Helen Rena's Blog: Books and Their Discontents, page 8
September 19, 2014
I Heart Robot: Cover Reveal
Cover Reveal: I Heart Robot by Suzanne van Rooyen and Giveaway #M9BFridayReveals
Welcome to the Cover Reveal for
I Heart Robot by Suzanne van Rooyen
presented by Month9Books!
Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!
I HEART ROBOT Cover Art from Suzanne van Rooyen
I’m not the most artistically inclined. While I do love art and have been known to bust out the pencils and paints myself, it’s not an area where I’d consider myself particularly talented. In short, I knew that cover design was something best left to the professional and I had every confidence in Month9Books.
I am so grateful to Georgia McBride for allowing me to have the amount of input I did when it came to cover creation for I Heart Robot. This is a novel that is as much about a civil rights struggle in a futuristic, post-war city as it is about romance, and we wanted a cover that reflected both elements. Finding the right balance between romance and science fiction was a tall order, but Month9Books delivered in spades by presenting me with two stylistically different covers. I loved elements of both, and by working closely with the cover artist and with Georgia we managed to combine all the best parts of both original covers into what we have today: a cover that reflects the gritty world my characters live in while emphasizing the fact that this is above all, a love story.
Sixteen-year-old Tyri wants to be a musician and wants to be with someone who won’t belittle her musical aspirations.
Q-I-99 aka ‘Quinn’ lives in a scrap metal sanctuary with other rogue droids. While some use violence to make their voices heard, demanding equal rights for AI enhanced robots, Quinn just wants a moment on stage with his violin to show the humans that androids like him have more to offer than their processing power.
Tyri and Quinn’s worlds collide when they’re accepted by the Baldur Junior Philharmonic Orchestra. As the rift between robots and humans deepens, Tyri and Quinn’s love of music brings them closer together, making Tyri question where her loyalties lie and Quinn question his place in the world. With the city on the brink of civil war, Tyri and Quinn make a shocking discovery that turns their world inside out. Will their passion for music be enough to hold them together while everything else crumbles down around them, or will the truth of who they are tear them apart?
Title: I Heart Robot
Publication date: March 31, 2015
Publisher: Month9Books, LLC.
Author: Suzanne van Rooyen
Suzanne is a tattooed storyteller from South Africa. She currently lives in Finland and finds the cold, dark forests nothing if not inspiring. Although she has a Master’s degree in music, Suzanne prefers conjuring strange worlds and creating quirky characters. When not writing, she teaches dance and music to middle schoolers and entertains her shiba inu, Lego. Suzanne is represented by Jordy Albert of the Booker Albert Agency.
Connect with the Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
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(Winners will receive their book on release day)
September 18, 2014
On the Joys of Reading Cookbooks
I have this quirk: I like reading recipes. Yes, I know it sounds strange, but I actually really do. I read recipes in magazines; I read recipes online; I power through thousand-page-long cookbooks like Joy of Cooking, and then…I RE-READ them. And for all that I don’t even like cooking. In fact, I’d rather clean toilets than cook. But still, I never wondered about my fascination with cookbooks until recently, when my daughter approached me about it…
She: “Mom, how many times will you read this cookbook? Why are you even reading it?”
Me: “Hmm…”
And then it suddenly clicked. All these years I haven’t just been reading recipes – I’ve been looking for a recipe that wouldn’t require cooking!
Alas, I never found one…
September 16, 2014
Rosie Somers on Pride and Editors
Welcome, Rosie!!!
***Cue drums, fireworks, and a guest post by Rosie…***
“Every Author Deserves a Good Editor
I know, from the headline, you’re probably thinking this is going to be some sort of rant about bad editors. Actually, it’s the opposite. I’m about to wax gushy about my amazing editor, Kara Leigh Miller. Without her, Pride would have been flat and boring and just plain awful.
I make no secret of the fact that I have a total author crush on Kara. Not just because we’ve been working together so long that we get each other like an old married couple (bad jokes and all). She makes me a better author. Kara has this way of showing me where I need to improve without making me feel like a complete idiot for making the stupid mistakes that I do — and I make some pretty stupid mistakes. It doesn’t matter how experienced an author is (or if her day job has been working as an Editor for umpteen years); she’s going to miss something. By she, I mean me.
Why? Because it’s hard to be objective about your own writing. I can read my manuscript and reread my manuscript and re-reread my manuscript (see where I’m going with this?) and still miss a silly comma separating a dependent clause from an independent clause, or that Mom should be capitalized when my YA character is talking to her mother. Not because I don’t know these things. I certainly have no trouble catching them anywhere else. But when it comes to my own work, I’m too close; I’m too invested. I picture the scene in my head like watching a movie. I know by heart exactly what my characters are feeling, thinking, wanting, etc.
Enter Kara. She fixes my little typos, deletes big sections of text, rearranges my words, and tells me when my characters are acting dumb, or unrelatable; unrealistic, or just plain weird — And I listen. Because at the end of the day, I know she’s seeing something I don’t see, because I’m too close to see the whole picture. Her view is more removed, and she’s able to see what my readers will see. She makes me a better writer and my books better reads. Everyone deserves a Kara.”
PRIDE by Rosie Somers
Surge, Anaiah Press
Blurb:
Seventeen-year-old Gabriella Pierce is used to taking care of herself, but she’s about to become responsible for a whole lot more. When she gets a visit from three men claiming to be defenders of fantastical rings imbued with the powers of THE CARDINAL SINS, her life is changed irrevocably.
Gabby is the steward of PRIDE
To make matters worse, she’s falling hard for fellow steward, Grant Barnett, and he hates her guts. Now Gabby has to learn to protect Pride without letting her feelings for Grant get in the way.
Release Date: September 9, 2014
Book Links:
Add it on Goodreads! https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22365515-pride
Anaiah Press: http://www.anaiahpress.com
Author Bio:
Rosie Somers is a YA author who lives in Florida, soaking up the year round sunshine. She can often be found in her favourite spot on her favourite beach, nose-deep in a good book.
Website: http://www.RosieSomers.blogspot.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ProsyRosie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ProsyRosie
Enter the Giveaway!
September 11, 2014
My Deep and Meaningful Relationship with Chocolate
Recently, another author asked me what was my favorite food to eat while editing. Chocolate, I said. My favorite food to eat at all other times? Still chocolate. I eat it by the pound. Literally. Trader Joe’s sells chocolate bars that weigh a pound each, and I eat them. Not all at once, but still…
Funnily enough, it wasn’t until I wrote Into the Blind that I realized just how addicted I was to that concoction of milk, sugar, and cocoa beans. In Into the Blind, Ever-Jezebel, the protagonist, senses the feelings around her in colors and flavors, and the love and happiness she senses taste like chocolate. And she’s right: what’s better than chocolate? 
Misreadings
I am a mis-lexic.
Saw: Gripping & emotional paranormal romance
Read: Groping & emotional paranormal romance
Well, there WAS a couple in an intense embrace on the cover of the book whose description I so brilliantly misread.
Thank you, Kelly!
INTO THE BLIND got a lovely review from Kelly at Kindle and Me:
“If you like Alice in Wonderland, the movie Inception, the Matrix, racing against time, trying to find your way out of a maze, having supernatural gifts, dystopian books, finding it hard to know if you love someone because of your gift or you were made to feel that way, then this is the book for you.”
You can read the entire review here: http://www.kindleandme.com/2014/09/into-blind-by-helen-rena.html
September 9, 2014
Blood and Gold
Hi, everyone! This is a guest post by my good friend Anais Morgan.
“A big thanks to Helen for letting me stop by today. I’m here with my newest book, Blood and Gold. Here’s a bit about it.
She will feed them or die. Or both.
Just when eighteen-year-old Mary Scott is ready to go to culinary school, she’s captured and held prisoner by The Order – a religious group that sells humans to vampires. Mary is sent to become the blood slave to the Wictreds, a family of three vampires. There’s Deacon, the gentleman with a short temper, Solomon, sarcastic one with some serious mood swings, and Cain, the child-like one that has a problem with self-control. Her only hope is to escape, but she has a single chance. If she’s caught she’ll be killed to keep her silent.
As time passes, Mary’s days become numbered. After all, she has only so much blood. The longer she’s in the house, the more time she spends with Solomon. When he’s not toying with her, he’s actually a nice guy and protects her from his brothers. Mary loves his company and soon his presence makes her heart flutter. But humans and vampires must be separate, and Deacon will do anything to keep the family honor intact.
Every writer has a reason for writing their topics. I wrote Blood and Gold for a simple reason: I wanted to see vampires as predators again. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love the sweet, sad vampire that hates what he does. But, in many ways, that vampire has destroyed the monster one. I grew up loving horror movies and vampires were a part of that. Lately though, vampires have become too nice and sensitive.
I knew I wanted to write about a vampire that hunted, drank, and was scary, but figuring out how to go about it was tricky. Finding that balance of monster and love interest isn’t easy. Then a friend sent me song lyrics about a vampire that was seducing a human to kill them. The lines blurred throughout the song between horror and lust. It gave me the push I needed to really expand on every aspect of what vampires used to be.
The concept exploded and became twice as long as I originally thought, but I love the book. Blood and Gold is easily my favorite book I’ve written. I really got to define every character as their own person while continuing to increase the conflict. It was a pleasure to get to know the characters as who and what they are, and aren’t.
I hope readers love this book and enjoy seeing vampires with some bite back. This book does contain abuse, violence, graphic language and sex, but is worth it all in the end.”
Buy Links
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Gold-Wictred-Book-2-ebook/dp/B00MQHIJH6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1408321258&sr=8-2&keywords=anais+morgan
All Romance eBooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-bloodandgold-1598864-340.html
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/467927
Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/blood-and-gold-anais-morgan/1120160003?ean=2940046273359&itm=1&usri=2940046273359
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id910048625
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September 7, 2014
About the Dark: A Short Story
This is a prequel to my novel Into the Blind. Same characters. Same universe. Same brilliant writing. 
Here is a very short synopsis: Four teens decide to play a game: three of them will close their eyes and try to catch the fourth one who is blind. But if nobody can see, can one of them get away with murder?
And here is the story itself:
I stood looking at the corner of the room through Fox’s eyes, yes, because mine were useless—as blind as a bat’s. I could, however, see what other people looked at, and right now, that other person was Fox, only he was looking up, at the spot where the green cement walls met the green cement ceiling, and I needed him to look down. I pulled on his chin. After we both studied the floor for a while, he kissed my temple, and this time, besides seeing the corner, he saw me as well. A white-haired girl in a long white dress. A very unhappy-looking girl.
He smiled (I felt his lips curve against my skin). “You can do it, Ever.”
I didn’t believe him, but I nodded. Took a deep breath. Then, squeezing my fists hard, I sprinted ahead, toward the corner. When I was an arm-length away from it, I leaped up and pushed off the wall with my left foot. This propelled me higher, although by far not as high as I wished. I pushed off with my right foot, and as I was flying up, I arched backward, trying to do a flip and land on my feet, but the momentum was just not there. And so I began falling, my dress flapping, my arms and legs flailing, and my white hair zooming upward like a cloud around my head. Fox caught me three feet above the ground.
“Brilliant!” He laughed. “You didn’t miss my arms!”
“It’s not funny, Fox,” Demi snapped behind us. “It’s pathetic. Ever can’t do anything!”
“Demi,” Sinna, who stood beside her, said with a mild rebuke in his voice, “you are exaggerating about Ever. She can—”
“She can’t. She’s weak. And puny. And pathetic.” Demi stomped her foot with such force it shook our entire bookstore. I mean, technically, it wasn’t a bookstore any more—it was our prison—but it used to be. Fifteen years ago. A small bookstore on the second floor of a sprawling suburban mall. I bet it’d been a nice cozy shop with beautiful bookshelves and cushy armchairs and maybe even a few small coffee tables. The green walls peeking from behind this furniture had accentuated its rich wooden tones and made it so inviting that people had come in here often. They’d browsed the books; they’d drunk their coffee. Some of them might have even been teenagers like us. I didn’t know if those teens had drunk any coffee. We certainly hadn’t. We’d mostly been learning how to fight and jump and whatnot, hoping to escape this cement hole that looked like a dark green apocalypse because our guards had taken out the shelves and the chairs and the coffee tables. We’d also read a lot (because the guards had left the books). And bickered. And since not too long ago Fox and I had also kissed a little. And Sin and Demi had kissed a lot.
Demi stomped again. “We’ve been training for years. So that when we get a chance to escape, we’d be able to take it. But Ever is just friggin’ useless. She—”
“Ahem,” Fox said loudly, and when Demi looked at him, he gave her a dazzling smile. “Dem, do you happen to remember that Ever is my life, and I—”
“And you’re a melting piece of Jell-O around her? Yes, I recall something like that.”
Fox smiled even wider. “No, actually, I was going to say that I’m here to address all the grievances you might have with her. So you think she’s useless? Well, that’s a shiny thought. You can stick it—”
September 4, 2014
Praise for Into the Blind
It’s always such a holiday when Into the Blind gets a nice review. Here’s one from Jennifer Ricketts, who runs Donnie Darko Girl Blog:
“Into the Blind is a glimpse into a different world where everyone is born with a talent, and babies are kidnapped and raised by “guards” until they’re old enough to come into their power. The guards are sadistic and abusive, and I felt infinitely sad thinking about these children being bought and sold, then raised in what amounts to be a prison. Sadly, child trafficking in real life does exist, and this book did remind me of that.
Ever, the main character, is blind but can see through the eyes of others around her. She has the most special talent of all: she’s a heart child and can channel feeling into any person anywhere in the world. When she comes into her power, she can make people adore her or writhe in pain. I felt connected to her right away.
Fox, Sinna, and Demi are “raised” alongside Ever. I really didn’t like Demi – she treats Ever horribly, which I think stems from jealousy of her. Sinna and Demi are in a relationship, but I think Sinna cares more about Ever than Demi would like. Fox is the leader of the group. He’s worked out an escape plan, and each of the four has a role to play to make it happen.
You get to know these characters and quickly become emotionally connected with them. Though I’m not fond of Demi, I also felt for her and didn’t want to see anything bad happen to her. To say you’re on the edge of your seat while reading Into the Blind would be an understatement. I felt as though I was on an emotional roller coaster, and the suspense was thick enough to be palpable.
Into the Blind reminded me of the show Heroes (which I still miss like crazy!) except with a darker twist. I loved Ever right away. She seemed younger than her years and innocent though she was surrounded by the evil of the guards and her captivity. I think the love between Fox and Ever saved her. I can’t say in the end if it destroys her or not – you’ll have to read and decide for yourself!- but with the twists and turns plus the action and emotional pull, you’ll race through to the end.”
September 2, 2014
Flash Fiction: Dog Number F
Vera was two days late. After she parked her car in the driveway, she threw the door open and scrambled out to face a small dingy house half-sunk into a balding lawn. A gnarly tree in front of the porch was thickly hung with tiny birdhouses, all of them empty and mossy and time-weathered. A vacant dog kennel leaned against the tree.
Praying to all the gods that nothing bad had happened here, Vera ran onto the porch, briefly noticing a large planter with a desiccated geranium in it. Several large bones were piled next to the planter.
Vera knocked on the door. No answer. She knocked again. “Aunt Lisa! It’s me, Vera.”
The door creaked open, revealing a small brown dog standing just inside the hallway. No Aunt Lisa anywhere.
Vera made another attempt: “Aunt Lisa-a-a-a!” Silence. Just the dog in the hallway. Vera looked at it more closely. It was as tall as a milk carton and sort of longish…sort of like a dachshund, but not a dachshund because this was the only breed Lisa could tell apart, and this dog was not it.
The dog looked at Vera too. It was neither friendly nor hostile. It seemed profoundly content with standing in the hallway and facing Vera.
Vera cautiously carried her foot over the threshold. The dog did nothing—neither moved nor growled. Just watched.
Once Vera was inside, the dog pushed the door closed with its nose. Then it walked over to a credenza by the wall. Vera followed. There was a note there, atop of some keys, crumpled receipts, and a piece of opened, but unchewed gum: “Sweet pea, I’m so glad you made it. Dog Number F will take care of you. Love, Aunt L.” There was a thin layer of dust on the note.
Vera swallowed. This was not good. Vera and her three sisters had been taking turns watching their kooky aunt, and the last turn had been Mabel’s, and Mabel had said everything went just fine. She and Lisa played games; for fun, instead of talking to each other, they exchanged the most droll notes; and every day, Lisa spoke to Vera’s mother on the phone in that quavering, breathy voice of hers, you know. Well, that was then, and now it was all screwed up. Because it was Vera’s turn, and Vera had been screwing up everything.
Just to be sure, Vera checked all the rooms, and yes, they were completely devoid of her aunt. Vera returned to the hallway and looked at the dog again. The bones outside seemed too big to have been Dog Number F’s meal. Did they belong to Dog Number E?
The phone, an ivory-colored, vintage-looking affair with an actual rotary dial, rang like it was paid to make as much noise as possible. Vera picked the receiver. “Hello.”
“Lisa?” said the receiver in Vera’s mother’s voice. “Lisa?”
Vera had to place her hand on the credenza not to fall down. If Mother learned about Lisa’s disappearance, she might not survive the shock. The doctors had said so. Vera closed her eyes. Well…maybe…maybe…Lisa would show up. Yes, that was it—an eighty-year-old woman couldn’t be gone for long—and in the mean time Vera would just pretend to be Lisa…for just a bit. It wouldn’t really harm anyone, would it?
“Lisa?” the receiver pleaded.
Vera put her sleeve over the speaker and said in a quavering, breathy voice of her aunt, “Speaking.”
Dog Number F smiled.
