Margo Bond Collins's Blog, page 58
June 4, 2015
Book Boyfriend Blog Hop ~ Sanguinary: Hot & Swoon-Worthy
Welcome to this week’s edition of It’s Hot for Friday with Book Boyfriends Café!
On Fridays the Book Boyfriends Café Blog Goddesses post a fun little task for everyone to complete or question to answer. Authors post their own responses, then link up their blogs to join the fun!
This week, we’re sharing a Hot and Swoon-Worthy line from our Book Boyfriends. So check out my short excerpt below from Sanguinary, forthcoming in a revised and expanded version this summer from Boroughs Publishing, then HOP to the rest of the entries!
Hot & Swoon-Worthy Excerpt:
He wore jeans and a dark blue button-down shirt. He had on dark brown cowboy boots, and as he turned away from the bar, he picked up a black felt cowboy hat from the seat next to him, placing it on his head. On anyone else, I might have assumed that the hats and boots were an affectation. On him, they looked perfect. He was utterly beautiful, with bright green eyes, and dark hair that curled down to barely brush the back of his collar.
I am undercover, I reminded myself sternly. Here to do a job.
When Garrett caught my gaze in his, flicking his glance toward the cowboy vamp, it was all I could do to keep from sighing aloud.
Would it have killed my partner to be a little more descriptive when he briefed me?
Of course that was the vampire cowboy I had to get close to tonight.
No making eyes at the informants, Cami.
But damn, he was hot.
“Nice scars,” he said, sliding his gaze along my bared shoulder.
“Thanks,” I replied, almost breathless.
I am absolutely not attracted to vampires.
I could keep telling myself that.
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About the Book:
Only fifty years left before vampires rule the world.
When Dallas police detective Cami Davis joined the city’s vampire unit, she planned to use the job as a stepping-stone to a better position in the department.
But she didn’t know then what she knows now: there’s a silent war raging between humans and vampires, and the vampires are winning.
So with the help of a disaffected vampire and an ex-cop addict, Cami is going undercover, determined to solve a series of recent murders, discover a way to overthrow the local Sanguinary government, and, in the process, help win the war for the human race.
But can she maintain her own humanity in the process? Or will Cami find herself, along with the rest of the world, pulled under a darkness she cannot oppose?
_____________________________________________
About the Author
Margo Bond Collins is the author of urban fantasy, contemporary romance, and paranormal mysteries. She lives in Texas with her daughter and several spoiled pets. Although writing fiction is her first love, she also teaches college-level English courses online. She enjoys reading romance and paranormal fiction of any genre and spends most of her free time daydreaming about heroes, monsters, cowboys, and villains, and the strong women who love them—and sometimes fight them.
_____________________________________________
Connect with Margo
Newsletter: https://confirmsubscription.com/h/d/03A21E5E161401F0
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/margobondcollins
Email: MargoBondCollins@gmail.com
Website: http://www.MargoBondCollins.net
Blog: http://www.MargoBondCollins.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MargoBondCollin @MargoBondCollin
Google+: https://plus.google.com/116484555448104519902
Goodreads Author Page: http://www.goodreads.com/vampirarchy
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/MargoBondCollins
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/mbondcollins/
Tsu: http://www.tsu.co/MargoBondCollins
_____________________________________________
HOP to the rest of the blog entries!
June 2, 2015
Happy Release Day! + Giveaway ~ INK, by Melanie Karsak
Available via Amazon
The authors at the Falling in Deep Collection asked me a few interview questions about the novella. I thought I’d share my answers with you.
Some fun facts about Ink!
What is your favorite mermaid story or myth?
When I was a teen, I fell in love with the Slavic/Russian novels written by C. J. Cherryh, including her work Rusulka. Rusulka is the story about a drowned girl who becomes a haunted spirit. Rusulka are prevelant in Slavic myth. They are often depicted as spirits, but sometimes they appear as nymphs or water sprites. I was really inspired by Cherryh’s Rusulka character.
You can catch the paperback for a penny on Amazon! http://amzn.com/0345359534
2.
What was the inspiration for your mermaid novella?
I moved to Florida about five years ago, and I was really inspired by all the sights on the coast. We’ve taken trips to Miami on a few occasions. I enjoy the architecture, but dislike the vibe of the city. It’s the same vibe Ink feels when she is there (sorry, Miami). I live on the Space Coast, not far from NASA, and I love this area. We are close to Cocoa Beach which has the feel of a “once-happening” place. There is a quaint charm to its faded, sea-side glory. I adore Cocoa Village, a quaint downtown area. There are lovely little shops and old oak trees with Spanish moss. It was the perfect setting for Ink’s eventual rendezvous with a good friend.
3.
Cast your characters. If your novella was made into a movie, who would play your main characters?
Ink is hard to cast, but I would probably choose someone like Megan Fox.
For Hal, I would definitely cast Jason Momoa. Because, well, Jason Momoa.
4.
What was most challenging thing writing about mermaids?
The world building! Oh my gosh, it took me forever to figure out just how “under the sea” functioned in terms of a society. There was nothing to go from so I just made it all up! It took a lot more time and brain-power than I expected.
5.
Ursula or Ariel?
Ursula’s attitude with Ariel’s looks. Ariel is too “I need a man” for me. Ursula is too “I need power” for Ink. But they both
have good qualities.
I actually really love cecaelia, mer-octopus like Ursula. They play an important role in Ink.
6.
What else should we know about your novella?
There are alligator shifters and nyotaimori (Google it). I now know way more about alligator mating calls than a normal person
would find useful. Don’t judge me by my Google searches. :)
Novella Description
A mermaid princess destined to wed a handsome king…
It sounds like a fairy tale, but the reality is far murkier.
Ink, Princess of the Florida Atlantic mers, is slated to wed the ancient enemy of her tribe, the King of the Gulfs. After years of war that led to countless mer deaths, as well as the genocide of aquatic shapeshifters and the freshwater mers of Florida, Ink’s marriage will bring lasting peace.
Or so it seems.
Mere hours before she’s supposed to leave the ocean for her customary year as a drywalker, Ink meets Hal, an alligator shifter who warns her that a storm is brewing. There is malicious intent behind Ink’s marriage—and worse, meeting Hal has also caused a storm to rage in Ink’s heart. Nevertheless, loyal to her tribe, Ink will put aside her feelings and journey to Miami to marry the decadent King Manx.
Ink soon learns that her only hope of surviving the crashing force swelling around her is to tap into a power deep inside—a forbidden power that might destroy them all.
About the Collection
Ink: A Mermaid Romance is part of a larger collection of mermaid books launching this summer. Love mermaids? Looking for a great beach read? The Falling in Deep Collection, a collection of 15 unique tales of creatures of the deep, is rolling out the first novella in their collection at the end of May.
From mermaids to sirens, Miami to Athens, dark paranormal romance to contemporary stories with steam, the fifteen award-winning and best-selling authors of the Falling in Deep Collection are bringing you mermaid tales like you’ve never seen before.
Every week beginning May 26th, 2015, we’ll be releasing one unique, never-before-published novella! Each novella will feature our favorite creature of the deep: mermaids.
The Falling in Deep Collection (May – September Releases)
Scales by Pauline Creeden
Ink: A Mermaid Romance: A Falling in Deep Collection Novella
by Melanie KarsakOf Ocean and Ash by A. R. Draeger
Deep Breath by J. M. Miller
At the Heart of the Deep by Carrie Wells
The Mermaid’s Den by Ella Malone
The Water is Sweeter by Eli constant
The Glass Mermaid by Poppy Lawless
An Officer & a Mermaid by Blaire Edens
How to be a Mermaid by Erin Hayes
Cold Water Bridegroom by B. Brumley
A Beyond the Sea Prequel by Emily Goodwin
Immersed by Katie Hayoz
Siren’s Kiss by Margo Bond Collins
To Each His Own by Anna Albergucci
Giveaway!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
June 1, 2015
Guest Post: Playlist for Days Like This by Danielle Ellison
Days Like Thisby Danielle Ellison
Release Date: 06/02/15
Bookish Group Press
New Adult
Summary from Goodreads:
Sometimes the only thing standing between fear and hope is yourself.
Almost a year ago, nineteen-year-old Cassie Harlen had a lot to deal with. A
stack of college acceptance letters waiting for answers, a proposal from the
boy next door, and a mother whose most recent bipolar episode left Cassie hurt
and confused. Tired of cleaning up the messes caused by her mother’s disorder,
of resenting her mother for not being there, and scared of being trapped by an
inevitable future—which included marrying Graham Tucker—Cassie did the only thing she could think of to keep from ending up like her mother: she left.
Graham never knew why Cassie walked away. He woke up one morning and she was gone—along with the life that he’d created around her. After eleven months, Graham has a new plan for his future. One that doesn’t involve Cassie Harlen.
When Cassie’s mom nearly burns down her house, Cassie’s forced to return home. Back to a mother she’s tried to ignore and the guy she’s been unable to forget. Graham doesn’t know how he’s going to spend the whole summer living next door
to the person who broke his heart without letting those old feelings push through to the surface.
Neither does Cassie.
Buy Links:
Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Kobo Books│iBooks│One More Page (Signed Copies)
Playlist for DAYS LIKE THIS
Sweet Emotion – Aerosmith
Angel – Fleetwood Mac
Never Going Back Again – Fleetwood Mac
Tiny Dancer – Elton John
Comfortably Numb – Pink Floyd
Moaning Low – Billie Holliday
Gentle On My Mind – Dean Martin
All I Could Do Is Cry – Etta James
You Go to My Head – Frank Sinatra
And it Spread – The Avett Brothers
River – Joni Mitchell
You and I – Johnnyswim
It Ain’t Me Babe – Johnny/June Cash
You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go – Bob Dylan
The One You Should’ve Let Go – The Lone Bellow
The Morning Comes – Delta Rae
Every Night – Imagine Dragons
About the Author
Danielle Ellison spent most of her childhood reading instead of learning math. It’s
probably the reason she can’t divide without a calculator and has spent her
life seeking the next adventure. It’s also probably the reason she’s had so
many different zip codes and jobs.
When she’s not writing, Danielle is probably eating cookies, fighting her
nomadic urges, watching too much TV, or dreaming of the day when she can be British. She has settled in Northern Virginia, for now, but you can always find her on twitter @DanielleEWrites.
Author Links:
GIVEAWAY:Book Blitz Organized by:
May 31, 2015
Spotlight On: Seducing Fortune, by Brinda Berry
Title: Seducing Fortune
Author: Brinda Berry
Genre: New Adult
Publication: March 14th, 2015
Trust is the name of the game and fate holds the wild card…
Ex-stripper Emerson doesn’t have the time to fall for her boss Dylan. Between working three jobs and attending college, Emerson’s schedule doesn’t have room for a boyfriend. Especially not Dylan, who’s the poster boy for misbehaving bachelors—the kind of guy who belongs in Emerson’s old life. But when a stalker with connections to her convict father threatens Emerson’s loved ones, suddenly Dylan’s the only one who calls to her heart.
As the heat between them rises, will Emerson risk his life by opening up to him? Or will she risk his love to stop a criminal?
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
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Teaser
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About the Author
Brinda Berry lives in the southern US with her family. She’s obsessed with cairn terriers, Kings of Leon, new technology and sandy beaches. She’s also terribly fond of chocolate, coffee, and books that take her away from reality. Find her book lists and social media links at http://www.brindaberry.com.
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Giveaway
Cover Reveal: Stepping Stones, by Kacey Vanderkarr
Stepping Stones (The Stone Series, #1)
by Kacey Vanderkarr
Release Date: 08/25/15
Urban Fey Press
Summary from Goodreads:
Onnaleigh Moore is part of a plan—and it
isn’t hers. When her brother dies in a car accident, Onna is desperate to
preserve the tatters of her family. Any hope of finding normalcy vanishes when
her mother runs off and her dad turns to booze to numb his pain. Onna’s grief
is crippling, but the boy who showed up just when she needed him is helping her
cope.
Everett’s presence is comforting, though he knows things—Onna’s name just
before they met, where she lives, and sometimes he comments on thoughts she
doesn’t say aloud. She pegs him for a stalker, or maybe psychic, but the truth
is deadlier than she imagines. As their feelings for one another deepen,
Everett confesses a horrifying secret: Onna’s brother is only the beginning of
the plan, and some fates are worse than death.
About the Author
Kacey Vanderkarr is a young adult author. She dabbles in fantasy, romance, and sci-fi, complete with faeries, alternate realities, and the occasional plasma gun. She’s known to be annoyingly optimistic and listen to music at the highest decibel. When she’s not writing, she coaches winterguard and works as a sonographer. Kacey lives in Michigan, with her husband, son, and crazy cats. Along with her novels, Reflection Pond and Antithesis, Kacey’s short fiction can be found in Sucker Literary Vol 3, and the upcoming Spark Vol 7, Ember: A Journal of Luminous Things, and Out of the Green: Tales from Fairyland.
Author Links:
Cover Reveal: Veils and Vengeance, by Rachelle J. Christensen
Veils and Vengeance by Rachelle J. Christensen
When wedding planner, Adrielle Pyper, goes to Hawaii to orchestrate a destination wedding, she isn’t prepared for what she finds.
After the trauma of her previous event, the beautiful isle of Kauai is the perfect place for Adri to unwind and do what she does best – plan. She even lets herself indulge in the attention of the groom’s handsome brother. But just when everything seems to be perfect, an afternoon snorkeling trip turns to murder when Adri discovers the body of a young woman.
Shaken, but unable to let it go, Adri’s sleuthing leads her into more danger than she could imagine. When a number of “accidents” threaten her own life, it soon becomes apparent that someone will do anything to keep Adri from interfering with their vengeance.
Author Rachelle J. Christensen
Rachelle J. Christensen is a mother of five who writes mystery/suspense and solves the case of the missing shoe on a daily basis. She graduated cum laude from Utah State University with a degree in psychology and a minor in music. She enjoys singing and songwriting, playing the piano, running, motivational speaking, and, of course, reading.
Rachelle is the award-winning author of six books, including Wrong Number, Diamond Rings Are Deadly Things, and What Every 6th Grader Needs to Know. Her novella, Silver Cascade Secrets, was included in the Rone Award-winning Timeless Romance Anthology, Fall Collection.
$25 Cover Reveal Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 6/15/15
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
May 30, 2015
Book Playlist for November Sky, by Danielle Wicks
November Sky (Hardest Mistakes #2)by Dannielle Wicks
Release Date: 05/19/15
Limitless Publishing
Summary from Goodreads:
A heartbreaking loss.
A love that transcends mortality.
A struggle between holding on and letting go…
KRISTIAN REED is only seventeen years old when his girlfriend, JESSICA
SCOTT, dies in a tragic accident. Devastated and burdened with guilt, he finds it impossible to move on.
Six years later, he’s not doing any better. He’s accepted a prestigious internship at a big city news station, but he’s still losing himself in alcohol and women to numb his pain.
Jessica might be dead, but she’s not gone—at least not anymore…
She is pulled from Purgatory, and thanks to the presence of a personal memento, Kristian can see and feel her. But how can the ghost of his first love expect to be a part of his future?
BAILEY NICHOLS is assertive and annoying, but something draws her and Kristian together. Her brother hates him, but Bailey is used to getting what she wants. She knows the pain of losing people you love, and she’s determined to break through Kristian’s emotional wall and prove they belong together.
Jessica is caught between worlds. She can’t let go of Kristian, but she’s not meant to be here, and her lingering is threatening everyone and everything around her as she begins to lose herself to the darkness.
Buy Links:
Amazon│Barnes & Noble
Book One:
(linked to Goodreads)
Buy Links:
Amazon│Barnes
& Noble
Book Playlist
Let Her Go – Jasmine Thompson
Until The End – Quitedrive
Ghost – Ella Henderson
Ever After – Marianas Trench
Uneven Odds – Sleeping At Last
Dead In The Water – Ellie Goulding
Sing It Out – Switchfoot
Latch – Kodaline
Ghost Lights – Woodkid
Forever and Always – Parachute
You and I – Paper Route
I Wont Give Up – Jason Mraz
The Memory – Mayday Parade
Not About Angels – Birdy
We Might Fall – Ryan Star
All Of Me – John Legend
Another Love – Tom Odell
Sunrise – Our Last Night
You Are Enough – Sleeping At Last
(All of the songs on my playlists are available on iTunes)
About the Author
Dannielle Wicks currently lives in the town of
Kingaroy, Queensland in Australia. She is a TV show nerd and lover of cars.
She’s always had a love for writing, even in school. She used to hide her
writing notebook inside her textbooks just so the teacher wouldn’t notice what
she was up to. She loves reading, especially paranormal romance. When she’s not
writing or working, she competes in Speedway Sedan Racing across the
state.All of the books in the HARDEST MISTAKES series are based on a different main
character, so you don’t really need to read them in order, although all the
characters link back to each other in some way…
(P.S. if you ever reference any of my books or myself on a social media site,
be sure to use the
#HardestMistakes
hashtag or @DWicksAuthor)
Author Links: GIVEAWAY:
Spotlight On: Banish, by Nicola Marsh
Banish (Soul Retrievers)
by Nicola Marsh
Release Date: 05/26/15
264 pages
Summary from Goodreads:
Alyssa has one week to destroy her enemy, save her spirit… and save her soul. After her ex-boyfriend commits suicide and her mum’s alcoholism sparks yet
another psychotic episode, seventeen-year-old Alyssa Wood flees her small
hometown of Broadwater and heads to New York City to stay with her bohemian aunt — a Wicca High Priestess.
Alyssa revels in the anonymity of a big city and her new life. Her grades
climb, she has a new best friend, and a new guy: the sexy geek Ronan — a
saxophone player who prefers jazz to pop.
But her newfound peace is soon shattered when she sees a dead body in one of Ronan’s music clips — and she’s the only one who can see it. Worse still,
Alyssa recognises the body that has been murdered a week forward!
Alyssa doesn’t believe in the supernatural…despite her family’s Wicca background. So how will she overcome evil when it’s closer than she thinks?
Excerpt:
I screwed up my nose and reluctantly flipped open the screen. “Ronan sends me music clips he makes.” My finger hovered over the play button. “Tonight he said he’d composed a song just for me. It’s amazing.”
“But?”
“At the end of the song, the camera panned into another room and that’s when I saw…”
My voice trembled and Angie’s lips thinned. “Show me.”
I hit play and braced.
The haunting melody embraced me, so familiar now I’d heard it repeated so many times over the last ten minutes. As the final notes faded, I stared at the screen, wanting to look away but unable to. Would Angie see it? Would she convince me I wasn’t going crazy?
I waited. Five long, excruciating seconds.
And nothing.
The screen went black.
I couldn’t look at Angie, my disappointment acute.
She jabbed a finger at the keyboard. “Play it again.”
Wanting to hug her, I hit the button. Another eight times.
All the while hoping the gruesome scene was on some weird cyclical repeat.
Nada.
No girl, no body, no blood.
No freaking idea what the hell was going on with me.
Buy Links:
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Books
Novella:
(Currently FREE!)
Goodreads│Amazon│Barnes
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Books
About the Author
USA TODAY bestselling author and multi-award winner
Nicola Marsh writes flirty fiction with flair for adults and riveting, spooky
stories for teens.
She
has published 54 contemporary romances with Harlequin, Entangled Publishing and
indie, and sold over 6 million copies worldwide. Her first mainstream romance
BUSTED IN BOLLYWOOD was nominated for Romantic Book of the Year 2012. Her first
indie romance, CRAZY LOVE, was a 2012 ARRA finalist.
Her
YA urban fantasy SCION OF THE SUN won the 2014 National Readers’ Choice Award
for Best Young Adult novel.
She’s
also a Waldenbooks, Bookscan and Barnes & Noble bestseller, a 2013 RBY
(Romantic Book of the Year) and National Readers’ Choice Award winner, and a
multi-finalist for a number of awards including the Romantic Times Reviewers’
Choice Award, HOLT Medallion, Booksellers’ Best, Golden Quill, Laurel Wreath, More
than Magic and has also won several CataRomance Reviewers’ Choice Awards.
A
physiotherapist for thirteen years, she now adores writing full time, raising
her two little heroes, sharing fine food with family and friends, and her
favorite, curling up with a good book!
Author Links: GIVEAWAY:
May 28, 2015
Cover Reveal: Forget Tomorrow, by Pintip Dunn
Forget Tomorrow by Pintip Dunn
Release Date: 11/03/15
Entangled Teen
Summary from Goodreads:
Imagine a world where your destiny has already been decided…by your
future self. It’s Callie’s seventeenth birthday and, like everyone else, she’s eagerly
awaiting her vision―a memory sent back in time to sculpt each citizen into the
person they’re meant to be. A world-class swimmer. A renowned scientist.
Or in Callie’s case, a criminal.
In her vision, she sees herself murdering her gifted younger sister. Before she
can process what it means, Callie is arrested and placed in Limbo―a prison for
those destined to break the law. With the help of her childhood crush, Logan, a
boy she hasn’t spoken to in five years, she escapes the hellish prison.
But on the run from her future, as well as the government, Callie sets in
motion a chain of events that she hopes will change her fate. If not, she must
figure out how to protect her sister from the biggest threat of all—Callie,
herself.
Pre-Order Links:
Amazon│Barnes
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About the Author
When my first-grade teacher asked me what
I wanted to be when I grew up, I replied, “An author.” Although
I have pursued other interests over the years, this dream has never
wavered.
I graduated from Harvard University, magna cum laude,
with an A.B. in English Literature and Language. I received my J.D.
at Yale Law School, where I was an editor of the YALE LAW JOURNAL.
I published an article in the YALE LAW JOURNAL, entitled, “How Judges
Overrule: Speech Act Theory and the Doctrine of Stare Decisis,” and received
the Barry S. Kaplan Prize for best paper in Law and Literature.
I am represented by literary agent Beth Miller of Writers House. I’m a 2012 Golden Heart® finalist and a 2014 double-finalist. I’m a
member of Romance Writers of America, Washington Romance Writers, YARWA, and The Golden Network.
I live with my husband and children in Maryland.
Author Links:
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Cover Reveal: Library Jumpers, by Brenda Drake
Library Jumpers
by Brenda Drake
Release Date: January 2016
Entangled Teen
Summary from Goodreads:
Gia Kearns would rather fight with boys than kiss them. That
is, until Arik, a leather clad hottie in the Boston Athenaeum, suddenly
disappears. While examining the book of world libraries he abandoned, Gia
unwittingly speaks the key that sucks her and her friends into a photograph and
transports them into a Paris library, where Arik and his Sentinels—magical
knights charged with protecting humans from the creatures traveling across the
gateway books—rescue them from a demonic hound.
Jumping into some of the world’s most beautiful libraries would be a
dream come true for Gia, if she weren’t busy resisting her heart or
dodging an exiled wizard seeking revenge on both the Mystik and human worlds.
Add a French flirt obsessed with Arik and a fling with a young wizard,
and Gia must choose between her heart and her head, between Arik’s world and
her own, before both are destroyed.
Pre-Order Links:
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& Noble
http://chemicalscream.net/entangled/library/
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countdown widget here!
About the Author
Brenda Drake, the youngest of three children, grew up
an Air Force brat and the continual new kid at schooluntil
her family settled in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Brenda’s fondest memories growing up is
of hereccentric, Irish grandmother’s animated tales, which gave her
a strong love for storytelling. So it was onlyfitting that she would choose to write young adult and middle grade novels with
a bend toward thefantastical. When Brenda’s not writing or doing the social media thing, she’s haunting libraries,
bookstores,and coffee shops or reading someplace quiet and not
at all exotic (much to her disappointment).
Author Links:
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