Monday 30 April 2012

Releasing Today: Shadow on the Wall by Pavarti K. Tyler

Original Title: Shadow on the Wall
Series: The SandStorm Chronicles #1
Author: Pavarti K. Tyler
Publisher: Fighting Monkey Press
Published Date: May 1st 2012
Genre: Fantasy






Recai Osman: Muslim, philosopher, billionaire and Superhero?

Controversial and daring, Shadow on the Wall details the transformation of Recai Osman from complicated man to Superhero. Forced to witness the cruelty of the Morality Police in his home city of Elih, Turkey, Recai is called upon by the power of the desert to be the vehicle of change. Does he have the strength to answer Allah's call or will his dark past and self doubt stand in his way?

Pulling on his faith in Allah, the friendship of a Jewish father-figure and a deeply held belief that his people deserve better, Recai Osman must become The SandStorm.

In the tradition of books by Margaret Atwood and Salman Rushdie, Shadow on the Wall tackles issues of religion, gender, corruption and the basic human condition. Beautiful and challenging, this is not a book to miss.

EXCERPT

A man. A voice. Darkness tangled her thoughts with fear and childhood warnings.

Sabiha, you shouldn’t be walking alone, she’d heard it say.

Stupidity had made her rash; selfish concerns about her brother caused her to make the worst possible mistake—the kind of mistake that would make her wish she had died, if by any chance she managed to survive.

The low voice knew her name, knew her family name—it had come specifically for her.

She ignored its call, quickening her pace. A laugh broke out in the night, mocking her fear. Suddenly the owner of the voice grabbed her, turning her around to face him.

Refusing to meet the voice’s gaze, Sabiha fixed her eyes forward. Her gaze came to rest on his arm where she saw the outline of a tattoo, dark and menacing. A snake’s tail circled his bicep and disappeared behind his back, only to reveal itself on the other side of his neck with two onyx eyes staring at her, unblinking.

AUTHOR INFORMATION


Pavarti K Tyler is an artist, wife, mother and number-cruncher who has been committed to causing trouble since her first moment on this Earth. Her eclectic career has flirted with Broadway, Teaching, Law Firms and the IRS. Author of many short stories, Pavarti spans genres from Horror and Erotica all the way to Fantasy. Currently Pavarti is hard at work establishing her Indie Publishing Company Fighting Monkey Press.

Pavarti K Tyler’s novel Two Moons of Sera is a Fantasy/Romance and began in a serial format in November 2011. Her next novel Shadow on the Wall is scheduled for release in May 2012. Shadow on the Wall is Book One of The SandStorm Chronicles, the saga of Recai Osman — businessman, philosopher, Muslim and . . . superhero.

Author Online: Blog | Tumblr | Facebook | Twitter | Google+

Guest Post & $25 Gift Card Giveaway: "Moving On: A Prairie Romance"

Original Title: Moving On: A Prairie Romance
Author: Annette Bower
Publisher: XoXo Publishing
Published Date: January 1st 2012
Genre: Contemporary Romance





Anna is a mysterious woman that has just moved to Regina Beach. The residents of the small town know everyone’s business and they are very interested in discovering Anna’s secrets. Nick was a Sergeant in the Canadian Army, doing active duty until a horrific accident sent him home to recover. He helps Anna feel safe and comfortable in her new environment, just as he has always done for his men in strange, dangerous places. Meanwhile, he focuses on preparing for his future physical endurance test to prove that he is capable of returning to active duty.

Anna doesn’t talk about her past, and Nick doesn’t talk about his future therefore she is shocked to discover that his greatest wish is to return to active duty. She won’t love a man who may die on the job again. Intellectually, she knows that all life cycles end, but emotionally, she doesn’t know if she has the strength to support Nick.

EXCERPT

While Nick ruffled the beast’s fur, Anna’s ears were accosted by barking ecstasy. Her cheeks flushed. No animal should enjoy its master’s touch that much.    

Nick approached the door with the dog at his side. Anna jumped backwards. “Don’t come any closer!”

His brow furrowed while he peered through the mesh. “Molly won’t hurt you. She’s as gentle as a lamb.”

“That’s what every dog owner says, even after the animal has mauled you. Of course, after blood’s flowing, then it’s the victim’s fault.”

His fingers curled around the collar of the black beast, Molly.

“Molly has never bitten anyone.”

“I’ll bet she chases rabbits.”

“She’s an animal.”

“Exactly my point.”

With his hand on the door latch, “What’s the worst that can happen? You lose a hand. You already know all about missing limbs.”

“Do I look foolish to you?”

His eyes held hers. His voice was calm. “No, but you don’t have to be afraid.” 

Anna stepped closer to the door. “I won’t come out. She can smell my hand from here.” Anna placed her hand against the mesh. Molly looked from the hand to the pizza container and back to the hand just inside the door. She nudged the pizza container with her nose.

“Leave it.”

The dog turned and looked up at Nick and sat at his side.

He put his fingers through the royal blue collar. “City people come out to the country and want to lock and tie everything up. Animals need to run. I’ve got her collar.”

GUEST POST 

Adventures in my own back yard
By Annette Bower

Thank you, Vidya for hosting me on your blog today. Books are magic and I’d like to talk  about how I used my lucky  life opportunity of  living in a small community to inform my book, Moving On A Prairie Romance.

“Anna Jenkins pushed her foot on the brake as her hatchback picked up speed on the hill. The posted speed limit for the Town of Regina Beach was forty km/hr.  She passed old cottages with verandas and gravel driveways surrounded by blossoming lilac bushes that were tucked in among new homes with steel doors and trees with spring green leaves shading designer interlocking block paths. Her doubts about moving to a small town washed in her fatigued mind like the waves pushing and pulling along the shore of Last Mountain Lake, that expanse of blue where the road she was on ended. Just past noon and no one was on the street.” (Moving On A Prairie Romance p. 1).
   
For many years my husband, sons and I lived in the Town of Regina Beach and when I chose a place to set my story about Anna and Nick, this small resort town in the Qu’Appelle Valley, located on the shores of Last Mountain Lake in Saskatchewan was the perfect place. Because this active lakeside resort town became a different community in the summer than it was during the other times of the year, it paralleled the dichotomy of Anna and Nick’s challenges and their hope for their futures.

In the story a secondary character, Herman comments to Anna: He turned to watch a fishing boat troll along the shore. “You know, with only one road into town and that same road ends at the lake, you came here either on purpose or by mistake.”

I was an urban woman until we moved to the place where my husband spent the weekends and summers of his youth. I didn’t know how to be in the small village with the population of four hundred and eighty-eight people when we moved into our home and we were expecting our first child. I enjoyed the friendliness of all of the people and I had the cache of being part of an old established family because of my husband’s family, but that also brought along the responsibility to become an active member of the community.  

My husband’s career took us from Regina Beach to Winnipeg, Manitoba. I had grown used to going into the post office, grocery stores, coffee shops and knowing people. In Winnipeg, I chatted with the cashiers at the Canadian Tire Stores, the butcher shops and I formed my first TV series friendship with “Ria who searches for that "something more" in Butterflies” a British sitcom written by Carla Lane. A friend even gave me a bumper sticker that said, “I may be slow but I’m ahead of you” because I was used to driving slowly.  Our family made long lasting friendships but we wanted to return to our Regina Beach community, friends and our family, so we did for many more years.

Even though we have moved from Regina Beach once again, I knew I could write about the community with intimate knowledge. The houses and characters are a composite of houses and people in the area and my imagination. Knowing my landscape provided a measure of certainty and allowed me to focus on the other elements of my story.  I also know that many readers live in small communities where your neighbors know what is happening and therefore they can relate to my setting and my characters.

I invite readers to visit the Town of Regina Beach, Saskatchewan, Canada through my pages and share Anna and Nick’s story.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR



Annette Bower lives and writes in Regina, SK Canada. She is an author of many short stories published in anthologies and magazines in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. She explores women in families, women in communities and women at the beginning and end of love and their quest for love. She pursues the writing craft in workshops, conferences, Writing with Style, Banff Centre for the Arts, Victoria School of Writing, Sage Hill Writing Experience, the Surrey International Writing Conferences and the Romance Writing of America Conferences. 

When she isn’t writing she walks or bikes around the streets and parks in her neighborhood imagining complex worlds behind seemingly ordinary events.

Her first contemporary romance, Moving On A Prairie Romance is published by XoXo Publishing™ a division of Ninni Group Inc. 

AUTHOR ONLINE: Website | Blog | Facebook

GIVEAWAY

Annette will award a $25 GC to All Romance eBooks to one randomly drawn commenter. 

So, all you have to do is comment in this post.  Giveaway open INTERNATIONALLY!  Ends May 11th 2012!

*** This post is part of the tour for Goddess Fish Promotions. ***


Sunday 29 April 2012

Review: Remember the Future (Fear of the Past #3)

Original Title: Remember the Future
Series: Fear of the Past #3
Author: Claude Nougat
Published Date: November 23rd 2011
Genre: Contemporary Romance


Tony who has emerged from the coma his accident had plunged him into (see book 2)tries to take his life in his own hands. He is torn between his fear of the past and his love for Lucia, a beautiful designer, four years older than he is. For him, the age difference doesn't count, for her it's a problem unless he makes a success of his life. She prods him to take a job as a computer science consultant at the University of Catania.

Review: Reclaim the Present (Fear of the Past #2)

Original Title: Reclaim the Present
Series: Fear of the Past #2
Author: Claude Nougat
Publisher: BookBaby
Published Date: October 3rd 2011
Genre: Contemporary Romance



At the close of Book 1 of the Fear of the Past Trilogy, Tony, an American computer whiz kid, has returned to his own time in Syracuse, Sicily. He soon meets Lucia, the woman of his dreams who reminds him of the Duchess of Floridia that he has met and loved in the Circolo di Conversazione (Book 1). But he has an accident and falls back… to 1908, in time to witness the tragedy that put an end to his family's wealth.

Review: Legends Lost: Amborese

Original Title: Legends Lost: Amborese
Author: Janet McNulty, Nova Rose
Publisher: CreateSpace
Published Date: August 23 2011
Genre: Fantasy







Amborese thought she was a peasant's daughter until one night dark creatures murdered her parents and pursued her into the forest. Saved by a talking cat and her friend Zolo, she fled for her life only to learn that she had a bigger destiny than she once believed. Pursued across the five lands of Tesnayr by an evil wizard's army, Amborese must overcome her doubts and unite the dragons, elves, dwarves, and the five lands themselves. But will they follow a mere girl?

REVIEW

This book has all elements of fantasy and the plot came as a real surprise.

Amborese is the last true heir of Tesnaryr and she is the one destined to unite the divided lands and save it from the tyrant, Clymorus.  Clymorus lived 300 years ago, but before his death, stored all his powers in a necklace.  This necklace, which was lost across centuries, finally got into the possession of Amborese, who sets out to destroy it.  She was accompanies with many interesting friends on the way.

Amborese experiences loss, love, friendship, adventure, fear and leadership for the first time in her life.  The perilous journey transforms her as a leader, from an ordinary girl.

Great plot, writing, world-building and characters.  I just have one complaint..there is over-explanation at many places, which makes the book huge - 3 parts.  But, as the plot is interesting, one can't give up.

Recommended to fantasy lovers!


Saturday 28 April 2012

Giveaway: 3 copies of FREQUENT TRAVELLER by Pandora Poikilos

Original Title: Frequent Traveller
Author: Pandora Poikilos
Published Date: November 13th 2011
Genre: Women's Fiction


Catherine Dixon is everyone's dreamgirl. Girls want to be her. Men want to be with her. From her charming smile to her gentle voice, one always turns to take a second look at Cathy. Wherever she goes there isn't an ill-word spoken about her. Her job as Vice President of Communications at MoonStar, one of the world's top hotel chains is to make sure guests are happy to the point of perfection.

From the blue oceans of Antigua to the bustling streets of Vietnam, the racing adrenaline at the Green Hell, the devastating natural disaster in Japan and the stunning architecture in Germany, Cathy finds herself in a whirlwind of fine dining, plush clothes and sheer extravagance. But is perfection only a mask for untold disaster? In a job that deals so much with people, Cathy goes home to an empty bed. There are no pictures on her wall, no doting phone calls from a tongue tied lover and no family holidays to boast about.

What is Cathy's secret and how will her world change when the world knows? What is the significance of the blue pendant round her neck? Who is the mysterious man she is seen with every three months? What are the contents of the brown envelope delivered to her on the fifteenth of every month? Will her secrets ever catch up with her or will Cathy continue to sail alongside perfection in the world she has created for herself as a Frequent Traveller?

GIVEAWAY

Like the description of the book?  Wanna read it?

Well, the author is giving away 3 e-copies of this book.  So, enter the Rafflecopter below to enter.  Open INTERNATIONALLY!  Ends 10th May 2012!


Review: Brigitta of the White Forest by Danika Dinsmore

Original Title: Brigitta of the White Forest
Series: Faerie Tales from the White Forest #1
Author: Danika Dinsmore
Publisher: En Theos Press
Published Date: March 1st 2011
Genre: Fantasy, Children's







Brigitta is a young Water Faerie from the village-nest of Tiragarrow. She's confused, moody, and anxious about going through "The Change" as she doesn't see how destiny markings on her wings should determine her life's path.

A few days before the annual Festival of the Elements, Brigitta is flying an errand with Himalette, her tag-a-long sister, when a mysterious curse turns everyone in the White Forest to stone -- except for the two of them. The sisters have no idea why they were not cursed, but they do know if they don't turn everyone back in time for the festival rituals, the Hourglass of Protection will run out and so will its protective field around the forest.

A book for those who enjoy fantasy adventure, Brigitta of the White Forest offers a new twist on the faerie tales so loved by young readers.

REVIEW

The White Forest is a protected realm for all faeries.  Where all faeries are marked in their wings with their destiny, Brigitta, a water faerie, is still waiting for her "change" to happen.  But, she has her doubts about this whole destiny thing.  What if she is destined to something she hated to do?  Will she still accept it for an entire life-time?

All faeries in the White Forest are protected by the Hourglass of Protection.  Every year, the Hourglass is reversed by the Elders and the High Priestess, to continue its protection in the Forest.  When the festival neared, one bad day, everyone except Brigitta and her little sister were turned to stone.  At the same time, some one else has put a spell on these young faeries which turned their entire skin and wings to blue.

This novel started slow, but towards the half of the book, it started getting real interesting.  The genre of this novel is children's fantasy and it would make a good series, if the author could make much deeper character building.  The world building was good..I felt like watching a Tinker Bell movie.

The bickering of the siblings were annoying at times..but, I believe that's what happens in real life. :)  So, the girls' adventure was really entertaining, especially their caterpillar friend's sentence formation.  As I mentioned, the author has built the world in a detailed way, so I am definitely interested in knowing more about it.

Would make a great series, if the writing and character building improves in the upcoming novels.


Friday 27 April 2012

Book Feature & Guest Post: The Ruins of Noe by Danika Dinsmore

Original Title: The Ruins of Noe
Series: Faerie Tales from the White Forest #2
Author: Danika Dinsmore
Publisher: Hydra House
Published Date: May 1st 2012
Genre: Paranormal, Fantasy





A child born with no destiny: one of many signs that the White Forest faeries have lost touch with the Ethereals, the Ancient Ones. High Priestess Ondelle is convinced by an old proverb that one faerie is fated to travel to the former home of the Ancients, the Ruins of Noe, to find the answer. That faerie, she believes, is Brigitta.

Ondelle and Brigitta set off to save their forest once again, but when they arrive in Noe they discover something they never learned from any faerie tale. Why had this dark secret been kept from them? Why in the name of Faweh had the Ancients left some faeries behind?

GUEST POST BY THE AUTHOR

About the Author




SHORTSKY:
Danika Dinsmore is a poet, screenwriter, and novelist living in Vancouver, British Columbia.

LONGSKY:
A seasoned spokenword artist, Danika Dinsmore has performed at hundreds of events from Seattle’s Bumbershoot Arts Festival to the Labyrinth Poetry Series in Vienna, Austria. In addition to her performance work, Danika writes and teaches for the page and screen. The first book in her children’s fantasy adventure series, Brigitta of the White Forest, was adapted from one of her original feature film scripts. She uses the experience of creating the White Forest to teach world-building techniques in her Imaginary Worlds workshops. Book Two in the series, The Ruins of Noe, is scheduled for release in early 2012. Danika lives and plays in Vancouver, British Columbia and teaches writing courses for Capilano University and the Creative Writing for Children Society. She blogs at theaccidentalnovelist.wordpress.com

BOOK TRAILER



TOP 10 FANTASIES THAT I LOVE

By Danika Dinsmore

I love making to-do lists, but I avoid top ten lists. I tend to over think things.

I’m purposely leaving out HARRY POTTER and CHRONICLES OF NARNIA and THE HOBBIT and LORD OF THE RINGS because everyone knows those books and probably loves them already. They are always top of mind.

So other than those ones, ten more of my favourite fantasies (and fantasy series) include:

  • Phillip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy. This is probably in my top three. A triumph if you ask me.
  • Robin Hobb’s Liveship Traders trilogy. Robin Hobb is a master at world-building and handling multiple storylines.
  • Robin Hobb’s Farseer series. Hobb is so good she deserves to be on here twice.
  • Cinda Williams Chima’s Seven Realms series. The final book (#4) isn’t even out yet and I’m already feeling sad it will be over.
  • Kate DiCamillo’s The Miraculous Journey of Edward Toulane. A children’s book that will make you cry.
  • Patricia McKillip’s In the Forests of Serre. I had to stop and reread passages just because they were so lovely.
  • Audry Neffenegger’s Time Traveler’s Wife. Personally, I’d call this light sci-fi, but purists call anything time travel “fantasy.” And since I just love this book so much, I’ll keep it here.
  • Neil Gaiman’s Stardust. I just felt so satisfied after I read this book. Sigh.
  • Richard Adams’ Watership Down. I wanted to add this 1) because it’s not traditional fantasy. Talking animal stories, even if they don’t have magic, are considered a sub-genre of fantasy though. And 2) because I forgot how brilliant this book is until I reread it last year and wanted to remind others about it.
  • Frank L. Baum’s Oz collection. Most people know about The Wizard of Oz. But so few have read the whole Oz series. It’s marvellous. And the stories will always hold a special place in my heart because my father read them to me as a child. I suppose the language is a bit dated, but I bet young children will still adore them.


Faerie Tales from the White Forest Series Order

1.  Brigitta of the White Forest - Read review here
2.  The Ruins of Noe



*** This post is a part of Lightning Book Promotions ***


Thursday 26 April 2012

Urban Fantasy with a Dystopian Twist – A Venture into the Written Realm

Original Title: When Copper Suns Fall
Series: Copper Suns #1
Author: KaSonndra Leigh
Publisher: TriGate Press
Published Date: December 6th 2011
Genre: Fantasy






In fifteen-year-old Chela Prizeon’s city, alchemy is forbidden and angels hide among the mortal. With a deadly virus ravaging the globe, Chela’s nightmarish memories compels her to experience a past riddled with gloom, and now her brother is infected.

Chela’s only hope is the Caduceans, slayers sworn to protect the last seven Light Keepers and the ancient memories they share. A group led by the sometimes elusive, sometimes infuriating boy who intrigues Chela. But can she trust this boy with the mysterious past, someone who can influence her memories?

With the Caduceans aid, Chela races to defeat her rivals, to unearth dark family secrets, desperate to find a cure…only to discover the glutovirus is far more than a simple disease.

In this haunting debut, KaSonndra Leigh offers an escape into an intriguing new world filled with celestial creatures, fascinating villainy, high-stake choices, and a secret romance, When Copper Suns Fall, is a fresh and original urban fantasy—with a dystopian twist—that will take readers on an unforgettable adventure.


Urban Fantasy with a Dystopian Twist – A Venture into the Written Realm

By KaSonndra Leigh Author of the YA Dark Fantasy When Copper Suns Fall

I promise you that the title of this article is not a typo.

Sometimes it’s almost as if I can hear the unspoken comments from the hesitant reader who is considering a purchase of my book. This person is saying things like: “There’s that author again, the one with the little angel statue on her book’s cover. She’s popping up all over the place talking about her dystopian fantasy novel.” Then they pause…thoughts racing, I’m sure…and say, “Hey, maybe it’s not so taboo, that crossing genres thing. Maybe I’ll check her sample out.”

And then something amazing happens…the hesitant reader buys the full copy and becomes a fan.

I get emails from people all over the world. They tell me how much they love the unique plot line and about how brave I am for taking a chance on blending two completely different genres. Sometimes I hear from people who just don’t get it; but the intrigue of a fantastical plot set within a dystopian society intrigues them. So they come back for more.

Newsflash#1: I’m not the first author who has ever crossed into this realm.

Cross-genre novels are coming out of the closet. Books with mixed- genre elements are all over the place. I won’t go into naming them here, but readers are responding in a positive way. Why is this? Beats the crap out of me. But I can tell you some of the comments I’ve gotten. Mainly the readers say things like: this book is different, angels in a dystopian society is bombin’ (learning new slang everyday) and your heroine is kick a**. What do you see in all of these? You see a reader who enjoys fantastical heroes and heroines (urban fantasy). This same reader can also appreciate fresh characters and settings (half-angels in a society controlled by a government). The secret to making it all work was similar to tackling a new stew. I had to grab a strong voice, a unique heroine, a fallen hero, a society reformed after a great war, add a touch of tribalism without alienating my urban fantasy fans. Phew! Right?

Newsflash#2: The previous recipe was done by a trained dreamer. Do not attempt this on your own.

When I sat down and began writing When Copper Suns Fall, the story was standard in your face, super-high fantasy. Complete with blue creatures, unicorns, princes, and all that. Chela’s name was Cara and Faris had a name that has been overused lately.  I wasn’t trying to be fad girl or the Lady Gaga of the writing world. But rather, I was trying to write the story I always wanted to read. One that came to life when my oldest son asked me: “what if angels that looked like people lived in a dystopian society?” The seeds were planted, the lights in my muse’s apartment lit up. The challenge was on. How do I stick to an urban setting with fantastical elements, but bring my love of dystopia into play?

Newsflash #3: There is no greater teacher of good Young Adult than a young adult himself.  Repeat please.

So if one or two young adults is asking you about a story they’d love to read, then feel lucky, feel blessed, whatever you choose. Feel something and then go write it all down. You’ve just won a prize similar to the lottery (okay, so maybe I’m exaggerating a bit, but…)

Final Newsflash: Urban fantasy with a dystopian twist is not a four-letter word. Re-Tweet please.

An interview I recently took part in asked about the motivation for my novel. Was there a purpose? A message? At first, I said no. Literary novelists are sort of like plague carriers these days. But then, I had to fess up. Of course there’s a message, a theme, all of the above. When Copper Suns Fall is a story of possibilities. It’s a story of all people, all races, and our choices. From its crossed genres all the way down to the cover, it’s a story of what if…? And to find the answer you’ll have to read it, of course! :-D

My lovely grandmother (R.I.P.) always told me that if I listened to the flowers then they’d tell me a few stories. The flowers are the carriers of the angel’s songs. So one day I did as she said (don’t be laughing at me, now). I listened, wrote down the words, rolled a story around my head for a long time. What’s the purpose behind all of this? Stay true to yourself, your story, the message if you have one. And the readers will see who you truly are. That’s the secret behind any successful story, cross-genre or not. You must stay true to the craft and not the trends. What do you think about the future of cross-genre novels?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

KaSonndra Leigh lives in the City of Alchemy and Medicine, North Carolina. She likes to write about teens doing fantastical things in magical worlds. Her two sons have made her promise to write a boy book next.


She holds the MFA in creative writing, and loves to play CLUE, Monopoly (the Indiana Jones version), and Pandora’s Box (good writer’s block therapy). She lives in an L-shaped house with a garden dedicated to her grandmother. It has a secret library complete with fairies, Venetian plastered walls, and a desk made out of clear blue glass.

When Copper Suns Fall is her debut novel.

Review: The Dreables by R.A Jones

Original Title: The Dreables - A Merryweather Mystery
Author: R A Jones
Publisher: Lucky Bat Books
Published Date: October 2011
Genre: Children's, Mystery









Sam Jones’ holiday with Gran is all baking and cats (yawn). But when she gets a cry for help from her old village, everything changes. Something bad is happening and only Gran can fix it. But when she falls victim to a shapeshifter’s trick, Sam is left alone with just dog, cat and cherry bakewells. Things look bleak..But the Dreables haven’t bargained for Gran’s secret gift to Sam. Cunning…

REVIEW

Dreables is a short and enjoyable read for kids.  Samuel Jones, a 10-year old, visits his grandmother, Gwladys Merryweather, for a week, with so much sulking to stay there.  He thinks his grandmother is so old-fashioned and she keeps on mumbling about certain things, which mostly doesn't make sense.

But, things change, when a girl nearly his age calls for help from his grandmother.  Sam's boring days suddenly turns adventurous and he learns more about his grandmother and the Merryweathers.  Sam helps his grandmother in protecting the village from a certain special called Dreables.

Sam learns so much in his adventures and his love and knowledge increases for his grandmother.  This book would sure be a hit with kids, because there are some paranormal elements inserted, so that the kids can learn through fantasy.  Moms of sulking kids! You can buy this novel to your kid - not only will they enjoy the read and learn something, but they can definitely relate themselves to Sam so easily.  And adults, if you can read children's book, take time to read this, because not all of us know what it feels like to be old-fashioned, until, we, one boring day, become one.  Old people deserve more care and understanding from us.

R.A. Jones definitely had made a great kids read.  As much as I recommend it for kids, I definitely won't recommend it to adults, who can't stand children's books. :)

Would make a great read for kids!


Tuesday 24 April 2012

Review & $25 Gift Card Giveaway: To Catch a Thief-taker

Original Title: To Catch a Thief-taker
Series: The Liberated Ladies #1
Author: Lilia Birney
Publisher: Night Shift Publishing
Published Date: January 21, 2012
Genre: Historical Romance, Mystery


BOOK DESCRIPTION


When Lady Penelope Annand's trusted servant goes missing, she is determined to get to the bottom of the matter. Even if that means hiring a thief-taker to track down her maid's whereabouts. But when the darkly smoldering Pierce Howe takes charge of the situation, Penelope finds herself growing more attracted to him by the second--even if she's infuriated by his high-handed manner. She doesn't trust any man--not after the way her first husband wronged her--so why is she so quick to believe in a thief-taker?

Pierce Howe has made a name for himself as one of London's most reliable thief-takers, leaving behind his family's sordid past to create a life of his own. But when Viscountess Annand, known in society as The Ice Goddess, demands that he track down her wayward maid, all his carefully-constructed defenses begin crumbling. As the Ice Goddess shows that she does indeed have a melting point, the thief-taker must decide if he can risk it all and tell her the truth about his past.


REVIEW

Lady Penelope Annand is a beautiful rich widow.  When her very trusted servant maid goes missing, Penelope hires a thief-taker, Pierce Howe, to find the mad.  From the first meeting, Penelope and Pierce were physically much attracted towards each other.  What started as just a affair, turned into much more.  But, both of them do not want to admit their feelings towards each other, for they have a past that they do not wish to share with anyone.  Will their past fears occupy them so badly, that they will lose the love in front of them?

The plot and writing was good.  Entertaining read!  But, I wish the characters were more well-developed.  Tortured heroes and heroines need strong, well-developed characters to love the characters more.  But, still I loved both Penelope and Pierce, for their stubbornness.

A sweet, historical romance!  A novel, that I would recommend for historical romance lovers!



GIVEAWAY

The author is giving away $25 Amazon Gift Card to one random commentor during the tour.  So, just comment in this post to enter the giveaway.  
Open INTERNATIONALLY!  Ends April 27th.

Guest Post & Interview: The Other Side of Life by Jess C Scott


Original Title: The Other Side of Life
Series: Cyberpunk Elven Trilogy #1
Author: Jess C Scott
Publisher: jessINK
Release Date: January 8th 2011
Genre: Urban Fantasy / Cyberpunk / YA with adult crossover appeal
Links: Goodreads | Amazon



Anya and Leticia are partners-in-crime who steal for a living. Their world turns upside down after a chance encounter with fellow rogue, Ithilnin--the enigmatic leader of an Elven band of thieves.

A scuffle to prove who's "the better thief" transforms into more than Anya and Ithilnin ever bargained for. They retrieve the missing piece of an ancient poem, before getting caught in the secret dealings of a megacorporation. What they uncover threatens to alter the very essence of not just human life, but the other side as well.

Elven intrigue, cyberpunk action, and a deadly dose of danger come together in The Other Side of Life [Book #1 in the (Cyberpunk) Elven Trilogy].

GUEST POST:  BEHIND THE COVERS BY JESS C SCOTT

Thanks so much for hosting me today, Vidya!

The Other Side of Life is the first book in a trilogy featuring cyberpunk elves.

The three covers below are the covers of each book (the third is a draft cover -- I explain more below…).


I chose to do the covers for the 2nd and 3rd books in the last quarter of 2011. I wanted the 3 covers to have some kind of a sequence when they were lined up together. As you can see, the first cover has the image placed to the far left, while the middle book has the image in the center, and the third has the image placed on the far right.

I had no idea what the cover for the first book was going to be -- all I knew was that I wanted it to have a mainstream/edgy appeal, with a slight manga-esque feel to it, so that it would look original and stand out from other book covers in the genre (I design my own book covers and sometimes illustrate the covers too, as with the case of The Cyberpunk Elven Trilogy).

The first book cover ended up incorporating a sketch I did of Se7en, a Korean pop-star (I just happened to do a random sketch of Se7en, referenced off a photo where he was trying on a pair of headphones). It shows the face of “Nin,” the lead elven rogue in the book (formerly known as Prince Ithilnin in his elven home kingdom of Helli’sandur).

The second cover shows Laer, the first dark elf that enters the project.

The third cover shows a skeleton king (he is briefly mentioned in one of the elves’ paintings in their “collection” in the first book). I still haven’t worked out all the details of Book03 yet, though I’d like to keep the skeleton king in he plot if I can. This one is a draft cover -- I’ll probably draw a funkier sketch once I’ve started work on the third book (which I’m aiming to get to in 2012).

I sometimes do the book covers before writing the text – the covers can capture a certain scene or feel or atmosphere that reminds me of what I want the story to “feel” like too. I go by whatever “feels right” to me most of the time. The aim is usually to create something unique, original, fresh, engaging and truthful (with both the book cover design + the story in the book!).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Jess is a professional non-conformist with a fresh, youthful world view. She is an author of relationship-based erotic fiction (and other unique projects, including a series that features “cyberpunk elves”). She’s cool, supportive, and writes with both intellect and a lot of emotion.

She has most recently co-authored Teen Guide to Sex and Relationships with Matt Posner (Spring 2012). For more info, please visit http://jessink.com/teenguide.htm

Jess can also be found on jessINK, Facebook, and Twitter.


INTERVIEW WITH JESS C SCOTT

Is there an inspiration behind why you chose writing?

I think it was something I could see myself doing over a long-term basis. I would feel very bored and  restless/agitated if I was in a job that I didn’t find emotionally satisfying (even if it paid tons of money). For me, writing is something that combines passion and purpose, imagination and technical ability, emotion and intellect…

When you were little, what did you want to be when you "grew up"?

Writer was always the first choice. Followed by any of the following: vet, hairstylist, concert pianist, advertising (copywriter?), fashion designer, psychologist, occupational therapist, counselor, something in the financial line (yeah, very varied—writing offers me the chance to sample a little of all of this via the characters!).

Finish the sentence- one book I wish I had written is....

1984 by George Orwell.

What are your current literary works?  Any sneak peaks?

I recently co-authored an advice book with the fabulous Matt Posner.

The book’s a teen guide to sex and relationships (non-fiction), written in a Q&A format.

Here’s a blurb:
Teen Guide to Sex and Relationships is a book that answers the important and confusing questions young people have about their bodies and their hearts. It’s an advice book from two authors who care about young people and want to help them work through the tough issues that will be on their minds as they move through an emotionally complex time of their lives. Every question is answered in a conversational way, as if the author were sitting next to you speaking from the heart.

More Info @ www.jessINK.com/teenguide.htm

If you could travel in a Time Machine would you go back to the past or into the future?

Depends on my mood—I wouldn’t mind going back to the past during the reign of The Tudors (scandalous times!).

If you could be one of the Greek Gods, which would it be and why?

I’d like to be Mercury (the god of mischief and communication). I’d love to be able to steal virtually anything. Mercury has flying shoes too!

I’m a Virgo (ruled by the planet Mercury) so maybe that influences my answer to an extent. I love keeping up with the latest celebrity gossip and stuff like that…


Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book. 

Because cyberpunk elves are cool (The Other Side of Life).
Because it’s written entirely in a blog/IM format (EyeLeash).
Because it’s bold and informative (Teen Guide to Sex & Relationships).

I’ll stop there because I have many other books :P

Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.

Hearing from readers who appreciate what I do. It keeps me on my toes and keeps me from slacking off (don’t want to let people down!) ;)

What's one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors?

Don’t give up. Stay focused and committed to achieving well-defined goals.

If you could jump in to a book, and live in that world, which would it be?

The world of Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones.

If someone wrote a book about your life, what would the title be?


The Tenth House (it’s a strong house in my astrological chart).

What is your favorite scene in the book and why do you love it?

A short, poignant scene in the last chapter (a scene in an abandoned stone church). It’s linked to the first chapter where it all began.

Nickname?

“Jess” is the one that has stuck the longest.

What is one book everyone should read?


1984 by George Orwell.

One food you would never eat?

Hmm, I’ll try anything once, really…

QUICK ANSWERS

Favorite place?
In my head.

Best Christmas present?
Warms smiles and great conversation.

Favorite book?
The Edgar Allan Poe anthology I’ve had for close to 10 years now.

Favorite author?
Poe, Oscar Wilde, George Orwell, Leo Tolstoy (classics = timeless), etc.

Favorite smell?
Anything that piques my interest/curiosity.

Favorite series?
Pit Dragon Trilogy by Jane Yolen.

Nickname?
My screen name during teenage years was “faNatiic.”

Favorite writing spot?
Anywhere comfortable and quiet/peaceful.

Favorite movie?
Seven Samurai.

Favorite dish?
Home-cooked, healthy meals.

Favorite color?
Midnight colors (especially black, red, and dark violet).

Favorite quote?
“Give up, give in, or give it all you’ve got.”

Favorite flavor of ice cream?
CHOCOLATE, blueberry, strawberry (impossible to pick one).

Your best trait?
Energetic + Optimistic.

Your worst trait?
I’m an occasional emotional rollercoaster.

*** This post is a part of the Orangeberry Book Tours. ***

Saturday 21 April 2012

Review & Giveaway: Væmpires: Revolution by Thomas Winship

Original Title: Væmpires: Revolution
Series: The Evolutionary War #1
Author: Thomas Winship
Published Date: October 31st 2011
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal Romance






It is the morning of Princess Cassandra’s sixteenth birthday. Everyone’s attention is focused on the heir to the vampire throne. World leaders, the rich and famous, and VIPs from every corner of the globe have gathered in the nation’s capital to celebrate the momentous event.  

Cassandra’s boyfriend, Daniel, is late for the party. He’s still outside the city when all hell breaks loose. What he believes is an act of terrorism proves to be a full-fledged revolution.
Væmpires—former vampires who mutated into warm-blooded creatures with an insatiable hunger for cold blood—have launched coordinated attacks across the globe, with three goals: the eradication of humanity, the enslavement of vampires, and the ascension of væmpires as the dominant species on the planet.

The vampire and human leaders are killed. Cassandra is missing. Daniel is the acting king. Desperate to find the princess, Daniel and his friends fight their way across the besieged city. With the hopes of the free world resting on the shoulders of four vampire teenagers, væmpires unleash their secret weapons: a new breed of væmpire that is far deadlier than any ever seen before.

What can four teens do against an enemy that can shape-shift, fly, and walk through walls?

REVIEW

Its really not fair to end a novel with such a cliffhanger..its "Catching Fire" all over again.  I was so angry with Suzanne Collins, when she finished it like that.  Now, I am angry with Thomas Winship too.

The plot was set in a futuristic world.  Humans mutated to vampires and there started a war of power called H-V War, meaning Human-Vampire War.  This war was also called as The Great Devastation or World War III.  The After Devastation (AD) years of H-V War ended up with the some peace makings and renaming of Earth as Tarados - Earth Two and the vampires becoming the leaders.

For years, the humans and vampires were living peacefully helping one another, although vampires ruled.  The vampires were given synthetic blood to quench their thirst, so that they doesn't harm anyone.  Then the mutation hit - and the Væmpires came along.  These new species thirsted for vampire blood.  


The story begins with how these Væmpires start a war destroying all humans and vampires along the way, draining the blood from vampires.  Some of the Væmpires also have some special powers, like flying, reading the minds, killing with a touch, etc.  So, one can imagine how cruel the war will be.  The King, Queen and most of the royalty is also killed.  But, Princess Cassandra, who is celebrating her sixteenth birthday on that day escapes somehow.  So is Daniel, Cassandra's boyfriend and the son of the leader of the Royal Guard, and now is the acting King until Cassandra is coronated.  Daniel's friends, Ray and Linq, also escapes the cruel Væmpires, fighting along the way.


These four friends do not know whether the other one is alive or dead and makes their way hoping to win the war.  With their parents killed, these teenager have to win the war, save the remaining people and above all, stay alive in the process.


The plot was new and refreshing in the vampire genre.  The writing and story-telling are great.  This novel is all about war, so violence and blood dominates the plot than romance.  Taking responsibility and tough decisions is not an easy task even for heroes, but Daniel is great on that perspective.  Cassandra is brave, beautiful and intelligent.  The stories of Ray and Linq are not explained, so I expect them to be in the scene in the next book.   I really can't wait to read the next!


Well-written, face-paced and imaginative take on vampires!


GIVEAWAY

Win this novel - print copy or e-copy from the author.  
Open INTERNATIONALLY and ends May 1st.  
Enter the Rafflecopter here.

Cover Reveal: Drowning Mermaids by Nadia Scrieva

Original Title: Drowning Mermaids
Series: Sacred Breath #1
Author: Nadia Scrieva
Published Date: January 15th 2012
Genre: Paranormal


Deep under Arctic waters lies an ice kingdom carved into a glacier. Those who dwell within it possess magnificent biological secrets. Due to the dangers of impending war, the Princess of Adlivun is forced to flee her undersea utopia and regroup with her sisters in Alaska.


Captain Trevain Murphy is a successful king crab fisherman who has spent his life building his empire above the sea, and knows nothing of the empire beneath it. When he meets a mysterious dancer whose father has recently died, he extends kindness towards her, unaware of her unique genetics and royal lineage.

Trevain's attraction to the enigmatic Aazuria Vellamo will involve him in dangerous designs that will forever change his life, and his perspective on himself and his world. He embarks on perilous journeys in which he will need to release all of his insecurities and inhibitions in order to survive.

Friday 20 April 2012

Cover Reveal: A Good Man by Vanessa Morgan

Original Title: A Good Man
Author: Vanessa Morgan



Loved Dexter and American Psycho? Then you'll love A Good Man.

Louis Caron is a good man - vegetarian, he feeds the homeless, takes care of animals and is even concerned with the ecological future of the planet. But his altruism has a sinister edge - he's a vampire and local detective Taglioni is becoming increasingly suspicious. Louis' attempt to escape the police takes him on a journey into his own private hell where he is not only forced to confront his worst fears, but also to destroy the lives of those he cares about most.

Review: The Idiot by David Poulter

Original Title: The Idiot: I Was a Lunatic from a Geordie Grangetown
Author: David Poulter
Publisher: Chipmunkapublishing
Published Date: June 23rd 2010
Genre: Auto-biography, Non-fiction





"This world that you inhabit is really only your own mind. That is where you truly reside. And everyday you make decisions that affect your life. I give you an account of mine." This strange and thought-provoking story is about a man who experiences a traumatic event in his childhood and then later develops a severe mental disorder in his thirties. His experiences and "delusions" lead him to think that he may have discovered a great secret that concerns all of humanity. Is he sane? And is the world crazy? Here is a conundrum that you can decide for yourselves.


REVIEW

This book is about a common man's life.  The author has portrayed his fears, mistakes, desires, feelings and his decisions in life.  I am just explaining here some of the main moments, so you know what this is all about.

He has explained his life's moments, but major parts of the book is very hard to understand and follow through.  Initially, he had trouble finding a place where he belong..where he finally can rest in peace.  After some struggles, he, at last, found such a family and place.  But, when his wife left, he became insane - hearing voices, experiencing weird things, peculiar dreams and lastly becoming philosophical.

I actually gave up on the book, but stopped myself from doing so, when the book took a turn, narrating about the disease, that the author had.  After that part, it was understandable.  Its clear that his view of the world is much different from most of us and its quite interesting to read about them.

Towards the end of the book, the author turns totally philosophical.  Usually, I run away from philosophical air..so, maybe this part of the book is not my cup of tea.  The main problems with this book are vagueness and long paragraphs.

I don't think the protagonist, who I assumed is the author himself, is an idiot, but he had his idiotic moments, as most of us do.  I am not commenting on the philosophy here, because I am really not the right person for that.  But, other than that, this is a auto-biography of a man who tried to live and belong.


Interview & Giveaway: Væmpires by Thomas Winship

Original Title: Væmpires
Series: The Evolutionary War #1
Author: Thomas Winship
Published Date: October 31st 2011
Genre: Fantasy






It is the morning of Princess Cassandra’s sixteenth birthday. Everyone’s attention is focused on the heir to the vampire throne. World leaders, the rich and famous, and VIPs from every corner of the globe have gathered in the nation’s capital to celebrate the momentous event.  

Cassandra’s boyfriend, Daniel, is late for the party. He’s still outside the city when all hell breaks loose. What he believes is an act of terrorism proves to be a full-fledged revolution.
Væmpires—former vampires who mutated into warm-blooded creatures with an insatiable hunger for cold blood—have launched coordinated attacks across the globe, with three goals: the eradication of humanity, the enslavement of vampires, and the ascension of væmpires as the dominant species on the planet.

The vampire and human leaders are killed. Cassandra is missing. Daniel is the acting king. Desperate to find the princess, Daniel and his friends fight their way across the besieged city. With the hopes of the free world resting on the shoulders of four vampire teenagers, væmpires unleash their secret weapons: a new breed of væmpire that is far deadlier than any ever seen before.

What can four teens do against an enemy that can shape-shift, fly, and walk through walls?

EXCERPT

Cassie was there, bloody and weary, with a look in her blue eyes that said she’d been to the depths of hell and fought her way back, but she was there and nothing else mattered.

The young lovers fell into each other’s arms and, for a brief time, were the only two people in the world. Words failed and thoughts escaped as they surrendered to the most basic of needs—the need to be held.

They broke apart, neither knowing how long they’d been that way, but both experiencing the same conflicting emotions.

Given the circumstances, it hadn’t been long enough.

Given the circumstances, it had been too long.

“Cassie,” Daniel sighed, “I thought I’d lost you.”

“You almost did,” she said, and what he saw in her eyes—fear, pain, and something else he couldn’t identify—was so intense, his heart broke, releasing the flood of tears that had been threatening to come.

“I don’t …,” he started, suddenly a teenager again, “I don’t know what I would’ve done if I had.”

And Cassie cried too, great big tears that pooled at the bottom of her blue eyes before flowing over her long lashes to run down her cheeks, the salty stream cutting a path through the blood and dirt coating her face. The sight of it was at once the most heart-stopping—and heart-wrenching—thing he’d ever seen.

He took her face in his hands, the tenderness in his touch feeling odd after all the death he’d dealt out that day, and kissed her, a long, lingering kiss that was unaffected by their crying or the taste of tears on their lips or the death littering the courtyard around them.

Eyes closed, Daniel breathed her in, this girl—no, this woman—who owned his heart. Her scent, as familiar as his own, was buried beneath a plethora of aromas. Many, including the stench of bloodsuckers, were unpleasant, but it still made his heart skip a beat.

When the kiss ended, he peered into her eyes and whispered, “Did I ever tell you that I’ve loved you since the first time I saw you?”

She smiled. “We’ve known each other since birth.”

“Okay,” he amended. “Since the first time I remember seeing you.”

“Then, yes,” she giggled, “you have told me on several occasions.”

Daniel realized that her giggle wasn’t incongruous with their current situation as much as it was in defiance of it. They were on borrowed time and they knew it.

“And have I told you that I’m going to love you forever?”

“You’ve done more than that,” she said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


AUTHOR ONLINE: Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Goodreads

Thomas Winship was born in Middletown, NY and still resides in Orange County. He holds an MBA in Management from St. Thomas Aquinas College, where he serves as an adjunct professor of courses in English Composition, Communications, and Business. He also spent fifteen years working for a global pharmaceutical company, specializing in organizational development, talent management, and training.

Tom writes in his spare time. His first novel, a mystery/legal thriller entitled Temporary Insanity (a.k.a. Case Closed), was a 2008 finalist in a national contest but failed to garner industry attention. His second novel, Væmpires: Revolution, was published in October and a follow-up novella, Væmpires: White Christmas, was published in December.

He is an avid collector of books, comic books, music, and movies. His interests are diverse: on any given day, Tom is likely to be found watching a horror movie, attending a hard rock concert, or enjoying a Broadway show. 

He is currently working on the next installment of the “Væmpires” series, which is scheduled for an early 2012 release.

INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR THOMAS WINSHIP

Is there an inspiration behind why you chose writing?

Yes. When I was a child, I wanted to be a book. I wanted people to choose me from among the hundreds of other books on the shelf, hold me in their hands, take me home to discover my hidden secrets, and then either (a) stick me on another shelf and ignore me from that point on, (b) give me away, (c) stuff me somewhere out of sight, or (d) use me to line the cat’s litter box. Once I realized I could never be a book I decided to be a writer.

But seriously, I never wanted to be a writer until I had a dream one night. In the dream, vampires lived in a small northwestern town… Umm … actually, that’s not my story, either. Sometimes it’s hard to separate fact from fiction.

And that is what inspired me to start writing—that, and the fact that my “real” life was so boring that I needed to do something to spice it up. Some people crochet, some people make chainsaw carvings, I decided to write.   

When you were little, what did you want to be when you "grew up"?

A baseball player for the New York Yankees (and, yes, I hear the hissing and boos of the Yankee-haters out there). Unfortunately, I possessed a modicum of talent, at best—more than enough to play for other teams, of course :-), but not the Yankees, so I hung the spikes up years ago. Alas, I’m still waiting to grow up …

What movie and/or book are you looking forward to this year?

There are several films I’m eagerly awaiting— Prometheus in June and The Amazing Spider-Man in July among them—but none more than The Hobbit in December.

I could give you a spreadsheet with all the books I’m looking forward to. There are roughly eighty authors of whom I read everything they publish. The top three books I’m waiting for, though, are: Stephen King’s Dark Tower: The Wind Through the Keyhole (in just a few days), Mira Grant’s (Seanan McGuire) conclusion to the Newsflesh trilogy, Blackout, in June, and Charlie Higson’s next installment in the Enemy series, The Fear, also in June.

What are your current literary works?  Any sneak peaks?

I’m working on book two of the væmpires series. Væmpires: Revolution ended with a massive, shocking cliffhanger, so fans are growing quite impatient (although it’s only been a few months). Because I understand what it’s like to eagerly await more, I may release the first portion of the next book prematurely, as a short story or novella.

That’s sneak peak #1, Vidya, because no one else knows that.

Sneak peak #2 is a short snippet (a short, unedited snippet), so everyone knows that the blood-and-guts action of Væmpires: Revolution continues in book 2:


Crimson blood spurted as the body and head fell in opposite directions. Hot, væmpire blood that smelled like rancid meat hit the sidewalk in uneven splatters that reminded Linq of a drunken frat boy urinating in a back alley.


Then two things happened at once: he sensed a væmpire—yet another new arrival—closing in, while Ray yelled, “Watch out!”


Before he could react, Linq was grabbed from behind. Strong arms encircled him; hot, sweaty væmpire arms that felt like steel pincers. Linq’s own arms were pinned to his sides as his adversary squeezed him like a vise.


The pressure was tremendous and Linq panicked, throwing his head back in an attempt to crush the væmpire’s nose. He knew it was a mistake as he did it, but his reaction was quicker than his thoughts.


The væmpire dodged the blow, and then did the unthinkable: his head flashed forward and he sunk his fangs into Linq’s exposed neck.


Every cell in Linq’s body erupted in unmitigated pain. Nothing in his education, nothing in his imagination—in his nightmares, perhaps, but not his imagination—nothing in his experience or training had prepared him for such pain.


His eyes rolled back in his head and his jaw snapped shut, his fangs slicing deep into his tongue. He didn’t even notice.


Then the væmpire drank.

If you could invite any 5 people to dinner who would you choose?

That’s a tough question, Vidya. Famous people come to mind, but I have a real problem with that. You see, I’m frequently in NYC and I’ve run into quite a few famous people. Too many of them turn out to be real jerks in the flesh. I don’t know if it’s a by-product of fame or a manifestation of their personalities, although I’m sure it’s some combination thereof, but I’m not too eager to meet famous people—especially ones I’m a big fan of.

Still, if I could invite anyone in history, it would be: Stephen King, George Lucas, JRR Tolkien, Will Ferrell, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Which authors have influence on you most.. how?

Stephen King in the way he pulls you into his world and makes you immediately connect with, and care about, his characters.

JRR Tolkien in his ability to create a new universe.

Jack Ketchum in his fearlessness.

RA Salvatore in his ability to portray action.

Seanan McGuire in her ability to blend drama and humor.

Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.

If you don’t read my book, I don’t make any money; if I don’t make money, I can’t eat; if I can’t eat, I’ll starve to death; if I starve to death, it’s your fault for not buying my book, and who wants to live with that guilt?

Too harsh? How’s this?

Væmpires: Revolution contains everything you love about vampire novels, omits everything you can’t stand, and even has zombies!

Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.

There isn’t one, Vidya, there are many … but they’re all the same: whenever a person reads my book and offers positive feedback (whether an email, tweet, blog comment, or review), it’s the most rewarding aspect of being an author.

What's one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors?

You have to write for the love of writing. If you write for fame or praise or leaving your mark on this world, you’re going to get your heart broken.

If you could jump in to a book, and live in that world, which would it be?

Wow! That’s a great question. It would come down to Middle Earth from Lord of the Rings or the Star Wars universe, but Star Wars would win in the end.

If someone wrote a book about your life, what would the title be?

What Were You Thinking?

What is your favorite scene in the book and why do you love it?

My favorite scene in Væmpires: Revolution is when Daniel and Cassie reunite. They spend the majority of the book fighting across a war-torn world to find each other and they lose a lot along the way. I love the scene because, although the novel is more urban fantasy than paranormal romance, there are strong romantic undercurrents throughout the novel and that particular scene allowed me to finally bring the romance into the light.

What TV show/movie/book do you watch/read that you'd be embarrassed to admit?

A trick question, but one I’ll answer nevertheless—somewhat (ha ha). I watch very little television, so nothing embarrassing there. I do watch a lot of movies, but I blame anything embarrassing on my wife. Nothing I can think of regarding books. What is a guilty pleasure, however, are Christmas specials—not movies, but cartoons. I have dozens of them and I watch many of them every year. I make a schedule and watch a few each night between Thanksgiving and Christmas. As I said earlier, I’m still waiting to grow up.

What is one book everyone should read?

I think everyone should read the current version of The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, because it may answer a lot of lingering questions. Barring that, everyone should read Stephen King’s It. Why? Because I said so.

One food you would never eat?

Anything processed, picked, packaged, rendered, distilled, modified, enhanced, improved, grown, cultivated, tampered-with, or otherwise exposed to humans or nature. In other words, I’m starving to death once my fat stores are depleted.

Seriously, I believe this is a case of never saying never. I’m a picky eater, so there are lots of foods I don’t eat. I’m mature enough to admit that I once refused to wash behind my ears, too, and look how far I’ve come since then … so, there’s a good chance that, with the proper motivation, I’d eat anything.

Yuck!

QUICK ANSWERS

Favorite place?
In my head.

Best christmas present?

Favorite book?

Favorite author?

Favorite smell?
The stench of defeat (on someone else, of course!)
Favorite series?


Nickname?
None (but sometimes random expletives … go figure!)

Favorite writing spot?
My home office.

Favorite movie?


Favorite dish?

Favorite color?
Blue

Favorite quote?
I don’t really have one. Of course, I’m as likely to spout out the same old clichés, platitudes, and verbal vomit as anyone else is, but none I’m truly invested in. I found Samuel Jackson’s line from “Snakes On A Plane” spiritually moving and believe the teachings of an alternative religion should be based on the lines of Ron Burgundy from “Anchorman”  … does that count?

A bunch of small gifts or one big expensive one?
A bunch of small gifts

Your best trait?
I’m perfectly capable of entertaining myself with my own humor.

Your worst trait?
I’m perfectly capable of entertaining myself with my own humor.


GIVEAWAY

The author is giving away a copy of the Væmpires to one winner.  
US residents will get the print copy and other International residents will get the e-copy of Væmpires.  
Enter through Rafflecopter below!


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