Tomorrow marks the official release for Witchwood Estate - Cursed, book 3 in the WWE series.

I'm excited to announce the impending release of the latest book in the Witchwood Estate series by my good friend, Patti Roberts. Patti is an awesome chick who lives Down Under. Here's some info about the new release...

Brought back from the clutches of death by a power she does not understand, Alexandria is focused on getting her life back to normal, whatever that means. With new friends, Andrew, Kat and River by her side, Alexandria lets herself believe that her future is looking promising.
Things take a turn, however, when a handsome stranger arrives in Ferntree Falls, and Alexandria begins to wonder if his presence is a blessing or a CURSE.
Whimsical, TV length episodes in an ongoing series. Witches, spells, ghosts, sprites, shape-shifters, wolves, and more.
For all those young at heart - an equal measure of both Magic and Evil.
If you have read book 1 and 2, it is time to continue the journey with Alexandria in book 3 - "Cursed".
Special features: Book contains index of Witches Terminology, Spells, Character list, Birthstones meanings, and the Witches' Pantry.
Grab your broomstick/dustbuster out of the closet and come along for a magical ride!

I have a confession to make. I have put off writing this review for what feels like eternity, and I still don't think I'm ready. You see, my problem is that I don't ...trust myself to do these books justice. When you find an author with a style so perfect, so entrancing, that you know full well you'd read their shopping list if that's what they decided to publish, what could you say to make a difference?
I'm supposed to be good with words, but they fail me now. So I guess I'll just have to stick to being as objective and clinical as I can. Here's what I thought of the first two books in the Witchwood Estate series. First impression: I would read this series 'till the world came to an end. I secretly hope Patti Roberts never ever stops writing. Her imagination is unequalled.
Voice: smooth storytelling, trance-inducing, the kind that seeps into your brain and surreptitiously replaces reality with a fantastic life you couldn't help but want to be a part of.
Plot: Oh, how many possibilities! From a simple intro and clear focus, the action picks up and threads of intrigue, mystery and hidden threats begin to weave into the main fabric. As more characters are introduced, their purpose and intent are implied, understood, twisted and finally revealed to be something no one could have foreseen. There are enough twists in there for at least another ten books! And I want to read them all.

Characters: perfectly formed, from the smallest secondary role to the protagonist. Alexandria is the kind of best friend all of us need. Andrew is so sweet, and his character has so much yet-untapped potential. Then, there is black magic, and shape-shifters, and ghosts.

Descriptions: original and just right for forming the right picture. I felt as if I knew my way around, right there, in the story.

Extras: Flick through the pages, and you'll find spells Alexandria has inherited from her mother. There are illustrations accompanying the spells, with lists of ingredients, method, verses and chants to make the spells work. Patti Roberts' artistic abilities are well-known, but still, this is a very inspired little detail that adds depth and value to the story.

Emotion: The author's ability to share a character's emotion is incredible. Living as an outcast, or at least someone different, comes across very well at the beginning of this series, and is presented with a kindness not many people are capable of. My eyes teared up because I could imagine or identify with many of the sentiments the characters were dealing with, even in this limited portion of the story.

The overall effect is of being at one with the book. Flawless in every way, the writing is exceptional. I fell head-first into the magic and I can't wait to see where the story is heading next. A beautiful, modern tale about a witch and what it takes to make your own way in life. This is a six-star book, at the very least.
Ella Medler.
Author and Editor

Book Trailer - HERE
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Fishpond

YA Author Club: Distribution

Today, the YA Author Club is talking about distribution and distribution lists. For my ebooks, I tend to use Smashwords to distribute my ebooks to all the major retailers (except for Amazon and Kobo which I do directl) because it is so easy and far less time consuming!
For my paperbacks, I use Createspace. Again, it's a convenient site. My only criticism is that the books are only printed in the US so when someone (including me!) orders my books, it can takes quite a while for them to arrive anywhere else in the world. This is also why I haven't been able to organise autographed copies yet! But I hope to sort that out soon enough.
For email distribution lists, I use mailchimp (I can never remember what that site is called... I usually have to google 'email monkey' to find it! lol), which is an amazing site. Anyone interested in receiving my newsletter (which is only a few times a year), can easily sign up on the form which can be found to the right (scroll down a bit) of this blog, on my website and even on my facebook page (just under the header). The email list is crucial for authors and if you haven't got one, I'd sort that out straight away!
For blog lists, my current favourite is bloglovin - again, its easy as pie and enables you to see what everyone is up to in a single email. I love it. To sign up, just click on the bloglovin face to the right of this post. :)
Have a great weekend, everyone!

Check out the other YA authors in the club!

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:

Wandering by Heather Sutherlin is OUT NOW!!

When you’ve travelled between worlds, there’s nowhere left to go but home.

Rory has never been so cold in her life. But the biting wind only reminds her of another pain that grows more intense with each passing day. Each night Jaron’s beautiful voice sings in her dreams, and each day her footsteps draw her closer to his side. Danger and intrigue at every turn, no distance is too far when you’re returning for true love.

Rin has spent the last five years searching for Rory across two worlds. Now a series of visions have him convinced he’s growing closer to finding her. But when Rory slips through another portal, taking his visions with her, he finds himself back at square one. To find her now he’ll need the help of an old friend and a little otherworldly magic.  This time he intends to bring The Wanderer home for good.

Wandering

Available on Kindle, Nook, Kobo, and iTunes

June 25th, 2013

Links for purchase:

Amazon

Nook

iTunes

An Excerpt from Wandering:

    

Sometimes I think I've seen her face more times than my own.
Tonight she stands on top of a snow- covered mountain with the wind in her hair. Her eyes crinkle at the corners as she squints into the distance. She shifts her stance, leaning, her body reaching forward and I can almost feel the racing of her heart as the wind billows around her, lifting her cloak and whipping her hair into her eyes. It reminds her of something she once felt, something powerful. Blood pounds in my ears and for a moment we are connected, The Wanderer and I. Her pain, her longing, they choke me. She holds her breath as the wind grows stronger. It pushes against her so that her footing slips. I want to shout to her, warn her that she might fall, but I can almost hear her thoughts. She hopes it will carry her away. To bring her back.
The wind whips around her, swirling ice and snow at her feet and she begins to cry. Her tears freeze as they slide down her cheeks. She doesn’t cry from fear or pain. Not even the bitter, endless cold could cause her tears. No, she cries because it is only the wind.
***
I woke up, panting, covered in sweat. Turning over, I clenched my eyes shut in a desperate attempt to bring the images back into focus.
“It’s no use,” I groaned. I knew it wouldn't work. It never did. She was gone. That one little glimpse was all I would get –for now.
The visions began the very day we returned home from Rutahn, the world beyond the portal. I fell asleep on my aunt’s couch and probably hadn’t even started snoring when her face filled my mind. She was lying in the corner of a little hut, bundled in blankets and furs. I remember how she shivered, like she was trying to shake off her own skin. Her cheeks were flushed a bright red and she gasped for air, tossing in her makeshift little bed. An arm with skin the color of caramel reached toward her and wiped her face with a wet cloth. That’s when I realized she was sick. I woke up in a panic, my heart racing. I had fallen asleep afraid she might be dead and now instead of feeling relieved that she was alive, I was more afraid than ever. We still didn’t know where Rory was, but now I knew she was very sick. I worried incessantly about her after that. I dreamed of her nearly every night, gathering bits and pieces of information, clues as to where she might be. After that, the dreams gradually increased in frequency, and then grew more intense. Now, instead of just seeing Rory, I could feel a little of her thoughts, her emotions. Most of the time it was a relief. I saw her safe. I watched her grow strong again. I even saw her smile once or twice.
Then, there were nights like this one. Nights where I could sense her terror, her despair, the aching loneliness or desperate longing for those she had lost. I would lie there helpless, watching her cry deep, heart wrenching sobs and I would wake up with my pillow wet, my face covered in sympathetic tears. Those were the nights that weighed on me. Visions like this one often forced me out of bed and back into my research. It was impossible to sleep knowing she was out there somewhere in pain and longing to find a way home. That’s why I keep searching. For five endless years I’ve searched and I’ll keep searching until I find her and bring the Wanderer home.

Wandering is the sequel to Seen by Heather Sutherlin.

Rift Healer Blog Tour

 

Excerpt:
Haley glanced skyward in exasperation but allowed Lacey to push her into the small, exotically scented tent whose interior was draped in lavender flowing curtains. A small doily-covered table held a thick white candle, a deck of cards and a huge crystal ball. The girls sat down on metal folding chairs facing Madam Lola, whose jet-black hair and thick makeup did little to disguise her advancing age.
“Good evening,” Madam Lola welcomed them. “You vish see future?” she asked with an accent reminiscent of Dracula. Lacey’s mouth popped open. Haley swallowed hard.
Draculola began shuffling the worn cards, dozens of silver bracelets clanging halfway up her arms. “Tventy dollars, please.”
Haley reached into her pocket and placed all her babysitting money, plus Lacey’s five on the table as the reader reshuffled the deck with a practiced flair. “You haff question, or just vant a general reading?”
“Uh, just a general reading, I guess,” Haley replied after finding her voice.
“Good, ve begin. Cut ze deck.”
Lacey began to fidget, twisting in her seat, looking everywhere but at the reader. Haley poked her sister when it seemed like Draculola was reading their body language as well as the cards. After Haley cut the deck about halfway down, Lola revealed the first card.
“Ze Tower,” she said. “You’ve had a bad time. A deevorce or separation recently. Much pain, many changes.”
Mouths open, they exchanged astonished glances.
Madame Lola smiled. “Vas difficult, but better now.”
The girls nodded, quiet for once.
And with a single card, she has us, Haley thought, frowning as she sat in the stuffy tent. Another card.
“Hmmm,” Lola paused. “Next card….Knight of Swords. Good. A dark, handsome stranger comes. You afraid,” her accented voice lowered as she looked at Haley. “But he vaits for you.”
“Vaits?”
“Waits, dummy,” Lacey said, shaking her head. “He waits for you. Keep up.”
“Seven of Vands. A battle.” She frowned. “A battle without end. You fight vith someone?”
“Vands?” Almost afraid to ask, Haley regarded her sister with a questioning look.
“Wands!” Lacey made a disgusted face. “Why are you being so difficult? No, we’re not fighting with anyone.” A pause. “Are we?”
“No.” Haley sighed, her chin on her hand as she tried to devise a way to end this disaster. “Except each other.”
“You vill,” Lola insisted, nodding, “you vill.” She turned over another card, then another. “Sun reversed, Moon upright.” She frowned, lost in thought. “You are about to have ze most exciting and dangerous summer of your life.” A quick intake of breath and Lola’s eyes narrowed, as understanding seemed to dawn. She rubbed her hairy chin and looked down at the cards again before leaning forward. “Take every precaution. Accept all that is given you.” She touched her temple. “In my head I keep hearing, ‘One vill fall, one vill fall...’”
“When you say ‘fall,’ do you mean, like, die?” Haley said.
“Maybe. But maybe not.”
“One of us?” Lacey asked, eyes wide.
“Not sure. Veddy unclear. Be veddy, veddy careful.” She turned over another card. “Three of Swords…betrayal.” She looked at Haley. “Not him,” she continued, pointing to the Knight with a long red fingernail. “Another. A scary, dangerous betrayal.”

Tour Schedule

 

Rift Healer

Rift Healer is the first installment of the 'Forest Magic' series, a Young Adult Fantasy/Romance set in Central and Western Massachusetts. After a minor earthquake, the enchanted forest in Bidwell, MA, is infested with monster-spewing rifts. Gisele Westerfield's great nephew, the gifted Micah, and his distant cousin, Selena, arrive to assist. Together with Gisele's summer students, twins Haley and Lacey, they will try to heal the magical forest. Much to the consternation of the beautiful Selena, Micah identifies Haley as The One whom he'll share his future. But after witnessing a terrifying display of Micah's Gift, Haley cools to his advances and unexpectedly discovers her own Gift-- she can heal the earth. Monsters, mayhem, and teenage angst follow the small group as they confront evil in the forest and a dangerous prediction that 'one will fall'. Will they heal the rifts in time? Can they save the unicorns? And is Haley really destined to be with Micah?

 Amazon

 

Author Diane M. Haynes

Diane has lived in Massachusetts all her life where early on, her artistic talents were fostered, though her skills as an "excellent report writer" were often noted in previous employment. On her brother Rick's birthday, November 16, 2004, seven months after his death, she woke from an amazing dream which would not fade. She outlined the dream, made a few quick notes and days later produced a 12 page short story. After deciding her story was interesting but incomplete, she began writing her first novel, using her dream as its climax. She now believes the dream to be a 'Spirit Gift,' sent by her brother. Diane continues to reside in Central MA with her husband and a very naughty Basset Hound named Basil and his new adopted sister-Basset, Ruby, both of whom cleverly wreak havoc on the Haynes' formerly well-ordered lives. She spends her time writing, reading books about writing, talking about writing, painting with watercolors, antiqueing and attempting to train a very reluctant Basil and a willing, but highly comedic Ruby.

Website * Facebook * Twitter

  Blog Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 7/8/13
  a Rafflecopter giveaway   

Summer Book Crush

Hot sun, hot sand, cool drinks, dark tans. Ahhhh. But your summer won’t be complete until you land a new BOOK BOYFRIEND, right? Lucky for you, we’ve got you covered!  

  SUMMER BOOK CRUSH offers 50+ titles in many genres. This means 50+ chances to (fictitiously) fall in love. And the best part? Each of these gems is only 99¢, but for a limited time only. The SUMMER BOOK CRUSH event starts on June 26th and ends (yes, even the best things in life end at some point) on June 28th. So don't wait up! Mingle with our BOOK BOYFRIENDS and invite all your friends to participate too. There are plenty of BOOK BOYS to share!

  Find your summer’s fling between the pages of a book. And don't stop on one - after all we have many BOOK BOYFRIENDS for you to mingle with.

 * HAPPY READING * HAPPY SUMMER *

Interview with Visited author Janine Caldwell

Hi Janine! Its a pleasure to have you here today. But let's get started. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

As soon as I was freed from my career job (Intellectual Property Paralegal) and was home starting a family, the burning desire to create was overwhelming. I guess you might consider me to be a late bloomer because I was about 30 when this urgent need came over me. I’ve always been an avid, life-long reader with a BA in English, but I never thought I could do something I love for a job until I started writing creatively. Since then, I haven't looked back. I know writing fiction is what I want to do with the rest of my life.

How long does it take you to write a book?

My first book (Rematch) took the longest. It took 4 years of hard work and many, many (many!) drafts before it became what it is today. The second book (Double Fault), the followup to Rematch, materialized much quicker. It was so much easier with the 2nd book since, not only did I know my characters and the plot line of the story on a deeper level, I also figured out my writing style. Visited, my latest release, also took about a year to write.

What do you think makes a great story?

For me, there has to be a deep connection with the main characters. I want to feel what they're experiencing until I get so involved, I start to become mixed up about whether the story is happening to them or to me.

What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

I mostly do all my writing in the hours between 9:00am and 4:00pm. If I'm in an exciting point in the story, sometimes I'll come back to it again at night, but I'm usually too spacey by then. Weekends, too, I might work a few hours, but my family usually keeps me too busy.

How do you balance family and writing?

Honestly, it's difficult not to get frustrated at the demands of my family life when all I want to do is work, but during those times I have to remind myself that this career choice isn't a sprint, it's a marathon. My project isn't going anywhere, Twitter won't disappear if I miss tweeting a few days, and Facebook will take me right back as if I never left. At times, I get so wrapped up in writing my story or promoting my books, it's easy to forget what's important in life. Thank God I do have a husband and kids because I would probably become a complete hermit, never wanting to leave my quiet house.

Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

So far, I think the ideas have all been planted in my brain by God. That's the only way I can explain it. It's like little messages from a song or a news story on the radio or TV will reinforce the beginnings of a theme in my head. When I sat down to write Rematch, I was aware of the elements I liked in YA fiction, so I knew I had to create a story with a supernatural side to it, that there had to be a love story in there, and that the plot had to be unique. I live about an hour's drive from Sedona, Arizona. As my series is called The Vortex Series, it was my visits to Sedona and its vortexes that ultimately inspired the fantasy element in the series. There is something truly magical about that place. It feels out of this world, fragile. I knew I had to create a story that led my characters to this incredible place.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

That I just don't get sick of doing it. I can work on a book for hours at a time, but it will feel like only a short time has passed.

How many books have you written? 

I have three published novels. 

Which is your favorite?

I guess a writer will always feel something special about their first baby, so I have to go with Rematch. Although, I'm starting to have some readers tell me their favorite of the two in the series is Double Fault. Encouraging sign they'll want to read the final book in the series (Deuce) when it's released.

Are your characters based on anyone you know?

There are elements of friends of mine, famous musicians (Brandon Boyd and Dave Grohl for example), students I've known over the years in my time as a youth group leader, and a little of myself in all the characters. In the end, though, each character becomes their own person by the time I'm done writing the story.

Do you have a favorite place you love to write?

I'm the most productive in my office at home, butt in chair, and complete quiet in the house.

How hard is it to get published?

To be traditionally published, it's incredibly difficult these days. Unless you're a celebrity or a proven best selling author, you most likely won't get a sniff by any agent as a new writer on the scene. You have to absolutely floor an agent in two paragraphs of your query letter for them to consider reading the first 50 pages of your work. Agents tell us they receive hundreds of query letters in a month. It's a freakin’ miracle if they happen to choose your query letter as one they will followup on. The good news is that self-publishing is not quite as painful. Oh, to do it well it's not exactly easy--finding a solid, reputable editor, hiring the right cover artist for your story, and then affording all these expenses on your own, can be nerve wracking and stressful to say the least. However, in the end, your labor of love is out there for the world to receive instead of being shoved into a drawer of failed dreams.

What do your family and friends think about your books?

They have all been wonderful supporters of my writing career and have been surprised by how much they now like YA fiction. My kids, especially, were so proud when I got invited to speak at their school and can now find copies of my books in their school library. Most of my friends and family have known that this was a lifelong dream of mine and are thrilled to see it begin to take shape into a tangible thing.

What do you like to do when you are not writing?

I do like to exercise--Vinyasa yoga, tennis, running with major tunes blaring in my ears, or hiking mountain trails are a few of my favorite activities. When I get my exercise done, though, I love to read (surprise, surprise). I love YA books just as much as any blogger and Goodreads user out there. And if I have any time left on my hands, which is rare, I love, love to play drums. I would say I play at an intermediate level, but I fantasize I'm keeping up with Jose Pasillas of Incubus and Taylor Hawkins of the Foo Fighters. My husband tells me to "dream on."

Do you have any suggestions to help aspiring writers better themselves and their craft? If so, what are they?

My best advice is to continue reading as much as possible, and not just the genre they write in, but in all genres. Don't let too long a stretch of time unfold without doing some sort of writing while you're plotting your masterpiece in your head.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

I have to admit, I just don't remember. Is that terrible? Besides being a track star, I really had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. Glad to have finally figured it out. Remember, late bloomer here.

What are your favorite books and which authors inspire you?

Oh, so many to list! J.K. Rowling is a goddess. Her genius still gets to me. What she and Stephenie Meyer accomplished is absolutely stunning. Both their series will forever remain in my top favorites. Other YA books I love are The Hunger Games series (of course!), Divergent series, Matched series, Uglies series, Under the Never Sky series, The Selection series, and The Giver series. Classically speaking I have to go with J.D. Salinger's The Catcher In The Rye, Charlette Bronte's Jane Eyre, Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, Charles Dickens's The Tale of Two Cities, and Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged.

For an aspiring writer what do you feel are certain do's and don’ts for getting their material published?

Do find a professional editor to polish your novel before publishing. Do work with other writers on your draft all along, so that the story is well into perfection before handing it over to an editor who will most likely charge by the hour. Don't feel you have to spend thousands of dollars on a cover artist when there are wonderful artists out there charging much less. Don't give up on yourself.

What are you working on now?

Right now, I'm 150 pages deep into Deuce, the 3rd and final book of The Vortex Series.

Visited by Janine Caldwell
Publication date: May 25th 2013
Genre: YA coming-of-age fantasy

Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Joanna Murphy has lost faith in her life. Vying for her mom’s attention, she’s resentful of her stepdad’s intrusion to their family. Her best friend, Tommy, has no clue she’s in love with him as he dates girl after girl without noticing how it tortures her. The final kicker, though, is God’s sick joke to make her freakishly tall when everyone knows boys prefer petite girls.
Then in a bizarre accident Joanna meets James, a breathtaking teen who appears to her after an unusual falling star sighting. Suddenly, her dream for an alien encounter becomes all too real. But when she finds her life has been made unrecognizable, she’s forced into an explosive study of the original design for her life that just may have her regretting every wish she ever made.
Goodreads

AUTHOR BIO
Janine Caldwell was born in Concord, CA and raised in the small San Francisco Bay Area town of Clayton. Four days after her high school graduation, Janine attended California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and graduated with a degree in English.
Janine now lives in Anthem, AZ with her husband and two sons. As a lifelong literature fanatic, she knew it was only a matter of time before she would become obsessed with writing her own work. With relatives like the Brothers Grimm and Anita Loos (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes), she figured fantasy writing had to be in her DNA.
Books published by Janine include Visited, a YA coming-of-age fantasy, Rematch and Double Fault—the first two books of The Vortex Series. The final book in this YA fantasy romance, Deuce, will be released fall 2013.

LINKS:

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

YA Author Spotlight: Cindy C Bennett

Author Bio 

Cindy C Bennett was born and raised in beautiful Salt Lake City, growing up in the shadows of the majestic Rocky Mountains. She and her husband raised two daughters, two sons, and a plethora of pets without wandering far from the fold. They’ve now added two beautiful daughters-in-law to their family. In addition to writing YA fiction, she volunteers her time working with teen girls between the ages of 12-18, all of whom she finds to be beautiful, fascinating creatures that constantly inspire her stories. She developed a love of writing in high-school English, when a teacher introduced her to the joys of escaping reality for ten minutes each day in writing. When she’s not writing, reading or answering emails (notice there is no mention of cleaning, cooking, or anything vaguely domestic) she can often times be found riding her Harley through the beautiful canyons near her home. Learn more at www.cindycbennett.com.

Social Media Sites 

My Blog Facebook Twitter Goodreads

Geek Girl:

Jen’s teenage life of rebelling and sneaking out is growing stale. In an effort to combat her boredom, Jen makes a bet to turn Trevor, a nice geek, into a “bad boy.” Unexpectedly, she is pulled into Trevor’s world of sci-fi movies, charity work, and even--ugh!--bowling. Jen discovers that hanging out with Trevor isn't so bad after all.

But when Trevor finds out about the wager, all bets are off.

Heart on a Chain:

17-year-old Kate has lived her whole life in abject poverty, with an alcoholic father and drug-addicted mother, who severely abuses Kate. At school, her second-hand clothing marks her as a target. Her refusal to stand up for herself makes her the recipient of her classmates taunts and bullying. That is, until Henry returns.

Henry Jamison moved away six years earlier, just as he and Kate had begun to develop feelings for one another. He returns to find the bright, funny, outgoing girl he had known now timidly hiding in corners, barely speaking to anyone around her, suspicious of even him.

Kate can't figure out what game Henry is playing with her - for surely his attempts at friendship are a game. What else would the gorgeous, popular boy from her past want with her?

Immortal Mine:

Niahm (pronounced Neeve) Parker is thoroughly content with her life in the small town of Goshen. When Shane Coleman and his nephew Sam move into town, it's the biggest event to happen in as long as anyone can remember.

Sam is drawn to Niahm against his will. He'd prefer to not be bound to this angry, stubborn, unlikeable girl. For Immortals, love is not only forbidden, but dangerous for her.

Niahm finds herself attracted to the tall, copper-headed boy, who becomes her friend and then her support when tragedy strikes. Soon, she begins to realize that there may be more to Sam than she ever suspected... much more. But what he truly is, she can't begin to imagine.

Rapunzel Untangled:

Rapunzel is not your average teenager. For one thing, she has a serious illness that keeps her inside the mysterious Gothel Mansion. And for another, her hair is 15 feet long. Not to mention that she’s also the key to ultimately saving the world from certain destruction.

But then she meets a boy named Fane, who changes all she has ever known, and she decides to risk everything familiar to find out who she really is.

Filled with romance, adventure, and mystery, Rapunzel Untangled is one story you won’t want to put down. Discover the true meaning of love and friendship in this modern twist to the classic fairytale.

Enchanted Fairytales: (Anthology)

Enchanted Fairytales is a retelling of five different fairytales from the imagination of Cindy C Bennett.

Beautiful Beast: Though she knows it's cruel, Calli agrees to accompany her friends to Monster House where it is rumored the beast howls at the moon each sunset. Alex believes Calli has bribed her way into his home in order to get a look at the beast of Monster House, and is determined to hate her. He isn't prepared as she batters down the hard walls of his soul with her kindness and humor.

Red and the Wolf: Three years ago, Rafe Wolfe left their tiny mountain burg of Piera, leaving Ruby Hood behind to mend her shattered heart. Now, Rafe has come home to compete with his brother Lowell for Ruby's heart. But Rafe and Lowell have intimate knowledge of the wolf attacks that threaten their home. Can Ruby live with the same knowledge, or will it forever destroy her?

Snow White: Left at the mercy of her stepmother Katarina, Snow White is sent into the forest to be killed. Escaping, she stumbles upon an enchanted village created by Katarina to entrap Prince Philip after he spurned her. Philip believes Snow White is the one spoken of who can break the curse that holds Fableton. Snow's only hope of winning freedom for herself and Fableton is to defeat the evil and powerful Katarina.

The Unmasking of Cinderella: Amella Augustus has lived under her stepmother's cruel reign since her father's death. Then she runs into Char - literally. Just when Amella begins to believe she's found her happily ever after, Iona pounces in threatening to take away Amella’s dreams of happiness. Now Amella must take charge of her own destiny, and make a decision that can either give her the peace she’s longed for . . . or return her to the misery she’s lived in for so long.

The White Swan: Benno von Rothbart, a powereful sorcerer, is jealous of Odette's love for Victor. Victor and Odette are unaware of Benno's powers and manipulations to come between them and win Odette for himself. When Benno uses his powers to transform Odette into a swan, she finds herself in a fight for her freedom and for Victor in this retelling of the classic Swan Lake fairytale.

In the Beginning: (Short Story from It’s a Love Thing)

Before coming to Earth Alashon and Vindar vow to find one another. The vow is not made lightly: if they fail, they will spend their eternity’s alone.

Drake has lived a hard life. In and out of trouble with the law, sentenced to juvenile corrections and finally released to the custody of his parole officer, the strange, surfer-dude Tom, Drake is forced to move to the tiny beach town of Seaside. There, he meets Megan, Tom’s off-limits daughter. Though he tries to avoid her, it seems she turns up constantly in his life. It isn’t long before he finds himself looking forward to visits from the ultra-optimistic Megan. But does she really care for Drake, or is he just another charity case? And why does she seem so very familiar to him?

Reluctance: (Short Story)

Twenty-year-old Dahlia hates the life that she is forced to lead. But the time is quickly coming when she must make a decision that will shape the rest of her life. She's set her sights on Jace. He is someone her family will approve of, someone that will finally gain her acceptance among her people. Then Cam comes into her life, making her question what she assumed was her inevitable destiny, giving her hope that she might be able to lead the normal existence that she longs for. But fate has its own plan for Dahlia. Now she has to find courage she didn’t know she possessed to fight for her own future.

Watched: (Short Story from Screams in the Night)

Sixteen-year-old Stephanie Beasley has it all. She's a top student, head cheerleader, popular, with a great boyfriend. But she also has it.

It stands in the corner of her bedroom in the dark of night, watching, waiting. Always waiting. Until it follows her out of her room for the first time ever, bringing her terror to a new level.

Soon, Steph is losing sleep, unable to function, stressed about when it will make its move. And when it does, she'll be forced to do anything she must to protect those she loves. 

Interview: 

1) What is your all-time favorite book and why? 

Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale, which is odd since it's completely outside of the genre I write and generally read (YA). It's a historical romance so it's strange that it's my all-time fave, but I love the language used in the writing and descriptions, the flawed hero, the unusual heroine, the intensely romantic love story. 

2) Is there an author you could be compared to or popular fictional characters your book's characters could relate to and why? 

I don't compare myself to anyone because I feel authors are unique with their own voice, and I don’t think it’s fair to try to say my writing is as good as someone elses. My characters are mostly teens or young adults, living in a contemporary world, so I suppose they'd relate to other characters in the same situation. 

3) Can you give us your favorite quote from one of your books and explain it? 

“You, Kate, I fell in love with you! With your strength and courage, with your naiveté and innocence, your unschooled sense of humor. With your loyalty and how willingly you gave your love and trust.” 

This quote is from Henry to Kate in Heart on a Chain when he’s trying to convince her to take him back. I like it because he’s taking about her qualities without mentioning anything about her physical self. It’s important to me for my characters to fall in love with someone not because of how they look but because of how they are. 

4) What types of things/people/music inspires you and makes you want to keep writing? 

Almost everything in the world can be an inspiration if you just open your mind. Romantic stories, lyrics, movies probably inspire me more than anything, but honestly, just the world in general. My husband and I recently returned from a trip and I have oodles of characters in my head bursting to be released simply from observing others around me. Sometimes something as simple as a thunderstorm inspires me, or the way the sun slants through a tree. 

5) Describe your typical writing day or week. 

I write best in the middle of the night. I begin writing heavily around 10 pm and write usually until around 4 or 5 am. I sleep until noon, then get up, get ready, and work on marketing. Marketing is something I can fairly easily stop in the middle of to take care of family, life, whatever. I hate stopping in the middle of writing, so that's why nighttime writing works best for me - no one to interrupt me. 

6) Is there a food or drink do you have to have when you're writing?

Water always to drink, because I don't want to have to get up if I'm thirsty. And usually I have chocolate of some kind nearby. 

7) Can you tell us what you're working on right now (& possibly provide an excerpt & cover)? 

I'm nearly finished with a book I'm writing with Jeffery Moore, a YA sci-fi, again outside my usual genre. I don't have a cover yet, nor an official blurb, but it's about a creature who wakes up on earth inside of a human teen with no memory of who she is or where she came from. It's a novel of self-discovery, and finding the person she’s meant to be with. I'm also writing a book (I'm about 1/2 way through) that's a contemporary YA romance with a hero who feels no emotion, and a heroine who has extremely unusual home circumstances (not abuse), making them both a bit broken. (I may have the one book finished before 6/21 so if I do I'll send the info at that time and change this answer) 

Excerpt: Rapunzel Untangled 

RG: If I can discover my address, then I'll tell you where to find the correct trellis. There might be more.

Fab Fane Flannigan: You genuinely don't know your address? Huh. Weird. Okay. Maybe I can find you by your last name if it's not common.

RG: I know the name of my house. Does that help? It's actually my own last name.

Fab Fane Flannigan: Your house has a name? Can't be too many of those, so maybe that will help. Especially if it's also your last name and your last name isn't Smith or Lee.

Rapunzel took a deep breath, then plunged.

RG: My last name is Gothel. I live at Gothel Manor. Do you know where it is?

The cursor flashed for so long without response Rapunzel thought he'd signed off. It showed him as still online, though. Maybe he was Googling the information. She smacked her forehead. Of course. Why hadn't she thought of that all this time? She probably could have discovered her own address in that same manner and not had to let him know that she didn't know where she lived. She moved her mouse to open a new tab for that very purpose when his message came.

Fab Fane Flannigan: Sorry. Just a bit stunned, here. Are you saying you live at GOTHEL MANSION??? The Gothel Mansion? I'm having a hard time believing that. You’ve been playing me this whole time? Is that the reason for all the secrecy? I'm just kind of feeling . . . disbelieving, I guess.

Rapunzel stared at his words. Was her home well known? Why did he call it Gothel Mansion instead of Gothel Manor? And why did he think she was kidding about living here?

RG: My mother calls it Gothel Manor, so maybe that's different?

Fab Fane Flannigan: No, Rapunzel, there's only one that I know of. It has to be the same. Are you telling me the truth here?

RG: Yes, of course.

She made a decision.

RG: Okay, time for me to stop being so "secretive" as you say. But I have good reasons for being so. I have a disease

She stopped and deleted the last four words.

RG: I can't go outside because if I do I will get very sick. I live in a specific area of the house. It's the southeast corner. I only know that because I have a compass. I don't know my address because I've never had any reason to need to know it. I suppose I could have Googled it, but honestly the thought never crossed my mind. Is it weird that I live here?

There was no response again for a few long minutes before he answered.

Fab Fane Flannigan: No, not weird, just . . . never mind. So you live in the tower?

RG: Uh, the tower? I don't know. Is it a tower?

Fab Fane Flannigan: Yes, it is. I know where it is. I'll be there Friday at 8.

Rapunzel sensed the difference in his tone. Something wasn't right.

Fab Fane Flannigan: Rapunzel, promise me one thing.

RG: Okay.

Fab Fane Flannigan: Don't Google your house.

Adam Glendon Sidwell Author Interview

You know when you stumble across a person who just seems, like totally cool? Well, this happened right here. I was given the chance to interview author Adam Glendon Sidwell and he's a great laugh! Read on for more...

Can you tell us a little about your latest book.

Evertaster: The Buttersmiths' Gold is about battles! It's about blueberries! It's about bovines! It's the next installment in the Evertaster series. This time though, it's about a pair of Vikings who are so good at making blueberry muffins, everyone wants to steal those muffins.

What inspired you to write it?

Vikings did. The horned menaces are really delightful bakers, so why not give them their own book? Kids and teachers alike always told me, "I love the part with the Vikings in Evertaster," so I went ahead and wrote a whole book about the two big fellas, Torbjorn and Storfjell.

Is it part of a series?

Yes! The Evertaster series. You first meet Torbjorn and Storfjell in the book Evertaster, when Guster and his  brothers and sister are scouring the globe in search of the legendary taste. Those adventures will continue in the next book, the Delicious City. Right now I have 5 books planned: 3 novels and 2 novellas. 

If your latest book was made into a movie, who would you like to play the main characters?

I'd take William Shakespeare and Abraham Lincoln please. Though they might be otherwise indisposed. 

What made you want to become an author?

I like to create things! Worlds! Bridges! Pretty pictures! This was a great way to go about it. Usually, I'm busy making movies like Tron and Pirates of the Caribbean. But sometimes you just want to tell your own stories. So I started writing. 

Name one of your all-time favourite book covers?

I really love The Secret Zoo Series Book covers. Justin Gerard does them, and he's very good. I have a picture hanging on my wall of some of his Hobbit paintings -- also very good. I haven't even read the Secret Zoo series yet, but I still love his work. I also have to say I love what Goro Fujita and Seth Hippen did with the Evertaster series covers. They're really amazing in my opinion, and I was lucky to get them as cover artists. 

Name one book that made you think 'wow'? Why did it have such an effect on you?

The Man Who Was Thursday. It's not a kids book, but it is a powerful story. I was mesmerized by how silly and thoughtful it was. It tricked me almost seven times, even though I knew it was going to try. It's about a bunch of anarchists at the turn of the century in London, all named after days of the week. What clever writing it was! A story that made me love and loathe anarchy and order, all in the same moment.

Who, or what, inspires you?

Adventure. The Himalayas. The Amazon. The jungles of the Congo. 

Where is your favourite place to write?

Somewhere new, where he excitement of the day is ever-present and the distractions of normal life are out of reach. A different state preferably. But those aren't always available. My second choice is wherever I am at the moment.  

What is your favourite movie that was based on a book?

Princess Bride. In many ways I think the movie is better. It's shorter, cleaner, and retains the wit of the book. 

Who is your favourite author (s) and why?

I love Douglas Adams for his wit. I might have some disagreements with him though if I saw him. I also like Fyodor Dostoyevsky. I'd more likely agree with him, because I love his thoughts. 

If you could have a dinner party with any authors from any time in history, who would you choose and why?

Herodotus, the ancient Greek historian, since I'd want to grill him with this question: "The Greeks, are they really that big of a deal?" I'd let him squirm a bit, then say "Yeah, I'm just kidding man. I think they're great." Then I'd ask him to tell me everything.   

Tell us a random fact about yourself.

I once spent 10 days alone in the wilderness.  

Tell us something interesting about the area where you live.

It's Los Angeles. There is a donut shop just down the street, and squirrels in my neighborhood run across the power lines over the road at top speed.

Thanks, Adam! 

Tour Schedule

 

The Buttersmiths' Gold

BATTLES. BLUEBERRIES. BOVINES.

TORBJORN AND STORFJELL’S HISTORY UNFOLDS IN AN EPIC EVERTASTER NOVELLA.

Everyone knows the most coveted treasure of the Viking Age was blueberry muffins. Blueberry muffins so succulent that if you sniffed just a whiff, you'd want a whole bite. If you bit a bite, you'd want a batch; if you snatched a batch, you'd stop at nothing short of going to war just to claim them all.

Young Torbjorn Trofastsonn comes from the clan that makes them. He's a Viking through and

through – he's thirteen winters old, larger than most respectable rocks, and most of all, a Buttersmith. That's what he thinks anyway, until a charismatic merchant makes Torbjorn question his place among the muffin-makers. When Torbjorn lets the secret of his clan's muffin recipe slip, he calls doom and destruction down upon his peaceful village and forces his brother Storfjell and his clansmen to do the one thing they are ill-prepared to do: battle for their lives.

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About The Buttersmiths' Gold

The Buttersmiths' Gold is a spin off novella in the Evertaster series that tells the story of two Viking brothers and their adventurous past. The Evertaster series (Book #1 released June 14, 2012) is about Guster Johnsonville, who goes searching for a legendary taste rumored to be the most delicious in all of history. Along the way he meets a slew of mysterious characters, including two Viking brothers Torbjorn and Storfjell. The Buttersmiths' Gold is their story. 124 pages. By Adam Glendon Sidwell. Published by Future House Publishing.

Evertaster, Book #1:

A legendary taste. Sought after for centuries. Shrouded in secrecy.

When eleven-year-old Guster Johnsonville rejects his mother’s casserole for the umpteenth time, she takes him into the city of New Orleans to find him something to eat. There, in a dark, abandoned corner of the city they meet a dying pastry maker. In his last breath he entrusts them with a secret: an ancient recipe that makes the most delicious taste the world will ever know — a taste that will change the fate of humanity forever.

Forced to flee by a cult of murderous chefs, the Johnsonvilles embark on a perilous journey to ancient ruins, faraway jungles and forgotten caves. Along the way they discover the truth: Guster is an Evertaster — a kid so picky that nothing but the legendary taste itself will save him from starvation. With the sinister chefs hot on Guster’s heels and the chefs’ reign of terror spreading, Guster and his family must find the legendary taste before it’s too late.

 

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Book Trailer  

Author Adam Sidwell
 In between books, Adam Glendon Sidwell uses the power of computers to make monsters, robots and zombies come to life for blockbuster movies such as Pirates of the Caribbean, King Kong, Transformers and Tron. After spending countless hours in front of a keyboard meticulously adjusting tentacles, calibrating hydraulics, and brushing monkey fur, he is delighted at the prospect of modifying his creations with the flick of a few deftly placed adjectives. He’s been eating food since age 7, so feels very qualified to write this book. He once showed a famous movie star where the bathroom was. Adam currently lives in Los Angeles, where he can’t wait to fall into the sea.

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Blog Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 7/2/13 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 author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Prize value $25 US.
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