Monday, June 29, 2015

Guest Post: Andrew Joyce and Danny

My name is Andrew Joyce and I write books for a living. Chelsea has been kind enough to allow me a little space on her blog to promote my latest book, MOLLY LEE. It’s averaging 4.9 stars on Amazon. It is also available in paperback. Please check it out. Here’s the link: http://geni.us/molly

I would love to tell you all about it, but instead, I have to turn the writing duties over to my dog whose name is Danny. You see, he can be pretty insistent at times. We recently had some excitement in our lives and he can’t wait to tell you about it. For what it’s worth, this is a true story. And when you are finished reading it, please click on the link to my book and check it out. Danny is not the only genius in our household.



Danny Goes to the Beach

      What a time I had yesterday! I went to the beach with my human.
Good morning, I’m Danny the Dog, teller of tales, bon vivant, all around good dog and lover of hotdogs. And oh yeah, my human’s name is Andrew. Now that you know the players, on to my story.
I like to wake Andrew up early and take him for his walk before it gets too hot. And I like our walks because there’s a whole lotta good sniffing out there. But yesterday it was Andrew that roused me from a sound sleep. I was dreaming of hotdogs. I was about to bite into a big, fat juicy hotdog when he shook me awake. I almost bit him.
Anyway, he told me we were going to the beach to watch the sun come up. When we walk, I lead the way, but when we go to the beach, Andrew drives the car because I don’t have a driver’s license. Can you believe it? Florida doesn’t give dogs driver licenses! I emailed the governor about this injustice, but I haven’t heard back from him yet. I know that not having thumbs would be problematic, how would I grip the steering wheel. But I figure I’ll worry about that after I get my license.
Sunrises, and sunsets for that matter, don’t do much for me; they have no scent, you can’t smell them. So what’s the big deal? But I allow Andrew to take me to the beach because I have my own agenda. I love to bark at other dogs. The beach we go to is secluded, and dogs are not allowed (another email I must send to the governor). However, dogs take their humans there in the early morning and as long as everyone is gone shortly after the sun comes up, there’s no trouble. And it’s a good thing for the human cops because if there was trouble I’d bite them.
So we get to the beach and Andrew sets up his folding beach chair. He’s such a wuss; can’t he just sit on the sand like everyone else? Me, he ties to a palm tree. Then he waits for the sun to come up. What does he think, it’s not going to come up unless he watching?
As I said, I have my own reasons for being there, so I start my nose a twitching. I can smell another dog from a mile away. If I were a super hero, I’d be known as SUPER SNOOT. I would sniff out my nefarious nemeses and bring them to justice. I think I’d look cool with a cape. I look good in blue, so it would be blue with a big red “D” emblazoned right in the middle of it. Danny the Dog, mild-mannered dog by day, SUPER SNOOT by night! I like the sound of that.
I digress, back to my story.
So Andrew’s getting excited because the sun is coming up (what a surprise!). And I’m sniffing for dogs when all of a sudden I detect something good, as in chicken-bone good. So I put my super snoot to the ground and start my search. Of course, being SUPER SNOOT I find the bones right away. They were only a few inches under the sand. But before I take one of those delightful bones into my mouth, I give Andrew a surreptitious glance to make sure he isn’t going to ruin my fun. I needn’t have worried, his attention was on a red ball coming up out of the ocean, turning the clouds a bright pink and orange; some clouds were still purple. So he was engaged. That’s when I bit into the first bone. CRUNCH! At the sound, Andrew turned and saw my find. I didn’t know the old guy could move that fast. He was out of his chair, and before I could do anything about it, he had my whole stash. At least I had half a bone in my mouth and he wasn’t going to get that.
The short of it is, I distracted Andrew from his precious sunrise. He took my bones, and I didn’t get to bark at a single dog. What a bust! On the ride home, I didn’t go over and lick his face as I usually do. I was mad at him and he was mad at me. But when we got home all was forgiven and he gave me a hotdog. That’s why I keep him around.
My next adventure will be published in SUPER SNOOT Comics. Look for it at your local comic book store.

 

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Author Spotlight: Ricky Lee Baxter

Experience a new type of friendship - a new novel, with an eastern twist!

Gideon and the Crimson Samurai is a teen novel, by black British indie-author, Ricky Lee Baxter.

As we live in an age that is becoming more culturally integrated with diverse ways of life and friendships - Gideon and the Crimson Samurai is a fictional novel, made to reflect the unique kinds of relationships we have and resulting obstacles we face, together in this world.

Twelve-year-old Gideon has never felt at home within his city - only displacement, especially following the mysterious departure of his father. Life isn't kind to the young boy, and a series of unfortunate events seems to roll from bad to worse.

His life changes forever, when a foul-mouthed samurai enters his life and the two embark on a grand journey of self-discovery and brotherhood. Along their journey they will meet others from different backgrounds - each sharing a misfortune, yet with a burning desire for belonging.

Gideon and the Crimson Samurai is a unique novel, written in play format, suited for readers aged 12+, and contains relevant themes that mirror our society today. Within the first three weeks, this exciting new novel has acquired five 5 star reviews. Ricky has also appeared on various radio stations: www.artistfirst.com and http://www.wnbnetworkwest.com and attended the Purbeck Literary Festival 2015. Other interviews can be found at:




Gideon and the Crimson Samurai is a self-published work, available online at:

Ricky Baxter is an avid author and blogger, giving advice and thoughts to fellow creators from all walks of life. His most recent work is Mother Gaia, a novella also available on Kindle and audio books worldwide:

You can contact him here: composerricky@gmail.com or here at http://rickybaxter.wordpress.com

Friday, June 19, 2015

Guest Post: Chris Ledbetter

Topic: Setting
by Chris Ledbetter

Setting is an important tool we authors employ. I engage two distinct settings as alluded to on the bottom of the book’s cover. The first, and the one that opens the story, is Wilmington, North Carolina, USA. The second is the world within the cursed sketchbook.It’s based loosely on a Tuscan village circa the Renaissance. I hope that the settings are vivid enough to become characters themselves.

I chose Wilmington as the base setting because I live here. I know it well, and I wanted to drop real-life sights and places into the story. This performs two actions for me. On the one hand, it brings the city to life for those who haven’t been here. They can look up certain places on my Pinterest board or on Google maps and get a three-dimensional representation of the places I describe. Secondly, for those who have been here, I hope to create an in-story nostalgia.

(My Pinterest board: https://www.pinterest.com/chris_ledbetter/drawn-novel-inspiration/ )

The world within the sketchbook, Terra Sempre, is a darker version of a fortified, hilly village in the heart of Tuscany during the Renaissance. I chose Italy as my inspiration because of its obvious link to and influence over art. The Renaissance was one of the most artistically creative times in world history. So, feeding off of that was simply homage. And I loved the research that was involved. I’ve never been to Italy, but now I feel like I have. And while there isn’t a one-to-one direct correlation from Terra Sempre to Italy, because, hey, Terra Sempre is fantasy, after all, there is a strong enough link for Italians to enjoy it as well, I think.

Friday, June 12, 2015

Trailer Reveal + Giveaway: Incarcerated by Inger Iversen

Incarcerated by Inger Iversen
(Love and War #1)
Publication date: September 29th 2014
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis:
One of the few white kids in a rural Kentucky town, Logan Whyte always kept to his own kind out of self-preservation. He never considered himself racist, but that didn’t stop him from falling in with the wrong crowd—who celebrated hate as much as he fought it—or from ending up in prison for eight years on an armed robbery charge.

A successful, educated black woman, Katie Andreassen was tired of being accused of betraying her own race. Her lonely isolation, coupled with her grief over losing her mother, inspire her to create a new pen pal program at Capshaw State Penitentiary, where her father is a warden.
The program brings the unlikely pair together, but Logan and Katie soon find themselves forced to overcome past fears and prejudices. Their friendship doesn’t come easily … threatened by a crooked lawyer with a grudge and a best friend who betrays her promise to help.

When faced with a world that forces them apart, Logan and Katie must show everyone else what they have discovered: that love is, in fact, colorblind.


Purchase:


TRAILER

AUTHOR BIO:
Inger Iversen was born in 1982 to Anne and Kaii Iversen. She lives in Virginia Beach with her overweight lap cat, Max and her tree hugging boyfriend Joshua. She spends 90 percent of her time in Barnes and Noble and the other ten pretending not to want to be in Barnes and Noble.

Thursday, June 4, 2015

Endless Possibilities Read-A-Thon Day One

Endless Possibilities Read-A-Thon TBR List
June 4th-6th
This post will be updated throughout the day, so if you are interested - keep checking back! 

I ended up starting my Read-A-Thon with a book that wasn't actually on my TBR List, but a book I have been waiting to read for the longest time.

http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1412515274l/22561320.jpg 
Velvet by Temple West - DID NOT FINISH, TOOK A BREAK FROM

I wasn't able to finish reading Velvet today, mostly due to the fact that I just wasn't really into it. Don't get me wrong.... amazing book, but I never actually read the synopsis - which is totally my fault... I just watched the trailers, which made me excited enough. I usually prefer watching trailers over reading synopsizes anyway. What the book is about though, is the kind of book that I have to really be in the mood for.

25245425
Aftermath by Tom Lewis - STARTED, DID NOT FINISH TODAY

So I did start Aftermath also today, but I started in later during the day so I wasn't able to finish it either, but hopefully I will be able to tackle both books and get them finished tomorrow, and start on something new on Sat. (and possibly get in another book tomorrow, but tomorrow is a busy day for me, so I'm no holding out on that).

Friday, May 29, 2015

Cover Reveal: Forget Tomorrow by Pintip Dunn


Forget Tomorrow
Release Date: 11/03/15
Entangled Teen

Summary from Goodreads:
Imagine a world where your destiny has already been decided...by your future self.

It's Callie’s seventeenth birthday and, like everyone else, she's eagerly awaiting her vision―a memory sent back in time to sculpt each citizen into the person they're meant to be. A world-class swimmer. A renowned scientist.

Or in Callie's case, a criminal.

In her vision, she sees herself murdering her beloved -- and gifted --  younger sister. Before she can process what it means, Callie is arrested, treated viciously, and placed in Limbo―a prison for those destined to break the law. With the help of her childhood crush, Logan, a boy she hasn’t spoken to in five years, she escapes this hellish prison.

But on the run from her future, as well as the government, Callie sets in motion a chain of events that she hopes will change her fate. If not, she must figure out how to protect her sister from the biggest threat of all—Callie, herself. 



About the Author 

When my first-grade teacher asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I replied, “An author.” Although I have pursued other interests over the years, this dream has never wavered.

I graduated from Harvard University, with an A.B. in English Literature and Language. I received my J.D. at Yale Law School, where I was an editor of the YALE LAW JOURNAL. I published an article in the YALE LAW JOURNAL, entitled, “How Judges Overrule: Speech Act Theory and the Doctrine of Stare Decisis,” and received the Barry S. Kaplan Prize for best paper in Law and Literature. 

I am represented by literary agent Beth Miller of Writers House. I'm a 2012 Golden Heart® finalist and a 2014 double-finalist. I'm a member of Romance Writers of AmericaWashington Romance WritersYARWA, and The Golden Network.


I live with my husband and children in Maryland.

Cover Reveal Organized by:

Monday, May 25, 2015

Cover Reveal: Burnt Edges by Dana Leipold

 
Title: Burnt Edges
Author: Dana Leipold
Publisher: Booktrope
Publication Date: June 2015
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Familiar abuse or an uncertain future? Which would you choose?
This is Laurel Lee Page’s dilemma when she is faced with an unplanned pregnancy at nineteen. Born into a broken family, guilt and shame are all she has ever known. No matter what she does or whom she meets, Laurel appears to be living a condemned life. However, she is determined to find independence and freedom in spite of her family’s legacy of hatred and self-contempt.
Set in Southern California during the tumultuous 1960’s, Burnt Edges is a contemporary novel based on true events that prove strength can emerge in the most horrific of circumstances.

Author Bio:
Dana Leipold is a freelance writer and author. She has self-published two books: a collection of limericks in Dr. Seuss-style for adults entitled, Stupid Poetry: The Ultimate Collection of Sublime and Ridiculous Poems, and a non-fiction book entitled, The Power of Writing Well: Write Well. Change the World. She also coaches other writers on story structure, messaging, and writing skills so they can achieve their dreams to become published authors. Leipold lives with her husband and two children in the San Francisco Bay Area.


Website || Twitter || Facebook

Friday, May 22, 2015

Book Highlight + Except and Giveaway: Atelophobia by Nakida Parker


Title: Atelophobia
Author: Nakida Parker

In McKenzie Perkin’s world she believed that she wasn’t perfect enough for the people who were in her life. With McKenzie feeling imperfect came a lot of anger. As she tries to move forward and begin a new life, she understands it is not healthy to bring her past feelings into her future. McKenzie decides to seek help from a Therapist to help her put to rest some unhealthy qualities ranging from spitefulness, to overcompensating. Join McKenzie as she relives her past and prepares for her future.


Purchase

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Excerpt
CHAPTER 2. COUSINS

Jessica and Kyle, on the other hand, never mentioned anything negative to me. All I needed was support, and that’s what they provided. I cannot stress how much I appreciate them. They knew I didn’t need bashing, and that’s why I would never turn my back on Kyle or Jessica. When I needed someone the most, they were there.

One day, my family decided to call a meeting. My mother had gotten the scoop on what the meeting was about from my nana Christina, so I knew details before we headed down to Manhattan and I also knew I did not want anything to do with this meeting.

“What was the meeting about?” Jodi asked.

“Well, apparently my family believed Jessica was stealing from my nana’s brother; uncle David, who was sick at the time. They wanted everyone to stop speaking to her, but I just figured why should I? The day of the meeting came and went, and no, I did not cut Jessica off. Like I said, I wouldn’t. Some of my family was aware that I didn’t stop speaking to her, and was upset with my whole household.”

Walking into the meeting and sitting down, you could feel the tension in the room. I sat on the couch at my great-grandmother’s house while Sharon put Aaron in the back for a nap. Everyone came in, took a seat and waited for the meeting to begin. I noticed almost all of my cousins, aunts and uncles attended the meeting. The only people who were absent were: Uncle David, my late aunt Jackie, Kyle and Katie; they were away on a business trip together. Four of uncle David’s siblings were there including all of their kids. My mother’s brother Michael even came from Buffalo, New York, which was rare so I knew this, was serious.

“Hey Family, how’s everybody?” My aunt Lisa asked. Everyone replied that they were doing well and she began.

“Well, I wanted to have a meeting today about your Uncle David, and Jessica. We all know my brother is very ill, and it has been brought to my attention that Jessica is taking advantage of him.

She handed out pieces of paper, which appeared to be copies of his bank statements.

All that came to my mind was here we fucking go.


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About the Author

Nakida Parker was born in the Bronx borough of New York City, but currently lives in Connecticut. She is a mother of two boys, a Realtor as well as a student pursing her Bachelors in Busness Administration.


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Giveaway

Monday, May 18, 2015

Cover Reveal: Soulshifter by Barbara Pietron


Sixteen-year-old Jack Ironwood knew exactly what he wanted. Until he got it.

Jack was content to stay unnoticed by pretty and popular track-star, Natalie Segetich, until he overhears her claim that something took her friend Emma. As a soulshifter who can cross into the underworld, Jack knows the human-stealing Enuuki—hell's messengers—are real and that a successful rescue mission would secure a future otherwise out of his reach. Working together, Jack and Natalie devise a plan to outwit the ruler of the underworld. Then on the eve of the quest, as Jack stands on the verge of seeing his dreams come true, he realizes he's no longer sure what he wants. But it's too late to back out. Pursued by the dark lord's henchmen and ghastly mutant creatures, Jack and Natalie struggle to come out ahead in a battle and barter for souls. In the end, Jack will have to decide his own fate, because nothing short of a deal with the devil will get all three of them out of hell alive.




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About the Author


After years in the corporate world, Barbara found herself with a second chance to decide what she wanted to be when she grew up.  Her lifetime love of books and the written word returned one answer: writer.  Drawing from her experience with technical writing, she began by writing non-fiction magazine pieces and achieved both regional and national publication.  Her success encouraged her to complete a novel.  She learned much from her first manuscript, critiques, books, contests, and blogs.  In 2012, her novel Thunderstone, was a quarterfinalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest and won a critique by Publisher's Weekly.  A few months later, she was offered publication by Scribe Publishing Company.

 Barbara has a few other novels in the works, including a Thunderstone sequel. If she's not reading or writing, Barbara likes to walk, garden, and sew.  She works in a library and lives in Royal Oak, Michigan with her husband, daughter, and their cat – who often acts like a dog.

Find Barbara online:
Website | Facebook

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Giveaway

Book Blitz: My Heart is Yours by Amanda Leigh


My Heart is Yours
Release Date: 05/18/15
169 pages

Summary from Goodreads:
Samantha Marie Ramsden has three brothers. Craig, John and Matt. When tragedy strikes their family, Craig takes on the task of becoming his siblings legal guardian.It’s hard enough being someone’s guardian, but when you’ve only recently entered adulthood yourself it’s almost impossible to know where to draw the line between sibling and ‘parent’.

This is made even harder on him when Sam starts to get close to a long time friend,Jason. It looks like their friendship could turn into something more. An idea that Craig has never been too happy with. Spanning six years, My Heart is Yours explores family, friendship, love and much more. As well as asking the question: Would you defy family for love?

Excerpt
“Hey!” John’s voice echoed through the house. “Damn it!” Sam grinned to herself; John did the same thing every time he got home from work. He’d swing open the door, scream “Hey!” then stub his toe on the dark brown wooden coffee table and curse under his breathe. He’d done the same thing every weekend since Sam was fourteen. That’s when he got his part time job at the deli about four blocks away from their house. He kept half of his pay; the other half went to paying the bills.

“What are you doin’?” Matt asked as he walked into their small kitchen/dining room.

“Craig and I are making dinner. Which means you and John get to do the dishes.”

Matt’s face fell into a frown, doing dishes was his least favorite chore. His baby fat hadn’t all gone away yet, so his face still had that slightly round shape. Matt was a little more pale than the rest of them. His eyes were sky blue and thoughtful. The eyes of a dreamer. He had light brown hair with dirty blonde highlights; it was a little long. When their mom was still alive she would always beg him to get it cut. (He rarely did). 

“Hey, baby sis!” John said as his slightly tan hand messed up Sam’s hair. Sam grinned an amused and frustrated grin. “Baby sis”, that’s what John always called her. Even though she constantly reminded him he was only about a year older than her.

About the Author
Amanda Leigh graduated with a BA in English and Communications and a double minor in Psychology and Creative Writing. During college, she worked on the literary magazine and loved every minute of it. She adores cats and has one named Sawyer - named after one of her favorite characters in Lost. Amanda enjoys reading, writing avidly in a journal, writing poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction, cooking, listening to music, singing,swimming and art - particularly photography. Amanda is a bit of a chocoholic and is slightly obsessed with office supplies. She has many ideas for stories so keep an eye out for more work from her. 



Author Links:
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GIVEAWAY:

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