So, as you've likely noticed I haven't been around much since October.
Those of you I'm friends with on Facebook will know why, but for the sake of recapping, here's what's been going on in the last few months...
[more under the cut]
Showing posts with label Curiosity Quills Press. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Curiosity Quills Press. Show all posts
Curiosity Quills Press 99 Cents Sitewide Sale
Christmas has come early to Curiosity Quills Press, and you’re all invited! Between December 12 and 24, almost all* our titles will be on 99 cents coutndown sale. To make things easier, we’ve broken the sale period down into seven different genre-based categories, with each genre’s books on sale for a two day period.
Click through the following genre-based categories for each of the seven sale periods:
Horror: December 11 - 12 | Contemporary: December 13 - 14
Science-Fiction: December 15 - 16 | Fantasy: December 17 - 18
Historical: December 19 - 20 | Mystery/Thriller: December 21 - 22
Romance: December 23 - 24
* Please note, some titles are ineligible for sale, as they’ve recently been on sale or a separate sale for them is scheduled for some point in December.
BLOG TOUR: Inconceivable! by Tegan Wren
I'm here today as part of the Tasty Book Tours Blog Tour for contemporary royal romance INCONCEIVABLE! by Tegan Wren.
I invited Tegan to my blog to discuss some of the challenges she faced when writing her debut novel.
Take it away, Tegan ...
Thanks for the opportunity to share with your readers some of the challenges I face when writing. I wish I could say the words and story just pours out of me. It’s true that writing comes easily for me, but I often hit snags that slow me down. Here are handful of the challenges I face and how I deal with them.
Plot Blocks
One of the challenges I sometimes encounter is a plot block. I usually map out the general storyline in advance, but moving from point A to point B requires the character to exercise agency (usually) and the journey has to be worthwhile or readers will get bored. For me, this is where the fun and challenge of writing come together. I love getting to dream up the interesting ways to move my characters through the plot. I like to incorporate subplots, intrigue, humor, and clever twists. But it’s also difficult because the action and dialogue have to be logical, engaging, and must fit within the context of the big picture. I try not to get too hung up on the first draft. To overcome the challenges, I just have to push forward and keep writing, realizing I’ll sharpen it up when I go back and revise.
Incorporating Conflict
I grew up in the Southeastern part of the U.S. where we like to be polite. So, we tend to hide conflict and proceed as if everything’s just peachy keen. I’ve been guilty of writing a series of chapters where everyone just smiles and gets along. Of course, that doesn’t work when you want to create an engaging story. Additionally, our lives are full of conflict, so using it in a novel helps readers relate to the characters who are trying to navigate the conflict.
Finding Time to Write
This is probably my biggest challenge. As the mother of three small kids, it’s very difficult to find time to write. I usually do most of my writing after the kids are in bed asleep. I’ve stayed up quite late, writing by the glow of my laptop screen because I was on a roll and just didn’t want to stop. So, on the rare occasions when I have time during the day to write, it’s such a gift. I really savor the opportunity.
I hope when people read INCONCEIVABLE, they see that I was able to overcome these challenges: the novel is finished and well edited, so I found the time to get it all done; conflict abounds; and I think the journey through the plot is interesting and entertaining.
INCONCEIVABLE!
Tegan Wren
Releasing Nov 16th, 2015
Curiosity Quills Press
A popular, young royal couple can't produce an heir? INCONCEIVABLE!
When Ozarks native Hatty goes “whole hog” during karaoke, she catches the eye of Prince John. He isn’t what she expects the heir to a small European nation to be: he's affable, witty, and isn’t put off by her tell-it-like-it-is demeanor. Their flirtation should be short lived, but a force stronger than fate—Hatty’s newspaper editor—assigns her to cover the royals. After spending time together, she and John soon begin dating, and Hatty finds herself making headlines instead of writing them.
But challenges loom that are even more complicated than figuring out how to mesh Hatty's journalism career with life at Belvoir Palace. Hatty and John soon find themselves embroiled in an unusual sex scandal: they can't produce an heir. Tabloids dub Hatty a “Barren-ess,” and the royals become irate. Hatty politely tells them to shove it. But beneath her confident exterior, she struggles to cope with a heartbreak that invades her most intimate moments with John. Pressured to choose between invasive medical procedures and abandoning John’s claim to the throne, the couple feels trapped until a trip to Ethiopia shows them happy endings sometimes arrive long after saying “I do.”
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Signed Copy of INCONCEIVABLE!
The best compliment Tegan Wren ever received came from her sixth grade teacher: “You always have a book in your hand!”
Guided by her love of the creative process, Tegan grew up acting in theatre productions and writing poetry, short stories, and plays. She turned her eye to writing about real life when she worked as a journalist, producing reports for various radio and television stations in medium and large markets in the Midwest and also filing some stories for a major national news network. Wren has both a Bachelor’s of Journalism and a Master of Arts in Communications. After completing her graduate degree, Tegan had the opportunity to teach journalism courses at a major state university. She absolutely loved training the next generation of journalists.
Tegan’s thankful that she’s had the opportunity to travel overseas, and uses those adventures to inform her writing. She also draws inspiration from her own struggles, joys, and other life experiences. Tegan and her husband, Patrick, experienced infertility for five years before becoming parents through adoption. Because she understands the financial stress of the infertility journey, Tegan is donating half the royalties from her book to Baby Quest Foundation. This charity awards grants to people all over the U.S. for fertility treatments. Tegan is thrilled to use her story to help other people find their happily ever after.
COVER REVEAL: INCONCEIVABLE! by Tegan Wren
Happy Wednesday, folks!
Today, I'm thrilled to be taking part in the cover reveal for contemporary romance, INCONCEIVABLE! by Tegan Wren; which is available for pre-order now, or you can request review copies on NetGalley!
INCONCEIVABLE! by Tegan Wren
A popular, young royal couple can't produce an heir? INCONCEIVABLE!
When Ozarks native Hatty goes “whole hog” during karaoke, she catches the eye of Prince John. He isn’t what she expects the heir to a small European nation to be: he's affable, witty, and isn’t put off by her tell-it-like-it-is demeanor. Their flirtation should be short lived, but a force stronger than fate—Hatty’s newspaper editor—assigns her to cover the royals. After spending time together, she and John soon begin dating, and Hatty finds herself making headlines instead of writing them.
But challenges loom that are even more complicated than figuring out how to mesh Hatty's journalism career with life at Belvoir Palace. Hatty and John soon find themselves embroiled in an unusual sex scandal: they can't produce an heir. Tabloids dub Hatty a “Barren-ess,” and the royals become irate. Hatty politely tells them to shove it. But beneath her confident exterior, she struggles to cope with a heartbreak that invades her most intimate moments with John. Pressured to choose between invasive medical procedures and abandoning John’s claim to the throne, the couple feels trapped until a trip to Ethiopia shows them happy endings sometimes arrive long after saying “I do.”
Advance praise for INCONCEIVABLE!
• "As someone who has experienced infertility, I empathize with Hatty's struggles. Wren beautifully illuminates the joy, grief, and adventure of creating a family against all odds in this heart warming and impactful story." America Olivo Campbell, actress: DeGrassi: The Next Generation, Chicago PD, Mission Impossible 5. Spokesperson for Baby Quest Foundation
• "I found the insights into infertility invaluable and sensitive." -Marnie Neve, Board Member, Baby Quest Foundation
• "Not only was this a very well written and entertaining story (I flew through it), but I feel it's also a very important story." -Meredith Tate, author of Missing Pieces
• "Tegan Wren’s debut novel is by turn funny, heartbreaking and ultimately inspiring." JDC, author and journalist
• "I loved reading a romantic story about royals that didn't end at the wedding, showing us that there's more to love than falling in it. There's also staying in it, even when troubles come. For better and for worse." -Samantha Bryant, author of Going Through the Change
Amazon US | Amazon UK | Goodreads | NetGalley
About Tegan Wren
Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Today, I'm thrilled to be taking part in the cover reveal for contemporary romance, INCONCEIVABLE! by Tegan Wren; which is available for pre-order now, or you can request review copies on NetGalley!
INCONCEIVABLE! by Tegan Wren
A popular, young royal couple can't produce an heir? INCONCEIVABLE!
When Ozarks native Hatty goes “whole hog” during karaoke, she catches the eye of Prince John. He isn’t what she expects the heir to a small European nation to be: he's affable, witty, and isn’t put off by her tell-it-like-it-is demeanor. Their flirtation should be short lived, but a force stronger than fate—Hatty’s newspaper editor—assigns her to cover the royals. After spending time together, she and John soon begin dating, and Hatty finds herself making headlines instead of writing them.
But challenges loom that are even more complicated than figuring out how to mesh Hatty's journalism career with life at Belvoir Palace. Hatty and John soon find themselves embroiled in an unusual sex scandal: they can't produce an heir. Tabloids dub Hatty a “Barren-ess,” and the royals become irate. Hatty politely tells them to shove it. But beneath her confident exterior, she struggles to cope with a heartbreak that invades her most intimate moments with John. Pressured to choose between invasive medical procedures and abandoning John’s claim to the throne, the couple feels trapped until a trip to Ethiopia shows them happy endings sometimes arrive long after saying “I do.”
Advance praise for INCONCEIVABLE!
• "As someone who has experienced infertility, I empathize with Hatty's struggles. Wren beautifully illuminates the joy, grief, and adventure of creating a family against all odds in this heart warming and impactful story." America Olivo Campbell, actress: DeGrassi: The Next Generation, Chicago PD, Mission Impossible 5. Spokesperson for Baby Quest Foundation
• "I found the insights into infertility invaluable and sensitive." -Marnie Neve, Board Member, Baby Quest Foundation
• "Not only was this a very well written and entertaining story (I flew through it), but I feel it's also a very important story." -Meredith Tate, author of Missing Pieces
• "Tegan Wren’s debut novel is by turn funny, heartbreaking and ultimately inspiring." JDC, author and journalist
• "I loved reading a romantic story about royals that didn't end at the wedding, showing us that there's more to love than falling in it. There's also staying in it, even when troubles come. For better and for worse." -Samantha Bryant, author of Going Through the Change
Amazon US | Amazon UK | Goodreads | NetGalley
About Tegan Wren
The best compliment Tegan Wren ever received came from her sixth grade teacher: “You always have a book in your hand!”
Guided by her love of the creative process, Tegan grew up acting in theatre productions and writing poetry, short stories, and plays. She turned her eye to writing about real life when she worked as a journalist, producing reports for various radio and television stations in medium and large markets in the Midwest and also filing some stories for a major national news network. Wren has both a Bachelor’s of Journalism and a Master of Arts in Communications. After completing her graduate degree, Tegan had the opportunity to teach journalism courses at a major state university. She absolutely loved training the next generation of journalists.
Tegan’s thankful that she’s had the opportunity to travel overseas, and uses those adventures to inform her writing. She also draws inspiration from her own struggles, joys, and life experiences. Tegan and her husband, Patrick, experienced infertility for five years before becoming parents through adoption.
Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Writer Mama Bloghop
Happy Tuesday, guys! Today, I'm here for Sharon Bayliss' Writer Mama Bloghop!
Here's what Sharon has to say about the blog hop:
If you have small children and also write books, I know you've been asked the big question...
"Where do you find the time?"
Usually my answer is, "I dunno...I just do it." Writer mamas and papas know that we don't magically have more time in our lives than everyone else, we just make space for writing because it's important to us.
On 5/4/15 writer parents will unite to share their secrets and support each other in the Writer Mama Bloghop!
A random poster will win a Writer Mama Care Package (US) or a $25 Amazon gift card (INTL). Remember to sign up on the linky below!
On her blog, Sharon posed some questions for bloghop participants to answer, so here's my take on things....
How do you make time to write?
SCHEDULES!
Seriously, I worry I'd never get anything done without schedules.
Monday-Friday I work from a timetable, with specific things, working for CQ, writing, spending time with the kids etc. at set times.
This may seem pretty rigid, and I do try to be flexible. If I have to take an afternoon off to run errands, I will. Or if work with CQ is busy, and I don't have a chance to do any writing.
But, if I know I have to do X at X time, I do it. If I'm faced with a day not laid out for me, I often fall into a procrastination hole.
The schedule kind of goes at the window on a weekend, with us just doing whatever we feel like on Saturday, depending on my work-load.
Sundays are for chores, laundry, homework, grocery shopping and that sort of thing, to get prepared for the new week.
How does your spouse feel about your writing?
He's very supportive, as he's a writer too (freelance video game journalist for IGN), and also edits my web serial for me, as well as acting as a sounding board for ideas.
It's great, because even though we write in different areas, we understand the fundamentals of each other's worlds, and can be supportive.
What are the common questions or comments you get about being a writing mom?
Honestly, I don't really get asked about it that much. In the writing world, a lot of people are parents and know how it works. In the "real" world, well, I'm sort of a loner and don't really mix with the other parents, so it never comes up. If they ask, I just tell them I work from home.
Where is the strangest place or circumstance where you've found time to get some writing done?
At the kid's soft-play center! If Youngest ever gets invited to a birthday party, I always make sure to take a note pad or book with me, so I can use the free time productively, while he's running around, hyped up on sugar and jumping in the ballpit!
How much time a week do you spend writing? How quickly do you write books?
About 10 hours a week. I'm going pretty well with my current project, and have written 3ok since the beginning of January. I can write faster than that, if I'm doing NaNo, but it leads to messier drafts. What slows me down is revisions, but that has nothing to do with time or being a writer-mum.
What impact (if any) do you hope to have on your children by being an author?
I hope that it teaches them to love reading and writing, and that they can be anything they want to be when adults. Growing up I saw so many people forced into jobs they weren't happy with, just so they could earn a living, never imagining they could actually do something different. I want my boys to know they can do whatever will make them happy; be that writing, working in a shop, being a vet.
Would you want your children to follow in your footsteps?
If that's what made them happy, then great. What's more important to me is their happiness, though, and I'd never push them to follow in my footsteps if it wasn't their thing.
How old will your children have to be before you let them read your books (if ever)?
I'm not sure on this one ... I write romance, and while I have nothing against my boys reading romance when they're old enough, I don't know how I'd feel about them reading a sex scene I wrote! >_<
What tips or words of wisdom do you have to share?
Do what makes you happy, not what society thinks you should do, or what is expected. It took me SO long to realize that I didn't have to get a 9-5 job working in an office if I didn't want to; that I could do something different. Life is to short spending it doing something that doesn't make you happy! Live life with no regrets. You don't want to get to your eighties, look back and wish you'd done something differently.
Book Release: Watch Me Burn, by Sharon Bayliss
Congratulations Sharon Bayliss, on the release of Book Two of the December People Series; Watch Me Burn!
Book one is amazing, and I'm sure book two will be just as fantastic. I'm currently reading Watch Me Burn, so Watch This Space (sorry, couldn't resist!) for the review!
Book one is amazing, and I'm sure book two will be just as fantastic. I'm currently reading Watch Me Burn, so Watch This Space (sorry, couldn't resist!) for the review!
About Watch Me Burn
David Vandergraff lost his home, his job, and contact with his
oldest son, but remains determined to be a good husband and father
despite being a dark winter wizard.
His resolve is tested when a flyer for a missing girl—who happens to
be a summer witch—begins to haunt him. David believes a spell needs to
use him to save her, so he follows the magic’s command and looks into
her disappearance. His teenage daughter Emmy resents him for caring so
much about a random stranger. But when she uncovers some disturbing
evidence close to home, she begins an investigation of her own.
David and Emmy quickly learn that the mystery is not only about a
missing girl they barely know, but a deeply personal story that impacts
everyone they care about. As their world crumbles, they fear the warning
may be true—never mess with summer wizards, because the good guys
always win.
Amazon | Goodreads
Watch Me Burn Trailer
Watch Me Burn Teasers
About Sharon Bayliss
Curiosity Quills New Year 2015 Sale
2014 has been an amazing year for Curiosity Quills.
We
announced a deal with Audible, released almost ninety titles, signed
nearly as many for 2015 - including debuts and sequels - claimed the
number one spot in various Amazon bestsellers charts, and won various
awards. We engaged one of the biggest film agencies (CAA) to market
film rights for Please Don't Tell My Parents I'm a Super Villain, by
Richard Roberts and it was named one of the top bestsellers overall on
Amazon for the year!
In addition, we re-launched the site with a
smoother, more contemporary look, signed a distribution deal with Ingram
which will see CQ titles in more stores and more locations, and to
herald in our third year as a publishing press, on January 1, 2015, it’s
time… for time! Embark on a literary journey through the ages
with Curiosity Quills Press in our latest, greatest, and BIGGEST annual
anthology yet. Filled with short stories by greats the likes of Piers
Anthony, J.R. Rain, Richard Roberts, Scott Nicholson, Tony Healey, and
more, Chronology will send your imagination down unexplored tunnels of
history, from the earliest days to a far-flung future.
To
celebrate the New Year, our successes of 2014, and the launch of
Curiosity Quills: Chronology we're hosting a side-wide sale from January
1-3, with a whopping EIGHTY-EIGHT! titles discounted to just 99 cents!
COVER REVEAL: Watch Me Burn, by Sharon Bayliss
I am thrilled to take part in the cover and trailer reveal for Book 2 in The December People Series, Watch Me Burn!
More about Watch Me Burn:
David Vandergraff lost his home, his job, and contact with his oldest son, but remains determined to be a good husband and father despite being a dark winter wizard.
His resolve is tested when a flyer for a missing girl--who happens to be a summer witch--begins to haunt him. David believes a spell needs to use him to save her, so he follows the magic's command and looks into her disappearance. His teenage daughter Emmy resents him for caring so much about a random stranger. But when she uncovers some disturbing evidence close to home, she begins an investigation of her own.
David and Emmy quickly learn that the mystery is not only about a missing girl they barely know, but a deeply personal story that impacts everyone they care about. As their world crumbles, they fear the warning may be true—never mess with summer wizards, because the good guys always win.
If you're new to The December People Series, start with Destruction--99 cents for a limited time!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
So without further ado...
A note from the author:
Thank you to artist Michelle Johnson and the whole team at Curiosity Quills Press for creating a cover I love!
If you haven't guessed it by now, you'll see a butterfly on the cover of every book in The December People Series. The butterfly is a symbol of transformation, hope, freedom, and generally creepy crawlies turning into beautiful things. And also...look how pretty! ;)
Instead of the broken glass from Destruction, this butterfly is surrounded by fire, and it's probably obvious why from the title. Watch Me Burn is the summer book in the series. All the books center around my winter wizard family, but each book takes us deeper into a different season. Summer wizards are the "light" wizards, but light also means HEAT and FIRE.
More about Watch Me Burn:
David Vandergraff lost his home, his job, and contact with his oldest son, but remains determined to be a good husband and father despite being a dark winter wizard.
His resolve is tested when a flyer for a missing girl--who happens to be a summer witch--begins to haunt him. David believes a spell needs to use him to save her, so he follows the magic's command and looks into her disappearance. His teenage daughter Emmy resents him for caring so much about a random stranger. But when she uncovers some disturbing evidence close to home, she begins an investigation of her own.
David and Emmy quickly learn that the mystery is not only about a missing girl they barely know, but a deeply personal story that impacts everyone they care about. As their world crumbles, they fear the warning may be true—never mess with summer wizards, because the good guys always win.
If you're new to The December People Series, start with Destruction--99 cents for a limited time!
Enter to win!! Get a paperback of your choice of Destruction OR Watch Me Burn. International entries welcome. Also join The December People Winter Celebration for more giveaways!!
Literary Halloween Costumes
With Halloween just a few weeks away, Curiosity Quills brings you their guide for the perfect Literary Halloween Costume. Whatever your occasion and budget, we have some ideas for you.
Read more at Curiosity Quills.com
September 2014 Update
So, it's been a while since I properly updated, hasn't it? The reason being ... I simply haven't had time.
Work at Curiosity Quills is as busy, but fun, as always and with around eight books a month released, you can understand why I've been so busy.
Plus, for all of August, the kids were off school. It's pretty much impossible to be productive with an eleven and a four year-old running around! On top of that, Oldest started Secondary School and Youngest started Primary School in September, so there was a lot of preparation for both to do. The good news is, both boys have settled in wonderfully.
Now that September is coming to an end, I feel more in routine with work, writing and blogging, so hopefully I can update more often.
Funnily enough, I have been blogging more recently, only over at CQ. I now have a weekly blog there. If you're interested, the posts can be found here:
- Don’t Be The Ol’ Gil of Social Media
- Slow and Steady Wins the Race
- Kindle or Kindling: My Love Affair With Digital Books
- Ten Ways Authors Can Connect With Readers On Social Media
- Making Characters Real: Write What You Know
Writing-wise, I'm just getting back into the swing of things. I've gotten Order of the Ancile Book One - which now has a title, "Liches, Lipstick and Love" - back from all but one critter, so I'm slowly working through their revision notes.
I'm also planning the future books in the series, and somehow managed to write 3000 words for book three. I don't know if any of them will stick though, the main characters keep wanting to have sex! lol
I've also come up with a series synopsis, titles and blurbs for each book in the series. If you're interested, they can be found at the Order of the Ancile tab.
At the beginning of the month, I took part in Kyra Lennon's Charity Cat Anthology Blog Hop, with my entry "The Luck of the Cat." I liked the story so much, in between working on Ancile books, I might actually turn it into a full-length novel. We'll see ...
That's pretty much it for my September, so I'll leave this entry here. I'll try to update again next month, and no doubt throughout October, I'll have cover reveals, book launches etc. from my fellow writing buddies to share with you!
Comment to let me know what you've been up to, and what's going on in your world. I'd love to hear your updates!
Book Spotlight: The Ragnarok Prophesies Series by A.K. Morgen
Title: Fade
Series: The Ragnarok Prophesies
Author: A.K. Morgen
Genre(s): paranormal-romance, urban-fantasy
Age Categories: young-adult
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press
Publication Date: September 7, 2012
Blurb: What do you do when you realize that nothing in your life is what you’ve always believed it to be?
When Arionna Jacobs loses her mother in a tragic accident, her world is turned upside down. She’s forced to leave her old life behind and move in with her father. Dace Matthews, a teaching assistant at her new college, is torn in two, unable to communicate with the feral wolf caged inside him.
When they meet, everything they thought they knew about life unravels. Dace has intimate access to Arionna’s mind, and something deep within her fights to rise to the surface. They don’t understand what’s happening to them or why, and they’re running out of time to sort out the strange occurrences around them.
Their meeting sets an ancient Norse prophesy of destruction in motion, and what destiny has in store for them is bigger than either could have ever imagined. Unless they learn to trust themselves and one another, they may never resolve the mystery surrounding who they are to one another, and what that means for the world.
Find Fade Online:
Goodreads | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
Title: Fall
Series: The Ragnarok Prophesies
Author: A.K. Morgen
Genre(s): paranormal-romance, urban-fantasy
Age Categories: young-adult
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press
Publication Date: October 5, 2013
Blurb: How do you save someone who doesn’t want to be saved?
Those called to stand guard against the end are broken, and Sköll and Hati run free. Now Arionna Jacobs and Dace Matthews face a threat unlike any before. Ragnarök is coming and they aren’t strong enough to stop it.
Arionna thought she understood sacrifice, but she never counted on her destiny tearing Dace apart. Ever since she nearly died, he has been consumed with guilt. Now it threatens to turn him into the monster he always feared.
It’s up to Arionna to stop him before it’s too late, but the path to hell is paved with good intentions, and Dace is hurtling toward self destruction. This time, Arionna isn’t sure she can save him from himself. Can she convince him to let the past go, or is her true destiny to sacrifice her heart in exchange for the lives of the people she loves?
Find Fade Online:
Goodreads | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
About A.K. Morgen:
A.K. Morgen lives on a sprawling two and a half acre country lot in the heart of Arkansas with her childhood sweetheart and husband of nine years, and their four crazy pets. She graduated summa cum laude with her Bachelor of Science degree in Forensic Psychology in 2009, and immediately entered graduate school. In 2012, Ayden completed her graduate degree in Criminal Justice and Law, once again graduating at the top of her class. Ayden now puts her education to use for the state of Arkansas, where she works for the Department of Human Services within the Division of Aging and Adult Services.
Ayden wrote her first story at the age of seven, and published her first book locally at the age of twelve. She’s written in a variety of genres since, and has published numerous poems and research articles over the years.
When she’s not writing, she spends her time teaching her nieces and nephews things their mothers wish they didn’t know, conspiring with her sister on new and inventive ways to drive her husband mad, dancing in the grocery store, building a spork army, and fundraising for nonprofits close to her heart. She’s a part-time volunteer coordinator for one of her favorite charities, and loves to spend her free time getting into mischief with her favorite partners-in-crime.
Cover Reveal: Destruction by Sharon Bayliss
Happy Wednesday, all!
Today I'm excited to be taking part in the cover reveal for Sharon Bayliss' Destruction (Book One of The December People Series), a family drama about dark wizards living in Houston, scheduled for release 4/14/14.
About Destruction:
I also have a special message from Sharon Bayliss:
"The butterfly will show up on the cover of all four books in the series, as a symbol of redemption, hope, and re-birth. Despite the dark themes in the series, I believe that the most important themes of the series are hopeful ones, such as love, family, and triumph against adversity, which is why the butterfly is in the center. The broken glass surrounding the butterfly rather obviously symbolizes the concept of destruction, which is also a central theme. The title Destruction refers to the fact that dark magic is inherently destructive, but also refers to how a person can be destroyed, in body or soul. One thing I was sure of, I wanted the word, Destruction, to be in "pretty" letters. I loved the contrast of having a dark and violent word look beautiful. This also fits the theme, as I wish to show the beauty in darkness and destruction, and the good in people who are supposed to be evil."
Destruction Trailer:
An avid daydreamer, Sharon Bayliss has lived in magical version of Austin, Texas for her entire life. So, using a fantastical, alternate history Texas as a setting for her debut novel The Charge, was just “writing what she knows”.
To her, nothing goes better with barbecue and live music than robots and superhuman royalty.
As a child, Sharon lived on a 6 ½ acre patch of land with cows for neighbors. She enjoyed playing in mud, collecting frogs, and was so certain that there was a ghost in her closet that her mother admits that she half-expected to really find one there.
She began writing her first novel at the age of fifteen (handwritten in a spiral marked ‘private’). A proud Austinite, Sharon never saw much sense in moving anywhere else and got her degree in social work from the University of Texas at Austin.
As an author and social worker, she has devoted her life to making the lives of real people better and the lives of fictional people much, much worse. In addition to her official credentials, she is also an expert in fictional Texas history and make-believe neuroscience.
When she’s not writing, she enjoys living in her “happily-ever-after” with her husband and two young sons. She can be found eating Tex-Mex on patios, wearing flip-flops, and still playing in the mud (which she now calls gardening).
Today I'm excited to be taking part in the cover reveal for Sharon Bayliss' Destruction (Book One of The December People Series), a family drama about dark wizards living in Houston, scheduled for release 4/14/14.
David Vandergraff wants to be a good man. He goes to church every Sunday, keeps his lawn trim and green, and loves his wife and kids more than anything. Unfortunately, being a dark wizard isn't a choice.
Eleven years ago, David's secret second family went missing. When his two lost children are finally found, he learns they suffered years of unthinkable abuse. Ready to make things right, David brings the kids home even though it could mean losing the wife he can’t imagine living without.
Keeping his life together becomes harder when the new children claim to be dark wizards. David believes they use this fantasy to cope with their trauma. Until, David's wife admits a secret of her own—she is a dark wizard too, as is David, and all of their children.
Now, David must parent two hurting children from a dark world he doesn’t understand and keep his family from falling apart. All while dealing with the realization that everyone he loves, including himself, may be evil.
Find The December People Series Online:
Goodreads | Facebook | Blog Tour\ARC Sign Up | NewsletterI also have a special message from Sharon Bayliss:
"The butterfly will show up on the cover of all four books in the series, as a symbol of redemption, hope, and re-birth. Despite the dark themes in the series, I believe that the most important themes of the series are hopeful ones, such as love, family, and triumph against adversity, which is why the butterfly is in the center. The broken glass surrounding the butterfly rather obviously symbolizes the concept of destruction, which is also a central theme. The title Destruction refers to the fact that dark magic is inherently destructive, but also refers to how a person can be destroyed, in body or soul. One thing I was sure of, I wanted the word, Destruction, to be in "pretty" letters. I loved the contrast of having a dark and violent word look beautiful. This also fits the theme, as I wish to show the beauty in darkness and destruction, and the good in people who are supposed to be evil."
Destruction Trailer:
About Sharon Bayliss:
An avid daydreamer, Sharon Bayliss has lived in magical version of Austin, Texas for her entire life. So, using a fantastical, alternate history Texas as a setting for her debut novel The Charge, was just “writing what she knows”. To her, nothing goes better with barbecue and live music than robots and superhuman royalty.
As a child, Sharon lived on a 6 ½ acre patch of land with cows for neighbors. She enjoyed playing in mud, collecting frogs, and was so certain that there was a ghost in her closet that her mother admits that she half-expected to really find one there.
She began writing her first novel at the age of fifteen (handwritten in a spiral marked ‘private’). A proud Austinite, Sharon never saw much sense in moving anywhere else and got her degree in social work from the University of Texas at Austin.
As an author and social worker, she has devoted her life to making the lives of real people better and the lives of fictional people much, much worse. In addition to her official credentials, she is also an expert in fictional Texas history and make-believe neuroscience.
When she’s not writing, she enjoys living in her “happily-ever-after” with her husband and two young sons. She can be found eating Tex-Mex on patios, wearing flip-flops, and still playing in the mud (which she now calls gardening).
Find Sharon Bayliss Online:
Homepage | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Google +Update: Sales, Books Releases and Revisions
Howdy folks!
I hope everyone's week has started off well, and those that celebrated Thanksgiving had an enjoyable holiday weekend!
Shockingly enough, I'm finding time to update my blog, and I have a few items to share with you today.
First is the Curiosity Quills Cyber Monday Blowout, featuring SIXTY-TWO of our titles, including charity anthologies Primetime and After Dark, for just $0.99! The offer ends tomorrow, so check it out before it's too late!
http://curiosityquills.com/cyber-monday-blowout/
Next we have a new release from British author Alex Tanner. Contemporary thriller, Paradise Incoming.
Synopsis:
Sometimes, when you're travelling, you want to do something a little bit different.
Sometimes, just sometimes, you head so far off the beaten track you wind up in No Man's Land.
My name is Wesley Morey.
In November 2001, in the wake of the terrorist attack on America, we found a track that no man wants to walk.
Avaliable at: Amazon US | Amazon UK | iBooks | Smashwords
Alex Tanner's Website: http://www.thegeekmemoirs.com
Finally, an update about my own WiP and UnRaNoWriMo.
Despite being busy with work, I've managed to make some progress on my paranormal-romance.
I sent the first 35k to some writer friends for feedback, and got some brilliant comments. Alex Tanner is a real science buff, so she helped me with virus versus bacterium, and antidote versus antibody.
I'm currently going through with Hubby to inject more personality into my leading man, Sol. One of Alex's comments was that the relationships seemed slightly one-sided, in that a lot of the flirtation etc. came from MC Roxie. Upon discussing this with Hubby, I realised it just wouldn't be in character for Sol to flirt. So, to show his interest in Roxie, I have him opening up about his past a little more. Hopefully it'll help build up the bond between them.
I've also managed about 11k on act two, and think it's heading in the right direction. I just need to take a step back, and do a little planning now, as I have a crucial fight scene coming up, and want to get it just right.
Well that's all really, so I'll leave it here for today, and go and visit some blogs to see what you've all been up to!
Let me know if you've got any exciting news to share, I'd love to hear it!
I hope everyone's week has started off well, and those that celebrated Thanksgiving had an enjoyable holiday weekend!
Shockingly enough, I'm finding time to update my blog, and I have a few items to share with you today.
First is the Curiosity Quills Cyber Monday Blowout, featuring SIXTY-TWO of our titles, including charity anthologies Primetime and After Dark, for just $0.99! The offer ends tomorrow, so check it out before it's too late!http://curiosityquills.com/cyber-monday-blowout/
Sometimes, when you're travelling, you want to do something a little bit different.
Sometimes, just sometimes, you head so far off the beaten track you wind up in No Man's Land.
My name is Wesley Morey.
In November 2001, in the wake of the terrorist attack on America, we found a track that no man wants to walk.
Avaliable at: Amazon US | Amazon UK | iBooks | Smashwords
Alex Tanner's Website: http://www.thegeekmemoirs.com
Despite being busy with work, I've managed to make some progress on my paranormal-romance.
I sent the first 35k to some writer friends for feedback, and got some brilliant comments. Alex Tanner is a real science buff, so she helped me with virus versus bacterium, and antidote versus antibody.
I'm currently going through with Hubby to inject more personality into my leading man, Sol. One of Alex's comments was that the relationships seemed slightly one-sided, in that a lot of the flirtation etc. came from MC Roxie. Upon discussing this with Hubby, I realised it just wouldn't be in character for Sol to flirt. So, to show his interest in Roxie, I have him opening up about his past a little more. Hopefully it'll help build up the bond between them.
I've also managed about 11k on act two, and think it's heading in the right direction. I just need to take a step back, and do a little planning now, as I have a crucial fight scene coming up, and want to get it just right.
Well that's all really, so I'll leave it here for today, and go and visit some blogs to see what you've all been up to!
Let me know if you've got any exciting news to share, I'd love to hear it!
Memories of Murder Cover Reveal and Excerpt
Though the Murder, Madness and Love giveaway may have ended, and the winners announced, the Murder, Madness and Love blog tour is still in full swing.
In preparation for the mystery-thriller sequel, Memories of Murder, by Yolanda Renee, scheduled for release 4th October, 2013, I'm taking part in the cover reveal, and sharing an excerpt from Yolanda's forthcoming release.
Decades ago, the seeds were planted …
Today, dark, fathomless eyes rake the image before him. One final task and the transformation is complete. Steady fingers screw intricately carved horns on each side of a stiff brow, and a gargoyle suitable for Notre Dame scowls from the smokey mirror in satisfaction.
A jagged smile rips through his smooth, hairless face, and inked, reptilian scales caress his naked body.
A laugh of hideous resonance emanates from his gut as the demons of hell welcome Lucifer into their fold.
In a dungeon-like chamber, his Lilith awaits. The kidnapped daughter of a nun, groomed to fit the final piece in the complex puzzle for world domination. Will Lucifer marry his bride, on the summer solstice?
Only two things stand in his way ... His greed ... And ... Detective Steven Quaid.
Tomorrow, you'll be mine. Your blood will assuredly be purer than the sweetest honey on earth. His stomach rumbles, and his saliva flows in anticipation of her taste. His unbridled joy almost costs him his concealment when a celebratory growl escapes his throat, and the doe takes notice. He stills himself and waits.
The woman looks directly at him. Seconds tick by in uneasy expectation. She sees me. He swallows hard, almost dropping his camera. She smiles. His body flushes with excitement.
His smile broadens, and then evaporates. No. He takes a deep breath, closes his eyes, and relaxes his muscles. The Scriptures have foretold of our first meeting. Patience, my queen, my love.
His hands drip with sweat; his heart pounds. He shuts the camera off and carefully lowers it to the ground. She shows no fear, and he sees every move as flirtation. Using the sleeves of his shirt, he dries his hands, mops his forehead, and turns the camera back on. He calms the urge to go to her. He stays silent, motionless, but vigilant.
An adventurous spirit took Yolanda Renee to Alaska where she hiked the Brooks Range, traveled from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez, and learned to sleep under the midnight sun.
She now resides in Central Pennsylvania with her husband, two sons, and Boston terrier, Patches.
You can find Yolanda online at the following places:
Defending The Pen | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest
In preparation for the mystery-thriller sequel, Memories of Murder, by Yolanda Renee, scheduled for release 4th October, 2013, I'm taking part in the cover reveal, and sharing an excerpt from Yolanda's forthcoming release.
Today, dark, fathomless eyes rake the image before him. One final task and the transformation is complete. Steady fingers screw intricately carved horns on each side of a stiff brow, and a gargoyle suitable for Notre Dame scowls from the smokey mirror in satisfaction.
A jagged smile rips through his smooth, hairless face, and inked, reptilian scales caress his naked body.
A laugh of hideous resonance emanates from his gut as the demons of hell welcome Lucifer into their fold.
In a dungeon-like chamber, his Lilith awaits. The kidnapped daughter of a nun, groomed to fit the final piece in the complex puzzle for world domination. Will Lucifer marry his bride, on the summer solstice?
Only two things stand in his way ... His greed ... And ... Detective Steven Quaid.
Excerpt
From a lair of downed tree limbs and forest debris, a man watches a young woman. He chronicles her every move. From the moment of her arrival, and through the three hours she works to record the scenery on her canvas, he barely moves a muscle. He is content—comfortable. His camouflage is so perfect that deer graze just inches away.Tomorrow, you'll be mine. Your blood will assuredly be purer than the sweetest honey on earth. His stomach rumbles, and his saliva flows in anticipation of her taste. His unbridled joy almost costs him his concealment when a celebratory growl escapes his throat, and the doe takes notice. He stills himself and waits.
The woman looks directly at him. Seconds tick by in uneasy expectation. She sees me. He swallows hard, almost dropping his camera. She smiles. His body flushes with excitement.
His smile broadens, and then evaporates. No. He takes a deep breath, closes his eyes, and relaxes his muscles. The Scriptures have foretold of our first meeting. Patience, my queen, my love.
His hands drip with sweat; his heart pounds. He shuts the camera off and carefully lowers it to the ground. She shows no fear, and he sees every move as flirtation. Using the sleeves of his shirt, he dries his hands, mops his forehead, and turns the camera back on. He calms the urge to go to her. He stays silent, motionless, but vigilant.
Vital Stats
- Theme: mystery, thriller, romance
- Type: Curiosity Quills Press Novel
- Length: TBA
- Pub. Date: 4th October, 2013
Available At:
- Social Media: Goodreads
She claims her vivid imagination as a blessing, a habit, a hobby, a calling and sometimes a curse.
She now resides in Central Pennsylvania with her husband, two sons, and Boston terrier, Patches.
You can find Yolanda online at the following places:
Defending The Pen | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest
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