Margo Kelly's Blog, page 41

Underrated Treasures Blogfest!

I haven't participated in a blogfest in ages, and I thought this sounded like a fun one.

For complete details and to visit all of the blogs participating go to:
http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com

Everyone has a favorite movie or band that no one else has ever heard about. For whatever reason, they remain undiscovered and underrated. Now is your chance to tell the world about this obscure treasure!

On Monday, September 22, post about your favorite unknown –

MOVIE – BAND/ARTIST – TV SHOW – BOOK

One of my favorites:
http://www.henson.com/fantasy_scifi.php?content=farscapeAstronaut John Crichton assumes he'll be home in time for dinner. But a freak accident during an experimental space mission catapults him across a thousand galaxies to an alien battlefield. Suddenly, he's trapped among alien creatures wielding deadly technology - a battle that 20th century sci-fi pop culture never prepared him for. Hunted by a merciless military race, Crichton begins his quest for home from a galaxy far, far away ... Thus began the epic adventure "Farscape" the groundbreaking award-winning sci-fi production that has become a fan favorite around the world. Named by TV Guide as one of television's best cult shows ever and known for the overwhelming fan-based campaign that led to the miniseries production, "Farscape" has continued to find new audiences as it airs in syndication and is available on DVD around the world.

What is your favorite underrated treasure?

Favorite Feedback

My debut novel came out last week, and here are some of my favorite snippets from reviews:


"Who R U Really? is a well written, realistic, tense read. Margo Kelly has a way of telling the story that just draws you in." -- Book Lover's Life

"I loved the suspense that begins to build as her parents get involved and strange things begin to occur. The end had me rigid in my seat, and I really enjoyed it. This is definitely going on my students’ outside reading list as an option." -- A Book Vacation

"Who R U Really? is a fantastically creepy book that is surprisingly realistic and totally engrossing. ... once I opened it, I couldn’t close it. Yup, I read this entire book in one single sitting. I just didn’t want to put it down! ... Who R U Really does a great job of portraying what it’s like to find friends online as a teenager that you really connect with. It’s so amazing to finally feel understood, but at the same time there’s also those lurking questions in the back of your mind — are they really who they say they are?" -- Tempest Books

 "The book scared the crap out of me." -- My Fantabulous Bookshelf

"Read this with all the lights on and the doors and windows locked." -- Ginger Reader


Click on over to AMAZON to buy your copy today!

What Sparked the Idea for DESTINY ROAD by Melissa Wray?

What sparked the idea to write Destiny Road?

Recently Melissa Wray was asked this question by Uncommon YA. Here is her very personal response.  We moved to North Queensland when I was 14. After a year or so Mum could see that something about Townsville and I did not mix. Strangely enough it was her suggestion to ring my dad and ask if I could move back south.

So I did. Then I packed my bags and moved 3,000km away to live with him. This decision is what sparked the idea for Destiny Road.

Now I never set out to write this story, let alone have it published. It just kind of happened. It came about because one night I was lying in bed and couldn’t sleep. There was an unspoken conversation going on in my mind. It was a conversation that I regret not having and has played on my mind over the years. This particular night it got the better of me so I got up and began to write. It wasn’t until after I read through those mad ramblings a couple of weeks later that I thought hmmm … I could create a story from this. So I began writing. I passed my 10,000 word milestone. Then 20 then 30 then before I knew it 50,000 words had been typed.

You see I think about that one phone call I made all those years ago sometimes. I have often thought about how that decision, that one pivotal moment that is talked about in Destiny Road, really did change the course of my life. I’m sure as you're reading this you can look back over your life, and pinpoint one moment that has shaped it in a big way. I truly believe that Dad saying yes when I asked was a determining factor in how things have turned out for me.


One afternoon I was sitting with him. He got to talking about his philosophy on life and death. Dad had been fighting a battle against cancer for a while at this point and I was kneeling next to him as he sat on his reclining chair. He was holding my hand as he shared these ideas on life and death. He said to me "It’s cool. Whatever happens, it’s cool." My dad used cool a lot when he spoke. He was pretty cool. He was also a big believer in God. So that afternoon he said "It’s cool if I die because I get to meet my maker." ‘Then he said "But it’s cool if I live because I get to be with the ones I love." This was his philosophy. Either way was cool with him.


I remember kneeling there, holding his hand and wishing I could say thankyou to him. Thanks for saying yes all those years ago. Thanks for that pivotal moment in my life. I wanted him to know how much that meant. But I couldn’t. I just couldn’t get those words out.

 That night he passed away. I never did get to tell him and have regretted that for the past 10 years. So you see once the spark to write Destiny Road was lit, it had to finished. It was my tribute, my thankyou and I am beyond thrilled it was published.
Now I’m not going to bore you with my views on life and death but I can’t help but wonder something, because anyone who knew my dad, Rod Morris, and anyone who knew his sense of humour ... well I can’t help but wonder if there wasn’t a helping hand when Morris Publishing (no relation) chose to publish Destiny Road. I like to think so.
  It's hard to believe two years has passed since the launch of Destiny Road. To celebrate there is a chance to win 2 x $20 Gift Cards, ENTER NOW!

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  To connect with Melissa; FACEBOOK BLOG Read the 1st chapter of Destiny Road FREE.

Happy Book BIRTHDAY!

*.-*.-**throws confetti**.-*.-*       *.-*.-*



It’s a BOOK Birthday!
The birth of a debut book is often a long labor of love, and Margo Kelly’s Who R U Really? is no exception. Margo finished the first draft of the manuscript in 2010! More than four years later, more than four title changes, and way-more-than four revisions … it has finally arrived! WAHOO!
 
*.-*.-**throws confetti**.-*.-*




Who R U Really?
When Thea discovers a new role-playing game online, she breaks her parents’ rules to play. And in the world of the game, Thea falls for an older boy named Kit whose smarts and savvy can’t defeat his near-suicidal despair. Soon, he’s texting her, asking her to meet him, and talking in vague ways about how they can be together forever. As much as she suspects that this is wrong, Thea is powerless to resist Kit’s allure, and hurtles toward the very fate her parents feared most. Who R U Really? will excite you and scare you, as Thea’s life spins out of control.
 
“Kelly has painted a realistic picture of how a smart girl can get caught up in something dangerous online. … Guaranteed to give readers goosebumps.” -- School Library Journal .  (http://www.bookverdict.com)
 
“Thea’s mistakes, while frustrating to encounter, are frighteningly plausible, and the relationships among characters are well–fleshed out, especially between mother and daughter. Kelly’s first novel is a suspenseful page-turner.” -- Kirkus Reviews (www.kirkusreviews.com)
 
Who R U Really? will be published in hardcover and e-book versions by Merit Press (F+W Media) on September 18, 2014.
 
Buy online: Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Merit Press

 
*.-*.-**throws confetti**.-*.-* 
 Margo Kelly is a native of the Northwest and currently resides in Idaho. A veteran public speaker, she is now actively pursuing her love of writing. Who R U Really? is her first novel. Margo welcomes the opportunities to speak to youth groups, library groups, and book clubs.   Follow her online: Website: www.margokelly.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MargoKelly.author
Twitter: @MargoWKelly
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/margokelly

  Scheduled Appearances:
September 26, 2014 – 5pm – Book Signing at Hastings in Meridian, Idaho
September 27, 2014 – 4pm – Book Signing at Hastings on Overland in Boise, Idaho
October 3, 2014 – 7pm – Book Launch Party at Hyde Park Books in Boise, Idaho
October 11, 2014 – 4pm – Book Signing at Barnes & Noble in Boise, Idaho


  Please enjoy a virtual cupcake and enjoy the party! *.-*.-**throws confetti**.-*.-* 

Vulnerability is the Birthplace of Creativity

On the eve of my debut novel's birthday, I'm feeling excited AND ... vulnerable. It's a crazy mix of emotions, and it takes my breath away.

Here's an amazing TED Talk that nails how I'm feeling.

"Vulnerability is the birthplace of joy, creativity, belonging, and love."

This talk made me laugh and cry. It's worth the time to watch and listen:



Do you live whole-heartedly with courage, compassion, and connection?

Do you believe you are "enough" - just the way you are?

Win a Book on Goodreads!

Yay!

My publisher has listed a giveaway on GOODREADS!

Click on over there for your chance to win one of twenty-five copies of Who R U Really?


 The book birthday is getting closer. It will be available 9/18/14, and it's available now for pre-order from your favorite booksellers: Barnes & NobleHyde Park BooksHastings AmazonPowellsAdams Media Store And I'd be thrilled if you helped spread the news by sharing the link on Twitter, Facebook, or your own blog. THANKS!

IWSG: Writing Priorities

It's the first Wednesday of the month! That means it's time for the Insecure Writer's Support Group!

Have you ever struggled to decide if you should spend the day writing ... or cleaning the house, paying bills, spending time with family, or some other activity? I could spend all day every day writing and revising and never come out of my office. But there has to be a balance somewhere, somehow. So instead of writing or revising this week, I'm spending time with family and friends ... taking my daughter to college and getting her settled into her dorm. Writing will actually wait for me. It will be there when I get back. But my daughter won't.

How do you balance your writing goals and other priorities?

Back to School Giveaway!

Welcome to the Back to School Giveaway hosted by the authors at Darkly Delicious YA.



Add great YA titles to your to be read list on Goodreads and enter to win an Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card so that you can purchase novels from your favorite authors.

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GIVEAWAY - - - - - - - - - Perfectly Ernest by E.J. Wesley

Welcome to the release party for Perfectly Ernest by E.J. Wesley! This is a New Adult Contemporary with romantic elements. Perfectly Ernest is now available for sale!

 

DescriptionA gripping story of striking out and winning big.

From a distance, Ernie’s life seems perfect—he’s a star college baseball player adored by the student body and coveted by professional teams. Up close, he is a disaster. Since the death of his mother, he’s been trapped by a promise he made and forced to live her dream instead of his own. He reaches his breaking point in the biggest game of his young career and sets off a chain of events that will either define or destroy the rest of his life.
 Ernie grudgingly joins a quirky campus counseling group that empowers him to heal himself and right his wrongs. By testing old friendships, forging unlikely new ones, and exploring an exciting romance, he begins to unravel the jumbled knot his tangled inner-psyche has become. But old rivals, mental illness, and the risk of a forbidden relationship soon threaten his progress. Will Ernie’s new direction and friends be his salvation, or confirmation that he is forever doomed by his imperfections?
 Perfectly Ernest is a New Adult contemporary novel with romantic elements by author E.J. Wesley. Ernest offers a smart, funny, sweet, sexy, uplifting, and oftentimes poignant perspective of one person’s difficult transition into adulthood. It is a story about overcoming the demons of mental illness and struggling with the profound burden of expectations—both real and imagined. But it’s mostly a tale of friendship, hope, and love.



NOW AVAILABLE!  Amazon |  Barnes & Noble |  Goodreads |  Book Page

Praise“EJ Wesley has written a modern day Breakfast Club.”

“E.J. tells a college love story with a real life feel. He has created a flawed and pitiful character who quickly becomes a rallying point for all the other characters of the story. Ernie is the sort of boy I could easily imagine myself being friends with in college and cheered on through life in general, but certainly the story.”



“EJ’s tale of a college baseball star and the demons he fights is powerful and captivating. Once you’re involved in Ernest’s world, you are invested for the ride. Fans of this genre will say EJ hit it out of the park!” Alex J. Cavanaugh, Amazon bestselling author of the Cassa series



 ”Great cast of characters. Lots of fun humor. Romance. Win! Definitely recommend!”




 ”This is not so much a “coming of age” story, as it is a “coming of self.” I loved reading it”



“It is an inspirational, heartwarming story in which any reader is likely to get lost.”



“This story made me laugh and cry and it was so great to read something sweet and awesome from a guy.”



“Perfectly Ernest offers an emotionally genuine tour through depression, friendship, and love.”



 “It’s wonderful when a story’s voice is so strong as to drag you into someone’s head so it feels natural. I devoured Perfectly Ernest.”



 “…captured my heart from page one.”   



About the Author:Growing up in small-town Oklahoma, there were limits on the amount and types of entertainment at my disposal. Perhaps that’s why I set my imagination free. After collecting degrees in psychology and counseling, life brought me to Missouri, Texas, and Northern California–where I currently read, write, and live. I fill my spare time playing video games, watching movies, planning for the zombie apocalypse, reading graphic novels, and playing with my dogs. My passion for New Adult literature led me to producing the weekly New Adult Lit Chat on Twitter and contributing to the NA Alley Blog. I’m also the author of Moonsongs, a series of New Adult, urban fantasy novelettes. Find me on Twitter @EJWesley or Facebook and we’ll chat!

  Website  | Amazon Author Page | Twitter | Facebook | G+ | LinkedIN | Newsletter 

Giveaway:1 New Adult sports books bundle (INT)1 $15 iTunes gift credit (INT)1 signed paperback copy of Perfectly Ernest + Ernest team jersey. (US)


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Book Review: GRACELING

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Fantastic book. I don't normally read fantasy novels, and so I was concerned I wouldn't like this story simply because it's outside of my normal genre. However, I was captivated from moment one. I originally picked up this novel because it was recommended by Mary Kole in her HOW TO WRITE IRRISISTIBLE KIDLIT book. Kole had specifically recommended it as an example of excellent character development. And I agree. The characters in this story are rich and well fleshed out. As soon as I finished the book, I was left wanting more. The second book in the trilogy, however, has not thrilled me quite as much as the first one. My husband tells me that the second book is "just more fantasy genre than I'm used to" ... but he assures me that the third book is worth the effort of getting through the second book. We'll see. ;) I'm almost done with the second book, and I'll post a review of it soon. But I HIGHLY recommend this first book, even as a stand alone book if you choose to not read the rest of the trilogy.



View all my reviews