Sandy Goldsworthy's Blog, page 12
November 23, 2015
Cover Reveal... Lightning Sealed by Lila Felix
Clean Teen Publishing presents the cover reveal for LIGHTNING SEALED by Lila Felix. LIGHTNING SEALED is the second book in The Lucent Series. We know what you're thinking... "But the first book hasn't released yet, right?" The first novel— LIGHTNING KISSED— is scheduled to release on January 4, 2016. This new adult paranormal romance series is so good that we know readers will be begging for book two right away. It's scheduled to release less than a month after the first novel. So without further adieu, check out the new beautiful cover crush below.
LIGHTNING SEALED COVER REVEAL:
Pre-Order LIGHTNING KISSED by Lila FelixAMAZON / BARNES & NOBLE / iBOOKS / KOBO / BOOK DEPOSITORY
Colby Evans can leap from one country to the next in a heartbeat. She can see every sunset in every time zone in the same day. She can travel across the world in a flash. She defies gravity and physics with every breath she takes. She's tested her abilities and found them limitless.
She is the lightning. She is Lucent. And nothing can stop her.
Except him.
Theodore Ramsey isn't supposed to be able to flash like Colby. The power of travel is passed on from mother to daughter in their people. Except once in every hundred generations.
Theo is the one.
He can flash like Colby. And it makes him a target to their enemies and to himself. His abilities change everything he knows about life and throws his future into an uncertain tangent. In fact, the only thing certain in his life is the love he feels for Colby.
Their love defies time and space and has been the only constant thing in their lives since childhood. But even their infallible love will be stretched to its limits.
She will risk her life to protect him. But he will risk everything to protect them all.
Lightning Kissed is the first book in The Lucent Series by Lila Felix.
ABOUT LILA FELIX:WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / TWITTER / INSTAGRAM
Lila Felix is full of antics and stories. She refused to go to Kindergarten after the teacher made her take a nap on the first day. She staged her first protest in middle school. She almost flunked out of her first semester at Pepperdine University because she was enthralled with their library and frequently was locked in. Now her husband and three children have to put up with her rebel nature in Louisiana where her days are filled with cypress trees, crawfish, and of course her books and writing. She writes about the ordinary rebels who fall extraordinarily in wild, true love. For more visit www.lilafelix.com
November 19, 2015
The Concealed in the Shadows Cover Release
Read the first book in the best-selling young adult dystopian series today for free. Sydney Harter has long awaited September 12th, 2033—her eighteenth birthday. She can finally apply for guardianship of her sister, who is her only family and entire world. She hopes they will be lawfully reunited, but is prepared to defy authority and risk everything to escape the captivity of Miles County so that they can be together. Escaping will be difficult and dangerous. Citizens are bound to their county by sophisticated chip implants that deliver shocks to those who dare to cross the electric barrier. Sydney is very clever, but her trickery is limited against the all-seeing eyes of technology. Even if they were to survive the escape, disappearing into the forgotten forests and towns of the past seems an impossible task. What Sydney doesn't know is that she is the particular interest of two opposing forces. With deceit, fear, and warfare surrounding her—can she trust the party that aims to help with her fight against the other? Can she open her heart to receive and return unexpected love? When her sister’s life becomes jeopardized, Sydney will have to weigh a new love against the only enduring love she has known. The cost could be deadly… How will she choose?
RELEASED FROM THE DARKNESSBook #2 is available now!
AMAZON / BARNES AND NOBLE / iBOOKS
Pre-order today! Releases on December 14, 2015.
AMAZON / BARNES AND NOBLE / iBOOKS
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ABOUT GABRIELLE ARROWSMITH:[image error]Gabrielle Arrowsmith was born to her loving parents on August 16th, 1988. She grew up in the small town of Ham Lake, MN enjoying soccer, school, and adventuresome play with her brother and cousins. As she grew older, her desire to write led her to fill many diaries and notebooks with her thoughts, poems, stories, and scripts. Her other childhood hobbies included reading, playing soccer, acting, and playing piano. Gabrielle recalls high school as the time when she first believed in the worth of her writing. Her AP Language and Literature course both challenged and celebrated her craft. She aimed for perfection in this course, but only so much as to allow time for her other college-level courses, soccer, track, NHS, and school plays. She graduated in 2006, earning Advanced Placement Scholar with Distinction recognition and the Triple A Award for outstanding performance in academics, athletics, and arts. In 2009, Gabrielle graduated summa cum laude from the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, MN where she earned a degree in Elementary Education. She played collegiate soccer for the Saints, held work-study positions, acted in theater productions, and volunteered often. Gabrielle is currently teaching and pursuing her passion for storytelling through writing and acting. She enjoys reading, playing and coaching soccer, and spending time with family, friends, and her adorable pets!
October 22, 2015
Beautiful People - Beautiful Books Edition, October 2015
This month, Beautiful People is doing a tribute to the NaNoWriMo event in November. This will be my first attempt to write a book in a month, but I'm incredibly excited to try! To help me prepare, here's a sneak peek at book three in the Afterworld Saga.How did you come up with the idea for your novel, and how long have you had the idea?
The initial idea for the character of Ben Parker came to me in a dream. It was a very vivid train derailment. Ben and his female partner, Molly, were passengers that were unaffected by the accident. Train cars tumbled down a ravine and once settled, Ben and Molly helped the victims out of the wreckage. They were then escorted to guides to take them to heaven.
Why are you excited to write this novel? Afterlife, book two in The Afterworld Saga, was pivotal for me. When I first starting writing the love story between Ben and Emma, I had no idea where their story would lead, or, where it had been. In book three of the series, many of these unknowns are coming out, and I found it really exciting.
What is your novel about, and what is the title?
My novel is a a continuation of Ben and Emma's story. They were soulmates separated when Ben died in WWII. Upon reaching the afterworld, and learning his wife had years left on her life contract, Ben opted to join the Bureau of Investigation. This enabled him the ability to visit earth, disguised as a human. Unfortunately, Ben never found his wife, not even years after she was to join him in the afterworld. In Aftermath, book one, Ben learns Emma, a seventeen year old high school student, is his soulmate. Disguised as a student, Ben decides to get to know her, just as a notorious criminal is on the loose. Ben is put to the test--reconnect with the love of his existence, or do his job.
While I know it will have 'after' in part of the name, I do not know the title for this novel yet. I'll keep you posted.
Sum up your characters in one word each.
Ben will be shocked.
Emma will be confident.
Which character(s) do you think will be your favorite to write? Tell us about them.
Emma--100%. In book three of the saga, Emma learns of her true identity--of her extensive past. It will be shocking for Ben to hear, considering he thought he was all-knowing. I can't wait!
What is your protagonist’s goal, and what stands in the way?
Catching the bad guy--or girl. Unfortunately, this criminal has evaded capture for an extensive period of time.
Where is your novel set?
That's an interesting question. Until I start writing, I'm never certain where the characters will take me. I know I will have some afterworld scenes, and since the character's past has taken them to Europe--Dubrovnik, to be exact--I'm sure there will be scenes there, too.
What is the most important relationship your character has?
Ben and Emma's relationship is the most important.
How does your protagonist change by the end of the novel?
Excellent question. Of course, I won't know that until I reach the end of the novel...
What themes are in your book? How do you want your readers to feel when the story is over?
I want readers to feel happy and satisfied. Ben has proven to be loyal and dedicated--never giving up on true love. I admire that perseverance.
Tell us your 3 best pieces of advice for others trying to write a book in a month.
Well, this is my first attempt, so I'm not sure if my advice will be good or not... but for me, dedication to writing is key. Write daily. Set time aside for it. Just like you'd do anything else.
Secondly, I don't think editing is important in this first draft--whether you are writing a book in a month, or you're just writing a book at leisure. Editing can be done later. I find the need to edit after the book is written because it took me in so many directions at the time, I couldn't keep up with edits along the way.
Lastly, have fun. To me, writing is my hobby. It's my fun time to relax. If writing becomes a chore, then take another direction. Develop a new character, start a new story... through a dart on a map and pick a new destination. You never know where your fictional characters can take you.
October 11, 2015
National Bullying Prevention Month
October is National Bullying Prevention Month.It's an important topic to my publisher--and to me. I was bullied. I wasn't abused by the the traditional, stereotypical bully, you see in movies. There was no big kid on the playground that intimidated me to give up my lunch ticket, or to do something stupid or crazy. There was no teasing or taunting on the school bus. Instead, I was left out, and ignored.
It happens all the time--on every playground, at every school, and even in the workplace. The victim is the kid, or adult, that just doesn't seem to fit in. The quiet one that gets overlooked and not invited to lunch, or to happy hour after work. It's the kid that sits home every night and watches Netflix, or plays video games, because they had no invitation to do anything else.
It's no surprise. We can all see it play out--like a Lifetime movie. But in reality, each of them has a story.
So do I. I was orphaned. Kids my age didn't know how to react. Years later, I heard that a few kids in my class actually feared their parents would die, too. All because MINE did. How absurd! But, as an adult, I get it. To my first grade peers, it was real. I was treated like I had Ebola.
"Don't get too close to Sandy. You don't want that Orphan disease rubbing off on you, too."
No one actually said those words--but I definitely felt them. Today, I can laugh about it. But back then... well, things weren't as easy. To read about my bully experience, visit the Clean Teen Publishing website or click here.
If we all work together, we can put an end to the bully epidemic.
September 29, 2015
The Stolen Empire Trilogy Box Set
Now Available, you will be able to get ALL THREE of The Stolen Empire Novels, together in one amazing Box Set Edition!
The Stolen Empire series is a decedent look at one of history's most scandalous queens, Catherine the Great of Russia. Beginning with her humble origins and culminating with her coronation, this series offers a fanciful glimpse inside the life of the dynamic, strong young woman who won the hand of a king, the heart of a nation, and, ultimately, sacrificed her own innocence on the throne of an empire. The trials and tribulations of court life left their scars on young Sophie—the girl who would be Catherine, but she faced down every obstacle with the courage and grace of a queen. Don't miss the series dubbed a "must-read romance" by the USA Today and "An entertaining and racy read" by School Library Journal. Fans of the hit TV show REIGN will devour this scandalous glimpse into the life of one of the most vibrant women in history.
No Cliffhangers, No Waiting, Read The Whole Story Together!
About The Author
Sherry D. Ficklin is a full time writer from Colorado where she lives with her husband, four kids, two dogs, and a fluctuating number of chickens and house guests. A former military brat, she loves to travel and meet new people. She can often be found browsing her local bookstore with a large white hot chocolate in one hand and a towering stack of books in the other. That is, unless she’s on deadline at which time she, like the Loch Ness monster, is only seen in blurry photographs.
She is the author of several novels for teens and young adults and in her spare time she co-hosts the Pop Lit Divas Radio Show.
September 17, 2015
Spellweaver Cover Reveal
Crimson Tree Publishing presents a new cover reveal and giveaway for the sequel to Dreamthief by Tamara Grantham. Spellweaver—book two in the Olive Kennedy, Fairy World MD. Series— will release on November 16, 2015. Find out more about this exciting series below and don't forget to enter the giveaway for a signed set of trading cards and a digital copy of book one.
SPELLWEAVER by Tamara Grantham
Olive's to-do list: Feed the cat. Pay the rent. Save Faythander. Again.
After Olive's last trip through Faythander, she wants nothing more than a nice vacation. But there's never time for relaxation when goblin treachery is afoot. When Geth, a goblin Spellweaver, destroys the Everblossom—a tree containing Faythander's pure magic—the fairy-world utopia begins to die. The bloom of the Everblossom is all that remains of pure magic. Now Olive must travel through Earth and Faythander to find a place where it will flourish.
As a psychiatrist, her skills are top notch. However, her abilities to handle patients with abnormal mental behaviors will be put to the test when she confronts Geth. Nothing has prepared her for what he reveals to her about goblins and elves. As Olive's quest takes her from her home in Houston through the most dangerous places in Faythader, she learns that history is a muddled subject, especially when elves are involved.
Her only comfort comes from Kull, her Viking warrior sidekick—who somehow negates her bad fortune. Yet how long can their relationship last when his past is brought to light? Olive will be tested beyond anything she has endured so far, as the secrets of Faythander's sordid and bloody past are exposed—one that could irrevocably alter the future and destroy the lives of everyone she loves.
ENTER TO WIN:
READ THE FIRST BOOK TODAY:
September 15, 2015
Death Before Daylight Release Blitz
Now Available The Gripping Conclusion To The Timely Death Trilogy
Two eternities. One ending.
"Harmony would only come with destruction."
The moment Eric and Jessica are reunited, they are torn apart. After the appearance of a new breed of shades and lights, the powers shift for the worse, and all three descendants find themselves face-to-face in the Light realm. When Darthon is in control, the last thing everyone expects is to finally hear the truth.
While Jessica learns the reason of her creation, Darthon's identity is exposed to Eric—and only Eric—and Eric can no longer defend himself. With the eternities of the Light and the Dark resting on Jessica's shoulders, she must choose who she will be—a light or a shade.
In the end, someone must die, and the end is near.
Start The Series Now - Book 1 is FREE!!
Join The Release Party
About The Author
Shannon A. Thompson is a twenty-three-year-old author, avid reader, and habitual chatterbox. She was merely sixteen when she was first published, and a lot has happened since then. Thompson's work has appeared in numerous poetry collections and anthologies, and her first installment of The Timely Death Trilogy became Goodreads' Book of the Month. As a novelist, poet, and blogger, Thompson spends her free time writing and sharing ideas with her black cat named after her favorite actor, Humphrey Bogart. Between writing and befriending cats, she graduated from the University of Kansas with a bachelor's degree in English, and she travels whenever the road calls her.
Queen Of Always Release Day Blitz
Now Available The Epic Conclusion To The Stolen Empire Trilogy
LONG LIVE THE QUEEN
If her time at court has taught Catherine anything, it’s that there is no room for weakness in Imperial Russia. With the Empress’ health failing and rumors of a change in the line of succession, her place in the royal line is once more in jeopardy. Tormented by her sadistic husband and his venomous mistress, Catherine must once more walk the fine line between pleasure and politics—between scandal and survival.
When her young son becomes the target of those rebelling against Peter’s reign, Catherine will have to rise up to protect herself, her child, and her nation from his unstable and potentially catastrophic rule. This means putting herself at odds with the most dangerous man she’s ever known, trusting those who once proved to be her enemies, and turning a nation against its sovereign. In the ultimate battle for the crown, new alliances will be forged, loyalties will be tested, and blood will be shed.
Don’t miss this breathtaking conclusion to the Stolen Empire series!
Queen of Tomorrow is a YA historical fiction based on the life of young Catherine the Great. Fans of the hit TV show REIGN will devour this scandalous glimpse into the life of one of the most dynamic women in history.
Start The Series Now - Book 1 is FREE!!
About The Author
Sherry D. Ficklin is a full time writer from Colorado where she lives with her husband, four kids, two dogs, and a fluctuating number of chickens and house guests. A former military brat, she loves to travel and meet new people. She can often be found browsing her local bookstore with a large white hot chocolate in one hand and a towering stack of books in the other. That is, unless she’s on deadline at which time she, like the Loch Ness monster, is only seen in blurry photographs.
She is the author of several novels for teens and young adults and in her spare time she co-hosts the Pop Lit Divas Radio Show.
September 13, 2015
Make It Grand
It is, after all, Grandparents Day! It's the one day of the year that we nationally recognize the parents of our parents. Those older folks that are wiser than us, and hopefully, are enjoying their golden years.
The generational gap between us and our grandparents can sometimes be huge. Many decades separate us from them, making them seem so, well, out of touch.
They listen to different music. They don’t understand social media. Many don’t text or even know how to use a smart phone. They’re of the era when making a call meant using a rotary dial on a wall-hung phone, when party lines still existed.
Most grandchildren don’t know what that even means.
I was raised by my grandmother. Almost sixty years spanned our age difference. She was conservative, traditional, opinionated, and yes, out of touch with my generation.
“Girls wore dresses, not jeans,” she said. They didn’t play sports and they certainly didn’t have any friends that were boys. She stopped shy of saying “Speak only when you’re spoken to.”
If you know me, you know that wouldn’t fly! LOL.
What my grandmother taught me, however, was that her generation, and my parent’s generation, had significant value for all of us. If it weren’t for our ancestors breaking down barriers, fighting for what they believed in and working hard to make their dreams come true, we wouldn’t have what we have today.
It’s true. Grandma’s peers were brought up different from mine. But the world was a different place back then—women couldn’t even vote when my grandma was born!
So on this celebration day, make it grand!Thank your grandparents for all those achievements their generation made. Pick up the phone—‘cuz they probably can’t text or tweet—and say Hey, thanks for being you!
P.S. Chuck, thank you for all of your stories. This post is for you.. Happy birthday!
Beautiful People - September 2015
This month's Beautiful People interview is with Lucas Crandon, from from my novel, Aftermath.After Emma Bennett relocates to Westport, Wisconsin, she befriends Lucas--the local bad boy. Lucas' wild reputation for partying and girls got him into trouble more than once. Most recently, he was arrested for drug possession.
Being the son of a police detective, Lucas moved in with his mom and stepdad, til things smoothed over. Let's see what he has to say today...
In case you missed my earlier posts, Beautiful People is a monthly blog linkup hosted by Paperfury and Further Up and Further In. Look for posts each month on the character from The Afterworld Saga.
If you’re in a crisis, who would you really like to see?
Lucas: Not my dad.
Really? Not your dad... I mean, he’s a cop.
**Lucas shook his head.**
Lucas: I guess it depends on what the crisis is. If I got into an accident, or had car trouble, then okay, maybe I'd call my dad. But my stepdad owns an auto body shop, so Ray would be the best person for that. My dad would rage into me for pretty much anything I did, so I'd skip telling him, unless I had to.
Do you think you’re easy to get along with?Lucas: Hell ya. Well, as long as you agree with me.
**Lucas shot me a smirk.**
Who was the last person you had a deep conversation with?
Lucas: Emma.
Do you care to elaborate?
**Lucas shrugged.**
She’s just cool.
You’re in the middle of a huge crowd. How do you feel?
Lucas: Awesome. I'm at home in the middle of a crowd. I play football and the team counts on me to do my job. I get an adrenaline rush.
Do you believe in luck or miracles?
Lucas: Nah, man. There’s no such thing as miracles. Luck, maybe. But my dad insists you need to work hard to get what you want. Maybe, I’m just unlucky—getting caught doing something I shouldn’t.
**Lucas chuckled.**
Do you like and get along with your neighbors?
Lucas: I don't know any neighbors at my mom's place, and my dad lives in a small house in the city. Our neighbors are so close to us that I really couldn’t get away with any parties. They’d rat me out for the noise alone. So I never tried. We usually party at the lake. So I guess I get along with my neighbors. My dad does. And a couple buddies live down the street from him. Emma lives a few blocks away. Yeah. We all get along.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Lucas: London. My stepdad’s buddy talks about it all the time. I’d go there.
How do you feel about your body?
Lucas: Like what? I’m in awesome shape. The girls dig me.
What’s the cruelest thing someone has ever said to you? And how did you react?
Lucas: The worst message I ever got came from my mom. When I was four, she took off. My dad tried to give me a softened story at first.
**Lucas looked down at his hands and paused for a moment.**
As I got older, I figured it out. I was ten when I found the letter she left my dad. I was looking for Christmas presents in my dad’s bedroom. After that, I threw myself into football.
What’s the kindest thing someone ever said to you? And how did you react?
**Lucas thought about his answer before responding.**
Lucas: It was probably my dad. When I found my mom’s letter, he told me he loved me and would always be there for me, no matter what.
I guess I forgot that—until now.
