Jeremy Hawkins sneak preview...

30.7.13

Here's a sneak preview of a special blog post by the fantastically talented artist, Jeremy Hawkins, coming soon.....
If you're intrigued, pop on back on 27th September. If you can't wait that long, visit Being Retro or Amazon



King of Bad Book Blast

30.7.13

 
King of Bad
King of Bad Jeff Mean would rather set fires than follow rules or observe curfew. He wears his bad boy image like a favorite old hoodie; that is until he learns he has superpowers and is recruited by Super Villain Academy – where you learn to be good at being bad. In a school where one kid can evaporate all the water from your body and the girl you hang around with can perform psychic sex in your head, bad takes on a whole new meaning. Jeff wonders if he’s bad enough for SVA. He may never find out. Classmates vilify him when he develops good manners. Then he’s kidnapped by those closest to him and left to wonder who is good and who is bad. His rescue is the climactic episode that balances good and evil in the super world. The catalyst – the girl he’s crushing on. A girlfriend and balancing the Supers is good, right? Or is it…bad?   
kai  Author Kai Stand When the electricity winked out, Kai Strand gathered her family around the fire and they told stories, one sentence at a time. Her boys were rather fond of the ending, “And then everybody died, the end.” Now an award winning children’s author, Kai crafts fiction for kids and teens to provide an escape hatch from their reality. With a selection of novels for young adult and middle grade readers and short stories for younger children Kai entertains children of all ages, and their adults.
      BookBlast Giveaway $100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 8/15/13 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 author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.  a Rafflecopter giveaway

The phone call I dread...

29.7.13

Hubby on his bike
My husband had a motorbike accident on Saturday evening. It was the phone call I'm always dreading, so I'm counting my lucky stars that he was the one that made it - he was okay, just a bit bruised. The bike will be out of action for a few weeks though, but if that's all we have to worry about, I'm happy.
He was on his way home, coming down the mountain, when a driver pulled out of a one way street (the wrong way). If the driver had only put his foot down a bit, Michael would have missed him, but instead the driver stopped, leaving Michael nowhere to go but straight into the side of the car. He was thrown over the top, whacking himself against the tank before hitting the ground. Thank goodness he has always been so safety conscious in his leathers, helmet, decent boots, back protector and what not, otherwise things could have been very, very different.
The driver of the car, a Spanish man with his family, was deeply sorry. It was written all over his face, and as he left, he couldn't stop saying how sorry he was. We all make silly mistakes now and then, we're just lucky that this wasn't more serious.

Indie Author Series: Blogging (Do's & Don'ts)

26.7.13

Okay, so I'm certainly no expert on this subject because I often find myself neglecting my blog - personal blog posts I mean. I quite often post book blasts, cover reveals and take part in other author's blog tours when I really ought to be posting more from me, you know?
So my blogging number one don't is - don't neglect your blog!
Number two, which I feel quite strongly about is - if you're a children's or YA author - don't post anything rude / erotica / swear words, etc because chances are your blog is being read by children as well as adults.
Number three - always try and put a little bit of yourself into every post. If someone new happens across your blog, you want them to stay, right? So show a little personality, give us a hint of who you really are. If you're funny, be funny; f you're a geek, be geeky; if you're quirky, be quirky (I love quirky and often wish I was the quirky girl but alas, it wasn't meant to be). When I worked as Assistant Editor for a local magazine, the editor made me take out all personality from my articles, to such an extent that they became boring (and were boring as hell to write), so when I was approached by a US Travel Magazine to write an article about the Algarve, I struggled at first. My first effort was so devoid of character that they had to send it back! They asked me to add personality. Can you imagine how embarrassing that was? All because the editor drummed it into me to be (basically) boring. Now I refuse to take my personality out of anything I write.
Number four - don't post exclusively about your books. Yes we get that you want to promote your work (and promote it you should), but c'mon, you're just going to bore us if you only do that. Be a bit more varied once in a while.
Number five (and this is just a personal irritation of mine) - get ride of those awful Captchas! I HATE them. I want to come over to your blog and I want to leave a comment but when I have to read something that is so stupidly illegible, and then I have to re-type it in five times to finally get it right, I'm gonna get so ticked off that I'm just gonna go without having left a comment. Captchas = Annoyance!!
So there you have it. My five blogging dos and don'ts. I'm sure there are lots more but I don't want to bore you (ha! there's my sixth - don't make your posts too long!).
In the meantime, don't forget that three of my books are FREE at the moment. So go grab a copy while you can! Raven, Daisy Madigan's Paradise, The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw.

Now go check out my awesome buddies...

1. Laura A. H. Elliott 

Love Among Pigeons Cover Reveal

23.7.13

Hey peeps! Today I'm helping author Abbria Mattina to reveal her brand new cover for her latest offering, Love Among Pigeons. Here it is... like it?

Love Among Pigeons by Abria Mattina
Publication Date: August 23rd 2013
Genre: YA Contemporary
Synopsis:
In this companion novella to Wake, Frank invites the Kirk family home to Smiths Falls for Thanksgiving weekend. Holidays are always a trial for the family that lost their daughter and sister, but Frank is hopeful that this Thanksgiving will be the exception. He has some happy news to share. If only he wasn’t so reluctant to talk about it.
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18072782-love-among-pigeons

AUTHOR BIO:
Abria Mattina works in marketing and book production. She holds a Certificate in Publishing from the New York University Summer Publishing Institute and a degree in English Literature and Psychology from the University of Ottawa. When she isn’t writing she enjoys travelling, eclectic books, blogging, and baking. She lives with her fiance, Daniel.
Her debut novel, WAKE, is about the struggle to redefine life after experiencing cancer and caring for an ill loved one.
Author links:
Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

A Wicked Kind of Dark Cover Reveal GIVEAWAY YAY!!

23.7.13

Author Jonathan K. Benton

Jonathan Benton always wanted to write books, having won first place in a short story competition when he was ten. Inspired by writes such as Ray Bradbury and Stephen King, Jonathan first discovered the crossover genre of literary/fantasy while reading Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes.
Jonathan grew up in New Zealand, dreaming of travelling to London and finally making the pilgrimage in his mid-twenties. Returning from England, he settled in Australia, the country he now calls home, and decided to take his writing seriously.









A Wicked Kind of Dark

Robert Duncan no longer believes in magic. A mysterious call about a blood moon, however, leads him back to the magical world of his childhood and to Luthien, the beautiful girl with flame-coloured hair, who he loved and lost.

As Robert unravels the secrets of his childhood, darkness enters his life and an ancient evil awakens. To have any chance of defeating the dark forces that would destroy two worlds, Robert must find Luthien before the rise of the blood moon. He must, once more, believe in magic …

A Wicked Kind of Dark mixes vast and spectacular fantasy landscapes with gritty urban reality. A must-read for people of all ages who believe in the power of imagination, and the importance of never losing touch with your inner child.



Giveaway Details
$10 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Open Internationally
Ends 8/15/13

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 author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

*An additional $10 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash is available to anyone who shares this giveaway on their blog.  See link in the rafflecopter form.


a Rafflecopter giveaway



YA Author Club: Toni Lombardo

19.7.13

 
The YA Author Club is expanding its author presence and bringing on new talent every single week. This week, we are introducing the newest member of our team, Toni Lombardo. She is not an indie author, and she does not plan to become one. She's working hard at establishing herself within the traditionally published world. We wish her the best of luck in her efforts and thought it might be kind of cool to offer our fans/friends/followers a new voice within the club. 


Instead of posting information about indie publishing, Toni will take a few minutes every few weeks to fill us in on her trials and tribulations as she journeys toward the Big Six.

Also... leave us a comment and let us know which Big Six pic you like best #1 (first one) or #2 (second one). The one getting the most votes/comments will be the one we use to introduce Toni's posts from this point forward.

Social Media Sites for Toni:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/write_to_live
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IamLifewriter

Without further ado, we are pleased to introduce Toni Lombardo:

Hello there blog readers! Toni here, I am going to talk about myself now.  Hope you don’t mind.
Okay, so first off I am a twenty something (21)  and striving to be a writer!  I am currently(ish)  a student at a community college (although at the moment I am taking a break from school)  and my plan is to major in meteorology.  Of course I’ll have to transfer to a four year.  In some moments I want to major in English, because I am in love with words (a good thing for a writer, right?) .  I would like to teach an elective class in a preppy school to do with the appreciation of old timey writers (Stoker, Melville, Shelley, etc.) and introduce the kids to modern day writers who I think are fantastic such as John Green (The Fault in Our Stars) , Jay Asher (Thirteen Reasons Why) , *clears throat* T.R. Graves (not kissing up, she is actually really great, like go read her books now!) .
I have been writing since I can remember.  I wrote short stories or was forced to by teachers, but I always enjoyed it and nine times out of ten exceeded the length required or well wanted (sometimes they weren’t happy) .  My dad also made up stories for me when I was little, I hope to one day publish and anthology of them (I do attribute that to my love of the plot) .  I actually sat down to write a book when by hand when I was fourteen? Maybe? But I gave up on that book (I will one day reapproach that book, but for now the characters and I are not mixing…it’s not my fault blame them)  to write what I wanted to publish as my first.  I started that book when I was fifteen and finished it when I was sixteen and went onto the next.  I am on the third in the series and am currently rewriting the first book.  I was young when I wrote it and afraid of words like sex, so I would dance around the word.  Plus other things I wrote in it are just cringe worthy and embarrassing.  Trust and believe if a writer says their work is cringe worthy it is…we are our biggest critic yes, but if we can make ourselves cringe it is pretty correct to believe that the reader would wonder what the heck the writer was thinking.
I spend my days working at a clothing store.  I love it.  I work with kids ranging from size 6-20.  I love working with the girls who aren’t societies standard of ‘beauty’.  It’s great because you can see the kid coming in so self-conscious (because they are a size 16 not 12 like their friends)  and leave smiling because you told them they are beautiful and helped them pick out clothes and raved over how amazing the kid looked and sometimes the kid even hugs you.  I know this sounds like I am saying ‘oh look at me.  I’m so great.  Blah, blah, blah.’  That is not my intention.  Today’s society is so messed up, these kids are so self-conscious at such a young age, and they are getting bullied.  Their parents telling them they are beautiful is one thing, when a someone else makes a big deal about it the kid feels good.  I think it’s a thing everyone should do.  Encourage people, because one day you will need it.   Okay enough about my job.
I also spend my days plotting up stories and plot twists.  I like listening to music and sometimes it even inspires or curbs scenes. I like going to the gym and reading, it is where I get most of my reading in.  In one day at work…working on stock in the back room, five new book ideas came flooding in.
I have one dog, a Beta named Platelet in one tank with a snail, eight goldfish all named after characters in my books and a Plecko and a snail in another tank that is huge.  I have the plecko and snails to help keep the tanks clean.
I’d like to write more often and I need to.  It is the best and worst thing in the world, if you are a writer you will understand that sentence; if you are not a writer ask one that you know.
I use Twitter and Instagram and Facebook to interact with writers and friends and share stuff about my books and from time to time excerpts! 
I hope to change the publishing world by introducing them to new styles of writing!  And once you get to know me you know I don’t just dabble in things, I jump in whole heartedly with both feet, and most of the time without a safety net.   I am beginning to blog under the supervision and guidance of Graves (I just love her) .  Please come back bi-weekly to join me on my journey of publishing and writing on my blog series called Toni’s Big Six Journey. 
It can be found here: http://yaauthorclub.blogspot.com
Listening to: Wishing Well by Ben Moody: All for This
Quote: “Just know, when you truly want success, you’ll never give up on it. No matter how bad the situation may get.” - Unknown

Spotlight Interview Questions:

1) What is your all-time favorite book and why?
“The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green (TFIOS) .  It is just perfect.  I cried on every page and went hysterical at Chapter 21.  I re-read the book within two months and re-experienced all that beautiful pain (readers of this book will get it #nerdfighter) .  Also, I bonded with my IBBF (internet best friend forever)  over this book.  We’ve known each other for a little over two months as of 7.12.2013, but it is one of the greatest friendships I have had.  So, beyond being a great book it brought me a great friend.

2) Is there an author you could be compared to or popular fictional characters your book's characters could relate to and why?
Oh gosh, this is a biggie.  I don’t really know.  I have my own style, but some of my darker pieces, like “The Tale-Tale Heart” which is a re-doing of “The Tell-Tale Heart” by E.A. Poe for a final English paper, have been associated to Poe.  I’m actually about to start a second mirroring piece of his, that T.R. Graves is up-to-date about.
As far as characters…People are going to think TFIOS for some of my characters, because I talk about the book ALL the time and it is a book about kids with cancer.  But my book is about a kid or two with cancer but there is more of a story to it than that, just like Green’s.
As far as my characters relating to other characters…oh I don’t know, never thought about that.  I’ve read books with characters that reminded me of mine, but never really thought about it that way.  I think Devon would like Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher.

3) Can you give us your favorite quote from one of your books and explain it?
“If you don’t know, you do not deserve to know!” –Devon
Oh my, how can I explain, Devon?  Okay so in this scene Devon just found out something in his family. Sorry for being vague, don’t want to give away plot points. He is really struggling in his life at the moment and this news was just devastating.  Like a lot of teens Devon struggles with the idea of self-harm and when his brother is talking to him he (Devon)  hints to wanting to hurt himself, and when his brother doesn’t get the hint he says the above quote possibly angrily. 

4) What types of things/people/music inspires you and makes you want to keep writing?
Things that inspire me to write…I don’t know.  Sometimes I just see something, okay I was in a store the other day and saw a beautiful all glass frame, free standing.  I saw it and instantly knew it belonged to a character in one of my W.I.P.s, and when I got home it was already done the character would have it in their house.  So it is just kind of random, if I see something and it attaches to a character, I say it inspired me.
People- My best friend Anne is who I write for along with a few other people.  Anne is my muse and my ‘first reader’.  She keeps me going when I don’t want to write and pushes me to finish projects. So she inspires me as well as Graves, Green, Asher, and others.
Music!!! Ahh, such an inspiration!  Don’t want to say too much here because this topic is going to be a whole blog post for me!
What makes me want to keep writing—my characters.  I get a points where I miss them and I physically feel missing them, I feel pain of sorts.  Sometimes just thinking and plotting and writing notes just does not suffice, so I write to subdue the longing for interacting with them.  And I love writing, so that helps.
5) Describe your typical writing day or week.
They are random.  I write whenever and wherever.  At one point I was writing (more than this at home)  every Friday night at the bar in Red Robin, where one of my friends works.  I would buy an unsweetened peach tea with EXTRA regular syrup and she kept me in well supply.   It was a great writing environment and the support was great!

6) Is there a food or drink do you have to have when you're writing?
I love, love, love peach tea, but I can’t have too much caffeine otherwise I can’t sleep.  So at one point it was that, but now….yeah, it is still that, I just can’t have it all the time.

7) Can you tell us what you're working on right now (& possibly provide an excerpt & cover) ?
Sooooo many things! The book I am working on to get published first is Life’s Not a Fantasy I have a cover idea, but no cover yet!  An excerpt? Sure!  Here is the introduction.  It is written by Devon:
It wasn’t ever supposed to be like this.  Our family was always so torn apart, even before what I’m, about to write.  Dad was out fighting for ‘our safety’ but was never home... he was a ‘lifer’.  Mom chose her favorites and clung tightly to them, and I fell to the bottom of that spectrum.  I was okay with it though.
I was always the ‘untypical typical’ teenager, meaning I was or still am the loner.  I’ve done my fair share of stupid things, but more on that later.
He, Cameron always held us together.  He was our rock.  He could make or break our family and now his name resonates with pain.
How can one name ruin everything?  How can one name bring so much pain?
It’s been days, moments, but his name already feels like a curse. 
Thanks for reading!  Hope this was entertaining.
Keep writing,


Cover Reveal!! Creatura by Nely Cab

18.7.13

Creatura by Nely Cab
Publication date: August 6th, 2013
Genre: YA Paranormal
Isis can control her dreams. Or she could-until recently. The creature in her nightmares has been haunting her for months. As if being dumped wasn’t bad enough, now she dreads going to sleep. She decides to confront the creature and win back some of her peace; only, she finds that he’s not a monster and he’s not a dream.
A sacrifice for love, a shocking discovery and a jealous ex-boyfriend blur the lines between reality and dreams, making it hard to tell who the real monsters are.
Who would’ve known…that sometimes love is lethal?
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18002733-creatura?ac=1

AUTHOR BIO
Nely Cab was born on December 9, 1974, in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. She has lived and resided in a small, quiet South Texas town most of her life. Putting her Computer Accounting skills to use, Nely worked in banking for several years. In 2001, the author relocated to Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, where she dedicated time to the study of culinary arts and the art of oil painting. After her return to the U.S., Nely resumed her employment in banking and later transitioned to the field of Social Work.
Today, Nely Cab writes from the comfort of her home, where she lives with her husband and son. Her life goal is to check-off Bucket List Item No. 95,623,351: To conquer the world. While she aspires world domination, Nely continues to work on her debut series Creatura.
Links:
Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

Gargoyle Addiction by Livia Olteano

15.7.13

Today I'm helping to spread the word about Livia Olteano's book, Gargoyle Addiction. Great name huh? So without further ado, check it out...

Gargoyle Addiction by Livia Olteano
Series: Otherworlds Summons #1
Publication date: July 2013
Genre: NA Paranormal Romance

Synopsis:
Summonari don’t trust. Under their command, they summon any number of creatures from the Otherwolds—but never trust them outside of the summoning.

Gargoyles don’t love. Fierce descendants of dragons, they function on power and fear—never love.

Karla isn’t the happily-ever-after type of girl. No territory-hungry guy is going to stick flags all over her unclaimed grounds.
Kann’s world is death and betrayal. As Dar Primus of Haus Varis, he’s expected to follow tradition but he’s not your regular gargoyle. In fact, he’s anything but.

One fateful Friday night, Otherworlds collide. Stuck together in one world or another, Karla and Kann face everything from Awakenings and turbulent love to Festnavals and bloodthirsty scorned suitors.
If there’s one thing they can’t escape, it’s the addiction to each other. And they’ve got it bad.
Purchase:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Gargoyle-Addiction-Otherworlds-Summons-ebook/dp/B00DW89G4I/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1373662212&sr=1-1
All Romance Ebooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-gargoyleaddiction-1235652-340.html
OmniLit: https://www.omnilit.com/product-gargoyleaddiction-1235652-340.html
Smashwords (Code for 60% off on Smashwords: WE22D): https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/335681

GIVEAWAY
Grand Prize Giveaway
Prize listed on the Rafflecopter - open internationally.
 a Rafflecopter giveaway


AUTHOR BIO 

Livia lives in Europe where she listens to obscene amounts of music and devours every reading material in sight. When she’s not doing either of the two, she fiddles with anything remotely customizable within reach.
Author links:
Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

YA Author Club: Social Media - what works for you?

12.7.13

Today, the YA Author Club is talking about social media, what works and what doesn't. I've found the best for me is Facebook and Twitter. I'm also an avid Pinterest user but I'm not sure how beneficial it is for me as an author. It's particularly good for giving me inspiration, but other than that, I can't really comment.
Facebook and Twitter, on the other hand, really do seem to work when it comes to getting word out about my work. So far I have managed to garner over 3,000 likes on facebook and almost 6,000 followers on Twitter, which is totally awesome. Whenever I post something about my books, I usually find that quite a few people share my posts - especially on Twitter. Having said that, I don't really know whether this equals more downloads / sales or not.
But what about you? What works for you?
Don't forget that I currently have THREE FREE books for you to download!! Yes that's right - THREE. Raven, Daisy Madigan's Paradise AND The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw. So what are you waiting for? Go grab yourself a copy now!

Check out the other YA authors in the club!

Indie Life: friends for life

10.7.13

My journey as an indie author has led me to meet so many fabulous people (mostly online) including authors, book bloggers, editors, cover designers, artists, even musicians and more. Living in the Algarve, there are few opportunities to mingle with other authors (in real life) as there are so few bookish events here, which is a shame. So when a friend of a friend had written a book recently, my name was put forward to help her get onto the indie 'ladder'.
Eleanor Smythe (a pen name) turned out to be such a hoot to be around. We've met up several times over the past couple of months and each time we get together, we talk for hours and hours! She has even started calling me her mentor which is hilarious in itself (!) but also very kind. I feel such an enormous kinship with Eleanor that I am so grateful to have been introduced to her and I am really looking forward to lots more chats about our writing and lives in general.
I'm sure Eleanor would love to hear from other authors and bloggers so please do pop over to her brand new blog and leave her a comment! You can find her at eleanorsmythe.blogspot.com. She's an absolute beginner at all this social networking malarkey so I'm sure she'll be delighted to hear from you.
* Eleanor is planning to release her first book, Perceptions, in September. 


Unseen by Melissa Pearl

9.7.13

Now Available:
Danger surrounds the Seekers. Having already faced overwhelming odds, Kyla and Jethro discover it is only the beginning. Now they must face the power of nature itself. 
Each day is a test of faith. 
Two elements remain undiscovered. The light is yet to be resurrected. Dark forces prepare to descend upon the heroes of prophecy and they have one more power they must over come...their forbidden love for each other. 
Each moment is a test of loyalty and courage. 
In Taramon, Athra faces his own demons as he frets over the safety of his fiancée while trying to counter a dark evil that is brought to his doorstep. Treachery lurks in the shadows, forcing the future king into an action that could destroy his beloved city. 
Through it all, they must cling to the truths hidden in the unseen. 
"The plotting is sublime and the pacing is perfect. I held my breath as I turned the pages, hoping that Kyla and Jethro would return in time to help save their kingdom. What a fabulous addition to this series! I can't wait for the third book!" Taylor Longford, Author of the Greystone Series. 
www.melissapearlauthor.com

My review:
WOW... I mean, seriously, WOW. In the second book of the Elements Trilogy, Melissa Pearl certainly doesn't disappoint. Following on from Kyla and Jethro's initial adventure, in this book we start to delve deeper into their relationship and it's a rocky road, I can tell ya! We also meet the coolest trio of 'kids' you'll find in any book... anywhere. Unseen had me weeping, laughing and sitting on the very edge of my seat. I L.O.V.E.D it! And just like the first book in the series, I couldn't WAIT for the final instalment!

Over the Rainbow by Brian Rowe

9.7.13

Synopsis
Zippy Green never meant to fall in love with a girl, but when she does, her ultra-conservative father tries to send her to anti-gay camp. At the Kansas City airport, however, she hides inside a giant suitcase and sneaks onto an airplane headed not to the camp, but to Seattle, where her online love Mira lives. Halfway through the flight, the plane barrels out of control and crashes into the ground, knocking her unconscious.
When Zippy awakens, she finds that most of the passengers have vanished. She doesn’t know what’s happened, but she’s determined to find out. She begins a quest on foot toward Seattle, and along the way, she meets a teenager with a concussion  a homeless man with a heart condition, a child without a shred of bravery, and a terrier named Judy. Together the group discovers that more than two-thirds of the world’s population has mysteriously disappeared. But that’s only the beginning…
All Zippy wants is to find her Mira, but before she can she has to contend with two outside forces. The first is her homophobic father, who does everything in his power to keep her from the girl she loves. And the second is extinct creatures of all shapes and sizes, including living, breathing dinosaurs, which have replaced the missing population.

Author Bio
Brian Rowe is a writing fiend, book devotee, film fanatic, and constant dreamer. He’s written nine novels, dozens of short stories, five feature-length screenplays, and hundreds of film articles and essays. He is one half of the blog Story Carnivores, where he reviews the latest in books and film. He is currently pursuing his MA in English at the University of Nevada, Reno, and is hard at work on his next novel.

Giveaway (International!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Pendomus Chronicles Cover Reveal

8.7.13

I love being a part of Cover Reveals! And Today we have Carissa Andrew's gorgeous brand new cover for the first book in her Pendomus Chronicles series! Check it out... isn't it FAB!!

Pendomus by Carissa Andrews
Series: Pendomus Chronicles, #1
Publication date: October 10th, 2013
Genre: YA sci-fi/fantasy dystopian (with paranormal romance)


Humanity has colonized on a tidally locked planet known as Pendomus, a planet of extremes. Half eternal scorching desert and half perpetual arctic night. Surviving along the temperate band between the two, we've set up home in a complex known as the Helix. Within the Helix lies a highly sophisticated, highly technological society that seems to function solely on humans fulfilling their life's purpose. That purpose is determined and nurtured through a person's natural aptitudes, as read by their daily brain scans. Eating, sleeping, even procreation is handled by professionals. These basic concepts, no longer a part of society's every day norm.
Seventeen-year-old Runa Cophem longs to be more than part of the Helix machine. Her life inside is anything but fulfilling. She feels disconnected, and longs to be more than society dictates. Inside, no one socializes, no one interacts in a meaningful way. It's never set right with Runa. She would love nothing more than to reach out to her family, but not even her own mother can show any semblance of love for her. Instead, Runa has found solace in the ancient woods nearby, despite being strictly forbidden.
Seventeen-year-old Runa Cophem longs to be more than part of the Helix machine. Her life inside is anything but fulfilling. She feels disconnected, and longs to be more than society dictates. Inside, no one socializes, no one interacts in a meaningful way. It's never set right with Runa. She would love nothing more than to reach out to her family, but not even her own mother can show any semblance of love for her. Instead, Runa has found solace in the ancient woods nearby, despite being strictly forbidden.
Runa's life takes an unforeseen turn when she's brutally attacked, and left for dead in those woods near the Helix. Rescued by a stranger with blue hair, she's immersed into a surprising way humanity has survived. Fueled by a yearning to belong, and an attraction she didn't even know was possible, Runa wants desperately to make a new life. Yet, there's much she doesn't know about herself, about the planet and the forces controlling her from afar.
What she needs is some answers.
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13492019-pendomus?ac=1

AUTHOR BIO
Born and raised in central MN, Carissa Andrews has always loved books. She started her career at 15 in a bookstore, just to be able to afford her book fetish. By 19, she worked for a magazine publisher. At 22, she was working for printers to learn their trade. At 27, she went back to school for graphic design, and became an award winning designer. Little did she know all of her experiences would lead her to becoming a self-publishing power house.
At 31, a magical world on a planet far away, invaded her mind.
At 34, she's learned what she needs to make her work successful.
Pendomus (Book 1 of the Pendomus Chronicles) will be released OCTOBER 10, 2013.
Author links:
Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

LM Preston's Summer Romance THUNDERING LUV is out now!!

5.7.13



Release Date: June 1st, 2013
Format: Ebook Only Release, but will be part of a print book in 2014 that includes 3 short YA Summer Romances by LM Preston to include (Flutter Of Luv, Thundering Luv, and Double Trouble Luv)
Publisher: Phenomenal One Press
Blurb:
Jewel has always been able to get the guy she wanted. The starting jock on the football team, the team captain on the basketball team, and the lead swimmer on the swim team. Problem is, she didn't find them the least bit exciting. Was she cold or a she-wolf for guys? Colin thought so, and he'd do anything to bring her down a peg or two. When these two collide on the sandy beach during their mixed up summer vacation, sparks fly, making this a summer neither will forget.
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LM Preston,YA SciFi Author
www.lmpreston.com
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The Inspiration behind Matthew McKern's I Didn’t Go Looking for Trouble

4.7.13

You know when you come across something and just think, 'that sounds so cool'? Well, that's what happened when I got the invitation to 'friend' Matt McKern on facebook. I clicked through and saw the title of his book and I just needed to know more about it. So I approached Matt and asked if he'd like to write a guest post about what inspired him to write the book. I was thrilled when he agreed. Read on to find out more...

When my aging in-laws asked for someone to help with the driving on a road trip tour of the upper Midwest, I surprised my wife by stepping forward. My father-in-law, Bob, had grown-up in Chicago, spending summers on a farm in Wisconsin. He'd been invited to a pair of family reunions by cousins he hadn't seen in decades. Bob wanted a chance to see them before they got called up to Heaven. In my mind the trip instantly became “The Before They Get Called Up To Heaven Tour” and I immediately printing-up t-shirts in my mind.
The character of the various landscapes left a distinct impression. The meandering roads of Southern Wisconsin seemed perfect for getting lost but the checkerboard maze of Iowa had a different sort of potential. One could easily get disoriented in the endless maze of cornfields were cut through with any number of dusty white roads with little to distinguish them from one another.
The first true hint of inspiration for I Didn’t Go Looking for Troublecame from my daughter and this tiny firefly with an outsized personality that my daughter named Glowie. There’s a certain magic that comes at nightfall in a city park in a small town like Waverly, Iowa that might have lost its luster for the local crowd. Seeing the fireflies rising from the grass just that once preserved the magic for me.
Another source of inspiration came in the form of a corner store in Klinger, my mother-in-law Arleen’s home town. The store was of the type that requires isolation to survive. There were pipe fittings, canned foods, overalls, boots, buttons all in a narrow space with a hardwood floor that just dared you to even think about going barefoot. We visited the graves of my wife’s grandparents and found confirmation photos of Arleen taken some fifty years earlier. We didn’t have to hunt for them. They were bound-up in books displayed in the lobby.
There are other ingredients that helped add body to the stew of my novelincluding a legendary yard sale find that I can’t go into with any specificity—let me just say that finding a priceless treasure hidden a picture frame behind a worthless print wasn’t something I just cooked up on my own. But the heart of the story started beating in Waverly—the old storefronts struggling to maintain relevance when there’s a WalMart just up the road, fishing in the Cedar River in a rented canoe with borrowed gear, seeing the combines driving into town for the demolition derby, white Amish country road dust, these are the bits and pieces as well as the glue that holds the story together.
But the spirit of the story comes from watching my daughter gaining a taste for a bit of adventure. Thankfully, she’ll never make the same kind of mistakes that the protagonist of I Didn’t Go Looking for Trouble, Willy Storey falls into. Willy doesn’t necessarily feel rules were always mad with her in mind. So far, my daughter is quite the opposite, knock on wood.
I started writing when she was a tiny baby on a schedule all her own. When she woke at 4:30, I would often take her for a drive in the country so she could get a nap before daycare, which started at about 7:30. In these quiet times behind the wheel, I would often write entire chapters in my mind that might not be written down for hours, days or maybe even weeks. I Didn’t Go Looking for Trouble was also born of the road, but these particular roads are halfway across the country, a stop on the “Before They Get Called Up to Heaven Tour”, leading to a tiny store in an even tinier town where two roads just happen to run into one another.

I'm a guest on the A to Z Challenge blog today!

3.7.13


Join me on the A to Z Challenge blog today where I'm talking about the origins of my blog! Please come along and leave a comment. It's always lovely hear from readers! :D

Letting food be your medicine - something I feel very strongly about

2.7.13

My husband and I could be described as health freaks... him more than me (I like the odd glass of wine, the occasional black coffee and even a slice of cake once or twice a week!). We stopped eating dairy over a year ago, don't eat sugar (apart from in that occasional cake or in my coffee), have salad at least once a day, eat no red meat, etc. 
But it's not just meat, dairy, caffeine etc that we drastically cut down on. We are also very careful about what else we put in our bodies. I stopped dyeing my hair over two years ago because of the chemicals found in hair dyes, we no longer use deodorant with aluminium present and all shower gels we use have no chemicals within them. Oh and we don't take any form of medication.
Some people think we're over the top. We just think we're healthy (and we feel great for it!). Which is why, when I came across this book trailer, I wanted to hug the author. I asked him to provide a guest post so I could share it with my readers. So without further ado, please do read on (and watch the trailer), especially if you've been feeling under the weather...



The Pharmaceutical Myth: Letting food be your medicine is the answer for perfect health by Gerald Roliz, CNC

You can be healthy without pharmaceutical medications—really.
Forget the sick care paradigm and stop obsessing about your illness. You can live a healthy lifestyle. A global subculture called the “Health Catchers” does, and Gerald Roliz shows you how in his book The Pharmaceutical Myth (Createspace, May 11, 2013).
The Pharmaceutical Myth is based on Roliz’s controversial lectures, where he has captivated doctors alike with his take on the risks of pharmaceuticals and how to support the restoration of organ function with whole food nutrition and herbs.
Health Catchers, he argues, are no longer interested in catching disease. Instead they desire to catch “health.” They have abandoned the “sick care” (sick/Rx drug/side effect/Rx drug) and instead mastered the ancient medicine—whole food nutrition—to create vibrant lifestyles in the here and now, never fearing when it ends. The Health Catcher knows that the medical doctor doesn’t have all the answers and medical offices aren’t working to restore health. Money alone does not solve all health problems. The goal is to escape the sick care model entirely, not perish within it.
You can find an effective doctor—a healer without experiencing unwanted side effects or dangerous drug interactions. You can eliminate 100% of your health problems, regain your youth and become the model of health.
STOP worshipping people who prescribe medications. It is a fantasy that you will redeem your health and live optimally well while taking pharmaceuticals. START supporting your body to regenerate now instead of waiting for when you are least capable.
STOP seeing death and sickness as your end goal. It is a fantasy that pharmaceuticals alone will solve your health issues and make you happy. Health is nothing without nutrient dense foods. START healing and living more.
STOP blaming your genes and thinking “if only my parents had good health.” START taking responsibility and learning the skills and technologies that will allow you to achieve health and wellness forever (even if you are doctor).
Get ready to disrupt your reality, reset your system, and take the first steps to joining other Health Catchers. The Pharmaceutical Myth is the ultimate guide to improving your health and understanding the steps to take.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Gerald Roliz, CNC is pharmaceutical sales representative turned nutritionist. He holds undergraduate degrees from U.C. Berkeley in Psychology and Molecular & Cell Biology. He worked in the pharmaceutical industry as a pharmaceutical sales representative for 5 years where he taught Medical Doctors about Drug to Drug interactions, adverse side effects, and withdrawal syndrome caused by many of the commonly prescribed pharmaceutical medications.
His lectures enable all healthcare professionals to effectively forge relationships so that patients are provided proper guidance and instruction. Through this enhanced collaboration and cooperation among holistic health practitioners and western medical doctors, patients may discontinue medications that are no longer necessary. He also teaches the application of whole food nutrition for all patients with any acute or chronic health condition. For more information, please visit www.thepharmaceuticalmyth.com.
The Pharmaceutical Myth
Letting Food be Your Medicine 
Is the Answer for Perfect Health
by Gerald Roliz, CNC
Createspace
on-sale: May 11, 2013

Cindy C. Bennett has a new book out!!

1.7.13

Whispers of Razari by Cindy C. Bennett and Jeffrey Moore

Blurb:
When sixteen year old Olivia Adams wakes from a horrible car accident that killed her parents, she knows she’s something different. Olivia died, and now the soul inhabiting her body needs to find out who - and what - she is. A glimpse of a world called Razari burning is the only clue to her previous existence—a tragic memory, sparking events that endanger the people helping her.

Jacobi McKenzie has lived in Crescent, Montana for more years than he can remember, even though he's only seventeen. He's been waiting, but for what he isn't sure. Jacobi recognizes Olivia for what she is before she's even aware of it herself and the effect she has on him threatens to expose his true identity--a thing he’s worked hard to conceal.

They come together in an explosion of emotion that neither of them is supposed to feel. As Jacobi fights for Olivia's life, protecting her from those who would use her for their own selfish purposes, together they unravel the mystery surrounding the destruction of their race.

Sales links:

Excerpt:

The smell of blood, iodine, peppermint, and ammonia blending with sweat is my first sense of awareness. These are scents I recognize. A dozen other foreign smells seem to be a mix of different elements. If I could concentrate and study the odors, I’m certain I’d be able to break them down into their base elements, but the noise is too distracting. I’m not as good with sound as I am with smell. I can make out several distinct voices and artificial sounds that are probably machines. If I could open my eyes, I’d be able to connect the noises with the smells. I think my eyes are fastened shut.

Slowly, I begin to explore the body of the host I’m in. I come upon damaged areas that cause intense pain and I quickly retreat from these areas. The body is broken in several places. I sense voices come from those repairing the host body. A name comes to me: Olivia. With effort, I crack open my eyes. Gauzy images of people work on me. A tall man has his hands in Olivia’s body and he speaks softly, as if afraid of startling anyone. I retreat and turn to exploring Olivia’s memories.

Reliving Olivia’s life from her earliest memory is instinctual for me. I think I’ve existed for a long time. Parasite. I find the word while searching through Olivia’s memories—a parasite is what these people would think of me if they knew what I was. But a parasite by definition lives in or on a host and steals everything, giving nothing in return. I’m not really like that. I entered Olivia shortly after her soul departed. Her body’s not the ideal place for me to be, being only sixteen earth years old and badly broken, but I was drawn to her. What made me choose her? I can’t remember. Typically I acquire a host much younger and definitely less broken—at least, that feels like the thing I’d do.

As I’m learning about Olivia, her culture, and the society in which she lives, it sparks the knowledge that I don’t remember where I came from. I know I’m not human, and I know what I need to do to exist in Olivia, but why I’m here eludes me. With that comes the idea that my kind only moves to a different world as a last resort, so I figure something terrible must have happened not only to me—or actually my former host—but the world from which I came.



Bennett is the YA author of several books. She lives in Utah with her husband and two daughters. Both of her sons have married, giving her two more daughters (in-law). She loves gooey cookies, dark chocolate, and cheese popcorn. She hates housework and cooking, and has no plans to become a domestic goddess. She occasionally co-hosts a geek podcast with her son, called Geek Revolution Radio. Her favorite pastime is riding her Harley.

Find more about Cindy at www.cindycbennett.com
Geek Revolution Radio www.geekrevolutionradio.com


Moore was born in Germany. As a military brat, much of his childhood was spent abroad, growing up in Germany on military installations. He subsequently enlisted in the military and served for ten years as an army pilot. While in the military, he lived in Italy and South Korea and deployed to many European countries. He has traveled to Australia, Japan, Singapore and most European countries. His experiences and contact with many different cultures helps form some of the elements in his stories. He currently works for a global IT company and lives in Massachusetts.

Find more about Jeffery and his work at www.jefferyemoore.com
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