Irony is having a big ol' fiesta and Violet Parker is the piñata. Little girls are vanishing from Deadwood, South Dakota, and Violet's daughter could be next. Short on time and long on worry, she's desperate to find the monster behind the abductions.
But with her jerkoff co-worker trying to get her fired, a secret admirer sending creepy love poems, and a sexy-as-hell stranger hiding skeletons in his closet, Violet just might end up as one of Deadwood's dearly departed.
Q: What made you decide to set your novels in Deadwood?
A: I had spent my summers in Deadwood during my teen years, after my mom moved there from Ohio. My family and I explored back roads, ghost towns, old abandoned mines, and stream-lined gulches every chance we could. The history of the place entranced us, and there was always a road we hadn’t traveled that needed to be checked out.
A few years ago, while pregnant with our second (and last!) child, my husband and I were in Deadwood visiting my mom and stepdad. On the way into town, a story idea hit me about a single mom with two kids—twins—who was trying to make ends meet while trying out a new career in a new town. That’s when Violet was born.
From the start, I had a gut feeling that this story was meant to be. Nearly Departed in Deadwood just poured out of me. The years of exploring the town and surrounding hills paid off, I was able to slip in and out of the setting by just closing my eyes. I could feel the summer sun, smell the pine trees, hear the sounds of Main Street. It was a match made in fictional heaven.
Q: Your cover art is really distinctive. Can you tell us more about it?
A: The cover artist is C.S. Kunkle, who happens to be my older brother. He also drew the graphics that are inside of the printed version of the book—I think 7 in all. He’s been drawing since we were kids, and he’s also one of the main sources for my wild imagination. His art is a little twisted and wild, and his love of monsters has kept me afraid of the dark since we were kids growing up on the farm in Ohio. He’d often tell me stories of vampires or werewolves living out behind the barn—the same barn that I had to go out to on dark winter nights and feed the cows. I grew up watching scary movies with him, and I’m pretty sure he’s warped a part of my brain.
We had wanted to work on a joint project for years, and when I couldn’t hook a New York publisher with this book, I turned to him and asked if he would be willing to work with me on this project and represent the books in the art form. He didn’t even hesitate.
If you check out my Deadwood website (
www.anncharles.com/deadwood), as well as my main Ann Charles website (
www.anncharles.com), you will see his art all over the webpages. I’m extremely fortunate that my parents put my crib in his room when he was four, because we’ve stuck together through thick and thin ever since. Having such a talented artist so willing to work with me has been an incredible boost to my career.
Q: What is your ideal romantic hero like?
A: He loves to cook and he’s great at it. He also is willing to clean the toilet and shower/tub, do the laundry, and go grocery shopping. Oh, and he likes his women short, curvy, and full of spunk. Handsome with sexy
TheBestseller for a Day event is a creation of the Indie BookCollection, an organization
dedicatedto elevating the status of Indie writers everywhere by ensuringquality standards for their books.Bestseller for a Day serves a number of purposes.
First,we at the IBC realize that robust sales are a vital component of anyIndie writer’s platform. Inorder to get the attention of the entrenched publishingestablishment, Indies have to prove they can sellas many books, or more, than any big-name blockbuster author. Whilethis may sound like a lofty goal,many of our Bestseller for a Day featured novels have reachedmultiple Top 100 lists in the Amazon store. The effects often lingerlong after the day of the actual event.
Secondly,it is no surprise that today’s publishing environment is changingat lightning speed. Justas authors have more choices available to them, readers do too, andthe roles they play in a book’s successhas never been stronger. Our Bestseller for a Day event harnesses thegrowing power of the readerby creating direct relationships between author and audience. Authorsinteract directly with readersthrough their own media platforms, creating relationships andbuilding an audience that will, in manycases, last long beyond the event.
Readersare empowered, as well. Through Bestseller for a Day, readers get thechance to tell Amazon,New York, and the world that a particular Indie book is just as goodas the latest big-name release.Their efforts have immediate, quantifiable results. No longer doreaders have to wait weeks to see how a favoredtitle ranks on a couple of key printed lists.
0 Comments on What is Best Seller for A Day? as of 1/1/1900
The world of Strathos is in dire peril. The Winter God has gone mad, dragging the world into an eternal blizzard. Can a band of strangers fulfill a broken prophecy or will the prophecy break them and all they hold dear?
7 Folds of Winter is a unique mix of characters thrown in together by the Fates to travel across this amazing white icy world to save it and each other, but will it be enough?
Caroyln creates a world unlike any other. A world where Winter is lasting longer and longer and now The Hero strikes out to find out a way to bring the world back into order. Along the way, The Hero meets several unlikely heroes, friends. Together and separately they embark on a perilous journey filled with dangerous creatures, frightful emotions, and the bitter cold.
Each Character is perfect in their creation. Together they face the world. Alone they face self-doubt and some face adolescent changes. I love all the character for being their own unique person.
7 Folds of Winter is a roller coaster ride in a snow storm. Exciting! Chilling! Exhilarating!
So as many of you may have heard I am getting married soon. October 1st to be exact.
On October 1st I am going to marry my best friend, my love, my everything. I am so excited and nervous that I am marrying the most amazing woman I have ever met and I can not wait to spend the rest of my life with her. There are just not enough words on the planet to express how much I love her.
After the wedding I will be sure to post some wedding pictures.
Now I leave this for you, my followers.
In a dark age it takes courage to live, and more than mere courage to challenge those who hold dominion, Richard and Kahlan must take up that challenge or become the next victims. Beyond awaits a bewitching land where even the best of their hearts could betray them. Yet, Richard fears nothing so much as what secrets his sword might reveal about his own soul. Falling in love would destroy them--for reasons Richard can't imagine and Kahlan dare not say.
In their darkest hour, hunted relentlessly, tormented by treachery and loss, Kahlan calls upon Richard to reach beyond his sword--to invoke within himself something more noble. Neither knows that the rules of battle have just changed . . . or that their time has run out.
This is the beginning. One book. One Rule. Witness the birth of a legend.
Mass Market Paperback, 836 pages
Published March 27th 2003 by Tor Books (first published September 15th 1994)
more details... ISBN 0765346524 (ISBN13: 9780765346520)
I OWN THIS
Before, I begin my rant let me say this. This book is Awesome.
Wizard's First Rule
People are stupid, they will believe something because they want it to be true; or they're afraid it might be true.
The First rule because it is the most important one and it is my favorite one. I really love this book. The world is amazing. First we start in Westland with Richard, where this is no magic. Then Richards world starts to fall apart when he meets the beautiful and mysterious Kahlan. Together they must embark on a quest of foretold danger, where they are hunted my a dangerous man who plan on taking over the wold. Follow Richard and Kahlan as they travel across the Midlands seeking the answers that would help them save the world and each other.
Follow them as they face death, torture, magic, dragons, countless dangerous magical creatures, red apples and least of all snakes. Do you have the courage to dive into their world or become a victim of The Wizards First Rule?
In this mesmerizing sequel to Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception, music prodigy James Morgan and his best friend, Deirdre, join a private conservatory for musicians. James' musical talent attracts Nuala, a soul-snatching faerie muse who fosters and feeds on the creative energies of exceptional humans until they die. Composing beautiful music together unexpectedly leads to mutual admiration and love. Haunted by fiery visions of death, James realizes that Deirdre and Nuala are being hunted by the Fey and plunges into a soul-scorching battle with the Queen of the Fey to save their lives.
Paperback, 352 pages
Published October 1st 2009 by Flux
more details... ISBN: 0738714844 (ISBN13: 9780738714844)
How I Read it: Library Check-out
Ok, remember how I was so exited about the first book and talked about it. Well, this book is so much better. Who doesn't love a soul sucking faerie that can't seem to hold herself together at the mere mention of James. And is jealous of Dee. Of course this book isn't about Dee. Well it kind of is but no one cares about that because we are Team James over here. Because James is neurotic and attempts to be funny, while dealing with the emotional strain of seeing Dee and the emotional attachment he is developing to his muse Nuala.
Anyway, can't you tell that I love this book. Because it not I can spell it out for you. I-L-O-V-E-T-H-I-S-B-O-O-K. Enough said. Go read it now. Or I will hunt you down with a stick.
Oh wait. As for the cover. I love it and I hate it. I love it for its simplici
Cassel comes from a family of curse workers -- people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch of their hands. And since curse work is illegal, they're all mobsters, or con artists. Except for Cassel. He hasn't got the magic touch, so he's an outsider, the straight kid in a crooked family. You just have to ignore one small detail -- he killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago.
Ever since, Cassel has carefully built up a facade of normalcy, blending into the crowd. But his facade starts crumbling when he starts sleepwalking, propelled into the night by terrifying dreams about a white cat that wants to tell him something. He's noticing other disturbing things, too, including the strange behavior of his two brothers. They are keeping secrets from him, caught up in a mysterious plot. As Cassel begins to suspect he's part of a huge con game, he also wonders what really happened to Lila. Could she still be alive? To find that out, Cassel will have to out-con the con-men.
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books; 1 edition (May 4, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1416963960
How I Read it: Library Check-out
Holly Black has done the incredible, something I hope to achieve one day. She has created a world where nothing is what it seems. A dangerous world full of enough wonder that you have to open the book again for more. And the more you come back the more you want it. It is an addictive world, where with each chapter the plot thickens and you become more entranced.
In this world the characters are creative and amazing. Each character is slowly losing there mind and doing what they do best. Being con-men and in some cases being curse workers.But who is plotting against who? And what is the deal with the white cat? Well I can't tell you. You will just have to read this book made of awesome to find out.
As for the cover. Well you can see that it is made of awesome. See, look at the picture up there at the beginning of this review.
Charlotte’s best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she’s cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what’s really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth, who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.
But Charlotte never wanted this responsibility. What she wants is to help her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend's arms forever. But as the Need grows stronger, it begins to take a dangerous toll on Charlotte. And who she was, is, and will become--her mark on this earth, her very existence--is in jeopardy of disappearing completely.
Charlotte will be forced to choose: Should she embrace her fate as a Forgotten, a fate that promises to rip her from the lives of those she loves forever? Or is she willing to fight against her destiny--no matter how dark the consequences. (Via Goodreads)
Suzanne Young has done it. She has created a wonderful read and a wondrous world the depicts the teenage struggle through Charlotte who must choose a path a good and help others or a path of selfishness and stay with the ones she loves.
This story is beautiful written and pulls you in with each word.I should know because I read it twice. All the characters in this story are unique and gives the story life. A life you want to read again and again, at least until the 2nd book come out.
Now For the Interview.
0 Comments on A Need so Beautiful by Suzanne Young as of 1/1/1900
All of the world's dreams are about to die. The Shadow People have come. Always near, they linger in the darkness, ready to devour dreams, hopes, aspirations and desires.
Aisling, having lost her dream of becoming a fashion designer, learns that she is a fairy changeling. Disquieted by the fact that her fairy parents are kidnappers, she has decided to rescue the human child the was exchanged for, but her "sister" is no longer among the fairies, having been taken by the Shadow People. Ith, the Lord of Shadows is trying to control the dreams of mankind, which are under the protection of the fairies, so they're at war.
Aisling, who doesn't believe in dreams any longer, is falling in love with a handsome, mysterious stranger - one of the Shadow People.
- Format: Kindle Edition
- File Size: 1131 KB
- Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
- Publisher: MEOw Publishing (May 13, 2011)
- Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
- Language: English
- ASIN: B0050I6BPU
You can find The Dream Crystal Here.
Ok. These are the books the books that we need to Vote on. I will give everyone until May 7th to vote on the book.
Just After Sunset by Stephen King
Navarro's Promise by Laura Leigh
Hood by Stephen Lawhead
A Clash of Kings by George Martin
Room by Emma Donoghue
Flash Burnout by LK Madigan
Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
SO VOTE NOW!!!!
Like most girls at Rosemound High School, seventeen-year-old Lily Crane is acutely aware of Ryder Kingscott. Hands down the cutest guy in school, Ryder is cool, mysterious, and utterly untouchable…especially for Lily. For when she touches someone, Lily instantly learns all about their lives. And while such a skill might seem nifty, in truth it is wrecking Lily’s life.
So she is shocked when Ryder asks her out — and even more shocked to discover he has a rival. Lucian Bell is the gorgeous new kid who can’t take his eyes off of Lily. Being pursued by two hotties should make a girl happy, but Lily is skeptical. The boys act as if they’ve met before, hating each other with a passion that could only be rooted in a dark, dangerous past. A past full of terrible secrets. The kind of secrets that could get a girl killed. (Goodreads)
Cover:The Cover is Cute, but you know that old saying "Don't judge a book by its cover." Yeah, this is one of these times.
Plot:The Cover might be pretty and pink, but the story is so muc
Like most girls at Rosemound High School, seventeen-year-old Lily Crane is acutely aware of Ryder Kingscott. Hands down the cutest guy in school, Ryder is cool, mysterious, and utterly untouchable…especially for Lily. For when she touches someone, Lily instantly learns all about their lives. And while such a skill might seem nifty, in truth it is wrecking Lily’s life.
So she is shocked when Ryder asks her out — and even more shocked to discover he has a rival. Lucian Bell is the gorgeous new kid who can’t take his eyes off of Lily. Being pursued by two hotties should make a girl happy, but Lily is skeptical. The boys act as if they’ve met before, hating each other with a passion that could only be rooted in a dark, dangerous past. A past full of terrible secrets. The kind of secrets that could get a girl killed. (Goodreads)
Cover:The Cover is Cute, but you know that old saying "Don't judge a book by its cover." Yeah, this is one of these times.
Plot:The Cover might be pretty and pink, but the story is so muc
Alright, peeps. I was thinking, why don't we make a Twitter Book Club. I know that Book Bloggers make up a good amount of numbers in my feed, but what I am saying is, How about we get together and pick a book to read and talk about? Sounds Fun, right?
Well, I need 4 things from you:
- Tell me if you are interested.
- How often should this happen? i.e., once a week, twice a month
- What Time are y'all available? (Time in CST please)
- And A creative hastag (#bookclub is already being used)
THANKS!
YOU ARE BEING WARNED. THIS POST CONTAINS SOME SPOILERS. IF YOU WANT TO READ SOME (A GOOD NUMBER) SPOILERS THEN CONTINUE.
City of Fallen Angels takes place two months after the events of City of Glass. In it, a mysterious someone’s killing the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine’s Circle and displaying their bodies around New York City in a manner designed to provoke hostility between Downworlders and Shadowhunters, leaving tensions running high in the city and disrupting Clary’s plan to lead as normal a life as she can — training to be a Shadowhunter, and pursuing her relationship with Jace. As Jace and Clary delve into the issue of the murdered Shadowhunters, they discover a mystery that has deeply personal consequences for them — consequences that may strengthen their relationship, or rip it apart forever.
Meanwhile, internecine warfare among vampires is tearing the Downworld community apart, and only Simon — the Daylighter who everyone wants on their side — can decide the outcome; too bad he wants nothing to do with Downworld politics. Love, blood, betrayal and revenge: the stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels.
YOU ARE BEING WARNED. THIS POST CONTAINS SOME SPOILERS. IF YOU WANT TO READ SOME (A GOOD NUMBER) SPOILERS THEN CONTINUE.
City of Fallen Angels takes place two months after the events of City of Glass. In it, a mysterious someone’s killing the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine’s Circle and displaying their bodies around New York City in a manner designed to provoke hostility between Downworlders and Shadowhunters, leaving tensions running high in the city and disrupting Clary’s plan to lead as normal a life as she can — training to be a Shadowhunter, and pursuing her relationship with Jace. As Jace and Clary delve into the issue of the murdered Shadowhunters, they discover a mystery that has deeply personal consequences for them — consequences that may strengthen their relationship, or rip it apart forever.
Meanwhile, internecine warfare among vampires is tearing the Downworld community apart, and only Simon — the Daylighter who everyone wants on their side — can decide the outcome; too bad he wants nothing to do with Downworld politics. Love, blood, betrayal and revenge: the stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels.
Digger thrives as a spy and sneak-thief among the feuding religious factions of Gerse, dodging the Greenmen who have banned all magic. But when a routine job goes horribly wrong and her partner and lover Tegen is killed, she has to get out of the city, fast, and hides herself in a merry group of nobles to do so.
Accepted as a lady's maid to shy young Merista Nemair, Digger finds new peace and friendship at the Nemair stronghold--as well as plenty of jewels for the taking.
But after the devious Lord Daul catches her in the act of thievery, he blackmails her into becoming his personal spy in the castle, and Digger soon realizes that her noble hosts aren't as apolitical as she thought... that indeed, she may be at the heart of a magical rebellion. (via Goodreads)
Hardcover, 359 pages
Published October 1st 2010 by Arthur A. Levine Books
Plot:
I absolutely love
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Thanks for the review, I'm glad you enjoyed it as I really enjoyed recording it! It's a great book and kept me guessing up until the end :)
Great review, and we're glad your opinion of audiobooks has changed! Please do let me know if you'd like to hear other books in our catalogue.
So glad you liked it! You can check out my other work at my website: www.zatrikion.blogspot.com