Sasha Hibbs's Blog, page 8
October 31, 2014
Cover Reveal: Because You Exist by Tiffany Truitt
Cover Reveal for Because You Exist: Light In the Dark Series, Book 1 by Tiffany Truitt
Available November 11, 2014! Preorder here: Limitless Publishing Amazon Synopsis: Life is good for LOGAN MIDDLETON.He’s quarterback of the Shepherd High football team, nephew of the town’s most successful lawyer, and boyfriend of Jenna Maples, a girl who has finally agreed to take their relationship to the next level. But nothing good lasts forever.
With only a few minutes of last period English left between him and a weekend alone with Jenna, Logan blacks out. When he awakens, he finds himself in a future where Shepherd High lies in ruins, nothing is what it seems, and everyone he loves is dead.
Logan is a shifter.
Chosen to travel through time, it’s up to him to figure out how to stop the terrible events that claimed his once perfect life. Of course, all of this might be easier if he wasn’t paired with the one girl who’d rather see him dead than help him, JOSEPHINE.
A girl he tormented during childhood. Strong-willed with biting wit, who lives in the shadows. Tough and dark, Jo is Shepherd High’s most notorious outcast and Logan’s opposite in every way.
Together the two must overcome their many differences to figure out why they’ve been selected for such an overwhelming task, and who selected them in the first place.
Before it’s too late…
About the Author:
Tiffany Truitt was born in Peoria, Illinois. A self-proclaimed Navy brat, Tiffany spent most of her childhood living in Virginia, but don’t call her a Southerner. She also spent a few years living in Cuba. Since her time on the island of one McDonalds and Banana Rats (don't ask), she has been obsessed with traveling. Tiffany recently added China to her list of travels (hello inspiration for a new book).
Besides traveling, Tiffany has always been an avid reader. The earliest books she remembers reading belong to The Little House on the Prairie Series. First book she read in one day? Little Woman (5th grade). First author she fell in love with? Jane Austen in middle school. Tiffany spent most of her high school and college career as a literary snob. She refused to read anything considered "low brow" or outside the "classics."
Tiffany began teaching middle school in 2006. Her students introduced her to the wide, wonderful world of Young Adult literature. Today, Tiffany embraces popular Young Adult literature and uses it in her classroom.
Author Website: Click Here
Available November 11, 2014! Preorder here: Limitless Publishing Amazon Synopsis: Life is good for LOGAN MIDDLETON.He’s quarterback of the Shepherd High football team, nephew of the town’s most successful lawyer, and boyfriend of Jenna Maples, a girl who has finally agreed to take their relationship to the next level. But nothing good lasts forever.With only a few minutes of last period English left between him and a weekend alone with Jenna, Logan blacks out. When he awakens, he finds himself in a future where Shepherd High lies in ruins, nothing is what it seems, and everyone he loves is dead.
Logan is a shifter.
Chosen to travel through time, it’s up to him to figure out how to stop the terrible events that claimed his once perfect life. Of course, all of this might be easier if he wasn’t paired with the one girl who’d rather see him dead than help him, JOSEPHINE.
A girl he tormented during childhood. Strong-willed with biting wit, who lives in the shadows. Tough and dark, Jo is Shepherd High’s most notorious outcast and Logan’s opposite in every way.
Together the two must overcome their many differences to figure out why they’ve been selected for such an overwhelming task, and who selected them in the first place.
Before it’s too late…
About the Author:
Tiffany Truitt was born in Peoria, Illinois. A self-proclaimed Navy brat, Tiffany spent most of her childhood living in Virginia, but don’t call her a Southerner. She also spent a few years living in Cuba. Since her time on the island of one McDonalds and Banana Rats (don't ask), she has been obsessed with traveling. Tiffany recently added China to her list of travels (hello inspiration for a new book).
Besides traveling, Tiffany has always been an avid reader. The earliest books she remembers reading belong to The Little House on the Prairie Series. First book she read in one day? Little Woman (5th grade). First author she fell in love with? Jane Austen in middle school. Tiffany spent most of her high school and college career as a literary snob. She refused to read anything considered "low brow" or outside the "classics."
Tiffany began teaching middle school in 2006. Her students introduced her to the wide, wonderful world of Young Adult literature. Today, Tiffany embraces popular Young Adult literature and uses it in her classroom.
Author Website: Click Here
October 24, 2014
Friday Night Hop
Join us for a little Halloween fun in the Fright Night blog hop! Stop by each blog to check out their favorite paranormal or spooky reads and enter their giveaways!
While here check out my YA Paranormal Romance titles. Book 2, Black Abaddon, was written around Halloween last year and it certainly reflects that with an extra add of spook.
Over the next 4 days, several bloggers have teamed up for all kinds of prizes and giveaways. Leave a comment and join my blog (tab that says "join this site" to the right, you may have to scroll down a wee bit) for a chance to win a copy (ebook) of the first three novels in my series.
Have fun and below you can hop to the next stop :)
Next stop here
An InLinkz Link-up
While here check out my YA Paranormal Romance titles. Book 2, Black Abaddon, was written around Halloween last year and it certainly reflects that with an extra add of spook.
Over the next 4 days, several bloggers have teamed up for all kinds of prizes and giveaways. Leave a comment and join my blog (tab that says "join this site" to the right, you may have to scroll down a wee bit) for a chance to win a copy (ebook) of the first three novels in my series.
Have fun and below you can hop to the next stop :)
Next stop here
An InLinkz Link-up
September 28, 2014
Black Atonement Blog Tour Kick-Off
Black Atonement (Vulcan Legacies # 3) is on tour now with Sizzling PR and YA Bound!
Check out my scheduled stops here: Sizzling PR
And enter for a chance at a $25.00 ET GC here: YA Bound Blitz
Black Atonement is the third in my YA series, the Vulcan Legacies published by Evernight Teen. It's near and dear to my heart and tells the story of two characters we first meet in book 1, Black Amaranth. This is Dave and Brandi's story.
In the second book (Black Abaddon) I try and capture the pain involved with death and loss. It's very somber and while the second books deals primarily with Ally's losses, I couldn't let Dave and Brandi's story go untold. Dave's loses his soul-mate, Lucy, in a very tragic scene and at that moment, Brandi realizes what Dave has been to her this entire time: her soul-mate. Lucy's death sets off a chain of events for both Dave and Brandi.
Their journey together is painful but rewarding in the end. Brandi and Dave grew up together and Brandi realizes that as a child she'd been so hurt by a previous atrocity, that she'd been blinded to the fact that Dave was her soul-mate and in front of her the entire time. The problem: Brandi was and is a bitch, and in this, she had never spared Dave. Of course when Brandi realizes who he is, she's faced with challenges she's not equip to deal with: being nice, opening up, allowing herself to be loved. It's a sad journey bringing these two together, allowing them to heal, to mend one another in a way that only true soul-mates can.
In the past, I've been asked if real life events ever worked their way into my novels. I can honestly answer that while I was inspired by my husband's blacksmith storytelling, for the most part, my novels have always been based on a mix of my husbands rich storytelling about blacksmith lore and history and my own imagination. But the pain in this book was derived from the death of my brother and how one deals with death and how to go on. He's the North Star in this book. He's Brandi lingering on her mistakes and how to atone for them. He's Dave racked with pain over the death of Lucy. He's Brandi and Dave finding each other when all seems lost. He is the heart and soul of this book.
Join me over the next two weeks for a chance to win 2 $25 Evernight Teen Gift Cards.
Be sure to add Black Atonement on GR and click at the bottom for buy links.
I hope you enjoy!
Goodreads: Add Black Atonement to GR here
Amazon: Buy Black Atonement on Amazon
Evernight Teen: Buy Black Atonement on ET for only $2.99
Check out my scheduled stops here: Sizzling PR
And enter for a chance at a $25.00 ET GC here: YA Bound Blitz
Black Atonement is the third in my YA series, the Vulcan Legacies published by Evernight Teen. It's near and dear to my heart and tells the story of two characters we first meet in book 1, Black Amaranth. This is Dave and Brandi's story.
In the second book (Black Abaddon) I try and capture the pain involved with death and loss. It's very somber and while the second books deals primarily with Ally's losses, I couldn't let Dave and Brandi's story go untold. Dave's loses his soul-mate, Lucy, in a very tragic scene and at that moment, Brandi realizes what Dave has been to her this entire time: her soul-mate. Lucy's death sets off a chain of events for both Dave and Brandi.
Their journey together is painful but rewarding in the end. Brandi and Dave grew up together and Brandi realizes that as a child she'd been so hurt by a previous atrocity, that she'd been blinded to the fact that Dave was her soul-mate and in front of her the entire time. The problem: Brandi was and is a bitch, and in this, she had never spared Dave. Of course when Brandi realizes who he is, she's faced with challenges she's not equip to deal with: being nice, opening up, allowing herself to be loved. It's a sad journey bringing these two together, allowing them to heal, to mend one another in a way that only true soul-mates can.
In the past, I've been asked if real life events ever worked their way into my novels. I can honestly answer that while I was inspired by my husband's blacksmith storytelling, for the most part, my novels have always been based on a mix of my husbands rich storytelling about blacksmith lore and history and my own imagination. But the pain in this book was derived from the death of my brother and how one deals with death and how to go on. He's the North Star in this book. He's Brandi lingering on her mistakes and how to atone for them. He's Dave racked with pain over the death of Lucy. He's Brandi and Dave finding each other when all seems lost. He is the heart and soul of this book.
Join me over the next two weeks for a chance to win 2 $25 Evernight Teen Gift Cards.
Be sure to add Black Atonement on GR and click at the bottom for buy links.
I hope you enjoy!
Goodreads: Add Black Atonement to GR here
Amazon: Buy Black Atonement on Amazon
Evernight Teen: Buy Black Atonement on ET for only $2.99
September 26, 2014
First Look Friday with author Meradeth Houston
Finishing off what I've thought of as a fun hop, fellow Evernight Teen author, Meradeth Houston is on my blog today giving readers a first look at what's next for her. Thanks for joining me today, Meradeth, and in finale mode, thank you to all the YA readers out there who support us authors. We love you all and don't forget to enter for your chance to win some amazing prizes!
YA Reader Appreciation Blog Hop: First Peek Friday
Thanks so much for hosting me! It's always so fun to get to visit my favorite places around the web :) Today we're supposed to be sharing a little teaser from one of our books. I'm really excited to share something from my upcoming release, Absence of Light, with Evernight Teen. It's a little different from my Sary series, but it's also really near and dear to my heart. I thought I'd share a little from the beginning of the book. Hope you enjoy!
**Please note that this is still not the final version, so things might change before publication!**
The dead don’t blink. My father’s blank stare seemed to follow me around the room. My mother beside him had a narrow-eyed glare that made me flinch. I couldn’t bear to look at my sister. Something about her frozen expression made my stomach tighten. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her be still. Ever.
This image always reminds me of
this book! Creepy, right? :)The wail of a siren in the distance settled my new reality around me like a heavy shroud. I’d called 911 when I saw the front door ajar. I hadn’t expected to find this inside. Now I had to get out before anyone saw me.
Blood, cool and sticky, seeped through the knees of my jeans. Hitching back a sob, I pressed my lips to the forehead of each of my family members. A silent goodbye, which should have been so much more.
With stumbling steps, I hurried through my darkened house. They’d made sure not a single bulb worked, which pissed me off enough to worm through my grief.
“Miserable, shitty, stupid, things,” I growled. My feet crunched over broken glass in the kitchen and I slid into the counter. My mother’s favorite pitcher sat there, full of iced tea, ready for dinner just like any other night. A bloody handprint streaked across the counter next to it. With shaking fingers, I pressed my palm against the print. It had to be my mom’s—her hands were the same size as mine.
A hitching sob doubled me over. How could this happen?
The siren grew louder, wailing like the beast of my grief in my chest. All I wanted to do was to huddle on the floor and whimper. But I had to get out. If I didn’t go now, I’d never escape. No time for clothes, extra cash, anything.
They wanted it that way. Stifling a cry at this painful realization, I fumbled with the back door, finally releasing the lock. Run, run, run!
--I hope this caught your interest. The novel will be available this coming November!
Meradeth Houston is the author of the Sary Society series: Colors Like Memories, The Chemistry of Fate, and Surrender the Sky. Catch the first two books for just 99 pennies! Soon to be released will be a sci-fi novel with killer aliens: Absence of Light. When she's not writing, she's an anthropology professor who talks a whole lot about dead people's DNA!
Find Meradeth Houston online at: www.MeradethHouston.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and of course her blog!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
YA Reader Appreciation Blog Hop: First Peek Friday
Thanks so much for hosting me! It's always so fun to get to visit my favorite places around the web :) Today we're supposed to be sharing a little teaser from one of our books. I'm really excited to share something from my upcoming release, Absence of Light, with Evernight Teen. It's a little different from my Sary series, but it's also really near and dear to my heart. I thought I'd share a little from the beginning of the book. Hope you enjoy!
**Please note that this is still not the final version, so things might change before publication!**
The dead don’t blink. My father’s blank stare seemed to follow me around the room. My mother beside him had a narrow-eyed glare that made me flinch. I couldn’t bear to look at my sister. Something about her frozen expression made my stomach tighten. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her be still. Ever.
This image always reminds me ofthis book! Creepy, right? :)The wail of a siren in the distance settled my new reality around me like a heavy shroud. I’d called 911 when I saw the front door ajar. I hadn’t expected to find this inside. Now I had to get out before anyone saw me.
Blood, cool and sticky, seeped through the knees of my jeans. Hitching back a sob, I pressed my lips to the forehead of each of my family members. A silent goodbye, which should have been so much more.
With stumbling steps, I hurried through my darkened house. They’d made sure not a single bulb worked, which pissed me off enough to worm through my grief.
“Miserable, shitty, stupid, things,” I growled. My feet crunched over broken glass in the kitchen and I slid into the counter. My mother’s favorite pitcher sat there, full of iced tea, ready for dinner just like any other night. A bloody handprint streaked across the counter next to it. With shaking fingers, I pressed my palm against the print. It had to be my mom’s—her hands were the same size as mine.
A hitching sob doubled me over. How could this happen?
The siren grew louder, wailing like the beast of my grief in my chest. All I wanted to do was to huddle on the floor and whimper. But I had to get out. If I didn’t go now, I’d never escape. No time for clothes, extra cash, anything.
They wanted it that way. Stifling a cry at this painful realization, I fumbled with the back door, finally releasing the lock. Run, run, run!
--I hope this caught your interest. The novel will be available this coming November!
Meradeth Houston is the author of the Sary Society series: Colors Like Memories, The Chemistry of Fate, and Surrender the Sky. Catch the first two books for just 99 pennies! Soon to be released will be a sci-fi novel with killer aliens: Absence of Light. When she's not writing, she's an anthropology professor who talks a whole lot about dead people's DNA!
Find Meradeth Houston online at: www.MeradethHouston.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and of course her blog!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
September 25, 2014
Throwback Thursday with author D.R. Graham!
Today I've got author D.R. Graham on my blog talking about Throwback Thursday. Check out her post and make sure to enter the awesome giveaway below! 
Hi Everyone! My name is Danielle. I write both Young Adult and New Adult novels under the name D.R. Graham. I was born in Whitehorse, Yukon and grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. BRAMPTON BEACH is a three book Young Adult series that is set in a small fictional historical village located on the Sea To Sky Highway between Vancouver and Squamish, British Columbia. I have spent years hiking and skiing in the area. This is what it looks like:
Here are a few recent photos of me hiking near Squamish:
Here are a few throwbacks of my husband, my friends, and me hiking in our twenties. Please forgive our fashion sense.
Author: D.R. GrahamD.R. Graham is the author of Young Adult and New Adult novels. She worked as a social worker with at-risk youth for seven years before becoming a therapist in private practice. The clients she works with are children and teenagers. Her novels deal with issues relevant to young and new adults in love, transition, or crisis. She is also an award winning columnist for the Richmond News. She currently lives in Vancouver,
British Columbia with her husband. www.drgrahambooks.com
Bonus Giveaway: Everyone who joins the Graham Crackers Street Team during the Young Adult Reader Appreciation Week September 22-26th, 2014 will be entered into a draw to win a $10.00 Amazon Gift
Card Click to Join the Graham Crackers Street Team.
Check out the books that I will be giving away all this week on Twitter and in the raffle:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Hi Everyone! My name is Danielle. I write both Young Adult and New Adult novels under the name D.R. Graham. I was born in Whitehorse, Yukon and grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. BRAMPTON BEACH is a three book Young Adult series that is set in a small fictional historical village located on the Sea To Sky Highway between Vancouver and Squamish, British Columbia. I have spent years hiking and skiing in the area. This is what it looks like: Here are a few recent photos of me hiking near Squamish:
Here are a few throwbacks of my husband, my friends, and me hiking in our twenties. Please forgive our fashion sense.
Author: D.R. GrahamD.R. Graham is the author of Young Adult and New Adult novels. She worked as a social worker with at-risk youth for seven years before becoming a therapist in private practice. The clients she works with are children and teenagers. Her novels deal with issues relevant to young and new adults in love, transition, or crisis. She is also an award winning columnist for the Richmond News. She currently lives in Vancouver,
British Columbia with her husband. www.drgrahambooks.com
Bonus Giveaway: Everyone who joins the Graham Crackers Street Team during the Young Adult Reader Appreciation Week September 22-26th, 2014 will be entered into a draw to win a $10.00 Amazon GiftCard Click to Join the Graham Crackers Street Team.
Check out the books that I will be giving away all this week on Twitter and in the raffle:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
September 24, 2014
Woman Crush Wednesday with author Kitsy Clare!
YA Reader Appreciation Week continues with YA/NA author Kitsy Clare. Please welcome her today as she talks about Woman Crush Wednesday on my blog. Read through her wonderful post and be sure to enter for a chance to win a ton of awesome prizes!
Woman Crush Wednesday:
Sienna is the leading lady in my Art of Lovebooks, Model Position and Private Internship. She is spirited, talented, beautiful and yet still struggling with some issues, like her OCD neatnik tendencies and her insecurity around relationships. Since most of us struggle with one thing or another it makes her relatable, someone you want to root for. Here are a few snippets from my two novels that illustrate these traits. See what you think.
Two passages from Model Position showing Sienna’s pluck yet insecurity:
1.
“Sienna, you’re so incredibly sexy, I can’t take my eyes off of you.”
“That’s a good thing,” I jibe, “because you need to study me to be able to paint me.”
2.
I felt so out of control yesterday trying to get comfortable around Lydia Hightower that it’s reassuring to line up my brushes and then my paints in perfectly straight lines on my palette. Though I know that in the process of painting, they’ll end up in multi-hued blobs. I wonder if I’ll feel compelled, as I usually do, to keep realigning them.
And one from Private Internship showing Sienna’s power and allure:
1.
I get up and walk away from Caz, stand in front of my digital print still clipped on the drawing line. “You told me earlier that you liked my work. Was that bullshit? And what about your work? What are you really trying to say with it? Because, if that Tarot reading was on the money, you play a lot of clever games, but distract yourself from what your heart really needs to express.” I spin around and stare at him. The candlelight lends everything a witchy, theatrical flair. Figures, after all, it is Halloween.
His face is a fast moving flurry of emotion: fury, that elusive, unnamed sadness, and could it be—a glimmer of sudden lust?
My chest fills with waves of unexpected, guilty desire. “Am I close?” I whisper, mirroring his words.
“Close,” Caz whispers back, his voice thick. He rises and stalks slowly toward me, locking onto his quarry, the inked panther on his neck rising and falling. “Sienna, beautiful, strong artist. My lord, woman, what are you doing to me?” His expressive hands reach out and lightly graze my cheekbones, the vulnerable sides of my forehead.
Private Internship launches on Sept 29 but preorders are open now:Here
The first in the series, Model Position is on sale at Amazon:Here
Media & buy links:
Subscribe to my newsletter: Newsletter
Kitsy Clare books on Amazon:Amazon
B&N: Here
Catherine Stine books on Amazon: Here
B&N: Here
Pinterest:Here
Website: Here
My Bio:
Kitsy Clare hails from Philly and lives in Manhattan. A romantic at heart, she loves writing about the sexy intrigue of the city and of the art world. She knows it well, having shown her paintings here before turning to writing. Model Position, her new adult novella is about artist Sienna and her friends. Living in a Bookworld says: “Beautifully written! We learn things about art & painting. A colorful story from a promising author.” The next in The Art of Love series, Private Internship launches Sept 29 with Inkspell.
Kitsy also writes YA as Catherine Stine. Her futuristic thriller, Ruby’s Fire was a YA finalist in the Next Generation Indie book awards. Fireseed One, its companion novel, was a finalist in YA and Sci-Fi in the USA News International Book Awards, and an Indie Reader notable. Her YA horror, Dorianna, launches fall 2014 with Evernight Teen. a Rafflecopter giveaway
Woman Crush Wednesday:
Sienna is the leading lady in my Art of Lovebooks, Model Position and Private Internship. She is spirited, talented, beautiful and yet still struggling with some issues, like her OCD neatnik tendencies and her insecurity around relationships. Since most of us struggle with one thing or another it makes her relatable, someone you want to root for. Here are a few snippets from my two novels that illustrate these traits. See what you think.
Two passages from Model Position showing Sienna’s pluck yet insecurity:
1.
“Sienna, you’re so incredibly sexy, I can’t take my eyes off of you.”
“That’s a good thing,” I jibe, “because you need to study me to be able to paint me.”
2.
I felt so out of control yesterday trying to get comfortable around Lydia Hightower that it’s reassuring to line up my brushes and then my paints in perfectly straight lines on my palette. Though I know that in the process of painting, they’ll end up in multi-hued blobs. I wonder if I’ll feel compelled, as I usually do, to keep realigning them.
And one from Private Internship showing Sienna’s power and allure:
1.
I get up and walk away from Caz, stand in front of my digital print still clipped on the drawing line. “You told me earlier that you liked my work. Was that bullshit? And what about your work? What are you really trying to say with it? Because, if that Tarot reading was on the money, you play a lot of clever games, but distract yourself from what your heart really needs to express.” I spin around and stare at him. The candlelight lends everything a witchy, theatrical flair. Figures, after all, it is Halloween.
His face is a fast moving flurry of emotion: fury, that elusive, unnamed sadness, and could it be—a glimmer of sudden lust?
My chest fills with waves of unexpected, guilty desire. “Am I close?” I whisper, mirroring his words.
“Close,” Caz whispers back, his voice thick. He rises and stalks slowly toward me, locking onto his quarry, the inked panther on his neck rising and falling. “Sienna, beautiful, strong artist. My lord, woman, what are you doing to me?” His expressive hands reach out and lightly graze my cheekbones, the vulnerable sides of my forehead.
Private Internship launches on Sept 29 but preorders are open now:Here
The first in the series, Model Position is on sale at Amazon:Here
Media & buy links:
Subscribe to my newsletter: Newsletter
Kitsy Clare books on Amazon:Amazon
B&N: Here
Catherine Stine books on Amazon: Here
B&N: Here
Pinterest:Here
Website: Here
My Bio:
Kitsy Clare hails from Philly and lives in Manhattan. A romantic at heart, she loves writing about the sexy intrigue of the city and of the art world. She knows it well, having shown her paintings here before turning to writing. Model Position, her new adult novella is about artist Sienna and her friends. Living in a Bookworld says: “Beautifully written! We learn things about art & painting. A colorful story from a promising author.” The next in The Art of Love series, Private Internship launches Sept 29 with Inkspell.
Kitsy also writes YA as Catherine Stine. Her futuristic thriller, Ruby’s Fire was a YA finalist in the Next Generation Indie book awards. Fireseed One, its companion novel, was a finalist in YA and Sci-Fi in the USA News International Book Awards, and an Indie Reader notable. Her YA horror, Dorianna, launches fall 2014 with Evernight Teen. a Rafflecopter giveaway
September 23, 2014
Transformation Tuesday with author Lisa Brown Roberts
Celebrating YA Reader Appreciation Week is in full swing! Today I've got author Lisa Brown Roberts on my blog talking about her road to publication. I love these stories and hearing about how writers finally got the book deal.
Thanks for being here Lisa. Please tell my readers about your journey into publication.
My Journey to Publication - Lisa Brown RobertsHOW TO DROP A CLASS (AND FALL IN LOVE) was inspired by the dot-com crash that happened in the early 2000’s. It could have been inspired by any economic recession, but this one impacted me personally. My family and I went through our own “class drop” and the emotional and financial impacts were devastating. Unlike previous novels I’d written (and not published), this one came from my heart. I wanted to tell a riches-to-rags story, but with hope and humor, and of course a love story, because I’m a romance writer at my core.
Once I’d gone through many drafts and revisions, with enormous help from my awesome critique group, I started querying agents and pitching at conferences. I’d reached the stage of “positive rejections” when I decided to submit to Entangled Publishing. I’d heard a lot of buzz about Entangled and read a slew of their fantastic YA novels. The fact that I could submit to them un-agented was a huge plus! Meanwhile, I also entered the 2013 Rocky Mountain Fiction Writer’s Colorado Gold contest in the YA category. I was thrilled to be a finalist in that category. I didn’t win, but you know what they say…it’s an honor to be nominated ☺.
The Fall of 2013 was a flurry of excitement – attending the RMFW contest in September as a finalist, receiving an offer of publication from Entangled, which led to signing with agent Nicole Resciniti of The Seymour Agency, culminating with officially signing the Entangled contract the day before Thanksgiving while celebrating with my in-laws in Dallas.
When people ask me how long it took to go from unpublished to published, I have a hard time answering. The long answer is I knew I wanted to be an author when I was seven years old, and that desire never wavered. What did waver, however, was my own self-confidence, the lack of which hobbled me for years. I wrote in fits and starts, never finishing anything, until I joined SCBWI, which led to my amazing critique group of serious, dedicated, professional authors who slapped me upside the head (with love) until I finished this book. Since completing this book, I’ve written two YA romantic comedies, one of which is contracted to Entangled Teen. I still battle self-doubt, but I’ve learned that the best way to push through it is to keep writing every day, no matter what. Plus looking at random photos of Johnny Depp helps.
HOW TO DROP A CLASS (AND FALL IN LOVE) by Lisa Brown Roberts releases in February 2015 from Entangled Teen.
Darcy Covington is completely unprepared when her car is repossessed from her elite private school and her new nickname, Repo Girl, goes viral. Used to hiding in the shadows of her larger-than-life infomercial king dad and drama queen best friend, Darcy’s forced into the spotlight when her dad goes AWOL. Can Darcy make a new life for herself and her family on the run-down side of town, decipher the cryptic clues to find her missing dad, and maybe fall in love along the way?
Pre-order Links:
iBooks
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
Lisa Brown Roberts still hasn’t recovered from the teenage trauma of nearly tweezing off both of her eyebrows and having to pencil them in for an entire school year. This and other angst-filled memories inspire her to write and read YA books about navigating life's painful and funny dramas, and falling in love along the way. Connect with Lisa at lisabrownroberts.com, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and Instagram.
In celebration of YA Reader Appreciation Week, from September 22-26, 2014, follow Lisa on Twitter and you might win free books and swag!a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thanks for being here Lisa. Please tell my readers about your journey into publication.
My Journey to Publication - Lisa Brown RobertsHOW TO DROP A CLASS (AND FALL IN LOVE) was inspired by the dot-com crash that happened in the early 2000’s. It could have been inspired by any economic recession, but this one impacted me personally. My family and I went through our own “class drop” and the emotional and financial impacts were devastating. Unlike previous novels I’d written (and not published), this one came from my heart. I wanted to tell a riches-to-rags story, but with hope and humor, and of course a love story, because I’m a romance writer at my core.
Once I’d gone through many drafts and revisions, with enormous help from my awesome critique group, I started querying agents and pitching at conferences. I’d reached the stage of “positive rejections” when I decided to submit to Entangled Publishing. I’d heard a lot of buzz about Entangled and read a slew of their fantastic YA novels. The fact that I could submit to them un-agented was a huge plus! Meanwhile, I also entered the 2013 Rocky Mountain Fiction Writer’s Colorado Gold contest in the YA category. I was thrilled to be a finalist in that category. I didn’t win, but you know what they say…it’s an honor to be nominated ☺.
The Fall of 2013 was a flurry of excitement – attending the RMFW contest in September as a finalist, receiving an offer of publication from Entangled, which led to signing with agent Nicole Resciniti of The Seymour Agency, culminating with officially signing the Entangled contract the day before Thanksgiving while celebrating with my in-laws in Dallas.
When people ask me how long it took to go from unpublished to published, I have a hard time answering. The long answer is I knew I wanted to be an author when I was seven years old, and that desire never wavered. What did waver, however, was my own self-confidence, the lack of which hobbled me for years. I wrote in fits and starts, never finishing anything, until I joined SCBWI, which led to my amazing critique group of serious, dedicated, professional authors who slapped me upside the head (with love) until I finished this book. Since completing this book, I’ve written two YA romantic comedies, one of which is contracted to Entangled Teen. I still battle self-doubt, but I’ve learned that the best way to push through it is to keep writing every day, no matter what. Plus looking at random photos of Johnny Depp helps.
HOW TO DROP A CLASS (AND FALL IN LOVE) by Lisa Brown Roberts releases in February 2015 from Entangled Teen.
Darcy Covington is completely unprepared when her car is repossessed from her elite private school and her new nickname, Repo Girl, goes viral. Used to hiding in the shadows of her larger-than-life infomercial king dad and drama queen best friend, Darcy’s forced into the spotlight when her dad goes AWOL. Can Darcy make a new life for herself and her family on the run-down side of town, decipher the cryptic clues to find her missing dad, and maybe fall in love along the way?
Pre-order Links:
iBooks
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
Lisa Brown Roberts still hasn’t recovered from the teenage trauma of nearly tweezing off both of her eyebrows and having to pencil them in for an entire school year. This and other angst-filled memories inspire her to write and read YA books about navigating life's painful and funny dramas, and falling in love along the way. Connect with Lisa at lisabrownroberts.com, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and Instagram.In celebration of YA Reader Appreciation Week, from September 22-26, 2014, follow Lisa on Twitter and you might win free books and swag!a Rafflecopter giveaway
September 21, 2014
Man Crush Monday, #YAReaderAppreciationWeek, guest author Shannon Lee Alexander
All week long I'm participating in YA Reader Appreciation Week. Several authors including myself are giving away a ton of prizes to celebrate. And to kick things off, today I've got author, Shannon Lee Alexander, talking about her current man crush.
Let's meet Charlie Hanson from Love and Other Unknown Variables, Ms. Alexander's upcoming release! (BTW, I'm in the middle of reading this and you totally need to grab this one up when it's released!)
Meet Charlie Hanson, king of the nerds at the Brighton School of Mathematics and Science and narrator of Love and Other Unknown Variables. This tall, lanky senior loves Preorder your copy of Love and Other Unknown Variables today. You’ll definitely want to get to know Charlie a better. He’s got quite a story to tell. Plus you know what they say about nerds…wink, wink.
Tweet about your favorite geek on Twitter today. Be sure to tag me @Shanlalexander and be sure to use the #LoveAndOtherUnknownVariables hashtag. A winner will be chosen at random to receive a Teal Toes prize pack. Teal Toes is an organization dedicated to spreading ovarian cancer awareness, a cause near and very dear to my heart.
Love and Other Unknown Variables releases from Entangled Publishing October 7, 2014.
Charlie Hanson has a clear vision of his future. A senior at Brighton School of Mathematics and Science, he knows he’ll graduate, go to MIT, and inevitably discover the solutions to the universe’s greatest unanswerable problems. He’s that smart. But Charlie’s future blurs the moment he reaches out to touch the tattoo on a beautiful girl’s neck.
The future has never seemed very kind to Charlotte Finch, so she’s counting on the present. She’s not impressed by the strange boy pawing at her until she learns he’s a student at Brighton, where her sister has just taken a job as the English teacher. With her encouragement, Charlie orchestrates the most effective prank campaign in Brighton history. And in doing so, he puts his own future in jeopardy.
By the time he learns Charlotte is ill—and that the pranks were a way to distract Ms. Finch from Charlotte’s illness—Charlotte’s gravitational pull on Charlie is too great to overcome. Soon he must choose between the familiar formulas he’s always relied on, or the girl he’s falling for (at far more than 32 feet per second).
To preorder Love and Other Unknown Variables, click here.
Author Bio:
Shannon Lee Alexander is a wife and mother (of two kids and one yellow terrier named Harriet Potter). She is passionate about coffee, books, and cancer research. Math makes her break out in a sweat. Love and Other Unknown Variables is her debut novel. She currently lives in Indianapolis with her family.
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Goodreads reviews for Love and Other Unknown Variables
Reviews from Goodreads.com
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Let's meet Charlie Hanson from Love and Other Unknown Variables, Ms. Alexander's upcoming release! (BTW, I'm in the middle of reading this and you totally need to grab this one up when it's released!)
Meet Charlie Hanson, king of the nerds at the Brighton School of Mathematics and Science and narrator of Love and Other Unknown Variables. This tall, lanky senior loves Preorder your copy of Love and Other Unknown Variables today. You’ll definitely want to get to know Charlie a better. He’s got quite a story to tell. Plus you know what they say about nerds…wink, wink.
Tweet about your favorite geek on Twitter today. Be sure to tag me @Shanlalexander and be sure to use the #LoveAndOtherUnknownVariables hashtag. A winner will be chosen at random to receive a Teal Toes prize pack. Teal Toes is an organization dedicated to spreading ovarian cancer awareness, a cause near and very dear to my heart.
Love and Other Unknown Variables releases from Entangled Publishing October 7, 2014.
Charlie Hanson has a clear vision of his future. A senior at Brighton School of Mathematics and Science, he knows he’ll graduate, go to MIT, and inevitably discover the solutions to the universe’s greatest unanswerable problems. He’s that smart. But Charlie’s future blurs the moment he reaches out to touch the tattoo on a beautiful girl’s neck.
The future has never seemed very kind to Charlotte Finch, so she’s counting on the present. She’s not impressed by the strange boy pawing at her until she learns he’s a student at Brighton, where her sister has just taken a job as the English teacher. With her encouragement, Charlie orchestrates the most effective prank campaign in Brighton history. And in doing so, he puts his own future in jeopardy.
By the time he learns Charlotte is ill—and that the pranks were a way to distract Ms. Finch from Charlotte’s illness—Charlotte’s gravitational pull on Charlie is too great to overcome. Soon he must choose between the familiar formulas he’s always relied on, or the girl he’s falling for (at far more than 32 feet per second).
To preorder Love and Other Unknown Variables, click here.
Author Bio:
Shannon Lee Alexander is a wife and mother (of two kids and one yellow terrier named Harriet Potter). She is passionate about coffee, books, and cancer research. Math makes her break out in a sweat. Love and Other Unknown Variables is her debut novel. She currently lives in Indianapolis with her family.
#goodreads-widget { font-family: georgia, serif; padding: 18px 0; width:575px; } #goodreads-widget h1 { font-weight:normal; font-size: 16px; border-bottom: 1px solid #BBB596; margin-bottom: 0; } #goodreads-widget a { text-decoration: none; color:#660; } iframe{ background-color: #ffffff; } #goodreads-widget a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } #goodreads-widget a:active { color:#660; } #gr_footer { width: 100%; border-top: 1px solid #BBB596; text-align: right; } #goodreads-widget .gr_branding{ color: #382110; font-size: 11px; text-decoration: none; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; }
Goodreads reviews for Love and Other Unknown Variables
Reviews from Goodreads.com
a Rafflecopter giveaway
September 20, 2014
Review of The Gray Horizon by M. Kircher
Blurb:
What does it mean to be brave? This is the question Caden must answer as he accompanies Thea, Ben, Rain, and Naomi back out under the dark clouds of the canopy, to rescue Viv from the deadly shadows and save a shattered Earth from the brink of destruction. Caden’s lazy, arrogant nature is tested as the group draws closer to finding Viv, forcing him to confront his inner demons and admit his feelings for Thea—even as their relationship is threatened by her ever-growing connection to Ben.
Will Caden discover his true potential? Or, when the group uncovers a devastating secret and faces a betrayal that has the power to turn the tide in the war with the shadows, will he abandon his friends and go back to a life of never-ending darkness?
Find out in The Gray Horizon, the exciting, action-packed sequel to The War Inside.
MY REVIEW: 5 HUGE STARS!
Wonderful sequel!
The Gray Horizon by M. Kircher is a knockout sequel to The War Inside. The story resumes with characters Thea, Caden, Rain, Viv...to name a few. I love the way (it's lyrical and beautiful) Ms. Kircher writes about light and dark and how those elements effect her characters, the world they live in, and to a degree, her readers.
It's refreshing to read a book where those written words can make the reader stop, sit up and ponder about the musing in a book and how that can translate to real life.
The Ancient One...oh my. If things weren't challenging enough, wait until you stumble across this twist in the story. I enjoyed the way weakness and strengths were executed in The Gray Horizon. It was well balanced and reminded me that even the strongest person has weakness and even the weakest can emerge from nowhere and surprise you.
The characters were unique, individual and fleshed out well. They each brought something different to the table making this a fast paced, diverse read where you find yourself flipping fast through the pages eager to find out what happens next.
This is an amazing Dystopian read, high on this readers radar waiting patiently for book 3 in this trilogy.
If you're a fan of Dystopian YA Fiction, you'll want to snatch this one up in a hurry and make sure to clear your schedule. It was hard to pace myself once I started. Hats off!
Buy Book 1, The War Inside here: Amazon
Add The War Inside on Goodreads here: Goodreads
Buy Book 2, The Gray Horizon here: Amazon
Add The Gray Horizon on Goodreads here: Goodreads
Author Bio:
I believe that stories can change the world. I also believe that teens and young adults have eyes that are open and ears that are awake to the thrumming life hidden deep within great books. I write YA fiction because I'm in love with stories and because I want generations of young people to hold tight to the vastness of their potential—the potential that lies waiting in all of us. The world is ours for the making.
No matter who you are, you have the power to do great things.
Happy reading! — M. Kircher
September 14, 2014
YA Reader Appreciation Blog
It probably goes without saying that authors adore readers. Not just because they drive our book sales (though we do enjoy that part as well), but we love them because they inspire us in so many ways. Whether it’s great book discussions on twitter or awe-inspiring, witty book reviews on blogs, readers let authors know that all those countless, caffeine fueled hours of staring at a blinking cursor were not in vain. They challenge us to make our work better with every retweet and facebook like. Readers are truly an inspiration, and it’s about time we appreciate them.
That’s right next week is all about you. And while we are busy giving away tons of fantastic prizes both on twitter and our YA Reader Appreciation Blog Hop , we will be introducing you to some of our favorite characters and novels.
But let’s get to the good stuff first…the prizes.
What and How You Can Win:
There are two ways to win prizes during our YA Reader Appreciation Week . All week make sure to follow the YA Reader Appreciation authors on twitter because they will be giving away a ton of swag. Not only will you get exclusive content from their latest works, but simply by hitting follow on twitter, you could win a ton of free books and book-related awesomeness. Just look at the twitter loot below:
Twitter Prizes From Authors -
Tiffany Truitt (@tiffanytruitt) – ebook of The Language of Silence
Shannon Alexander (@shanlalexander) - 4 Teal Toes prize packs (teal polish & teal nail kit in a teal burlap bag) and 1 Ugly Cry Reader Survival kit (tissues & Amazon gift card)
Danielle Graham (@drgrahambooks) - 1 digital copy of Psi Another Day by D.R. Rosensteel, One digital copy of Will The Real Abi Saunders Please Stand Up by Sara Hantz, 1 Audio Copy of NEVER ENOUGH by Denise Jaden, 1 Digital copy of HIT THAT AND YOU’RE DEAD by D.R. Graham
But the fun won’t just be going on in the twitter universe. Each day of the blog hop, you can enter to win a HUGE, HUGE, HUGE prize pack of awesomeness. How? It’s pretty easy; follow the hop and enter the raffle.
Blog Hop Prizes:
Ebook of The Language of Silence by Tiffany Truitt
Ebooks of Colors Like Memory and The Chemistry of Fate by Meradeth Houston
Ebooks of Model Position and Private Internship by Catherine Stine writing as Kitsy Clare
Ebook of Love and Other Unknown Variablesand a handmade math book magnet by Shannon Alexander
1 digital copy of Psi Another Day by D.R. Rosensteel,
One digital copy of Will The Real Abi Saunders Please Stand Up by Sara Hantz,
1 Audio Copy of NEVER ENOUGH by Denise Jaden,
1 Digital copy of HIT THAT AND YOU’RE DEAD by D.R. Graham
Ebooks of The Vulcan Legacies Series by Sasha Hibbs
Swag bag of “Talismans for the Journey" inspired by the novel HOW TO DROP A CLASS & FALL IN LOVE by Lisa Brown Roberts
Now…on to the hop. Each day the authors below will be talking all things YA. And having a little fun doing it too.
Monday (9/22) is Man Crush Monday where you can meet the leading males of some of YA’s hottest new novels.
Catherine Stine hosts Kate Jarvik BirchSasha Hibbs hosts Shannon Lee AlexanderMeradeth Snow hosts Sasha Hibbs Lisa Brown Roberts hosts D.R. GrahamKate Jarvik Birch hosts Tiffany TruittShannon Lee Alexander hosts Catherine StineD. R. Graham hosts Meradeth Snow Tiffany Truitt hosts Lisa Brown Roberts
Tuesday (9/23) is Transformation Tuesday where you will find out how your favorite novels went from simply ideas to published works.
Catherine Stine hosts Meradeth SnowSasha Hibbs hosts Lisa Brown RobertsMeradeth Snow hosts Kate Jarvik BirchLisa Brown Roberts Shannon Lee AlexanderKate Jarvik Birch hosts Tiffany TruittShannon Lee Alexander hosts D.R. GrahamD. R. Graham hosts Catherine Stine Tiffany Truitt hosts Sasha Hibbs
Wednesday (9/24) is Woman Crush Wednesday where you will meet the leading ladies of some of YA’s hottest new novels.
Catherine Stine hosts Tiffany TruittSasha Hibbs hosts Catherine StineMeradeth Snow hosts Sasha HibbsLisa Brown Roberts Meradeth SnowKate Jarvik Birch hosts Lisa Brown RobertsShannon Lee Alexander hosts Katie Jarvik BirchD. R. Graham hosts Shannon Lee Alexander Tiffany Truitt hosts D.R. Graham
Thursday (9/25) is Transformation Thursday where you will find out more about the lives of some of your favorite YA authors.
Catherine Stine hosts Lisa Brown Roberts Sasha Hibbs hosts D. R. GrahamMeradeth Snow hosts Tiffany TruittLisa Brown Roberts Catherine StineKate Jarvik Birch hosts Sasha HibbsShannon Lee Alexander hosts Meradeth SnowD. R. Graham hosts Katie Jarvik BirchTiffany Truitt hosts Shannon Lee Alexander
Friday (9/26) is First Look Friday where you will qet a sneak peek and exclusive content from our YA authors.
Catherine Stine hosts Shannon Lee AlexanderSasha Hibbs hosts Meradeth SnowMeradeth Snow hosts D. R. GrahamLisa Brown Roberts hosts Tiffany TruittKate Jarvik Birch hosts Catherine StineShannon Lee Alexander hosts Sasha HibbsD. R. Graham hosts Lisa Brown RobertsTiffany Truitt hosts Katie Jarvik Birch
We hope you are just as excited as we are to celebrate some YA Readers! Help spread the word and check back on 9/22 for the start of the blog hop and tons of chances to win some great loot! But WAIT…you can start entering the giveaway today by following our YA authors and helping to spread the word. Click on the raffle link below to find out more!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
