Monday, December 31, 2012

Super Book Blast Tour: The Silver Sphere by Michael Dadich

SBBT The Silver Sphere Banner copy

The Silver Sphere

By

Michael Dadich

BLURB:
Shelby Pardow never imagined she could kill someone. All she wants to do is MEDIA KIT the-silver-sphere 5hide from her troubled father… when she is teleported to awaiting soldiers on the planet Azimuth. Here she is not a child, but Kin to one of the six Aulic Assembly members whom Malefic Cacoethes has drugged and imprisoned. He seeks to become dictator of this world (and then Earth by proxy).

His father, Biskara, is an evil celestial entity, tracked by the Assembly with an armillary device, The Silver Sphere. With the Assembly now deposed, Biskara directs Malefic and the Nightlanders to their strategic targets. Unless….

Can Shelby find the other Kin, and develop courage and combat skills? Can the Kin reassemble in time to release or replace the Assembly, overthrowing Malefic and restraining Biskara?

 

AUTHOR INFORMATION:
I’ve been writing since first setting pencil to steno pad at age 8. A year later, I began developing the world of my current series-in-progress, and even created its title, The Silver Sphere. Now, with the support of years of experience, those early maps and back stories have progressed into what I hope is a fresh and entertaining take on the classic young adult fantasy adventure.

MEDIA KIT michael 2Despite my frequent escapes into parallel worlds, I root myself firmly in my very real family and community. When not pacing the yard maniacally after every few pages of writing, I spend as much time as possible hanging out with my studly 9-year-old son, and my inspirational wife Jenna. I also coach several local youth sports teams in Beverly Hills, and alternate between yelling at my two crazy Corgis and hiking with my trained German Shepherd.

For more, join me in my favorite fantasy worlds, from Lord of the Rings to the creations of C.S. Lewis, Anne McCaffrey and Terry Brooks.

Even more importantly, stop by and say hello on my Facebook page at AuthorMichaelDadich, tweet me at @MichaelDadich, and stalk my website at http://www.thesilversphere.org.org.

Amazon Buy link:  The Silver Sphere by Michael Dadich

 

Giveaway

 

Michael will be awarding a $75 Amazon or BN.com GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tours.

For more changes to comment, here is the rest of my teammates that will be posting today:

1. Brenda Maxfield's Blog
2. Andi's Young Adult Books
3. Book Reviews by Dee
4. Sharing Links and Wisdom
5. Lisa Haselton's Reviews and Interviews
6. Hope. Dreams. Life... Love
7. Moonlight, Lace, and Mayhem
8. It's Raining Books
9. Books in the Hall
10. Nickie's Views and Interviews
11. Loose the Hounds
12. Reading wtih Anacrasia
13. Book 'Em North Carolina
14. All the Days of
15. Oh, Chrys!

Sunday, December 30, 2012

No more reading goals … for 2013 at least

It is Sunday morning and I am browsing through my favourite book club SOUTH AFRICAN BOOK LOVERS on Goodreads and wow, have they read some books!  I made my 2012 list and I have only read 13 books in 2012.  The last book in October.  Terrible I know!  (Here is a link to my list.) 

I used to be a humungous reader, devouring everything in sight … what happened to me?

So for 2013, no pressure.  If I read 10 books or if I read 100 – good for me!  The only requirement is going to be that I review every book I read.  I used to love writing reviews but have gotten a bit of writer's block recently.  That is going to change, if it is only 10 sentences, it is going to be good enough.  

I think I have just gotten a bit lost with how I think things should be.  I am not a huge writer and will never write a review that will make people want to recommend me for a prize.  I am a book blogger and that is it.  My reviews come from how a book makes me feel.  And that is okay.  I am giving myself permission to just be myself.  No more comparing my reviews to others out there.  Maybe there is one person out there that finds a sentence that they can relate to and that will be awesome.  2013 is going to be a good year, I know it!

2013 here I come!

Monday, December 24, 2012

Book Excerpt: Belong to the Night

Belong To The Night (The Long Island Coven #2)

Back Cover Copy:

BELONG TO THE NIGHT

“THE WOLF, THE WITCH, AND HER LACK OF WARDROBE”

Jamie Meacham has enough trouble controlling her supernatural abilities. There's no time for lust, or for Tully Smith, even with his smoldering amber eyes. But Tully's grappling with his own animal instincts as a powerful shifter-wolf, trying to protect all his territory—including a certain sassy witch—from vicious rivals.

EXCERPT: (Unedited/Unproofed)

BELONG TO THE NIGHT

“The Wolf, the Witch, and Her Lack of Wardrobe

From Brava

Available Now!

Jamie woke up on her couch, a quilt wrapped around her. All the lights on and a fire blazing away in her fireplace. An open bottle of water rested on the coffee table in front of her couch, along with a bowl filled with grapes she’d brought that afternoon from the farmer’s market. Using what strength she had left, she pulled herself up until she had her back against the arm rest. She grabbed the water first and swigged back half of it, her throat raw from the flames she’d been forced to eat before she figured out her opponent’s weakness and won the tournament. After hydrating, she placed the bowl of grapes in her lap and proceeded to devour them. She was so glad she’d gone for the seedless when she made the purchase since she’d never been a big fan of spitting, unless she was in a fight with her cousin.

As she was nearing the last few grapes and wondering what else she had in her refrigerator or freezer to eat, she heard a loud bang somewhere in the back of the house followed by extensive cursing.

She started to get up when Rico flew into the room followed by Tully Smith trying to catch her.

“Come here you little bastard!” He made a wild grab for the gyrfalcon and the bird went up into the rafters. One of the reasons Jamie had picked this cabin for her new home was because of the deliciously extravagant high ceilings.

“Don’t think runnin’ up there’s gonna stop me,” Tully growled.

He’d put on clothes—tragically—and she wondered how long she’d been out for Tully to go to his place, change, and get back here without her knowing. Then on the end table at the opposite end of her sectional couch, she noticed not only her gun but the dress and satchel she’d brought with her when she’d gone out to the clearing. Christ, what time is it anyway? Because if there was one thing she knew about the man, it was that he didn’t have a vehicle to get around quickly in. Every time she saw him he was either walking on two feet or four, but he was always walking slowly. If he wasn’t walking, someone else was driving. Yet she did have to admit…all that walking had done the man wonders. He had what could only be called an astounding body. The kind that the supermodels appeared to have in those giant billboards in Times Square but when Jamie had actually seen them in person—usually during drug busts—they were way too thin and narrow. But not Tully Smith. He was definitely a man who could handle her physically, which was a nice change of pace.

“What are you doing?” she finally asked when she saw the wolf bending at the knees so he could try and make a lateral jump to the bird. Although what the shifters could do—and withstand—physically did amaze Jamie, she also knew he’d never reach the bird. Then again, dogs could be kind of dumb sometimes.

Tully let out a breath before slowly turning to face her. “I’m trying to make you a fricassee.”

Jamie snorted, wincing a little when it made her raw throat and nasal passages burn. “You may want to stick with easier birds to catch than falcons.”

“Thought that was a hawk.”

“Nope. A gyrfalcon.”

“A what?”

“A jerr-falcon,” she said slowly so he could understand the pronunciation. “A bird of prey. I looked it up.”

“You got yourself a pet bird of prey?”

“I didn’t get myself anything. One day I opened my front door and there she was. I call her Rico, after the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.”

“Because Tweety was too obvious?” He walked toward her and Rico came down from the rafters and landed right on his head. The wolf stopped and let out a very long and very frustrated sigh. “It’s on my head.”

“Yes, she is on your head.”

“Why is it on my head?”

“Maybe because you keep calling her ‘it’ when she’s a ‘she.’”

“Her talons are digging into my skull.”

“She’s just trying to protect me from the likes of you. She’s my familiar, so that’s her job.”

“I thought you said she was a falcon.”

Not in the mood to give a full explanation of the magickal connection between certain animals and witches, Jamie lifted her arm and Rico came to her immediately. She landed on her forearm, talons gently holding onto the skin. Jamie smiled at the majestic bird who’d chosen her. “Isn’t she beautiful?”

“Oh, I don’t know. I think I see much prettier things right here in this room.”

Jamie looked up to find the wolf staring right at her chest, exposed because the quilt was down to her waist and she wore nothing else. Surprisingly embarrassed since, to quote Mac, “Jamie’s all about being naked when she can manage it,” she started to reach for the quilt when Rico spread out her wings, covering Jamie up.

Tully glared at the bird. “Spoilsport.”

*****

Tully heard the timer go off in the kitchen and went back in to dump the pasta he’d made into the strainer. He didn’t go for anything fancy tonight, more concerned with getting Jamie fed rather than dazzling her with his cooking skills. He dumped a healthy amount of spaghetti in a bowl and poured bottled sauce on top of that. Then he grabbed a fork, grated cheese from the refrigerator, and some paper towels. He brought it out to the living room and found Jamie sitting up, the quilt wrapped around her from chest to feet. Too bad since he’d enjoyed staring at her beautiful body in all this light.

For a full-human her body was strong and riddled with scars. No fang marks, like most of the Smithville females received after they hit puberty, but knife cuts, bullet holes—at least two—and a scar across her upper chest that had probably needed more stitches than he was in the mood to count. And yet she didn’t hide those scars from him or anyone else. Nor did she run around showing them off so that everyone could “ooh” and “aah” over her suffering. Like the beautiful brown color of her skin and those dimples in her cheeks, the scars were simply a part of her that she accepted and didn’t question.

“Here.” He placed the pasta in front of her. “Eat.”

“Thank you.” She dug into the meal and Tully went back to the kitchen to get her more water and some fresh bread she had lying on her counter. He brought all that out to her and placed it on the coffee table.

“Anything else, ya need?”

Busy eating, Jamie only managed to shake her head. So Tully dropped onto the other side of the big sectional, picked up the remote and turned on the TV before putting his feet up on her coffee table and relaxing back. After five minutes of trying to find something decent to watch, he heard a delicate throat clear. He glanced over at Jamie and found her watching him.

“Comfortable?” she asked.

Tully grinned. “Mighty comfortable! Thank ya kindly.”

How could he not be with a beautiful woman wrapped only in a quilt within groping distance, a big-screen TV for his viewing pleasure—proving he didn’t need his own TV when he had friends who already did—and a couch that his butt was taking quite a shine too? What more could he need?

Of course when that large splatter of bird shit hit him dead center of his head, he did realize that he could use a good rifle with a sight. Could this be the thing Jamie had been saying “Honey, I’m home” to the other day? Because Lord forbid the woman should do something normal.

Laughing so hard she fell back on the couch, Jamie couldn’t manage more than, “Oh, my God! She hates you!”

Yeah, he was sensing that. And he’d be lying if he said that the feeling wasn’t mutual.

*****

Jamie watched Tully walk out of the bathroom with his hair freshly washed. He glared at the bird as he passed the bookcase she was perched on.

“I smell like damn honey,” he complained about her shampoo and conditioner. “Every bear in three counties will be following me around town.”

“I like all natural hair-care products. No sulfates or silicones for me.” When he glared at her like he’d glared at Rico, Jamie could only laugh.

Tully roughly towel-dried his hair before dropping on the couch and using her favorite comb to get the shiny brown locks off his face. The entire time he watched her.

“What?” she finally asked.

“I need you to tell me what’s going on.”

Not quite sure what Tully was asking, Jamie only replied, “Nothing. Why?”

Tossing her comb down, he rested his elbows on his knees, leaned forward, clasped his hands together, and said, “There’s only a couple of ways we can do this, beautiful. You either tell me what happened tonight and you tell me right now. Or you get your shit and you go. You and your coven…including Emma.”

The panic eased when she realized he was asking about a few hours ago rather than what had been slowly building for the last few weeks.

“Kyle’s never letting that happen,” she said confidently.

“You’re right. He wouldn’t. But Kyle don’t run this town. For all the tigers, the lions, and the goddamn bears, only the Smith wolves have ever run Smithville County. And only Smith wolves ever will. That don’t mean to say that Kyle won’t go wherever little Emma goes. He will. But we both know that boy won’t be happy anywhere else but here.”

“But you’re going to run us out anyway?”

“I’m going to protect my town. That’s what I do. That’s what I’ll always do. And right now, beautiful, you are nothin’ but trouble. So unless you start talking right now, and unless I believe every word coming out of your mouth, I want you gone by sun up.” When she opened her mouth to respond, he added, “And stop trying to test me, it’s only pissing me off and we both know I’ll do what I say I will.”

“We both know that, do we?”

“I’m a Smith, beautiful. There ain’t nothin’ I won’t do.”

Tired but no longer exhausted, Jamie leaned back into the couch and studied the man sitting across from her. “I’m on a search for power. Undiluted. Untapped.”

“I thought you found that here.”

“I did. But it’s kind of like having a joint checking account. Every time I pull power from here, my Coven knows.”

“And they ask questions.”

“Yep.”

“So that’s what tonight was? A search for more power?”

“Kind of. I’m trying to become the champion of one of my goddesses. It’s hard, dirty work, and often requires me to fight Greek giants who like to use fire as a weapon.”

“Sounds like a lot of risk for a Yankee from Staten Island.”

She glared at him through slits as her eyes narrowed. “I’m from Long Island, Marmaduke. There’s a difference.”

“And it still sounds like a lot of risk.”

“It is. But to become a god’s champion is to enhance your power tenfold. So it’s worth the risk.”

“I don’t understand you.”

“What don’t you understand?”

“You already have so much power. Everyone in town knows it, we can all feel it. But it’s natural. Part of you like the wolf is part of me. I don’t understand why you would want to enhance that.”

Annoyed by his statement—although she wasn’t sure why—Jamie lobbed back, “And I don’t understand how you can be happy wandering around this town every day. Don’t you get bored?”

“Nope. ‘Round here there’s always something interesting going on.”

“I’ve been here ten months and I haven’t seen anything all that interesting. It’s a nice little town, don’t get me wrong. But…”

“But what? Go on, say it.”

“Don’t you crave more?”

“No.”

“So you’re happy to settle?”

“I guess we have a different opinion of settling, beautiful.”

She lifted her hands, palms up. She didn’t want to fight since the man had saved her from flying hyenas. “Hey, ya know what? To each his or her own. If you’re happy here that’s all that matters.”

“Can you think of anything better than being happy where you are?”

“Yeah.” Jamie smiled. “Power.”

Copyright © Shelly Laurenston 2012

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Book Blitz: The Gatekeeper Series by Anthony Horowitz

I can’t believe I missed this dystopian series by Anthony Horowitz.  I read a review of the last book in the series, Oblivion, and now I am definitely in search of all five books.

Book 1:  Raven’s Gate

Raven's Gate (The Gatekeepers, #1)

This chilling NYT bestseller from Anthony Horowitz, "a master of edge-of-your-seat writing" (Booklist, starred) is "an exhilarating read" (Kirkus) that "should attract a strong following" (PW)
As punishment for a crime he didn't really commit, Matt was given a choice: go to jail or go live with an old woman named Mrs. Deverill in a remote town called Lesser Malling.
He should have chosen jail.
A strange and sinister plan is coming together made in Lesser Malling, with Matt at the center of it all. People who try to help him disappear . . . or die. It all ties to an evil place named Raven's Gate - a place whose destiny is horrifyingly intertwined with Matt's own.

Amazon buy link:  The Gatekeepers #1: Raven's Gate

  Book 2:  Evil Star

Evil Star (The Gatekeepers, #2)

The second thrilling, chilling installment in Anthony Horowitz's bestselling Gatekeepers series.
Matt thought his troubles were over when he closed Raven's Gate . . . but in fact they were just beginning. His fate -- and the fate of the world -- is tied to four other kids across the globe. The second is a street kid in Peru. He and Matt have never met; they don't even speak the same language. But destiny is going to throw them together as the evil threat of the Old Ones grows . . . and another Gate suddenly comes into play.
Another masterful thriller from supernaturally suspenseful Anthony Horowitz.

  Amazon buy link:  The Gatekeepers #2: Evil Star

  Book 3:  Nightrise

Nightrise (The Gatekeepers, #3)

The world is in great danger�and only five kids can save it. But to do that, they must face off against some of the most powerful people in the world. Two of the five, Scott and Jamie, have always known they were different. Twins whose birth is shrouded in mystery, they�ve always been able to communicate with each other telepathically. Their supernatural talent has landed them no farther than a gig in a Z-grade sideshow in Reno, Nevada...until they garner the attention of a very scary clientele. Soon their lives are in jeopardy, with one of them trapped and one of them on the run. In Nightrise, Anthony Horowitz ups the stakes in his most thrilling, intense novel yet.(less)

Amazon buy link:  The Gatekeepers #3: Nightrise

Book 4:  Necropolis

Necropolis (The Gatekeepers, #4)

Hong Kong has been taken over by the Old Ones and has become Necropolis, City of the Dead. Once in, there is no way out… Evil has been unleashed on the world and only five children – with special powers – can save it. Matt and the other three desperately need to find Scar, the final Gatekeeper, who has been trapped in Hong Kong, where puddles of water turn into puddles of blood, where ghosts, demons and hideous creatures stalk the streets. Matt has no choice but to follow her. Now, both imprisoned, their only hope of survival is to reach a secret door in the Man Ho temple. But even if Scar can find her psychic power, it may already be too late.(less)

Amazon Buy link: The Gatekeepers #4: Necropolis

Book 5:  Oblivion

Oblivion (The Gatekeepers, #5)

Having escaped from Hong Kong, the five gatekeepers - Matt, Pedro, Scott, Jamie and Scarlett - are scattered in a hostile and dangerous world. As they struggle to re-group and plan their next move, the malevolent King of the Old Ones gathers his forces in Oblivion: a desolate landscape where the last survivors of humanity must fight the ultimate battle.

  Amazon buy link:  Oblivion (Power of Five)

  Author Bio:

Anthony Horowitz (2)Anthony Horowitz is one
of the most prolifi c and
successful writers working
in the UK today. He is a born
polymath; juggling writing
books, TV series, movies,
plays and journalism.
Anthony has written over
35 books, including the
bestselling teenage spy
series ALEX RIDER, which he
adapted into a movie released worldwide in 2006.
The nine ALEX RIDER novels have sold over 13 million copies
worldwide. Anthony is also an acclaimed writer for adults and
was commissioned by the Conan Doyle Estate and Orion Books
to write a new Sherlock Holmes novel. Published in November
2011, THE HOUSE OF SILK was a huge success worldwide.
THE POWER OF FIVE sequence, to which OBLIVION is the epic
conclusion, has a broad readership, ranging from young fans
through to adult.
Anthony is responsible for creating and writing some of the
UK’s most beloved and successful TV series, producing the fi rst
seven episodes of MIDSOMER MURDERS. He is the writer and
creator of the BAFTA award-winning drama series FOYLE’S WAR.
Filming begins on the next series of FOYLE’S WAR this summer
for broadcast in 2013. Anthony has also written other original
complex dramas for ITV, including COLLISION (which aired in
2009 and reached seven million viewers a night during its fi ve
night run) and INJUSTICE (transmitted in 2011 to widespread
acclaim).
Anthony is currently working with Steven Spielberg and Peter
Jackson, writing the sequel to TINTIN. He is also working on
another screenplay for Warner Brothers.
Anthony regularly contributes to a wide variety of national
newspapers on subjects ranging from politics to education.
He has been a patron to East Anglia Children’s Hospices and
Kidscape since 2009. Amongst many plaudits, he was especially
thrilled in 2011 to be presented with a gold BLUE PETER badge,
celebrating his body of writing for young people.
Anthony is married to TV producer Jill Green, whose production
company has produced FOYLE’S WAR, COLLISION and INJUSTICE
amongst other hit shows. The couple have two sons and divide
their time between London’s Clerkenwell district and Orford,
Suffolk.
For more about Anthony’s life and work, go to www.
anthonyhorowitz.com

PAN MacMILLAN

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Cover Reveal: The Tiger’s Heart (Alaskan Tigers #2) by Marissa Dobson

 

MD-TT2-ATN-Ebook

 

The Tiger’s Heart

~Alaskan Tigers: Book Two~

When the Lieutenant of the Alaskan Tigers Raja Harrison rescues Bethany from the hands of kidnappers he gets more than he bargains for. It was supposed to be an easy rescue, instead he finds the injured Bethany—and his mate. For years he’s avoided the mating topic, believing his job is too dangerous to risk another. But now Bethany threatens to risk that fragile control he’s once had.

A rouge shifter wants Bethany Thompson and is determined to destroy all she holds dear, along with the tiger shifter population. When she’s kidnapped, beaten and forced into the world of shifters, her whole world is turned upside down. The shifter problems now are her problems as her family secret comes to light.

Can Raja and Bethany join focuses with the other elders of the Alaskan Tigers to bring down the rouge shifter? Or will the rouge destroy all Raja serves to protect?

Website / Facebook / Facebook Street Team / Twitter

Author Bio

Born and raised in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area, Marissa Dobson now resides about an hour from Washington, D.C. She is a lady who likes to keep busy, and is always busy doing something. With two different college degrees, she believes you are never done learning.

Being the first daughter to an avid reader, this gave her the advantage of learning to read at a young age. Since learning to read she has always had her nose in a book. It wasn’t until she was a teenager that she started writing down the stories she came up with.

Marissa is blessed with a wonderful supportive husband, Thomas. He is her other half and allows her to stay home and pursue her writing. He puts up with all her quirks and listens to her brainstorm in the middle of the night?

Her writing buddies Max (a cocker spaniel) and Dawne (a beagle mix) are always around to listen to me bounce ideas off them. They might not be able to answer, but they are helpful in their own ways.

She love to hear from readers so send her an email at marissa@marissadobson.com or visit her online at http://www.marissadobson.com.

Monday, December 10, 2012

Book Blitz: Renhala by Amy Joy Lutchen

Rehala Blitz

Renhala by Amy Joy Lutchen

Kailey Rooke, timid accountant, dedicated to philanthropic work, finds herself spiraling into a deep depression after she suffers a horrifyingly odd and humiliating assault, to only discover more of these freakish assaults occurring across the globe.
A chance discovery leads Kailey to a meeting with elderly Gunthreon, actual master of persuasion. Gunthreon, who seems to know too much of Kailey's history for her liking, opens Kailey's eyes to a coexisting realm she never knew existed: Renhala, while entrusting her with the knowledge of her newfound power as karmelean, serving as a beacon for karma from the Higher Ones. Kailey slowly starts revealing new talents, and Gunthreon is fascinated with what she starts achieving.
RenhalaShe soon discovers that Renhala is in danger, and this danger has been leaking into her own realm. As she uncovers secrets within herself, and toughens up, she fuses with an unlikely band of fellow travelers (including a dragon, woodsprite, six-hundred-pound greble, her faithful female canine companion, and a "giver"), balances the egos of two very strong males, deals with her sexy and flirtatious best friend’s “issues,” and finds the courage to master a new deadly weapon.
On her mission to save Renhala, Kailey will find herself running from life-threatening disasters, such as greble Tartarin, who likes to remind Kailey that when he catches her, he plans on eating her brains with ice cream; she'll run from the deadly meeples: small cute bunnies with talons and an undeniable thirst for imposing self-destruction on others. Kailey will also run into the possibility that a centuries-old Renhalan rumor is true, that advanced technology existing in Kailey's realm shortens all life spans.
As blood is shed and puzzles near completion, Kailey pulls from deep within herself, conjuring up mystical qualities that enable her to astonish as once predicted at her birth, but despite the newfound strength, Kailey will discover that monsters not only come in ugly packages, but can be easily disguised as those she has come to love and trust.

Goodreads link:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16050736-renhala


Author Bio:
Amy Joy Lutchen: Was born in Chicago and slept in a dresser drawer for the first few weeks of my life, marking me as a future claustrophobe.
I studied at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana (man I grew up quick), where I became a number, but decided it was a good number.
I now write in my spare time as I eat snacks, making sure they are not in multiples of three. That number makes me nervous.

Author Links:

Buy link from Amazon:    Renhala by Amy Joy Lutchen

Friday, December 7, 2012

Book Blitz: Cursed by Diamonds–J.K. Ensley

Cursed by Diamonds blitz copy

 

Cursed by Diamonds (A Dance with Destiny)

by J.K. Ensley

Published: 29/10//2012

How much of yourself can you sacrifice before you are no longer who you once were? Is it worth it? Is winning worth any price? Is freedom?
Every curse has a blessing and every blessing has a curse. When you stand face to face with your destiny, will you be able to tell one from the other?
In a world filled with darkness and hate, ignorance and fear, the only answer needed should be love and light, happiness and acceptance. Well, it should be.
Good versus evil, daylight over darkness, Angels or demons...the age old epic battle rages through the universe. One thing always rings true, love triumphs over all.
But, what if a pure and loving heart unintentionally caused Angels to fall, demons to rise, and blurred the line between heaven and hell?
Jenevier owns such a heart. An innocent, unadulterated purity that is too quick to find good where none exists. Her blind trust and radiant soul could be the answer long sought, or, it could mark the end of us all.
An epic journey of love and magic, curses and trials, joys and pain, Cursed by Diamonds is only the beginning.
Follow this fragile maiden; thrust upon a fated path wrought with world altering decisions, as she blindly begins A Dance with Destiny.
And, this little tune may change all our lives.

Diamonds copy (Custom)

 

Author Bio:

JK Ensley is a native Tennessean by way of Missouri, born there and quickly ushered down South. A product of public school and private college, she spent her early twenties bouncing across the country. Fascinated by rich culture, ancient customs, and thick accents, she is compelled to drink in the many exquisite differences humanity is gifted with. A self-described, happily divorced mother of three with a stressful day job and an uber common minivan, she does little to hide her wicked wit, advanced sarcasm, and extreme shoe addiction. "At the core of me, I'm one slightly twisted, pink haired, sword wielding, invisible ninja with a laptop, an imagination, and very little me time. That's just who I am. I'm comfortable in my skin and I love my life. Totally not kidding about the hair, the swords, or the laptop, I might have stretched it just a little with the invisible part."

Author Links:

Buy Link from Amazon:  Cursed by Diamonds (A Dance with Destiny)

 

Cursed by Diamonds blitz copy

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Book Review: Incarnate by Jodi Meadows


8573642
Title: Incarnate
Series:  New Soul
Author: Jodi Meadows
Genre: Paranormal Fantasy/Romance
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publication date: 31 January 2012 
Online presence: http://www.jodimeadows.com/
Source: my own copy
Amazon link: Incarnate (Newsoul)


Goodreads Blurb:
New soul
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.
No soul
Even Ana's own mother thinks she's a no soul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she'll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?
Heart
Sam believes Ana's new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana's enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else's life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?
Jodi Meadows expertly weaves soul-deep romance, fantasy, and danger into an extraordinary tale of new life.


My Thoughts: 

What if your soul could be reborn again and again? Keeping all your memories and experiences in tact.

I loved reading INCARNATE. Right from the opening scenes with Ana and Sam, I was intrigued and hoped for a beautiful romance. I was not disappointed. I must admit I am a sucker for an“old soul” male that just knows how to handle anything (well at least in books) and Sam did not let me down.

INCARNATE is a new type of love story although it does centre around “old lives”. Our story is about Ana and Sam living in this fantasy world, filled with reincarnated souls, dragons, and a perfect utopian society (or so it seems).

Sam has lived quite a few lives and feels that there is nothing new to see or experience. Then comes the day he saves Ana from some sylphs and his life is changed forever.

The day that Ana is born, something is wrong . . . the council cannot detect any past soul . . . Ana is a NEWSOUL. It should have been a wonderful day, rejoicing the opportunities open to Ana but her mother is ashamed of her and calls her a NOSOUL. Ana is abused mentally and physically from that day on.

On her eighteen birthday, Ana leaves the only home she has ever known to travel to HEART, the city, so that she can learn what went wrong at her birth,why she is not the reincarnated Ciana. It is on journey that she meets Sam . . .her future.

But all is not moonlight and roses and there are some huge battles both good and bad.

I hope to continue the series as not all the mysteries were revealed – there is still a lot of questions to be answered.

Four_Cup_Rater

The new book in the series will be released in January 2013.
Asunder (Newsoul, #2)

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Personal note–planning . . .

Well life has been a bit crazy lately, not worst of all,  me ending up in the ER on Saturday.  Yeah, got quite a scare but luckily a sympathetic doctor and big old needle did the trick and I have been doing much better every day! 

So once again I am making plans to get back on track with my reading and reviewing, my beading . . . and just life in general.

I want to make a very small list to help me plan what I want to do towards the end of the year.  I am a fairly slow reader, so this will be small.

I was lucky enough to receive a review copy of The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead.  While browsing the Richelle Mead titles on Goodreads, I saw it was the second in the Bloodlines series so I sent out a PLEASE HELP ME to my reading buddies and was given the first in the series as well.  I am just silly that way – I need to read a series in order or not at all . . .

 Bloodlines (Bloodlines, #1)The Golden Lily (Bloodlines, #2)

So that is the two books I plan to read.

And then my reviews.  I am so behind with reviews, it is just not funny!  I want to complete one review every week (at least).  So here is the four books I plan to review till the end of the year:

Incarnate (Newsoul, #1)

Switched (Trylle, #1)

Angels' Flight

1.4 (Point 4, #2)

I think this is a very manageable list for me . . . hopefully life will not get in the way again.  *crossing fingers*

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

I can’t wait to read - The Ward by S.L. Grey

I am so excited to see that there is a new book out by S.L Grey, the South African writing duo.  I have been “out of the loop” for a bit but luckily one of my South African blogger buddies had it up on her blog – thank you S.A Patridge!

I absolutely loved THE MALL.

The Mall
Blurb:Dan is an angsty emo-kid who works in a deadly
dull shopping mall. He hates his job.
Rhoda is a junkie whose babysitting charge ran off
while she was scoring cocaine. She hates her life.
Rhoda bullies Dan into helping her search, but as
they explore the neon-lit corridors behind the mall,
disturbing text messages lure them into the bowels
of the building, where old mannequins are stored
in grave-like piles and raw sewage drips off the
ceiling. The only escape is down.
Plummeting into the earth in a disused service
lift playing head-splitting Musak, Dan and Rhoda
enter a sinister underworld that mirrors their worst
fears. They finally escape, but something feels
different. Why are the shoppers all pumped full of
silicone? Why are the shop assistants chained to
their counters? And why is a café called McColon’s
selling lumps of bleeding meat?
Just when they think they’ve made it back to the
mall, they realize the nightmare has only just begun...



And now there is more weirdness and suspense and horror in the crazy parallel world!
 
The Ward
Blurb:
Lisa is a plastic surgery addict with severe self-esteem issues. The only hospital that will let her go under the knife is New Hope: a grimy, grey-walled facility dubbed 'No Hope' by its patients.
Farrell is a celebrity photographer. His last memory is a fight with his fashion-model girlfriend and now he's woken up in No Hope, alone. Needle marks criss-cross his arms. A sinister nurse keeps tampering with his drip. And he's woken up blind...
Panicked and disorientated, Farrell persuades Lisa to help him escape, but the hospital's dimly lit corridors only take them deeper underground - into a twisted mirror world staffed by dead-eyed nurses and doped-up orderlies. Down here, in the Modification Ward, Lisa can finally have the face she wants... but at a price that will haunt them both forever.

Now to find a copy . . .

Monday, November 26, 2012

More Cyber Week goodies–do you like magazines?

Get 2 years subscription for the price of one year . . .

http://links.zinio.com/rts/go2.aspx?h=1112021&tp=l-11-2x-9Ys-bQDLi-1c-15JIb-1c-gAe29

Cyber Monday Deals with Amazon

Today is Cyber Monday in the USA and there are big deals to be had at Amazon including some 100 top name eBooks that are selling for $3.99 and less.  I have been browsing and I might be spending a bit more than my budget today!

And oh so tempting . . . 
the Kindle Fire is only $159!


Friday, November 23, 2012

Book Tour: Infraction by Annie Oldham

 

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW WHEN STARTING OUT AS A WRITER

When I first started writing, I was under some crazy presumption that writing should be a natural extension of reading (which I loved to do). Then I actually got to the end of my first manuscript and came to a shocking conclusion: writing is hard work and it isn't glamorous. Here are five things you should know if you're just starting out:

Write. I know, you're saying, “Duh.” But guess what? The hardest part of writing is actually making yourself do it. So many people tell me, “I've always wanted to write a book...” You'll never be a writer if you don't write. Don't worry about beauty and perfection. Just get the words out.

Being a writer is hard work. It can be aggravating, painful, and isolating. One of the biggest hurdles is commitment. I know writers who have a daily word quota. That doesn't work for me. Some days the words flow; other days, the words are slower than tar. So I have a daily time quota If you're working full-time, have a family, etc., that could be as small as ten minutes or a half hour. As long as you write and do it consistently.

Have your dreams, but remember reality. I'm an indie author, and I love the path I've chosen. Do I dream about being a NYT Bestseller? Sure, but do I need that to feel fulfilled as a writer? Nope, not at all. Just remember that no matter if you're an indie author or traditionally published, being a best seller is a rarity compared to the thousands upon thousands of books published every year. Have your dreams—we all need them—but remember that your life won't end if you don't sell x number of books or make x number of dollars. Your life won't end if you don't contract with a big six publishing house. There are so many options for publishing these days. Just find the one that works for you.

Read. Read. Read. It helps you stay in touch with your chosen genre. It also helps you discover what works and what doesn't. Now that I'm four published books into my writing career, it's amazing how I read not only for enjoyment, but with an editor's eye of what I really like in a book and what drives me up the wall. You can't write in a vacuum, and reading helps improve your own work.

Don't beat yourself up. Writers (myself included) are dripping with self-doubt. I never talked to a writer that had enough confidence to say, “Yup, that book I just wrote? Every single person who reads it is going to be in awe.” It doesn't happen. There will always be someone (and most likely lots of someones) who doesn't like your work. That's okay. You've got to have a thick skin to be a writer. Take criticism where it's given and always try to improve your craft. Your best novel should always be ahead of you.

 

Infraction by Annie Oldham

“What's your name?”

I study him, study his fingers hovering over the notepad screen. I grab his hand. He tenses a moment and pulls back, but I look at him insistently and he relaxes.

Aren't you going to give me a number?

He smiles sadly. “No, I want to call you by your name.”

I watch him carefully, searching his eyes. They're black, almost as black as my hair—or what used to be my hair. I self-consciously run my palm over the stubble on my head. I can't read anything in his eyes. Jack's eyes are hazel, but deep in their colors and emotion. Dr. Benedict's are reflective, bouncing my face back at me. I don't want to trust him, but he's the first kind person I've come across here. Should that make me trust him even less?

Terra.

“I like that.”

I drop his hand.

“Now I just need to see your arm and get your tracker number.”

I go rigid, all of me freezing to the exam table. He must see the panic in my eyes because his lips turn down and several creases appear between his brows. He tugs on his ear absently.

“This is standard procedure, Terra. We just need to record who comes through here, give trackers to those who have chosen to, um, remove them. Or make sure there aren't any phony trackers.”

My fingers curl around the edge of the table, and I can't release them. I can't even blink.

“It'll just take a moment.”

He doesn't understand my paralysis. How could he? Those who have cut out their trackers are pretty common, especially among the nomads. But those who never had one?

Dr. Benedict steps forward slowly, as one might approach a frightened animal. He lifts a hand, his palm up. He looks submissive even. I watch as his fingers inch toward mine. They brush the skin, and his hand is warm. He gently pries my fingers from the table, and then gradually runs his fingertips up to my wrist and turns my arm over. His eyebrows raise.

“You've never had a tracker?”

I feel the color drain from my face, and I shake my head.

“Were you born in a city, Terra?”

I shake my head again and pull the towel closer around me, wanting to hide from him and the other questions that will surely follow, but he surprises me.

“I think that's everything we need for this exam.” He writes down a few more notes. “But you're not quite done here. You'll need to go through that door.” He nods to the right. “They'll inject a tracker.”

I'm to be branded. I'll never escape them now.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

SNEAK PEEK! Wolf with Benefits (Pride #8) by Shelly Laurenston

I am sooooooooo excited, Shelly has given us a sneak peek into the 2013 release in the Pride series.  I cannot wait . . . I wonder if I can pre-order yet?

9780758265227

Edit:  Pre-ordered Smile

Back Cover Copy:

WOLF WITH BENEFITS

Sure, Toni Jean-Louis Parker has to be the responsible oldest sister to a crazy-brilliant clan of jackal siblings. But now she’s cutting loose for some hot, sweaty, no-commitments fun—and the sexy, slow-talking, swift-moving predator assigned to keep her family safe is just the right thing to shapeshift her love life into overdrive. Trouble is, he’s starting to get all obsessive wolf on her every time he looks in her direction…

Getting serious about anyone isn’t in Ricky Lee Reed’s plans. Hell, even now he doesn’t really have a plan—outside of catching whomever is threatening this dangerously brilliant family. But the more he gets of Toni, the more he’s howling for her. And whatever it takes to convince her that what they have is everything, well, this wily wolf is down for the sizzling chase…

EXCERPT: (Unedited/Unproofed)

WOLF WITH BENEFITS

From Brava

Available March 2013!

Her brother laughed and the sound of it made Toni smile despite the fact she didn’t really want to.

“Speaking of which, did you see Mom and Dad yet?” she asked him.

“Nope. They were sleeping by the time I went to bed.”

“I haven’t seen Mom since before I took Freddy to Aunt Irene’s hotel room yesterday . . . which makes me nervous.”

“Why?”

“Don’t know. Just feels like she’s up to something. She wanted me out of the house for a reason last night. I mean, she’d normally take Freddy over to see Aunt Irene herself.”

“You have a point.” Hearing the latest argument from their siblings, Coop’s head cocked to the side as they hit the top of those last stairs and started down. “Kyle and Oriana?”

“Of course. But Cherise is going to handle it.”

“She is?”

“She needs to try,” Toni reminded him.

“I wish her luck.”

“Look, it could be worse—” Toni began as she and Coop reached the last step, but Toni’s words were cut off when she saw her mother. Dressed comfortably in loose jeans, a B-52s T-shirt that was older than Toni, and her favorite battered “rehearsal” tennis shoes, Jackie headed toward the front door. Normally this was nothing for Toni to notice or remotely worry about . . . normally. But now Toni understood why her mother had avoided her and Coop last night—because her mother wasn’t alone.

“Mom?”

Still walking, but not turning around, Jackie said, “I know what you’re thinking, Antonella.”

“You have no idea what I’m thinking or you’d probably pop me in the mouth.”

“Trust me. I have a plan.”

Of course she had a plan. Jackie Jean-Louis always had a plan. She was a plotting little jackal who was always up to something as long as it benefited her career or her children. But unlike some musicians, who could be downright psychotic about their careers, Jackie was just sneaky. She never did anything to take someone else down. Jackie didn’t have to because she had full confidence in her skills as a musician. Ever since she had picked up her first violin at the age of three, Jackie knew that she was unbelievably talented and no one would ever be able to bump her out of the spot she’d earned as one of the world’s finest violinists. No one.

But Jackie wanted to take that next step. She wanted to be the mentor of the next “world’s finest.” She’d had lots of students over the years, many of whom had gone on to wonderfully successful careers. But none that were quite in her league. They’d never be quite as successful as she. Quite as well-known. She wanted that student who would turn her into The Great Master.

And that, Toni knew, explained the dog walking beside her mother. Not a shifter but an actual dog. The family hadn’t had a pet since the feral cat they’d found under their home that kept hissing at them. They’d give it food and, after a few years, it wandered away. It was the perfect pet for the Jean-Louis Parkers because they only paid attention to it when they felt like it. It didn’t need to be walked or taken to the vet or dealt with in anyway except to toss it some food and gaze at it for a few minutes when one of the kids needed “inspiration.”

But real dogs needed lots of things that no one in Toni’s family was capable of providing at the moment, including her and especially her mother.

Yes. Her mother. Who opened the front door and told the dog, “Go take your walk, sweetie. When you’re done, come back and scratch on the door. I’ll let you in.”

The adult dog, appearing to Toni’s eyes to be a rescue her mother had picked up somewhere, saw that open door as a bid for freedom. It bolted and Toni’s jackal ears immediately picked up the early-morning traffic barreling down the street.

Running purely on instinct, Toni jumped off the last step and bolted out of the house, following that dog right into the street. Moving fast, she tackled the dog, wrapping her arms around its slim body, and made a wild leap for the opposite sidewalk.

Toni had almost made it, but the truck speeding down the street still clipped her with its fender, sending Toni flipping over the hood of a parked car to land hard on her back in front of a stoop.

When she finally got her breath back, Toni opened her eyes and saw the wolf she’d met yesterday staring down at her. He was holding a coffee mug. With an annoying amount of calm, he sipped his drink and remarked, “Darlin’, at this point, I’m startin’ to think you’re sweet on me.” 

***

The She-jackal’s eyes narrowed dangerously but when she opened her mouth, all that came out was a little “yip” sound. Ricky quickly rested his coffee cup on the wide stone handrail and rushed down the stairs to the prone female.

“Darlin’, I’m sorry to waste time teasing ya. I’ll call an ambulance.”

She shook her head no, but when she tried to take his hand, she cringed something awful and put her hand right back down.

That’s when two jackals came running over from across the street. One was an older female. Her momma, Ricky would guess. They had the same eyes. And a male, close to the She-jackal’s age.

“Toni!” the older female barked. “What the hell were you thinking?”

There went those eyes dangerously narrowing again.

“Mom,” the male warned, and that’s when Ricky realized this was Toni’s brother. He ignored the sense of relief he felt. “Not now.”

“This isn’t my fault,” the older She-jackal argued. “It isn’t.”

The male tried to take the dog that Toni still held with one arm, but the animal lay flat against her, its entire body shaking.

“Poor thing.” The male sighed. “It’s terrified.”

“Also not my fault.”

The glass and metal security door behind Ricky opened, and several adult wild dogs rushed down the stairs and surrounded the jackal.

“Are you all right, hon?”

“Been better,” Toni squeaked out.

“Not my fault,” the She-jackal pushed.

“Grit your teeth,” Ricky told Toni as he slipped his arms under her. “I’ll take you back to your house.”

“Oh,” the older She-jackal said, suddenly looking around. “That’s such a long trip... can’t we just bring her inside here?” She smiled sweetly at the wild dogs. “You guys don’t mind, do you?”

The wild dogs might not have minded, but from the way the She-jackal’s two children gawked at her, Ricky felt certain they did mind. A lot.

***

Toni knew her mother was sneaky, but holy hell, this was some hinky shit!

Using her own daughter’s brush with death to ease her way into the wild dog’s home was beneath even Jackie’s usual depths. Maybe even Kyle’s!

The wolf easily carried her inside the wild dogs’ home and down the hallway until he reached an enormous kitchen.

Why the wolf was here at all, Toni didn’t know. Maybe she didn’t want to know. All Toni did know was that her life was getting weird.

The wolf placed Toni’s butt on the stainless steel kitchen island so that she was sitting up. “So what hurts the worst?” he asked.

“Shoulder.”

“That’s what I thought. Because it’s not really in its socket.”

Toni sighed. “Great.”

“The dog is doing well, though,” one of the wild dogs pointed out.

“And that’s what’s important!” Jackie cheered, but when both her children gawked at her again, she quickly added, “You’re a hero! My daughter, the hero!”

A blond female wild dog pushed her way closer through the other dogs until she stood in front of Toni.

“Wolf is right,” she said in a thick Russian accent, “about this shoulder. But we can fix. Hold her, wolf.”

“Now wait a—” Toni protested.

The wolf scrambled up behind her, both legs around her hips, hanging well past her own long legs, and his arms around her waist, holding her tight.

“Got her!” he announced

The wild dog pulled her fist back. “I make this quick, jackal.”

“Hey! I don’t want you—owwwwwwwwwwwwww! You Russian cow!

“See?” the Russian noted. “She’s better already. Who knew jackals were so tough?”

Coop leaned in, her brother cringing in sympathy. “Are you okay?”

“No!” Toni snarled.

“Make her sling,” the Russian ordered the others. She looked at Toni. “You’ll be fine tomorrow. I’m impressed you don’t cry like sniveling cat.”

“It’s not that I don’t want to.”

“All that matters is that you don’t. I loathe weakness. Like I loathe cats.” Then without another word, the wild dog walked out of the room.

“I’m weirdly freaked out,” Coop muttered, “and turned on all at the same time.”

Toni nodded. “I know.” Glancing down, Toni said, “Why are you still holding me?” she asked the wolf.

“I’m giving you my invaluable support, and my immense charm.”

“More like your immense bullshit.”

“Now, now, darlin’,” he teased, annoying her more. “No need to get so nasty just because you’re confused by your feelings for me.”

“I do not have feelings for you, other than pity for your mental illness.”

The wolf laughed while Coop suddenly raised his brows at her, and Toni shook her head at her brother. Tragically, she recognized that expression. Recognized it all too well.

“Don’t even—” Toni began.

“I’m Cooper,” Coop announced to the wolf, grinning at him. “The younger brother. Brother. Not boyfriend.”

Horrified, Toni snapped, “Cooper, stop it!”

“How y’all doin’? I’m Ricky Lee Reed. So glad you’re her brother. I’d hate to have to fight you for her.”

“No worries there,” Coop volunteered. “My big sis is very single and not even thirty yet."

“That is nice to hear.”

"And you already seem to know my very single sister.”

“I will kill you,” Toni warned. “I’m not afraid to.”

“I’m glad to know she’s single,” the wolf said, “but she’s playing hard to get while stalking me all at the same time.”

“I am not stalking you.”

“I feel like a little ol’ gazelle calf without its momma.”

Toni’s eyes crossed at that pathetic visual.

“Are you interested?” her idiot brother asked. “Because as I said, she’s very single, but she only deserves the best. I won’t hand her off to just anybody.”

“Hand me off . . . what is wrong with you?” Toni demanded of her sibling.

“I’m trying to help.”

“I don’t need help.”

“I tried to chat her up,” the wolf explained, “but she used y’all’s other siblings to confuse me.”

“Oh, the ‘are you my daddy’ move? Yeah. She’s been using that one for years.”

“You both are aware that I’m sitting here, right? In front of you?”

“She had a bad breakup,” Coop went on. “About a year ago. I was hoping she’d get over it sooner.”

“I can help with that.”

“That’s what I thought. I’ve had a few She-lion benefactors over the years, and they all say that wolves are great for that sort of thing. The casual hook-up, I mean.”

Toni looked around the kitchen. “Am I dreaming? Tell me I’m dreaming this conversation.”

“We’re real good for that until we find mates of our own,” the wolf explained.

“See, that’s what I’m thinking. Because her ex . . . not worth all this angst. Our father, who is a really great guy, still calls that man the ‘pimple on the cock of humanity.’”

“Fathers love me. I’ve got this winning smile.” And Toni didn’t have to turn around to know the wolf was showing that smile to her idiot brother. “Perfect Southern manners. I never cuss. I rarely get sloppy drunk and that’s only around my Pack if I do. And I treat my momma right at all times, and not just ’cause I’m afraid of her. Even though I kind of am.”

“That’s perfect.”

“Would you two stop it!” Toni, to her horror, started laughing, hating both males for making it happen. “I’m not looking for a boyfriend.”

“Not a boyfriend, darlin’. A hook-up.”

“I don’t need that, either. From you or anyone else.”

“But—”

“Shut up, Cooper!”

The males fell silent for a few moments until the wolf noted, “You do seem tense, though.”

Copyright © Shelly Laurenston 2012

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Book Tour: Detention of the Living Dead by Rusty Fischer

DetentionoftheLivingDeadTour

As you know, I love zombie books – so this is a treat having zombie author Rusty Fischer with us today. 

Why I Write YA

By Rusty Fischer, author of Detention of the Living Dead

I always love it when a new YA book comes out because I get to take all I’ve done in the past year and start blogging about it for guest posts! So, this time around, I wanted to talk about something I rarely get asked, surprisingly enough -- Why I Write YA:

So… once upon a time, I was a teacher. Naturally, I taught English. But not just that, I also taught drama, history, social studies, school newspaper, computers, you name it, I’ve taught it. I started out in high school, then worked in middle school and was ultimately an elementary school computer teacher before being hired away by an educational magazine about eight years after I started teaching.

I wasn’t the bestest teacher ever. I mean, I tried to be; I really did. But all I really wanted to do was just pass a bunch of really great YA books around to the kids and watch them read. Or read with them. Or read to them. Or have them read to me. I think I would have been a really great Reading teacher, but of all the subjects I taught, that one was never open.

Still, I managed to do a lot of reading with my kids. In Social Studies, we read Number the Stars. In English, we read White Fang. Around Halloween, we read spooky stories, whatever I could buy a class set of with my Troll bonus points!!!

But deep down, I knew the kids wanted more. They wanted different. Most of them had already read Number the Stars or White Fang or Sherlock Holmes or Old Yeller or all the “school approved” stuff.

My favourite moments in teaching were when I’d catch a student borrowing a book from the class library to take home and read, voluntarily and “just for fun,” they’d say; something less educational like one of the titles from my Goosebumps or Fear Street collection.

And, oftentimes, the ones who reached for books from my lending library were the reluctant readers, ones who maybe dozed off while we read one of the classics as a class but really perked up if they found a story about sports or cheerleading or animals or something closer to their interests.

So later, when I left teaching and started writing full-time, first for an educational magazine, later for a book packager and ultimately for my own freelance clients, I made a promise that one day, someday, somehow, I’d find a way to write “fun” books for readers of all ages, but particularly YA.

And so here I am, years later, fulfilling that dream and grateful for every page, every opportunity, to do so. And I hope that, in some classroom somewhere, somebody is reaching for one of my zombie books and sharing a secret smile about something written just for them! And that’s why I write YA!

Yours in YA,

Rusty

About the Author

Rusty Fischer is the author of Zombies Don’t Cry, as well as several other popular zombie books, including Panty Raid at Zombie High, Detention of the Living Dead and the Reanimated Readz series of 99-cent living dead shorts.

Rusty runs the popular website Zombies Don’t Blog @ www.zombiesdontblog.blogspot.com. At Zombies Don’t Blog you can read more about Rusty’s work, view his upcoming book covers and read – or download – completely FREE books & stories about… zombies!

DetentionoftheLivingDead

Blurb:

Maxine “Max” Compton is in detention when the outbreak starts; so are several other students when Max’s best friend Brie storms in – chomping on the thigh bone of their favorite Home Ec teacher, Ms. Watkins!

Brie is a zombie, and quickly starts biting everyone in the room – even her best friend, Max!

When the class realizes what happens, it’s too late; they are all zombies – and they’re no longer alone.

Now a thin grey man in a white lab coat is testing them; making them read, and once they can no longer read, the zombies are led from the room, never to be seen again.

One by one the zombies stop reading, all but a few of them, Max included. Oh, and that cute thug she’s been crushing on for years, Cory Winthrop!

That’s when Max learns that there are good zombies, and bad zombies. And if she’s to survive, she has to pick a side.

Who knew Detention could be this hard… or last forever?

Friday, November 2, 2012

Book Tour: Feels like the first time by Shawn Inmon

 

Every Life is a Story

I met Dawn, the love of my life, when she moved into the house next door the year I turned fifteen. She was three years behind me in school, so it took some time to realize that I loved her. For us, friendship came first. We spent hundreds of hours, sitting in the grass between our two houses, laughing, teasing and supporting each other through the trials of being teenagers in small-town America in the 1970s. By the end of my junior year in high school, I knew I loved her, but it took until mid-way through my senior year before I let her in on the secret.

One short year later, we had made a lifetime commitment to each other, but had also been banned from seeing each other by her parents. I said good-bye to Dawn, I thought forever, on Valentine’s Day 1979. Although I never stopped loving her, I didn’t see her again until December 1st, 2006. When I did run into her again, completely by accident, it shook my world to its foundations.

After these events transpired, I began to realize that it was a story, and I wrote my book Feels Like the First Time. Now, after writing and publishing my own story, I have talked to dozens of people who said they related to our story of first love and lost love. Through these conversations, I have realized that every life is a story. Some are romances, some are action-adventure stories, and at least a few are comedies, but every life has a story arc.

With the changes in publishing over the last decade, telling that story has never been easier. When I first started writing Feels Like the First Time in 2006, I was intent on going to traditional publishing route – looking for an agent and trying to “sell” my story to a publishing house. By the time I finished it, I decided not to send out even a single query letter. The idea of being my own publisher had become too appealing to think of turning my own life story over to a stranger.

It was a steep learning curve for me, but I enjoyed every step in learning about editing, proofreading, cover design and interior book layout. It’s possible to do these things yourself, or you can hire professionals to do it for you. Before you get to that step though, you’ve got to write. And then write some more, and still more. Because I was an inexperienced writer, I wrote over two dozen drafts of Feels Like the First Time before I was ready to hire an editor to look at it.

I also recommend a thick skin. When I turned in the first draft of my story, it was over 100,000 words. When I hit “publish” five months later, it was 66,000 words. And that was after I’d already done dozens of revision on my own. Through the editing process, I kept a single mantra in the forefront of my brain: Whatever makes the book better. When you’re writing about your own life, it’s tough, but it’s good to get as much ego out of the way as you can.

Until you’ve done it the first time, the idea of sitting down and writing a book can be intimidating. That’s why I don’t recommend that. Instead, try just recreating various memories from your life, and telling them as stories. Write about your first kiss, or your first car, or when you lost someone close to you. Eventually, you may see a pattern emerging in those stories and a book might be in there, begging to be let out. Feels Like the First Time started as a series of emails between my oldest sister and I. It wasn’t until we had been exchanging those emails for two years that either of us realized it was a book.

Everyone has a story to tell, and it’s never been easier to share your story with the rest of the world.

Shawn Inmon is a husband and father, as well as a writer, Real Estate Broker, and member of KISS II, The Original KISS Tribute band. If you’d like to know what happened after he ran into Dawn in 2006, the answers are all in Feels Like the First Time, available in both Kindle and paperback on Amazon.

Romance/Memoir

Title: Feels Like the First Time

Author: Shawn Inmon

Date Published: 9/5/12

Blurb:
September, 1975: Shawn meets Dawn, his one true love, when she moves into the vacant house next door. Many people spend their life searching in vain for happiness, but he was lucky; finding it at the age of fifteen.

February 1979: Forbidden to see each other and feeling he is harming her by being in her life, he walks away from the love of his life, apparently forever.
December, 2006: After decades of sadness and mourning the girl that got away, he has a chance meeting with her that might change his life forever… again. Can the sweet bond of first love not only survive, but flourish?
Feels Like the First Time lets you share in the magic of young love in small town America in the 1970s. No matter how much the world changes, some things – timeless music, high school dances, making out in the backseat of a Chevy Vega, and of course true love – will always remain the same.

Excerpt

“That’s it then,” I said softly, almost to myself. There was nothing left to say. My composure was completely gone. Hot tears ran down my face, but I didn’t care. This was the moment I had done everything to both cause and avoid. It was possible I might see Dawn again at some future date, but I would never see this Dawn. She was so lovely it broke my heart to look at her.

I went to her and put my hands on her shoulders. I looked deeply into her eyes. I didn’t ask her to wait for me. I was trying to set her free.

“When we can see each other again, if you still love me, I’ll be there for you. I promise I’ll love you just the same.”

She nodded. Her tears streamed down her face and she looked away.

I walked out of her house, across the familiar yard and into the rest of my life.

Shawn Inmon

Author Bio

Shawn Inmon is originally from Mossyrock Washington, where his first book Feels Like the First Time is set. He has been a real estate broker in Enumclaw Washington for the last twenty years. Prior to that, he worked as a short-order cook, travelling T-shirt salesman, radio DJ, Cutco Cutlery sales rep, department store buyer, video store manager, crab fisherman, Kirby vacuum cleaner salesman, business consultant and public speaker. He is married to his high school sweetheart Dawn and has five daughters, five grandchildren and two chocolate labs named Hershey and Sadie. 

CONTACT

Website

Twitter @ ShawnInmon

Facebook

Purchase Links

Amazon

Friday, October 19, 2012

Book Tour: Dark Seraphine by KaSonndra Leigh

 

Dark Seraphine Tour

Dark Seraphine by KaSonndra Leigh

clip_image002"Mom always says the angels walk among us. She forgot to tell me that sometimes they're not all fluffy and nice."

Seventeen-year-old Caleb Wood has seen people he calls the walkers since he was a baby. It didn't take long for him to realize something…no one can see these strangers but him. They never stuck around or tried to touch him. And they never said a word. That was until one day on the first day of class in his senior year when an incredibly gorgeous girl strolls into his life…and things are never the same again.

Soon Caleb realizes he has stepped into the middle of a growing conflict between two celestial races. And his ability to see the invisible ones, the half-breeds that want to modify the human race, just might be the only hope both he and the mysterious, but infuriating Gia have of making it out alive.

About the Author:

KaSonndra Leigh was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. She now lives in the City of Alchemy and Medicine, North Carolina. Her two sons, aka the X-Men, have made her promise to write a boy book next.

She holds the MFA in creative writing, and loves to play CLUE, Monopoly (the Indiana Jones version), and Pandora's Box (good writer's block therapy). She lives in an L-shaped house with a garden dedicated to her grandmother. It has a secret library complete with fairies, Venetian plastered walls, and a desk made out of clear blue glass.

Website / Facebook / Twitter

Excerpt:

There was no one in the classroom besides the two of us. To admit this girl made me feel a little shaky sounded weak. I put on a manly face, squared my shoulders, and sat in the desk behind her. The little kid in me still wanted to run away like a baby, though.

And then she laughed.

It was a high-pitched giggle, a normal girl’s sound. That wasn’t right. I don’t remember any of the other spirits laughing before.

“So you wanna run from me, huh? Go ahead. I’ll just find you like I always do, Caleb,” she said, still facing the chalk board in the front of the classroom. Her voice was smooth like a musical instrument, maybe a flute. Nah. It was more like a harp. I could listen to it all day.

But even her sexy pipes didn’t change the fact that she just read my mind. How did she do that?

“Are you going to run, or stay? I need a quick answer, because I have a lot to do today.” She turned her head to the side a bit.

“I don’t run from anything,” I said, trying to ignore the prickle in my underarms. Good thing I used my dad’s deodorant this morning. That old-timers stuff was strong enough to knock out anything.

She didn’t scare me as much as some of the other walkers, my nickname for them. But I wasn’t ready to get her digits either. As a baby, I remembered talking to a few of them. That ability disappeared sometime around my thirteenth birthday. This was the first time I spoke to one in four years.

“What are you people: angels, ghosts, or zombies?” I asked, my voice squeaking on the last syllable. What a dork.

“Can’t you be a little more creative?” She turned around in her seat to face me, an amused expression on her ridiculously gorgeous face. I sucked my breath. Her strange amber-hazel eyes pierced through me. The word beautiful didn’t do enough for this walker-girl.

“I thought I was pretty creative,” I said.

“Nope. Your ideas suck,” she said with a smug face.

“Nice. Thanks,” I said, getting annoyed.

“And I don’t sparkle in the sun, either. So scratch that one off your list too.”

I frowned. “Then tell me the right answer. And you can go ahead and explain how I won the honor of being stalked?”

“I’m a creative mix of many things. Feel better now?” She tilted her head. Blue-black hair flowed around her face as if it were made of silky thread. “So others have come before me?” She seemed to be talking to herself rather than asking me.

“Maybe,” I said. Why should I tell her everything? One thing I did know. At this rate, I was probably going to be committed to the loony ward on the first day of school.

“I’m going to need your help soon, Caleb. You have to be ready,” she whispered, her face suddenly serious. Right then, I knew my world was about to change…forever.