YA Author Club: Book Length

31.5.13

Photo credit: » Zitona « via photopin cc
It's Friday! YAY! Which means the members of the YA Author Club have gotten together again and today we're talking about book lengths.
Word counts tend to differ depending on the genre. For example, a literary classic averages out at around 138,000 apparently yet some can be up to half a million words. Remember War and Peace? Woah! I never read it. It was far too long for me to enjoy. My books are usually around 70,000 words. I want to keep my readers on their toes, wanting more. Not yawning, wanting less!
When reading, with my heaving TBR list, I'd rather a book took up just a few days of my time before hopping on to the next one. Admittedly, I do bore easily and if a book hasn't grabbed my attention within the first few chapters (and it's still at 1% on my Kindle) I'm likely to skip it.
But what about novellas? Well, with one under my belt (Daisy Madigan's Paradise - it's free by the way, see the link below), I think the perfect word count is around 35,000 words. Any less, and it's more like a short story. Any more and it's more like a full length novel.
But what do you think? Do you get stuck by word counts? Does it bother you if a book is too long? Or too short?

Now come on over and check out the rest of the gang. I also want to say a HUGE WELCOME to our newest member Melika Dannese. If you love vampire stories, then you'll be wanting to check out her books. You'll find her link below.
Don't forget to download your FREE copy of my book, Daisy Madigan's Paradise here and your FREE copy of Raven here.


1. Laura A. H. Elliott
2. Bryna Butler, author Midnight Guardian series
3. T. R. Graves, Author of The Warrior Series
4. Suzy Turner, author of The Raven Saga
5. Rachel Coles, author of Into The Ruins, geek mom blog
6. K. C. Blake, author of Vampires Rule and Crushed
7. Gwenn Wright, author of Filter
8. Liz Long | Just another writer on the loose.
9. Ella James
10. Maureen Murrish
11. YA Sci Fi Author's Ramblings
12. A Little Bit of R&R
13. Melissa Pearl
14. Terah Edun - YA Fantasy
15. Heather Sutherlin - YA Fantasy
16. Melika Dannese Lux, author of Corcitura and City of Lights
Click here for more Indie News:



YA author Interview: AJM Mousseau

29.5.13

I'm delighted to have the lovely AJM Mousseau with me today... especially as this is her very first interview! YAY!

Welcome, AJM! Can you tell us a little about your latest book?
I would love to! Scars of the Bifrost is an awesome mix of sci-fi/fantasy, mythological realism, survival adventure, and dystopian urban fantasy. The main character Freya Catten is seventeen years old and is about to do the very thing her mother warned her never to do.

What inspired you to write it?
I had this vivid movie-like dream of a girl running from her foster parents who were fighting about turning her in to the authorities. The entire U.S. was under attack by an alien force that no one could catch or identify. The U.S. military had roadblocks and checkpoints up and were searching for Takers. The heroine in the dream ran to a bookstore where her friend worked for a safe ride out of the area before she could be captured – she knew she was special but didn’t know why. She got into the van and the Takers rappelled from the sky around the building shooting and setting off explosions. The van sped away and I woke up thinking where did that come from? Cool. And I wrote it all down. A little less than a year later I started building Scars of the Bifrost and as readers know, the dream became the base of the beginning scene.

Is it part of a series?
Yes, Scars of the Bifrost is Book 1 in the Scars Saga. The next two titles in the trilogy are Unlocking Brisingamen - Book 2 and Decoding the Edda - Book 3. Unlocking Brisingamen is in the works now and I hope to have it out by Jan 2014.

If your latest book was made into a movie, who would you like to play the main characters?
Ooo, what a fun question! While I wrote the book, I could really see the characters and the scenes often played like a movie in my head. In all honesty, I think we’d have to do an open casting call to find the perfect Freya and Theron.

What made you want to become an author?
I have been writing, singing and acting forever. During 9th grade I started carrying a composition notebook in which I’d write poetry, short stories, and songs. When I shared them in my English class my teacher and friends loved them and thought I should publish them. Once I grew up and started a family, I began writing stories for my children and put my own indie songs on the radio. I love words and how we can use them to express thoughts and feelings to each other so that each person – reader or listener – can interpret their meaning in their own way. Words are magical.

Name one of your all-time favourite book covers?
This is such a tough question!!! If I could go for a book cover in every genre I might have a better chance of answering. My mood and what I’m into at the moment really governs that part of me. I’m going to go with The Girl who Loved Wild Horses By Paul Goble. It is an older Scholastic book the won the Caldecott Medal. I love his art work in everything he writes.

Name one book that made you think 'wow'? Why did it have such an effect on you?
Ella Enchanted. I read it during a Children’s Literature course through my university. It was when I was reading it that it literally helped me fight against all those little nagging negative thoughts that said “You can’t write.” It strengthened me to feel rebellious and soon I was penning fan fiction, then my first novel.

Who, or what, inspires you?
Everything! Traveling, new places, stories and movies… often a really good line will spark something creative and inspire. I was watching a Burn Notice episode where one of the characters said, “Show and tell.” I ended up writing a love song off that one line! Music definitely inspires me. I love to put on my iPod, imagine and let the emotions take me for a ride. The same happens when I’m running with my iPod, images just flash through my brain.

Where is your favourite place to write?
1. Outside with my favorite colored ink pens and college-ruled notebook.
2. Walking or jogging with my hand held voice recorder. Once I get the scene that I’m creating, I’ll sit outside and transfer it into my notebook.

What is your favourite movie that was based on a book?
I love Lemony Snickett’s, A Series of Unfortunate Events! The movie made the book come alive! It was one of the first introductions I had to the Steampunk genre and loved the mix of dark theme, Victorian costumes and settings, kids as the heroes, and Jim Carrey’s whacked out, sinister villains!

Who is your favourite author (s) and why?
At the moment it is Suzanne Collins, author of Hunger Games. Collins was able to take a twist on war, child soldiers, big government that hurts and oppresses the people who have no choice but to live under them, and put it in a complex plot and story that touched so many. Kids killing kids; it is a horrible storyline but today in the modern world we live in it is happening all over the world. Some have lost their humanity. But for each person who cried at Rue’s murder or connected with the emotion of love, survival, fear and desperation the characters went through, our humanity is strengthened and maybe we can make a better future.

If you could have a dinner party with any authors from any time in history, who would you choose and why?
Cool question! Definitely Jane Austen! I love her manipulation and use of language. No one talks that way anymore and I just love getting lost in her novels and especially the BBC versions of her stories; my favorite is Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion;
Ayn Rand for her rebellious buck-the-system and think for yourself attitude;
Jules Verne so he could see all of the reality in our world that was once just glimpses in his own imagination;
And Susanne Collins and Veronica Roth, because Hunger Games was this poignant work of art in our real world that still reels from war in so many countries, and because I love Divergent! Even thinking about having the word tattooed somewhere on my body – probably my wrist. It’s a great word to describe being your own person!

Tell us a random fact about yourself.
I don’t live in a house. I live in a 36 foot RV, traveling around North America! My family and me have been living this way for three years and love it! We’ve been to over 20 national parks and almost every state. This coming summer we are heading to Montreal, Canada.

Fabulous interview, AJM!! I feel like we have a lot in common. We would most certainly be buddies if we lived in the same country! It was a real pleasure having you on my blog today. Good luck with Scars of the Bitfrost - it sounds AWESOME!!

To find out more about AJM and her books, visit:


Armchair BEA 2013 introductions

28.5.13


This is my first time celebrating the Book Expo of America and considering I am so very far away, I think it's fantastic that bloggers are able to participate in the Armchair BEA from all corners of the world. So for those of you that don't know me, please read on to find out just a little bit more about this YA author and blogger from Yorkshire...
I'm currently writing from the end of my dining table in my beautiful open plan house located at the foothills of the Monchique mountains in the very southern tip of Portugal, the Algarve. Did you know that Monchique is famous for its chicken piri-piri? It's absolutely delicious... especially when served with a chilled glass of white wine!
I've been blogging for a few years now, having started a completely different blog called Iberian Bird back in 2008. My very first post was entitled Who Am I? Very original, I know. I went on to post about all kinds of nonsense from clothes, concerts, motorbikes, etc. But it wasn't until a couple of years later that I began to focus more on books, reviews and so on. Eventually, after I published my first book, Raven, my blog became more exclusively about books for Young Adults which I am now slightly obsessed with!
I've had loads of favourite posts over the years. One particular post was about my ideal cast for the Raven Saga. Another favourite I posted just last week, was about my latest book, The Temporal Stone. 
I love reading other people's blogs too, especially ones dedicated to YA books - cover reveals, excerpts, author interviews, giveaways (I'm a sucker for a good giveaway). There are times (many times) when I really should be writing, but these blogs keep calling to me. Books A La Mode is one of my favourites. As is Parajunkee, YAlicious and YA Author Club. I subscribe to a whole host of them!

Bait (Order of the Spirit Realm #1) by K.C. Blake!! Released this week :D

28.5.13

The YA Indie Author Club is having another great week of releases. This week, we are going to ask you to join us in supporting K.C. Blake. She's as dedicated to writing great stories as any author I've ever met in person or virtually.  


Summary for Bait:

Ghosts, a reaper, and a rock star.

At sixteen Bay-Lee is not your typical girl. She doesn't even try to fit in at school. What's the point when she'll be moving to a new place within a few months?
She's lived her whole life on the run, hiding from monsters.

Then a reaper uses her closet to cross over from the Spirit Realm. It has a message for her. Just when she's about to join her father at his school for hunters she finds out they are dying on their birthdays. Something is killing them, slipping past locked doors, never leaving a trace of evidence, and her birthday is only two months away.

Becoming a hunter isn't exactly her dream come true. She's doing it for her mother, for revenge, for justice. Nothing is going to get in her way, least of all love. Then she looks up into a pair of jungle green eyes and everything changes.

Author Bio:
 
Born and raised in sunny California, K.C. Blake fell in love with books at a young age and decided to pursue writing as a career.  Her favorite authors include Stephen King, John Saul, Cassandra Clare, J.K. Rowling, and Carrie Jones.  In her spare time she enjoys shopping (and when I say shopping I mean go to the mall early in the day, eat lunch, and then keep going until you don't have any strength left), reading great books, taking care of animals (she lives on a farm), and searching for creative ideas to improve her home.  A former writer for Harlequin, she now publishes her books her way and loves every second of it.  Okay, she's a bit of a control freak.

Bait links:
(also available in print)

K.C. Blake's Social Links:
Twitter:  @kasiblake

The Tale of Mally Biddle Blog Tour and Interview

27.5.13

 
mally biddle
The Tale of Mally Biddle by M.L. LeGette When Mally Biddle agreed to spy upon the King of Lenzar and his overbearing knights she knew she was heading into danger. She didn't know she'd find a family unlike any other. Posing as a servant in Bosc Castle, Mally serves tea and tends fires for the most dangerous men in the kingdom. Her goal is to learn the truth of what happened sixteen years ago, when the infant princess met her death ... a death that is surrounded by more questions than answers. Along her search for the truth, Mally meets the energized Lita Stump, the strict and matriarchal Meriyal Boyd, and the opinionated Archibald Diggleby. Then of course there are the knights: Leon Gibbs who is slicker than a greased hog, Adrian Bayard, hot tempered and violent, and the worst of the lot: Sir Illius Molick, Captain of the Knights. And then there is Maud, a mysterious woman who just might know everything...
Praise "To say I loved this book is an understatement. Mally is a wonderful character and she encounters so many quirky folks on her assignment. Very well written and engaging story! And an added bonus of a love triangle! I enjoyed it from beginning to end!! I will definitely be looking for more from this author!" ~April Holgate  
Author Melissa LeGette Melissa LeGette lives in Georgia where she helps run a family farm, so her nails are a fright. The Tale of Mally Biddle is her second novel.
   Blog Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 6/5/13  a Rafflecopter giveaway

YA Author Club: Heather Sutherlin

24.5.13

Today, the YA Author Club is excited to Spotlight our very own Heather Sutherlin. She's an amazing person and a phenomenal YA Author Club contributor who writes young adult fantasy adventures when she's not spending time with her family.


Author Bio


1999 – B.A. in Elementary Education from Harding University
2011 - 1st Place White County Creative Writers’ Conference First Chapter Contest
2012 – Debut novel, A Light in the Darkness, is released along with its sequel, To Light the Path.
2013 – Seen and Wandering, two books in a new YA fantasy series, will be released in the spring.
President - Fiction Writers of Central Arkansas
Featured Author – Arkansas Literary Festival


About the Author

Heather Sutherlin lives in Arkansas with her husband and three children. She is the author of A Light In The Darkness and Seen  both fantasy adventures for young adults. She loves all things creative and enjoys the worlds she dreams up, longing to live the adventure alongside her characters. When she’s not at her writing desk, she is busy exploring and learning with her children or cooking big, elaborate meals in the kitchen with her husband.

You can see more of Heather at her website, HeatherSutherlin.com
Or, email her at HSutherlin@gmail.com
See behind the scenes of her indie life by following her on Facebook.
You can also follow Heather on Twitter and see what inspires her on Pinterest.


Books by Heather Sutherlin:


Merrilyn’s life is quiet and predictable. An apprentice to the royal healer, she spends her days helping in the village or up to mischief with her best friend who happens to be the handsome younger son of the king. But when a mysterious archer shows up in the forest and shoots their escort, Merrilyn’s life is forever changed. Caught in a battle between two forgotten gods, she must embrace her destiny and fight the very powers of darkness before it’s too late.










Prince Jarrod and his men have been missing for months and still Merrilyn has no idea where they are hidden. Now the king of Zinder is missing, too, and his children seem to think Merrilyn’s the key to finding him. Along with Aiden and Prince Justan, she travels to Zinder looking for clues in the king’s journals. When a mysterious man begins whispering in her dreams, tempting her to reconsider all that she believes, she must face both her fears and her desires. Merrilyn may be a light in the darkness, but she’ll have to trust Loian to light their path as they travel through foreign lands and face new enemies in their search for the missing men.






Rory has no idea what’s going on in the woods behind her house, but it’s driving her crazy. On the last day of her senior year she finds herself caught up once again in the curious happenings of the forest and walks away without any of the answers she was hoping to find. To make matters worse, she is sent to visit a sick neighbor and instead finds the hottest guy she’s ever seen. When she discovers his brother’s incredible secret she falls further into her own chaos and into a fate she never could have imagined.

Jaron is just counting the days until the summer is over and he can get back to his real life. Stuck with his little brother on a tiny farm in rural Oklahoma is not exactly his idea of fun. But when Rory shows up on his doorstep with an armload of pie, he knows his summer has just taken a sharp turn into new territory. He never expected the adventure they would discover next or the quest that would change their lives forever.

The Temporal Stone is out now!

19.5.13

I'm absolutely, ecstatically delighted to announce the release of my latest book, The Temporal Stone, a Morgan Sisters novel... YAY!! Read on for the synopsis and excerpt and then go grab yourself a copy for just $2.99. If you've not read any of the Morgan Sisters books yet, then grab a FREE copy of Daisy Madigan's Paradise to see what it's all about! Once you've finished that, The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw comes next.
Don't forget to check out all those awesome reviews on Amazon about the series!
Cover by the fabulous designer Ravven
Synopsis

It's been a couple of months since Emma and Lana entered the Praxos Academy and life has been hectic ever since. What with regular A level classes combined with learning all about the supernatural world, control classes, self defence and fight night, the girls are constantly busy.
But when their world seems to stop right in front of them, they and their fellow Watchers, have a huge mystery to solve. A mystery which will lead them on a long road trip across south west England where they will meet all kinds of strange creatures, some intent on causing harm and others desperate to put a stop to the problem.

Excerpt
Stretching her long pale limbs beneath the warm duvet cover, Emma let out a deep yawn and climbed out of bed. She strolled over to Lana and shook her vigorously just as Moira appeared out of the bathroom towel-drying her hair.
'She'll be late again,' she chuckled as she walked past.
Emma rolled her eyes.
'Come on, Sis. Time to get up, we've got to be ready earlier this morning, remember?'
A faint moan could be heard from beneath the covers. Emma shook her head.
'Come on, get up lazy bones.'
'No, it's too early,' grumbled Lana who rolled over comfortably.
'Well, if you're not up and ready soon, you'll miss out on our trip to Somerset with the rest of the class,' Emma replied with her eyebrows raised as she slowly walked towards the bathroom, a towel slung over her shoulder.
The covers were immediately flung back and Lana groaned with an excited grin. 'Somerset here we come,' she smiled before she hopped up, threw on her dressing gown and began emptying her wardrobe frantically trying to find just the right outfit to wear.

oOo
Hand in gloved hand with her boyfriend, Diarmuid, Emma stood dressed entirely in black and purple, her dark hair was tied back in two simple plaits and a checked woolly hat perched on top of her head. Noticing she was shivering, Diarmuid pulled her close and rubbed her arms up and down while she laughed. He then pulled her into a more secluded spot, allowing a faint glow to emanate from his body. Warmth immediately embraced them both.
'Better?' he asked.
'Hm hm,' Emma nodded as she leaned her head on his shoulder.
As they waited for the rest of the gang, Lana walked up the steps that led down into the Academy. With a huge grin plastered across her face, she walked over to her sister where she turned this way and that. Emma shook her head, laughing.
'Well?' asked Lana.
'Yeah Sis, you look amazing. Is that the new dress you bought last week?'
'It is. It's gorgeous isn't it?'
'Let's just say, it's very you. I wouldn't wear it though!' laughed Emma as Diarmuid wolf whistled from behind her.
'Well of course you wouldn't. It's not black or purple and it's a dress,' she joked as she put her long brown coat back on over the leopard print, long-sleeved dress which was a little inappropriate for a field trip across the country.
Moments later, Declan Alexander appeared from within the building, rubbing his hands together. A group of teens trailed behind him.
He turned as he approached, 'Come on guys, gather round. We're walking round to Russell Square where we'll be hopping on to the Tube to Paddington Station. From there we'll get the train to Bath, so make sure you've all got your Oyster cards ready before we leave.'
When they'd finished fishing around in their pockets and handbags and Declan was content everyone had what was needed to take the trip, they exited the well hidden entrance to the Academy and joined the rest of the commuters within the capital.

Purchase Links

AMAZON US
AMAZON UK
SMASHWORDS
(other retailers and paperback coming soon)


Indie Author Series: Categorizing Your Book (Finding Your Audience)

17.5.13




Today on the YA Indie Carnival we're talking about categorizing our books. I have to admit to being a little unsure when it comes to putting my books in the right category. I mean, when I first started writing I had intended my books to be read by people aged around 16 (ish) but as I've written more books and received more feedback from readers, I now realise that they are more suited to younger readers - albeit still teens :) But having said that, a huge proportion of my readers are adults!
What is YA anyway? Young Adult... but what age group would you describe young adults? Initially I would have said 16+ but it actually seems that a lot more younger kids read YA books. So, now I reckon YA appeals to 13+. I've also been told that my books would really appeal to middle grade, which is what? 8+?
So when I have to put my books under a specific category on Amazon, Smashwords, etc, what do I go for? Some I've put under Teen fiction, others under Juvenile fiction or children's fiction - or are they all the same thing? Aaaargh.... confusion reigns!
And even once I've done all of this, Amazon will sometimes change the category anyway!!

Don't forget to download your FREE copy of my book, Daisy Madigan's Paradise here and your FREE copy of Raven here.

1. Laura A. H. Elliott author of Winnemucca & 13 on Halloween, Book 1 in the Teen Halloween Series
2. Bryna Butler, author Midnight Guardian series
3. Heather Self
4. T. R. Graves, Author of The Warrior Series
5. Suzy Turner, author of The Raven Saga
6. Cheri Schmidt, author of the Fateful Trilogy
7. Rachel Coles, author of Into The Ruins, geek mom blog
8. K. C. Blake, author of Vampires Rule and Crushed
9. Patti Larsen, The Hunted series and The Hayle Coven series
10. Amy Maurer Jones, Author of The Soul Quest Trilogy
11. Fisher Amelie, author of The Understorey
12. Gwenn Wright, author of Filter
13. Melissa Pearl, Author of The Time Spirit Trilogy
14. Heather M. White, author of The Destiny Saga
15. Courtney Cole Writes
16. Liz Long | Just another writer on the loose.
17. Ella James
18. Maureen Murrish
19. Valerie Sloan
20. YA Sci Fi Author's Ramblings
21. Terah Edun, author of Red Madrassa and An Amlah's Diary

Click here for more Indie News:

Tell Me Something Tuesday

14.5.13



Tell Me Something Tuesday is hosted by Heidi @ Rainy Day Ramblings. Every week there is a new discussion question. All the details can be found on her page.
This week’s question: What are some of the blogging events that you've done in the past? What kind of events do you enjoy? What events will you be participating in this summer?
I've never participated in any blogging events that take place in the 'real world' aka offline, but I frequently join in blog hops and such like. The most fun was, without doubt, the A to Z April Challenge that I did this year. All participants had to post every day (except Sundays) during the month of April, with subject matters starting with each letter of the alphabet. I met some awesome bloggers and I'm really looking forward to partaking next year too.
I'm also fan of helping fellow authors and so I often take part in blog tours, book blasts and interviews, which is a lot of fun too. Again, it has enabled to meet lots of fab bloggers and authors.
This summer I'm looking forward to my own book tour (dates TBA) and those of other authors, as well as many other blog hops. There are none that spring to mind at the moment but I'm sure I'll hunt some good ones down!
What about you? What blogging events do you join in with?
Don't forget to download your FREE copy of Raven. There are two more books in The Raven Saga: December Moon and The Lost Soul. You can also get a FREE copy of Daisy Madigan's Paradise, a Morgan Sisters novella. The sequel to Daisy Madigan's Paradise is also available: The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw.

#WIN Children’s Book Week Giveaway Hop

12.5.13

Children’s Book Week Giveaway Hop
May 13th – 19th
Hosted by 
KidLitFrenzy, Mymcbooks & I Am A Reader, Not A Writer
For Children's Book Week, I'm giving away five ebooks of The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw, a series enjoyed by both children and adults.

Adopted sisters Lana Beth and Emma Jane are polar opposites, but when the same strange 'tattoo' suddenly appears and winds its way up their bodies within days of each other, they soon realize there's more to their relationship than they could ever have imagined. 
Sent off to London for two weeks of 'work experience', the Morgan Sisters soon find themselves being initiated into the ancient Praxos Foundation, one that protects the innocent while fighting evil, both human and supernatural.
At the same time, Lana Beth and Emma Jane must also investigate why the sweet but sometimes pesky ghost of Josiah Grimshaw just won't leave them alone.

"I would go so far as to say that this book could be the beginnings of a series as good as those by J.K. Rowling!"

"I thought it was a fantastic book and can't wait for the next one in the series to come out"

"Excellent book, I couldn't put it down. This book had be intrigued from start to finish. I am definitely going to purchase more books by this author"



Enter the Raflecopter right here:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
What is Children’s Book Week?
"Established in 1919, Children’s Book Week is the longest-running literacy initiative in the country. Each year, books for young people and the joy of reading are feted for a full week with author and illustrator appearances, storytelling, parties, and other book-related events at schools, libraries, bookstores, museums, and homes from coast to coast!"
For more information please visit: http://www.bookweekonline.com/

This post is part of the greatest blog hop on the block.
Click the kids below to check some more blogs to hop.

Feature Follow Friday

10.5.13

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee's View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Its my first time taking part but I'm delighted to link up with so many awesome bloggers!
To follow me, you're welcome to do so via Bloglovin (my favourite), Networked Blogs or email (!). You can also find my on facebook and twitter.
In light of the recent Mother's Day, today's featured question is 'Who is your favourite fictional Mum (or Mom depending on where you're from!)? 
Ooh, that's a tough one. I adore Mrs Weasley (who doesn't?) from Harry Potter but I'm going to go with Meredith from The Raven Saga. I know I'm totally cheesy, choosing my own character but I can't help it. She's exactly how I would have liked my Mum to be. You see, tragically, I lost my mum when I was very young so I grew up not really knowing what it's like to have a mum, you know? And to top it all off, I also don't have any kids of my own (not by choice).
But back to Meredith. She's totally adorable, adores her kids and her niece, Lilly, who she kind of takes under her wing. She loves to bake and can often be found in the kitchen in her apron happily preparing goodies for the rest of the family. She's almost always smiling, even in the face of danger and I love her for that. She's a glass half full kinda gal :)
Don't forget to download your FREE copy of Raven. There are two more books in The Raven Saga: December Moon and The Lost Soul. You can also get a FREE copy of Daisy Madigan's Paradise, a Morgan Sisters novella. The sequel to Daisy Madigan's Paradise is also available: The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw and the third, The Temporal Stone, is out later this month YAY!!




The Storm Bottle by Nick Green

9.5.13

storm bottle tour
I love the idea behind this book, and the cover is just beautiful. Anything with dolphins is well worth a look, don't you think? Anyway, without any further ado, let me introduce you to The Storm Bottle by Nick Green...
The Storm Bottle 
Swimming with dolphins is said to be the number one thing to do before you die. For 12-year-old Michael, it very nearly is. A secret boat trip has gone tragically wrong, and now he lies unconscious in hospital. But when Michael finally wakes up, he seems different. His step sister Bibi is soon convinced that he is not who he appears to be. Meanwhile, in the ocean beyond Bermuda’s reefs, a group of bottlenose dolphins are astonished to discover a stranger in their midst – a boy lost and desperate to return home. Bermuda is a place of mysteries. Some believe its seas are enchanted, and the sun-drenched islands conceal a darker past, haunted with tales of lost ships. Now Bibi and Michael are finding themselves in the most extraordinary tale of all.

The Storm Bottle Excerpt
Leading him by the hand towards the ferry landing, I stared past the marina into the ocean.
‘Michael’s out there, somewhere, in your body. So the first thing to do is find him.’
‘And what then?’
‘One thing at a time! You swapped bodies once already. You can do it again.’
‘I suppose.’
Rodrigo squinted in the sun. I lent him my shades – he’d lost Michael’s in the pond.
‘Let’s concentrate on finding him.’
‘Right. How do we do that, Bibi?’
‘What would be useful,’ I said, ‘is a boat.’

Book Trailer 

Praise 
'I loved it... An absolute winner.' - LA Weatherly, author of the Angel Burn trilogy 'A writer who knows how to grip the imagination, make you sit on the edge of your chair, and make you laugh out loud.' - Michelle Lovric, author of The Undrowned Child, The Mourning Emporium and The Book of Human Skin 'If you only ever buy one Kindle book in your life (although that sounds a bit unlikely, now that I stop and think) this has to be it.' - The Bookwitch blog.
Author Nick Green
 Nick Green is a UK children's and YA author, best known for his trilogy The Cat Kin, published in the UK by Strident Publishing and in Germany by Ravensburger, and also as a BBC audiobook. He has appeared on BBC radio talking about his books, and has been shortlisted for two UK children's book awards. He regularly does school visits and other children's literary events. The Storm Bottle is his first straight-to-Kindle novel.
 
Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 5/26/13
 
a Rafflecopter giveaway  

May Kindle Fire Giveaway or Win $199!! YAY!!

8.5.13

May Kindle Giveaway
 
This is a joint AUTHOR & BLOGGER SPONSORED GIVEAWAY!
Kindle Fire HD 7" Giveaway
The winner will have the option of receiving a 7" Kindle Fire HD (US Only)
  Or $199 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)
  Or $199 in Paypal Cash (International)
Sponsoring Bloggers & Authors
  1. I Am A Reader, Not A Writer
  2. Feed Your Reader
  3. Girls with Books
  4. Just Bookin' Around
  5. The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl
  6. Books, Beauty and Bodacious Deals
  7. Author Emma Michaels
  8. Page Flipperz YA
  9. Lori's Reading Corner
  10. Oh, Chrys!
  11. Author Josh Baker
  12. Author Roxanne Crouse
  13. Eve's Fan Garden
  14. Author Elizabeth Isaacs
  15. Chapter Break
  16. Buku-Buku Didi
  17. Molly & Mel's Obsessions Book Blog
  18. Author Jennifer Laurens
  19. Author MK McClintock
  20. Bookhounds
  21. Step Into Fiction
  22. Author Lena Sledge
  23. Author Taylor Dean
  24. Leisure Reads
  25. Libby's Library
  26. A Bookish Escape
  27. Ramblings of a Diva Book Nerd
  28. Suspense Author Kim Cresswell
  29. Suzy Turner, YA Author
  30. Books Unhinged by StacyHgg
  31. Author Lori Verni-Fogarsi
  32. Fae Books
  33. Word to Dreams
  34. Kid Lit Frenzy
  35. Author Tressa Messenger
  36. Auggie Talk
  37. Phantasmic Reads
  38. Kerry Taylor
  39. Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf
  40. Marissa's Space
Giveaway Details
1 winner will receive their choice of a Kindle Fire 7" HD (US Only), $199 Amazon Gift Card or $199 in Paypal Cash (International). Ends 5/31/13 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the participating authors & bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.   a Rafflecopter giveaway
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