Sandy Goldsworthy's Blog, page 10
March 24, 2016
March Mania - Author Spotlight: Kasi Blake
Today's feature is on Bait, An Order of the Spirit Realm series, by author Kasi Blake.About Bait:
After sixteen years on the run, Bay-Lee joins her emotionally distant father at his New Zealand school. On her first night there, he dumps her on the doorstep and walks away. Big surprise. Minutes later, a bag is thrown over her head, and she’s kidnapped for Orientation. The hunter in charge calls her Bait. According to him, that’s all she’s good for, to be used to draw out monsters for experienced hunters to kill.
Before Bay-Lee can move up to the rank of Hunter, she will have to prove herself, battle wraiths, a reaper in disguise, and a stampeding border monster. With the addition of her classes, she’s going to be way too busy for a social life. Falling in love is not on the agenda.
Then, she meets Nick Gallos. With the intimidating rank of Warrior, Nick is gorgeous, arrogant, and just plain rude to her. It’s obvious from their first meeting that Nick is hiding a dark past overflowing with secrets, and her father is right smack in the middle of it. Nick seems to be using her to get even with her father, and she won’t tolerate that. What a jerk.
So, why can’t she stop thinking about him?
Excerpt from Bait: Connor vacated the couch long enough to take the knife from her. He tossed it on the coffee table. It landed between his sawed-off shotgun and his .38 caliber.
“Leave the artillery at home.”
“What?” She blinked at him, uncomprehending. He couldn’t seriously want her to walk out of the house unarmed. “Are you serious? Something could attack me. What do I do then?”
“Depends. If you are alone, use your extensive combat training and put some of those tricks I taught you to good use. You don’t need a weapon to take a monster down. If there are witnesses, I want you to scream like a girl and run in the other direction.”
About Kasi:
Kasi Blake is a YA Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy writer with a semi-serious addiction to chocolate. Born in sunny California, she now lives on a farm in the Midwest with a dog, two cats, ducks, chickens and cows. When she has the time, she haunts local bookstores, hangs out with friends, and tries to catch up on her reading list. The rest of the time she’s working on her next novel.
Kasi's books are available on Amazon, iTunes, and Smashwords, or visit her website for more information, http://www.kasiblake.com.
March 23, 2016
For the Heart of Dragons by Julie Wetzel
NOW AVAILABLE IN PRINT
We have a new print release today in the DRAGONS OF ETERNITY Series by Julie Wetzel. FOR THE HEART OF DRAGONS is now available in print! Grab your copy today and continue this exciting Fantasy Romance series!
AMAZON / BARNES & NOBLE / BAM! / BOOK DEPOSITORY
Disconnection is a very serious issue for dragons that can leave them stuck in one form or another, but it's a condition that usually comes on slowly and rarely catches anyone by surprise. No one knows this better the Kara Rose, Eternity's leading specialist in the treatment of this condition. So when the head of Eternity demands her presence for an emergency, she can't imagine what he could want. She is, after all, only a therapist.
As a top mage with Eternity, Noah Dove has worked with dragons for most of his life, so he is used to their odd quirks and physical needs. When a dark beauty shows up to disrupt the king's celebrations, he agrees to go with her to keep the peace. When Noah is unable to protect the woman from the group killing dragons, he's left with her last request—to save her dragon. It would normally be an impossible task, but with a bit of magic and some help from the dragon, Noah forms the one thing that can transfer a dragon from one person to another—a Heart Stone.
Now the dragon is loose and out of control… and the only person who can help is Kara. With Noah's consciousness locked away beyond her reach, she must somehow find a way to soothe the dragon and connect two halves that were never a whole. The task is daunting and will push her knowledge—and personal boundaries—to their limit and beyond.
START READING BOOK ONE FOR FREE!
Originally from Ohio, Julie always dreamed of a job in science. Either shooting for the stars or delving into the mysteries of volcanoes. But, life never leads where you expect. In 2007, she moved to Mississippi to be with her significant other.
March 22, 2016
Cover Reveal & Series Sale!
Crimson Tree Publishing is proud to present the official cover reveal of BLOODTHORN by Tamara Grantham! The third book in the Olive Kennedy, Fairy World MD Series will release on April 25, 2016. To celebrate, both SPELLWEAVER AND BLOODTHORN have a sale price of $3.99 for limited time. Plus, if you haven't started this Fantasy series, we recommend you check it out today. Book one, DREAMTHIEF, is currently free! Grab your copies of this series while the price is perfect for reading.
BLOODTHORN by Tamara GranthamApril 25, 2016 - Pre-order sale $3.99. (Regularly $5.99)
AMAZON / iBOOKS / NOOK Pre-order will be live Friday
Available now on sale for $3.99. (Regularly $5.99)
AMAZON / NOOK / KOBO / iTUNES / SMASHWORDS
AMAZON / NOOK / KOBO / iTUNES / SMASHWORDS
Visiting Faythander is a nasty business. Forget the fairies and unicorns, most people come back with lost memories and mental problems. Olive Kennedy knows. She's the therapist who treats patients suffering from Faythander's side effects. Despite her empty bank account, she takes pride in her job as Houston's only Fairy World medical doctor. She's never failed to cure a client—until now.
Traveling back to Faythander wasn't on Olive's to-do list. But she has no choice. The fate of both Earth and Fairy depends on her ability to stop an ancient being called the Dreamthief. To complicate matters, she may be losing her heart to someone who can't love her in return. Saving the world, she can handle. Falling in love—not so much As if battling the forces of evil wasn't difficult enough…
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDWcz... TAMARA GRANTHAM:
Tamara Grantham was born and raised in Southeast Texas. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in English from Lamar University. After marrying her husband David, she followed him through his training to become a burn surgeon, which consisted of moving from Vidor, Texas to Galveston, Texas, then to Tulsa, Oklahoma, back to Galveston, and they finally settled in Wichita, Kansas. Tamara and David have five active, sweet, and almost always well-mannered children, ages zero to ten years. Their two pets, June—the Jack Russell Terrier, and Chester—a black cat, help to keep the house lively (in addition to the children.)
March Mania - Author Spotlight: CJ Hart
CJ Hart, author of The Abandoned Series, talks to us today about her novel, The Hunted, book one. Do you read for pleasure from the same genre you write in?
No, I tend to read more dystopians and fantasy than paranormal (the genre of The Hunted).
What were you doing five years ago?
I was in my second year of college, studying Chemistry.
What would you be doing right now if you were not an author?
Well, if I didn't leave my degree to become an author, I would have graduated and be putting that degree to use.
How long does it typically take you to write a book?
Depends on the size of the book. I can write 50,000 words a month, minimum, but The Hunted only took 2 1/2 to 3 weeks I think :P
If you could co-write a book with anyone (doesn’t have to be an author), who would it be?
Either my buddy (and author) Michelle Irwin, or my Mum :D It would have to be with someone I trust completely.
When writing a book, what is your favorite part of the creative process (outline, plot, character names, editing, etc)?
I love every part! Every part is hard at times, but I just love the whole process -- from idea to final edit! What are your current writing projects?
I am working on finishing the next book in the Abandoned series, The Wicked. But shhh...I can't tell you anything yet ;) It's gonna be a good one though!
Do you listen to music while you write?
Yep. I make playlists for each book.
Coffee or tea? Juice or Soda?
Coffee, definitely. And neither.
What is one non-writing-related accomplishment or event or special moment you’re proud of?
This is a tough one...but I'd say: each year for my birthday I ask for money instead of presents and donate it all to This Star Won't Go Out foundation (TSWGO.org). After reading the book of the same name by Esther Earl, a sixteen year old girl living with metastasized papillary thyroid cancer, it changed my life forever. Donating to TSWGO helps other families who are suffering from financial hardship related to childhood cancer. Esther's birthday was the day after mine, so that's how this tradition came about.
Do you have a favorite television series?
I have several...NCIS, Supernatural, Charmed, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, SVU, and more.
The Hunted blurb:Just your average boy-meets-girl, boy-kills-people story.
The Native American Navajo tribe has stories of a monster so wicked, so blood-thirsty, that they are to be hunted down and slaughtered. But are they just legends? Or is something sinister lurking in the shadows? The Yee Naaldlooshi—skinwalkers—have the ability to transform themselves. And they can be anyone. Anything.
The Hunters—a group dedicated to tracking the creatures—are hot on their trail and they won’t stop until every last one is dead. But are they all as evil as foretold? Seb, alpha of the Taylor, Arizona reservation pack, begins to question the acts of their kind. But he’s broken a rule and must choose between killing the girl he loves or risking everything to save her. Cassie must fight for her survival. The pack is after her. And they’re no joke. Cass is about to find out how sadistic they can be.
The Hunted excerpt:Cassie
When I wake, my room is still dark. My skin is peppered with tiny bumps, though it’s hot enough in here to cauterize my organs and dry out my lips. I lay frozen, ears pricked up, listening for the sound that stripped me of sleep.
Rustle, rustle, snuff. Rustle, rustle, snuff, snuff.
Curious and petrified, I open one eye and squint into the night. Is someone in my room? Something? Tree shadows dance across the darkened green walls. It’s quiet again. For a moment, I’m convinced it’s all in my head. Then a movement by the window jolts me. I drag my eyes to the glass.
No way. No. I cannot believe it.
At first, I notice its gray fur, matted in places around its muzzle and ears. Then its spearmint-green, glowing irises lock with mine.
Heat pinballs up my spine, firing signals into my brain. Run! Run!
Kelley—who I’ve known my entire life, Dad’s oldest and dearest friend—warned me of these creatures. Bloodthirsty monsters who can appear to be anyone, anything. They taunt us, track us, and feed on us. The survival rate is nil. And though I’ve never seen a skinwalker up close before, I am not afraid. Something in his eyes tells me not to be. They’re calm, curious. Friendly. Kind. There’s pain in them too, and I can’t help wondering why a sadistic creature would feel anything other than menace.
When I dare for a closer look, a leg tangles in the sheets and I stumble out of bed. I fall on my face. “Ow.” My nose presses into the oak. I swivel my head towards the window. The wolf is gone, a ghost in the night. Just your imagination, Cass. The moonlight playing tricks.
I try to convince myself that is the answer, but it doesn’t work. Throwing open the window, I lean out. Rain drops splash onto my face. The wind is like icicles on my flesh. My eyes scrape across the yard. Is my wolf out there, cloaked in the shadows? I guess I’ll never know.
I shut the window and tiptoe back into bed, where I wait for sleep to find me. But after twenty minutes of lying there, I’m wide awake. I roll over and clench my eyelids shut. In the distance, howling ensues. My wolf? It brings a comfort to me that I’ve sorely missed.
I drift off, listening to his broken cries.
Buy links:
The Hunted:
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00S3EG16C
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00S3EG16C
Amazon Aus: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00S3EG16C
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-hunted-cj-hart/1120399937
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-hunted-48
iTunes: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-hunted/id973534729?mt=11
Book 2, The Forsaken:
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B013JG8MO2
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B013JG8MO2
Amazon Aus: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B013JG8MO2
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-forsaken-cj-hart/1122509361
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-forsaken-17
iTunes: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-forsaken/id1029065602?mt=11
Author bio:
C.J. Hart is a full-time writer who lives in Sydney, Australia, with a crazy pooch named Abbey and a boisterous, somersaulting rescue budgie (parakeet) named Kaleb. Her days are spent living in her fictional worlds and consuming way too much caffeine. She has an (unhealthy?) obsession with all things cupcake- and coffee-related plus Kerouac and YA dystopia/fantasy books. C.J. can often be found surrounded by books, marathoning crime shows and munching on vegan goodies, on Twitter (@authorcjhart), Pinterest, or dancing in a rainstorm.
C.J. hopes to one day visit Rio and is currently learning Brazilian Portuguese.
C.J. Hart is a pen name for Renee Shearer, who also writes adult fiction as Renee Swann.
Social media links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCJHart
Twitter: https://www,twitter.com/authorcjhart
Instagram: www.instagram.com/littlebirdybookworm
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/CJHart
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/reneeshearer87
Tumblr: renee-shearer.tumblr.com
Website: www.cj-hart.com
March 20, 2016
Kindling Flames: Burning Nights - Now in Print
I am thrilled to announce Julie Wetzel's novel, Burning Nights, is now available in print! Order your copy today!Kindling Flames: Burning NightsAMAZON / BARNES & NOBLE / BOOK DEPOSITORY / BAM!
NOW AVAILABLE IN PRINT!The fifth book in the Kindling Flames series is now available in print! If you've been collecting the gorgeous print editions of this paranormal romance series by best-selling author Julie Wetzel, now is the time to order your copy of Kindling Flames: Burning Nights! It just released in print this week.
After a wedding filled with werewolves, fay, and vampires, Vicky is looking forward to a nice, quiet honeymoon away from the chaos of Darien's daily life. But nothing is ever simple with an Ancient Vampire around.
When the Vampire Council of Hawaii finds out Darien and his new bride are coming, they are determined to see that Darien is honored properly. But vampire etiquette isn't for the faint of heart.
The nights could burn when lines are drawn... and Darien finds himself in a turf war he never intended to start.
START THIS SERIES TODAY FOR FREE:AMAZON / NOOK / iBOOKS / KOBO / SMASHWORDS
After landing a job as the assistant to a handsome CEO, Victoria Westernly feels like her life is finally on the right track. But when she discovers her new boss is the city's most powerful vampire, she'll have to decide whether this new life is worth the risk...
ABOUT JULIE WETZEL:Originally from Ohio, Julie always dreamed of a job in science. Either shooting for the stars or delving into the mysteries of volcanoes. But, life never leads where you expect. In 2007, she moved to Mississippi to be with her significant other.
March Mania - Author Spotlight: Erica Kiefer
If only Allie Collins could go back to that tragic day one year ago, perhaps she could escape the guilt that haunts her. In reality, there was no altering her cousin’s death or the role she played.
Then she meets Damien Michaels, a dark-haired stranger on a dirt bike, who seems to watch Allie and know more about her than he should. Veiling his own secrets, including a mysterious scar and unexplained tattoo, Allie knows she shouldn’t trust him—especially as she digs up a past Damien desperately wants to forget. She also doesn’t believe in summer romances, yet she finds her attraction to him growing beyond his striking grey eyes. Unfortunately, Allie discovers too late that he is hiding a dark past which is far from over, endangering her life and those she loves.Lingering Echoes is book 1 in the series.Can be read as a stand alone.FREE IN EBOOK
MEET THE AUTHOR
Erica Kiefer’s debut novel Lingering Echoes was published by Clean Teen Publishing in November 2013. She continued the series with Rumors (A Lingering Echoes Prequel) and her newest release Vanishing Act. All of her books can be read as stand-alone contemporary YA fiction, touched with romance, emotional drama and suspense. With a degree in Recreation Therapy from Brigham Young University, Erica’s experiences working with at-risk youth have influenced the realistic and relatable nature of her writing. Her first inspirational non-fiction entitled Borrowed Angel (published in April 2014 with Currawong Press) describes the loss of her infant son and her journey towards healing.
Married since 2005, Erica resides in Las Vegas, Nevada with her four children and can often be found satisfying her sweet-tooth with chocolate-chip cookies and a glass of milk. One day, she hopes to dust off her collegiate rugby skills and dive back into the game.
Erica's Top Ten List
I have lived in five countries including the United States, Taiwan, Fiji, Thailand, and Indonesia.My mother is from Thailand and my dad from the US.Sadly, I am not biligual.My husband thought I was Hawaiian when we first met, which is one reason he was interested in me. He figured Thailand was a close 2nd! ;)I am horribly, embarrassingly ticklish on my neck, a fact my family has abused since childhood.Soda and candy do not tempt me, but baked goods like chocolate chip cookies do!Waffles and crepes with berries and cream will win me over any day. I chose a fancy, scrumptious waffle over a birthday cake this year. Yum!2nd grade was the year I decided to be an author some day.Ten years of marriage has given me four beautiful, crazy children ages 4, 3, 10 months, and one son in heaven.My husband says right before I crash at night, I get silly hyper for five minutes and then I'm out!
March 19, 2016
March Mania - Author Spotlight: Kelly Risser
Kelly Risser knew at a young age what she wanted to be when she grew up. Unfortunately, Fairytale Princess was not a lucrative career. Leaving the castle and wand behind, she entered the world of creative business writing where she worked in advertising, marketing, and currently, eLearning instructional design.When Kelly is not immersed in the middle of someone else's fantasy world, she's busy creating one of her own. Never Forgotten is her first complete series, which includes Never Forgotten, Current Impressions, Always Remembered, and Sea of Memories, a novella collection. Kelly is one of the authors of award-winning Fractured Glass and 7: The Seven Deadly Sins. She also has a short story in the Twists in Time anthology, and will be part of several other anthologies releasing in 2016. You can visit her at www.KellyRisser.com, or click here to sign up for her newsletter.
What is the biggest influence/interest that brought you to this genre?
I always wanted to be a writer, but after high school, I let my creative writing go, trading it in for the world of business, which was in some ways still creative, just different. When I started discovering the early indie writers on Amazon, like Amanda Hocking, that’s when I first thought that I could do this too, if I just put my mind to it. What were you doing five years ago?
Five years ago, I was working through revisions on Never Forgotten, my first book.
How long does it typically take you to write a book?
Never Forgotten took me five years of on and off writing and revising. The remaining books in the series were about 9 months each. I am not a fast writer, and I do not write every day. I find that it does me no good to force my writing; I’ll just end up junking those pages.
What is your favorite thing to do on your day off?
What day off? I kid, but not really. I work full time during the week and fit my writing in around the rest of my life. Between writing, blogging, and promoting my books, I don’t have a lot of free time. When I do, I like to shop or hang out with my family.
Do you have hobbies that don’t involve writing or reading?
I like to make my own swag. I find it relaxing. I also enjoy decorating cakes. I make the cakes for my children, as well as my nieces and nephews.
Do you have pets?
We have a soft-coated Wheaten Terrier/Poodle mix named Clyde and a tank full of fish.
Do you have a favorite television series?
Grimm. I love how unique the series is. And Nick Burkhart is a cutie.
What is your favorite thing about being an author?
When readers contact me and tell me how much they loved my book. It absolutely makes my day!
About the Never Forgotten Series:Meara Quinn is about to find out there are worse things than moving to a tiny oceanside town before her senior year. Like discovering there's a secret being kept from her and knowing it's a life-changer.
After experiencing vivid visions of her absentee father, Meara decides she deserves answers. With the help of her new friend Evan, a guy she happens to be falling for, she embarks on a journey in the hopes of unlocking family history and finding her true self. But when she meets a handsome stranger at a local club who knows far more about her than he should, her world is again shaken. In him, Meara may have uncovered the key to the very secret that will reveal not only who she is... but what she is.
Never Forgotten Excerpt – Evan asks Meara on first dateThe sun was hot on my back, but it felt good. I always soaked it up in the summer, knowing that I would be wishing for some of its warmth in the dead of winter.
Icy cold dripped on my shoulder and made me jump. I looked up to the source and saw Evan holding out a water bottle. “Sorry for startling you,” he said. “I thought you might be thirsty.”
“Thanks.” I opened the cap and downed half the bottle. I didn’t realize how thirsty I had gotten. “Did you get the paint?”
Evan held up one gallon of paint and two brushes in response. “Is the sanding done?”
“Almost.” I pointed to the last board. “I just have that one to finish.”
“Okay.” Evan set the paint supplies down near the boards I’d already sanded. “I’ll get started then, and you can join me when you’re done.”
I finished sanding as fast as I could, and then went over by Evan. He smiled and handed me a paintbrush. “You’ve painted before, right?”
“A little.” Mom and I had painted the kitchen in our old house. I didn’t tell him about the mess we made in the process. We were covered in paint, but laughing when we were done.
“Why’d you come here today?” Evan asked.
I shrugged and dipped my brush in the paint.
“Just a little,” Evan cautioned as he watched me.
“I just wanted to hang with my grandfather a bit, I guess.”
“Is it hard?”
“What?”
“Getting to know them?”
“No… yes… I don’t know. It’s weird. I don’t understand why we never visited them or why they didn’t come see us.”
“Yeah. That’s a little strange, although I can guess why they didn’t come see you.”
I looked at Evan and waited for his answer. His eyes took in the boats surrounding us before he gestured with his paintbrush. “This takes year round dedication. Your grandfather can’t leave.”
“Sounds hard,” I said. Evan returned his brush to the paint bucket. In his haste, droplets of paint flew, and one landed on my nose. Evan started laughing before brushing it off with the sleeve of his shirt.
“Sorry about that.” He grinned at me, but it soon faltered. Once again, I was locked in his gaze. We leaned toward each other. He brushed a strand of hair back from my face and tucked it behind my ear. “Meara?”
“Yes?”
“Do you want to go to dinner?”
“Tonight?”
“Yeah.”
“With you?” I asked, realizing that was an incredibly stupid thing to ask.
Evan grinned again. “Yeah. That would be the general idea.”
“Okay.”
Never Forgotten is available on Amazon, iTunes, and Barnes and Noble. Risser keeps her focus on the little details of Meara’s everyday life, lending the book a nice, homey charm. ~Kirkus Reviews
"NEVER FORGOTTEN is a sweet romance with a paranormal twist!" ~InD'Tale Magazine
USA BEST BOOK AWARDS (2014) AND INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDS (2015) FINALIST.
March 15, 2016
March Mania - Author Spotlight: Melissa J. Cunningham
Welcome Melissa J. Cunningham to the spotlight today. She's the author of The Ransomed Souls Series. Melissa, thanks for joining us today! What is your next project?
The third book in the Ransomed Souls Series, The Undoer, is coming out this spring! It’s by far my favorite out of any books I’ve written!
Name 5 of your favorite movies.
The Count of Monte Cristo, because Jim Caviezel is beautiful and I love how it’s a story of redemption and coming back from your lowest point (which I too have had to do). The Lord of the Rings, and do I really need to explain why? LOL The Hobbit, because I love Lord of the Rings. Princess Bride, because it’s a classic with some of the best one-liners ever written. I could watch it over and over. Pitch Perfect, because I’m a music buff. I used to be a music major in college. I sing, play guitar and piano, and used to write music. Now I write stories. If we googled your name what would we see?
That would depend on if you put my middle initial in there! If you don’t, you get an actress who is my same age and dresses like a porn star. But I’m right beneath her! (on the google page) J
What’s your pet peeve?
Dang! I can’t even think of one! I can think of a bunch my husband has though! What is your favorite poem?
I love, love, love Invictus. But I have quite a few I like. My grandmother and mother were both wonderful poets, so I have that talent flowing through my veins if I ever put it to good use.
What is your best advice for aspiring writers?
Just keep going! Never stop. You’ll get better and better as you go. If I could find a publisher while dealing with neurological Lyme Disease and publish FOUR books while sick and crazy, you can too! (I don’t recommend being sick and crazy, but to each their own)
Teaser: This is it. This is my moment, and I'm not going to let some stupid boy and a bunch of his idiotic friends scare me into failing. Closing my eyes, I float through the closed door, letting myself enjoy that slight pull on my soul as I meld with the wood for one second, feeling its aliveness, its purpose. This is one part of being a spirit that is genuinely cool. Everything is alive.
Once through, the brightness in the room surprises me. As unexpected as that is, what amazes me even more is that the glow radiates around one person in particular.
Brecken.
He sits sprawled at his desk, his feet clad in heavy, black combat books, his ankles crossed. A thick, ratty sweatshirt stretches over his wide shoulders, and even though his hair is a mess, it fits him, making him much sexier than is healthy for a seventeen year old boy. (pg 62)
Coming Soon... Book III
They call it The Door to Hell. A blackened crater that never stops spewing up poisonous gas from the bowels of the Earth, but gas isn’t the only thing coming from that crater…
They slither out, those malevolent souls—demonic filth that wreak havoc and destroy lives. They don’t even pretend to hide…
Brecken, an ex-demon trying to find redemption, is given the task of closing The Door. A seemingly impossible task. A group of teens who call themselvesCazadors, will be his allies. These extraordinary youth can see the demons when no one else can, but Jag, their leader, wants nothing to do with Brecken.
Brecken must earn their confidence and defeat the demon horde infiltrating the Earth.
The Cazadors might not be much… but they are all the world has.
About Melissa
Melissa Cunningham (also known as M.E. Cunningham) was born in Oregon but grew up in Utah, where she was raised on a steady diet of fine literature from Charlotte's web to the The Trumpeter Swan, and then plenty of romances in her teen years. She now lives with her husband on a little farm in northern Utah where all she can see out of her back door is miles of pasture and stunning sunsets. Not only does she raise horses, dogs, cats, and chickens, but her five kids also. When Melissa is not writing you can find her spending time in the outdoors with her family or dancing wildly to rock music in her living room. She loves running, camping, and all things fiction--scary, mind-numbing stories preferred. Find her at www.melissajcunningham.com
You can find the Reluctant Guardian on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords.
March 13, 2016
March Mania - Author Spotlight: Amanda Strong
Today's spotlight is on another great author, Amanda Strong, who talks about her novel, Hidden Monster. Amanda, what made you pursue writing? How old were you when you starting writing?
I’ve loved writing my entire life! I wrote my first complete novel at sixteen, which sits happily in a box, never to see the light of day. It’s just plain awful! I took a big break from pursuing my dream of being published as college, marriage, kids, and life happened.
In 2011, thanks to a friend, the writing bug bit me again, and I’ve been obsessed since! Who were your inspirations as a writer? Favorite authors?
There are so many incredible authors who have inspired me over the years! If I had to pick a few I’d go with John Bellairs, Mary Higgins Clark, Orson Scott Card, Agatha Christie, Jane Austen, Cassandra Clare, Stephenie Meyers, J.K. Rowling, Gaston Leroux (Phantom of the Opera). There are many more!
How long does it usually take you to write a book?
I wish I could say three months, but alas, it’s more like six months to a year by the time I start to the time it’s polished and ready to be published. I need to get faster! Something I’m working on now ;) Do you have an interesting writing quirk?
I don’t know if it’s a quirk, but I have to use a mouse! I can’t stand using my laptop’s touchpad. When I write, I prefer to sit at my desk, with a big glass of water and/or cup of herbal tea, a few snacks (sometimes just chocolate). The other thing about me is, when I’m writing, I get so cold. It doesn’t matter the temperature in my house, or what season it is. I end up freezing! So after a minute or two of typing, I usually end up throwing on a hoodie, wrapping up in a blanket, and cranking up the pellet stove fire behind me. I have a pair of awesome fuzzy slippers that are more like booties (they go up to my knees). One day, while cleaning out the closet, my husband was like, “What are these? Can we throw these away?” I’m like, “No way! They keep my toes so warm while I write books!”
Read an Excerpt:Step, step, breathe, breathe, step, step, breathe, breathe. My shoes kept a steady rhythm with my burning lungs. I veered off my regular path, opting to hear the crunch of the leaves beneath my feet. The image of my mom’s disapproving face was ignored as I leapt across a gurgling brook. Breathe, breathe, crunch, crunch.
If I wasn’t mountain biking, I was running. I craved speed and freedom. I had to escape the oppressive perfection of living in the Campbell home. Thinking of my two older sisters, one model and the other a star volleyball player, my legs lunged, lengthening their stride. Not good at team sports and terrified by cameras, I knew my family felt my height was wasted on me.
Even Jeremy gives me a hard time.
A stitch pinched my side. Breathe, breathe. I knew I was going too fast, not pacing myself right. Something was urging me on, pushing me to scale the hill before me, and plunge deeper into the woods. I refocused on my rhythm, my inhales and exhales, and my body realigned itself, goose bumps shooting across my arms. There it is. I’d hit my second wind and I surged on, not caring where my feet led.
It’s freedom! Complete and—
There was a rush of air, a whistling in my ear, and a sting to the back of my arm. Instantly, I tumbled to the ground, sliding into the damp morning dew. Cold dirt filled my nostrils as blackness enveloped me.
------------------------------
I heard my own labored breathing long before I realized I was somewhere in between awake and asleep. Forcing my eyes open, I gasped. My senses took everything in at once—the smell of wood shavings, the scratchy ropes on my wrists and ankles, and the pressure of the mattress beneath my body. I screamed, but the empty room with wooden floors and stacked logs for walls was empty. No one burst through the door in the corner.
Realizing it was useless and only making my throat raw, I fell silent. Panic flooded me. How did I get here? I pressed my thoughts to retrace my steps, but my mind felt sluggish. My last memory was running in the woods just before sunrise. I could still feel the burn from the autumn air hitting my lungs. Now the solitary window painted a yellow rectangle on the floor. The room felt stuffy. It’s probably late afternoon. But is it the same day?
The minutes rolled slowly into hours, the silence suffocating. What had my therapist said to do when I was scared? Breathe deeply and don’t panic. It was too late for that; all the years of therapy after my childhood accident were rendered useless. I’m drowning all over again. Only this time, it wasn’t water filling my lungs but pure fear and terror pressing down on my chest. I gulped in dry air, my eyes burning with tears.
No one’s coming to save me. A sob escaped me as the real horror of the situation washed over me. I’m tied up. Someone knows I’m here. What would happen when they came back? As the last rays of light were snuffed out by the shadows of the night, that someone came through the wooden door.
About Amanda:Amanda Strong is the author of two paranormal, young adult series: The Watchers of Men and Monsters Among Us.
Amanda has loved to spin tales since childhood. As a child, it was not uncommon to find her hiding in some random corner, scribbling away in her spiral bound notebook, with her bright pink glasses. You could say some things have not changed.
Amanda signed with Clean Teen Publishing in the fall of 2013 and has been blown away by the love and support she’s received from her readers since. Both series have been Amazon best sellers. Hidden Monster, book one in Monsters Among Us, finished as a Finalist in the 2014 USA Best Book Award: Young Adult Category.
When she isn't writing, you can find her chasing her three rambunctious children around the house and spending time with her wonderful and supportive husband. On some occasions you can still find Amanda with her not-so-pink glasses, hiding in a corner reading her favorite latest fantasy novel, or working out only to blow her diet by eating chocolate.
To find out more subscribe to her Newsletter at: http://madmimi.com/signups/191809/join
Connect with her: www.authoramandastrong.com
March 12, 2016
March Mania - Author Spotlight: Alicia Michaels
Meet Alicia Michaels. She's the author of The Bionics.So tell us, Alicia, why did you choose to pursue the art of writing?
I have always loved books, and around the age of 12 I discovered I had a flair for writing and storytelling. I wrote several books during my young adult years (which were not very good and will never see the light of day, LOL!), and always had English and Creative Writing teachers tell me that I would be crazy not to pursue a writing career. Through my college years, I toyed with the idea of other jobs and careers, but I never stopped writing. Poetry, short stories, even a few short plays … I was always writing. After quitting my job to stay home full time, I found the time to write my first novel and work to get it published. I haven’t looked back sense
When you sit down to write do you listen to music, and if so what do you like to listen to?
I do listen to music when I write. What I listen to depends on what I’m writing. The music sets the mood for me. For the Bionics series, I like to listen to Fallout Boy, Evanescence, Ellie Goulding, Lana Del Rey, Florence and the Machine, and sometimes movie scores from films like The Hunger Games. What inspired you to write The Bionics Series?
I was really struck by the state of America in current times, and toying with the idea of how things could be if we don’t wake up and make some changes. Conflicts are popping up all over the world, we’re destroying our environment, politics has gotten out of control and divided people … I loved the idea of exploring the possibilities of a world that has advanced so far in technology, yet has had so many political and social setbacks that it’s crippled us.
What is the one thing (or multiple) you always have with you while writing?
My Beats by Dre headphones (they’re noise cancelling), my laptop of course, a snack (usually something crunchy or sweet), coffee or water, and a blanket to drape over my legs (I’m cold natured).
What should we expect from you in the future?
Who knows, really? I’m so eclectic in my writing that people should always expect the unexpected. I have ideas for suspense, time travel, romance, fantasy, you name it! But at the heart of all that, always expect strong characters (particularly strong young women), as well as diverse characters!
Can you tell us a little more about The Bionics?
Sure.
All Blythe Sol ever wanted was to be a normal girl. Yet, her dreams of following in her father’s footsteps by joining the military after graduation are crushed when nuclear war comes to the United States in the year 4006. Tens of thousands are killed in a series of attacks on many major cities, while thousands more are left injured from the devastation of the blasts, or terminally ill from the effects of radiation.
When the government offers the sick and injured a second chance as part of the Restoration Project, how could they refuse? Hoping to put her life back together after the blasts take both her arm and her eye, Blythe enrolls in the program filled with hope. She never expects that the bionic additions will change her life so drastically. When it is discovered that those outfitted with the robotic parts have become enhanced beyond the limits of ordinary human ability, normal can never exist for her again.
The Bionics become targets of the government, as fear of them spreads across the nation, further enflamed by media propaganda and political conspiracy. Forced to go into hiding or face execution, society’s outcasts band together to form the Restoration Resistance—an underground rebellion which Blythe becomes a part of in order to survive. She could never imagine that joining them would thrust her at the forefront of an imminent revolution, or that it would put her in a confusing tug-of-war between two of her fellow soldiers—Gage Bronson, the mysterious new addition to the Resistance, and Dax Janner, her best friend. Even though Gage is rapidly capturing her heart, she is forced to face the possibility that her feelings for Dax might just go beyond friendship. However, with impending war and the threat of death hanging over her head, Blythe hardly has time to worry about anything as trivial as a love life...
The Bionics is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, and Kobo.
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