René Gilley's Blog, page 2

JUST SING Cover Reveal

Dreams do come true! Revealing the cover of my young adult debut book, JUST SING

Blurb:

Sixteen-year-old Lily O’Brien has one goal in life—to sing. Her dream is to get into a topnotch college vocal program, but the summer before her junior year, her high school cuts their awarding-winning vocal ensemble. She might as well kiss her dreams goodbye.

When the snobby new neighbors move into their mansion up the hill, Lily is positive summer can’t get any worse, and she’s determined to hate and ignore them—until she meets Aiden.

He’s broken and beautiful, and they become reluctant friends. Through her newfound friendship, she finds the strength to step outside the comfort of her plan and follow her dream.

But when Lily’s family is about to lose their home, she puts her wishes aside and finds the answer to save their generations-old ranch in the last place she expected.

JUST SING will be available in ebook and paperback, June 5, 2014. Published by The Writer’s Coffee Shop Publishing House TWCS

Branded Cover Reveal by Katie Hamstead

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17973222-branded

Blurb:

Terrorists have invaded Sydney, and Allison King barely escapes her brother’s wedding reception alive. She and her siblings flee, but their parents are killed by firing squad.

Now Ali’s on the run and terrified. While searching for other survivors, she is captured by the General who leads the invasion. He’s smitten by Ali, and when she refuses to submit to his whims, he brands her for death. In a wild act of defiance, she snatches the branding rod and sears the mark onto his face. Marking not only him but also sealing her fate. Ali manages to escape and flees into the bush once more where she finds a group in hiding. Even with the scars left by the General, Ali learns to love and falls in love with the young man who found her—Damien Rogers.

But the General is hunting her. When he discovers their location, and finds her with another man—Damien—his wrath is kindled and his obsession is inflamed. Ali must put herself on the line or the General could kill her family, those who help her, and most significantly, the man she loves.

Kiya 2 Book Blitz & Goodreads Book Giveaway

Today is the day that the second book in the Kiya Trilogy releases; Kiya: Mother of a King.

You can find book one, Kiya: Hope of a Pharaoh HERE

To celebrate, Katie has opened up the comments on her blog for you to ask what you want to know about the series. And yes, book 3 is written and contracted so you will be seeing the final installment before you know it.

So, here is the details for Kiya book 2:

Amazon Kobo B&N Goodreads
 

Nefertiti has forced Naomi to flee Amarna with Malachi and the three children. But even under the protection of Naomi’s family in Thebes, Nefertiti still hunts her and Tut. Nefertiti sends assassins to kill them, and while Naomi fights to protect the children, Malachi fights to keep her safe.


With three children in tow, one of which isn’t her own, she is labeled the harlot outcast wife of the pharaoh and is shunned. She isn’t safe among her own people, and flees from being stoned to death. Although her family protects her, she must find a way to survive.


While Naomi struggles to keep herself and Tut alive, old adversaries return as Smenkhkare takes advantage of Akhenaten’s ailing health. Naomi must rely on Horemheb’s promise to protect Tut’s birthright, but her feelings for Malachi could cause more problems with Horemheb than she expects.

CQ is also hosting a giveaway for Kiya: Mother of a King on Goodreads! So jump in!

Goodreads Book Giveaway


KIYA
by Katie Hamstead
Giveaway ends November 20, 2013.See the giveaway details

at Goodreads.

 

Enter to win

Happy Release Day, EVER!

 

To celebrate EVER’s rebirth, and Jessa Russo’s first step into the indie self-publishing world, she is giving you the first chapter of EVER for FREE! Yup! FREE! You can read along, decide if you want more, then click on one of the buy links below to grab a copy for yourself! *Paperbacks available soon!

Check out the FREE first chapter HERE. 

We’re also having some fun on Twitter (details below), and Jessa has also compiled TWO prize packs of super awesome stuff! There will be one (1) lucky winner in the US, and one (1) lucky winner Internationally! Want to know what we’re giving away? 

***GIVEAWAY FUN!***

The winner(s) will receive the following items: 

US ONLY Prize Pack (ONE winner):

Set of 4: custom Frankie4Ever / Toby4Ever Coasters (2 of each) + Signed EVER bookmarks +

Signed paperback copy of EVER by Jessa Russo (YA)

Complete set* of The Darkness Falls Trilogy e-books from Krystal Wade (YA)

*Includes WILDE’S FIRE, WILDE’S ARMY and WILDE’S MEADOW

Signed paperback copy of EYRE HOUSE by Cait Greer (NA, adult content)

Paperback copy of THE CHARGE by Sharon Bayliss (YA)

Paperback copy of SEALED WITH A CURSE by Cecy Robson (A, mature content)

INTERNATIONAL Prize Pack (ONE winner):

E-book of EVER by Jessa Russo (YA)

Complete set* of The Darkness Falls Trilogy e-books from Krystal Wade (YA)

*Includes WILDE’S FIRE, WILDE’S ARMY and WILDE’S MEADOW

E-book of THE CHARGE by Sharon Bayliss (YA)

E-book of BROKEN FOREST by Eliza Tilton (YA)

E-book of THE VALENTINE CHALLENGE by Marisa Cleveland (A, mature content)

E-book of THE GATHERING DARKNESS by Lisa Collicutt (YA)

E-book of 1,000 SLEEPLESS NIGHTS by Connie Michael 

ENTER HERE:

a Rafflecopter giveaway | a Rafflecopter giveaway  

***TWITTER FUN!*** 

We’re also going to be tweeting a bit today, to celebrate not just EVER’s re-release (hashtag: #EVERTrilogy), but also playing up a major theme of the book–Ever’s love for her deceased best friend. We’ll be tweeting the theme with the hashtag #IfICouldBringBack and then sharing who we would bring back and why, or what we’d do with them, etc. 

So, sticking with EVER as my example, the main female character of the series may tweet something like this: 

#IfICouldBringBack Frankie, I’d finally tell him the truth. That I’ve loved him since we were in diapers. #EVERTrilogy 

Who would you want to bring back? An old flame? A relative? Maybe a famous author or dignitary? Think about it and join in the fun on Sunday, 9/1/13! We’ll see you on Twitter!

***BOOK DETAILS!***

 

EVER

The EVER Trilogy, Book One 

By Jessa Russo

September 1, 2013

 

 

Seventeen-year-old Ever’s love life has been on hold for the past two years. She’s secretly in love with her best friend Frankie, and he’s completely oblivious. Of course, it doesn’t help that he’s dead, and waking up to his ghost every day has made moving on nearly impossible. 

Frustrated and desperate for something real, Ever finds herself falling for her hot new neighbor Toby. His relaxed confidence is irresistible, and not just Ever knows it. But falling for Toby comes with a price that throws Ever’s life into a whirlwind of chaos and drama. More than hearts are on the line, and more than Ever will suffer.

Some girls lose their hearts to love. 

Some girls lose their minds.

Ever Van Ruysdael could lose her soul.

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon  |  Kobo  |  Barnes & Noble  | GoodReads |  Facebook (The EVER Trilogy)

Jessa Russo’s Links:

Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook (Friend)  |  Facebook (Follow/Like)

 

 

Stay tuned for the second book in the trilogy,  EVADE , set to release on October 1st, 2013! 

You can now add EVADE on Goodreads!

 

Remember to follow EVER’s 9/1/13 re-release day FUN on Twitter with these hashtags: 

 

#EVERTrilogy

and 

#IfICouldBringBack

WIPMarathon Goodbye Post #4

Last Word count + Chapter Count:  6,840 words, 4 chapters on my short story. A full edit of my book, JUST SING, first draft is due to editor tomorrow. To learn more about my book, click HERE.

Current Word + Chapter Count: Same as last time since I’ve been editing.

WIP Issues This Week:

I was working on book edits so I didn’t get any writing done. I was dealing with the reactions to my first preventative chemo treatment. To learn more about my stage one TNBC breast cancer, click HERE.

What I Learned This Week In Editing:

That I like my book. I’m sure there will be people out there who throw rotten tomatoes, but I’m happy with it and I’m proud of it. I also learned I’m strong. I was able to deal with chemo, do my job, edit my book, and be a mom and wife. Don’t get me wrong I have help, but no cancer is going to keep me down. As we say in our house, “I’m fighting like a girl!”

What distracted me this week while editing:

Everything. Chemo side effects, work, kids, the heat – it’s hot in Los Angeles right now.

200+ Word sample from my book: 

I hear Melanie washing her hands and the last thing I want is to deal with her skanky ass. I shake my head at Tyler and now that his defenses are down, I’m finally am able to dart around him. And, even though it was a totally smooth move—seriously if the football coach saw it he might want me to be the first girl ever to join the Hilltop High Wildcats—I smack right into someone.

 “Oh shit!” A voice warns me a second too late.

Strong arms catch me from behind before I slip and fall to the ground on my smoothie that spills everywhere.

“Lily, let me help you.” Tyler rushes over.

I cower away from him and lean closer into the guy who still has a hold of me.

“I’ve got her,” a rhythmic voice rumbles against my back.

He smells of spice, ocean air, and something I can’t quite name. And that voice, gah, he has to be gorgeous. I’m almost afraid to look.

Tyler gives a disgusted sound, but backs off since Melanie finally emerges from the restroom and drags him away. I strain my neck to look at the guy who still has hold of me. Confirmed and checked. He. Is. Gorgeous.

“I’m so sorry.” He tries to wipe hot pink slushy off me as I fully face him.

He wipes over my boob and freezes. My whole body warms from embarrassment. He mumbles an apology and focuses on cleaning me up, but is careful to avoid my tatas this time. Thankfully, I have on a black shirt so I’m not giving Taco Bell a free wet t-shirt, Hooters-esque show. And it’s true, there is a God, my padded bra is shielding the effect of the freezing smoothie on my nipples.

Plans for Post-August-Marathon: I’ll be working on my author branding and platform for my book that comes out in June. And, I’ll be starting a New Adult contemporary romance called the Hana House.

**I am so in for a December WIP Marathon. This has been great! **

THANK YOU Ifeoma Dennis for doing this! You are Rock Star and a beautiful person inside and out.

To see the other #WIPMarathon good bye posts click HERE

Good News… Bad News

Life can be as poetic as the stories authors dream up in their heads. Today I have two stories to share with you. One is a happy story or good news, the other not so much.

THE GOOD NEWS FIRST

Since I attended my first beginning writer’s workshop at the 2011 Romantic Times Convention–where my characters and story started swirling around in my head–I’ve been waiting for this day.

I’m overjoyed to announce that my first book, JUST SING, of the SEVEN OAKS SERIES, will be published by The Writer’s Coffee Shop Publishing House TWCS. To learn more about my debut novel visit the ‘My Books’ page.

Over the last few months, I’ve been toying with my path to publishing and how I want to get myself to the market. From my first cold query to the TWCS, my dealings with them have been wonderful and every interaction is the epitome of professionalism. I’m thrilled with my partnership with the TWCS. I can’t wait to share my story and characters with the world. My projected publish date is June 5, 2014.

Wait for it… happy dance.

Thank you to everyone who has helped me with my path to publishing. You’re all invaluable. I truly believe the writing community is an amazing pay-it-forward group of people. I’m proud to be a part of it. Below is a picture of me signing my contract, a great day!

 

THE NOT SO GOOD NEWS

While I’ve been going through this amazing experience, I have also been dealt with a life changing illness. I’ve been diagnosed with Stage One Triple Negative Breast Cancer or TNBC. To learn more about this type of cancer click here (TNBC).

I’m forty-two years young and getting this diagnosis was a shock for my family, doctors, and myself. A thousand things ran through my mind, from I’m going to die and leave my two daughters and husband, to crap Dr. House is a fictional television character. After the dust settled and I found out more about my diagnosis, I realized, I’m extremely lucky.

I’m a very private person and the last thing I want to do is expose myself. I’d rather crawl in my bed and have a pity party. But, I can’t do that. I need to spread the word about prevention, thus I’m sharing my story. To save lives, your life, and the lives of the woman you love.

I found my cancer early by doing a monthly breast self-exam. I have stage one and my diagnosis is excellent. I’ve asked about 30 woman if they do monthly self-exams and only one of them, yes ONLY ONE, does a regular monthly self-exam. That needs to stop NOW.

I’m begging you go spread the word and be proactive yourself. To find out more about how to do a monthly breast self-exam, click here. One in eight women will deal with breast cancer in her life. Those are crazy odds. Your best tool is prevention.

Since I’m healthy, and reiterate am very lucky, I will be able to continue on with life as normal while I get treatment. This diagnosis will not deter my book release or my WIP projects. I know this is due to me being proactive, and I thank my lucky stars daily.

Ten percent of my book profits will go to support charities that are dear to my fight with TNBC and ones that tie into the core theme of each of my books. I hope you’ll stop by again soon, I’ll be giving more information about these great causes.

MORAL TO MY STORY

A few years ago when I told my husband I wanted to write a book and get it published, he was so shocked, you would have thought I cut off my own head and handed it to him. He laughed it off as a hobby and humored my so called ‘dream.’ Well I did follow that crazy dream and now my book will be published. It’s amazing, I’m still pinching myself. With the soul searching I’ve been doing, I know that following that dream was one of the best things I’ve ever done.

I’m leaving you with two thoughts. First, as I tell my beautiful daughters often, no dream is too big. Follow your dreams. Dreams come true. Never Give Up. Second,  please do it yourself and tell the woman you love and care for, to do a monthly breast self-exam. We’re fighting for a cure, but until then, prevention is our best weapon.

HAPPY WRITING

PEACE. LOVE. CURE.