Megan Morgan's Blog, page 18
October 6, 2017
Immortally Yours by Lynsay Sands
Today I’m hosting Lynsay Sands and her paranormal romance, Immortally Yours. Lynsay is giving away 5 print copies of A QUICK BITE (Argeneau #1) for US ONLY. So make sure to comment, check out the other stops on the tour, and enter the Rafflecopter giveaway!
Enter to win one of 5 print copies of A QUICK BITE (Argeneau #1) for US ONLY
Follow the tour HERE !
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Immortally Yours
Argeneau
Book 26
Lynsay Sands
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Avon Books
Date of Publication: 9/26/2017
ISBN: 9780062468956
ASIN: 0062468952
Number of pages: 400
Irresistible chemistry and thrilling suspense combine in this electrifying new installment in New York Times bestselling author Lynsay Sands’ Argeneau series
One hundred and twenty-five years is a long time to nurse a crush. That’s how long it’s been since Beth Argenis first met Cullen “Scotty” MacDonald, and he instantly became the star of her most X-rated dreams. Back then, he was rescuing her from a Rogue Immortal. Now Beth’s a Rogue Hunter—a damn good one. She doesn’t need saving anymore, despite what Scotty thinks. What she does need is the fierce, wild desire that finally erupts between them.
Scotty has hesitated to claim Beth as his own. But one explosive kiss confirms what he’s long suspected: She’s his life mate. But Beth is tough, fearless, beautiful…and in immortal danger. Unless he wants to lose her forever, he’ll have to rethink everything he once believed about love and destiny as well as confront an enemy who’s terrifyingly close.
EXCERPT:
“Tybo, it’s time to move,” Beth said into her headset as she watched the garage door drop closed.
“And thank God for that. We’ve been camping out here all night in the cold and mud. I’m done in,” came the complaint over the headset.
“We all are,” Beth said grimly. “So quit your bitchin’ and move into position or I’ll come find you and kick your arse.”
“God, Beth, I love how your accent comes out when you’re annoyed. It’s so Eliza Doolittle.” Tybo’s voice was smooth and full of laughter this time. It made her suspect he’d complained just to get a reaction out of her, especially when he added, “I like it best when you talk dirty. It just revs my engine.”
“Dirty?” she asked with surprise.
“Ummm hmmm,” Tybo crooned. “You said arse.”
Beth covered the mouthpiece of her headset as a bark of laughter slipped from her lips. She hadn’t worked with Tybo long, but was quickly learning the man was a character. Shaking her head, she removed her hand from her mouthpiece and said, “Stop flirting with me, you cheeky bastard, and move into posit—”
A choked sound and the rustle of cloth from her earpiece made her stop talking and listen instead before she said, “Tybo? Tybo?”
Beth paused a heartbeat to wait for a response, and then said, “Valerian? Do you see Tybo?” Silence was her only answer.
“Ah hell,” she muttered. Slipping out from behind the tree she’d been using for cover, Beth started moving quickly in Tybo’s direction. She had the dart gun she’d been issued in one hand, but her sword in the other. It was the sword that saved her. Before Beth reached the spot where she’d ordered Tybo to take cover, the dart gun was abruptly kicked from her grip. She never saw it coming, but reacted instinctively, sword hand coming up and swinging hard even as she turned toward her assailant. She caught him at the base of the throat where it met his shoulder. The blade went deep, slicing better than halfway through his neck.
Beth yanked it out, grimacing at the sucking sound it made. She watched the man topple sideways to the ground, and then quickly wiped the blade off on her attacker’s coat before grabbing up the dart gun she’d dropped. Shooting him with it to ensure he didn’t heal and rise too quickly, she then turned and continued forward. Beth found Tybo on his back in the mud some twelve feet from where she’d been attacked. There was a knife in his chest.
“You should have moved when I told you to,” Beth muttered as she bent to tug the ivory-handled knife from his heart. He didn’t open his eyes and sit up at once, but she hadn’t expected him to. He’d need some time to heal. Beth reached into the satchel hanging at her side, pulled out a bag of blood and then opened his mouth. She had to massage his upper gums briefly to get his fangs to slide out, but then she slapped the bag to them.
Leaving Tybo where he lay, Beth straightened and glanced around before continuing along the path. Valerian had been positioned another thirty feet ahead in the woods surrounding the house. She found the hunter exactly where she expected, also with a knife to the heart. As she removed it, Beth noted that it was a duplicate of the knife that had been in Tybo’s chest.
Tossing the blade aside, Beth slapped a bag of blood onto Valerian’s fangs as well before turning to peer through the bushes at the house they’d been watching since just after sunset. It had been empty by the time they’d got their orders from Mortimer at the Enforcer house and made their way here. The inhabitants, a rogue immortal and his minions, had already been gone by then, probably to hunt up new victims. Beth, Tybo, and Valerian had sat here awaiting their return for most of the night and now it was almost dawn, but a few minutes ago a van had pulled into the driveway. The garage door had opened, the van had pulled in, and the door had closed without them ever seeing how many people were in the vehicle. Which was why Beth had ordered Tybo to approach the house. They needed to know how many rogues they were dealing with and what the situation was. It was vital to their approach. If there were innocent mortals who needed saving, for instance, it would affect how they handled everything.
It seemed, however, that their presence hadn’t gone unnoticed, and one of the returning rogues had managed to slip out unseen and sneak up on them. Her question now was whether that was the only one. Had the newly turned rogue just been sent out to check around and happened upon them? Or had they been spotted and he was sent out to take care of them? And if so, how many others, if any, were out scouring the trees surrounding the house, looking for them? Aside from whether there were innocents around, Beth also needed to know many rogues were inside besides Walter Simpson, the master rogue of this group. Unfortunately, getting those answers and doing anything with them would be hard since her entire, and very tiny, team was now incapacitated except for herself.
Cursing under her breath, Beth took a quick glance around and then moved to the nearest tree and swiftly climbed up into the branches. She settled on a large, sturdy branch fifteen feet up, took a moment to be sure that she had a good view of the surrounding area and that no one could sneak up on her, and then slid her cell phone from her pocket.
Mortimer answered on the first ring. “Problem?”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
[image error]Lynsay Sands is the nationally bestselling author of the Argeneau/Rogue Hunter vampire series, as well as numerous historicals and anthologies. She’s been writing stories since grade school and considers herself incredibly lucky to be able to make a career out of it. Her hope is that readers can get away from their everyday stress through her stories, and if there’s occasional uncontrollable fits of laughter, that’s just a big bonus.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33889462-immortally-yours
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lynsay-Sands/125138040836322
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lynsay_sands
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lynsaysands
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lynsaysands/
Website: http://www.lynsaysands.net/news.html
Newsletter: http://www.lynsaysands.net/joinmailinglist.html
Enter to win one of 5 print copies of A QUICK BITE (Argeneau #1) for US ONLY
Follow the tour HERE !
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Filed under: Giveaways, Guest Posts Tagged: books, guests, paranormal, romance
October 4, 2017
A Piece of Me
[image error]This post is part of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group blog hop. The first Wednesday of every month is Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. The awesome co-hosts for the October 4 posting of the IWSG are Olga Godim, Chemist Ken, Jennifer Hawes, and Tamara Narayan!
This month I’m just kind of doggy paddling, so there’s no new insecurity to report. I’m in a holding pattern, waiting for some things to come through pertaining to my writing, and I feel like I’m not going anywhere at the moment. But we all have these times, don’t we? We have to have some quiet moments. We can’t have every day filled with fast cars, flashing cameras, diamonds, and champagne.
…what? That’s not how ALL writers live???
October 4 question – Have you ever slipped any of your personal information into your characters, either by accident or on purpose?
I guess so, in the sense that I always seem to give my major characters some of my own traits, beliefs, interests, and idiosyncrasies. I love to write about Chicago, and some of the places my characters have visited in Chicago and things they’ve done there are things that I’ve seen and done as well. I also wrote a story set in Cleveland (where I live) so there were a lot of personal details in there.
Not myself, but I DID use my best friend as a minor baddie in my Siren Song series–the character even has her name and appearance. I ended up killing her off, and my BFF thinks it’s great. She really loved being in the story, and yes, I did ask her permission before I did it (the third book reveals this information in the dedication).
All of our characters have a piece of us in them, don’t they? (And I don’t just mean when you wish you could punch them in the mouth when they’re not cooperating.)
Today is also Show Us Your Writer Insecurity day! I’m not participating myself, but stop by and check out all the fun pictures from IWSG members!
On Wednesday, October 4 (IWSG Day), post a photo of yourself (or your alter ego) with any of the IWSG swag or with the IWSG logo. Then leave a comment that day at either the IWSG website’s post or the IWSG Facebook post directing us to your photo. (All blog, Facebook, Goodreads, and newsletter members welcome, but photo must be posted on a blog or Facebook to qualify.)
The IWSG site admins will visit each one and pick the top three. Why? Because there are cool prizes involved:
Third place – EBook of A Change of Mind and Other Stories by Nick Wilford, eBook of The Remnant by William Michael Davidson, eBook of Cling to God by Lynda R. Young, eBook of Already Home by Heather M. Gardner, and eBook of Dragon of the Stars by Alex. J. Cavanaugh.
Second place – The entire eBook collection of the Totem series by Christine Rains, eBooks of Princess of Las Pulgas by C. Lee McKenzie, audio book of CassaSeries by Alex J. Cavanaugh, eBook of Black and White by Nick Wilford, and your choice eBook from J.L. Campbell.
Grand prize winner – IWSG website interview, IWSG newsletter spotlight, IWSG pinned tweet for one week, C. Lee McKenzie’s Featured Follower for the month, the IWSG Goodreads book club eBook for October/November, a short chapter critique, and a pair of IWSG erasers.
Filed under: IWSG Tagged: blog hop, creativity, insecure writer's support group, inspiration, me, personal life
October 2, 2017
Dracones Series by Sheri-Lynn Marean
Today I’m hosting Sheri-Lynn Marean and her dark paranormal fantasy romance series, Dracones. Sheri-Lynn is giving away a swag pack and signed paperback copy of her prequel, Dracones Primalthorn to 2 lucky winners. So make sure to comment, check out the other stops on the tour, and enter the Rafflecopter giveaway at the bottom. Sheri-Lynn is also here to give us an interview today!
Interview with Sheri-Lynn Marean
When did you first realize you wanted to become a Writer/author?
I often thought of writing a story of some things that happened in my life for my oldest son, but in 2008, I read a fiction book that really pissed me off, so I decided to write my own stories. I never thought I’d be a writer, never mind a published author, but I’ve always made stories up, from characters in books, or movies or TV shows, I’d just continue on, with what if this or that happened to them. The next thing I knew, I was writing.
Where do you get your ideas for your book?
Everywhere! TV, Movies, books, while driving, showering, eating, lol. Sometimes from something someone says, or even feelings another book made me feel, then it’s like, hm…what can I do with that, what if….
What kind of things do you enjoy when not writing?
Reading of course. Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Drawing (Which I haven’t done a lot of in the last 2 yrs, but I still sell my art on ETSY) Photography, and of course watching my TV shows.
How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
I’ve written 6, (Books 1-5 plus the Prequel in the Dracones series & Saberthorn, the first in my Dracones spinoff: Dragonkind – 52 Realms series. It releases at the end of Oct 2017)
It’s hard to pick just one as my favorite, but I think up to this point, Dracones Thaniel has touched my heart the most, though Soroyan, the big bad wolf is coming in a close second, but there is just something about the sweet broken Were-leopard of bk4…
Do you have any suggestions to help others who have a passion for writing?
Don’t listen to anyone who says you can’t do it. Just do it.
Even if you hate plotting or don’t do much, I highly recommend Debra Dixon’s GMC, (Goal, Motivation, Conflict) to make your characters & structure stronger. It is easy to make up a chart and use it. Also, KM Weiland’s Structuring your novel. I don’t do much structure myself, just a GMC chart & a very basic arc, along with a timeline, but KM Weiland’s book has a ton of extra little tips, (hooking your reader, etc)
Make sure you have a hook in your first sentence, paragraph, and all the way through the first chapter to keep your readers reading, wanting to know more.
I spent months in a group called agentqueryconnect.com, and the learning experience was invaluable. So often, I see blurbs that give away too much of the story so that you don’t need to read it, or it just doesn’t hook you. Learn to do your blurb right, there are many resources out there on how.
Make sure you have a handful of decent beta readers, even give them a questionnaire, if possible. You don’t know how to find any? Join some author/writing groups on FB, even ask other authors whose books are in the same genre as yours to help. My friend and a favorite indie author of mine, Donya Lynne helped me get my first bunch of Beta’s from her own beta’s/readers.
Build a street team, they are invaluable!
Hire a good, editor! Be careful, try & get a referral to a few good editors, as some have just slapped the title to their name and sound like they know what they are doing. Get some referrals, get a SAMPLE edit to make sure you can work together. I now have a question I ask any editor I am considering. I ask them to explain Passive/active writing, and some understand the basic, but not what passive/active writing really is.
What do you think makes a great story?
I like deep characters, not perfect and shiny, but often flawed or broken, or with issues, etc. A good strong storyline, with twists is nice, action and a book that hooks me and won’t let go.
Which Writer/Authors inspire you?
Sherrilyn Kenyon is my biggest inspiration, you can’t help but fall in love with her characters and want your own! In fact, a year before I put out my first book, I had a beta reader who hated my male M/C, and while I knew not everyone was going to love my characters, or my books, it still made me take a closer look to see if I could make them any better. I then went back and re-read Sherrilyn’s books again for the 3rd time. I studied what it was that I loved about her characters, then I went to work on mine. I am so grateful to that beta reader for her honesty since I now have readers falling in love with mine as well.
When I first thought about writing, I read Seanan MGuire’s October Day books and that was when I first realized that anything can go. If you think it, you can write it. (Like talking rocks, even if they are slow, lol) So I try to think outside the box as much as possible.
Another inspiration was JR Ward, her characters, their close family even though they aren’t all related, and her multi POV’s are huge in how I write my books. (I love the huge cast and sneak peek into what the next book is going to be about. The same with Donya Lynne and her books, they both inspired me as well.
What are you working on at the moment?
A lot!!
-I’ve started a new book that has nothing to do with my other 2 series and is about The Ferryman of the underworld.
-I’m working on a few of the Dracones books that fall along the timeline at the same time; Zander, Elianna and Toren. I’m not yet sure if they will be full length, or novellas.
-I am working on book 2 in my Dragonkind – 52 Realms series
-I’ve started another Dracones spin off, a Y/A book, not sure if it will be one book or a series.
-I have another book spinning around in my head, wanting to be written.
-My young daughter wanted to read my Dracones but wasn’t old enough, so I released bk 1 & 2 in a CLEAN version for teens/Y/A or any age and am working to get bk3 and then 4 out.
-I also have a Photoshop course I need to work on along with a Author course. 
October 1, 2017
It’s October!
October is finally here and guess what’s peeking around the corner….
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Yay! It’s almost Halloween! Expect things to get spooky here on the blog. 
September 29, 2017
Demon Rising by DeAnna Browne
Today I’m hosting DeAnna Browne and her adult urban fantasy, Demon Rising. DeAnna is giving away a $25 Amazon gift card. So make sure to comment, check out the other stops on the tour, and enter the Rafflecopter giveaway. DeAnna is also here to give us an interview today!
Enter to win a $25 Amazon gift card
Follow the tour HERE for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!
Interview with DeAnna Browne
What is something unique/quirky about you?
I recently started taking classes on the German Longsword. It started as a research opportunity, but I soon fell in love. I learned in my classes that the common scene in movies where two people struggle with clashed swords (the technical word is a bind) is not reality. Most sword fights last less than two minutes. I’ve enjoyed the physical and mental aspects that sword fighting offers. The older I get, I find myself saying yes to most adventures that cross my path.
Tell us something really interesting that’s happened to you!
I don’t personally think interesting things come up and knock on one’s door or at least not in my experience. I think you need to go out and seek adventure. I love to travel and one of my most amazing opportunities was backpacking through Europe for three weeks with my husband and eighteen month old baby girl. We met so many wonderful people on our journey and had experiences we’ll never forget.
What are some of your pet peeves?
People that ruin the end of a story. The rest I can deal with.
What are your top 10 favorite books/authors?
I’m so glad you gave me ten to choose from, because I love a variety of genres and have favorites in each. These are in no particular order, and it often depends on my mood.
Urban Fantasy: Patricia Briggs is a big favorite. I love her Moon Called and Alpha and Omega series. They are definitely some of my go to comfort reads.
Classics: John Steinbeck is probably my favorite master of the prose. His characterizations blow me away. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury vies for my favorite all time novel. I love dystopian and some of his lines are stop-me-in-my-tracks amazing.
Adventure/Suspense: The Bourne Identity Series by Robert Ludlum. The books are very different from the movies and a million times better.
Historical Fiction/Romance: I recommend The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer to most people. It is a sweet romance, and I enjoy the history.
Another favorite is Robin LaFevers’ His Fair Assassin Trilogy, especially #2 Dark Triumph. She does an amazing job weaving history and magic together. I also love a romance where the characters are marred internally and externally. The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger is a another great romance.
Historical Non-Fiction: Too many to choose from, but a recent favorite is My Mother’s Secret by J.L.Witterick
Young Adult: I’ll read anything by Holly Black and Kristin Cashore. For contemporary YA, I’ve recently fell in love with Nocole Yoon and Rainbow Rowell.
Middle-Grade: Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor was my favorite story growing up. I also recently started listening to Big Nate books by Lincoln Pierce, and they make our whole car laugh out loud. Of course, Harry Potter tops my list too.
I may have cheated and gone a bit over. I love chatting books and exchanging recommendations, so feel free to join me on goodreads. https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17079239.DeAnna_Browne
What inspired you to write this book?
For my novel, Demon Rising, it started as I was driving down the road listening to the song Demons, by Imagine Dragons. Dreaming about Demons, I started to imagine a world filled with demons, literally and figuratively.
Everywhere, everyday people are fighting their own personal demons. What if they were real as well? After several missed turns and being late, this small seed of an idea grew into a novel. Now I don’t recommend brainstorming while you’re driving. It’s really distracting.
What can we expect from you in the future?
The second book in the Dark Rising Series, Unholy Sundering, is due out in 2018. I’m also currently finishing up edits on a science fiction novel.
Do you have any “side stories” about the characters?
When I start a novel, I begin with the characters. I write short stories, journal entries, and whatever I need to get inside the characters mind. Then when I began writing, the characters take off. Sometimes they do as expected, but every now and then they take a twist I didn’t see coming, and controlled chaos ensues. It’s part of what makes writing fun.
I have a short story, Evil Etched in Gold, I offer for free on my website about Nevada, a secondary character that is an illusionist and has the power to look like anyone. I also have a short story about one of my main characters, Darion, when he first experiences his powers of fire. These are such fun to write and one day I will put them together in a collection.
Where did you grow up at?
Born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, and despite my travels, I always end up back home here. On the plus side of growing up in the southeast, I’ve learned to make a mean salsa and guacamole.
If you knew you’d die tomorrow, how would you spend your last day?
In nature with my loved ones.
What book do you think everyone should read?
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury.
Tell us about a favorite character from a book.
I love the secondary characters in my books just as much as if not more than my main characters. With minor characters we only get a glimpse of their story, and they have so much more to share. One of my favorite secondary characters is Grace. We meet her halfway through the story, as a product of the magicians’ slave trade. She’s compliant and defeated at first, but never loses her brazen personality. When she is given a second chance, she fights with everything she has.
What are you passionate about these days?
Books, swords, yoga, and enjoying my family.
What do you do to unwind and relax?
Yoga and books.
How to find time to write as a parent?
I have five children and time management is a must. I’m not a night owl, so during school or naps is my usually time, but I often have to escape to the library or coffee shop too.
What made you want to become an author and do you feel it was the right decision?
I wrote here and there growing up, but I never considered writing a novel until I had children. With a newborn baby at home, I found the time to explore my creative side and fell in love with writing. Granted I never realized how busy that baby would become. I think it’s human of me to second guess my decision to become a writer now and then, but I believe following one’s passion in life brings joy.
A day in the life of the author?
I have a crazy couple of hours in the morning getting my kiddos out the door. Then I pour myself a nice cup of Crio Bru, which is similar to coffee but roasted cocoa beans. It’s amazing. I spend time writing in between loads of laundry and other fabulous activities. One of my favorite aspects of writing is heading off to writing retreats or conferences. I’m planning to attend one in Northern Arizona this fall and in Northern California this winter. It’s a great time to get a lot done and meet other wonderful authors.
Advice they would give new authors?
Write every day, read every day, and find a critique group that you trust. I’d like to say writing comes easy to me, but it doesn’t. I work hard to constantly improve my craft by participating in critique groups, attending workshops, and reading a lot of books on writing.
I do have a page on my blog dedicated to writing books, blogs and other resources for other writers. https://deannabrowne.wordpress.com/writing-resources/
What are they currently reading?
I just finished The Star is Also a Sun by Nicola Yoon, which is a masterful story. Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline is next in my pile.
How long have you been writing?
One and off since a teenager with random poems and short stories. I began writing more consistently ten years ago. A Demon Rising is my second completed novel. The first one is buried somewhere.
What is your writing process? For instance do you do an outline first? Do you do the chapters first?
I begin with a rough outline, and then focus on my characters. I’ll write short stories, journal entries, find pictures on line, and whatever else I need to get inside my character’s mind. I believe the characters drive my story and they sometimes surprise me and change course mid story.
Do the characters all come to you at the same time or do some of them come to you as you write?
Both. When I start writing the story, characters get their own personality and take over. Usually by the time I get to the end of the story, I have to go back to the beginning to clean up the mess my characters made.
What kind of research do you do before you begin writing a book?
It depends on the book. With fantasy, I usually have to create some type of world bible. I’m currently finishing up edits on a science fiction novel that deals with virtual reality. I’ve had to do a lot of research of tech and virtual reality and thankfully, I have a programming friend that has guided me through the process.
What kind of research do you do before you begin writing a book?
It depends on the book. My current novel, Demon Rising, takes place in a world where magicians reign and demons are sources of power and used as pets. Since my world primarily deals with magic, I dove head first into research.
Though A Demon Rising is pure fiction, I love to find connections to magic in the real world. For example, I researched Solomon, yes the one from the Bible, and his role in ancient magic for my novel. Google it, it’s amazing. I also recently found in Chicago that the Newberry Library is calling for the public to help translate 17th Century books on witchcraft and magic. One in particular is called “The Book of Magical Charms.” This book is thought to be written by two witches in the 1600s in England. It contains spells on how to cheat at dice and talk to the spirits.
Whether you’re a believer or not, research is fascinating. As a writer, it sparks my imagination and feeds my creativity.
Describe yourself in 5 words or less!
Artistic. Adventurous. Strong. Complex. Caring.
Thanks, DeAnna! Now let’s learn a little more about your book…
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Some sacrifices cost more than death…
Thirty years ago, dark magicians unleashed new power on the earth fueled by demons. Governments toppled, millions died and magicians ended up on top of the food chain.
Twenty-four-year-old Becca survives these dangerous times by relying on her wits, her fists, and the limited goodwill of her boss, a local crime lord. When news comes of a fire back home and the family she left behind dead, she realizes her dark past has finally caught up to her.
On the hunt for her missing sister, she must rely on Darion, a treacherous ex-boyfriend with ties to the local coven for back-up. Problem is he’s a pyromancer that can’t be trusted, especially with her heart. Will she escape the sticky web of treachery and deceit with her sister and her heart, or will she sacrifice it all to save another?
Becca’s forced to navigate a dangerous web of deceit and must decide what she’s willing to sacrifice to save her sister.
“An enthralling new voice gives us a magical world where love leads to dark decisions.” ~ Jami Gray, award winning author
“…extremely well written, filled with wonderful characters, strange happenings, and face paced action. I, for one, found it very hard to put down. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.”
~Taylor Jones, reviewer
Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35919298-demon-rising
EXCERPT:
The tattoo on Becca’s neck prickled as she walked the crowded path to work. Searching for the possible source of magic, she continued forward, with coffee in one hand and the other resting by the knife at her waist.
She moved amid a throng of people, shuffling along the worn walkways. Heavy clouds were scattered across the sky, while dilapidated buildings surrounded them, a haunting reminder of what once was. A young man pushed past Becca, dressed in blue coveralls. He must be heading to the line. The tattoo on Becca’s neck prickled as she walked the crowded path to work. Searching for the possible source of magic, she continued forward, with coffee in one hand and the other resting by the knife at her waist.
The warehouse traveled up twenty stories high, the tallest building in town with a large fountain in front. It must have once been a beauty. Now the fountain, covered in graffiti, ran dry and the boarded up windows could barely keep the wind out.
A familiar, lanky guard stood watch on the side of the road. Could he have been the source of the magic warming her tattoo? He scanned the crowd with a demon dog at his side, a German shepherd with unnaturally large black eyes.
Turning forward, she let her dark hair fall into her face, not wanting to draw his attention. She stepped past the guard undisturbed. She could handle herself with the guards, but her boss, Nikko, constantly nagged her about keeping a low profile.
The crowds pressed together, and a large man knocked into Becca’s side, tripping her. She stumbled, spilling the remains of her coffee all over her black jeans. Someone swore as the crowd surged forward, and she stepped to the side.
At five-foot-five, she was on the small side, but strong enough to cause pain and scrappy enough to avoid it when she could. The crowds weren’t her problem, though. That would be the presence behind her, causing her tattoo to burn.
BUY LINKS:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074K92P92
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/demon-rising-deanna-browne/1126957944?ean=9781626947238
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/741980
KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/demon-rising
BOB: https://black-opal-books.myshopify.com/products/demon-rising-by-deanna-browne
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/demon-rising/id1271504395?ls=1&mt=11
Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/book/356374838/Demon-Rising
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
[image error]DeAnna Browne graduated from Arizona State University with her BS in Psychology. She finds it helps to corral those voices in her mind and put them to paper. Her debut novel, A DEMON RISING, came out in August 2017 with Black Opal Books and book two in the series, UNHOLY SUNDERING, is due out 2018. An avid reader and writer, she has a soft spot for fantasy with a touch of romance. Despite her love for food and traveling, she always finds her way back to Phoenix, Arizona with her husband, children, and pet dog.
Author Links
Website: www.deannabrowne.com
Newsletter: http://wordpress.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=02a1aa395d1695e7d0835b61e&id=9fd758ad1f
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deannabrownebooks/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrowneBooks
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/DeAnna-Browne/e/B074L9BH72/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17079239.DeAnna_Browne
Enter to win a $25 Amazon gift card
Follow the tour HERE for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!
Filed under: Giveaways, Guest Posts Tagged: books, guests, urban fantasy
September 27, 2017
5 Things Not To Do When You Get Rejected
You wrote a book. You poured your heart and soul into it and worked on it for a long time–weeks, months, maybe even years. You edited and revised it, you showed it to a few people you trust, you incorporated their suggestions and you’ve read every single word of this manuscript so many times they’re burnt permanently into your brain. You’ve done your best, you think it’s a great story, you think you wrote the best thing you’ve ever written. So you send it off to an agent/publisher/editor, and you hold your breath, and you wait.
And it gets rejected.
[image error]This happens to all of us. Trust me. If you haven’t yet sent something off to an editor with stars in your eyes and a song in your heart, I have some bad news for you–you’re going to get rejected. This is the cold, hard truth. Yes, you’re still brave and wonderful for trying, but you’re going to get rejected nonetheless. Almost no writer ever has gotten their very first manuscript accepted. We hear stories all the time about famous authors who got rejected a bunch of times before they were accepted. Heck, those of us who have a bunch of stuff published already STILL get rejections. And you know what? Rejections never stop sucking. Every single one hurts, no matter who you are and what you’ve accomplished.
[image error]Rejection sucks, but don’t lose it. 5 things NOT to do when you get rejected. #writing @morgan_romance
When you get rejected it’s okay to hurt, it’s okay to cry, it’s okay to be angry, or throw something across the room (preferably something not fragile or alive). It’s okay to moan to your friends or have a beer or two or six. However…
Here are 5 things NOT TO DO when you get rejected:
Argue. Never email an agent/editor back and try to argue your rejection, or tell them what a short sighted moron they are. You know why? Because you might want to send them something else in the future. Also, people in the industry talk to each other and you don’t want to get a reputation for this. No matter how much you want to tell them off, this is never, ever a good idea. (You’re also not going to change their mind.) Take a few deep breaths, let the anguish wear off, and realize the best thing for your hopeful future career is to swallow your pride. Some people like to send a thank you note to an editor after a rejection, but I wouldn’t do this either–for me, when they reject me, that’s the end of our conversation.
Put the rejector on blast. Don’t go on social media and talk about how dumb/spineless/clueless your rejector is. Even if you don’t name names, it does poor things for your image to post long Facebook rants about stupid agents or tweets about editors being buffoons. It’s okay to commiserate with your writer friends, but don’t do it in public. Remember, stuff you put on the internet lasts forever.
Immediately self publish. Being rejected is not a green light to go ahead and just put your book up on Amazon yourself. Especially if the rejector gave you detailed feedback and suggestions, you probably want to sit down with your manuscript and see where you can make it stronger and better. You might even want to let it cool for a while and then come back to it with fresh eyes. Remember, if you put your book up for sale and people read it, and there’s things genuinely wrong with it, readers are way, way less forgiving than editors. You could be souring any future audience to your work.
Get destructive. Don’t immediately delete all copies of your manuscript and set your hard drive on fire in a fit of rage and self-loathing. The hard truth of writerhood is that some things you write will linger and die and never be published, but some things you write just need some more fixing up so you can try again. Let it simmer for a bit and figure out which one it is. If you think you hate yourself now, wait a few days when you realize you deleted an entire book.
Give up. Just because you got rejected doesn’t mean you’ll always get rejected. The only way to win is to stay in the game. Be sad, be angry, be embarrassed–and then let it wear off and try, try again.
Being rejected is never easy, but it’s part of being a writer. It’s natural to feel bad, but it’s important not to do anything rash. How do you deal with rejection?
Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: advice, publishers, writing
September 26, 2017
Temptation Trials II by B. Truly
Today I’m hosting B. Truly and her erotic urban fantasy, Temptation Trials II. B. Truly is giving away a $15 Amazon/B&N gift card. So make sure to comment, check out the other stops on the tour, and enter the Rafflecopter giveaway!
Enter to win a $15 Amazon/B&N gift card
Leave a comment and check out the other stops on the tour for more chances to win!
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Lust Is the Epitome of Damnation
Lust, one of the seven deadly sins, was sweeping through the nation like wildfire. In its true essence, lust was leading mankind down the path to damnation. In this dystopian society, Cali and Stefani had to comply by the Regime’s strict rule of arranged marriage. But Eminence, the world dictator, doesn’t play fair.
Against all odds, they both decide to put their relationships through the ultimate test on The Temptation Trials—a reality TV show where every temptation of the flesh was set before them.
As participants on the show, they soon learn that losing may cost them more than the men they love. Cali’s torn, unsure of what her future holds with Cade. Stefani worries whether her relationship with Tobias can be salvaged.
Love can be blind. The betrayal they face from the Trials burden them. Will love be their redemption, or will it destroy them?
A million questions torment their minds.
Can you love two people at once? If a person is chosen for you, can those feelings be real?
Cali and Stefani must overcome heartbreak and pull together with their loved ones before it’s too late. The abominable truth is unveiled, which sends them on a journey that will jeopardize their lives.
The will of the weak is his for the taking. Can love save their souls?
EXCERPT:
Glazed, cryptic eyes pierced through me, reminding me of a strung-out junky. His face seemed vaguely familiar, right down to his golden curls. Just couldn’t put my finger on where I’d seen him before. An eerie thrill rippled my spine. The way he was staring creeped me out. I quickly skirted past him, only to have Blondie clasp my arm. Okay, now I was officially freaked.
“Let go of me!” I seethed.
“The time has come,” he blurted.
“What are you talking about?”
“The decision is made … binding.”
This dude was clearly psycho. He spoke in riddles, none of which I understood. “You’ve got me confused with someone else.”
“No, you’re the one.”
My purse, where I normally kept my Taser, was nowhere to be found. He’d better be glad or I’d light his ass up. This whole scene was turning more bizarre by the second. I couldn’t figure out where I was. My surroundings were dim and heat began to consume me. Blondie leaned closer to me. Being nearer, I got a better look at his dilated eyes. His pupils were diamond-shaped, not the usual round. His grip tightened.
“Asshole. Take your hands off me!”
“You’re chosen, and you’re coming with me.”
Though I struggled against him, it didn’t do any damn good. Bright light blazed up ahead, mixed with smoldering heat. I soon realized the light and scalding warmth was coming from giant flames. Doubling my efforts, I fought harder, to no avail. Blondie’s face became a blur, and darkness encompassed me—the scalding heat grew stronger. Time seemed to stand still—my mind swirled in a haze. The only thought that became clear, which seemed to chisel into my mind, was that I had to make the right choice.
BUY LINK:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Temptation-Trials-Part-II-Truly-ebook/dp/B075BLH6M7/
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
B. Truly has wanted to be an author since she was fifteen years old and is grateful to have accomplished this dream. She has very vivid dreams and a wild imagination. She likes to read, watch tons of TV shows, and movies. She’s addicted to romance and gets a thrill out of action and sci-fi. She writes New Adult and Adult, Romance. Sci-fi, Dystopian, and Paranormal genres.
B. Truly likes to explore different elements of sci-fi romance, and create various realms of reality. She also loves creating impossible situations for her characters to grow from and try to overcome.
B. Truly has three wonderful children and a husband who defines the person that she is today. She works full-time as an Ultrasound technologist in Houston, Texas.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrandyTruly
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BTrulysFantasies/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35802806-temptation-trials-part-ii
Trailer: https://youtu.be/oTchX_iN4jc
Enter to win a $15 Amazon/B&N gift card
Leave a comment and visit the other stops on the tour for more chances to win!
Filed under: Giveaways, Guest Posts, Promotion Tagged: books, erotica, guests, urban fantasy
September 25, 2017
Trimming the Fat
So, you’ve written a book. Now it’s time to edit and revise it–and a lot of that revision, you’ll find, consists of taking things away. Chopping out scenes, dialog, and maybe even characters that don’t work, or don’t fit. When it comes to editing, the objective is to make the story as lean, clean, and tight as possible. You don’t want any chunks of unnecessary fat left over that will clog up the flow. When it comes to writing, there’s a difference between ‘juicy’ and ‘bulky.’ Juicy stuff livens up the story without slowing down the plot, while bulk makes the story stumble and drag.
How do you know what to cut away and what to keep, though?
[image error]Fiction and real life are very different in one big, important way: in a story, everything fits, makes sense, and comes together to create a meaningful resolution. When was the last time any drama or struggle in your life resolved itself in a clean and efficient way with all the loose ends neatly tied up? Life also isn’t full of connections and meaning. For example, sometimes you go out to dinner just because you’re hungry and want to get out of the house. But in a story, if your characters go to dinner, something important better happen at that dinner. Likewise, in real life sometimes you lose your keys or the cat barfs on the rug. That’s just life. In a story, these details are written to make you feel you have something in common with, or elicit sympathy for a character. Sometimes the lost keys or sick cat are a plot device, too.
[image error]Trimming the fat–what to cut and what to keep in revisions. #editing @morgan_romance
How do you know what to cut out? Ask yourself these questions:
Does it move the plot along? Every single scene has to be part of the plot, no matter what–if you want to show people washing the dishes, they need to be having an important conversation while they do the dishes, or they need to be thinking about how to resolve something. If a scene doesn’t have a connection to the plot, no matter how much you love it, it has to go. Bulk weighs a story down. If someone is pumping gas, the gas station better get robbed while they’re there.
Is it important to the plot? If your character plays the piano, but nothing in the entire story has anything to do with a piano, then it’s just bulk to have a scene of your character playing the piano. Your detective wouldn’t stop in the middle of solving a murder to play the piano (unless playing the piano helps them work out cases in their head, then it’s a plot device). It’s fine to give characters traits and abilities to make them more real–that’s juicy–but if the piano has nothing to do with the story, then just have them mention their talent to someone.
What purpose does it serve? Does this thing move the plot forward, create a distraction (to throw your characters off course), create conflict, cause a roadblock, solve a problem, or add information? If not, get rid of it.
Will it change the story if you take it out? If the answer is no, cut cut cut!
All writers find themselves, at some point, having to cut precious words because they just don’t belong. If you don’t do it now, and you get picked up for publication, your editor will do it for you. Life doesn’t make sense, but a story has to. Maybe that’s why humans love fiction–for once, the chaos of life has meaning and order. Always make sure your stories have meaning, and take out the parts that just increase the chaos.
Filed under: Monday Blogs Tagged: advice, editing, writing
September 22, 2017
Fall is here!
Everyone who knows me is well aware that autumn is my absolute favorite season. Today is the beginning of it here in the northern hemisphere and I’m more than ready! I’m a bit crazy about it, really–I’ve decorated my house for fall and I’ve been drinking pumpkin spice for a couple weeks already. The leaves here started to turn before August was even over, and the color change is increasingly widespread.
Bring on Halloween! Thanksgiving! All of it!
Do you love fall? What’s your favorite season?
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Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: seasons
September 20, 2017
Viva la E-books
When I first started out as a writer, there was no such thing as E-readers and E-books. I’m going to date myself horribly here, but there was no such thing as the internet, either. Well, it existed, and has, much longer than we realize, but it wasn’t in widespread use in homes and wouldn’t be until the late 90’s/early 2000’s. Likewise, though they existed, laptops were not a “thing.” I started out on a typewriter, then a word processor, then finally a computer.
[image error]When E-books first started increasing in popularity and availability, they were also met with a lot of horror and condemnation. Ray Bradbury famously insisted that E-books were not real books (so, sorry, if you’ve ever had a book published in E-format, Ray Bradbury says you’re not a real writer) and in his later years he had to be coerced by his publishers to allow his work to be offered in E-book format. Other people were utterly convinced E-books meant that paper books were going to go away forever. As we can see all these years later, print books are still around. Humorously, when the printing press was first invented people insisted the ability to reproduce and widely distribute text would destroy books. So take heed, writers. According to the old school, none of you are real writers unless you’ve published a hand-written, hand-bound book and personally sold it yourself on a street corner!
I watched E-books completely change the face of publishing, and I’m always in awe that I was part of that transition. When people start naysaying, I remind them that books survived the greatest and swiftest technological revolution the world has ever seen by adapting to it, and that means something about books, and reading in general.
[image error] I watched E-books completely change the face of publishing, and I’m always in awe that I was part of that transition.
Here’s how Ebooks have changed publishing, for the good and bad.
The pros of E-books:
For avid readers, they’re a blessing. They make books much cheaper and more widely available.They also make obscure subject matter more mainstream and abundant–so if you like to read about something off the beaten path, you’re able to find many more titles available to you.
They let you take reading anywhere. You can take a lot of books with you everywhere you go, and read them much more conveniently. Six paperback books in your suitcase take up a lot more room than six books on your E-reader.
They make it less embarrassing to read certain subject matter. Like to read racy romances with a passionate, sexy couple on the cover? Don’t want to sit on the bus reading your book while everyone stares at it and silently judges you? E-readers to the rescue!
They open up new royalty rates for authors. Go ahead and ask your editor for 60% royalties on every paperback sold. I hope you’re on the ground floor, because they’re going to throw you out the window.
The cons of E-books:
Self publishing. Don’t get me wrong, self publishing is great. It’s also terrible. E-books, along with Amazon, have made it so anyone can self publish easily and anyone does. That not only means there’s a lot of terrible self published stuff out there, but it means that you’re trying to get noticed in a sea of literally hundreds of thousands of self published books. Maybe millions. It can be really, really discouraging.
Technological glitches. Losing your entire E-library can suck, if something happens to your E-reader or you lose it. Thankfully there’s ways to back things up, but E-books are more ephemeral than print, in many ways.
The print purists. See above. Suck it, Ray Bradbury.
I’m a big fan of E-books. I’m a big fan of print books. I’m a big fan of books. And I’m so happy that we’re still taking books along for the ride, no matter our evolving technology.
[image error]Viva la E-books! #books #publishing @morgan_romance
Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: books, technology, tools
