbott: Twitter | Facebook | Website | Blog | Amazon Author Page Author Bio:
Michelle Abbott lives in the UKand hates describing herself in 3rd person. She's a self-published author who loves to write new adult romance about heroes who begin as the underdog and are protective of their girl. She's an avid reader of romance, is addicted to coffee and loves wine and chocolate, so yeah, not the most healthy eating and drinking habits :-) She spends way too much time online when she should be writing. She collects teddy bears and occasionally knits a couple of rows on a sweater she started years ago, which she may eventually finish in time to wear for her funeral.
September 15, 2014
Cover Reveal! Angus MacBain and the Agate Eyeglass by Angela J. Townsend
COVER REVEAL:
Angus MacBain and the Agate Eyeglass by Angela J. Townsend
Series: The Angus MacBain Series (Book #2) Publisher: Clean Teen Publishing Release Date: October 28, 2014 Genre: Young Adult Adventure CTP Content Rating: YAe
When Angus MacBain finds that a Sea Hag has cast a deadly spell on Vanora’s father, he must once again set aside his life in the outside world to plunge into danger to save his friend’s father. But when he seeks out Fane, advisor to the MacBain Kings, Angus discovers that Vanora’s father is not the only one in dire peril. Now with two souls in mortal danger, Angus and Vanora must face the unknown challenges of Fingal’s Cave alone this time—without the aid of his trusted advisor. But what new and dreadful dangers lurk in the Hall of Kings? Armed with only the ancient weapon of the MacBain Kings, the heirloom amber eyeglass, Angus is about to find out.
CHECK OUT BOOK #1 TODAY! Angus MacBain and the Island of Sleeping Kings by Angela J. Townsend
Angus MacBain is unaware that his ancestral roots hail from an ancient sect of Scottish kings. When his dying grandfather gives him a dragon pendant, thirteen-year-old Angus learns of a legacy that will take him across an ocean to the island of Iona and thrust him into a heritage he did not know he had. He soon discovers that his mother, whom he had believed dead, is really a seal fairy, in hiding from a dangerous enemy. To save her, Angus must undergo a perilous journey of destiny and power to battle an evil Dacian knight and those who serve him. With only his family shield and the advice of a wizened vampire hunter to protect him, Angus must navigate dangerous terrain and dark enemies, in a land where the past and the present mingle, and sleeping kings wake.
About Angela J. Townsend:
Angela Townsend was born in the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Missoula, Montana. As a child, Angela grew up listening to stories told by her grandparents, ancient tales and legends of faraway places. Influenced by her Irish and Scottish heritage, Angela became an avid research historian, specializing in Celtic mythology. Her gift for storytelling finally led her to a full time career in historical research and writing. A writer in local community circulations, Angela is also a published genealogical and historical resource writer who has taught numerous research seminars. Currently, Angela divides her time between writing, playing Celtic music on her fiddle, and Irish dancing.
Angela's first novel, Amarok, was published through Spencer Hill Press in 2012. Her newest novel, Angus MacBain and The Island of Sleeping Kings, was signed for publication with Clean Teen Publishing in 2013.
Angela resides on a ranch, in rural Northwestern Montana, with her two children Levi and Grant.
More from Clean Teen Publishing:
BE THE FIRST TO KNOW about our GIVEAWAYS, NEW RELEASES, COVER REVEALS and MORE! Join our VIP Mailing List!
WWW.CLEANTEENPUBLISHING.COM
Angus MacBain and the Agate Eyeglass by Angela J. Townsend
Series: The Angus MacBain Series (Book #2) Publisher: Clean Teen Publishing Release Date: October 28, 2014 Genre: Young Adult Adventure CTP Content Rating: YAe
When Angus MacBain finds that a Sea Hag has cast a deadly spell on Vanora’s father, he must once again set aside his life in the outside world to plunge into danger to save his friend’s father. But when he seeks out Fane, advisor to the MacBain Kings, Angus discovers that Vanora’s father is not the only one in dire peril. Now with two souls in mortal danger, Angus and Vanora must face the unknown challenges of Fingal’s Cave alone this time—without the aid of his trusted advisor. But what new and dreadful dangers lurk in the Hall of Kings? Armed with only the ancient weapon of the MacBain Kings, the heirloom amber eyeglass, Angus is about to find out.
CHECK OUT BOOK #1 TODAY! Angus MacBain and the Island of Sleeping Kings by Angela J. Townsend
Angus MacBain is unaware that his ancestral roots hail from an ancient sect of Scottish kings. When his dying grandfather gives him a dragon pendant, thirteen-year-old Angus learns of a legacy that will take him across an ocean to the island of Iona and thrust him into a heritage he did not know he had. He soon discovers that his mother, whom he had believed dead, is really a seal fairy, in hiding from a dangerous enemy. To save her, Angus must undergo a perilous journey of destiny and power to battle an evil Dacian knight and those who serve him. With only his family shield and the advice of a wizened vampire hunter to protect him, Angus must navigate dangerous terrain and dark enemies, in a land where the past and the present mingle, and sleeping kings wake.
About Angela J. Townsend:
Angela Townsend was born in the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Missoula, Montana. As a child, Angela grew up listening to stories told by her grandparents, ancient tales and legends of faraway places. Influenced by her Irish and Scottish heritage, Angela became an avid research historian, specializing in Celtic mythology. Her gift for storytelling finally led her to a full time career in historical research and writing. A writer in local community circulations, Angela is also a published genealogical and historical resource writer who has taught numerous research seminars. Currently, Angela divides her time between writing, playing Celtic music on her fiddle, and Irish dancing.
Angela's first novel, Amarok, was published through Spencer Hill Press in 2012. Her newest novel, Angus MacBain and The Island of Sleeping Kings, was signed for publication with Clean Teen Publishing in 2013.
Angela resides on a ranch, in rural Northwestern Montana, with her two children Levi and Grant.
More from Clean Teen Publishing:
BE THE FIRST TO KNOW about our GIVEAWAYS, NEW RELEASES, COVER REVEALS and MORE! Join our VIP Mailing List!
WWW.CLEANTEENPUBLISHING.COM
September 11, 2014
COVER REVEAL! The Hunted by C.J. Hart
Psst! I have a cover reveal for my new young adult book! Check out the details below and read an excerpt! And make sure to enter the giveaway :-) OFFICIAL COVER REVEAL:
THE HUNTED by C.J. Hart
Series Name: The Abandoned Series Genre: Young Adult (Paranormal) Publisher: Clean Teen Publishing CTP Content Rating: YAm Release Date: March 31, 2015
Just your average boy-meets-girl, boy-kills-people story.
The Native American Navajo tribe has stories of a monster so wicked, so blood-thirsty, that they are to be hunted down and slaughtered. But are they just legends? Or is something sinister lurking in the shadows? The Yee Naaldlooshiâskinwalkersâhave the ability to transform themselves. And they can be anyone. Anything.
The Huntersâa group dedicated to tracking the creaturesâare hot on their trail and they wonât stop until every last one is dead. But are they all as evil as foretold? Seb, alpha of the Taylor, Arizona reservation pack, begins to question the acts of their kind. But heâs broken a rule and must choose between killing the girl he loves or risking everything to save her. Cassie must fight for her survival. The pack is after her. And theyâre no joke. Cass is about to find out how sadistic they can be.
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Goodreads Book Giveaway
The Hunted by C.J. Hart Giveaway ends October 26, 2014.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter to win
Make sure to add The Hunted to your Goodreads TBR List!
READ AN EXCERPT: (Seb) The night has begun to creep in. Spooky shadows and hooting owls. A chill shimmers up my spine. Humans have long locked themselves away in their houses. The rez isnât a place you want to be out in after dark. Good thing Iâm not human. I sprint into the forest, deep enough so no one can see me strip off. When I reach the third fallen log, I stop. I kick off my shoes, crumple my shirt and jeans then stuff them into the backpack and tug the zipper closed. I cram it in a log. The prickling of my skin intensifies as my hunger for flesh and blood grows, twisting and churning my stomach. Tugging at my muscles. I leap into the air. Hands and feet turn to paws, fingers and toes to claws. Fur spreads over my whole body, gray with circles of black on my back. I raise my muzzle into the air and suck in a deep breath. Rust and salt and sinew fill my nostrils. East. The lake. I pad towards it, silent and starving. Then it hits me. Like a brick wall shooting up, keeping me in my place. I stagger back as the scent of roses and coffee flood my airways. I shake my head to rid me of the stench. Whereâs it coming from? I must find out. I need to. Itâs too mouthwatering to resist. I spin, sampling the air around me. West. I charge through the forest, paws crashing against leaves and bracken. Iâm making too much noise. Iâve forgotten to care. Lost all rational thoughts. I pass the invisible border dividing Aeston and Taylor. A house appears at the edge of the trees, its exterior brown and gray. A blonde girl sits on the porch, candlelight sparking across her face. I freeze, claws digging into soil. Sheâs reading. The light breeze brings her scent to me. Coffee and roses. Such a sweet, decadent aroma. My mouth waters. She canât be more than seventeen. I creep as close as I dare, curious. Her hazel eyes dart across the page then down. Whatâs she reading? She doesnât see me. I slink closer, leaning out of the trees. A male voice cuts through the air, âDinnerâs ready.â Her head snaps up. âComing Dad!â She marks her page, snuffs the candle flame then disappears inside. I wait. Minutes or hours pass. Then a light in an upstairs room illuminates. The curtains close. Moments later, the curtains open, the light is extinguished. I must see more.
ABOUT C.J. HART:
C.J. Hart (Also known as Renee Swann and Renee Shearer.)
Renee Shearer writes young adult fiction under the name of C.J. Hart. Renee is a full-time writer who lives in Sydney, Australia, with a crazy pooch named Abbey and a boisterous, somersaulting rescue budgie named Kaleb. Her days are spent living in her fictional worlds and consuming way too much caffeine. She has an (unhealthy?) obsession with all things cupcake- and coffee-related plus Kerouac and YA dystopia/fantasy books. Renée can often be found surrounded by books, marathoning crime shows and munching on vegan goodies, on Twitter (@Renee_Shearer), Pinterest, or dancing in a rainstorm.
Renée hopes to one day visit Rio and is currently learning Brazilian Portuguese.
Website: www.reneeshearer.com
Twitter: twitter.com/Renee_Shearer
Pinterest: pinterest.com/reneeshearer87
Tumblr: renee-shearer.tumblr.com
Instagram: Instagram.com/reneeshearer
More from Clean Teen Publishing:
BE THE FIRST TO KNOW about our GIVEAWAYS, NEW RELEASES, COVER REVEALS and MORE! Join our VIP Mailing List!
WWW.CLEANTEENPUBLISHING.COM
THE HUNTED by C.J. Hart
Series Name: The Abandoned Series Genre: Young Adult (Paranormal) Publisher: Clean Teen Publishing CTP Content Rating: YAm Release Date: March 31, 2015
Just your average boy-meets-girl, boy-kills-people story.
The Native American Navajo tribe has stories of a monster so wicked, so blood-thirsty, that they are to be hunted down and slaughtered. But are they just legends? Or is something sinister lurking in the shadows? The Yee Naaldlooshiâskinwalkersâhave the ability to transform themselves. And they can be anyone. Anything.
The Huntersâa group dedicated to tracking the creaturesâare hot on their trail and they wonât stop until every last one is dead. But are they all as evil as foretold? Seb, alpha of the Taylor, Arizona reservation pack, begins to question the acts of their kind. But heâs broken a rule and must choose between killing the girl he loves or risking everything to save her. Cassie must fight for her survival. The pack is after her. And theyâre no joke. Cass is about to find out how sadistic they can be.
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Goodreads Book Giveaway
The Hunted by C.J. Hart Giveaway ends October 26, 2014.See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter to win
Make sure to add The Hunted to your Goodreads TBR List!
READ AN EXCERPT: (Seb) The night has begun to creep in. Spooky shadows and hooting owls. A chill shimmers up my spine. Humans have long locked themselves away in their houses. The rez isnât a place you want to be out in after dark. Good thing Iâm not human. I sprint into the forest, deep enough so no one can see me strip off. When I reach the third fallen log, I stop. I kick off my shoes, crumple my shirt and jeans then stuff them into the backpack and tug the zipper closed. I cram it in a log. The prickling of my skin intensifies as my hunger for flesh and blood grows, twisting and churning my stomach. Tugging at my muscles. I leap into the air. Hands and feet turn to paws, fingers and toes to claws. Fur spreads over my whole body, gray with circles of black on my back. I raise my muzzle into the air and suck in a deep breath. Rust and salt and sinew fill my nostrils. East. The lake. I pad towards it, silent and starving. Then it hits me. Like a brick wall shooting up, keeping me in my place. I stagger back as the scent of roses and coffee flood my airways. I shake my head to rid me of the stench. Whereâs it coming from? I must find out. I need to. Itâs too mouthwatering to resist. I spin, sampling the air around me. West. I charge through the forest, paws crashing against leaves and bracken. Iâm making too much noise. Iâve forgotten to care. Lost all rational thoughts. I pass the invisible border dividing Aeston and Taylor. A house appears at the edge of the trees, its exterior brown and gray. A blonde girl sits on the porch, candlelight sparking across her face. I freeze, claws digging into soil. Sheâs reading. The light breeze brings her scent to me. Coffee and roses. Such a sweet, decadent aroma. My mouth waters. She canât be more than seventeen. I creep as close as I dare, curious. Her hazel eyes dart across the page then down. Whatâs she reading? She doesnât see me. I slink closer, leaning out of the trees. A male voice cuts through the air, âDinnerâs ready.â Her head snaps up. âComing Dad!â She marks her page, snuffs the candle flame then disappears inside. I wait. Minutes or hours pass. Then a light in an upstairs room illuminates. The curtains close. Moments later, the curtains open, the light is extinguished. I must see more.
ABOUT C.J. HART:
C.J. Hart (Also known as Renee Swann and Renee Shearer.) Renee Shearer writes young adult fiction under the name of C.J. Hart. Renee is a full-time writer who lives in Sydney, Australia, with a crazy pooch named Abbey and a boisterous, somersaulting rescue budgie named Kaleb. Her days are spent living in her fictional worlds and consuming way too much caffeine. She has an (unhealthy?) obsession with all things cupcake- and coffee-related plus Kerouac and YA dystopia/fantasy books. Renée can often be found surrounded by books, marathoning crime shows and munching on vegan goodies, on Twitter (@Renee_Shearer), Pinterest, or dancing in a rainstorm.
Renée hopes to one day visit Rio and is currently learning Brazilian Portuguese.
Website: www.reneeshearer.com
Twitter: twitter.com/Renee_Shearer
Pinterest: pinterest.com/reneeshearer87
Tumblr: renee-shearer.tumblr.com
Instagram: Instagram.com/reneeshearer
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September 2, 2014
A Writer's Ultimate Reward ~ Guest Post by Traci Sanders
My ultimate reward as a writer is when someone says to me, “your book helped me” or “your words touched my heart.” That is when I feel the most successful and fulfilled. Don’t get me wrong, I very much enjoy seeing my sales go up, but my biggest payoff is when I get that feeling I felt as a little girl hearing those same words from people in my church or teachers at my school. In a way, it was validation for me. It made me feel like I could change someone’s life through my words, whether it is true or not.
When Darkness Breaks Synopsis:
Local news anchor, Amber Woods, seemed to have it all – a thriving career, two beautiful children, and a doting husband named Drake. Life was perfect…until her world was turned upside down in one fateful night. While the incident causes Amber to renew her priorities; unable to deal with what happened, Drake begins sinking into a deep depression laced with infidelity and alcohol.
Hoping a change of scenery will salvage her quickly deteriorating marriage, Amber agrees that a move to New York may be just what they need. Unfortunately, she quickly discovers that you can’t outrun your problems and the past is
not always left in the past.
Can Amber save her marriage without losing herself along the way? What will she do when darkness breaks her will to keep trying?
Author Bio: Author and mother of three, Traci Sanders has been composing poetry, songs, and children's stories since the young age of ten. In 2003, she opened her home to young children in her community offering "beyond the basics" teachings. In 2008, she was recognized by the Child Care Resource and Referral Agency as Family Childcare Provider of the Year and was featured in two local newspapers. In 2010, she furthered her education by earning her Child Development Associates degree and was a recipient of the FIRST (First Incentive for Raising Standards among Teachers) Award presented by the Child Care Commissioner of her state.
She continues to shape the young minds of the future through her home-based childcare program. Her daily interactions with these children provide constant inspiration for her writing and she plans to continue on this path until her story has reached "The End."
Her first book was published in January 2013 titled Welcome to Poop Camp "The Truth, The Whole Truth, and Nothing but the Truth about Potty Training." She released her first children's book about family child care in May 2013. To date, she has published five books including her first novella When Darkness Breaks. Connect With Traci Sanders: Twitter | Facebook | Website
Purchase When Darkness Breaks on Amazon
When Darkness Breaks Synopsis:
Local news anchor, Amber Woods, seemed to have it all – a thriving career, two beautiful children, and a doting husband named Drake. Life was perfect…until her world was turned upside down in one fateful night. While the incident causes Amber to renew her priorities; unable to deal with what happened, Drake begins sinking into a deep depression laced with infidelity and alcohol. Hoping a change of scenery will salvage her quickly deteriorating marriage, Amber agrees that a move to New York may be just what they need. Unfortunately, she quickly discovers that you can’t outrun your problems and the past is
not always left in the past.
Can Amber save her marriage without losing herself along the way? What will she do when darkness breaks her will to keep trying?
Author Bio: Author and mother of three, Traci Sanders has been composing poetry, songs, and children's stories since the young age of ten. In 2003, she opened her home to young children in her community offering "beyond the basics" teachings. In 2008, she was recognized by the Child Care Resource and Referral Agency as Family Childcare Provider of the Year and was featured in two local newspapers. In 2010, she furthered her education by earning her Child Development Associates degree and was a recipient of the FIRST (First Incentive for Raising Standards among Teachers) Award presented by the Child Care Commissioner of her state.
She continues to shape the young minds of the future through her home-based childcare program. Her daily interactions with these children provide constant inspiration for her writing and she plans to continue on this path until her story has reached "The End."Her first book was published in January 2013 titled Welcome to Poop Camp "The Truth, The Whole Truth, and Nothing but the Truth about Potty Training." She released her first children's book about family child care in May 2013. To date, she has published five books including her first novella When Darkness Breaks. Connect With Traci Sanders: Twitter | Facebook | Website
Purchase When Darkness Breaks on Amazon
July 13, 2014
My Writing Process Blog Tour
I was invited to this blog tour by author Ben Starling, an Oxford grad who is passionate about marine conservation and boxing, both of which are central themes in his upcoming novel. He is currently Writer in Residence for Mirthquake Ltd., a production company that advocates for ocean health and welfare. You can see his Writing Process Blog Tour post
here
.
And so, here are the four questions and my answers (I might have been high on coffee and cupcakes when I wrote them, but then again, when am I not?).
What Am I Working On? I am currently writing a companion sequel to a young adult series that isn’t published yet, so I can’t share the storyline of this book, but I will tell you a little about the first book.
The Hunted is not your average boy-meets-girl story. The boy, Seb, comes from a long line of monsters that kill and eat humans—called skinwalkers (shapeshifters, originating from Navajo legends). They are pure evil, born from witchcraft and have the ability to transform themselves. They can be anyone, anything.
But are they just legends? And are they all as evil as foretold?
The girl, Cassie, comes from a long line of Hunters—a group of humans dedicated to tracking and slaughtering these creatures. For centuries, these two sides have heavily clashed while trying to protect their own, and Cassie's about to find out how sadistic they can be. Seb begins to question the acts of his kind. But he’s broken a rule and must choose between killing the girl he loves, or risking everything to save her.
How Does My Work Differ From Others In Its Genre? I like to add my own twist to stories that have been told many times over. As you can see from The Hunted, these are no ordinary shapeshifters. They’re born from dark witchcraft and vengeance. I like weaving fiction and legends together, creating unique tales.
Also, all of my main characters are quirky in one way or another.
Why Do I Write What I Do?
I have no control over what story ideas pop into my head and I can’t get the characters to shut up until I get their story down—sound crazy? Maybe I am, but hey, at least I’m never bored with the amount of ideas stacking up! How Does My Writing Process Work? My writing process has changed quite a bit since I began writing. If you’d asked me then about a plan, I’d say, “Plan? What plan?” I used to mainly just write. I’d be up to early hours of the morning just typing away (that’s how I’d pen a 70k novel in 5-6 weeks). But now, I plan about ninety percent of a novel before I start (though quite a few scenes and ideas crop up as I’m writing, and yet they seem to fit in perfectly as if I’d planned them …). I spend two weeks to a month beforehand—preferably a month, unless I’m in a bit of a time-crunch—doing character profiles, research and plotting. Sometimes I use note/system cards to outline each scene, other times I use the corkboard feature in Scrivener . It depends if the storyline is clear at the time or not—if I need to easily shuffle scenes around.
Nowadays, I usually write during NaNoWriMo* or Camp NaNoWriMo because I like to write fast, and there’s no better motivation than that 50k word goal at the end of the month or knowing that thousands of other writers are right there with you. And because I like to get the stories out as quickly (and as best) as I can, I often still can pull off 70k words in six weeks.
I tend to drink a lot of coffee when I’m writing, read lots of fiction books (I like to stick to the genre I’m writing in, or at least the age group), can often be found in the kitchen whipping up a batch of vegan cupcakes or cookies when I should be writing, and maybe the occasional (frequent) checking of twitter. Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to check out Ben’s Meet My Character Blog Tour next week on July 21st on his blog ! You can also visit Ben at Goodreads , Twitter and Facebook .
*National Novel Writing Month, a writing marathon where you try to write 50k words in a month.
And so, here are the four questions and my answers (I might have been high on coffee and cupcakes when I wrote them, but then again, when am I not?).
What Am I Working On? I am currently writing a companion sequel to a young adult series that isn’t published yet, so I can’t share the storyline of this book, but I will tell you a little about the first book.
The Hunted is not your average boy-meets-girl story. The boy, Seb, comes from a long line of monsters that kill and eat humans—called skinwalkers (shapeshifters, originating from Navajo legends). They are pure evil, born from witchcraft and have the ability to transform themselves. They can be anyone, anything.
But are they just legends? And are they all as evil as foretold?
The girl, Cassie, comes from a long line of Hunters—a group of humans dedicated to tracking and slaughtering these creatures. For centuries, these two sides have heavily clashed while trying to protect their own, and Cassie's about to find out how sadistic they can be. Seb begins to question the acts of his kind. But he’s broken a rule and must choose between killing the girl he loves, or risking everything to save her.
How Does My Work Differ From Others In Its Genre? I like to add my own twist to stories that have been told many times over. As you can see from The Hunted, these are no ordinary shapeshifters. They’re born from dark witchcraft and vengeance. I like weaving fiction and legends together, creating unique tales.
Also, all of my main characters are quirky in one way or another.
Why Do I Write What I Do?
I have no control over what story ideas pop into my head and I can’t get the characters to shut up until I get their story down—sound crazy? Maybe I am, but hey, at least I’m never bored with the amount of ideas stacking up! How Does My Writing Process Work? My writing process has changed quite a bit since I began writing. If you’d asked me then about a plan, I’d say, “Plan? What plan?” I used to mainly just write. I’d be up to early hours of the morning just typing away (that’s how I’d pen a 70k novel in 5-6 weeks). But now, I plan about ninety percent of a novel before I start (though quite a few scenes and ideas crop up as I’m writing, and yet they seem to fit in perfectly as if I’d planned them …). I spend two weeks to a month beforehand—preferably a month, unless I’m in a bit of a time-crunch—doing character profiles, research and plotting. Sometimes I use note/system cards to outline each scene, other times I use the corkboard feature in Scrivener . It depends if the storyline is clear at the time or not—if I need to easily shuffle scenes around.
Nowadays, I usually write during NaNoWriMo* or Camp NaNoWriMo because I like to write fast, and there’s no better motivation than that 50k word goal at the end of the month or knowing that thousands of other writers are right there with you. And because I like to get the stories out as quickly (and as best) as I can, I often still can pull off 70k words in six weeks.
I tend to drink a lot of coffee when I’m writing, read lots of fiction books (I like to stick to the genre I’m writing in, or at least the age group), can often be found in the kitchen whipping up a batch of vegan cupcakes or cookies when I should be writing, and maybe the occasional (frequent) checking of twitter. Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to check out Ben’s Meet My Character Blog Tour next week on July 21st on his blog ! You can also visit Ben at Goodreads , Twitter and Facebook .
*National Novel Writing Month, a writing marathon where you try to write 50k words in a month.
Guest Post by John Priest
About The Curse of Sea Shell Cave : A couple of years ago I was toying with the idea of a book about PIs or Private Investigators and how I could make them interesting enough for children to read.
I thought that the detectives could be children or Junior Detectives. Then I thought I could call them Junior Private Eyes, which then led to a very lengthy title, 'JPIs aka Jay-Pea-Eyes aka Junior Private Investigators'. In the final title I dropped the JPIs part and so the Jay-Pea-Eyes aka Junior Private Investigators were born.
My latest book is the second in the series of detective/whodunit mysteries involving the Jay-Pea-Eyes aka Junior Private Investigators and is called The Curse of Sea Shell Cave.
I wanted to do a story based around shipwrecks, lost treasure and smugglers who used to thrive in small towns and villages around the UK coast. It was fascinating researching the project and I was able to find some great facts that I later included in the rear of the book for children to read.
Buy Links:
The Curse of Sea Shell Cave is available in
paperback and various e-book formats:
Apple iBook | Barnes & Noble | Amazon US
Amazon UK | Smashwords | Feedaread.com
General-ebooks.com | Foyles.co.uk
John Priest is a children's author living with his family in the West Midlands, UK.
You can contact him via: www.johnpriest.co.uk
I thought that the detectives could be children or Junior Detectives. Then I thought I could call them Junior Private Eyes, which then led to a very lengthy title, 'JPIs aka Jay-Pea-Eyes aka Junior Private Investigators'. In the final title I dropped the JPIs part and so the Jay-Pea-Eyes aka Junior Private Investigators were born.
My latest book is the second in the series of detective/whodunit mysteries involving the Jay-Pea-Eyes aka Junior Private Investigators and is called The Curse of Sea Shell Cave. I wanted to do a story based around shipwrecks, lost treasure and smugglers who used to thrive in small towns and villages around the UK coast. It was fascinating researching the project and I was able to find some great facts that I later included in the rear of the book for children to read.
Buy Links:
The Curse of Sea Shell Cave is available in paperback and various e-book formats:
Apple iBook | Barnes & Noble | Amazon US
Amazon UK | Smashwords | Feedaread.com
General-ebooks.com | Foyles.co.uk
John Priest is a children's author living with his family in the West Midlands, UK.
You can contact him via: www.johnpriest.co.uk
