Sunday, July 31, 2011

Once Upon a Twilight!: 2000 Follower THANK YOU Giveaway

Once Upon a Twilight!: 2000 Follower THANK YOU Giveaway: "Today OUaT is celebrating hitting 2000 followers by what else but a giveaway for our followers. We can't THANK YOU all enough times. We are ..."

Spotlight - In the Shadows



In the Shadows
By Julieanne Lynch

Published July 21st 2011
Strict Publishing International
ISBN 9780857791962

“In The Shadows”, the first of The Shadows trilogy, is an urban fantasy of vampires and the supernatural, and much, much more.

In the shadows you will find lust and passion, battles for power and for blood, and death and fear around every corner. In the shadows you are carried away to an unknown future. Your destiny awaits, and you are no longer who you thought you were. You have a thirst, for blood perhaps, but a thirst for very much more than that.

Giselle was a normal girl with an attitude common to most girls of her age. Her family might not have been perfect (whose is?) but she loved them, and her future looked bright. She had an awesome best friend and a steady boyfriend, but how could she possibly have been so wrong about someone she loved? And how could she have been prepared for the darkness and for what she was to become?

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

The Publication Follies of Alexandra Shostak: EPIC ARC GIVEAWAY! (8 ARCS!)

The Publication Follies of Alexandra Shostak: EPIC ARC GIVEAWAY! (8 ARCS!): "I still have a bunch of fantastic ARCs from ALA to give away! This time, I have four packages of two ARCs each, arranged by theme! Behold, ..."

Review - Beautifully Broken



Thirteenth Daughter. Heritage Witch. Demon Slayer.

They say every town has its secrets, but that doesn’t even begin to describe Whispering Pines. The townsfolk are a superstitious lot and the mystical disappearance of a local teen has everyone murmuring about a centuries old witch’s curse.

Sixteen-year-old Shiloh Ravenwolf is a heritage witch from the Broussard family, a family both destined and cursed. When she takes a summer job at Ravenhurst Manor, she discovers a ghost with an agenda. That’s where she meets the new town hottie, Trent Donovan, and immediately becomes spellbound by his charms. Yet she is determined to discover the connection between them.

Finally, Shiloh's met someone who is supercute and totally into her, but Trent may be the next victim on the supernatural hit list. And Shiloh is the only person with the power to save him. Complicated much?

It sucks to have a destiny, especially since Shiloh would rather spend her summer being a normal girl who worries about clothes and boys, not the supernatural. But she’s never been normal, and the stranger things become the more her own magical senses awaken.

With cryptic messages from a pesky wraith, she will begin to understand the mysterious significance of the strange mark branded on her wrist and decide how much she's willing to sacrifice to protect the other teenagers in town.
Unfortunately, for Shiloh, not all ghosts want help crossing over. Some want vengeance.

View the book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/embed/5uqVXKygvUs

http://www.firelightpublish.com/

*-*-*-*-*

My review:

A really enjoyable book if you are looking for a thriller with paranormal suspense elements. The author has weaved together a interesting story involving witches, demons, ghosts and haunted houses. Be prepared to stay up late when reading because you wont want to put it down.

The characters are well developed and fun to read. You really care about what happens to Shiloh and how she learns to deal with her special talents. She has normal teen issues, like not fitting in. But she has great self esteem and accepts who she is.

I only had a couple of small problems with the story and they mainly centered on how teens kept disappearing but the only thing done is the town sets a curfew. Even when things happen at the house, the town seems to just shrug it off.

The house does seem to play a large role in the story as well. And even after it is over it seems to still have plenty of secrets left. Im looking forward to finding out more in future books.

Its not easy weaving together all these elements and making the story still flow and make sense. And in this case the author has done it skillfully. I am looking forward to more books about Shiloh, her friends and the mysteries and secrets of this house and town.

Guest Post - Sherry Soule - Beautifully Broken

Hi Everyone! I thought it might be entertaining if I did an interview with one of the the main characters from my recent release, Beautifully Broken. I decided to interview the smoking hot, Tent Donovan.

If you’ve already read the novel, this interview should be amusing and insightful. If you haven’t read the novel yet, hopefully the character interview will pique your interest.


Description:
They say every town has its secrets, but that doesn’t even begin to describe Whispering Pines. The townsfolk are a superstitious lot and the mystical disappearance of a local teen has everyone murmuring about a centuries old witch’s curse.

Sixteen-year-old Shiloh Ravenwolf is a heritage witch from the Broussard family, a family both destined and cursed. When she takes a summer job at Ravenhurst Manor, she discovers a ghost with an agenda. That’s where she meets the new town hottie, Trent Donovan, and immediately becomes spellbound by his charms.

Finally, Shiloh's met someone who is supercute and totally into her, but Trent may be the next victim on the supernatural hit list. And Shiloh is the only person with the power to save him. Complicated much?

It sucks to have a destiny, especially since Shiloh would rather spend her summer being a normal girl who worries about clothes and boys, not the supernatural. But she’s never been normal, and the stranger things become the more her own magical senses awaken.

With cryptic messages from a pesky wraith, she will begin to understand the mysterious significance of the strange mark branded on her wrist and decide how much she's willing to sacrifice to protect the other teenagers in town.
Unfortunately, for Shiloh, not all ghosts want help crossing over. Some want vengeance.

Please state your name:
Trent Michael Donovan

Astrological sign: Gemini

Age: 17

Vehicle: Mustang Boss

Dog/Cat: had a cat

Favorite food: BBQ ribs

Describe yourself in three words: Smart, determined, alpha male

Wardrobe/Personal Style:
I like to wear trendy stuff, I guess. Ecko black denim jeans, t-shirts, motorcycle boots.

What do you do for a living?

High School Student

Are any other people living with you? Who are they?
My dad, Maxwell and my uncle Tony. Also, our housekeeper, Mrs. Baylock and her husband. I can never remember that guy’s name.

What were three things you liked to do when you were younger?
Well, I was mostly stuck in boarding school. All boys’ school. And it sucked. My buddies and I used to sneak over to the public school and check out the local girls.

What makes you happy?
Being back home in Whispering Pines

What is your greatest fear?
Losing Shiloh forever

What would you change about yourself if you could?
Uh, well, I can get kinda moody. I wish I were more open-minded. Wish I could tell people how I feel. But it’s hard, you know?

What is it that you have never told anyone?
Damn, tough question. I have seen…things. Ghosts, I guess and stuff in my house. Because it’s, er, haunted.

What's the worst thing you've ever done? Why?

I didn’t believe people when they told me that there was some kind of curse on the town I live in. I thought they were cracked! But now…now I’m beginning to believe it’s true.

If you could be an animal, what would it be?
I suppose, a black panther would be cool.

To learn more the characters, please go here:
http://sherrysoule.blogspot.com/p/character-gallery.html

About the Author:
Sherry Soule is the author of the Spellbound series and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her black cat. Sherry writes tales of magick, romance, and demon slaying.

Where you can find Sherry Soule:
Official website: http://sherrysoule.com/
Her blog: http://sherrysoule.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/writersherry
Book Trailer/YouTube: http://youtu.be/5uqVXKygvUs
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11634793-beautifully-broken



Thirteenth Daughter. Heritage Witch. Demon Slayer.

They say every town has its secrets, but that doesn’t even begin to describe Whispering Pines. The townsfolk are a superstitious lot and the mystical disappearance of a local teen has everyone murmuring about a centuries old witch’s curse.

Sixteen-year-old Shiloh Ravenwolf is a heritage witch from the Broussard family, a family both destined and cursed. When she takes a summer job at Ravenhurst Manor, she discovers a ghost with an agenda. That’s where she meets the new town hottie, Trent Donovan, and immediately becomes spellbound by his charms. Yet she is determined to discover the connection between them.

Finally, Shiloh's met someone who is supercute and totally into her, but Trent may be the next victim on the supernatural hit list. And Shiloh is the only person with the power to save him. Complicated much?

It sucks to have a destiny, especially since Shiloh would rather spend her summer being a normal girl who worries about clothes and boys, not the supernatural. But she’s never been normal, and the stranger things become the more her own magical senses awaken.

With cryptic messages from a pesky wraith, she will begin to understand the mysterious significance of the strange mark branded on her wrist and decide how much she's willing to sacrifice to protect the other teenagers in town.
Unfortunately, for Shiloh, not all ghosts want help crossing over. Some want vengeance.

View the book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/embed/5uqVXKygvUs

http://www.firelightpublish.com/

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Bad Ass Chicks That Bite: Adrian Phoenix Giveaway!

Bad Ass Chicks That Bite: Adrian Phoenix Giveaway!: "Hoodoo book #2 Hoodoo book #1      So today is Sunday and it's time for the giveaway that I promised you!  Unfortunately Kallie co..."

Friday, July 22, 2011

Guest Post - Steve DeWinter - Inherit the Throne

How Long Should A Series Last?

McDonald’s sells approximately 4.2 million hamburgers in the United States every day. Not because they have the best hamburgers in the world, but because people know exactly what they are going to get when they go to a McDonald’s.

As consumers, we love the familiar. We don’t like surprises and we most definitely don’t want to be disappointed. Life’s too short! We want to know what to expect before we start.

Readers feel the same way. According to the latest PubTrack Book Buying Report, 33% of respondents said they bought a book because of author loyalty. Quite the eye-opener. A full one-third of readers base their book purchases on whether they liked other books by the author or because the book is part of a series.

I was recently at ThrillerFest in New York (an annual convention for thriller writers and readers) and met several new authors who had just published, or were about to publish, their first book in a series. Many of them mentioned that they had submitted the book as a standalone to publishers, but were encouraged to expand their book into a series. When I asked how many books they had planned for the series, most responded, “As long as people keep buying them.”

This is not a bad thing, in and of itself, but the author has some responsibility to keep the series fresh and exciting for an indefinite period of time.

This brings me back to the title of this post. How long should a series last?

I guess that depends entirely on the writer. If they continue to entertain readers, their series will have a long and fruitful life. If not, well then, I guess it won't.

For my series, Hired Guns, I set a limit of six books. I did this for two reasons. One, I wanted to craft a larger story that covered the entire series so that the burning question from the first book would be resolved in the last book. The second reason I limited my series is that I didn't want it to drag on indefinitely.

Marathon runners run vast distances without being able to see the finish line. But even though they cannot see the finish line, they know where it is and maintain the pace and direction needed to finish the race. They already know what to expect before they take that first step.

Runners will never begin a race without knowing where it ends. The same should be true for writers. If a writer has no idea where the finish line is, he or she runs the risk of heading in the wrong direction with their story and wandering aimlessly around.

I didn't want Hired Guns to falter and slow down, or worse, become lost. So I gave myself a finish line. And I am heading straight for that goal with each book.

Will Joe and Kat, the main characters of Hired Guns, ever get a second series?

If they do, they better have a darn good reason to run their next marathon.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Review - Inherit The Throne



Some lines should never be crossed.

Living under a new identity in the tiny Northwestern tourist town at the base of Mount Hood, Melissa thought she had finally escaped her past. That is until an assassin tries to kill her and forces her back into a treacherous shadow world she vowed never to return.

That same night an unmanned robotic SUV slams into the limousine of the Vice President of the United States and detonates with several hundred pounds of explosives. Melissa soon discovers that the attack on the Vice President and the attempt on her own life are related.

And time is running out to find out who wants her dead and why she alone holds the key to saving the President of the United States.

*-*-*-*-*
My review:

If you are looking for a good political thriller this is one you dont want to miss.

This story contains action, suspense, and twists and turns while introducing you to interesting characters. It moves at a fast pace and doesnt leave the reader behind.

Melissa is a great main character. She is a complex many leveled character that makes you want to find out more about her history and how she got to where she is and what she is going to do next. At times you can also really relate to some of her thoughts and actions while at other times you are surprised at what she does.

The other characters are just as surprising and interesting. They all have their own secrets and hidden agendas that you keep reading to try and discover.

Check it out if you are looking for a good thrill ride that wont lose you along the way.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Review - Dark Magick



The world has changed, we have changed. The world we once knew has fallen away and left us in a wasteland of Magick. Powerful witches and underworld gods control our lives. The past comes back in ways we are not prepared for. The Gatekeepers are our only hope. The question is if we can get to them first.

*-*-*-*-*
My review:

The authors have created a very interesting world. Its a fairly elaborate end of the world concept with both the good and the bad sides fighting over who will win and be in control. At times it was hard to follow but it was always interesting.

The story is told from 2 points of view of witches on the side of good. And though them we learn a lot about what they are facing now and trying to accomplish. What I thought was an issue that causes some confusion is you dont get a lot of backstory on how and why this war started turning everyone against each other. Aside from the community they live in you dont find out a lot about what is going on with the rest of the world after the cities were attacked.

While parts of the story are awkward and I feel there is a lot that could have been explained to ease the readers confusion. It is still a very interesting story and I am looking forward to finding out what happens next as this is obviously part of a series and ongoing fight between good and evil. Maybe more will be explained in the next book.

Trailer - Dark Magick

Guest Post - Dark Magick The Gatekeepers



Characters In Our Books


So this post is about what I think of the characters. :) I will list them and go through with a description of what I think of them!


Rhea- I love her because she is so family based! She has a supporting husband, and wonderful children, and they are as loyal to her as she is to them! The thing about Rhea is that even though she is fighting the good fight, there are times that her internalized anger gets the better of her, and she almost enjoys hurting the people who have hurt her family and threaten her home life. Rhea has a dark side. Like most of the characters, but she can be unpredictable. For the most part she keeps her cool!


Lynn- She is the spunk in the book! :) She is the go getter! Hard headed, and very focused on what she is doing, and her mission. Lynn has to do more then just fight her battles, she also has to fight her emotions, which adds for some interest as we write the books! Lynn has a lot on her plate, in some ways more then the other characters. Sometimes it seems like she can't see that there are others to help her! LOL I love how complex Lynn is! She cracks me up!


Kalerian- Sometimes I want to take a pillow and smother him!! He seems to be everything that a woman would despise in a guy!! He is smug and arrogant, yet there is this power that resonates from him that you can't help but to be attracted to! :) It brings a real life effect into the character, Because there are men like this in the world, and sometimes women end up with them, and are never really sure why, but only that they love them!


Acacia- She is what I refer to as A-morale. She has morals, she has some standards, but they are based on her own needs, and basic desires. Her will to live and have power out way any of her loyalties to anyone. She wants to control and dictate, and have the ultimate say in the end, and she will do anything to get it!


Raiden- He turned out to be one of my favorite characters, he is funny and witty, and the complete comic relieve in our book. He also has deep burning passion that he suppresses and shows through his humor, but he is very loyal to Lynn and will love to die with her, fighting by her side! :) Raiden took on a life of his own in the book, and I really had a lot of fun helping shape his personality and purpose in the book.


Tyler- He is an actual Warlock, there is taboo on this word, it originates from lair. To call him a witch would be the wrong use of his character. He is like Acacia in many ways, he is looking out for number one, but he thinks he owns Rhea, and that no matter what she does or says, he thinks they are equals and that she can truly be only his!


Chris- He came in the book leading a group to safety. He is helplessly in love with his wife, who is an evil person who cheats on him with his best friend! Chris is a healer, I think we will see more of Chris in later books!

About the Authors:

Stevie Trinity
Stevie lives in Wyoming with her family. She loves the wide open space There is nothing better than sitting out on the prairie looking out at the stars, or driving less than an hour to the Mountains and climbing trees, and yes she still climbs trees! :)

Stevie started to write short stories when she was 12. She loves poetry and started to write poems when she was 13. She then stopped writing in her early 20s, due to raising a family and focusing her attention elsewhere. When she was 30 she started to write again.
 
A couple of years later the Gatekeeper series emerged. She and her co author spent many hours talking about and discussing the world they created. Stacey really encouraged Stevie to write again.
 
Currently Stevie is working on a historical romance about the old west in a time of amazing change! She is also working on the second book to the Gatekeeper Series.


Stacey Thompson-Geer

Stacey is a wife and mother of three. She started writing in High School with horror short stories. One of her first is now published through the kindle - Silver Bullet. When she's not dreaming up her next story or novel, she can be found hanging out with her kids or reading one of her favorite authors. She is also an avid Facebooker and Twitter user. Stop by her website to see what she's working on and any of her backlist work. 

Book Description:
The world has changed, we have changed. The world we once knew has fallen away and left us in a wasteland of Magick. Powerful witches and underworld gods control our lives. The past comes back in ways we are not prepared for. The Gatekeepers are our only hope. The question is if we can get to them first.
http://thegatekeeperseries.info
http://wickednightspublishing.info/?p=158

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Guest Post - Karen E Taylor - Hunger

Romancing Inspiration

By Karen E Taylor

During the virtual book tour for HUNGER, I've been asked a lot of questions, but one keeps cropping up and it's kind of hard to pin down. How do I get inspired? And what sort of habits/rituals do I have to do to write? I thought maybe I could elaborate a little more on my methods here in the hopes that it might help other writers get through that awful blank-page syndrome. You know, that thing we often call writer's block.

I know, we don't really like to call it that or even acknowledge its existence. But there it is. And when it hits, it's hard to pull up out of it. Sometimes, though, you just need to keep on going. Publisher deadlines don't care one bit about inspiration. So one of the tricks of being a published writer is learning how to coax the words to the surface, how to court inspiration. Here are a few things that work for me.

Neutralize your surroundings. If you are working in a room with a door, close it. Clear off any cluttered surfaces within your sight. Clean the monitor screen. Dim the lights so that you concentrate on the writing only.


Eliminate distractions. This is similar to the tip above, but just a tad more drastic. Turn off the internet. Yes, I said it. Turn it off! It's not enough to say to yourself won't use the internet you have to actively seek to disable it. Keep it as a reward for writing another page or another chapter. And while we're talking computer, try using your word processing program without toolbars. Even better, use a low tech system, like darkroom, or an early edition of almost any word processing package. Fewer bells and whistles will help you stay on track better. I have even turned off the monitor for a while and let my fingers find their way. Just be sure you're on the right keys starting out.

Set the right mood. If you're writing something dark and gothic, find a few ornaments to sit around your desk, gargoyles and ravens are always a good start. Drink your coffee (or water or tea or soda) out of an elegant cut-crystal wine glass, an ornate china cup, an engraved pewter goblet, or a large wooden mug, whatever best fits your book's environment. Light candles or use a scented product that reminds you of the beach or the forests or the wide open plains.

Slip into something more comfortable. No, really. Do it.


And last but not least -earphones. Even if you can't listen to music, something to block out external sound is essential. And if you can listen to music, pick songs (either instrumental or with lyrics) that fit your current project. I?ll admit to being a bit of a freak about this ? every thing I write has its own sound-track. With the earphones on and the music player set on constant play, I lose myself in the sounds and eventually the words start flowing.

And yes, I know that all of the previous sounds like setting the scene for seduction. That's exactly what you want to be doing romancing inspiration.



Deirdre Griffin didn't choose to be a vampire. But she is. And she's determined to make the most of her fate. For Deirdre that means surrendering to the raging hunger ignited by even the slightest whiff of blood ‑ a hunger that pulses through her body like a fever, demanding release. It means making friends in dark places ‑ and savouring every hot, salty, bitter, revitalizing drop of life force the night has to offer...

Review - Hunger



Deirdre Griffin didn't choose to be a vampire. But she is. And she's determined to make the most of her fate. For Deirdre that means surrendering to the raging hunger ignited by even the slightest whiff of blood ‑ a hunger that pulses through her body like a fever, demanding release. It means making friends in dark places ‑ and savouring every hot, salty, bitter, revitalizing drop of life force the night has to offer...

From Book #1 of HUNGER:

After the kiss, I buried my face in his neck. Now, I thought as I heard the blood pulse in his veins, Oh, please, now.

I nipped him at first, savoring the moment, my low moans echoed by his. Then when my teeth grew longer and sharper, I could hold back no longer. I bit him brutally, tapping the artery and was rewarded by the flow of his blood: hot, salty and bitter. He shuddered violently and fought to push me away, but his resistance was futile. Finally his struggles ceased and his body grew limp as I continued to draw on him, gently now, almost tenderly. I drank a long time, slowly, relishing the feel of my own body being replenished, then I withdrew.

Arising from the couch, I caught sight of myself in the mirror. No longer pale and haggard, my skin glowed with life and my eyes shone, victorious and demonic. A few drops of blood were trickling down my chin; I wiped them away with the back of my hand and turned from my reflection in disgust...


From Book #2 of HUNGER:

He was trembling violently under my touch, but that merely encouraged me and I spoke his name again.

"Mitch."

This time I connected. I knew he heard me and understood, his hands tightened on mine and he whispered my name. Then before I could react, he quickly dropped my hands, formed a fist and silently punched me on the jaw, striking me with such force that I fell to the floor.

As I pulled myself up, shaking my head and gingerly feeling my jaw, I saw him running from the room, pursued by a nurse and two orderlies.

I stood, swaying in the air slightly, oblivious to the uproar Mitch's action must have been causing around me. The noise level in the room rose, as if from a long distance. I could hear the laughing and crying and shouting of the rest of the patients in the room. But my eyes were fastened on the door through which he had disappeared.

What the hell did you expect, you fool, I thought, a passionate embrace, a warm welcome-back kiss? His eyes had been the eyes of one who looked on hell, and I had helped to put him there...

*-*-*-*-*
My review:

I love vampire fiction and this is one series and author I was not familiar with before, but I am now and very happy that I am. This is the first two books in her series being re-released and they are great.

The stories are well written with a likeable heroine that you really feel bad for since she was forced into a life she believes is a curse without anyone else around her understanding or even able to really talk to about the difficulties of her life. She has Max, her one time lover and closest friend but she feels even he doesnt understand.

Deirdre does not know who made her a vampire and would love to meet him in order to kill him for turning her into the creature she is. Along the way she meets and falls in love with a human - Mitch. A detective investigating her for a series of murders, where the victims are all drained of blood and had at least a passing acquaintance with her. All people she met while at the club Max owns.

Without trying to give major spoilers. The stories flow and are easy to read while keeping your involved and wanting to know what happens next. Deirdre's decisions dont always seem the best choice but you can never fault her logic. You want to know if she will find her maker and what she will do when that happens. And you want to know if she will choose Max, who she has known and trusted for years. Or Mitch the human she finds herself falling for.

The books are great for any vampire fiction lover. They have great settings and characters. And the second book, while taking place 2 years after the first bridges that gap successfully. Filling you in on what happened during that time while progressing the story. I am looking forward to reading more in this series.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Review - Dark Corners



Ella Reynolds knew from the first moment she walked into the old house someone or something was watching her. Waiting. Her husband's violent murder sent her spiraling into a world of grief and isolation, but Ella isn't alone. Who or what is responsible for her husband's death is still with her. Darkness has engulfed the past year of Ella's life. Everyday reality slips a little more between her fingers as she struggles to break free from her memories. She must look deeper into her past as well as the present to discover truth of her husband's homicide. A string of uncanny events takes place and practical explanations run thin as Ella follows the terrifying road to closure. As the past and present come to a head, Ella must decipher who or what the murderer is before it takes her as well.

*-*-*-*-*

My review:

I was drawn into this story almost immediately. It was a great suspense filled story, filled with twists and turns.

You really dont know what to believe until the end of the story. Is Ella crazy, is someone making her that way, or can it really be that the house is haunted.

The story flows so well you are never lost, even in the memories or flashback scenes. You really feel for Ella and hope that she does either get away or figure out what happened to her husband.

The supporting characters were good, you get to know the most about the detective that investigated the murder, and while his past and situation do raise some questions. He is still a great character. Although I would love another story where we do learn a bit more about what made him leave the city.

If you are looking for a good thriller/suspense novel with a hint of a haunting. This is one not to miss. I look forward to reading more from this author soon.

Blog Tour - Dark Corners



EXCERPT:

TWO

Dr Livingston was seated on the edge of one of the sofas with a note pad. He was a small weasely looking man with short brown hair and small wire rimmed glasses. I sat on the other sofa as far away from him as possible and tried to be hostile.

“Not feeling social today, Ella?”

“I’m feeling perfectly social,” I said in a completely monotone voice

“Hmmm.”

I smiled and lifted my eyebrows slightly. It was a challenge to Dr. Livingston to make the first move in this game of chess. I normally gave in first because otherwise the hour lasted forever, but I liked to make him work for it. After a few minutes of silence and Dr. Livingston watching me expectantly, I broke.

“Why am I here?”

“That’s an interesting question.”

“I don’t get anything out of these ‘sessions’ except for my anti-depressants, anti-anxiety, and sleeping pills . . . I do like those.”

“Do you think you need them?”

“They make life easier. And if I didn’t need them, would you be prescribing them?”

“Is this life?”

“What do you mean?” I narrowed my eyes.

“Is this life, Ella?” he gestured wildly with his hands. “Do you have any other interaction during the week besides with me? Have you established or maintained any relationships? Are you just going through the motions?”

“I don’t think it’s any of your business who I interact with. This town has nothing for me. No one has helped me. No one has stood by me. Why should I reach out to them?”

“Because you’re human. People need other people. It’s in our genetic makeup. You need people. No one is perfect, Ella. No one can stand up to the impossible standards you set for them, yourself included. Your friends lost Daniel too—you make no allowances for their pain.”

“They’re not my friends. Friends would have stood by me when everything was falling apart. I don’t need them nor do I want them in my life.”

“Then why stay?”

“I can’t leave until it is over,” I mumbled, no longer feeling like talking to him. He wouldn’t understand if I explained it to him. No one would.

“What’s over?”

“Danny’s case.”

“What if the killer is never caught?”

“Then I’ll stay forever.”

“Don’t you think Danny would want you to be happy, would want you to move on with your life?”

I laughed bitterly. “I’m sure he would—just like I want him to be alive. Looks like neither of us are getting what we want. I’m willing to compromise, but God hasn’t responded to my proposal yet—See there, doc, make a note. Check ‘bargaining’ off that chart of yours. I’m almost through all the phases now.”

Dr. Livingston ignored my rant. “You still believe a ghost did it?”

“I never said it was a ghost.”

“What was it?”

“Why do I constantly have to justify myself? I didn’t ask for any of this.”

“Other people have been there. What do they say? You aren’t the only person to have lived in that house—why does no one else see what you see?”

“Are you feeling hostile today?”

“Why? Do you feel as if I am attacking you? You said you don’t feel like you’re getting anything out of this—”

I nodded.

“Well then you need to talk to me. Even if you’re not ‘crazy’ you will soon be if you keep holding everything inside.” Dr. Livingston is totally an air quotes type of person who watches too much Dr. Phil.

I closed my eyes and strained to maintain patience. “I don’t care what other people think or feel. I felt this from the moment I stepped into that house two years ago—something there is evil.”

About the author:

Many authors claim to have known their calling from a young age. Liz Schulte, however, didn't always want to be an author. In fact, she had no clue. Liz wanted to be a veterinarian, then she wanted to be a lawyer, then she wanted to be a criminal profiler. In a valiant effort to keep from becoming Walter Mitty, Liz put pen to paper and began writing her first novel. It was at that moment she realized this is what she was meant to do. As a scribe she could be all of those things and so much more.
When Liz isn’t writing or on social networks she is inflicting movie quotes and trivia on people, reading, traveling, and hanging out with friends and family. Liz is a Midwest girl through and through, though she would be perfectly happy never having to shovel her driveway again. She has a love for all things spooky, supernatural, and snarky. Her favorite authors range from Edgar Allen Poe to Joseph Heller to Jane Austen to Jim Butcher and everything in between.

Liz would love to hear from you and what you thought of Dark Corners.
Please stop by and visit at any of the below mentioned networks:
http://enteringbatcountry.blogspot.com/

https://www.facebook.com/liz.schulte

http://twitter.com/lizschulte

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4755336.Liz_Schulte



· Pick up a copy here – Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords
· The next blog stop: Jul 19 – vvb32 Reads

Sunday, July 17, 2011

A Spark Of Interest-Books for Teens: 100 Followers Mega Giveaway!!

A Spark Of Interest-Books for Teens: 100 Followers Mega Giveaway!!: "WOOT WOOT! We did it guys! 100 followers! When I began this blog back in March, I never knew that I could even get close to this many follow..."

IceyBooks: Win CIRCLE OF FIRE by Michelle Zink!

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The Qwillery: Interview with Christine Cody and Giveaway - July ...

The Qwillery: Interview with Christine Cody and Giveaway - July ...: "Please welcome Christine Cody to The Qwillery. TQ :  What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk? Christine :  I’m not ter..."

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Readaholic: Giveaway: Overbite by Meg Cabot

Readaholic: Giveaway: Overbite by Meg Cabot: "Loading..."

Review - Deeper Than Midnight



At eighteen, Corinne Bishop was a beautiful, spirited young woman living a life of privilege as the adopted daughter of a wealthy family. Her world changed in an instant when she was stolen away and held prisoner by the malevolent vampire Dragos. After many years of captivity and torment, Corinne is rescued by the Order, a cadre of vampire warriors embroiled in a war against Dragos and his followers. Her innocence taken, Corinne has lost a piece of her heart as well--the one thing that gave her hope during her imprisonment, and the only thing that matters to her now that she is free.

Assigned to safeguard Corinne on her trip home is a formidable golden-eyed Breed male called Hunter. Once Dragos's most deadly assassin, Hunter now works for the Order, and he's hell-bent on making Dragos pay for his manifold sins. Bonded to Corinne by their mutual desire, Hunter will have to decide how far he'll go to end Drago's reign of evil--even if carrying out his mission means shattering Corinne's tender heart.

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My review:

This is the first book by Lara Adrian I have read. And I have to admit I was nervous going in because it is the 9th book in the series. I really dont like to read out of order, but I did it this time. And it was not a bad thing in the least. I was hooked from the very start and didnt want to put it down. Yes, there were characters that have histories from previous books. And while I cant wait to go back and read about them. The lack of knowledge didnt harm my enjoyment of this book. This really is Hunter and Corinne's story, the rest are just side characters.

Hunter was trained to be an assassin. And only an assassin. No feelings of any sort, basically a machine under the control of the enemy Dragos. He found a way to break though and went to work for the Order. Its while working for the order he is part of a group that rescues hostages that Dragos had been keeping. One of which is Corinne. Corinne has been a captive and tortured since she was 18. Hunter is then given the job of taking Corinne home to be reunited with her family. Where sadly she learns you can never really go home again.

After the failed trip home. Hunter is tasked with the continued protection of Corinne while they run from assassins sent by Dragos while also trying to find out where he is and more secrets about what his real plans are. Corinne and Hunter have their own secrets from each other. But they are drawn together by an almost unexplainable force. And though their battles and obstacles come to relay and trust in each other. And together they overcome events from their own pasts and uncover more of Dragos secrets while doing some hard to his organization.

There is also quite the interesting subplot with a character named Chase. Which I am quite interested in seeing where that leads in future books.

Friday, July 15, 2011

From the TBR Pile: Blogfest 2011 July 15-17

From the TBR Pile: Blogfest 2011 July 15-17: "It's that time of year again! We've been saving up our goodies so we could have some fantastic prize packs to give away. We're so excited..."

.Ya-Aholic.: Hello Summer GIVEAWAY !!

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Review - Mishap & Mayhem



For centuries magical beings have hidden in the darkness, waiting. Some good, some evil. A battle is brewing, and only twins, Grasiella and Tatiana, have the power to stop it. It’s the summer of the year 2045, and sixteen year old Grasiella, along with her twin sister, Tatiana plan to visit their grandmother in Hawaii. They have no idea that when they arrive on the island of Kauai, they are about to be drawn into a secret, the secret, of their family’s dark origins and magical powers. On the first day of their arrival, their grandmother is accused of a horrible crime involving a faerie. Whispers have spread throughout the islands about the disappearance of a faerie named Sita Knook and her connection to a mysterious group known only as the Cinerians. Before long, Grasiella and Tatiana are doing battle with ancient races and magical beings. All the while trying to retrieve an ancient stone of power and impress a couple of local surfers, Kana’i and Kye, cousins who have some pretty exciting family secrets of their own. It’s pretty serious stuff for two girls who were planning to spend the summer at the beach getting tans, but then that’s the trouble with secrets, sometimes they just don't stay buried.

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My review:

I really loved this story and the characters. The author has created an interesting world where magic is real and can help or hinder even the best intentions. Even the background story/history about the Cinerians is interesting and would make a good series.

There are a lot of secrets in Hawaii and most of the time Grasiella and Tatiana really dont know much of what they are looking for but they stay strong and pull together and solve the mystery while learning not only secrets of these ancient beings but also some about their own family history.

Its not a hard story to read. Pretty easy really and you do get hooked early. Even with its touch of mythology you dont get lost in what is going on. There are a couple of scenes where the dialogue mainly seems a little awkward. But it doesnt take away from the actual story taking place.

Guest Post - M.M. Shelley - Mishap & Mayhem


The Ghost Blimp L-8

I’ve recently come across the story of the Ghost Blimp L-8. It’s quite a tragic story, and is a mystery to this day. In the year 1942, August 16th two Navy men disappeared from inside Blimp L-8. Lieutenant Ernest DeWitt Cody and Charles E. Adams departed Treasure Island, San Francisco at 6:03 in the morning for a routine patrol. They were to patrol the coast line for Japanese submarines.

After an hour and forty minutes into their patrol, Lieutenant Ernest DeWitt Cody made his last radio contact stating that he and Charles E. Adams had viewed oil in the water. The oil could possibly be from a Japanese submarine and they were going to lower the L-8 Blimp in order to obtain a closer look of the area.

Later in the afternoon, the L-8 Blimp was witnessed to be in distress by locals on the ground. It was curiously observed as it glided over land and over residential streets where it soon afterwards, fell from the sky. Many locals ran to assist anyone who may have been inside the Blimp.

The curious thing was that the doors to the Blimp were wide open and there was no one who needed help because no one was found inside.

The Navy and the Coast Guard searched the area that Blimp L-8 patrolled for any traces of its two crew members. None were found.

What could have happened to Lieutenant Ernest DeWitt Cody and Charles E. Adams? I’ve thought about this tragic story for some time, wondering what could have been the fate of the crew.

Lieutenant Cody had attended and graduated the Navel Academy at Annapolis and Adams had a long career in the Navy. It just does not seem to fit that these two crew members could have gone AWOL. They were both family men. I don’t believe they would have abandoned their families.

Perhaps they were captured by the Japanese, or perhaps the oil they witnessed was caused by something other then a submarine. Two things we can be sure of;
1)They were both witnessed to board L-8
2)They did make radio contact just before investigating the oil in the water.

This may remain one of California’s greatest unsolved mysteries.

As for the L-8, you can find it at the National Museum of Naval Aviation. What are some of your thoughts on this mystery?http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Thanks for letting me share the mystery of Blimp L-8 with you today. This is mystery that unfortunately has remained unsolved. http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Thanks to Donna for allowing me share with you all today. You can find me over at my blog: mmshelley.blogspot.com and on twitter @MM_Shelley and be sure to take a look at my book, Mishap & Mayhem.


Much love,

M.M. Shelley

Bio:  http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

M.M. Shelley is a storyteller, wordsmith and dreamer. MISHAP AND MAYHEM, a captivating story of faerie's and magic, is her debut novel. She has traveled the world extensively in search of the magic which is often overlooked in every day life. M.M. Shelley is a native of southern California, and a student of mythology from which she gets much inspiration.

Links: www.mmshelley.com  / http://mmshelley.blogspot.com/

Blurb:

For centuries magical beings have hidden in the darkness, waiting. Some good, some evil. A battle is brewing, and only twins, Grasiella and Tatiana, have the power to stop it.

Buy links: AmazonB&NSmashwords

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Bookish: Follower Appreciation Mega Awesome Giveaway!!!

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Supernatural Underground: New Release Round-Up and Giveaway

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Thursday, July 7, 2011

Supernatural Underground: Feast your eyes on this!

Supernatural Underground: Feast your eyes on this!: "By Merrie Destefano The countdown has started. My second novel, Feast: Harvest of Dreams, releases next Tuesday, June 28. For me, that me..."

Monday, July 4, 2011

Guest Post - Nina Croft - Break Out

Fun facts about Rico…

My novella, BREAK OUT, is out this month with Entangled Publishing. Break Out is a bit of a hybrid—a space opera, paranormal, romance.

It’s set in a future where man has fled to the stars. There they have discovered the secret of immortality—Meridian. Unfortunately, it’s exorbitantly expensive and only available to a select few, and a new ruling class has evolved—the Collective. Everyone in the universe dreams of getting enough credits together to pay for the Meridian treatment. Everyone that is, except my hero, Ricardo Sanchez.

I know we’re not supposed to have favorites, but I have to admit that Ricardo Sanchez is my favorite hero so far. So I thought I’d share a few fun facts about Rico…

1.Rico’s a vampire.

2.He was born in the Middle Ages in Spain, and he’s one-thousand, five-hundred and ninety-six years old.

3.He was married at the age of seventeen, and was faithful to his wife for twenty years. People who know him now find this hard to believe.

4.Rico is a big Star Wars fan, which is probably one of the main reasons he ended up piloting a space cruiser. He likes to think of himself as a sort of Han Solo with fangs

5.Rico knows that the most dangerous thing to an immortal is boredom – so he makes it a rule to never be bored.

6.Rico decorated his spaceship, El Cazador, in his favorite colors – black and silver, and he always dresses to match – in fact, he’s a bit of a poser.

7.Rico’s best friend is Tannis, in fact she’s his only friend. She’s the captain of El Cazador, and she’s a GM or genetically modified. She’s mainly human but with a little bit of snake DNA added.

8.Rico hates the church and it’s nothing to do with being a vampire. They burned his wife at the stake, and he’s never forgiven them.

9.Rico is gorgeous, and he knows it, and he uses it. He’s found the one thing that keeps the darkness firmly locked inside him is sex. So it’s just as well he’s inordinately fond of sex.

10.Rico’s never been in love before…until now.

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About the Author:

Nina Croft grew up in the north of England. After training as an accountant, she spent four years working as a volunteer in Zambia which left her with a love of the sun and a dislike of 9-5 work. She then spent a number of years mixing travhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifel (whenever possible) with work (whenever necessary) but has now settled down to a life of writing and picking almonds on a remote in the mountains of southern Spain.

Nina’s writing mixes romance with elements of the paranormal and science fiction.
http://www.ninacroft.com

Facebook

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Book Description:

Irreverent. Irresponsible. Insatiable. Who says immortals can't have any fun?

The year is 3048, Earth is no longer habitable, and man has fled to the stars where they’ve discovered the secret of immortality—Meridian. Unfortunately, the radioactive mineral is exorbitantly expensive and only available to a select few. A new class comprised of the super rich and immortal soon evolves. The Collective, as they’re called, rule the universe.

Two-thousand-year-old Ricardo Sanchez, vampire and rogue pilot of the space cruiser, El Cazador, can’t resist two things: gorgeous women and impossible jobs. When beautiful Skylar Rossaria approaches him to break a prisoner out of the Collective’s maximum security prison on Trakis One, Rico jumps at the chance. Being hunted by the Collective has never been so dangerous–or so fun!

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Ramblings & More: Testing Rafflecopter GIVEAWAY!

Ramblings & More: Testing Rafflecopter GIVEAWAY!: "I recently signed up to participate in the beta testing for Rafflecopter, the new way to conduct giveaways. And, I gotta tell you, I really ..."

Excerpt - A Season of Transformation

Synopsis:
A Season of Transformation is a young adult fantasy/ romance novel set in the contemporary world. It is the story of five young people drawn together to complete a Quest, to protect their town from destruction. In order to defeat the story’s villain, Maxvale, the five virtual strangers must come together and not only forge a bond of trust but become proficient with the ‘abilities’ temporarily bestowed upon them.

In the midst of the lead up to the battle each of the young people has their own personal struggles they are trying to deal with. Lucas, an adopted and bitter teenager struggles to become the person he wants to be whilst developing feelings for Makenna, a rich kid who doesn’t like his attitude. Bonnie is a ‘gothic’ that is dealing with an alcoholic father, Ben the school nerd and Adam the class clown are trying to break free from their high school stereotypes. These five teens need to put aside their differences so they can defeat Maxvale and save their town.

Excerpt:

Chapter 3- Makenna’s Emerging Abilities

The morning approaches too quickly. I groan and slam my hand on the alarm clock. Is it just me or did the buzzer turn off a split second before I hit the off button? Okay no more crazy thinking Makenna! Today I am going to return to living a normal life. No more odd forces, old boxes or contemplating strange things happening in my room.

I can’t count how many times I have yawned by the time I enter the kitchen of the main house. I shouldn’t have stayed up so late last night. At least I only have to get through one more day of school, before the weekend starts. Oh how I love Fridays. I think about what I might do with myself over the weekend as I open the pantry doors in search of the cereal.

I scan the containers stacked side by side in matching Tupperware containers. Cornflakes, Weet-bix or Coco Pops? I think I’ll go with Cornflakes today- something reasonably healthy after the whole packet of fairy floss that I shared with Tamsin and Aliysha last night. Before I reach up to grab the container I stifle a yawn and rub my eyes and try to open them up real wide to help me feel more awake.

I scream and jump backwards when my eyes re-focus. The Cornflakes are hovering outside the cupboard… in mid air. My eyes widen.

How could this be happening? Am I that deliriously tired?

“What’s the matter hun?” My mother asks with concern as she enters the kitchen behind me.

My body tenses up as I am startled even more by my mother’s voice and the possibility of her witnessing this unnatural experience. I quickly reach up and grab the container out of the air before my mother can see.

I peer at my mother from around the pantry door; her eyebrows are furrowed down, her eyes peering at me curiously.

“Uhh. I thought I saw a spider,” I stammer.

“Oh. False alarm then huh,” she smiles.

“Yeah I guess so,” I smile back weakly.

My mother is dressed in her usual professional attire. She wears a black pin stripe pencil skirt with a matching vest. Underneath she is wearing a teal button up shirt which brings out her blue eyes and is a nice contrast against her honey blonde hair. Although she is in her early forties she could easily pass for a woman in her early thirties. She is often asked by strangers if she had me when she was a teenager. She politely explains to them that she is older than she looks. I secretly admire her and hope that I take as much pride in my looks when I get older as she does.

“Well how was the carnival last night?” She asks chirpily.

I try to avoid further eye contact with her as I pour the cereal into a bowl.

“It was fun.”.

“Oh that’s good hun.”

I nod, shovelling cereal into my mouth in an attempt to finish it as soon as possible so I can leave.

“So what are your plans for the weekend then?” Mum asks, trying her hardest to engage me in conversation.

“Um not sure yet mum. Might hang out with Tamsin and Aliysha tonight. Haven’t really thought about what I’m doing over the weekend yet.”

“Okay well just so you know I will be working tomorrow. Tonight I have a dinner on with the partners so I won’t be back until late.”

“Okay no problem.”

“Have a good day,” mum says as she plants a kiss on my forehead and leaves the kitchen.

A good day. Well it wasn’t quite starting off that way. I can only hope that once I get to class I can forget all about the cereal container floating in mid air in the centre of my mother’s kitchen.

Chapter 1 & 2 are available for free at http://jaynefordham.com

It is available for purchase from Amazon Kindle Store and from Lulu as paperback or file download. Ebooks are available for only $2.99!

Guest Post - Jayne Fordham - A Season of Transformation

Is self-publishing really the easy path?

I am a self-published author and when I receive books to review for my blog I am always extra excited when I receive a book from a well-known publishing company. I think, Ooh I will be reviewing a book by a ‘real’ author! I can’t help but give traditionally published authors that elevated status. Let’s face it there is a hierarchy in the publishing world and I am certainly guilty of prejudice against the Indies at times. So, why did I self-publish? Well that’s a good question

My novel was accepted for a new apple application distributing eBooks and they wanted original material from writers and they actually liked my work! I couldn’t be more thrilled and to be honest it was definitely a confidence booster! I knew my work wasn’t perfect and I knew it wasn’t going to change lives but someone outside of my own head showed an interest in my book so there had to be something about it that was appealing. Unfortunately, the company setting up the eBook platform came across financial difficulties and I was released from a six month contract which I had eagerly been holding on to like it would save my life. It was like being kicked in the guts- it’s good enough but too bad you are on your own.

So the next step to pursue publication was to approach literary agents to advocate for me. I knew from plenty of researching that approaching a publisher directly was a ‘no no.’ Looking for a SciFi/ fantasy literary representative in Sydney was not easy and when I did submit my manuscript to a reputable agency that did accept that genre I received a hefty return package in the mail which screamed ‘rejection.’

What next? I was at a loss and quickly losing confidence in any hope of publishing my work. I went along to a short writing workshop in my local area late last year about earning an income from writing. One of the ways was via self-publishing. The more I thought about it the more it appealed to me although I had no idea how much hard work I would need to put into it. I was really at the end of the road, I could either put my manuscript away in a drawer and forget about it or I could put it in print and see if people will read it. Fear for the latter was what kept me delaying this option for many more months.

Firstly, to get acquainted with the virtual world of writing, reading and networking I started up a book review blog, The Australian Bookshelf and that was a lesson within itself in marketing. People won’t visit a site unless it is promoted. So I put many many months into its set up and now have many followers, receive plenty of free books and have a lot of fun meeting other bloggers, readers, writers and authors!

The next step was to set up an author site @ http://jaynefordham.com so I could have a separate space for my book tohttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif be promoted. By this time I was becoming quite proficient in the use of Wordpress and learnt all about html and widgets and posts!

I even had to swallow my pride and sign up for Twitter after being a pretty slack Facebook member for a long time. My poor friends have to deal with my birthday wishes and party invites unanswered for weeks and months on ends because I just lost interest in it. But when it comes to self-publishing it has been drilled into me the importance of social networking and so *reluctantly* I jumped on the bandwagon. Even now I am not great at it… I really don’t think people want to hear about what I do from day to day…

So where to self-publish? There were many options and I finally decided on using Lulu to publish in paperback and ebook formats. The next step was to publish to the kindle via Amazon to make my novel more easily accessible.

Then I had to tell the world. I announced it to friends on Facebook; I emailed work colleagues and presented a beautifully bound copy of my novel to my family. My writing alter-ego was well received and I have had a lot of support from friends and family- even though some of them had no idea I was a closet writer!

So, my debut novel A Season Of Transformation is now available for purchase at Lulu, Amazon Kindle and Goodreads.

So what is it about traditional publishing that is so appealing? Well, just like self-published author Amanda Hocking who has made millions of dollars from international sales she has now taken up a publishing contract like the mainstream. She is the first to admit that the only advantage of this is the status. The desire to be known for writing by people who browse through bookstores (even though those are dwindling). I agree, the status would be nice but at the end of the day I am happy with the path I have taken and who knows what will be further down the road for me. Just the fact that I have written a book, I am learning from friends and family- is actually a pretty big accomplishment in itself, let alone taking the step to publishing.

So, for me self-publishing has been a lot of hard work and will continue to be a lot of hard work in the future. I hope to find a better balance between work, writing and marketing so that I can publish many more novels in the future and continue to improve my writing. J

I would love to hear your thoughts on self-publishing dilemmas, struggles or positive experiences!

About the author:

Jayne Fordham is a psychologist, freelance writer and debut author of A Season of Transformation. She resides in South-West Sydney with her boyfriend and loveable cocker spaniel, Buddy.