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Launch Day for BEWARE OF THE WHITE by Kai Strand!
As is tradition, Terra learns on the Saturday past her twelfth birthday that she is a Natures Spirit. It is her legacy to serve in the peaceful underground city of Concord. Learning she is named in a prophecy and being threatened by the leader of the death tribe…that part breaks tradition.
The Trepidus are the death janitors of the Underworld, responsible for delivering fatalities with a smile and cleaning up after themselves until Blanco, recent leader of the Trepidus, decides the day of reckoning for his species is coming. He begins organizing the creatures and leads them toward an uprising. The prophecy says there is one person who can stop him. Terra.
With Spirit of Security, Frank, protecting her, Terra attempts to complete her training and discover her Spirit talents. Together, they go on a rogue investigation to learn how to defeat Blanco. In the end, it comes down to a battle of the minds. The future of Concord is at stake. Will Blanco, the older, more experienced being win? Or will Terra, the young, new Spirit earn back the peace of the city?
Excerpt:
The creature’s direct gaze caused her to shudder. Pushing off the wall, it seemed to float across the room toward her. No characteristic slapping sound registered when its bare feet flopped with each step. It never blinked and never broke eye contact. A chill enveloped Terra as it stopped an arm’s length away. She wanted to curl up in a ball, sob and plead for it to leave, but Terra instinctively suppressed her fear and stared back at it, erasing all emotion from her face.
“I have come to warn you.” The horrible voice sounded like a thick gel bubbling up through a pipe full of gravel and coarse sand.
The creature’s throat buckled and undulated as if the words physically worked their way up through its vocal cords. Terra expected the words to tumble from its mouth and plunk to the floor, a sort of sick word vomit. She shook from the effort of swallowing past her gag reflex and fought the impulse to turn away.
“You’ve come to warn me? Warn me about what?” Terra asked.
“You have been figured to be the enemy of my beings. My leader has sworn to destroy you.”
Buy it:
About the author
Kai Strand writes fiction for kids and teens. Her debut novel,
The Weaver, was a finalist in the 2012 EPIC eBook Awards. She is a (very lucky) wife and the mother of four amazing kids. The most common sound in her household is laughter. The second most common is, "Do your dishes!" She and her family hike, geocache, and canoe in beautiful Central Oregon, where they call home. Find Kai’s books, links to short stories, download companion documents, and discover all the places to find Kai both virtually and in person on her website:
www.kaistrand.com. She loves to hear from readers, so feel free to send her an email or visit her facebook page, Kai Strand, Author.
Spontaneous Book Giveaway!
This is your lucky day. Kelly’s site has been chosen to host a spontaneous book giveaway. But be quick, your window for opportunity is short.
Like giveaways? There is more to be had on Kai’s
blog and be sure to follow her tour for more Spontaneous Giveaways. Those won't be announced, so only virtual stalkers will have a chance at the extra fun!
It's no surprise that I love to edit. I talk about it a lot on my blog, and being that I'm an English major and former English teacher, it's kind of a given that I love red pens and the screen equivalent—Track Changes.
Today topic came by request. :) I edit my own work and the work of others, and the two are very different. Here's why. When I edit for myself, I'm too close to the story. I know things about my characters that my readers don't. That means when I fail to mention something that's key to the plot, I may not realize it until my editor points it out. Then I have a moment where I want to smack myself in the forehead. To try to cut down on those moments, I've done the following things when revising my own work:
- I keep track of the passage of time: what day it is, what time it is, etc.
- I keep track of major events and key reveals. *This is important because it's what I need my reader to see and know.
- I keep character profiles to make sure eye color, hair color, height, etc are consistent throughout my manuscript. I also mark where they are mentioned in the document.
- I mark overly used words and replace or delete them.
- I read my work backwards (not word by word, but sentence by sentence) to check for spelling and missing words.
When I edit for others, plot holes jump out at me because I don't know the story. It's so much easier to pose questions to my clients than it is to myself because I don't have the backstory in my head like the writer does. Here's a short list of how I edit for clients:
- I highlight overly used words.
- I bring up any questions I get from a reader's point of view. If I have those questions, the reader will too. Now sometimes, the questions get answered later and I'll comment that the questions are answered. But if not, we have a problem for the writer to address.
- I check for consistency with the spelling of words. Gray/grey and toward/towards are the two biggest culprits I find. Either way is acceptable, but consistency is needed throughout the manuscript. The same goes for capitalization. If you create a term and capitalize it once, you should continue to capitalize it throughout.
- I mark any shifts in POV. If you are writing 1st person, don't leave that person's head. If you have dual POV, make sure you are only in one character's head at a time. Etc.
- I check contractions and read them as two separate words. So many times I see "you're" when it should be "your". If you read the contractions as two words, you'll see when you really meant to say "your" instead of "you are".
- I read my work backwards (not word by word, but sentence by sentence) to check for spelling and missing words.
Again, this is a short list. I could go on, but I'd rather hear from you. What does your revision check list look like?
Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts:
- BEA I'll be signing copies of Stalked by Death at the SHP booth (#2567) on Friday, May 31 from 9:30-10:30am. If you're there, come see me!
- Field Day I helped out with field day at my daughter's school last Friday. She had a blast, and I loved getting to see her with all her friends.
- My dying Kindle I had one good week where my Kindle worked great and now the big black bar is showing up across my screen again. :(
- Editing I'm editing again all week. :)
- Runes Trailer and Giveaway! I'm participating in the trailer reveal for Ednah Walter's YA paranormal, Runes.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
That's it for me. What's on your mind today?
Summary:
Temporary. That one single word best describes my life these last few years. I'm working at a temporary job until I can finally break free. I'm my little brother's temporary mother since our mom doesn't give a crap about either of us. And I'm the temporary girl all the guys want to get with because I give it up so easily. According to the rumors, at least. But now I'm the temporary girlfriend of Drew Callahan, college football legend and all around golden guy. He's beautiful, sweet, and he's hiding way more secrets than I am. He's brought me into this fake life where everyone seems to hate me. And everyone seems to want something from him. The only thing he seems to want though is Me. I don't know what to believe anymore. All I know is, I think Drew needs me. And I want to be there for him. Forever.
My thoughts:
I'm on a New Adult kick lately and at $.99 on Kindle, I couldn't pass this one up. I'd heard really great things about it, and I wasn't disappointed. Fable is a girl with a reputation, though the rumors aren't exactly true. I really liked her right from the start. And Drew is broken in so many ways. While I quickly figured out one of the ways, another threw me for a loop—in a good way. It added the perfect amount of conflict and set up book two. The dynamic between Fable and Drew is incredible. Drew asks Fable to pretend to be his girlfriend for a week, while he goes home for Thanksgiving. Fable doesn't know Drew's motive, but since he pays her a lot of money, she doesn't really care.
At first, Drew and Fable are faking their feelings for each other for the benefit of Drew's family. But very quickly, the feelings become real, and they are both fighting against them. Warning for those who don't like explicit sex scenes: Murphy tells all in this book. If you blush easily, this may not be the book for you. That aside, the romance is great. I'll definitely be checking out the next book in the Drew and Fable series, Second Chance Boyfriend.
Just for fun: Would you—or have you ever—pretend(ed) to be in a relationship with someone?
I'm really excited to take part in the cover reveal for Come What May (Heartbeat #2) by Faith Sullivan!
Title: Come What May (Heartbeat #2)
Author: Faith Sullivan
Expected release date: June 4, 2013
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Book Description:Adam is through with love.
He unravels blaming himself for what happened with Katie.
His final moments with her echo through his nightmares.
She owns him body and soul.
To dull the pain, Adam invites a string of women into his bed. Fueled by alcohol and desperation, his meaningless hook-ups provide little comfort. When he closes his eyes, it's Katie he sees.
The only one who helps to ease his guilt somewhat is Jada. But as his new ambulance partner, Adam considers her off limits. He doesn't want to get seriously involved with anyone, much less her. Yet he can't stop fantasizing about the feel of her caramel skin against his.
Despite his intentions, Adam's bond with Jada deepens as they respond to a series of emotional calls. Their mutual attraction becomes undeniable. But how can he give his heart to Jada when it still belongs to Katie?
The first book of the HEARTBEAT series is only 99 cents on Amazon! Click cover to purchase.
Random Things about Author, Faith Sullivan: - She was so much smarter as a teenager.
- She's a slow reader.
- She tends to like a book more for its characters rather than its plot.
- She appreciates people who are genuinely kind and come through when you need them.
- As a creative person, she's not always fun to live with, but she keeps things interesting.
- She misses the days when all she had was a rotary phone that didn't even have an answering machine.
- She's a child of the 1980s, and a teenager of the 1990s.
- She loves her dog.
- She likes to travel and see new places - when her limited budget allows.
- She thinks in another lifetime she lived in the UK somewhere by the coast.
- When she feels an emotion, she feels it deeply. It's a curse.
- She has an overactive imagination. Writing helps alleviate that problem.
- Nine times out of ten, she believes a good book trumps reality.
Author Links: Blog | Amazon | Twitter | Goodreads So, what do you think?
Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts:
- Edits I've gotten several new editing clients in the past two weeks, so I'm keeping busy.
- Emailing myself I have an entire folder in my inbox of emails from myself. LOL This is how I keep track of things (along with my day planner). Anyone else email themselves?
- Field Trip This week I'm going on my daughter's kindergarten field trip. We were told to wear clothes that can get dirty because we're going to a farm. And did I mention it's supposed to rain? I hope the weather holds out for us.
- Free Monthly Newsletter My free monthly newsletter goes out at 5pm EST today. If you aren't already signed up but would like to receive it, you can sign up here.
- Romancing the R.A. Cover Reveal and Giveaway I'm participating in the cover reveal for Ashelyn Drake's upcoming New Adult romance through S.B. Addison Books. Check it out.
Noelle Buckman is looking forward to making a fresh start in college, one that doesn’t involve immature high school boys. The second she steps on campus for freshman orientation, she can sense the possibilities. Especially when she spots Andy, a resident advisor who’s not just hot but also thoughtful enough to open doors for a girl.
And Andy has his eye on Noelle. Even when her nerves take control and she thinks she comes off as a hillbilly with no direction, Andy can see what she’s really like and he’s more than a little interested.
But orientation is less than two full days and there’s an entire summer between Noelle and Andy. Will her attempt to romance the R.A. be as short-lived as college orientation?
The giveaway is for a $10 Amazon GC or $10 PayPal cash. Fill out the rafflecopter to enter.
a Rafflecopter giveawayThat's it for me. What's on your mind today?
I've been reading more lately, and at first I wasn't sure how that was happening. Well, I figured it out, and it's very simple. So I'm going to share my trick with you.
Five minutes here and there adds up. I realized there are plenty of places where I can pull a few minutes. The problem is that I'm usually doing other things. While I have perfected reading while running on the treadmill, I can't read while doing a lot of other things, like cooking, getting dressed, doing my hair, etc. So, I let my Kindle read to me. Yes, the mechanical voice is annoying, but after a while I stopped noticing it.
So now, I read when I can, and when I can't, I let the Kindle read to me. All those minutes add up, and I'm finishing books quicker than I have in a long time. If you've been following my blog for a while, you know I'm a big multi-tasker, and this is just that. I'm multi-tasking, and it's making it easier to keep up with all the great books I want to read.
Now I'm challenging you. Where are some places in your day that you could allow your ereader to read to you?
Today, I'm happy to welcome my publishing house sister, Stephanie Wardrop. She's the author of Snark and Circumstance, which released February 5, 2013 through Swoon Romance. Stephanie and I found ourselves in the same position of having to take a novel and break it up into a series of novellas. Stephanie's here today to tell you about her experience.
Hi, everybody! I’m Stephanie Wardrop, author of Snark and Circumstance 
, checking in with my Swoon Romance serial sister Kelly Hashway about the subject of serialized e-novellas.
Like Kelly, I never set out to write an e-novella series. I did not, in fact, know such a thing existed. Because I am a 
. I mean, I wasn’t even thinking about e-books at the time. When I was writing Snark and Circumstance, I was thinking about NOVELS. I was thinking Snark would come out looking something like this 
, something you would open up and then close and it would sit all nice and neat on a shelf somewhere, waiting patiently for you to open it again.
So when an editor at 
called to say she was interested in the book but wanted to publish it as a series of e-books, I was like this 
But then I thought about Jane Austen, whose Pride and Prejudice inspired Snark, and whose books, like most nineteenth-century novels, came out as TRIPLE DECKERS : one novel was divided into three books coming out months apart and each ending on a cliffhanger so that every reader would be counting down the days until they could buy the next installment. And I thought 
BRILLIANT! I’LL DO IT!
Now all I had to do was figure out how to cut the thing into four pieces, all equally engaging and action-packed and hilarious.
Right.
There are some definite advantages to serializing. For one, you get not ONE cover reveal, but FOUR! I wish I could show you my second cover, because it is, as my publisher says, SASSY, but publishers guard unreleased covers the way Coca Cola guards its formula, the way 
Colonel Sanders guards his eleven secret herbs and spices, so I can’t.
On the other hand, four covers means four titles. It took me three years to come up with the title of Snark and Circumstance, so to hear I had about forty-eight hours to come up with three more set me into a state of paralytic frenzy. (Trust me – this term sounds oxymoronic and impossible, but I bet any writer who’s faced a deadline knows what I mean). I could fill the New York Public Library with all of my rejected titles, but I eventually came up with three more that didn’t totally suck!
But for me, the biggest challenge has been that four separate texts means four not-so-separate but individually complete narrative arcs. Because each story has to simultaneously – and paradoxically, perhaps –
*further the plot and characterization from the previous installment
*be able to stand on its own as a separate self-contained text
*not bore anyone so much that they don’t want to read the next one!
How do you manage all of those things at once? How do you catch new readers up to speed about who the characters are and what they want and how they feel about each other (and where they live and what they look like and how old they are) without boring the readers who were with you in the first installment(s)? How do you balance exposition (the background for the current installment) without falling into an information dump?
It ain’t easy. But no writer worth reading shrinks from challenges, right?
Most of us remember this from ninth grade, the dreaded PLOT DIAGRAM:
If you recall, this is the arc of the whole novel, so in a regular novel, all the really exciting climactic stuff would be happening in the middle (well, in actuality, it’s much more likely to happen three quarters of the way through, if not even further in. Think about it. You’re not going to read another hundred pages AFTER the epic battle, after Harry Potter finally defeats the forces of darkness or Romeo and Juliet are both found dead. That would be like sitting in the movie theater so you could watch the kids in their uniforms sweep up your popcorn tubs and throw your discarded drink cups into garbage bags. Pointless.). At any rate, following this standard narrative arc in a series would mean that the middle two books would be nonstop action and the last one would be horrendously dull. But again, that’s not quite true despite what this little graph above says. In actuality the middle books of a series, if they followed this proscribed arc of a novel, would be kind of tedious. The main character would get themselves into all sorts of trouble, dig themselves in deeper and deeper, and there would be no relief for them at all until they got to Book Four. Which wouldn’t work. Even if you HATED the main character, you wouldn’t enjoy the experience, essentially, of seeing them flogged for two whole books – and you wouldn’t pay to see that happen (or to read it happening).
So the trick, for me, is to work with LITTLE VICTORIES in Books Two or Three.
I’m learning that I have to get my main character into all sorts of smallish troubles -- misunderstandings, arguments, humiliations that don’t feel smallish at all to her – and get her out of them in each installment. (And in Books Two and Three my main character, Georgia, gets into some trouble involving charming drunks, sightings in the family planning section of CVS, and scarlet letters.) But she cannot resolve the BIG TROUBLE that has gotten her into all of the smallish troubles in the first place until the end, Book Four. Such big troubles for main characters are often defined by fancy ninth-grade literary terms like HUBRIS, meaning excessive pride. Or they may suffer an inability to a have sense of humor about oneself or a major lack of confidence that prevents them from emerging as the superhero they need to be until the last volume of the series.
So in Book Two I might resolve one or two smallish troubles. I may end it with two sisters no longer fighting like dogs or
.. But the sisters won’t come to appreciate each other for who they truly are yet. Not until Book Four:
Halfway through the serialization process for Snark, this is what I have learned so far, through the process of writing and revising.
But I have also learned, as you can see in this post, that there is nothing
NOTHING
that cannot be best illustrated on the web by pictures of kittens.
Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts:
- My Kindle is dying :( Twice last week, I turned on my Kindle to find a big black bar across it. Luckily, resetting the Kindle made it go away, but I'm afraid this is a sign that it's going to die.
- Family Expo I had a great time at the Family Expo yesterday, hosted by State Representative Rosemary Brown. Thanks to everyone who came and chatted with me about my books.
- Editing I'm editing a few of my books this week before I get more client edits at the start of the new month. Wish me luck, please.
- BEA shopping I may have bought some new outfits for BEA. :)
- Onesie cupcakes I'll be making onesie cupcakes for my sister's baby shower next month. I really hope these come out cute.
That's it for me. What's on your mind today?
Today, I'm happy to share Of Silver and Beasts by Trisha Wolfe!
Excerpt
“What’s your rank, baby blue eyes?” the guy asks, pushing off his cot and stalking toward the prince.
Everything in me screams to act, but I don’t want to declare alliances this early on. Not without understanding the dynamic of placements and bonds already formed among these people. But I’ll not let this hulk of a man harm the prince. I brace my heel against the wall, ready to push off and lunge.
Prince Caben rises to his feet, slowly turning to face him. He straightens his spine, squaring his shoulders. “I don’t have one. And my name is Payne. Not ‘baby blue eyes’, meathead.”
Big guy laughs, his husky voice bounces off the rock walls. “I’m Crew”—he beats his chest hard once, like a barbarian—“and I’ve won three fights. I’ll win the next two and be the one awarded the freedom ring.” He leans down toward Prince Caben, leveling their faces. “So don’t even think about you or your princess over there walking out of here. I’m ranked as a Colossal. The strongest Colossal in Bax’s league.”
Princess? I nearly scoff. Then I realize what the problem with Crew is: he feels threatened by Prince Caben. That revelation almost makes me laugh out right. What does a big stack of muscles like Crew have to fear from the prince?
The other prisons slowly circle around the stand-off in the center of the cell. Tension thickens the musty air. It coils around my spine, tightening my muscles. If I allow the fight to continue without interruption, will the guards stop it? They’d want their fighters in pristine shape, wouldn’t they?
Prince Caben doesn’t back away from Crew. Instead, he moves into his space. I roll my eyes. Stupid, conceited man.
“Freedom ring?” the prince questions. “As in, there’s a chance to leave?” He rubs his chin, and I notice the dark shadow of facial hair that has darkened his features overnight. “Is there a season that has to be won, or can someone gain five wins during their entire imprisonment?”
Crew’s eyebrows pinch together. He’s clearly despondent that he hasn’t succeeded in intimidating the prince. “We’re in a season right now, you weakling. If you don’t win—you’re dead. Which by the looks of you, will happen in your first match.”
Prince Caben nods, as if he’s simply piecing together a jigsaw puzzle and not being told of his demise. “What is the cuff for?” He points to the iron clamp around Crew’s wrist.
“It’s our biometric monitor.” Crew shoves the cuff up close to the prince’s face. “See those three blue lights? Those are my wins. When the fifth lights up, I’m outta’ here.”
“Has anyone ever won the freedom ring before?” Prince Caben asks.
Crew’s massive arms tremble. “No,” he grinds out. “But I will.” He cocks his cuffed hand back, then sends a blow to Prince Caben’s chin.
Hell.
I’m up and racing across the cell before the prince hits the ground. Crew spots me from his peripheral. He turns and swipes the air. I duck, roll, and come up behind him. I jump on the cot and leap onto his back.
“You squirrely little ...” he mumbles, trying to reach over his shoulders to get a hold on me.
Tightening my arms around his thick neck, I squeeze. He gasps for air, and rams my back into the wall. I wheeze as the air whooshes from my lungs, pain splintering through my already bruised chest. But I hold tight, bearing down harder, and cut off his supply of oxygen.
Finally, I feel Crew weaken beneath my hold. He drops to his knees, and I only release him once I’m sure he’s knocked out.
Stepping around the now limp Crew, I glance at all the wide eyes studying me, and meet the prince’s. Fury ignites his stormy blue irises. He picks himself off the floor and heads toward one of the side chambers, throwing the tattered material aside as he stalks inside.
I follow after him. When I step inside the tiny, dank room, my eyes trail Prince Caben as he paces. He reaches each side of the small chamber with three quick strides. Back and forth.
On his third round, I open my mouth and get out a single syllable before he holds up a hand, halting me. He drives his hand through his dark hair. “Thank you for making me look like a spineless jerk.” He shakes his head and faces me.
Taken aback, I say, “This is my duty to protect—”
“No. In your country it was your duty to guard me. In my world and here”—he opens his arms wide—“a man fights his own battles. He does not depend on a woman to fight them for him. You just disgraced me.”
Fire simmers in my core. “I’m still assigned as your protector no matter what realm we inhabit, Your High—” I stop myself before addressing him by title out of habit. “Your pride is polluting your reasoning.”
He laughs. “Yes, well. Thanks to your show out there, I no longer have my pride to worry about.”
Buy Of Silver and Beasts for only $2.99: 
***GIVEAWAY***
a Rafflecopter giveawayBook Blitz organized by:
What do you think of Trisha's latest book?
Summary:
There's more than one way to be powerful . . .
It is during a routine school project that Abby Silva--sixteen and nearly friendless--makes a startling discovery: She is descended from women who were accused of witchcraft back in 1600s Salem. And when Abby visits nearby Salem, strange, inexplicable events start to unfold. Objects move when she wills them to. Candles burst into sudden flame. And an ancient spellbook somehow winds up in her possession.
Trying to harness her newfound power, Abby concocts a love potion to win over her longtime crush--and exact revenge upon his cruel, bullying girlfriend. But old magic is not to be trifled with. Soon, Abby is thrust headlong into a world of hexes, secrets, and danger. And then there's Rem Anders, the beautiful, mysterious Salem boy who seems to know more about Abby than he first lets on.
A reckoning is coming, and Abby will have to make sense of her history--and her heart--before she can face the powerful truth.
My thoughts:
The cover drew me in instantly, and then I read the blurb and knew I had to read this. Abby discovers she's the descendent of one of the most famous witches persecuted in Salem, and as such, she can't ignore that strange things have happened just because she thought about them. She knows she's using magic, and it tempts her to make a few changes in her life. Starting with the boy she's had a crush on for a long time. But this action has some major consequences, since he already has a girlfriend.
If that's not bad enough, Abby is being pursued by a group of witches who want her to join their circle and get vengeance on Salem for the witch trials. Abby doesn't want to be evil, but with the pull of the magic and her connection to the sexy Rem, she has a really hard time separating her human self from her witch self.
This is such a quick, fun read. I could really identify with Abby. What girl wouldn't want to use magic to get what she's always wanted and to put the mean girls in high school in their place. If you like books about witches, definitely pick this one up.
Just for fun:
Abby can't resist doing a few spells on her classmates. If you had magic for a day and could use it on anyone you went to high school with, what would you use it for?
Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts:
- Family Expo 2013 I'll be at the Family Expo held at East Stroudsburg High School South on Sunday from noon to 3pm. I'll be displaying my books and talking about writing.
- Reading Somehow I'm managing to find more time to read. I'm not even sure how I'm doing it.
- Edits Just sent off edits for Face of Death (Touch of Death #3), which made me cry. There are some emotional moments. Now I'm getting back to edits on Into the Fire, which also has a section that gets me every time. I need more tissues.
- Revising for my agent In the midst of all my edits, I'm also revising a novella to hand over to my lovely agent. Good thing I love editing and revising so much. ;)
- Allergies This crazy weather is killing me. One day it's 80 the next it's 50. I'm sneezing like I'm trying to set a world record, and I wake up every morning with a sore throat. I'd love some consistent temperatures.
That's it for me. What's on your mind today?
If you've been following my blog for a while, you know I'm pretty open about all my quirks. (And I have a lot of them.) But today I'm sharing some things about myself that you might not know. Here it goes:
- I'm the worst boss in the world. I won't even let myself break for meals. I eat with one hand and type with the other, and if it takes me longer than 7 minutes to eat, I'll just give up eating all together and get back to typing with two hands.
- I rock out to teeny bopper music. Yup. When I'm stressed out, I turn to my 6-year-olds playlist on my iPod, which consists of songs from Victoria Justice, R5, Big Time Rush, and Selena Gomez. Call me crazy but it's instant relaxation.
- I have laptop separation anxiety. I have to have one of my laptops on at all times. Unless I'm sleeping, when I have my smartphone on the nightstand in case I need it in the middle of the night.
- My day planner stole my memory. Ever since I started using a day planner, I can't remember anything I don't write down. It's a little annoying and very inconvenient.
- I fall in love with every male lead I write. I feel bad for guys in real life because they can't compare to book boyfriends. Sorry, guys. And I fall for my male leads every time.
Okay, I've embarrassed myself—yet again. Now it's your turn. What do you have to confess about yourself?
Today, I'm taking part in the release party for A Privilege (The Angel Chronicles book #3) by Amy Lignor. I've got an excerpt and a giveaway for you!
A Privilege:The Angel Chronicles, Book 3The beloved Angel/Warrior team face pure evil in their final climactic story!The first time they were sent down, Irish lives were led. Emily, the angel, ended up embedded in murder and lost in the realm of true love. While Matthew, the warrior, took over a life that left blood on his hands and anger in his soul.
With their second coming, Emily found herself facing an oncoming war that brought her to the shores of America. While Matthew tried desperately to unveil the evil character of a young man who was intent on locking his partner in a ‘gilded’ cage.
Now...Emily and Matthew find that their lives are all their own. Yet, all the memories, hatred, longing and regret have come hand-in-hand with this newfound freedom.
In small town U.S.A., Matthew finds himself loving his new life. From his military school existence to a new, ‘odd’ friend who’s arrived in town, Matthew’s looking forward to graduation and heading off into a brilliant future with Emily by his side.
Emily wants nothing more than to hide. Although doing her best to fit in, she lives a life on the edge, wondering when her past love with reappear to either forgive or seek revenge on the angel who let him down. Battling the shadows that seem to be breaking her soul in two, Emily soon discovers that her small, quiet town has a secret that’s beyond dangerous...
As she and Matthew join forces to help a ‘haunted’ victim, they open the door on a mystery neither of them can believe. A true villain has returned from the past, and not even their heavenly family will be able to save them. This time they’re on their own, as they face a fight that could lead them straight to Hell…and end the angel/warrior team forever.
Excerpt
Without a word, Matthew reached out, took Emily by the hand and pulled her down beside him. He looked into her eyes and smiled. “I knew my Emily was still in there.”
Out of the blue, the room became incredibly hot, as if Gabriel had entered in order to give a lesson to his favorite students. “What?”
“That spark.” He pulled Emily’s face closer before she could push herself away. “You’ve been acting all this time like you’re just here to sit and wait it out until you’re lucky enough to go Home. But you’re still in there, Emily. You still have all that energy and belief in there and you want to do something. That’s the partner I know.”
Shaking her head, Emily listened to her own breathing intensify as she stared at his full lips and wondered why she felt so completely and utterly strange...vulnerable even. “I want to help this girl. This is a job, maybe my only job down here. She saw a ghost and she wants me to help her out, that’s all.”
“And you will.” Matthew captured Emily’s lips, and she could no longer feel the breath in her lungs. Completely different than the one kiss they’d shared up above so long ago, this one was far more demanding, as if Matthew was a young man determined to kiss his human love for the very first time.
Sitting back, Emily practically jumped off the bed.
“I’m sorry,” she heard him whisper behind her. “I guess I was just excited to see you again.”
Not trusting her voice, she remained silent.
“We have jobs, but we also have a life to live. Our own lives this time around. Maybe you should think about adding that into your angelic plans.” Matthew continued softly, “Jason isn’t here, Emily.”
The name being said out loud sent a chill down Emily’s spine. It reminded her of the vow she’d made a long time ago—a vow that an angel couldn’t break.
She cleared her throat. “It doesn’t matter if he’s here. We were sent to do a job, and maybe helping this little girl prove her story is what I need to begin.”
Standing up, Matthew looked as if he was a man who wanted nothing more than to turn back the clock and erase the name he’d spoken aloud. He walked to the open window. “Well, I hope the job goes well. Good luck with it.”
“Matthew,” Emily took a step toward him. “Don’t leave like this.”
He nodded at the book on the bed. “You have your mission, Emily...your job. Ghosts, goblins, lost souls—knock yourself out.” He took a deep breath. “I wonder when you’re going to figure out that the living souls around you would like some of your attention as well.”
Closing her eyes, Emily shed silent tears as she heard his feet hit the ground beneath her window. A friend, a partner, the one who actually listened, was now just an angry young man racing back to The Armory—a place where warriors reigned.
Emily sighed. She’d done it again. No matter how hard she tried to be good, her mouth always got her into trouble. She needed Matthew to understand. She’d made a promise to a young man a long time ago; a promise that was supposed to last for eternity. How was she to know at the time that their eternity would include death by her hand? Had the second time around broken their vow? Emily had no idea. But whatever happened she could not and would not offer Matthew her heart if payment was still due for her past sins. Above all, Matthew was the last person who deserved to be punished for her mistakes.
Author Amy LignorAmy Lignor began her career at Grey House Publishing in northwest Connecticut where she was the Editor-in-Chief of numerous educational and business directories.
Now she is a published author of several works of fiction. The Billy the Kid historical The Heart of a Legend; the thriller, Mind Made; and the adventure novel, Tallent & Lowery 13.
She is also the owner of The Write Companion, a company that offers help and support to writers through a full range of editorial services from proofreading and copyediting to ghostwriting and research. As the daughter of a research librarian, she is also an active book reviewer.
Currently, she lives with her daughter, mother and a rambunctious German Shepherd named Reuben, in the beautiful state of New Mexico.
By:
Kelly Hashway,
on 4/14/2013
Blog:
Kelly Hashway's Blog
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Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts:
1. The Other Marlowe Girl My buddy Beth Fred's second book in The Marlowe Girls series is out! Get it here.
When twenty-four-year-old dance school drop out Kammy Marlowe is evicted by her mother, she goes to her favorite hangout. She finds an unlikely friend in the blunt eye candy, Enrique. But Kammy knows there is no way she and Enrique have a shot because he's her brother-in-law’s brother and has been privy to her wild past.
Enrique swears he’s only interested in the person she is today, but their relationship is tested when her ex-husband's drug dealer attacks her, looking for money. With no options and a money hungry drug dealer on her back, Kammy accepts a position as a dancer at a strip club. But when Enrique shows up at the club, their relationship is over. With no reason to stay in Texas anymore, Kammy auditions for the Bolshevik Ballet and gets the opportunity to go to Russia. Only Enrique is determined to stop her.
Will she give up the chance of a lifetime to stay with the man she still loves?
2. Stomach bug My daughter was sent home sick on Thursday with a stomach bug. That's better, but now she has this awful congestion that makes her sound like a whispering frog. Poor thing.
3. Love All is only $0.99! Amazon has lowered the price of Love All to only $0.99! If you want to snag a copy before book two in the series releases next month, now's the time. You can get it here.
4. Into the Fire Edits I'm up to my chin in edits for Into the Fire, but my editor is amazing, so I'm excited.
5. Less than 4 months until Stalked by Death releases! So... I'm giving away some SWAG. I got these awesome "Ophi in training" pins. Who wants one?
I'll pick three winners on Saturday, April 20. Just fill out the rafflecopter below. Good luck.
That's it for me. What's on your mind today?
I realized the other day that I haven't been out on submission in a while. Really since September when The Monster Within was acquired by Spencer Hill Press in a deal that went to auction. That was probably the craziest submission process because we had four offers. I met one of the acquiring publishers at a conference, who went on to offer, but ultimately, the book ended up with Spencer Hill Press, and since I love them, I was very happy about it.
Also in September I had another deal go through—well two actually, but they were pre-emptive deals. Month9Books acquired Into the Fire and the two other books in the Birth of the Phoenix series.
And Swoon Romance acquired the three novellas in my Game. Set. Match Heartbreak series.
Then in January, Spencer Hill Press bought Face of Death, the final book in the Touch of Death trilogy, but it wasn't your typical submission process since they already had the first two books.
Since then, I've written a few books. My agent is reading my YA contemporary romance now, and I'm itching to get her feedback and go through edits to get it ready for submission. I love the thrill of wondering if a publisher will love my book as much as I do. It's scary, but exciting at the same time.
Do you enjoy the submission process as much as I do?
Summary:
Dying sucks--and high school senior Ember McWilliams knows firsthand. After a fatal car accident, her gifted little sister brought her back. Now anything Ember touches dies. And that, well, really blows.Ember operates on a no-touch policy with all living things--including boys. When Hayden Cromwell shows up, quoting Oscar Wilde and claiming her curse is a gift, she thinks he's a crazed cutie. But when he tells her he can help control it, she's more than interested. There's just one catch: Ember has to trust Hayden's adopted father, a man she's sure has sinister reasons for collecting children whose abilities even weird her out. However, she's willing to do anything to hold her sister's hand again. And hell, she'd also like to be able to kiss Hayden. Who wouldn't? But when Ember learns the accident that turned her into a freak may not've been an accident at all, she's not sure who to trust. Someone wanted her dead, and the closer she gets to the truth, the closer she is to losing not only her heart, but her life. For real this time.
My thoughts:
Okay, my book The Monster Within stars a girl who is brought back from the dead, so naturally I had to read Cursed. Also, Ember is a lot like Jodi from Touch of Death because she can kill with a single touch. But Ember's curse is much stronger than Jodi's, so I really felt for her. She has to wear long sleeves, gloves, and pants all the time to avoid killing the people around her. And her own mother thinks Ember is dead and won't acknowledge her presence. In fact, after the accident, Ember's mother became a shell of her former self, which leaves Ember to take care of her little sister on her own. The same little sister who raised her from the dead.
When Hayden shows up to help Ember, she doesn't want to hear of it. But after Cromwell takes her sister and mother, Ember has no choice but to stay with the group of gifted people and find out more about who she really is. But can she find a way to manage her curse and be around others?
Ember is such a likable character. I felt for her. She's broken, yet strong for her sister's sake. I got very wrapped up in the story and flew through it. I definitely recommend it.
Just for fun: If you had Ember's sister's power and could bring anyone back from the dead, who would you choose?
Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts:
- Advantage: Heartbreak (May 7th) Less than one month until the second novella in my Game. Set. Match. Heartbreak series releases! This book has so much emotion and tons of swoony moments. I'm really excited for it.
- Reading I'm trying to get caught up with all the books I downloaded to my Kindle recently.
- Switching tenses Last week I finished drafting a new WIP, and now I'm going to switch it from present tense to past tense. I think it will work better that way. *sigh*
- Melinda's Museum Magic I have another picture book coming out soon through G8 Press. I should have a cover image to show you soon!
- Cover Reveal Spencer Hill Press has another cover reveal. It's for Milayna by Michelle Picket.
Everyone needs to be bad once in a while. But for seventeen-year-old Milayna, being good isn't a choice--it's a job requirement. And it's a job she can't quit. Born a demi-angel, Milayna steps in when danger and demons threaten the people around her, but being half-angel isn't all halos and happiness. Azazel, Hell's Angel, wants Milayna's power, and he'll do anything to get it. But he only has until her eighteenth birthday, after which she becomes untouchable.
With the help of other demi-angels, Milayna thwarts the trouble Azazel sends her way. Fighting with her is Chay, a demi-angel who's sinfully gorgeous, and Milayna falls hard. But is Chay her true love... or her nemesis in disguise?
Because when she learns of a traitor in her group, there's no one she can trust... not even the one she loves.
That's it for me. What's on your mind today?
I'm the first one to admit that I try to do too much. Twitter, Facebook, Google+, website, blog, Tumblr, Pinterest, Goodreads, and countless other online communities—I'm on them all. Sometimes I wonder how I find the time to visit all these sites. I also wonder if it's really important for me to be on all of them.
For me, the answer is yes. I have different people I talk to on each of these online platforms, and honestly, I don't want to lose touch with anyone. I like talking to readers and writers. I like escaping from my jobs to just chat. Does it take a lot of time for me to be all over the internet? Not really because I have a system.
When I wake up in the morning, I check out a few of these sites briefly. I'm talking 10 minutes top. Then I'll check them for another 10 minutes while I'm eating lunch. And then I'll check them again after my daughter goes to sleep. So in all, I spend about 30 minutes a day online. Not too bad.
How much time do you spend online and what sites are you on? Is it worth it to you?
Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts:
- Drafting I'm between edits right now, which means I'm drafting like a mad woman. It feels amazing to be writing a new book.
- Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Winner Congrats to Natasha for winning the giveaway. Natasha, I'm mailing your hard cover copy of The Last Little Blue Envelope this morning.
- Easter Anyone else feel like Easter crept up too quickly? I'm not ready.
- Cleaning After the past two weeks of crazy editing deadlines, my house is looking... Um, let's just say I'm hoping no one drops by for a few days while I get things in order again.
- The Monster Within The cover of my April 2014 YA paranormal The Monster Within (Spencer Hill Press) is currently being designed by the very talented Lisa Amowitz. I'm so excited to see it.
That's it for me. What's on your mind today?
Today, I have the pleasure of taking part in a cover reveal that's also a scavenger hunt and giveaway! How awesome is that? Check out the cover of The Kelpie by T.J. Wooldridge.
I can't honestly say I was joking when I suggested to my best friend, Joe – Prince Joseph, eldest son of England's Crown Prince – that we could probably find something the police had missed in regards to the missing children. After all, eleven and twelve year olds like us did that all the time on the telly and in the books we read…
When Heather and Joe decide to be Sleuthy MacSleuths on the property abutting the castle Heather's family lives in, neither expect to discover the real reason children were going missing:
A Kelpie. A child-eating faerie horse had moved into the loch "next door."
The two barely escape with their lives, but they aren't safe. Caught in a storm of faerie power, Heather, Joe, and Heather's whole family are pulled into a maze of talking cats, ghostly secrets, and powerful magick.
With another child taken, time is running out to make things right.
To go along with sharing the simply gorgeous cover, author T.J. Wooldridge has enlisted several of her friends who have helped her in the journey of writing this novel to put together a special treat for you!
Each day of the week, search for individual components of the cover--with a bonus piece of art on Wednesday--at these blogs. Collect the right words per the instructions, and unscramble the line of poetry to be entered to win one of three prizes!
Prize 1
A handmade fused glass kelpie necklace from Stained Glass Creations and Beyond
Prize 2
A handmade necklace from Art by Stefanie of Vic Caswell's rendering of the kelpie from the cover!
Prize 3
An 11x16 poster of the cover of the Kelpie signed by T. J. Wooldridge and artist Vic Caswell
5x7 cards of all the cover aspects featured in the Scavenger Hunt
So, how do you take part in the Scavenger Hunt? Here are the details:
Monday 3/25
Visit the Faery Castle at Kate Kaynak's blog: http://thedisgruntledbear.blogspot.com/
Scavenger Hunt Goal: first sentence, 10th word
Tuesday 3/26
Hop over to Scotland at Stained Glass Creations and Beyond: http://stainedglasscreationsandbeyond.wordpress.com/
Scavenger Hunt Goal: first sentence, 12th word
Check out an artist rendition of Heather MacArthur's family tartan with Aimee Weinstein at tokyowriter.com
Scavenger Hunt Goal: first sentence, first word
Wednesday 3/27
Bonus Art!
Meet Heather's dad, Michael MacArthur, at Valerie Hadden's blog: http://valeriehadden.wordpress.com/
Scavenger Hunt Goal: first sentence, 12th word
Thursday 3/28
Cast your eyes upon the kelpie, itself, with Suzane Reynolds-Alpert at http://suzannereynoldsalpert.blogspot.com/
Scavenger Hunt Goal: 2nd sentence, 2nd word
And feel the snark of Monkey, the fey cat with Justine Graykin at http://justinegraykin.wordpress.com/
Scavenger Hunt Goal: first sentence, 3rd word
Friday 3/29:
Meet Heather's best friend, Prince Joseph at, who's hanging out with author Darby Karchut at http://darbykarchut.blogspot.com/
Scavenger Hunt Goal: first sentence, 17th word
And finally meet Heather, herself, who's hanging out with one of Trisha's editors, Laura Ownbey at http://redpenreviews.blogspot.com/
Scavenger Hunt Goal: first sentence, first word
Collect all the words and put them together in a poetic sentence, and enter them into the rafflecopter giveaway for a chance to win one of the three prizes:
You've probably heard people say that you can't compare yourself to other writers. In truth, you can. But you shouldn't. Why? Think about this. Your book comes out and you watch your release day sales. Your rank is good and you even make some best seller lists on Amazon. Great, right? Yes. But then you go to that place. The one where you wonder how So-and-so's book did on it's release day, which happens to be the same day as yours. Don't check! Seriously, don't.
Writer envy is never good. Writers should support each other, and we should also celebrate our own successes, no matter how they compare to others. Who cares if So-and-so's book did better out of the gate? Good for So-and-so. You aren't them. Your journey will be your own. Congratulate So-and-so and then be happy that people are reading your book.
The same goes for when you're querying. We all see other writers get agents and wonder when it will happen for us. Don't compare the number of rejections you've gotten. Don't think about how many months you've been querying compared to your friend. Be happy for other writers and keep pushing forward with your own work.
How do you avoid writer envy and/or the urge to compare yourself to others?
Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts:
- Easter We had a great weekend dying eggs, visiting with family, having eggs hunts, and seeing the Easter Bunny at the roller rink. Hope you enjoyed the holiday as well.
- Stalked by Death Book 2 in the Touch of Death trilogy releases August 13, and Barnes and Noble has it up for pre-order for only $6.59! Also, my SWAG is arriving tomorrow, and I can't wait!
- The Monster Within My April 2014 release through Spencer Hill Press is one of my favorites. I just finished copy edits on it, and I'm waiting to see my cover. Yay!
- Face of Death I'll be editing the 3rd and final book in the Touch of Death series this week. I'm excited but a little sad, too.
- Free Monthly Newsletter It's the first Monday in April, which means my newsletter will go out at 5pm (EST) this evening. If you aren't already signed up to receive it, you can do so here.
That's it for me. What's on your mind today?
Happy release day to my writer friend Faith Sullivan. I met Faith a little while back and through our blogs and Twitter, I've discovered that she's a great person and a great writer. Her first book Heartbeat released in February and I devoured it. Today, I hope you'll help me congratulate Faith on the release of her second book, Unexpected.
September 11, 2001.
A day that forever changes the destiny of college overachiever, Michelle Rhodes.
Shattered, confused and alone, no one understands the trauma consuming her until she meets Connor Donnelly.
A native New Yorker, he believes he can aid in getting her life back on track. But what if he's even more broken inside?
Offering her a chance at a fresh start, Connor convinces Michelle to move in with him. Hiring her to waitress at his bar, their mutual attraction only complicates matters.
As more details surrounding Connor's past emerge, Michelle uncovers the full magnitude of the loss he's trying to hide. Refusing to let her feelings for him hinder his recovery, she makes a decision that winds up hurting them both.
By sacrificing her heart, Michelle thinks she is helping Connor come to terms with his grief. Little does she know, Connor is gambling everything for the sake of having a future with her.
What happens is truly unexpected.
Title: Unexpected
Author: Faith Sullivan
Expected release date: April 2, 2013
Genre:Contemporary Romance
Category: New Adult
Ebook available at: Kindle ($1.99)
http://www.amazon.com/Unexpected-ebook/dp/B00C112I7O
Paperback available at: Amazon ($6.99)
http://www.amazon.com/Unexpected-Faith-Sullivan/dp/1483933695
And here's an excerpt:
Chapter Six
“W...what?” I stutter despite myself.
He gives me a crooked grin. “All night, I’ve been freezing my ass off out here waiting for you. I didn’t think you were gonna show.”
If his first remark didn’t floor me, the second leaves me utterly confused. “Whoa, slow down, buddy. How do you even know my name?”
Again, he laughs. “Does it really matter? I’m here to talk some sense into you.”
The dimples in his cheeks distract me. He has such a cute smile. But I’m not letting him off that easily. “Sorry to disappoint you, but I’m done with New York.”
“Really? You could’ve fooled me.”
“And why’s that?”
“Because you should never run from something that scares you.” His hazel eyes catch the moonlight as they bore into mine. “And this time, you won’t be alone. I’ll be with you.”
This whole conversation is getting way too intense. Standing up, I wrap my arms around myself. I have to get out of here. This guy is crazy.
I jump as the front door opens and my ex-boyfriend Tony emerges, giving me a hopeful look. We broke up after our senior year. He understood I wasn’t planning on sticking around, so I set him free. He met someone else over the summer, and I only talked to him once on the phone when I got back. But with the way he’s looking at me now, I can tell he feels sorry for me, and that’s something I won’t tolerate.
Inching closer to the steps, I attempt to play it cool. “Oh hi, Tony. It’s good seeing you. I wish I could stay and chat, but I was just leaving.”
“I don’t think so.”
I whirl around. That’s it. Who does this guy think he is? “Listen, you little...” I begin, but Tony interrupts by grabbing my arm.
“Michelle, calm down. There’s no need to freak out,” Tony says, slowly releasing his grip on me. “Do you remember me telling you about Sal, my roommate at school, the one from New York?” I nod, but I can care less at this moment. “Well, this is his older brother, Connor. I kind of told him all about you, and I thought it’d be a good idea if you two met.”
I shake my head and sigh. “So you made him wait out here alone in the cold?”
I can tell Tony’s nervous. He’s running his fingers through his hair. “I thought you’d bolt otherwise.”
“She nearly did,” Connor chimes in.
Frustrated, I slam my fist on the porch railing. “The both of you just stop it, right now! I knew it was a bad idea to come here. I don’t need some random guy from New York giving me advice on how to live my life.”
Pushing off the swing, Connor gets to his feet. “Well, what are you doing with your life then? What’s plan B?”
I advance toward him. “I don’t have a plan B, asshole. I don’t have all the answers, but apparently you do.”
Connor closes the gap between us. “I wish I did, but I think you can figure it out. You were brave enough to take on the big, bad city once. Why not try it again under different circumstances?”
Tony clears his throat, and for a moment, I forgot he was there. “Michelle, Connor owns a bar downtown. He thought you could go back and work for him. Give it another go.”
“I’m no bartender,” I retort.
“You sure aren’t,” Connor fires back.
Tony holds up his hands in an attempt to keep the peace. “Just hear him out, Michelle.”
“Fine,” I say glaring up at him.
“Go on, Connor. Tell her about it,” Tony urges, knowing I may flee at any moment.
Connor’s eyes find mine again, but I look away as he starts speaking. “My family’s owned a pub on Beekman Street for years. Not too long ago, my dad had a heart attack, so I took over. I can offer you a waitressing job plus room and board above the bar for as long as you want it.”
For a minute, I stop and consider the possibility. It actually doesn’t sound that bad, and it’d be a welcome change from my original intention of becoming the next film school prodigy. It would be fresh start, and I wouldn’t be alone. But can I really go back there?
Sensing my trepidation, Connor pats me on the shoulder. “Listen, I know it’s not what you imagined. Tony told me how smart you are and how you were hoping to make it big at NYU. I can understand how working in a bar sounds like a letdown after that. But honestly, I think it’d be good for you.”
“And why do you care about what happens to me?” I ask, raising my eyes to his.
“Because I was there that day, and so were you.”
To celebrate, Faith is offering a giveaway for a $25 Amazon gift card, and yes, it's open internationally because Faith is that awesome! Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below:a Rafflecopter giveawayAnd before you go, don't forget to leave a comment to congratulate Faith. :)
No, I'm not talking about reading your own writing. I've heard a lot of people say they can't read the same genre they are currently writing. They think it will influence what they write. I have to read what I'm currently writing. Maybe it's because I write so many genres (everything from picture books to middle grade to young adult to new adult). Reading the genre I'm writing keeps my head in the right place.
This month I worked on edits for three of my books. Two were YA and one was lower MG. I edited the YA novels back to back and read YA books while I was editing. That ensured I had the YA mindset for my edits. When I moved to my MG novel, I switched to MG books. And more so, I made sure those books were the exact age level of my book. I found it really helpful because I knew when my voice crept out of that age level, and I was able to fix it.
What about you? Do you read the genre you're currently writing or editing?
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