"Faster We Burn" by Chelsea Cameron

Release Date: April 20, 2013

Publisher: Self-Published 

From Goodreads: "Katie Hallman is done with douchebags. Done with guys who treat her like crap and leave her broken. But then Stryker Grant is there anyway. With his numerous piercings and bleached hair, he’s the polar opposite of all of her past relationships, which makes him the perfect candidate.
At first, Katie just sees him as a physical escape from her previous rocky relationship, and Stryker doesn’t seem to mind just being a distraction from Katie’s problems. But soon he’s getting under her skin, peeling back layers she’d rather keep covered. She tries to make it clear that she doesn’t want a relationship, but keeps breaking her own rules.

Then a tragedy sends Katie into the only arms who are there to catch her, and she’ll realize that she needs him more than she ever thought possible. But is she ready to let herself trust another guy with her already-battered heart? Or will she push him away to protect herself from getting hurt again?"

While I think that New Adult is the greatest thing since sliced bread, I must admit that every now and again I find that it becomes... stale (stale in the sense that oftentimes the plots of the books/ the characters are near identical- broken girl who has a bad history with a male, playerish bad boy, love/ hate relationship, falling into one another's beds, girl's past coming to light, girl running away, boy chasing girl, happily ever after, and companion novel for secondary character). However, when I find myself becoming frustrated with the genre, I read one of Chelsea's books and it completely restores my faith in it- Chelsea and her characters truly march to the beat of their own drums.

Stryker and Katie are perhaps one of my most favourite NA characters ever. Why? Because they compliment one another so perfectly. Both aren't afraid to tell it like it is, each one is able to life the other out of the darkness that consumes them, both realize the importance of friends and family, and so forth. Aside from the characters, another strength of this book are the emotions- specifically the emotions resulting from a situation involving Katie. The depth and realism of these emotions are second to none- I literally had a stomachache/ heart palpitations while reading the scene as I can relate to it so well (this is only the third time ever that I have experienced a physical reaction to the emotions stemming from a book).

Additionally, like the previous book, I LOVED each and every one of the secondary characters in this installment  I love the fact that they are truly each their own person/ extremely developed- you have no cookie-cutter or "blah" secondary characters here! I have no doubt that each of them could carry their own books.

All in all, while I had thought that I loved the first book in this series, "Deeper We Fall", my feelings for that book are NOTHING compared to this- there is not denying that Chelsea is growing tremendously as an author with each book that she pens. I think that Chelsea has an amazing career ahead of her (especially in the realm of New Adult) and I, specifically, CANNOT wait to see what she has in store for these characters next!

Rating: 5/5

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"Deeper We Fall" by Chelsea Cameron

Release Date: January 24, 2013
Publisher: Self-Pubbed
Pages: 280

From Goodreads: "Two years after her best friend was involved in a car accident that caused a traumatic brain injury, Lottie Anders is ready to start her freshman year of college. Ready to move on. Ready to start forgetting the night that ripped her life apart.

Her plans come to a screeching halt when not one, but both brothers responsible for the accident end up back in her life again.

Zack is cruel, selfish and constantly rubbing what happened to her friend in Lottie's face.

Zan is different. He listens to her awkward ramblings. He loves "To Kill a Mockingbird" as much as she does, and his dark eyes are irresistible. His words are few and far between, but when he does speak, she can't help but listen.

The trouble is, Zan was the driver in the accident, and now Lottie's discovered he lied to her about what happened that night. Now she must decide if trusting him again will lead to real forgiveness, or deeper heartache."

While I am a huge fan of New Adult, I must admit that I do tire of seeing the same story line over and over and over again (broken girl, stemming from something in her past, playerish bad boy, with tattoos dripping off of his eight pack, a love and hate relationship, the eventual falling into one another's bed, and so forth), therefore, I was ecstatic to see that this book didn't follow the themes of those other books of this genre- it truly marched to the beat of its own drum.

While the female character is usually the more emotionally vulnerable character of the two in books of this nature, in this instance, I think that the male character, Zan, is, while the female character, Lottie, is the emotionally stronger one, the one to lift him out of his deep, dark past. Their relationship is one of the cutest that I have encountered in the genre. Furthermore, I love the fact that both characters are so relateable/ approachable- especially with all of their literary references in the novel.

Aside from loving the main characters, this book has some of the best secondary characters that I have read in a long time- I was highly invested in all of them, from Will, to Simon, to Audrey, to Trish and Stryker, to even Katie, and truly wanted to learn more about them. Therefore, as you can imagine, I am beyond excited to learn more about Stryker and Katie's story in the companion novel to this book, "Faster We Burn" (Katie, who might at first come across as a stereotypical girly girl, but who is so much more, and Stryker, the bad boy who you can't wait to peel the layers off of- both in clothes and emotions).

Rating: 5/5

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Reviewers Needed- "Faster We Burn" by Chelsea Cameron (NA Contemp)

Were you a fan of Chelsea Cameron's "Deeper We Fall" or a budding New Adult aficionado? Here is your chance to read and review an eARC of Chelsea's upcoming release "Faster We Burn" (companion novel to "Deeper We Fall")!

As Chelsea writes, "You don't HAVE to have read the first book, but it is helpful to know the characters and their dynamic."

If you would be interested in reading and reviewing the book contact Chelsea at chel.c.cam@gmail.com (and let her know which format you would like the book in)!

From Goodreads: "Katie Hallman is done with douchebags. Done with guys who treat her like crap and leave her broken. But then Stryker Grant is there anyway. With his numerous piercings and bleached hair, he’s the polar opposite of all of her past relationships, which makes him the perfect candidate.

At first, Katie just sees him as a physical escape from her previous rocky relationship, and Stryker doesn’t seem to mind just being a distraction from Katie’s problems. But soon he’s getting under her skin, peeling back layers she’d rather keep covered. She tries to make it clear that she doesn’t want a relationship, but keeps breaking her own rules.

Then a tragedy sends Katie into the only arms who are there to catch her, and she’ll realize that she needs him more than she ever thought possible. But is she ready to let herself trust another guy with her already-battered heart? Or will she push him away to protect herself from getting hurt again?"

"Faster We Burn" releases on April 20th, 2013.

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"Mortality" by Kellie Sheridan

Release Date: March 19, 2013
Publisher: Self-Pub
Pages: 271

From Goodreads: "After surviving a deadly plague outbreak, sixteen-year-old Savannah thought she had lived through the very worst of human history. There was no way to know that the miracle vaccine would put everyone at risk for a fate worse than un-death. 

Now, two very different kinds of infected walk the Earth, intent on nothing but feeding and destroying what little remains of civilization. When the inoculated are bitten, infection means watching on in silent horror as self-control disappears and the idea of feasting on loved ones becomes increasingly hard to ignore.

Starving and forced to live inside of the abandoned high school, all Savannah wants is the chance to fight back. When a strange boy arrives with a plan to set everything right, she gets her chance. Meeting Cole changes everything. Mere survival will never be enough."

While I love all paranormal beings, I must admit that zombies are by far my most favourite (I'm totally one of those people counting down the days until the zombie Apocalypse). Therefore when I heard about this book I knew that I HAD to get my hands on it. After having finished reading it, my overall impression of this book is, "OMG, Savannah is bad-ass." While she was the only girl running in her group of boys, she certainly never let that drag her down, going toe-to-toe with them on a number of instances. Furthermore, her loyalty to said boys was second to none- she was willing to sacrifice her own safety for them time and time again. That being said, she wasn't perfect, at times she didn't make the wisest of  decisions, but I do think that that made her much more relatable to the reader.

Therefore, because I liked Savannah so much, I must admit that I did put up a bit of a fight when it came to Zarah's side of the story (alternating chapters)- I didn't want to let Savannah and her gang go. However, I do think that Zarah's story is necessary to the book, it completely changes our perception/ understanding of what these zombies are. And after learning what they truly are you can't help but... pity them. Furthermore, Zarah and Liam's relationship brought the FEELS quite unlike those experienced in Savvy's side of the story.

All in all, I think that this was an amazing debut from author Kellie Sheridan! I think that this will equally appeal to male and female readers and those of all ages. Furthermore, I believe that zombie fans will appreciate Kellie's different take on thegenre (differing "waves" of zombies, zombies who react to the climate, and so forth). I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us in the next installment of her "The Hitchhiker Strain" series and I highly recommend checking out the prequel to this, "End Dayz", to have a better understanding of how the zombie Apocalypse came to be and how it truly impacted the characters lives.

Rating: 4/5

I received this book from the author to read and honestly review. I was not compensated in any way for said review. 

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Blog Tour: "Mortality" by Kellie Sheridan

Today I am excited to have author Kellie Sheridan (and fellow Ontarian book blogger) to tell us a bit about her debut novel "Mortality"!

As a Canuck who reads a lot of books, I have a tendency to award Canadian books with bonus points. They’re Whose Line is it Anywaysstyle points since they don’t really count for much, but if a story is written by a Canadian or set in Canada, I take notice. I’m sure a lot of people feel the same way about novels set in their hometown/state/country. A book set in a place you already know has the ability to suck you that much farther into the story. If something amazing can happen there, then something amazing can happen to you.

So why didn’t I set my own debut novel in the Great White North? Believe me, I wanted to. I’d always intended to. But I didn’t, and despite making my decisions for all the right reasons, I still feel a little bad about it. Canada can get pretty cold. We don’t actually live in igloos, but there is sometimes a desire to hibernate during the coldest months of the year. The zombies I created for The Hitchhiker Strain (at least some of them) freeze if left out in the cold for too long. With the initial outbreak of the virus happening in September, that gave maybe three months until most Canadians would see a significant uptick in their survival rate. Good for the characters maybe, but bad for the plot.

There were also some geographical issues. Most of our cities sit relatively close to the U.S. border, but we’re dealing with a large expanse of land. It was difficult for me to see how an infection that started in say—Calgary, would be able to spread and eventually overwhelm the world. I tried to science-it-out multiple times, but I just couldn’t get it to work in a way that worked with the story I wanted to tell. I was forced to rethink my plan.

Finally, there’s the issue of place recognition. Which city do you think is more well-known—Jackson, Mississippi or Mississauga, Ontario? Sacramento or Saskatoon? It’s really not much of a debate. While Canadian cities might be significant to me, that wouldn’t be the case for all of my readers. Part of what scares me about the idea of a zombie apocalypse, is you can imagine how it would unfold, how it just might be possible. If putting easily recognized landmarks into my character’s lives would help readers to immerse themselves that much farther into the world I’d created, then I had to go for it.

Or maybe I just didn’t want to have to imagine zombies running around in the streets of Toronto.

So, will my next series be set in Canada? Alas, probably not. My next few projects have a decidedly fantasy twist to them and won’t be set anywhere we can actually visit (except within the pages of a book, of course). But until I do manage to find a story that can allow a city or town in Canada to become that ‘could be anywhere’ setting for one of my novels, I won’t feel like I’ve checked off all the boxes on my writing career bucket list.

From Goodreads: "After surviving a deadly plague outbreak, sixteen-year-old Savannah thought she had lived through the very worst of human history. There was no way to know that the miracle vaccine would put everyone at risk for a fate worse than un-death. 

Now, two very different kinds of infected walk the Earth, intent on nothing but feeding and destroying what little remains of civilization. When the inoculated are bitten, infection means watching on in silent horror as self-control disappears and the idea of feasting on loved ones becomes increasingly hard to ignore.

Starving and forced to live inside of the abandoned high school, all Savannah wants is the chance to fight back. When a strange boy arrives with a plan to set everything right, she gets her chance. Meeting Cole changes everything. Mere survival will never be enough."

About the Author: I have been in love with stories in all of their forms for as long as I can remember.

Admittedly, sometimes that means falling into places like Stars Hollow and Sunnydale, but books have always been my true love. In early 2011 I began writing a book blog in order to share my favorite reads with book lovers. From there, the bookish community encouraged me to stop sitting on my own stories and share them instead. Since then I’ve been madly devouring everything I can about digital publishing.

For the past two years I have been mainly obsessed with young adult books, but my favorite stories still come from the adult fantasy genre. As far as I’m concerned, Briggs, Bishop, Vincent and Vaughn are all must reads.

I spent part of my twenties living in Galway, Ireland and swooning after various lilting accents but am now back home in Ontario, Canada. My family includes two Glen of Imaal Terriers and a Green Cheek Conure.

Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Barnes&Noble Kobo iTunes
Website- http://www.kellie.snarkybooks.com
Twitter- https://twitter.com/Kellie_Sheridan
Goodreads- http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6579646.Kellie_Sheridan

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Blog Tour: "When the Silence Ends" by Jade Kerrion

Today I am excited to have author Jade Kerrion stop by the blog to tell us a bit about her recent release "When the Silence Ends", her inspirations, her personal favourite part of the book and so forth!

1. Tell us a little about your book.

On the one hand, When the Silence Ends is the story of an ordinary girl, Dee, facing ordinary challenges. She holds down two jobs to pay the rent, makes sure her twin brother gets to his speech therapy class, and wonders how to pay for college. Dee, however, is an ordinary girl in a world transformed by the Genetic Revolution—a world that is struggling to deal with the social and political repercussions of human derivatives: the clones, in vitros, and mutants. What chance does “ordinary” have in a world of “extraordinary” people?

2. How did you come up with the title?

Silence is a key theme in the novel. Dum, Dee’s twin brother, has not spoken ever since a shattering event destroyed their family when they were five. The novel is the story of Dum’s journey out of silence. A secondary theme is that of secrets. Danyael Sabre, the alpha empath who trains Dum, has secrets of his own, and as the story unfolds, the silence around an eighteen-year old secret comes to an end.

3. What inspired you to write this book?

Young Adult novels abound with extraordinary protagonists. I’m sure that in your travels through books, you’ve met the child of destiny who’s fated to end a war and unite two worlds. You’ve probably also met the quiet kid who doesn’t quite fit in, who discovers his amazing super powers and uses them to save the world. Of course, there’s the protagonist who stumbles upon a mysterious world that coexists alongside her reality, populated by sparkly vampires and handsome werewolves.

I’ve found two major themes running through most YA novels: the first, as I noted above, the extraordinary teenage protagonist, and second, the adults are frequently the enemy, ranging from indifferent parents to murderous despots. Neither of those observations particularly aligns with my observations of life.

So, when I set out to write a YA spin off my award-winning Double Helix series, featuring Dee and her twin brother, Dum, I wanted my readers to appreciate adults in more roles than that of the enemy. Some of them are, of course, but like the real world, there’s a vast spectrum of them; some adults even become Dee’s friends and mentors. More importantly though, I wanted my readers to appreciate the power of “ordinary.”

4. Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

I’d like my readers to realize that “extraordinary” is within all our grasps, and it has nothing to do with destiny, superpowers, or being loved by a vampire. Dee is the embodiment of ordinary, but she still manages to change her world for the better. If she can do it, there’s no reason at all the rest of us can’t.

5. Do you have a favorite line or scene from your latest release?

It’s hard to choose just one scene. I enjoy many of the scenes involving Jessica—the fifteen-year old alpha mutant, who, unlike Dee, isn’t ordinary, but is striving to find her own brand of normality, nonetheless. My favorite scene, however, is the very last scene at the concert when the silence ends. Several readers have reported tearing up at that scene.

6. Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

I started at the age of thirteen when my school essays were returned to me with a bunch of “A”s scrawled over the top. Teenagers are impressionable. Being much more impressionable than most, and believing that my teachers knew what they were doing, I figured I was destined to be a writer. It’s only taken me tens of thousands of hours of work since then to be halfway decent at writing (and I’m still learning each day), but one has to start somewhere.

7. Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

Neil Gaiman is pure genius in his storytelling ability.

8. Have you published anything else?

My award-winning Double Helix series includes three books, Perfection Unleashed, Perfect Betrayal, and Perfect Weapon. When the Silence Ends is set in the world of the Double Helix, and readers will find that many of their favorite characters play much larger roles in the main series. My YA science fiction novel, Earth Sim, was just released as well and is currently on tour. It is a compelling and whimsical view of Earth’s history through the eyes of the two students assigned to manage our planet.

9. What’s next for you? / What is your next project?

I’m currently working on a paranormal romance called City of Eternal Night. Once I finish that, I’ll start work on the fourth novel in the Double Helix series. My plan is to release three novels in 2013.

10. Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

I just want to say thank you. Thank you for your support, your enthusiastic reviews, and your outraged e-mails over what I did to some of my characters. Thank you for loving them. Thank you for rereading my novels. Thank you for trusting me with your time. I do promise to honor that trust and keep delivering fantastic novels that keep you reading past your bedtime.

From Goodreads: "When you choose your friends, you also choose your enemies.

Seventeen-year old Dee wants nothing more than to help her twin brother, Dum, break free from the trauma in their childhood and speak again, but the only person who can help Dum is the alpha empath, Danyael Sabre, whom the U.S. government considers a terrorist and traitor.

The search for Danyael will lead Dee and Dum from the sheltered protection of the Mutant Affairs Council and into the violent, gang-controlled heart of Anacostia. Ensnared by Danyael’s complicated network of friends and enemies, Dee makes her stand in a political and social war that she is ill equipped to fight. What can one human, armed only with her wits and pepper spray, do against the super-powered mutants who dominate the Genetic Revolution?

America, nevertheless, is ripe for transformation. Exhausted by decades of belligerence between humans and their genetic derivatives—the clones, in vitros, and mutants—society is on the verge of falling apart or growing up. Dee, with her sassy attitude and smart mouth, is the unwitting pebble that starts the avalanche of change. In her quest to help her brother become normal, Dee will finally learn what it means to be extraordinary.

When the Silence Ends is the Young Adult spinoff in the award-winning Double Helix series and can be read as a standalone novel."

About the Author: Jade Kerrion, an award-winning author, got her start in fan fiction. She developed a loyal reader base with her fan fiction series based on the MMORPG Guild Wars. She was accused of keeping her readers up at night, distracting them from work, housework, homework, and (far worse), from actually playing Guild Wars. And then she wondered why just screw up the time management skills of gamers? Why not aspire to screw everyone else up too? So here she is, writing books that aspire to keep you from doing anything else useful with your time. She lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with her wonderfully supportive husband and her two young sons, Saint and Angel, (no, those aren't their real names, but they are like saints and angels, except when they're not.)

Connect with Jade Kerrion: Blog / Facebook / Twitter

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Cover Reveal: "Shattered Silence" by Ron C. Nieto

Today I am excited to be a part of the cover reveal of the second book in Ron C. Nieto's "Ghost Rhapsody" series, "Shattered Silence"! 

Keith never believed in Happily Ever After, at least not for someone like him. However, that’s exactly what it feels like when he has the love of his life by his side.

Alice fought everything she was, everything she thought she wanted to be, just to save him.When the nightmare blew over and the both of them were left standing, she thought she’d get her shot at happiness.

But how long can bliss last when everything they hold dear starts to crumble around them?Can they truly be free of a hatred that’s been alive for centuries?

The song has been played and, in its wake, the silence shatters…

About the Author: Ron C. Nieto is a fantasy and romance author who has been writing in her secluded fortress for the longest time. Recently, she had a talk with her cat and decided that she should share her creations, because it was selfish to hoard them all for herself.

If you would like to know more about her, please visit her website.

Add the books to GoodReads
Author website
Author Twitter

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Interview: Author Nikki Colligan

Today I am excited to have author Nikki Colligan whose debut novel, "Sunshine", is released today, stop by the blog to tell us a bit about herself and her book! 

Describe SUNSHINE in 5 words or less.

Oh, that’s hard, but I’ll try: Funny. Dark. Music. Monsters.

How do you balance being a student with being an author?

It’s definitely hard! But I love being a student as well as being a writer. I guess it depends on the semester, really. I usually try to write at least 2,000 words a day. It can be hard when I have homework and papers and all of that school business, but as long as I have a semi-routine of school, school-work, writing-work, I’m a happy camper.

Also, caffeine helps. : )

Do you work on multiple books simultaneously? If so, what is your process? 

Yes.

I try to take at least a week break in between writing a rough draft and then editing it, although last time I tried that, I went nuts. I can’t NOT write. So now when I take a break, I start a new project. I take a break from writing with MORE writing. 

I’m also a creative writing major in school, so I’m always working on pieces for class during the day and novels at night. As far as having a process, I don’t really think I have one. I just write whatever is taking up the most space in my head first.

Fans of _______________ will enjoy my book. 

Hmmm…well, I think there’s something for everyone. There’s romance, and darkness, and blood, and punk, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and piano, and vampires.

So fans of those things, I would say. : )

What are you currently reading right now?

I just started The Book Thief by Marcus Zuzack, and I’m really, really loving it. I’ve wanted to read it forever.

How did you come to your decision to self-publish?

It was a long journey. First, I tried to go the traditional publishing route with finding an agent and querying and all of that…but the more I learned about it, the more I started leaning toward self-publishing. I wanted to be the one in charge of the book cover and the release date, and how far apart my books could come out, etc. I’m a bit of a control freak when it comes to creative things. I love traditionally published authors as well as self-published, but I didn’t want to have to worry if I was being too weird, or too dark or too messed up for the “traditional crowd”. So, in a nutshell, I guess it was mostly about control over my work.

Being a self-published author what impact (if any) have book bloggers had on your career?

HUGE. This is my first book and as I’m answering these questions, it’s not even out yet and I can already see the difference that book bloggers are making. I went from three people wanting to read it on Goodreads to forty in a matter of days, which seems small, but it isn’t for me. Book blogs are where people go to see how good/bad/ok books are, and the bloggers not only know what they’re doing, but genuinely love books, so it’s really amazing hearing what they have to say. I can’t wait to see the role they’re going to play once my book is out. : )

Where did you get your inspiration for SUNSHINE? There were a number of things, but I’ll tell you three:

1: I broke my knee and I was basically home-bound and couch-ridden. After I read every book I had, watched every TV show and movie, and annoyed every person I knew, I had nothing to do and I was bored.
2: I’ve always loved vampires and I wanted to make my own story with them.
3: I got really, really bad sun poisoning on a family vacation and let’s just say that the experience stuck with me.

This or that?

Monsters under the bed or monsters in the closet? Ooooh. I would have to say in the closet, just because it would be easier to get away. If they’re under the bed, it’s harder to protect yourself (I’m going with the you’re-asleep-and-there’s-a-monster-in-your-room scenario). Also, monsters don’t scare me. Aliens do. So I was imagining aliens during this question and it was terrifying.

Hot chocolate or chocolate milk? Hot. I always pick hot drinks over cold.

Kindle or Nook? I’ve never had a Nook, so I’m going to have to go with Kindle.

Student or author? Author. Author all the way. However, I think if you’re doing the author thing the right way, you’re always learning anyway, so in that way, I guess I’ll always be a student. : )

Unicorn or dragon? See, I thought this one would be easy. Dragon, right? But I also freaking love unicorns. But if I had to only choose one, it would be dragons. Because dragons are DRAGONS. They have fire, wings, and they’re cute as hell. Unicorns only have a horn and cuteness. So, three to two, dragons win.

From Goodreads: "18 year old Sophie Jean is pretty good at acting normal. Sure, she’s not exactly happy, but happiness is nothing compared to being like everyone else. She can pretend she’s not allergic to the sun. She can hide what her ex-boyfriend did to her. She can cover up the scars she’s made for herself. Ignore anything. Forget anything. Then Myles enters her life, and he has more than a few secrets of his own. When accident after accident keeps happening to Sophie, she can’t help noticing that he’s everywhere. That he knows too much. That she’s remembering too much.

It’s one thing covering up her own dark past, but does she really need to worry about people finding out just how much Myles likes her? Or that despite how much she doesn’t want to repeat past mistakes, she kind of likes him back? Not to mention the fact that she now has to conceal that Myles drinks blood-that he says he’s about four hundred years old. She almost forgot about that part.

But Sophie has no plans to ruin the normal life she has created for herself. She can deal with this little glitch, no problem. Even if word has gotten around to the wrong vampire about Sophie and Myles, even if she’s putting the few people she loves at risk. Suddenly, those who were monsters before are just people, and the monsters? They’re real. Now being a normal human being is the least of her problems. Now she has to stay alive."

About the Author: Nikki Rae is the author of Sunshine, a YA dark paranormal romance, which is being released on January 28, 2013.

When Nikki is not writing, thinking, or reading, she is most likely hanging out with her gecko, Neil Gaiman, drawing in a quiet corner, or drinking tea by the gallon. : )

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Guest Post: Authors Brian Palmer and Jason Rowe

Today I am excited to have Brian Palmer and Jason Rowe stop by the blog to tell us a bit about co-authoring their book XII: Genesis! 

Brian: Anyone who has ever sat down to try and write a novel knows of the many pitfalls that await you. Procrastination. Writer's block. Email. Social media. Family. Friends. More procrastination. It seems in fact that from the very moment we decide we want to create this fictional tale that has come sweeping into our minds like a wave onto a warm, tropical island around sunset, there are forces set to oppose us so that we will be prevented from doing the very thing we want to do.

Jason: And it's important to realize that while all of these things can get in the way of your writing, they actually do take priority along the way, especially if you have responsibilities that others are counting on you to fulfill and writing isn't your primary source of income or priority. The key is always going to be a matter of prioritization and time management, so it's not a matter of letting these other obligations discourage you, nor should they invalidate your dream of writing. Depending on your situation, I believe it's simply a matter of making your dream a priority and then if you truly want it, you have to be willing to schedule it in with your other priorities and make the commitment to persevere, even if you don't always want to at a given moment.

Brian: Now imagine having all of these factors (and I am sure there are countless others as well) at play against you, and then add to the equation the reality of trying to write said novel with a second person. Such an addition is every bit as exciting and challenging as it sounds, and while this sort of arrangement is not for everyone, it is not impossible to do this successfully. Jason and I had to work out the kinks for a while before we could complete the first entry in our new series, XII (the first entry is called XII: Genesis), which released on 12-12-12, but we didn't give up despite a number of false starts and wrong turns, and now we have a much better idea of how to continue working together as we prepare to write the next seven books in this series.

Jason: One of the keys to our partnership has been one of mutual respect. I'm always going to be the one who had the story and the one who had a lot of the elements and details in mind before sharing them with Brian. I never relinquished my intellectual or emotional "rights" to ensure that XII becomes all that it is supposed to be in my heart and mind, but without Brian I know that we wouldn't be having this interview today. I may have written the story eventually on my own, but our balanced strengths and mutual respect have allowed us to not only create the foundational elements that make up the XII Saga, but also to encourage, challenge, and push each other to get here - while also improving individually as writers along the way. I also know that because of the strengths that Brian has brought to this partnership, XII is stronger than it ever would have been without him.
Brian: It was interesting for me, working with another person, as I had never tried this before. It's a bit like entering into a marriage, really, because you no longer can go off willy-nilly, doing whatever you please with the story you are creating. You have to take the other person into account, their sensibilities, their schedule and their ideas. You have to figure out which writing style is going to work best for you. Do you outline the project or no? Do you divide and conquer, with each of you writing about certain elements of the novel before rejoining again to discuss, edit, etc.? Is it best to just do the whole thing over Skype, as Jason and I did, that way you two can talk through every point, every scene, every character, every detail and every bit of dialogue all at once?

Jason: Having been married for over 20 years I can say that its very much like having a healthy marriage. Communication, respect, knowing each other's role and being willing to support the other in theirs are all elements that have come into play over the last few years of learning this "dance" together. There has to be equality within the relationship because without that balance, the two sides start working against each other inevitably. Brian and I are very different in our individual writing styles and personalities while sharing a ton of common ground in creative interests and influences. My wife and I are polar opposites but we balance because we're equally committed to our relationship and the same is true with Brian and I. It doesn't mean you ever stop being different or having potential "snags" when you don't see eye-to-eye on something, but inevitably both sides drift to the "center" somewhat and you end up taking on a little more of the other's paradigm as you go along.

Brian: As with most things, there is no one right way to do this, but through trial and error Jason and I were able to establish the best system for us. We live in different states, so we were forced to work via Skype sessions twice a week, but your situation might be entirely different if you are working with another person. Hopefully your partner is a buddy who lives in town and you can get together at each other's homes regularly, or get to a coffee shop or something. Regardless of your situation's dynamics, however, the point is even though writing with a second person brings an added level of difficulty to the process, you still have to treat the writing process as though you are going it alone. You have to be intentional, you have to be focused, you have to set yourself a schedule and deadlines and do your best to stick to them. You have to be motivated to work on this project (having a co-writer definitely helps in this regard!).

Jason: The key is to ensure that you have one voice along the way if you're writing fiction (versus, say, non-fiction or a screenplay). Brian and I have shared our frustration in reading other joint projects by authors we've liked previously that haven't always worked when two great minds and strong voices have "paired up". If both voices are equally strong and saying the same words then it has to be perfectly in sync or it just doesn't work. The alternative reminds me of a duet where one sings melody and the other, harmony. I think Brian and I fall into the latter category and have exchanged parts at various points in the storyline while remaining true to the "lyrics and music" overall.

Brian: Writing with a second person is fun, bizarre, frustrating, therapeutic and absolutely worth it if the opportunity presents itself to you. Jason and I took the time and made the effort to make this partnership work, and while the first entry in this series took four years to create due to a variety of circumstances, we now know exactly how we will be doing things going forward, so the process will go much more smoothly.

Jason: I know some writers have taken a decade to write a story and have found international acclaim almost overnight (Can someone please get a copy of XII: Genesis to Oprah please?) but in our case we had a sprinters mentality from the outset and had to come to terms with the fact that we were actually running long distance. Neither of us will ever be comfortable with being the "tortoise" but being the "hare" is not an option in an eight-part series either. When I consider "four years to write" I shudder to think this was like earning an undergrad degree - but like college - we spent the first two years or so getting the basics and core down, before moving into actually writing the story as it should be written. Moving forward we'll have a much faster turn out because we spent 2-3 years learning how to do so in a way that worked for Brian and I, and for the story overall.

From Goodreads: "A century after the world was predicted to end, it was indeed reborn. Under the leadership of the Overseer of New Earth, minds were united, diseases were cured, and the Earth was healed when population centers minimized mankind’s footprint, and the remainder of the planet was turned over to the will of nature. War was eradicated, the world embraced one religion, and the New Era began.

But darkness rises now, mistaken for a mere shadow cast by the bright light of human progress. It is the time of which the ancients foretold. It is the time when all things must end. …It is the time of The Twelve.

Six men and six women representing all creeds and colors are supernaturally gifted, but the unlikeliest of heroes. They are barely adults by the world’s standards, but still they are called.

Only they can stand against the growing darkness – but will they stand together?

XII: Genesis is the first installment of an eight-book series in the Young Adult / New Adult genres. If action excites you, if the supernatural intrigues you, and if love compels you - then you are invited to join The Twelve in their fight against the growing darkness that threatens New Earth!"

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Author Interview: David James

Today I am excited to have David James, author of "Light of the Moon", stop by the blog to tell us a bit about who his book will appeal to, what he is currently reading and what advice he has for aspiring authors! 

Describe LIGHT OF THE MOON in five words or less. 

Beautifully dark tale of love.

Do you work on multiple books simultaneously? If so, what is your process? 

I do to an extent. I tend to write bits and pieces of other books while working on a main manuscript, but I rarely focus completely on more than one book at a time. I couldn’t do it! I’m a very linear writing, so while I do jump around from time to time, I think I would go crazy writing more than one book at a time.

Fans of ___________ will enjoy my books. 

Fans of Tessa Gratton or Brenna Yovanoff will enjoy my books. There’s a similar sense of dark hopefulness in my books that I’ve found in theirs. I’ve also gotten quite a few reader responses that have enjoyed Light of the Moon after reading Laini Taylor’s Daughter of Smoke and Bone, which I thought was beyond amazing.

What are you currently reading right now? 

I’m currently reading Kristin Cashore’s Graceling and loving it. I love her way with words, and how she creates worlds.

How did you come to the decision to go indie? 

Many reasons, but the main one was that I wanted to get my book to readers. I had a lot of responses when I attempted to go traditional, but none of them stuck the way I wanted them to. Additionally, I’ve come to know so many wonderful indie authors that are doing incredible things. I’m so happy I have a chance to be a part of that.

Are you currently a full time author? If so, how did you come to the decision to do so? 

I am, though I do contract writing on the side for local businesses. Before this, I taught high school for over three years. In the end, I decided to follow my heart. I’ve always wanted to be an author. I’ve always wanted to help people, and my ultimate goal is to provide a positive impact on the youth of today.

Being an indie author what impact (if any) have book bloggers had on your career? 

Book bloggers are beyond amazing, let me tell you. I continue to be impressed by the lot of them and the way many of them use their influences in positive ways. The entire writing, blogging, and writing community have all been so supportive. In my opinion, book bloggers have an incredibly difficult job. It’s hard to stay so positive and keep up with blog posts and reviews, but they do it well.

Where did your inspiration for LIGHT OF THE MOON come from? 

Looking up at the stars, I always used to wonder what was up there. One day the idea of using constellations as the paranormal aspect of the novel just came to me, and I started to write what later became Light of the Moon. I love the idea that there’s a whole world in the sky we just don’t know about.

How do you respond to maybe negative (or not-so-nice) reviews?

I respect everyone, so when someone writes a negative review (about any book) I have an understanding that their views may differ from mine. The negative reviews I really respect are the ones that say exactly how they feel about a book and not just voice their hatred. If there are reasons behind the negativity, then those reviews are actually making a positive impact by making educated points on books. I appreciate and respect those reviews, even if I don’t agree with them.

Any advice for aspiring authors? 

Don’t give up and don’t follow the rules. There are no specific rules when it comes to writing a book because every single person has his or her own way of doing things. Take advice from others, but take your own as well.

This or that?

Monsters under bed or monsters in closet? Oh. My. I don’t even know what to do with this question. I might have just looked in my closet, so I vote for monsters under the bed! I feel like I would have a better chance to escape.

Hot chocolate or chocolate milk? Neither! I’m actually not a chocolate fan.

Kindle or Nook? Kindle all the way.

E-Book or physical book? Let’s get physical. Physical.

Unicorn or Sasquatch? Uh. Unicorn. For sure. Because don’t they fly? Or am I making that up. I think some unicorns fly. I think. Either way I’m sure a Sasquatch can’t fly.

From Goodreads: "Stars. Fire. Blood. Magic.

One night long ago, a constellation disappeared and fell from the sky in the form of a boy.

Secrets are being kept in the sleepy town of Lakewood Hollow, Colorado. Nothing but pools of blood and dripping words are left where bodies once were, and no one but Calum Wade seems to be worried. Life unfolds in shades of red for Calum, until a mysterious girl named Kate Black enrolls at his school and everything changes. Suddenly a dangerous world of dream demons, elemental enchanters, and blood witches unfurls before Calum. He learns that the stars have forever held his destiny, and that the constellations above are much more than what they seem. As Kate and Calum sink deep into a paranormal war, they realize that an ancient prophecy might hold the answers they seek. But life is not so easy for Calum, and he can feel his heart beat faster whenever Kate is close. Worse, Kate's blood holds a dark secret even more dangerous than the war between the demons and enchanters. Soon the two find that there are worse things than loving someone you shouldn't. For Calum and Kate, even love and the fiery power of stars may not be enough to break a curse as dark as the blood that binds their destiny.

A romantic story of true love and dark curses, LIGHT OF THE MOON will leave you breathless."

About the Author: David James writes books about stars and kisses and curses. He is the author of the YA novel, LIGHT OF THE MOON, the first book in the Legend of the Dreamer series, as well as the companion novella, THE WITCH'S CURSE. A second novella for the series, THE WARRIOR’S CODE, as well as the sequel, SHADOW OF THE SUN, will be released in 2013. Living in Michigan, he is addicted to coffee, gummy things, and sarcastic comments. He enjoys bad movies, goofy moments, and shivery nights. Be sure to visit David’s blog and facebook to learn more about his various addictions and novels.

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"Fallen Too Far" by Abbi Glines

Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: December 14, 2012
Pages: 207

From Goodreads: "To want what you’re not supposed to have…

She is only nineteen.

She is his new stepfather’s daughter.

She is still naïve and innocent due to spending the last three years taking care of her sick mother.

But for twenty-four year old Rush Finlay, she is the only thing that has ever been off limits. His famous father’s guilt money, his mother’s desperation to win his love, and his charm are the three reasons he has never been told no.

Blaire Wynn left her small farmhouse in Alabama, after her mother passed away, to move in with her father and his new wife in their sprawling beach house along the Florida gulf coast. She isn’t prepared for the lifestyle change and she knows she’ll never fit into this world. Then there is her sexy stepbrother who her father leaves her with for the summer while he runs off to Paris with his wife. 

Rush is as spoiled as he is gorgeous. He is also getting under her skin. She knows he is anything but good for her and that he’ll never be faithful to anyone. He is jaded and has secrets Blaire knows she may never uncover but even knowing all of that…

Blaire just may have fallen too far."

Despite having followed Abbi's amazing story online for years- from self-published author sensation to tacking traditional publishing, I must admit that this is the first book of hers that I have ever read (and despite having almost every book one of her books on my Kindle, unfortunately my ever-growing TBR review pile often doesn't often afford me the freedom to read books outside of it), as such I have nothing else of hers to compare this book to- it is very much one of those cases of "it is where it is" (whereas I have read a number of reviews where people have stated that this wasn't there favourite of her books as they find it too similar to the previous). On the whole I personally really enjoyed it and I believe it to be one of my most favourite new adults of 2012.

There's no denying it. Blaire is a bad-ass, from pulling a gun on Rush's best friend/ ex-stepbrother, Grant, to never for a second doubting her mother, to making a heart breaking decision at the end of the novel. She's self-sufficient, while she may certainly enjoy a male presence in her life she doesn't necessarily need one, and she doesn't want handouts in life, almost annoying so. And despite being broken/ being dealt a crappy hand in life she very rarely lets it get her down. She's almost everything that I want in a female character.

Rush, like Blaire, is broken, however, due to the loss of a childhood rather than the loss of loved ones. While Blaire's biggest trait is that she is self-sufficient Rush's is that he is honest. What you see is what you get with him and if you don't like it he will gladly show you to the door. Together, these two are explosive, slowly chipping away at one another's prickly exteriors, revealing the at-times soft or gentle beings that they are harbouring.

The secondary characters are almost exceptionally notable, especially Grant and Woods. Grant is the light where Rush is the dark- be brings much needed lightheartedness to the novel. Whereas Woods propels the storyline almost as much as Rush and Blaire themselves do, being one of the few people who doesn't look down on Blaire for being country rather than designer. The only real complaint I had with this novel was Cain, Blaire's best friend and ex. I'm just not quite sure how necessary he was to the story- only being mentioned in passing until the last couple of pages, where we finally meet him in all of his (not) glory.

While this was my first Abbi book it will certainly not be the last! Not only am I excited to check out all of her previously released books- those of her "The Vincent Boys" series and her "Sea Breeze" series- but the sequel to this, "Never Too Far"!

Rating: 5/5

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Guest Post: Author Juliana Haygert

Today I am excited to have Juliana Haygert, author of "Her Heart's Secret Wish", stop by the blog to tell us a bit about her writing process! 

Like most writers, I started writing at an early age. But then it was just a hobby. During college, I stopped writing. Not sure why, though. Too busy? Even though I wasn’t writing anymore, my mind never stopped creating stories and making observations “ah, this would be an awesome detail for a story” and things like that.

Around 2008, the urge to write again was overwhelming. I started writing again, and I started thinking about it as more than a hobby. For the first time, I thought about trying to get published. While I wasn’t writing my first real manuscript, as I call it, I researched about the process, the agents, the editors, the wants and wishes, all of that dance.

Early into 2010, I finish my first real manuscript and submitted to agents. I’m serious. Man, I hope they don’t remember me. The writing was horrible. Horrible! Yes, the story was good and I have plans of rewriting it, but the writing … oh, gosh.

But I learned.

I created a blog, I became active on twitter (where the writing community is fantastic!), I read blogs about writing and other writers, I bought several craft books and devoured them, I learned more about the process, the dos and don’ts …

But, there was a big problem I had not foreseen: I write New Adult (if you don’t know what New Adult is, you can read about it here). Back in 2010, nobody wanted New Adult. Because of that, I almost gave up on New Adult. I started YA or adult stories, but they didn’t sound good to me. My voice wasn’t true. So I stuck with NA, even if I never got published because of it.

I found out small presses were more likely to accept New Adult. So I subbed to them. And I got contract for two novellas—one that was just released a few days ago, and another that will come out in February.

Today, New Adult is very popular and, because of many self-published NA books that hit the NYT bestseller list, several agents and editors are now accepting New Adult. Some friends and I created a blog dedicated to New Adult, called NA Alley—if you want to know which agents and editors are accepting NA, or get recommendation on which NA books to read, check our blog out!

I have plans to self-publish a NA Paranormal Romance novel in April, and a NA Contemporary Romance in June, but I think about querying agents again with another project.

The great thing about writing today is that we have options. We just need to stick with it ;)

Thanks, Avery, for having me here today!

From Goodreads: "With a renowned reputation as a player, she had everything figured out...

Twenty-year-old college student, Natasha is the life of every party and the reason behind many celebrations. The easiest girl on campus has all guys at her feet and more than a few in her bed.

…until he came into the game…

Having entered the academic world by chance, Professor Jason Stone is surprised to find one of his young students a huge temptation. The infamous Natasha has caught his attention. But is there more to her than meets the eye?

…and changed the rules.

As their unexpected friendship grows, so does their attraction to each other. When Jason’s Christmas plans are canceled and he ends up at the same party as Natasha, sparks flare, destroying the safe zone around them. Will they figure out how to break through their self-imposed barriers to be together, or lose one another forever?"

About the Author: New Adult author. Contributor at NA Alley blog.

Lover of: coffee, chocolate, wine, dancing, World of Warcraft, books, jeans, high heels, friends + family.

She would love to be Wonder Woman, Cheetara, Elektra, Buffy, Phoebe, She-ra, Rose, Korra, Cornelia, a blood elf shadow priest, and other various kick-ass female from comics, TV series, movies, books and games, but she settles for—the less exciting but equally gratifying life—a wife, mother, friend and a writer. Her heroines are like the ones cited above and she also writes about the heroes who drive them crazy—and occasionally hot.

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Guest Post: Author Evelyn Ink

Today I am excited to have Evelyn Ink, author of "Ill-Fated" and "Sticks, Stones, and Dragon Bones" stop by the blog to tell us a bit about her writing process! 

On Writing Fantasy and the Invention of Words

One of the most fun things about writing Ill-fated was inventing words and place names. I have always loved writers who immerse you in their world with language (think of Tolkien’s use of Norse mythology and Rowling’s use of Latin). Whether they’ve invented new words, or brought back old, rare words with a twist, it definitely sets up the whole feel of a fantasy world; making it more vivid and real, or strange and surreal.

While writing Ill-fated, I tried to invent words that sound like what they are, but with a poetic touch. For a long time, I kept a journal of words I just liked the sound of, and then paired them up with other words to create names for things like types of trees, flowers, potions, or places. A few of my favorite invented words were: Idlerile for a stream androughrunnel for a river, moonbloom for phosphorescence, dayspell and nightspell, and some fun names for trees and plants like: gingerburn, sallow trees, poppyglums, androsedeads.

Finding a way to introduce words that have a more specific meaning (like drudge for a slave or servant) without slowing down the plot can be difficult, especially since some readers like everything explained and others are annoyed if the story is brought to a screeching halt each time a new word or a bit of history / backstory is explained.

As a writer you can pick a middle ground, but whether you realize it or not, you are likely favoring one side or the other. Sci-fi authors and deep fantasy writers tend to offer a lot of technical details and explanations, I seem to do quite the opposite. Perhaps my expectations are too high, but I think my readers aught to recognized the context in which the word is being used, and deduce the meaning. In most cases I feel like a slight misunderstanding is less vexing then a cumbersome definition, but this is a tricky line to walk, and I will say this, I certainly intend to add a word index in my next edition and maybe this will appease the more methodical readers.

However you choose to handle it, I feel that no matter the genre of a novel (steampunk, paranormal romance, sci-fi, etc.), taking time with your word choices, whether it be the place names, history, or the defining limits of a new realm, can give your book a literary edge. Place names are especially important because they set the feel and mood of the destination (Within Ill-fated a few of my favorites were: the Fiercehollows, the Iron Spine, and Deadroamer. There are many more, but I best leave some surprises for those who are going to read the book). First names and surnames, are also just as important (Would Lord Voldemort be as terrifying if his name were Terry?). In real life villains are named Dennis, and dreadful, dismal towns are called Point Place, but in a world where you can create an immediate mental image with just a name, why be dull?

From Goodreads: "The stars have aligned to make my life grim and loathsome...” fourteen year old Leila Edgewick stands on the brink of disaster, balancing the fate of Bainland and her father’s legacy against a vague, ill-fated prophecy. A meaningless number, a luckless red moon, and worst of all– a star that falls south– send Leila on a quest she does not expect to survive.

Simultaneously, an unknown boy wakes up in the sunken hull of a decrepit cargo ship. Captured and mind-locked, the boy– dubbed “Sam” by the ship’s crew– must escape the infamous Bonesplitter and the dark schemes of one Captain Erastacus Oren.

All the while, Leila journeys out of Bainland. Crossing the wall for the first, she finds a world where magic meets machine. Aeroskiffs, daguerreotypes, and automatons merge with the earth-dolven magic of the South, leaving her to question, “What is sorcery and what is science?”

When Leila and Sam's paths cross, fate ties them together, sending them deep into the Ramble in search of the Wasteland Witches. Plagued by Sam's erratic memory and Leila's dubious rationale, they must outwit the Southland drudge hunters, and take on the dangers of the Ramble: sandwolves, bloodswamps, and the Kartivause – terrifying night creatures from the Shadowland.

Their friendship develops quickly, but as Leila’s quest unravels, Sam’s past is pieced together– and when Sam’s identity is finally revealed, Leila must face up to a bloody family history that could rip their friendship apart..."

About the Author: Evelyn Ink was formally trained to be a parachutist, but found it did not fit her longstanding desire to avoid heights and thus decided to study the much less vertically horrifying subject of English Literature.

Due to the web of conspiracy which surrounds Evelyn Ink, she rarely appears in public, but when she does it’s best to avoid her on account of her enduring history of social disrepute. There has been more than one regrettable event regarding bent cameras and shattered umbrellas.

It’s hard to say how old she is, but I would guess she was born well before you were. Her childhood home, deep in some unknown, but undoubtably pleasant countryside, was turned into a plastic bubblepuck factory forcing her family to move far into the Stonegrave Mountains. These Mountains were unfortunately chosen to be used as an experimental avalanche catastrophe (EAC) site and once again the Ink Family was forced to move. It seems ill-fortune struck again and again as they were repeatedly obligated to change locations: once due to a plague of urban badgers, a fracking sinkhole, and then again when a tuna factory’s waste disposal sight was established just outside their home.

As an adult she has continued on in this nomadic lifestyle, crossing oceans and continents when necessary. Necessary being: under the scrutiny of the press, unwarranted investigations, and an ill-timed anarchist fan base. Evelyn was quoted saying,


Mrs. Ink also prefers the term “vacation” to “exile.”

That said, Mrs. Ink continues on writing and publishing while in exile . . . sorry, on vacation, with her husband, who (name unknown) is thought by many to be both an anarchist and mad philosopher.


You may choose to follow Evelyn Ink on her blog, although due to her absolute terror of electronics and a crippling phobia of the social media (technical term: Socmephobia), her blog posts tend to be infrequent and erratic. Also, due to several post exile investigations and her current relocation program, she is generally prevented from giving specific information regarding her whereabouts (Though, by the hollowly echo and vintage-like hum of a rotary phone, I would suspect from our last conversation, she is somewhere deep underground).

This report was conducted by:
Mr. Edwin Riddle
Of Public Relations, Personal Investigates, and Subterfuge.

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GIVEAWAY: "Dark Promise" by Julia Crane

Today I am excited to have author Julia Crane stop by the blog to share with usher latest release, "Dark Promise"- the first book in her "Between Worlds" series!

From Goodreads: "Rylie has it all – great friends, dream boy, loving family. But on the eve of her sixteenth birthday, her perfect little world shatters. A stranger claiming to be her real mother appears with a secret: Rylie is a faery whose powers will be unleashed on her birthday. Captured and forced into a new life, Rylie struggles to keep everything she loves and discovers a terrifying truth:
some promises cannot be broken."

About the Author: Julia crane is the author of the Coexist: Keegan’s Chronicles. She has a bachelors degree in criminal justice. Julia has believed in magical creatures since the day her grandmother first told her an Irish tale. Growing up her mother greatly encouraged reading and using your imagination. Although she’s spent most of her life on the US east coast, she currently lives in Dubai with her husband and three children.

Website: http://www.juliacraneauthor.com/

Blog: http://www.juliacraneauthor.blogspot.com/

Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/juliacraneauthor?fref=ts

Twitter: @JuliaCrane2

Newsletter sign up: http://www.juliacraneauthor.com/#!mailing-list/c1dp4

Giveaway: 

Julia and her amazing assistant Alison have been generous enough to offer four separate prize packs! The grand prize (US only) is a paperback copy of "Dark Promise", the second place prize (international) is an e-book of "Dark Promise" and "Dark Promise" swag (including a bookmark and 2 stickers), and, lastly, there are 2 third place prizes, e-books of "Dark Promise" (international). 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

PURCHASE LINKS:

http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Promise-Between-Worlds-ebook/dp/B008QI80MS/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1349879314&sr=1-1&keywords=dark+promise+julia+crane

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dark-promise-julia-crane/1112301582?ean=2940014996471

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/dark-promise/id548971341?mt=11

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Guest Post: Author Hanna Peach

Today I am honored to have author Hanna Peach stop by the blog to tell us the heartwarming story about how she became a published author!

A sunflower & how I came to be published… 

I wrestled with whether this story was too personal to tell, too soon to tell... I’ve been told, as writers, that we must ‘tell the truth’. So…

…this is what happened.

I had wanted to be a writer since I was seven, but for the lack of confidence in me, I was never serious about my writing. Instead, I dabbled, I hobbied, I busied myself with a ‘real job’. But always there was this sense that it wasn’t enough for me.

In early 2012 I was accepted into a week-long writing Masterclass, where I met my writing mentor, the man who would change me as a writer forever. He was one of Australia’s most popular writers, having published (to date) 21 bestselling novels. For some reason he saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself. I left that Masterclass with these words in my ear, “Keep writing, Hanna. You’re going to make it.”

In September he announced that he was dying of cancer and asked would I fly down to see him one last time, to do one last Masterclass with him. With a sob in my throat, I said yes. The trip was joyful and devastating at the same time. How blessed was I to spend one last week with such an amazing man, how blessed was my life to be touched by his.

This time I left holding a small sunflower seedling – his last gift to me – in one hand and these last words ringing in my ears, “My one regret with you is that I won't live to see you published.”

The best way to ignite a fire in my heart is to tell me that something can't be done. His words were a challenge I fully, yet silently, accepted. Dammit, he was going to see me published. Traditional publishing was too long a lead time and he didn’t have that much time, so indie-publishing was the way to go.

Since I left him that day, I secretly, desperately, worked every second of my spare time to get my book published so that I could surprise him… as a ‘Thank You’ to him for his belief in me and his mentorship over the last year, to show him that his legacy will live on through me. I finished the manuscript, had it edited, cover art professionally done... I made mistakes, drank too much coffee, read everything I could about indie-publishing… I filmed a book trailer, setup a website, a facebook page and an account with Amazon…

Now here I am. A published author. Thanks to him… the man who believed in me until I could believe in myself.

It’s my turn to say to you… Keep writing.

x Hanna

Epilogue.

My mentor passed away late Thursday night on 22nd November. His sunflower bloomed overnight on the Thursday of his passing and its’ beautiful yet humble face was a comfort to me when I found out the news on Friday. I know this is him saying farewell.

My book was published on Friday 23rd November.

This may seem like a sad epilogue, but it’s not. He may not have seen the book but I’m sure he knows. In fact, he knew before I did. Wherever he is now, I know he is proud of me.

From Goodreads: "An army of angels walk among us. They have kept us safe and ignorant, so far.
Earthbound for centuries and ruled by the Elders, they have established hidden cities, a society and The Code: obey your Elders, kill all demons, eliminate Rogue-angels, protect the mortals, remain hidden. Their warriors are the ungifted earthborn angels armed with blades and the ‘borrowed magics’ of distilled angel-blood tattoos.

Alyxandria is a young warrior with a fondness for customized knives and illegal night-races. If only she could overcome the taint of her parents who abandoned her to become Rogues.

When Alyx saves Israel, a gifted mortal with a past, she is forbidden to see him again. But she can’t help herself, drawn to him through their Guardian-bond, an ancient and long-forgotten bond; if he dies, she dies.

An encounter with a handsome Rogue leaves Alyx questioning all she has been taught to believe. Alyx begins to dig into the Elders’ secrets. Two thousand years of secrets that begin with the death of the Archangel Raphael. She is not prepared when she uncovers an Elder’s dark plan.

Somewhere on earth is a key to unlock hell. Somewhere on earth are pieces of an amulet that controls Lucifer and his army. Somehow Israel is the link and now both sides are after him. Who can Alyx trust when Good and Evil is no longer clear?

The war for earth begins."

About the Author: A writer of fantastical things, especially stories with fangs, magic or wings.

I want to tell you tales that will rip away the glamour from your life, keep you running and fighting and gasping long past the devil’s hour and maybe, just maybe, reality will look a little bit different when you return.

Sit with me around this witchlight. Let me tell you a story.

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"Snow White Sorrow" Excerpt and GIVEAWAY

Today I am excited tofor Cameron Jace's to stop by the blog to share an excerpt from his "Snow White Sorrow"- this book legitimately has one of the most gorgeously creepy book covers I have ever seen before! 

From Goodreads: "Sixteen year old Loki Blackstar is no Prince Charming. His mother is a ghost. His only friend is a red Cadillac that talks to him through the radio. He looks like an Angel but acts like jerk. No wonder he has been banned from Heaven, which is the least of his troubles. Loki needs a job to pay for school and support himself.
Still, Loki has a rare gift: He is a Dreamhunter. One of the few in the world who can hunt and kill immortal demons in their dreams so they never wake up again.

When Loki is sent to kill a sixteen-year-old vampire girl the locals call Snow White Sorrow, he is pulled into a magical but dangerous world. The locals believe the monster to be Snow White.

The real Snow White... living in the ruins of an ancient castle in a small town. She is described as horribly beautiful, terrifyingly enchanting, and wickedly lovely.

What he finds instead is a beautiful monster girl filled with rage and hurt, who has an epic untold story to tell of things such like why the Brothers Grimm altered the fairy tale, who the Evil Queen really is, where the mirror came from, and who possessed it.

Snow White has killed every person who has dared come near the castle where she once lived with the queen. Mysteriously, she lets Loki live, and whispers two words in his ears; two words that will change his life forever."

Excerpt from Snow White Blood Red 

Dear Wilhelm Carl Grimm,

She is not that giddy, naïve, and helpless princess she pretends to be. Please don’t let her fool you with her innocence if you see her sing to the birds in the forest. Resist her charm from bringing joyful tears to your eyes, and shield yourself from her devious beauty before she deceives you into wanting to kiss her awake. It'll be a kiss of death. Your death. That’s how she fooled the Huntsman, Prince Charming, and me, her birth mother.

I still remember the original script of the fairy tale, the one you wrote in 1812. It clearly stated that she was my own flesh and blood daughter. I don’t have the slightest idea why you altered it fifty years later.

What was the point of turning me into an evil, narcissistic, and heartless stepmother, blinded by jealousy and envy of the young princess?

For years, I have been looking forward to telling you the truth about her, but you were impossible to reach.

I am glad I found your brother, Jacob. He told me that you wanted to tone the stories down so children could sleep better at night, instead of having nightmares about the Queen who sought to eat her daughter’s heart and liver.

Shame on you, Wilhelm.

You, of all authors, knew why I wanted to kill her. My actions were justified. I was trying to save my kingdom from her wrath, before everything we loved was destined to an end. The same way you had to rewrite the true fairytales after cursing us, so the War of Sorrows would end forever after.

Night after night, and year after year, parents fed their children false bedtime stories, until your lies grew into inescapable memories. Your happily ever after lies, Wilhelm, shaped the so called fairy tale world.

I wondered why you didn’t burn the original scripts, instead of rewriting them. You must have figured out that sooner or later someone would dig up the truth and expose you. Altering it was the smarter solution. You let children believe that the bites were resurrecting kisses, and that torturing glass coffins were made for sleeping beauties, waiting for a prince to come and kiss them awake.

A wise man once said that the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he was someone else. You did the same with us, Wilhelm. You turned us into pastiches of the immortals that we really are, and made it harder for us if wanted to persuade the world otherwise.

I know that you did it to save us from her. And I appreciate how you concealed our real names, or we would have ended up like Rumpelstiltskin, tortured by those who knew of his real name.

But sometimes, I can’t help but wonder why no one ever questioned why I was called the Evil Queen, and why I was never given a real name in the books.

Was I so superficial to the world, so stereotypical and mundane? Why was I treated as if I were the monster of the week?

You know what I think? I think that the world never got the time to hate me. It just wanted to hate me long before it met me.

If I tell those who detest me about the true nature of their little princess, would they ever care about me half as much as they care about her?

I know that deep inside, they adore me. They like the way I talk, walk, dress, and even the way I kill.

They are just afraid to admit how much they love me. I am the Snow White Queen, strong enough that I don’t need anyone’s pity or love, because I am loved by the greatest and most majestic heart in the world:

Mine.

About the author: Wonderlander, Neverlander, Unicorn-chaser, enchanter, musician, survived a coma, & totally awesome. Sometimes I tell stories. Always luv the little monsters I write young adult paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and science fiction mostly. The Grimm Diaries series is a seven book saga that deals with retellings of fairy tales from a young adult POV - it connects most of the fairy tales together and claims to be the truth about fairy tales. I live in San Fransisco and seriously think circles are way cooler than triangles.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Special Note: All "Likers" of Cameron's Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/camjace) will get to notified of the exact release date, which is also when you will be able to get Snow White Sorrow for only 0.99c for only that 1 day. Also, until December 13th, the prequel pack (all 6) for Kindle is only 0.99c (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AA4JIWC)!

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"Release" Blog Tour: Guest Post and GIVEAWAY with M.R. Merrick

Today I am excited to be a part of M.R. Merrick's "Release" blog tour! Matt has been kind enough to stop by and tell us a bit about his writing process. 

My Writing Style

Everybody has their own style and method to writing, but I’m still trying to nail mine down. I’ve found something different that has worked for each book I’ve written, but doesn’t necessarily apply when I start the next one.

With Exiled, I had an idea in my head and I wrote until I’d gotten it out. As the series progressed however, that same method wouldn’t work. I put Chase, Rayna, and company on a big journey in Exiled, and I couldn’t expect myself to flounder through it for the entire series. For Shift I used a full outline. It veered off the path from time to time, but for the most part, it stayed committed to my original ideas.

Release is where things really started to change. I had a full outline written for the book, but I struggled a lot while writing it. The outline was there, the story was ready to be told, but it just wasn’t working. When I finally realized the outline was the problem, I fought with myself trying to fix it. That didn’t work either. The story didn’t truly come to life until I just let myself go and wrote. The truly major plot points stayed, of course, but the road to getting there changed drastically and in my opinion, it changed for the better.

I’m currently writing the final book in the series and I’m having trouble outlining even a little bit of it. I know everything that needs to happen, I know the plot points I need to close off, and the character arcs that needs to turn, but plotting seems impossible. I plot a few chapters ahead, but then I hit a wall, so I go back and start writing what I know I have to work on and then come back to it later.

The fourth book is the last book in the series, and writing this one feels like I’m tackling an entirely new beast. I realize now that it is. Each book is a different entity and as such, needs to be treated so. While some writers can plot everything before they write a word, others will never plot a thing. I don’t think either approach is wrong, but what I think is important is finding the approach that works for you.

I’ve realized that my style is somewhere in the middle. Sometimes I need the outline to nail down the details and put on paper exactly where I want to go. But in some cases, the story wants to tell itself. It doesn’t want me going into each chapter knowing the outcome. It wants me to experience it with my characters. And sometimes, that’s the approach that evokes the rawest emotions from me.

One thing is for certain, I no longer push one method or the other. When one route doesn’t work, I don’t stress out about it, I simply continue down a different path. I always start out trying to outline my novels first, but if it’s not working, I’ve found some of my best work comes from just “letting it all go” on the page. After all, that’s what first drafts are for. You can clean up any errors, fix plot points, and adjust character development at any point in your editing process. What’s important, first and foremost, is telling your story. If you don’t get it down on the page, you can’t edit it and turn it into something completely fresh. The first draft has no rules, so a writer has to take advantage of that. Just write, have fun, and take yourself on an adventure.

From Goodreads: "After uniting the shifters and calling in reinforcements, Chase has to face his toughest challenge yet: learning to control his emotions. But as tensions rise and his powers grow, controlling his emotions becomes the least of his problems.

Terrorized by a multi-shifter who is hell-bent on turning him, Chase questions just how far he’s willing to go to stop his father. Meanwhile, Tiki’s virtuous nature has placed him in the middle of Vincent’s past, leaving Chase to oppose a senate of vampires and defend a demon he hates.

Trying to balance his friends, his enemies, and his inner demons, Chase is left searching for answers about the Mark, his destiny, and where he can find the next soul piece. Stopping Riley is his top priority, but as more obstacles arise, he finds himself doubting all the decisions he’s made - especially regarding Rayna.

One thing is for certain: Chase has finally realized that he doesn’t know anything. The light doesn’t always quell the darkness, the monsters don’t always stay in the shadows, and the past doesn’t always stay in the past - sometimes, the demons inside are the hardest to fight."

About the Author: M.R. Merrick is a Canadian writer, and author of Exiled, the first installment in The Protector Series. Having never traveled, he adventures to far off lands through his imagination and in between cups of coffee. As a music lover and proud breakfast enthusiast, he's usually found at the computer, between a pair of headphones and in front of a large bowl of cereal.

 As part of the blog tour Matt and Valerie (from Stuck in Books) have prepared some AMAZING giveaways!

Grande Prize Pack (3 Winners)
3x Signed paperbacks (Exiled, Shift, Release)
3x Signed 8x10 posters (Exiled, Shift, Release)
5x Bookmarks
1x Notebook (Winner’s choice of cover)
1x Magnet

Runner-up Prize Pack (5 Winners)
1x Signed paperback (Winner’s choice of Exiled, Shift, or Release) with signed poster
1x bookmark (Winner’s choice)
1x Magnet

Secondary Prizes A (10 Winners)
Release eBooks

Secondary Prize B (10 Winners)
1x bookmark (winner’s choice)
1x The Protector magnet

Winners will be chosen as follows: First 3 names drawn from Rafflecopter will get the grand prize. The following 5 names get the runner-up prize. The following 10 names win ebook copies of Release, and the final 10 names win the swag pack.

There will also be multiple opportunities to win signed paperbacks, signed posters, notebooks, swag packs, and bookmarks throughout the tour on both Twitter (@MRMerrick) and Stuck in Books's Facebook Page .


a Rafflecopter giveaway

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