Friday, January 31, 2014

First Impression COVER REVEAL!

Title: First Impression
Author: Pauline Creeden
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Mystery Expected Release Date: March 31, 2014 Designed by: http://www.alchemybookcovers.com/</ a>
Reveal Host: Lady Amber's Tours</ span>
Synopsis: First Impression: A Shadow Maven Paranormal
Chira Kelly thought she didn’t need anyone…until she met Ben.
Because of one ugly rumor, Chira lives as an outcast at her school. Which is fine with her, because she works better alone. Always has, always will. And at least she has her one and only true friend, Tasha. When Tasha insists that they join a group to visit a possibly haunted abandoned old schoolhouse, she's wary, but joins her friend. Because of that decision, their lives are in jeopardy as a malevolent spirit targets the group. Tragedies and accidents pick them off one by one, and Chira finds herself drawn to the one person who can see the truth. But can he protect her? Goodreads linkhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20618864- first-impression


In simple language, Pauline Creeden creates worlds that are both familiar and strange, often pulling the veil between dimensions. She becomes the main character in each of her stories, and because she has ADD, she will get bored if she pretends to be one person for too long. Pauline is a horse trainer from Virginia, but writing is her therapy. Her books have hit #1 on the Amazon Bestseller List and </ span>Armored Hearts won the 2013 Book Junkie’s Choice Award in Historical Fiction. First Impression: A Shadow Maven Paranormal</ i> is her first mystery. It’s a dark urban fantasy and will be released March 31, 2014.
Links:
Excerpt:

 (Please note that the Excerpt is from the Unedited ARC and may change a bit before the finished book is released)
Ben pulls open the office door and stands to the side to allow me to go first. The hallway that was empty only a short while ago is now full of kids and their incessant conversations. With a shrug, I eye his class schedule quickly. Except for second and sixth period, we have exactly the same schedule. He’s in all of the advanced classes, too. Only he has gym for second period, and Latin for sixth – opposite of my schedule, except I take French.
Piece of cake.
I glance up at him again, and his eyes meet mine. My breath hitches. Something in his intense gaze makes me feel like he’s measuring me. And there’s something strange about his eyes. They’re brown, but I can tell he has colored contacts. Why would anyone color their eyes brown?</ span>
Something about the way he’s looking at me makes my heart flutter. A sniffle escapes me before I can stop it. Ugh. I clear my throat and start in the direction of first period. “Follow me.”</ o:p>
We elbow our way down the freshman hall toward the second floor, but before we start up I point down the way. “Do you know what your locker number is?”
Ben nods and pushes his backpack up on his shoulder further.
I wait for a second and then smile. “What is it?”
“706.” He has a slight accent and his voice is deeper than I expect. I suppress a shiver at the jolt that the musical timbre of his voice sends through my body. I’m resonating like a tuning fork. I really want him to speak again with every fiber of my being. What’s with me?
“Uh…okay.” I swallow, trying to regain composure. And take him to the general area of the locker. “Here it is.”
He looks at it, nods, and returns his gaze to me.
“I know you don’t have any books to put in it, but do you want to try out the combination?”
He lifts one shoulder in a shrug and spins the combo quickly through the three numbers. I purposefully look around so he knows I’m not peeking. He opens the locker wide, nods toward me and then closes it again.
“Great. We have first period over here.”
“You and I have the same first period?”
My body vibrates again, and I blink hard. So glad my back was to him so he couldn’t see the effect his voice has on me. I swallow and face him. “Actually, yeah. Our schedules are very similar. It’s a smallish school so there’s only a few tracks that juniors can be on.”
He nods, and his eyes are half lidded as if he’s bored already.
I lead him toward our class room. “We don’t really have assigned seats, so you can pretty much sit anywhere you want. I’ll show you to the gym at the end of class. I have French next, but it’s not too far from there.” 
I lead him to the front of the class, and my friend, Tasha Brown gives me a wan smile and raises her eyebrows, looking back and forth between me and Ben. She mouths, Who’s that?</ i>
I roll my eyes and put up one finger toward her to let her know I’ll tell her in a minute. Then I turn to the teacher. I hand him the schedule from the office. “Hi, Mr. Scott. This is Ben Oscuro, a transfer.”
Mr. Scott sets down the Mountain Dew he was drinking and offers Ben a wide grin. He puts a hand out for him to shake. Ben hesitates but takes the hand in what looks like a firm grip. Mr. Scott shakes his hand afterward. “That’s some grip you’ve got there.” He laughs and leans down to the bottom drawer of his desk and hands Ben a Geography text book.
With a nod, I return to Tasha and squeeze into the desk next to hers. Because I’m at Jackson Hall partially on scholarship and partially on my father’s insurance money, I’m somewhat of a social pariah. My only real friend is Tasha, a pariah herself, being one of the few African-American kids in the school. Still she tends to be more popular than me, because at least her family does have money. And then there’s that rumor…
“So who is the new hottie?” Tasha hops up and down in her seat.
I shake my head at her. “You are one big hormone, you know that? Sure, he’s cute, but is there any guy in the room you don’t consider a hottie?”
Tasha scans the room, considering for a moment with her hand on her chin and a very serious expression on her face. Her hair is in the typical pigtail braids she usually uses to play up the uniform. She has on no sweater, and her shirt is one size too small, causing the buttons at the front to bow and expose part of her red bra. Finally she returns her gaze to me. “There’s only one guy in here that doesn’t rank hottie.”
“Really? Who?”
She leans in conspiratorially and whispers, “Mr. Scott.”
I nearly choke on a laugh as I eye the middle aged, balding teacher at the front of the room. But I have to admit, Jackson Hall is a prep school. And no one can afford to make their children look their best more than the wealthy. I guess if I take my father’s words to heart, it’s better to be the poor kid in the rich kids’ school…than the other way around. Right?
Tasha’s smile returns and I follow her gaze to figure out why. Ben Oscuro walks down the aisle between us and takes the desk right behind mine. The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. He smells like pine and mint, and it reminds me of the outdoors. When I open them again, Tasha’s smile has grown impossibly wider. She leans towards me and whispers, “What was that you said about hormones again?”
I shove my elbow toward her but she dodges me with a giggle.




Goodreads Book Giveaway

First Impression by Pauline 

Creeden

First Impression

by Pauline Creeden

Giveaway ends April 30, 2014. See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Enter to win

Friday, January 24, 2014

My Soul For You by Airicka Phoeniz ~ COVER REVEAL



You are cordially invited to have your heart’s desire come true.

For Kaitlin Claremont this is a very tall order. What wouldn't an orphan girl living over of her aunt’s shop wish for? But when her one night of magic and passion in the arms of a man that is as out of her reach as he is gorgeous turns into curdling screams and dead bodies, Katie quickly realizes that her wish came with strings, a debt she must repay or die. But can she take a life to save her own or can she find those responsible and stop them before it’s too late?

Kaleb O’Reilly has one goal, finish his internship, get his credits and graduate. His freedom can’t start until he does. But nothing prepares him for the brown-eyed beauty he just can’t seem to get out of his head no matter how many times he tells himself she’s off-limits. Kaleb can’t deny he wants her in a way that very much complicates everything. But what happens when the hunger wins and everyone he loves becomes a pawn to a deadly game? Can he turn his back on Katie to save his family or will he fight to save the girl?

Time is running out. Will they kill or be killed? 

~ Purchase Links ~ 

Coming Soon.

About the author ~ 

Best-Selling author Airicka Phoenix lives in rainy British Columbia with her beautiful family. When she's not pounding away at the keyboard, she can be found reading, shining her collection of daggers or chilling with her kids. 

She is the author of the Touch Saga
, The Sons of Judgment Saga, The Lost Girl Series, Betraying Innocence and Games of Fire.

Airicka also writes adult paranormal & contemporary romance under her alter ego, Morgana Phoenix
. Her first novel, Capture Me, will be out 2014.


For more about Airicka, visit her website at: 
http://airickaphoenix.com/Author/

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Missing Royal ARC Giveaway!!!


That quote? You know about a man's finest hour? The one about lying on the battlefield, victorious? Yeah that's how I feel right now. Why? Well because last night at 2am I finished Missing Royal. Now, that might not seem significant. I mean, I wrote four books last year alone. 

But this book is different. This is the book where it all started, the book I learned to write with, this book has been in the works for eight years. EIGHT! And last night I finished the final draft! 

Yeah, I definietly feel victorious! That moment, writing the end, closing that book knowing I will never re-write it again, that was my victorious moment. And though exhausted (come on, it was 2 in the morning!) I lied down in bed and cried the happiest tears of my life! 

And now, its time to celebrate!! YEP! After writing and re-writing and editing and revising and writing this book for eight years I am giving away ONE *ARC!!! 

*Advanced Readers Copy

Fill out the rafflecopter below! :) 




a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, January 20, 2014

Believe when it's beyond reason to believe.


My dad gave me this.  And I LOVE it!  And you know what the little plaque says? 


Believe when it's beyond reason to believe. 

I love it! There is so much power behind those few words. 

So no matter what the world tells you, no matter how much doubt tells you to give up, believe.  Believe even when it's beyond reason.  


Thursday, January 16, 2014

Help a little girl's dream come true!

Meet Evie . . . 


My 5 year old niece. And she's started her own crayon business (with a little help of course)! 


Dinosaur Set - $2.85 - Sold HERE. Heart Set - $2.85 - Sold HERE

A message from Evie:

The first crayons I made were just a homework project with my mom. I wanted a dino birthday party and my mom said she would help me make decorations. We made dino art to put up on the walls, dino invitations and dino favors. The favors were little dinosaur crayons that my mom helped me poor into a mold. After the birthday party some of my friends wanted more. So we made more... and more... and more... and then my mom helped me put them with dinosaur books in my grandpa's shop. I sold so many that I picked a few new shapes to make and we ordered molds for those shapes too. Now I sale them on my mom's website (Etsy store) that we share. Now my mom helps me cut the papers and I take the papers off the crayons, melt them, and put them into the molds (with a little help from mom or dad). I get half the money I make to spend on things I want, right now I am saving for Disneyworld. The other half goes into my college fund for when I'm a grown up. If you have broken crayons you want to let me use I would be really happy to recycle them (that's a big word mom taught me) into new shapes to make kids happy everywhere! You can send them to my grandpa's shop the address is on the Contact Us page, or if you want crayons for your kids or projects you can send me a request or buy some off the store my mom and I share HERE! 

Help a little girl get to Disney World and save for college! 

Don't forget to follow Evie's blog HERE

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Tour: Witch Fall by Amber Argyle ~ Excerpt


All things fall.

Even Witches.

Supreme in their dominion over seasons, storms, and sea, the Witches have forgotten the unmatched destructiveness of mankind. And among the weapons men seek are the magical songs of the Witches.

Lilette is one of the few who see the decadence and decay weakening the Witches. As an outsider amid her own kind, can she help them survive the coming war?

 ~ Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ B&N

 ~ About the author ~ 


Amber Argyle is the author of Witch Song and Fairy Queen trilogies. She grew up with three brothers on a cattle ranch in the Rocky Mountains. She spent hours riding horses, roaming the mountains, and playing in her family’s creepy barn. This environment fueled her imagination for writing high fantasy. She has worked as a short order cook, janitor, and staff member in a mental institution. All of which has given her great insight into the human condition and has made for some unique characters. She received her bachelor’s degree in English and Physical Education from Utah State University. She currently resides in Utah with her husband and three small children. 

~ Excerpt ~ 

Han looked at her, his eyes as dark and depthless as the deepest part of the ocean. His gaze shifted to her mouth and she could have sworn she felt the pressure of his gaze on her lips. She moved forward a fraction, until there was nothing between them but sunlight. Then there was nothing between them at all. His lips were on hers, not claiming, not possessing, simply wanting. Needing.

Lilette had never known how full of need he was. How dark and empty the spaces in his soul must be. He drank her in like she was light and hope and he’d been a starving man all his life.

For Lilette, it was like his touch let her shine. Like she’d been shattered into a thousand specks of light and he brought her together—made her whole.

With a shudder that shook to his core, Han pulled away from her. He rested his forehead against hers, his breath ragged and his lips red. “Lilette.”

She closed her eyes as he said her name. Said it like he was cupping a bird in his hands and he’d set it free. She inhaled the breath that had carried her name. “Han.”

“It’s like no matter how hard I try, you’re all I can see.”

She held her hands together to keep them from trembling and betraying her. “Where does that leave us?”
“I don’t know.” Han closed his eyes and breathed her in. “You’re leaving for Haven. I’m going to stay here as an ambassador for Harshen.”

She nodded. “I’m glad.” She trusted no one else with this.
Han hesitated, and then kissed her briefly. “Be well, little dragon.” He turned and walked walking away.

Lilette watching him, waiting for him to move out of sight before she allowed her legs to go soft. Let herself sink into the loam. She didn’t cry. She just waited for the aching to fade enough to get to her feet and keep moving.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

More by Kimberly Hart ~ Cover Reveal



More ~ A Poetry Collection by Kimberly Hart ~ Release date – May 2014

Cover design by Airicka’s Mystical Creations

The debut poetry collection of Kimberly Hart. 

Words from a woman that is more than just a mom, more than just a lover, more than just a friend.  Poems that capture the complexity of the heart, giving you a glimpse into the intricate inner musings of someone longing and searching for something more.  Love & Life.  Hope & Loss.  Light & Dark.  Raw & Gritty.

Do you want more?

Warning: This work contains subject matter that is adult in nature.  Intended to be read by those 18 and older. 


Email Kimberly at kimberlyhartwrites@gmail.com

Find Airicka’s Mystical Creations on FB:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Airickas-Mystical-Creations


Monday, January 13, 2014

A letter to pirates of the e-book thieving kind.





Dear pirate,

I don't hate you. I'm not even mad. I just want you to understand how stealing my book and putting it out there for the world to take for free kinda hurts. You see, I don't really *need* the money. That's not what this is about. I write because I love to write. I write because it is my escape, because characters tell me their stories to share with the world.

But did you know that it cost me money to publish my book? Yep! It did. The cover? That was a couple hundred dollars. Did you know that's my family's budget for food for two months? The formatting? Another hundred (plus some). Well there wen't any clothes or shoes we needed. Oh and the editing? Well the editing was a couple car payments. Let that sink in, for a minute.

So say our roles were reversed. And I was helping others walk away with your car, groceries for  two months, and your entire clothing budget. Well you would be walking around, starving to death and butt naked. But don't worry about me! Somehow despite your thievery I'll manage. I mean, clearly as a debut author I am just rolling in the dough!

Take into consideration that the book you're stealing, and helping others steal took me nine months to complete. Nine months of hard work that you're giving away for free. Is $2.99 so much that it's worth hurting me for? What could you possibly buy with that $2.99 that's so important? Coffee on your way to work? Maybe lunch at McDonalds?

Guess what! If you'd asked me I would've gladly given you a copy of the book. So I hope you enjoy your McDonalds or Coffee. (If you buy off the dollar menu you could get both! Just helping with your tight budget and all.)

Sincerely,
The Sarcastic Indie Author




Saturday, January 11, 2014

Writing Tip #3: You'll fight with yourself and that's okay - just as long as you win!

You know how some days you write and think "Dude! I'm genius!" And then the next day you think "Crap! This is horrible and I should quit writing!" You know? You know what I mean? You get what I'm talking about?  Well I am here to tell you that if you go through this you are defined as a Rapunzel writer.  (Okay so I just made that up, but at least let me explain before scoffing at the ridiculousness and walking away).

In Disney's Tangled, Rapunzel has this hilarious scene in which she is walking through the forest with Flynn Rider. And she is fighting with herself (much like Gollum) about leaving the tower even though her mother told her not to. And here is what she says:

(And to help keep everyone from getting confused, BOLD means she is saying it in an excited tone. And NORMAL means she is saying it in a sad "aww crap!" voice.)



"I can't believe I did this!! 
I can't believe I did this.
I can't believe I did this. 
Mother would be so furious
Well that's okay, what she doesn't know won't kill her, right? 
Oh my gosh, this is gonna kill her.
This is so fun.
I am a horrible daughter, I'm going back.
I am never going back.
I am a despicable human being.
Whoohooooo! Best day ever! 
*Sniffle*

So you see? No? Okay let me use the same idea and change it to the writing situation I am trying to describe.

I can't believe I am writing a book! 
I can't believe I am writing a book!
I can't believe I am writing a book! 
I'm awful! This is terrible!
Well, no! I am going to do this! I got this! 
Oh my gosh, I want to die.
THIS IS SO MUCH FUN! 
I am a horrible writer, I am going back to normal stuff.
I am never going back! 
I am a horrible writer!
Whoooohooo! Best word count ever!! 
*Sniffle*

Alright, now you see what I'm talking about?

So now that you know what a Rapunzel writer is, are you one? No? *Wipes forehead* "Good!" Yes?  Well. . . .than I have some advice for you.  Ready? Take notes.
  1. Don't ever give up. 
  2. If you have to, be Gollum instead of Rapunzel. (CLICK HERE to see what I'm talking about)
  3. Don't ever give up! 
  4. Know that you will have low moments and still don't  give up.  
  5. And most importantly remember the end of Rapunzel's story. 
You are going to finish that book, and though you may not get in a boat with a really cute guy, you're going to sing! Yep, sing! "AND AT LAST I SEE THE LIGHT, AND IT'S LIKE THE FOG HAS LIFTED." Cause you will have finished a book and you will get it published and you will have learned.

And when it is time to write your next book, open the document, and whisper quietly to it "You are my new dream."  

And always remember, no matter what, you can still succeed. 
There is no expiration date on success.  


Friday, January 10, 2014

Expecting Miracles!

I was going through a really hard time. I mean, life just kinda sucked all around. I didn't want to write, my rankings were going down, and honestly I just kinda wanted to give up. "Expect miracles and they will happen." That's what my friend kept telling me.

I couldn't complain once without her telling me to "expect miracles." And honestly, I had no idea what that meant. Expect miracles? Oh yeah, that's gonna happen. Not. I hated those two words more than I thought imaginable. I finally stopped complaining to her. I mean, come on she's my bestie but I was sick of being told to just expect stuff to happen.

Then things got a little better. Inspiration struck and I began writing again. Voila! I told my friend that things were better. Wanna know what she said? "See! If you expect miracles, they happen." Wha?! I wasn't expecting anything. What is this woman talking about?!

But because things were getting better I let it go. Fine, if she thinks it got better because I was expecting miracles, so be it. And boom! Another miracle hit me! WHA?!?! So I kinda gave in . . .

Skip ahead to Monday. Inventory day at work (mega UGH). And I told her that. Ugh. I hate doing inventory at work. We seriously have a million little things that need to be counted. It is terrible! And it takes forever. And once everything is counted? I have to fix anything that's off in the computer. Even bigger UGH!

But it gets worse. You see I also have a deadline. I MUST have Missing Royal written, edited, and off to beta readers by this upcoming Monday. That means I have to write roughly 60k in LESS than a week and then edit the book too! Mega UGH. And I told all of this to my friend. Wanna guess what she told me? Expect miracles!

So I tell my boss at work that I can't stay late to finish inventory because I *HAVE* to get this book done. And he said he really needed me to stay late because we had to get the inventory done.

And then a brilliant idea came to mind. "Alright, I will stay late Monday and Tuesday night. But then I get *Wednesday AND Thursday off to write." *Wednesday is my regular day off.
And he (the boss) agreed! WHA? Okay so I expected things to work out and . . . they did!

But wait! It gets better. Thursday I was supposed to go into work late and thanks to some snow? I got the whole day off. Did I mention I also get Friday off? So yeah, my miracle was kinda huge.

That doesn't even top off my week. Two other HUGE miracles have happened this week. All because I opened up and expected them. Prayed for them. And allowed them to happen.

And now? Now the same friend who taught me to expect them is needing one of her own! PLEASE help her miracle happen by checking out her GoFundMe project! Even $10 goes a long way!

Expect Miracles! 


Thursday, January 9, 2014

Exciting news from Andrea Pearson ~ Author of the Kilenya Series!

Hi, Everyone!

My name is Andrea Pearson and I'm an author of middle grade and young adult fantasy. In celebration of the completion of my Kilenya Series, I'm giving away eBooks! Read on for more details. :-)

The Key of Kilenya, first book in the Kilenya Series (with 50 five-star reviews on Amazon), is available everywhere for free (Kindle, Nook, Smashwords), but only until the 18th of January.

It's originally $3.99, and is geared to readers 10 and older. If it were a movie, it would be rated PG. No swearing or vulgarity, and very minimal violence.

Here's the book description:

We all have a choice—but we can’t choose the consequences.

Jacob Clark is chased down a path that takes him to another world—a world where he is a wanted young man. The Lorkon want to control him and the special powers he possesses. The people of the new world want him to save them from the destruction of the Lorkon. All Jacob wants is to go home, but even that choice has consequences. He doesn’t know what to do and if he waits too long, the new world and the one he came from will be destroyed. As Jacob looks for people he can trust, he finds himself in the center of the fight for freedom—both for himself and the people he’s come to know.

Jacob has no idea where the path he chooses will take him, but once the choice has been made—bring on the consequences.

Back to Andrea. :-) I had so much fun writing this book! I came up with the idea for the magical key when I was 10 - the same age as many of my readers - and built on it until I was 22, when I sat down and actually wrote the book. The Kilenya Series has sold really well and I've been so excited to find people just as passionate about the books as I am. :-)

The second book, The Ember Gods, is available for $0.99 until January 18, but you don't have to buy it if you don't want to, because I'm giving it away for free. In fact, I'm giving away three different eBooks. The only thing required on your part is to decide which one you want, mention it on this blog post, then email me the info, and I'll send you the file. :-)

Here are the books to choose from:

The Ember Gods, Kilenya Series Book Two

Original and discounted price: $3.99 to $0.99
(or free, if you choose this eBook :-))
Discounted Until January 18th
Genre and target audience: Fantasy for teens
If this book were a movie, what would it be rated? PG
If you don't want it for free (ha ha :-)), you can download it from: Kindle, Nook

Book description: 

Jacob Clark’s new abilities are a blessing and a curse. He’s a hero for returning the magical Key of Kilenya to its rightful owners, but at school he's starting to get noticed for something other than his basketball skills. And the attention is freaking him out.

Balancing both worlds is tricky enough, but Jacob has tasked himself with saving Aloren who’s trapped in Maivoryl City by the Ember Gods. He doesn't want to wait for the potion that will protect his team from the corrosive influence of the Lorkon, but the desire to prove himself to the high school basketball coach conflicts with his plans to rescue her.

Feeling pulled by both sides, Jacob must walk a tightrope of warring worlds with lives on the line. Lives that will be lost if he doesn’t figure out how to complete his quest and balance his abilities. Fast.

August Fortress, Kilenya Series Book Three

Price: $3.99 (or free, if you choose this eBook :-))
Genre and target audience: Fantasy for teens
If this book were a movie, what would it be rated? PG
If you don't want it for free, you can download it from: Kindle, Nook, Smashwords

Book description:

Since Jacob Clark discovered his abilities, his life has changed for the better—and the worse.

The basketball coach won't notice him and high school is much more complicated than before. Jacob finds himself needed more and more in Eklaron where his abilities are saving lives. And then the call comes—he and his friends must rescue the powerful Sheingols from August Fortress where they've been held for fifteen years. The only problem is, Lorkon traps are everywhere and getting past them might be impossible.

The closer he gets to his goal, the harder the traps are to overcome. Can he master more of his powers to fight the traps? Or has Jacob finally met his match?

Samara: A Kilenya Romance

Original price:$1.99 (or free, if you choose this eBook :-))
Genre and target audience: Clean teen romance
If this book were a movie, what would it be rated? G (or a very, very soft PG)
If you don't want it for free, you can download it from: Kindle, Nook, Smashwords

Book description:

When Samara Oldroyd meets the most amazing guy ever, she's frustrated their conversation is cut short. Her wishes that they'll run into each other again come true when she meets her sister's new boyfriend. It's him! Eeek!
Inspired by the film Dan in Real Life, this novella will tickle you pink as Samara tries—in vain—to undo her crush.

(There is no magic involved in this story. It contains characters you'll meet in the Kilenya Series and can be read separately.)


Now that you've chosen which free eBook you want, here's how you get it:
  1. Comment on this blog, saying which eBook you want
  2. Send me an email (ap@andreapearsonbooks.com) and tell me:
    1. The title of the book
    2. The name of the blog that sent you
    3. Which format you want the eBook in (Kindle, Nook, etc.)
And that's all!

I can't wait for you to delve into the world of Kilenya and discover the magic, monsters, and people there!


Andrea Pearson, author of the Kilenya Series, Kilenya Romances, and Katon University series, lives with her husband and daughter in a small valley framed with hills. She is Executive Director of the Indie Author Hub group and creator of the writing application, Writer’s Progress Bar. She is an editor for the website Gather.com.

Andrea spends as much time with her husband and daughter as possible. Favorite activities include painting, watching movies, collecting and listening to music, and discussing books and authors.

Her mother says they can't possibly be related because Andrea isn't in love with chocolate and tomatoes, though she’ll eat either. (But not together.) She would much rather snack on toasted English muffins with lots of butter or nearly anything with cheese.

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

The Faerie War by Rachel Morgan ~ A Book Review




The fate of the fae world is in her hands ...

Violet Fairdale is in big trouble. Her home is gone, her beloved forest lies in ruins, the guy she gave her heart to has deserted her—and she doesn’t remember any of it. The powerful Lord Draven is taking over, brainwashing guardians into fighting for him. No one is safe from the evil spreading throughout the fae world.

As alliances are forged between the remaining free fae, Vi struggles to reclaim her identity and figure out where she belongs in this new world. When someone from her past shows up, life gets even more complicated. He brings with him a long-forgotten weapon and an ancient prophecy that places Vi at the center of the fight against Draven. With the future of the fae world at stake, can Vi carry out the prophecy’s instructions before it’s too late?


~ Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ B&N


My review: 

The Faerie War was a bittersweet read. I took as long as I possibly could to read it because I didn't want it to end. But once I got past the first sentence, there was no tearing me away from the book!

Creepy Hollow is like a second home to me and to see what it goes through, what the characters go through was pure torture. Warning: You will want to have tissues on hand! If you do not like people seeing you cry/emotional, *do not read in public*!

You cannot ask for a more action packed, romantic, EPIC (YA) Fantasy novel/series full of emotion, trials, triumphs, and twists that will blow you away! There is simply nothing that compares!

Ryn . . . oh my goodness, Ryn! Yep, I'm in love! Serious crush going on over here! He is the freaking cutest, hottest, kick-butt, love-dovey, faerie I have ever read about! <3

Violet is one of my all-time favorite heroines! Talk about the best mix of sassy, sweet, and kick-butt! Definitely the kind of person I want as my best friend!

Don't tell me 5 stars is the limit, I can't give this book any less than 10!



~ About the Author ~ 


Rachel Morgan was born in South Africa and spent a large portion of her childhood living in a fantasy land of her own making. After completing a degree in genetics, she decided science wasn't for her—after all, they didn’t approve of made-up facts. These days she spends much of her time immersed in fantasy land once more, writing fiction for young adults.



Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Writing Tip #2: Tell the voice "Leave, and never come back!"

You know the voice I'm talking about? No, no, not the ones that belong to your characters. But the OTHER voice. The one that says things like "Quit now." and "You'll never succeed," and "Why bother? You're horrible at this," I'm talking about the voice that tells you to give up.  I'm talking about the voice that doesn't believe in you.  That voice? Yeah I want you to treat that voice the same way Smeagol talks to Gollum.


 You know this conversation from the movie?  Here, let me refresh your memory: 

Gollum:  “You don’t have any friends, nobody likes you!”
Smeagol:  “I’m not listening, I’m not listening.”
Gollum:  “You’re a liar and a thief.”
Smeagol: “No!”
Gollum: “Mur-der-er.”
Smeagol: “Go away!”
Gollum: “Go away?” *Insert Gollum laugh here*
Smeagol:  *Insert Smeagol crying* “I hate you, I hate you!”
Gollum: “Where would you be without me? Gollum! Gollum saved us! It was me! We survived because of me!”
Smeagol:  *Smeagol crying stops* “Not anymore.”
Gollum: “What did you say?”
Smeagol: “Master looks after us now, we don’t need you anymore. Leave now, and never come back!”
Gollum: “What?”
Smeagol: “LEAVE NOW AND NEVER COME BACK!”  (Repeat 2x) 

Now pretend this conversation is happening between you and that little voice: 

Evil voice:  “You don’t have any talent, nobody likes your writing!”
You:  “I’m not listening, I’m not listening.”
Evil Voice:  “You’re a horrible writer.”
You: “No!”
Evil voice: “Word killer.”
You: “Go away!”
Evil voice : “Go away?” *Insert Gollum Evil voice laugh here*  
You:  *Insert Smeagol you crying* “I hate you, I hate you!”
Evil voice: “Where would you be without me? Gollum! Gollum Evil voice saved us! It was me! We survived because of me!”
You:  *Smeagol your crying stops* “Not anymore.”
Evil Voice: “What did you say?”
You: “Master I look after us me now, we I don’t need you anymore. Leave now, and never come back!”
Evil Voice: “What?”
You: “LEAVE NOW AND NEVER COME BACK!”  (Repeat 2x)

Don't listen to the little voice! Send it away and tell it to never come back! 
Because you are good enough, and you can do this!  






Monday, January 6, 2014

TWO VERY SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS!**


One princess destroyed the world. One princess must save it. 

When Shanice was little, she wished to be a princess. Now as a teenager, she just wishes she fit in. But Shanice doesn't feel like she belongs—she never has.

When her parents tell her she is the last known princess from another world, it all makes sense—a world full of magic in place of technology, one where she is more than just royalty. She is their last chance to stop the one who is bent on destroying it: Mendina. 

But she can't do it alone. First, she must find the other missing royals. In her quest, Shanice will be forced to choose between the course prophecy set for her and the one that leads to the man who possesses her heart.

~ Add it to your Goodreads shelf! ~ 

And now . . . the first special announcement! 

Missing Royal is special to me. This is my first book, the one I worked on for seven years, the one that I will always hold dear. Only Half Alive may have been my first book to be published but Missing Royal is truly what has me excited. I have been waiting a LONG time to put this book out there. 

And now that the time has come I have decided to make it extra special with a special edition of the book. 

*To clarify - there will be two versions of the book. The regular edition and the special edition. 

This special edition will include things like character drawings, creature designs, the original map, the official map, bonus scenes, and a sneak peak of the second book in the Finding Gold series, The Enchanted Rose. 

There will only ever be 100 copies of the special edition in existence  And guess what, it is available for pre-order NOW! 

You can check it out HERE! Get your copy quick because once all 100 copies are sold, there will be no more. 

You can also pre-order the regular edition through me HERE

And now . . . the second special announcement!

 I have created a GoFundMe store to help with publishing books. 

Go HERE to check it out! 

Everyone who participates in either of these - whether your pre-order Missing Royal or support the GoFundMe Project - will be entered to win an Amazon Gift Card!