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December 31, 2012

happy new year <3

Happy New Year y'all! Do you have plans for tonight? I'm going to hang out with one of my besties, Sarah! Everyone be safe tonight. :D

Thanks to everyone who has stuck with me this year, especially these last few months with only a handful of posts. My only goal for 2013 is to be more active with my blog and join memes. I'm not going to worry about losing weight...stuff like that, lol. Just writing and making blogger and writer friends. :D

Happy New Year, have a time (My So-Called Life reference, lol), and remember to be safe. Love you all! <3

December 11, 2012

furthermore release day!

Happy release day! Furthermore is here and we are all so excited to share it with you.



Buy now for Kindle, Nook
, and Paperback

A first date, a lottery, treachery and deceit. Sometimes fate has other plans. Sometimes there’s more to tell.

In Furthermore, seventeen original stories take you on a journey through worlds here and beyond. From the depths of the earth to the embrace of the sea, your favorite series continue. Prequels, alternative views, and new scenes give readers a chance to experience more than originally told. Including stories from Rebekah Campbell, David Estes, Amber Garr, Karen Amanda Hooper, Stephanie Judice, and Leigh Michael.

The best part? In honor of those who lost the battle and those who continue to fight, all proceeds from this anthology will be donated to cancer research and support.

Find out more about your favorite characters from The Darkness Through the Light Series, The Dwellers Sage, The Syrenka Series, The Leila Marx Novels, The Kindrily Series, Saga of the Setti, and Annabelle’s Story.

And now for some teasers…

“Emily Jenkins, corrupting young men. What would people say?” He tutted at me and as if by magic, I spotted an elderly lady walking along the pavement, scrunching up her nose to stare at us. – Surprise Visitor (The Darkness Through the Light Series)

When I thought I might make her lips too swollen from my rough need of her, I pulled away. Those half-open dark eyes could’ve pulled me into Hell, and I would’ve gladly followed with a stupid smile on my face. - Jeremy’s Heart (Saga of the Setti)

Even when you know it’s the right thing to do, running away from home is never easy. They’re not good people. I can’t stay here anymore. – The Runaway-Tawni’s Story (The Dwellers Saga)

He smiled and my heart melted. One look like that and I second guessed every decision I made. – Rift (The Syrenka Series)

I had to entertain myself somehow, and being around these ridiculous humans made me homesick for a land I left centuries ago. – Human Resources (The Lelia Marx Novels)

This too shall pass. I mentally repeated it over and over, hoping Nathaniel’s injury wasn’t as bad as my crumbling heart made it out to be. – The Sound of Love (The Kindrily Series)

Perhaps the hardest thing to accept about one’s fate is that it can take years to unfold. But when it does, it’s worth every second, every breath, and every dream. – Fate (Annabelle’s Story)


GIVEAWAY TIME

Like what you see? Be sure to enter our giveaway! Win signed paperbacks, ebooks, and swag from all of the authors. Open internationally! a Rafflecopter giveaway

December 10, 2012

iwsg #6 december


Hey everyone and welcome to my sixth IWSG post! The IWSG is the brainchild of Alex J. Cavanaugh (I've been waiting for an awesome opportunity to throw "brainchild" into a sentence, lol) where writers can express their highs and lows throughout the process of writing. If you'd like to join, visit Alex's blog at the link above. You'll be so thankful when you do. :)

I missed last month when I got sucked into NaNoWriMo, and then I almost missed this month because I've just returned to Earth after falling off of it. I didn't make it to the end of NaNoWriMo--I didn't even meet the halfway mark, but after some time grieving over my loss, I'm okay with it. I have more of a draft to work with than I did on October 31st. My husband even bought me a super cute purple monster flash drive to cheer me up cause he's just that awesome. :)

It was cool to take a break from writing my memoir and work on some fiction. My novel is tentatively titled Violet and takes place where zombies and humans coexist side by side. There are rogue zombies who don't want any part of "normal" society and trying to fit in with humans. I have been seriously giving thought to having the story take place in the 60's with riots concerning zombies being drafted into the Vietnam War instead of human beings. I haven't quite worked out all of my plans yet. At this point, anything can happen!

Did you participate in NaNoWriMo this year? Have you in the past? How did your month turn out for you?

December 9, 2012

november rain

Hey you guys! Yep, I dropped off the face of the planet for pretty much half of November and up until now in December. November was one crazy month for me and my fam. Are you ready for the deets?

I marched into NaNoWriMo with guns blazing; however, I didn't make it. I didn't even make it halfway. I ended with 20,542 words, which isn't too shabby. My plan was definitely to connect with others and lament over the bad days and celebrate the good, but I just fell off the face of the Earth! >.< I really didn't mean for that to happen, and I hope you guys are hanging in there with me--I feel awful for neglecting my blog and definitely neglecting to talk to my friends.

Here's the craziness that was my November:

There was the election!

My son's birthday and birthday party! He's 3 now and getting to be such a big boy. :)

Jack blowing out his candle with his dad and sister
I'm having some health issues--I had to go to the ER, had a follow up with my regular physician, and am scheduled for surgery this Tuesday. My gallbladder will be removed due to gallstones. The surgeon also told me I have a hernia from my last pregnancy, and he'll take care of that. He is possibly going to remove part of my liver for a biopsy, eek! I'm kind of nervous about this whole thing.

My dear, dear friend, who's really more of a sister to me, came and stayed with us for a few days. It was wonderful to see her! She moved to Austin back in July, and though we keep in regular contact, it was great to hang out with her and go out to do stuff together. :D We hung out with a couple of our friends from high school, too, and we aren't able to all get together like we used to now that we all live in different places.

There was Thanksgiving!

I'm still adjusting to walking on my foot after breaking two bones in my ankle in July. I've been without crutches and the walking boot for a little over a month, and the most trouble I have with it is walking down stairs. I look really funny and awkward walking down stairs--for example at the mall last weekend, we took the stairs instead of the escalator. I'm slow and funny, lol! XD

I was sick with the respiratory flu for a week; however, I am so incredibly thankful I wasn't ill when my friend came to visit and wasn't ill for Thanksgiving. That's a bright spot. :D

My dog, Beau, was neutered, poor guy! He's a Cavalier King Charles spaniel, and my husband was wanting to pimp him out, lol!

The card my in-laws gave us the day Beau was neutered, lol
Really, my life would not be interesting to me without all of the chaos going on. I thrive on it--there's always something going on at my full house, with my husband, me, our 10 year old, 3 year old, our dog, two cats, my sister, and her 4 month old baby. It was really cool when my friend came to stay with us. I love all of us being here together.

To everyone who survived NaNoWriMo, congratulations! I learned a lot from attempting it this year that I will put to good use next year.

I'll talk to y'all very very soon!

Happy Holidays!!

November 15, 2012

Cover Reveal ~ Furthermore: An Anthology

It's Cover Reveal week! Thanks to the talent of so many wonderful authors, our anthology is nearly complete and will be released on December 11th. But today, we are excited to share the cover with you and won't make you wait any longer!



A first date, a lottery, treachery and deceit. Sometimes fate has other plans. Sometimes there’s more to tell.

In Furthermore: An Anthology, eighteen original stories take you on a journey through worlds here and beyond. From the depths of the earth to the embrace of the sea, your favorite series continue. Prequels, alternative views, and new scenes give readers a chance to experience more than originally told.

Including stories from Rebekah Campbell, Amber Garr, David Estes, Leigh Michael, Karen Amanda Hooper, Stephanie Judice, and Mayandree Michael. And most importantly, in honor of those who lost the battle and those who continue to fight, all proceeds from this anthology will be donated to cancer research and support.

SURPRISE VISITOREmily has never been a fan of surprises but Eric has something up his sleeve to change her mind. (The Darkness Through The Light Series)

GETTING TO KNOW THE HEAVIES - The two Sullivan bodyguards are still human beings underneath it all. And everyone has a weakness. (The Darkness Through The Light Series)

PEOPLE CHANGE - When Eric asks his dad a question about his mother, it’s time to go back to where it all began and then went so badly wrong. (The Darkness Through The Light Series)

COLD FEET - Kain witnesses Eviana’s deceit on their wedding day and is forced to deal with the consequences of her behavior. (The Syrenka Series)

RIFT - Daniel encourages the group to make a detour to the Grand Canyon, as the distance between the friends begins to rival the great ravine. (The Syrenka Series)

DISCOVERY - Leila’s first encounter with her psychic mentor is nothing short of memorable. (The Leila Marx Novels)

HUMAN RESOURCES – Blake finds a new job while Mac finds a friend who reminds him of home. (The Leila Marx Novels)

THE RUNAWAY- TAWNI’S STORY - After learning of her parents’ treachery, Tawni leaves home seeking to make amends for their transgressions. (The Dwellers Saga)

THE LIFE LOTTERY- A STORY FROM YEAR ZERO - With the survival of the human race on the brink, there’s only one way to decide who will be saved in the underground caves: The Lottery. (The Dwellers Saga)

FATE: Experience Annabelle’s struggle to fulfill the ABA Prophecy in a new light through the parting words of Adrian, Aurelia, Blake, and Lady Katherine. (Annabelle’s Story)

The Sound of Love - Glimpse into one of Nathaniel’s previous lives and see how his soul mate reacts when tragedy strikes. (The Kindrily Series)

MUIRNE’S MELODY--To escape her master’s vile desires, Muirne flees into the snow-swept night, finding a green-eyed stranger and a mystical destiny. (Saga of the Setti Series)

JEREMY’S HEART: Calm, cool, and complete scoundrel, Jeremy realizes the loss he’s suffered means nothing compared to true love. (Saga of the Setti Series)

FALL FROM GRACE: Warped by centuries of darkness, the creature Sveigja plots to capture Clara as his queen. (Saga of the Setti Series)

Plus two original stories by Mayandree Michel.

We would like to extend a HUGE thanks to Claudia at PhatPuppyArt for donating the artwork and to Alexandra Shostak for donating her time for the cover design. You ladies are amazing and we are all so grateful for your contribution!

If you are interested in promoting the release or reviewing an ARC, please visit HERE to sign up.

To find out more about the authors and their stories, please check out THIS POST.

November 11, 2012

soapy sundays #12



October Recap & a Fresh Start
 
It's hard to believe I haven't posted a soapy sundays edition since the last Sunday of September! Weeks just slip by me, especially this month when I'm doing NaNoWriMo, and I found myself a few weeks behind in my Y&R episodes, eek!
 
First of all, I love the new intro! It's about time the cast appearing in the opening credits have had their photos updated, and the actors who are getting more airtime have been included. I don't even fast forward through it anymore, lol.
 
Hot Hot Heat
 

 Ronan and Phyllis...Oh. My. God. She was feeling the chemistry, Ronan, you could tell that. They are absolutely smoldering together! I don't think I could've resisted him, so kudos to her. I was happy that by the end of the month, she gave in to her feelings, well maybe I should say lust. :D Ronan is there for Phyllis in ways that Nick has never been and never will be. So why is she so dead set in trying to win him back? He doesn't deserve her! Just let the two of them split up once and for all.
 
She pleads for Nick to forgive her. Why? He remarried her, knowing she has a huge tendency to act emotionally rather than rationally...but he remarried her anyway!! Now he's divorcing her. He ditches her everytime she does something that disappoints him. He told her she DISGUSTS him!! Why are you trying to win that back?! Oh yeah, and now he's hooking up with YOUR SISTER! Enough said. Obviously, I'm Team Phonan, lol. :D
 
Greatest Line of Dialogue Ever
 
Kevin and Chloe figure out the obvious--that Daniel and Heather are seeing each other. When Chloe confronts Daniel and he denies it, Chloe says, "Liar liar, hipster jeans on fire." Epicly funny! Wish I had thought of it first, heehee!
 
I'm still a few episodes behind, but I've heard Heather's character might be written off or recast or something. I really hope not--I love Jennifer Landon as Heather; I don't want to see her go! She's played Heather the best out of all the actresses who've been cast in the role. She makes Heather seem normal and not awkward. Plus, she has nice father-daughter chemistry with Paul.
 
 Supercouple 
 
Awww...Victor and Nikki together again. Although, Nikki, you're right to worry about the future. As much as I hate to say it, it won't be long until Victor hates you again. But I'll enjoy seeing you guys plan your 148th wedding (thanks Adam for that gem of a line, lol) and being all lovey dovey for a while.
 
Descent into Madness
 
Ah Sharon. I could just scream in frustration--how could she burn down the ranch??? Does this mean they're rebuilding the set? It's iconic...it's been there since before I was born! If they are gonna redo Victor's house, then I hope it's somewhat recognizable with some touches of the original house. I know this sounds crazy, but that's the one set I never wanted to be drastically changed. :/ Sharon really needs to pay for that, lol.
 
I wish Adam would just stay away from her. Why is he helping her out anyway to the detriment of his marriage? Thank God Chelsea found out the truth--I can't believe, though, that I would be okay with my new husband helping out his ex and letting her stay on our property. What's up with that? I don't get his motives. I spent the last few episodes Sharon was going to burn down the cabin. And maybe Adam and Chelsea's house, too. She's a loose canon right now. I don't know if she should be trusted to be in that cabin alone honestly.
 
Loss of a New Newman
 
I knew Adam and Chelsea weren't going to stay happy for long, which I understand because if, as a viewer, you want your favorite couples to get air time, then they have to have conflict and drama. I was so close to tears when Chelsea told Adam she lost their baby after Summer plowed into their car. Summer is so immature, blaming Phyllis for the accident. "If I hadn't been so upset with you," she whined to her mother, "that accident never would've happened." (I'm paraphrasing). Please! Take some responsibility for your actions, Summer. I'm not really sure why the character was recast already, but recasting seems to happen a lot when the children of legacy characters are aged suddenly. I wonder how many times this character will be recast.
 
So, I'm sad Adam and Chelsea lost their baby; that's really heartbreaking. And Adam is forcing distance between them by refusing to talk about their loss and his insistence with ingratiating himself back into Sharon's life. Sharon needs to take care of herself and stop relying on men to come save her. In my opinion, Sharon's character has really been done a major injustice by being written this way. I hope she's built back up--although it's been a really long time since I've liked her character because I've grown to love Phyllis so much.
 
I'd really like to see Adam and Chelsea work their problems out, but on a soap, you never know what's going to happen. That's the beauty of watching Y&R. :D 

November 5, 2012

sunday trivia #9

Hey everyone! I'm taking part in Debdatta Dasgupta Sahay's new Sunday Trivia meme over at b00k r3vi3ws Click on the link so you can get involved, too! Every Sunday all of the participating bloggers will ask trivia questions that are related to books, authors, characters, and movies based on books. The answers along with new questions will be posted the following Sunday. Try it without Googling, lol. ;)

Answers to last week's questions:

1. In Mary Shelley's book of the same name, Frankenstein is:
a. violent and terrifying monster
b. a mad scientist who created a monster
c. a village in the Alps

Answer: A

2. A poltergeist is a ghost that:
a. haunts cemeteries
b. possesses people
c. makes noise

Answer: C

3. In Haiti and West Africa, a corpse brought back to life is called a:
a. zombie
b. vampire
c. monster

Answer: A

4. When do banshees wail?
a. when someone is born
b. when someone is about to die
c. when someone watches a scary movie

Answer: B

5. What is the difference between demons and ghosts? (Essay question! Just kidding! :D)

Answer: Ghosts are the spirits of people who have died, but demons are spirits who have never existed in human form.

Since I'm doing NaNoWriMo, I'm focused on that right now, and will take off this month from Sunday Trivia. :)

Please don't forget to stop by b00k r3vi3ws and answer her questions, too. The link is above. :D

October 30, 2012

Zed by Stephen Herfst ~ #Review

Zed (Zed, #1)
Title: Zed
Author: Stephen Herfst
Published: February 18, 2012
Pages: 152
Genre: Zombies, Humor, Apocalypse
My copy: Kindle Edition from Smashwords
Average Rating: 4.13 / 5
My Rating: 4 / 5

Synopsis from Goodreads :

The story revolves around a teenage girl's promise to save Zed from the human hordes.

Zed is not your typical zombie. He is cursed with the affliction of thought ... although he tries to make the best of a bad situation. The goals for his unrest are simple: to improve his stride, to taste a lightly-seared pork loin once again and avoid Activists at all costs.

His life was predictable, controlled and good until chaos crashed the party. In just one day his world is destroyed and his ability to survive is tested. Would he be able to get through this in one piece? And would he somehow be able to survive the unstoppable force that goes by the name of Chase?


My Review:

I signed up through the ARR program on Goodreads to receive a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the interesting twist on the zombie genre this story presented and haven't laughed so hard about a zombie apocalypse since the movie Shaun of the Dead. On an interesting side note, Shaun of the Dead was on TV yesterday, and one of the characters called a zombie a "zed." I immediately thought of this book and loved it! I do want to point out that though I thought of this book, it's completely different from the movie and any other zombie book I've read--it takes place from the zombie's point of view. I'm only comparing the two because both have comical moments.

The changes in Zed's behavior and thinking once he met up with Chase were so cool! I loved their partnership--it was the two of them against the world...the world who wanted to kill off every zombie out there. Zed was a zombie I found myself rooting for, and Chase was the perfect partner to team up with him. She is a force of nature and definitely smart in her survival mode, which is one of the things about her that Zed admires and I did as well.

There aren't just awesome characters either. Plenty of action kept my interest, and I was so nervous and on the edge of my seat every time they found themselves in a situation with obstacles to overcome. I never thought I'd be on a zombie's side until I read this book! I couldn't get over how kick ass Chase is and how unafraid and matter-of-fact she was in teaming up with a zombie and fighting for their survival right alongside him. I can't wait to see where the next book takes me!

Find the Author:

Goodreads  Facebook  Website  Google +

Buy the Book:

Amazon  Smashwords  Barnes & Noble

October 29, 2012

sunday trivia #8

Hey everyone! I'm taking part in Debdatta Dasgupta Sahay's new Sunday Trivia meme over at b00k r3vi3ws Click on the link so you can get involved, too! Every Sunday all of the participating bloggers will ask trivia questions that are related to books, authors, characters, and movies based on books. The answers along with new questions will be posted the following Sunday. Try it without Googling, lol. ;)


Questions & answers from last week:
Q: What's the bestselling nonfiction book of all time?
A: The Bible
 
Q: What is Dr. Seuss's real full name?
A: Theodor Seuss Geisel

Q: Which author has sold more children's books than any other author? *Hint: the answer will surprise you :)
A: R.L. Stine  I was really surprised with this one! I thought it would be J.K. Rowling or even Dr. Seuss, lol.

This week in honor of Halloween, I'm asking Halloween themed questions in multiple choice form. Have fun! :D
1. In Mary Shelley's book of the same name, Frankenstein is:
a. violent and terrifying monster
b. a mad scientist who created a monster
c. a village in the Alps

2. A poltergeist is a ghost that:
a. haunts cemeteries
b. possesses people
c. makes noise

3. In Haiti and West Africa, a corpse brought back to life is called a:
a. zombie
b. vampire
c. monster

4. When do banshees wail?
a. when someone is born
b. when someone is about to die
c. when someone watches a scary movie

5. What is the difference between demons and ghosts? (Essay question! Just kidding! :D)

Please don't forget to stop by b00k r3vi3ws and answer her questions, too. The link is above. :D

October 27, 2012

evie's epic bookshelf cleaning giveaway @ bookish!

Evie over at Bookish is cleaning out her bookshelves, and YOU get a chance to be one of four winners to receive a BOX of books!

Here are the prizes (photos from Evie's blog):

Box #1 YA Finished copies

 
 
Box #2 Adult ARCs & Finished Copies
 




Box #3 YA ARCs


 
 
 
Box #4 YA Hardcovers
 


This is an amazing and generous giveaway, but it ends on October 31st so get over to Evie's blog as fast as you can and enter for a chance to win a box of books! On the right hand side of my blog, click on the Bookshelf Cleaning @ Bookish button to be taken directly to the giveaway. Good luck! :D

October 25, 2012

review ~ jilly-bean

JillyBean
Title: Jilly-Bean (Jilly-Bean #1)
Author: Celia Vogel
Published: April 15, 2012
Pages: 208 pages
Genre: YA
My copy: Kindle edition from Amazon
Average Rating: 3.40 / 5.00
My Rating: 2 / 5

Synopsis from Goodreads :

A mysterious psychic named Madame Zelda.

An eerie séance.

A dead body.

A hunky doctor who bears a striking resemblance to Michelangelo's Statue of David.

A naive girl named Jillian Crossland.

Temperatures are rising and superstition reigns supreme!

Eighteen year old Jillian Crossland, aka Jilly-Bean, has her life planned out. Or so she thinks. A seance one evening with Madame Zelda presiding, sets in motion events that are both comical and tragic.

Jilly-Bean is a story filled with humour, insight, and lovable, quirky characters.

My Review:

I signed up to receive a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through Goodreads.

I really wanted to like this book, and there were definitely parts I enjoyed reading. I was really freaked out by the seance, but I love to be scared and it was one of my favorite scenes of the entire book.

I never really connected with Jillian's character. She seemed to lose her common sense once she met Matt and became paranoid about whether he was in love with her or not though they hadn't been dating very long. There wasn't any rooting value for their relationship to work, but what he ended up doing to her was really awful of him at the same time, which I could then empathize with her.

Some parts of the plot didn't make sense to me. Descriptions of the scenery went on way too long as well as the ordinary tasks Jillian set out to complete. I had a difficult time reading through those sections with interest.

On the positive side, as I mentioned before, I loved the seance scenes, and overall the book was well written. I think if there had been more focus on the seance and paranormal occurrences, I would have definitely been infatuated with this story.


Find the Author:

Goodreads  Facebook  Twitter 

Buy the book:

Amazon  Barnes & Noble


October 24, 2012

review ~ contemplations of dinner

Contemplations of Dinner 
Title: Contemplations of Dinner
Author: Gabriel Beyers
Published: December 22, 2011
Pages: 135
Genre: Horror, Short Stories
My copy: Kindle edition from Smashwords
Average Rating: 3.60 / 5.00 
My Rating: 4 / 5




Synopsis from Goodreads :
When death has you for dinner, oh the tales that you will hear.

A secret hidden in a freezer. A lonely woman takes solace in an ancient cat. A boy is trapped in a barn with a gang of killers. An open grave awaits an occupant. A man is encouraged to kill by a long lost love. And more.

Here lie ten short stories from the mind of author Gabriel Beyers.

My Review:
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review from Review Seekers on Facebook.

Contemplations of Dinner is a collection of short stories that will scare the living bejeezus out of you! I've watched what seems like hundreds of horror movies so I'm pretty well desensitized. It takes a lot to scare me, and it's rare when a book gives me the kind of scares that a really really well done horror flick can do. This is one of those rare books.

Some of the scenes in certain stories were ones I had to read twice because I couldn't believe what I had just read! It would be something so deliciously evil that I needed to take a moment and soak it in. Then I began thinking maybe I'm not as desensitized to scares as I thought I was.

I wondered why this book was titled Contemplations of Dinner, and you'll be shocked once you read it and find out why for yourself. This is a perfect book to pick up and read this time of year when Halloween is quickly approaching, and I highly recommend this collection to any and every horror fan.
 
 
Find the Author:
 
Buy the Book:

October 22, 2012

review ~ the second wave: a post-apocalyptic tale

The Second Wave: A Post-Apocalyptic Tale 

Title: The Second Wave: A Post-Apocalyptic Tale
Author: Lisa McCourt Hollar
Published: July 6, 2012
Length: 8457 words (approximately)
Genre: Zombies, Horror
My copy: Kindle edition from Smashwords
Average rating: 5 / 5
My rating: 5 / 5

Synopsis from Goodreads :
A young woman, Fran, seeks refuge from the cold in an Ohio farmhouse. Wanting to forget the past several months and the horror she has witnessed, she convinces herself that she is safe, at least for the moment. Relaxing and enjoying the winter scene, she falls asleep and wakes to a new nightmare. Soon she learns that what happened at the beginning of the Zombie Apocalypse wasn't the worst of it. There was more to the virus that created the monsters that now ruled the earth. The infection was mutating and what was coming next may mean the end for all those left alive.

My Review:
I received this eBook for free from the author on Review Seekers on Facebook in exchange for an unbiased review.

I've seen and own so many zombie movies it's crazy. I never in a million years would have thought that I'd read a tale about zombies that was so fresh and different from any movie I've ever seen. This story blew me away! I can't rave about how much I loved reading every word. The author's spin on the zombie genre had me surprised at every turn and was told so vividly, I was freaked out! I live in Ohio, you know, and very close to where the story takes place. You will be shocked by the ending--I know I was! This is an absolute must-read for every zombie fan!

Find the author:
Goodreads  Website  Twitter  Facebook

Buy the book:
Smashwords  Amazon  Barnes & Noble

October 21, 2012

sunday trivia #7

 
Hey everyone! I'm taking part in Debdatta Dasgupta Sahay's new Sunday Trivia meme over at b00k r3vi3ws Click on the link so you can get involved, too! Every Sunday all of the participating bloggers will ask trivia questions that are related to books, authors, characters, and movies based on books. The answers along with new questions will be posted the following Sunday. Try it without Googling, lol. ;)

Answers from Sunday Trivia #6
1. Name of any book written by Chelsea Handler-- Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea.

2. The Sookie Stackhouse novels in order are:
#1 Dead Until Dark
#2 Living Dead in Dallas
#3 Club Dead
#4 Dead to the World
#5 Dead as a Doornail
#6 Definitely Dead
#7 All Together Dead
#8 From Dead to Worse
#9 Dead and Gone
#10 Dead in the Family
#11 Dead Reckoning
#12 Deadlocked
#13 Dead Ever After (coming out in 2013)
P.S. ~ I know this question was really evil, lol. I've read them all (except 12 and 13) and still get the tiles mixed up. :)

3. The author of Before I Go to Sleep is S.J. Watson.

4. The upcoming new novel by Gayle Forman is titled Just One Day and is expected to be published on January 8, 2013.

Questions for this week:
1. What's the bestselling nonfiction book of all time?
2. What is Dr. Seuss's real full name?
3. Which author has sold more children's books than any other author? *Hint: the answer will surprise you :)

Please answer these questions in the comments section below. Don't forget to visit b00k r3vi3ws! :D


October 20, 2012

review pile update #3

Books I've recently reviewed on Goodreads, Amazon, and/or Smashwords:
JillyBean Behind Shields (The Shields Legacy) Contemplations of Dinner Mohawk Moon (Mohawk Series) - Janelle hasn't been home in ten years. All of a sudden, she has to deal with her mothers death, her broken relationship with her sister, and some sexy stranger following her. She doesn't know whether to be scared, or excited.Damien needs to restore his families honor. He needs to use Janelle to do it, there's one problem. There's someone standing in the way. He's vowed that no one will stand in the way or getting what's his. Together they must save what's left of...
Books I'm getting ready to review:
Let's Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir Zed (Zed, #1) The Twenty (Barronlands Trilogy, #1) In the Middle of Nowhere  The Soul's Mark: FOUND (The Soul's Mark, #1)

I'm currently reading and am halfway through each:
Breed of Innocence (The Breed Chronicles, Book 1)    Fire in the Blood (Last Moon Rising #1)

Books I'll be reading next:
Star Bright Hotblood (House of Slide, #1) Pearl Lover Delusions (Book Two In The Affinity Series)

Books I have left to read and review:

Whom the Gods Destroy (The Divine Masquerade, #2)  The New Haven Project: Anomaly  Larimar: Gem of the Sea  Fresh Flesh (Fresh, #1)

Turner  Life of the Party  What Kills Me  Flicker

Snowflake Obsidian: Memoir of a Cutter  Penthouse Man  Cover for 'Jezri's Halloween Nightmares'

I'm happy to be making progress. I've been so lucky, too, because all of the review books I've read have been fantastic! It's so cool discovering new authors!

I'm working on setting up my reviews to be posted here also. I'm just super slow, lol. ;) I've also been soooo lucky and have won an embarrassing amount of books from blog giveaways. I have a pile of books (e-books, paperbacks, and even hardbacks!!) I can't wait to dive into. These rainy fall days are the perfect kind of days to read in my opinion! Love curling up in a warm blanket with a great book while it's cold and rainy outside! :D

October 15, 2012

Name the Book Extravaganza ~ Guest Post & Giveaway!



Hey there! This is the first time I've joined a two part giveaway, and it's a super exciting one!! I have a guest post, info on the first two books of this trilogy, and info on how to enter the giveaways! Tiffany from Escaping...One Book @ a Time is hosting, and as the host, she's the first blog you need to visit in order to participate. So, how do you enter this giveaway?

Here's the deets! In the first part of the giveaway, Ali Cross, the author of Become and Desolate in the Desolation series, is looking for your help to choose what book #3 (the final book) will be named. How cool is that? You get to vote for what you want the book's title to be--either Divine, Chosen, or Destined.

If you haven't read the first two books yet, here are their covers and blurbs:


Book #1 BECOME

Sixteen-year-old Desolation Black wants nothing more than to stay in Hell where it's cold and lonely and totally predictable. Instead, she's sent back to Earth where she must face the evil she despises and the good she always feared.  

When Desi is forced to embrace her inner demon, she assumes her choice has been made--that she has no hope of being anything other than what her father, Lucifer, has created her to be. What she doesn't count on is finding a reason to change--something she's never had before--a friend.



Book #2 DESOLATE

Where darkness lives, all becomes desolate . . .  

It’s been two months since sixteen-year-old Desolation Black chose Earth over Hell and her friend Miri over her eternal love, Michael.

Desi goes through the motions of life: school, training, remaining vigilant against the forces of darkness, but her dreams are full of the choices she wishes she could change. When she’s injured by a strange demon, old temptations arise, and the lines between good and evil blur. Desi discovers those choices aren’t so final after all.

And this time, the power of love—for a friend, for a lover—may not be enough to save her from the darkness that lurks within.
You can vote daily for the name of your choice, but you only get 1 name. The people that vote for the winning name will receive all 3 books in e-book form when it releases! Below you'll find the mock up cover made for this event to give you an idea of what the next cover might look like. It isn't the final cover; it's just to give you an idea. Vote for the name you want to see on the cover!
Vote on Book #3's title below:


Guest post by James
She doesn’t know it, but I set the alarm on my phone thirty minutes before our clock radio goes off in the morning.

My phone vibrates and like that I’m awake. We have to be up early—her art teacher insists on painting under a new sun, a soft sun, when they can still paint possibility into their day. So it’s still dark when I silence my phone and roll over.

I get to watch her face while the sun rises, hitting our windows with its morning kiss, promising us all kinds of possibilities.

She doesn’t know it, but for thirty minutes every morning, I watch her. I love her. I memorize her face. I wish for her.

Wish she is happy. Wish she knows she is loved.

Every morning she opens her eyes and the sunlight flashes in their diamond depths.

“Mornin’ bright eyes,” I always say.

And Miri always smiles.
And now for the second part of the giveaway...
SCAVENGER HUNT!
Tiffany has an excerpt on her blog that needs to be finished!  One of the words you need is in this blog post, and then you just need to hop from blog to blog to pick up the rest of it. When you are done just put it in the Grand Prize rafflecopter form and get entered to win lot of awesome prizes!!
Well now it's up to you guys to finish it off!! Here is the list of participating

blogs where you will find the rest of the excerpt! Also everyone has their own individual post as well. So as you go there will be guest posts, character bio's and more!!
My word for this hop is: said.














Once you have visited the other blogs and put the rest of the excerpt together
enter it in the rafflecopter form :D DO NOT put it in the comments please!
May the odds be EVER in your favor!!!

The Scavenger Hunt Rafflecopter
 a Rafflecopter giveaway


Ali's Bio

Ali Cross is the sensei of the Writer's Dojo where she holds a black belt in awesome. She lives in Utah with her kickin' husband, two sparring sons, one ninja cat, two sumo dogs and four zen turtles. 


twitter username: @ali_cross


October 11, 2012

NaNoWriMo 2012

After a ton of debate, I have decided to get ready and gear myself up for NaNoWriMo this year. Eek! I had never heard of this event until I began following blogs several months ago in January. I'm totally freaking out; this will be the biggest step yet I've taken towards becoming a writer. I'm doing my best to push my negative thoughts away and am saving all blog posts that give advice on writing into a separate folder simply titled "NaNoWriMo." (I know what you're thinking...how did she come up with that??? lol).

I'm terrified of letting you know this and then not following through with the challenge. My mind went back and forth between whether I would even participate let alone announce it in public. Ultimately, I just decided to suck it up and do both. You know what I wish I had right now? A copy of Stephen King's On Writing. The crazy thing is that I did have one but I think I must've sold it or something some time ago. I'll just have to go pick it up at the library--that is, after I pay my humongous fines.

Are you planning on participating in NaNoWriMo this year?

October 4, 2012

IWSG #5 ~ October 2012

Hey everyone and welcome to my fifth IWSG post! The IWSG is the brainchild of Alex J. Cavanaugh (I've been waiting for an awesome opportunity to throw "brainchild" into a sentence, lol) where writers can express their highs and lows throughout the process of writing. If you'd like to join, visit Alex's blog at the link above. You'll be so thankful when you do. :)

I'd like to post another paragraph from the rough draft of my memoir. This is still in the beginning of the book:

A little over a year after my maternal grandfather died from brain cancer, my mom was diagnosed with brain cancer--the very same type we had just watched Grandpa battle until his death. I had cried at his funeral as though I had never cried before--I couldn't stop and thought surely the tears must run out soon. Eventually, as days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months, the tears slowed down only to begin anew once we learned of my mom's diagnosis.

Never before had my world felt so out of control. Never before had I felt the pain of moving in a world I didn't understand anymore, where I was stripped of my childhood once and for all. I look back on my journals from that time period, and there are so few references to the events of such magnitude happening all around me that sometimes I have to wonder if I was actually there or am I reading through someone else's memories? My despair was deep. How could my family and I be strong enough to go through watching another of our loved ones fight the very same disease all over again!


The next section is further into the book:


There was nothing I could do when my mom lost the rest of her hair from the radiation treatments, vomited every night after chemotherapy sessions, began having seizures, and lost more and more of her memory. I remember the utter and complete frustration on her face when she could not remember the words she wanted to use to express herself. I wanted to supply them for her so badly, but I didn't know what it was she wanted to tell me.

It's a lot of heavy material, but before I get into the meat of the story, I want to explain what our lives were like before my grandpa and mom were diagnosed with cancer. At this moment in time, I still want the very first paragraph to be the following (I also posted this particular paragraph in last month's  IWSG post):
Lightning struck our house the day my mom died. By that time she was in a coma, lying in a hospital bed in our living room. I had long ago begun sleeping on the couch in there with her, keeping vigil over her at night. The soft swoosh swoosh of the oxygen tank breathing for her should have lulled me to sleep at night, but I was terrified to sleep. My racing pulse and overwhelmed mind would not have allowed it anyway. Most nights I just dozed off and on, awakening from troubled dreams. I just knew that I didn't want her to die alone. I had just turned fourteen.
I'm feeling good with the progress I'm making. Thanks to this group, I can keep myself on track and accountable! :D

I'm also really dying to write fiction, especially this month when every year I soak up all things horror for the entire month! I read horror novels back to back and watch horror movies every weekend (when the kids are asleep, lol). I have several ideas kicking around my head right now, and with the emotional toll writing the memoir can take on me, it'd be nice to work on some fiction and take a break from the heavy stuff.

What do you think about my rough draft so far? Do you like to work on a couple of different projects at a time, or do you prefer to see one through all the way to the end before taking on a new one?

Thank you for hanging out with me and listening to me ramble on, lol! I've gotta hit the hay so I can take my kiddo to school in the morning, but I'll be making my rounds tomorrow and visiting you!

September 30, 2012

sunday trivia #6


Hey everyone! I'm taking part in Debdatta Dasgupta Sahay's new Sunday Trivia meme over at b00k r3vi3ws Click on the link so you can get involved, too! Every Sunday all of the participating bloggers will ask trivia questions that are related to books, authors, characters, and movies based on books. The answers along with new questions will be posted the following Sunday. Try it without Googling, lol. ;)

Answers from Sunday Trivia #5
1. Hester Prynne is forced to wear the letter "A" for adultery in The Scarlet Letter.
2. Stephen Chbosky wrote the novel (getting ready to come out as a movie!!) The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
3. J.K. Rowling's new novel for adults that just came out is titled The Casual Vacancy.

Questions for this Week:
1. Name any book written by Chelsea Handler.
2. Name the Sookie Stackhouse novels in order.
3. Who's the author of the novel Before I Go to Sleep?
Extra question this week! 4. What is the title of the new upcoming novel by Gayle Forman?

Please answer these questions in the comments section below. Don't forget to visit b00k r3vi3ws! :D