Margo Bond Collins's Blog, page 150

Cover Reveal: Bred by Magic by Diana Marie DuBois

Title: Bred by Magic 

Author: Diana Marie DuBois 

Series: Voodoo Vows

Genre: Paranormal

Publisher   Three Danes Publishing LLC

Release Date:  Feb 4, 2014?

Blurb/Synopsis:

What do you get when you mix magic with one of the most prestigious dogs in Germany?   You get something special and powerful.  In a time when witches were hunted down and burned a famous alchemist devised a plan to help protect them.  One particular puppy who is predestined for someone in our time learns all she can before heading on the journey of her life.

My mother always told me and my siblings that we were special. But, that’s something all mothers say…. Isn’t it? What you don’t always hear is that you’re part of the litter of Great Dane puppies destined to protect the witches and warlocks throughout time. We just have to find one another, before our time runs out….

As a young girl, Diana Marie Dubois was an avid reader and was often found in the local public library. Now you find her working in her local library. Hailing from the culture filled state of Louisiana, just outside of New Orleans; she lives with her three Great Danes and four spunky mutts.  Her biggest inspiration has always been the infamous Anne Rice and her tales of Vampires. It was those very stories that inspired Diana to take hold of her dreams and begin writing. She is now working on her first series, Voodoo Vows.

Places to find Diana

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Website 

Insanity by Cameron Jace

Title: Insanity

Author: Cameron Jace

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Expected publication: December 20, 2013

After accidentally killing everyone in her class, Alice Wonder is now a patient in the Radcliffe Lunatic Asylum. No one doubts her insanity. Only a hookah-smoking professor believes otherwise; that he can prove her sanity by decoding Lewis Carroll’s paintings, photographs, and find Wonderland’s real whereabouts. Professor Caterpillar persuades the asylum that Alice can save lives and catch the wonderland monsters now reincarnated in modern day criminals. In order to do so, Alice leads a double life: an Oxford university student by day, a mad girl in an asylum by night. The line between sanity and insanity thins when she meets Jack Diamond, an arrogant college student who believes that nonsense is an actual science.

Amazon











Excerpt from chapter 1




The writing on the wall says it’s January 14th. I am not sure what year. I haven’t been sure of many things lately, but I’m wondering if it’s my handwriting I’m looking at.

There is an strange key drawn underneath the date. It’s carved with a sharp object, probably a broken mirror. I couldn’t have written this. I’m terrified of mirrors. They love to call it Catoptrophobia around here.

Unlike regular patients in the asylum, my room is windowless, stripped down to a single mattress in the middle, a sink, and bucket for peeing–or puking–when necessary. The tiles on the floor are black-and-white squares, like a chessboard. I never step on black. Always white. Again, I’m not sure why.

The walls are smeared with a greasy pale green everywhere. I wonder if it’s the previous patient’s brains spattered all over from shock therapy. In the Radcliffe Lunatic Asylum, politely known as the Warneford hospital, the doctors have a sweet spot for shock therapy. They love watching patients with bulging eyes and shivering limbs begging for relief from the electricity. It makes me question who is really mad in here.

It’s been a while since I was sent to shock therapy myself. Dr. Tom Truckle, my supervising physician, said I don’t need it anymore, particularly after I stopped mentioning Wonderland. He told me that I used to talk about it all the time; a dangerous place I claim I have been whisked away to when my elder sister lost me at the age of seven.

Truth is, I don’t remember this Wonderland they are talking about. I don’t even know why I am here. My oldest vivid memory is from a week ago. Before that, it’s all a purple haze.

I have only one friend in this asylum. It’s not a doctor or a nurse. And it’s not a human. It doesn’t hate, envy, or point a finger at you. My friend is an orange flower I keep in a pot; a Tiger Lily I can’t live without. I keep it safe next to a small crack in the wall where a single sun ray sneaks through for only ten minutes a day. It might not be enough light to grow a flower, but my Tiger Lily is a tough girl.

Each day, I save half of the water they give me for my flower. As for me, better thirsty than mad.

My orange flower is also my personal rain check for my sanity. If I talk to her and she doesn’t reply, I know I am not hallucinating. If it talks back to me, all kinds of nonsense starts to happen. Insanity prevails. There must be a reason why I am here. It doesn’t mean I will easily give in to such a fate.

“Alice Pleasance Wonder. Are you ready?” the nurse knocks with her electric prod on my steel door. Her name is Waltraud Wagner. She is German. Everything she says sounds like a threat and smells like smoke. My fellow mad people say she is a Nazi; that she used to kill her own patients back in Germany. “Get avay vrom za dor. I an coming in,” she demands.

Listening to the rattling of her large keychain, my heart pounds in my chest. The turn of the key makes me want to swallow. When the door opens, all I can think of is choking her before she begins to hurt me. Sadly, her neck is too thick for my nimble hands. I stare at her almost-square figure for a moment. Everything about her is four sizes too big, all except her feet, which are as small as mine. My sympathies, little feet.

“Time for your daily ten-minute break,” she approaches me with a straitjacket, a devilish grin on her face. I never get out. My ward is underground, and I take my break in another empty ward upstairs, where patients love to play soccer with a hedgehog’s head.

A big muscled warden stands behind Watlraud. Thomas Ogier. He is bald, has an angry-red face and a silver tooth he likes to flash whenever he sees me. His biceps are the size of my head. I have a hard time believing he has ever been a 4-pound baby.

“Slide your arms into the jacket,” Waltraud demands in her German accent, a cigarette puckered between her lips. “Slow and easy, Alice,” she nods at warden Ogier, in case I misbehave.

I comply obediently and stretch out my arms for her to do whatever she wants. Waltraud twists my right arm slightly and checks the tattoo on my arm. It’s the only tattoo I have. It’s a handwritten sentence that looks like a thin arm band from afar. Waltraud feels the need to read it allowed, “’I can’t go back to yesterday because I was a different person then.’” I was told I have written it myself while still believing in Wonderland. “That Alice in Wonderland has really messed with your head.” She puffs smoke into my face as she mocks me.

The tattoo and Waltraud’s mocking is the least of my concerns right now. I let her tie me, and while she does, I close my eyes. I imagine I am a sixteenth century princess, some kind of a lucky Cinderella, being squeezed into a corset by my chain smoking servant in a fairy tale castle above ground, just about to go meet my Prince Charming. Such imagery always helps me breathe. I once heard that it was hope that saves the day, not sanity. I need to cool down before I begin my grand escape.

Things you might want to know:

Cameron writes books that he can’t find elsewhere, basically to amuse himself. Everything Cameron does is for fun, so don’t take him seriously. Never call him a writer. He hates that. He prefers the word: Storyteller, or the boy next door who claims he can tell stories.

If you like his books, horaaaay! He loves ya too. If ya don’t, hoooray! Now we know in advance that this relationship isn’t going to work.

Although his books are ordinary on the surface, they hold many secrets that he might reveal one day. What matters the most to him are characters struggling to find their identities and place in the world.

Things you don’t need to know:

He celebrates his birthday twice a year, the day he was born and Friday the 13th. He wants to live in a bubble house. He is a damn good guitar player. He is damn good architecture college drop out. He likes boats, beaches, bears, beards, bananas, bars, barfights, beans, bikes, bones, butter, babes, bakery, blizzards, and pirates (he thought it was spelled Birates when he was a kid.)

And honestly, writing in third person sucks! It’s so fake. 

Facebook |  Goodreads | Twitter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Highlight hosted by Good Choice Reading Blog Tours

Author Interview with D.M. Sears

Welcome today to D.M. Sears, author of Eden’s Mark and Eden’s Darkness, the second novel of the Ellethny series–forthcoming in 2014!

__________________________

• Tell us a little about yourself.

Let’s see, that is kind of hard. I usually don’t talk about myself, but since you asked…

I am a mother to a 12 year old daughter. I start with that because she is my life. This whole book series began because of her (it was a bedtime story). We live in Mid-Missouri, which most of you probably think is boring, and you are right! However, I love it here, the country is peaceful.

I am a baker on the side, when I am not working or writing, and recently was told my name about town is Cupcake Diana! I sing a lot, used to sing for weddings and such, now it is reserved for the unfortunate souls in my car and karaoke!

• What inspired you to write your latest release?

The Ellethny Series began as a bedtime story for my daughter when she was young. Her middle name being Eden, I thought it would be exciting for her. As the years went by, the story unfolded into this world that I never knew was inside my head. The voices began to scream at me until I wrote them down, gave them names, and a place to live. They are perfectly happy now ;).

• Was there a certain moment of the book that was your favorite to write?

I enjoyed the moments when Eden really has to think about things, come to terms with her life, her reality. We all have these moments and my goal was to create the link from character to reader, hopefully I did that.

• Who is your favorite author?

I have more books than I can count, so picking one is too tough. I will say, I read Eon and Eona by Alliason Goodman, Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and the four books in the Inheritance Cycle by Paolini at least 15 to 20 times a year, if not more. I am also an Anne Rice, Christine Feehan, J.R.R Tolkien, and P.C. Cast book lover too!

• Tell us one thing about yourself that people would be surprised to find out.

I am the biggest nerd you have ever met! I love Star Wars, Star Trek, Legend, Hobbit, and all those Sci-fi movies! My movie collection is full of them and that makes me happy. I also game, no really, WoW, Diablo 3, etc…love it all =D.

• Do you have any advice for anyone hoping to write their first novel?

Just keep at it! Nothing comes easy, and your first novel, novella, etc. is the same. You will find your groove and when you complete that work of art you toiled over forever, the feeling of pride and accomplishment will flood you!

__________________________

Eden’s Mark, Book One in the Ellethny Series

What would you do if you had to save a world you knew nothing about?

Eden Arik was a typical teenager who lived the typical teenage life…until the pale eyes showed up in her dreams. The birthmark, Eden had always ignored, burned at the new nightmares, raising questions about her past. Eden finds out she is more than a mere human that is destined to save a world she never knew existed. Her only solitude is the woods behind her house where she meets a mysterious stranger with steel eyes. With the help of her guardians, two unlikely shape shifters, and a vampire who can bring her to her knees with one glance, Eden goes on to search the secrets of her past, present, and future. Along her way to discovery, Eden comes across Circenn; her grandmother, consort to the Darkness and the evil magic he possess. Circenn will stop at nothing to bring Eden to the darkness so she can harness her granddaughter’s limitless power. Seduction, power, and death pave the way towards Eden’s destiny and the fate of Ellethny.

__________________________

Eden’s Darkness, Book Two in the Ellethny Series (Forthcoming)

Time waits for no man, or so they say. Darkness has but a little time to find a vessel to inhabit so he can find his true form, only problem is…Eden is the key. She is tied to his future, giving him his true form, or casting him back into the shadows for another millennium. Circenn is mad with jealousy at the revelation and wants to destroy her granddaughter more than ever.

For Eden, things just go from bad to worse. Terrifying nightmares of death and betrayal surrounds Eden, nightmares about her beloved. With a child on the way, she must protect the future ruler of her new home and raise an army to defeat Circenn and Darkness.

The life she hoped would be hers hangs in the balance in the second installment of the Ellethny Series. To be released in Feb/March 2014 from Solstice Shadows.

__________________________

About the Author

D.M. Sears lives in Missouri with her daughter and one crazy cat. Her first paranormal fantasy, Eden’s Mark, was recently published by Solstice Publishing. D.M. Sears is a Director of an early childhood center and bakes cupcakes on the side. She loves most genres of books and has just signed a publishing contract for Eden’s Darkness, Book 2 in the Ellethny Series, which will be out Feb/March 2014.

__________________________

Connect with D.M. Sears

Twitter: @DMSears1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diana.sears2

Website: http://myrissaeden1.wix.com/ellethnyseries

__________________________

Five Types of Regency Romance Heroes by Giselle Marks

Welcome today to Regency Romance author Giselle Marks, here today to discuss Five Types of Regency Romance Heroes.

_____________________

Are there 5 types of Regency Heroes?

By Giselle Marks

I had a great deal of difficulty writing this article, because no matter which way I categorise Regency heroes there are always some that fit into more than one category or do not fit in at all. So with the caveat that this only covers the majority but not all Regency heroes, this is what I came up with:

1. The Byronic or rakish:- this is where the dark brooding hunks of manhood go. So Heathcliff, Mr Rochester, and my favourite Jasper Damerel, Justin and his son Dominic Alastair all slot in here. (Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre, by Emily and Charlotte Bronte. Venetia, These Old Shades and Devil’s Cub by Georgette Heyer.

I will admit to being an unapologetic Georgette Heyer fan so many of the examples I will use are from her novels. I think the Byronic is the largest group of heroes in Regency Romances and they are frequently so predictably written that they lack depth to their characters.

2. The Martial:- former soldiers, sailors or even possibly pirates and duellists. So Hugh Darracott, Jack Staple, Caleb Armitage, Richard Sharpe and my own Edward Charrington. (The Unknown Ajax, The Black Moth, Death of a Fop, The Sharpe series, and The Fencing Master’s Daughter. The first two by Georgette Heyer, the others by Sarah J. Waldock, Bernard Cornwell and me, respectively.)

I have added Richard Sharpe here, knowing perfectly well that he is not considered a Regency Romantic hero as Bernard Cornwell writes historical fiction not historical romance. Here I confess to sitting on the fence because I try to write historically accurate Regency Romances. I often find the martial characters like Sharpe and Horatio Hornblower more interesting because they are implicitly capable leaders and have more to them than a title and a social standing.

3. The Corinthian:- this group includes the sportsmen, the expert riders, whipsters and those who have specialist interests or hobbies. So here we have Beau Wyndham, Sir Waldo Hawkridge, Matthew Lotherwood, Marquis of Bradbourne (The Corinthian and The Nonesuch by Georgette Heyer and The Grand Passion by Elizabeth Mansfield.)

The flattering terms Corinthian and Nonesuch from Heyer’s titles say it all; these are men’s men who are admired for their sporting prowess. I wonder whether their brides were so happy for their husbands to engage in dangerous sporting activities after their marriages.

4. The Understated:- the quiet non-flamboyant man. I put Gideon, Duke of Sale, Gervase Frantin and George Knightley into this group. (The Foundling and The Quiet Gentleman by Georgette Heyer and Emma by Jane Austen.)

These are men who do not have to yell out their orders to get things done. They are practical, charismatic men without the complicated temperaments of the brooding Byronic heroes. Not so sexily romantic but would probably have made excellent loving husbands.

5. The Decided:- also called the waiting bridegrooms. These are men who have made up their minds on the lady they want quickly but may have a wait before she can marry them. Colonel Brandon, Lord Henry Marchnight, Lord Worth and Lord Farndon can all be put in this group. (Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen, Regency Buck by Georgette Heyer, Lady Polly by Nicola Cornick and my own The Marquis’s Mistake)

Circumstances may have prevented the hero proposing earlier, such as the bride being much younger than himself, his financial situation, parental opposition or other temporarily insurmountable obstacles.

I have left out a number of Regency heroes who could be placed in more than one group and have largely decided to keep to the period and traditional Regency Romances for examples. There are sub-groups and exceptions but most of the most memorable Regency heroes fall into these groups.

_____________________

Books by Giselle Marks:

The Fencing Master’s Daughter by Giselle Marks

Edward, Earl of Chalcombe, walking home, is attacked by footpads. He attempts to defend himself but is bludgeoned to the ground. Death seems inevitable when a fat ugly man carrying a stick and a beautiful slender young lady appear.

The young lady stumbles and picks up his dropped foil, dispatching one footpad and injuring another. The fat man belabours a third with his stick. The footpads flee, leaving their deceased comrade behind. The rescuers bundle Edward home.

The young lady, Madelaine summons the Bow Street runners. Refusing reward she provides no address. But Edward fascinated by both Madelaine’s beauty and swordsmanship intends to pursue the acquaintance. Edward seeks his rescuers and the culprits who wish to terminate his life. Offering the elusive Madelaine marriage but she repeatedly declines. Her father accepts an invitation to visit his estate with her over Christmas as he takes a liking to Edward.

As Edward pursues Madelaine, the attempts on his life continue. The sinister French spy, Major Furet, discovered as the arch nemesis in both Edward and Madelaine’s stories. The mystery intertwines as their romance progresses and Madelaine eventually reveals the secret making her refuse to marry him.

_____________________

The Marquis’s Mistake

by Giselle Marks

Devastatingly handsome Sebastian, Marquis of Farndon awaits a lady, a present from his best friend Stephen for his thirtieth birthday. Alicia Lambert fleeing from a forced marriage is shown into his room by mistake. Inebriated from celebrating his return to England, Sebastian disbelieves her protests and is reluctant to let her escape. Meeting him later in London, Alicia is relieved he does not recognise her. But when he pursues her and proposes marriage, she doubts his feelings for her are real. Sebastian wants to protect Alicia from the machinations of the blackguard Major Mallinder as he fears for her life and that of her aunt Maud. But will Sebastian’s natural intelligence be enough to deal with the ruthlessness of Alexander Mallinder?

_____________________

About the Author

Giselle Marks has been writing for many years. She has written two Regency Romances and a Fantasy/ Sci-fi series with erotic content. Her first published novel, The Fencing Master’s Daughter was launched by Front Porch Romance in September 2013. Her second Regency Romance, The Marquis’s Mistake was released by them in December 2013. Her Fantasy series, The Zeninan Saga is currently being edited by Nevermore Press and should start appearing in the near future. They hope to release the first in the saga, Princess of Zenina in February to March 2014. Giselle is currently working on an erotic fantasy novella called Lucy, which she hopes will be available in next year and a number of other projects.

Waking Up Dead nominated in YATR Awards!

Hi, everyone!

Waking Up Dead has been nominated for Best Paranormal and Best Debut Author in the Young Adult and Teen Readers group! You can vote now!

https://www.facebook.com/events/187844264754697/

UtopYA Authors Holiday Giveaway

Hello, and welcome to the Unofficial UtopYA Authors Holiday Giveaway!

What is this giveaway all about? Getting you — the readers — into the holiday spirit! Each day there will be a new prize pack being given away, loaded with awesome authors all united by the fantastic YA/NA Convention, UtopYA! We hope you’ll love our prize packs, but that’s not all that’s being given away. To top off the holiday spirit, we’re giving away TWO, that’s right, TWO fully loaded Kindle HDs! Two lucky winners will receive Kindle HDs, loaded with EVERY book being given away in the giveaway prize packs! So what are you waiting for? Check out today’s prize pack, and enter to win one of twenty-seven fantastic prizes! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Without further ado, here are the amazing books in the Day 17 Prize Pack after the jump!

Iron Pendulum ARC by Megan Curd

A month ago, Avery thought the world ended outside Dome Four. Thought she was one of the few of her kind. Thought the war that brought the human race to the brink of extinction was over.

But a month can change everything.

Returning to the dome she longed to escape is a challenge for Avery, but now she knows there’s corruption lurking in the shadows. A massive steam shortage leaves half the dome without power, and people are falling ill. Dying.

And they’re blaming Avery.

A month can change everything. Another month could kill everyone. The clock is ticking.

GOODREADS ~ TWITTER ~ FACEBOOK ~ AUTHOR WEBSITE

Haunting by BJ Sheldon

When sixteen-year-old, Dusty Vermeer, moves to rural Iowa with her dad and sister at the start of her sophomore year, she undergoes major life changes – a new school, new friends, and a popular new boyfriend. But she soon discovers all is not what it appears to be. When Jack Olson, a handsome young soldier, begins to invade her dreams each night, she bears witness to the horrors of war and must determine what is real and what is just a dream. When Jack finally steps out of her dreams in ghostly form, begging for help and struggling to remember his life, Dusty makes it her mission to solve the mystery behind his death. As she draws closer to the truth, she places her own life at risk while struggling to cope with the feelings she develops for the soldier who’s been dead for nearly 60 years.

GOODREADS ~ TWITTER ~ FACEBOOK ~ AUTHOR WEBSITE

When Night Falls by Airicka Phoenix

Earth as we know it no longer exists. Humanity has destroyed itself and with it any chance we may have had of returning. 

What had started as a six month voyage through the stars becomes a nightmare when the passengers are stranded in space without hope. With Earth gone, the crew and passengers of The Dawn Light are left wandering the galaxy in search of a new planet. After years of searching, one is found, but no one is prepared for the terror that takes claim of the Galaxy Cruiser when one by one the people begin to turn, mutating into flesh eating monsters.

For Scarlett, Hunter and Rolf, this means being trapped in a sardine can full of piranhas. Their only hope… to get the hell out before they’re next, but someone on the ship wants to be the only survivor to reach the new planet and will do anything to stop them. But just how far are they willing to go?

Death no longer has a limit.

GOODREADS ~ TWITTER ~ FACEBOOK ~ AUTHOR WEBSITE

Ghost Hand by Ripley Patton

Seventeen-year-old Olivia Black has a rare birth defect known as Psyche Sans Soma, or PSS. Instead of a right hand made of flesh and blood, she was born with a hand made of ethereal energy.

How does Olivia handle being the girl with the ghost hand? Well, she’s a little bit morbid and a whole lot snarky. 

Her mother thinks her obsession with death, black clothing, and the local cemetery is a bid for attention. But when Marcus, the new guy in Olivia’s calculus class, stares at her like she’s a freak, Olivia doesn’t like it. And when her hand goes rogue, doing things she never imagined possible, Olivia finds herself running for her life with Marcus from a group of men bent on taking the power of her hand for their own nefarious purposes.

GOODREADS ~ TWITTER ~ FACEBOOK ~ AUTHOR WEBSITE

READING FOR FUN SWAG PACK

How awesome are those? Now don’t forget to enter the rafflecopter below and share with your friends! The more entries, the more chances of winning this great prize pack or the grand prize! Be sure to visit the new blogs each day for more prize packs, and more opportunities to win!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Enter the Giveaway below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tagged for a Blog Hop by Tianna Holley

Author Tianna Holley tagged me on Twitter for a blog hop, and you can find her answers to these questions on her blog. You can also find her on Twitter as @holley_tianna (seriously–follow her! ). Here are my answers to the questions, and now I will find five random authors on Twitter to continue the hop. Should be fun reaching out randomly to others and seeing what everyone has to say!

What are You Writing?

Right now, I am in the process of editing a young adult fantasy entitled Fairy, Texas (due out in 2014 from Solstice Shadows Publishing); editing a contemporary romance; and writing the sequel to Waking Up Dead. I’ve also started sketching out ideas for several other novels including a sequel to my forthcoming novel Legally Undead (World Weaver Press, 2014) and another contemporary romance. I have more ideas than I have time to write!

How Does This Differ From Your Last Work?

I used to write one novel at a time! Also, I just recently started writing contemporary romance novels; I’m in the process of learning all of the tropes and general guidelines for category romance novels. But the biggest difference is that I started my most recent novels by putting together synopses. By nature I’m a seat-of-my-pants kind of writer (a “pantser” in NaNoWriMo terms!), but I’m enjoying the process of figuring out the story ahead of time.

As for how writing a sequel differs from writing the first novel in the series? In the sequel to Waking Up Dead, Callie continues to solve mysteries–but we learn more about her own life and the lives of her friends. I’m enjoying the chance to make the characters deeper; I feel like I spent the first novel just barely getting to know Callie, Ashara, Maw-Maw, and Stephen!

Why Do You Write?

I write because if I didn’t, I might wither and die. In some ways, it hardly matters if other people read my books–I write them because I love getting lost in the story, in other people’s worlds and thoughts and dreams and problems and successes. If other people like what I write, it’s an exciting bonus.

What is Your Writing Process?

I have an office that I use for all my work: academic writing, fiction writing, editing, and online teaching. My desk is against a window so I can see outside. I’m surrounded by books and papers. I write directly on my laptop, but when I get stuck, I sometimes switch to handwriting; this seems to shift my brain onto a different track and helps me get over writer’s block. I don’t have a set time that I write, but I try to write every day, whether it’s academic writing, fiction, or my blog.

When I write fiction, I tend to think in “scenes.” Thinking in scenes means that I often write scenes out of order. When that happens, I use a separate file from the primary one and shuffle the scenes around as necessary. But the single biggest thing that I do to write? It’s narrating. I have an internal monologue—and sometimes dialogue–going on all the time. I think in words; when I have a mental picture, I practice translating it into words in my mind. I tell myself stories and I work out plot lines and I figure out arguments to make about literature. I think about the words to use to explain writing to my classes and I practice describing my surroundings. I think in my characters’ voices and in my own voice. When I get blocked, I go for a walk and let my characters take over for a while until I have another scene.

What I’ve learned in all my years of teaching writing is that writing is a deeply personal process; everyone has different writing rituals, and those rituals can change over time. I used to have to have a clean space in which to write. Now I just need a place to put my laptop (having a three-year-old child might have influenced that change). I used to have to set rules for myself: writing two hours a day, not going out to the pool in the summer until I had written three pages, and so on. I still use those when I’m stuck or resenting the need to write, but these days, the only rule I have for myself is this: Just write.

Spotlight On: The Shepherd by T.W. Luedke

Skate punks, kleptomaniacs, clairvoyant visions and reincarnation…

…THE SHEPHERD is unlike any other Young Adult novel you have ever read.

Mike Evans here. Sixteen year old skate punk squatting in a white-trash trailer park with my loser drunk Dad. Seems I lost most of my friends when Dad lost our home in foreclosure. Only Anita stuck by me. Worse, I keep having strange clairvoyant visions of things that always come true.

Then I almost ran over Nadia in my Geo. A passing truck finished the job – left a crumpled heap of skin and bone on the road. I fixed her. Me.

Now this fourteen year old girl won’t leave me alone. I sorta let her sneak in my window when she needs a place to crash.

I have a double life: daytime at school, Anita, skating, and then my nights with Nadia. She’s my secret friend, gives me money and listens to my problems when nobody else will.

My world is spinning out of control. Old friends have turned enemy, my grisly visions of death won’t quit, and Anita’s intentions make my head spin. Even with all that, I’ve got bigger stuff to worry about.

Nadia’s hiding something.

Buy The Shepherd here.

_______________________

About the Author

TW Luedke ~ Travis Luedke is a husband, father, and author of Urban Fantasy Thriller, Paranormal Romance, Contemporary Fantasy, Young Adult Fiction, and Sci-fi. He is currently catching a 3rd degree sunburn in San Antonio, Texas, and loving every minute of it.

As the author of the Nightlife Series novels, Travis lives very vicariously through his writings. He invites you to enjoy his macabre flights of fancy, but be warned: The Nightlife Series is violent, sexy, and occasionally violently sexy.

His new series is the Shepherd series.

Author Website

The Nightlife Series on Facebook

TW Luedke on Facebook

Twitter

Interview with Jillian Kleine Der Löwe, Author of Wicked

Welcome today to Jillian Kleine Der Löwe, author of Wicked (Book 1 of the Seven Deadly Sins Series)

1. What do you write about? Tell us a little about your previous published works.

I started making up stories before I even knew how to read or write. As a small child, I would write scripts and get my family and friends to perform them. My dream from when I was about five years old, onwards, was to be a filmmaker. I saw an interview on TV where George Lucas was talking about making Star Wars. Before that, I didn’t realize that there was a whole process that went into making movies. I thought that movies just were… Like that they just popped out of the air fully formed. I knew that making movies was what I wanted to do. I’ve always written Comedy and Fantasy, those are the genres that come most naturally to me. I went to school for film. It was funny because when I was younger people would proclaim to me, my parents and my friends that I was going to be the next Spielberg… Either that or a rockstar… Because I have that twinkle in my eyes. I wrote tons of screenplays and had a hard-time finding reliable people to help me produce my films. So, I kind of put that all on the back-burner and looked for something else to fall-back on. I ended up working with Kim Weiss at HCI Books and I just fell in love with publishing. I was like, I can so do this! I can take my screenplays, turn them into novels and publish them. It’s because of my background in film and being an über extrovert that my books are decidedly dialogue heavy rather than exposition heavy. So, I published Wicked and I’ve not looked back since (although, I’d love to eventually turn the series into a visual format for cable, film, or television)! Before publishing Wicked, I did write for small publications and websites, mostly as a critic of books and films. I also wrote a lot of advertising copy. I even wrote all of my own copy for my website and Amazon sales page.

2. How do you handle bad reviews?

It depends. If the review has constructive criticism, like about formatting or typos, I’m very thankful for that kind of insight and I appreciate the help. I’ll usually e-mail the person and thank them. They’re usually really cool about it and some of them have helped me improve my books formatting and shtuff like that. If there’s no constructive criticism… I usually laugh and get some sort of sick satisfaction out of it. I’m pretty twisted! LOL! I don’t really pay attention to it really. I don’t respond to reviews on Amazon or anything like that, but on blogs (whether the review is good or bad), I try to post a comment and say thank you. Although, if someone e-mails me a negative review directly… I guess it could be referred to as “hate mail” I typically ignore it or just say thank you for your taking the time to review my book and leave it at that. I view hate mail and negative reviews kinda like fan mail in disguise. If my writing was able to provoke a response in someone, good or bad, that’s really saying something about the power of my writing. Yet, most of my reviews and the correspondences I’ve received have been quite positive and I’m thankful for that.

3. Tell us a little about your work in progress?

I’m currently writing Lured, the sequel to Wicked. It’s a bit longer and at times, darker than Wicked. Wicked was very action-packed. There is still action in Lured, but at the same time it’s more introspective for the main characters because they have to come to terms with terrible things that they all did in the past before they can move forward. So, we learn a lot more of the backstory. At the same time, the characters are dealing with unforeseen consequences (good and bad) that have arisen because of the events that took place in Wicked. Lured delves deeper into the whole Shadow Government storyline, which I’m very excited about because it adds a dimension of political intrigue and a bit of a “big brother is watching you” and “trust no one” vibe. This is my chance to poke fun at politics! Huzzah! Lured still has the same kind of twists and turns that Wicked did. I think that the ending will really shock people, maybe even upset them because they’ll really feel for the characters. One thing I’m very excited to talk about is two new characters… Cain (yes, that Cain) and Vlad (as in Dracula). They’re darkly hilarious and very much fun to write.

4. Any advice for aspiring writers?

The best advice anyone ever gave me was this: Write the book you want to read. I believe that this is essential, because that’s how you stay passionate about writing. If you’re not writing about something that you’re passionate about, you can grow tired of it easily. Especially when it comes time for things like revisions. I think this is probably what causes writers block. I’ve always written what I wanted to read and I’ve never ever had writers block. I also use the MBTI to me help create realistic characters. I highly recommend using the MBTI. It’s never failed me.

5. What is your personal writing process?

I put together a music playlist that inspires the moods of the different characters in my stories. I also put together collages with pictures that remind me of the characters, locations, etc. Sometimes, I write journal entries for the different characters, to get a feel for them. I’ll listen to my playlist and just daydream up the whole story, as if I’m watching it on a movie screen. Then I just start writing while my playlist is playing. I also like using the books Astrology for Writers and Tarot for Writers by Corrine Kenner. I use Lo Scarabeo’s Astrological Oracle, Karma Cards and the Mystic Dreamer Tarot. This is so much fun, especially given my chosen genre. It gives a mystical and otherworldly feel to the whole writing process. I also keep notebooks filled with everything you can imagine… Dialogue, journal entries, notes, pictures, etc.

6. Who are a few authors you look up to?

Growing up; I looked up to comedians, filmmakers, producers and screenwriters more than authors. I’ve always been obsessed with BBC comedies. I looked up to Ben Elton, Grant & Naylor, Monty Python, Rowan Atkinson, etc. I grew up on Black Adder, Monty Python, Red Dwarf, the Young Ones, etc. I blame my father… He was the one who got me obsessed with BBC comedies. To this day, every time I see him we end up quoting Monty Python… Especially the Piranha Brothers and Dead Parrot sketches.

7. What book are you reading now?

I’m currently reading A Clash of Kings by GRRM. I recently finished A Game of Thrones and just dove right into Kings. I’m about 200 pages in so far. Epic/High Fantasy is not usually my genre of choice, but I just can’t get enough of A Song of Ice & Fire. My favorite characters are Jaime and Tyrion, because they’re funny. I have a real affinity for the Lannisters. In some respects, they remind me of my own family at times. My husband and I both say that my mother is like the real-life Tywin… Just much funnier, but you’d never want to get on her bad side… Not unless you want to have a stanza devoted to you added to the Rains of Castomere. My last name, Der Löwe, is German for the lion. The lion has been the sigil of my husbands family/house for 800 years. His ancestral seat is Brederode Castle, which is now a ruin, in the Netherlands. His family was, at one point… The largest, most influential, most powerful and wealthiest family in the Netherlands. I jokingly ask my husband why they left… LOL! So, I think it goes without saying why I identify with the Lannisters. Also, I see a lot of parallels in ASOIAF with the War of the Roses. Lannister is to York as Stark is to Lancaster, yo! I’ve always been fascinated with that period in the history of the UK.

8. What inspired you to write your first book?

Honestly, the whole entire Seven Deadly Sins series came to me through mostly dreams that started when I was eleven years old. This has always been a story that I have felt the need to tell. I started writing it in 1995 and set it aside to focus on my schoolwork, since I was sonly 15 at the time. I took it up again after I graduated from college in 2002, but I didn’t end up getting much done at the time because I just ended up partying instead. If a friend called me and was like, “Hey! Let’s go out!” I went out instead of staying at home to write, because I’ve always been a bit of a social animal. Yet, I’ve always come back to this story. It was if, I was the vessel to tell this story. Although, I’ve added a lot of humor into it. The dreams were much more emotastik. After I worked at HCI Books and fell in love with publishing and I saw that other authors had gone indie, I was like, I can so do that too! So, I did it. I write Metaphysical & Visionary Fantasy because it’s more than just entertainment and escapism. These are books that are deeply philosophical and spiritual. Ultimately, I write not only because I want to entertain people… But because I want to help make the world a better place through my writing. What else would you expect from an ENFP such as myself? I see authors as the modern-day prophets and visionaries. Because we have the ability to write well, we have the responsibility to communicate ideas that are ultimately awe-inspiring. Also, I wanted to succeed as an author so that I could pay it forward and help other aspiring authors. I like a nice blend between thought-provoking and insanely funny. Also, there really weren’t many women writing satire. There’s some like Helen Fielding and Sophie Kinsella, but not many. We women really need to conquer the Satire genre and make it our own! The boys like Christopher Moore, Douglas Adams, Eoin Colfer, Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett have dominated the genre for so long… It’s time for women to take over! We can add a feminine-aspect and perspective that the genre is currently lacking.

9. What do you find particularly challenging about writing?

My cats! They’re always stealing my chair! And Skittles is so assertive, eccentric, opinionated and talkative for a cat… I believe she takes after me. She’ll sit at my feet and just yell at me while I’m writing. Probably because she wants attention. But I’ll joke around and have conversations with her and put funny words in her mouth. Like… What was that Skittles? You don’t like this bit of the story? Aw, that’s too bad. I totally mess with her and she loves it! She has a whole plethora of meows, so we have real conversations. I say something or ask a question and she responds with a unique meow. My husband and I have counted 50 distinct Skittle meows so far. It also took a long time for me to have enough self-discipline to stay at home and write instead of going out, but I’m so over that. I’m committed to my writing now. But seriously… See, contrary to popular belief I can actually do serious… I find nothing challenging about writing. It comes very naturally to me and it always has.

10. Have you ever used characteristics from someone you know in one of your books?

Characteristics, not so much. The characters are based on my interpretations of the beings from my dreams. I’m also Astral Projecting a lot! So, I’ve worked with some of these spirit energies and tried to get them as true to form as possible and do them some justice… Especially Luc! Some of Luc’s dialogue was derived from energy I’ve received from him while Astral Projecting. Now… Dialogue! OMG! Yes! So much of the dialogue is based on conversations I’ve actually had with my friends! Mostly things that I’ve said… Since, like Sev, I’m verbally incontinent. My husband says that I’m like the real-life Eric Cartmen… No inner monologue. Although, certain things ended up in the story because I wanted to write bits that I knew my best friend Phil would love. I’ve known Phil since high school. We used to sit in class and quote Monty Python back and forth. We drove our photography teacher Mrs. P insane (not that it took much)! Phil is like my untwin. We look nothing alike, but we just get each other. We have the same sense of humor. And certain choice elements of Luc and Michael are both based on my husband. I love my husband! He’s so complex in a beautiful way. There are different aspects to his personality. Sometimes he’s like Luc… Softspoken, tender and warm. And at other times he’s like Michael… A brash alpha male that says things inviting of a smack. It’s funny watching Luc and Michael balance each other out… In the same way that it’s interesting watching my husband balance both aspects of his personality. I love that my husband is inconsistent (despite how infuriating that can be)… He’d be boring otherwise. He keeps me on my toes. He and I are both complete opposites, so I love playing the whole odd-couple angle in stories.

______________________________

The universe started with a bang… And so does Wicked!

Angels and demons and dragons… Oh my! Earth: it’s the promised land for Kin, beings from the Astral Planes. Some, beings of light. Others, the Fallen, beings of unimaginable evil… Seven Cyn, a confident and empowered modern woman, is Kin and a CIA Operative. With her best friend Leon in tow, she flies to Wales in pursuit of an ancient relic, the Spear of Destiny. Then throw the enigmatic Luc into the mix as he and Sev discover a love that defies the stars. Yet, there is a catch… Sev has been tasked with ending his life. Along with a twisted pixie named Ace, they uncover the location of the Spear and end up in a race against time with the survival of the whole entire Universe left hanging in the balance in a battle between good verses evil. This unlikely odd-coupled menagerie comes up against a shadow government run by Dark Entities and Fallen Angels possessing mortal souls. Will Sev unlock the secrets of the Spear in time to avert universal disaster or will the Universe fall into utter darkness? Has Sev finally bitten off more than she can chew? Filled with believable characters and injected with a heaping dose of sarcasm and wit… And just as many twists and turns; Wicked promises not to disappoint. This lighthearted energetic, fast-paced romp will certainly open your mind and tickle your funny bone. Wicked is kinda like this… Take satirical chick lit… Place that in a contemporary fantasy setting… And then throw in the Apocalypse just for good measure. That’s Wicked! And That + Wicked = Awesome!

Wicked is filled with all of the no-holds-barred thrills of your average adventure. Be prepared to sit on the edge of your seat as you are transported into the depths of a rich and dark fantasy world not unlike that of your own, but with a few unique and dynamic twists. Take a globe trotting trek into a world where nothing is quite as it seems. Wicked has enough pulse pounding chases, fights, heists, shadow government conspiracy theories and treasure hunts to appeal to not only die-hard fantasy fans; but your average adventure enthusiast. Be prepared for the wild high-flying ride of your life. And just hope that the good guys win.

To get your copy:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Wicked-Seven-Deadly-Sins-Novel-ebook/dp/B00E9CATQK/

Lovers at Heart by Melissa Foster

“Steamy sex scenes and heartfelt confessions…a satisfying addition to the ‘Love in Bloom’ series.” — Midwest Book Review

**CONTENT WARNING: Due to mature content, recommended for readers aged 18+** Lovers at Heart is a steamy contemporary romance with alpha male heroes and sexy, empowered women. They’re flawed, funny, passionate, and very relatable for readers who enjoy adult romance, contemporary romance, and women’s fiction. Enjoy Lovers at Heart as a stand-alone novel or for more enjoyment, read the entire Love and Bloom series (nine full-length novels featuring the Snow Sisters and the Bradens).

_________________________

Handsome, wealthy resort owner Treat Braden is used to getting what he wants. When Max Armstrong walked into his life six months earlier, he saw right through the efficient and capable façade she wore like a shield, to the sweet, sensual woman who lay beneath. She sparked an unfamiliar desire in him for more than a one-night stand, leaving his heart reeling and his blood boiling. But one mistake caused her to turn away, and now, after six months of longing for the one woman he cannot have, he’s going home to try to forget her all together.Max Armstrong has a successful career, a comfortable lifestyle, and she’s never needed a man to help her find her way–until Treat Braden caught her attention at a wedding in Nassau, causing a surge of emotions too reminiscent of the painful past she’d spent years trying to forget. Max will do anything to avoid reliving that pain–including forgoing her toe-curling, heart-pounding desire for Treat.When a chance encounter turns into a night of intense passion, Treat realizes that the mistake he made six months earlier may cause him to lose Max completely. He will do everything within his power to win her heart forever–and Max is forced to face her hurtful past head on for the man she cannot help but love.

_________________________

Watch for the full LOVE IN BLOOM series:

SNOW SISTERS

Sisters in Love

Sisters in Bloom

Sisters in White

.

THE BRADENS

Lovers at Heart

Destined for Love

Friendship on Fire

Sea of Love

Bursting with Love

Hearts at Play

_________________________

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18690048-lovers-at-heart?from_search=true

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Lovers-Heart-Love-Bloom-Contemporary-ebook/dp/B00G0ZRN18/

_________________________

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Melissa Foster is the New York Times Best Selling author of four International bestselling novels. Her books have been recommended by USA Today’s book blog, Hagerstown Magazine, The Patriot, and several other print venues. She is the founder of the Women’s Nest, a social and support community for women, the World Literary Café. When she’s not writing, Melissa helps authors navigate the publishing industry through her author training programs on Fostering Success. Melissa is also a community builder for the Alliance for Independent Authors. She has been published in Calgary’s Child Magazine, the Huffington Post, and Women Business Owners magazine.

Melissa hosts an annual Aspiring Authors contest for children and has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Melissa lives in Maryland with her family.

Visit Melissa on The Women’s Nest, Fostering Success, or World Lit Cafe. Join Melissa and the YaYa Writer Girls at their annual in-person event. Melissa enjoys discussing her books with book clubs and reader groups, and welcomes an invitation to your event.

Website: http://www.MelissaFoster.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3023973.Melissa_Foster

_________________________

GIVEAWAY:

Must be 18+ To Enter due to mature content | Open Internationally

Rafflecopter Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e849f7753/

_________________________