Thursday, May 31, 2012

READERS Boost A Book!

FREE BOOKS FOR REVIEW!

You, the reader

When you read a good book, you want to tell people about it! But aside from trying to convince your friend that they’re really going to like this random book you just found, what can you, as a reader, do to help an author?

How To Help
Word of mouth is of course really helpful, but did you know that just by leaving a review, you can make a book more visible to other readers? The review can be on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, your blog, Goodreads, Shelfari, it doesn’t matter. If it’s where readers can find it, you’re helping. The more times a book shows up on the internet, the more people hear about it.


You can click the “like” button at the top of the book’s Amazon page, or the “Tags People Associate with This Product” at the bottom of the page. These help the book come up in search results and the “Readers Who Bought...” section.


You can also tweet about the book, mention it on facebook or Google+, or request the book at your local library or bookstore (if it’s in paperback).

The Good Stuff
The Boost a Book authors have some great fans and we know you all do some of these things already. So as a thank you, we’d like to offer some free ebooks. And, as an added bonus, we think it’d be fun to offer more books and more contest entries for each book you boost.


So grab your free entry below (starting June 1) for a chance to win a free ebook from one of our Boost a Book authors. And if you want to discover even more new authors (by winning free ebooks) you can let us know how you've boosted a book and get extra entries.


Good luck! See the books below
a Rafflecopter giveaway  

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Book Giveaway PaLooza!


Who is this for? You, THE READER
When you read a good book, you want to tell people about it! But aside from trying to convince your friend that they’re really going to like this random book you just found, what can you, as a reader, do to help an author?

How To Help
Word of mouth is of course really helpful,but did you know that just by leaving a review, you can make a book more visibleto other readers? The review can be on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, your blog,Goodreads, Shelfari, it doesn’t matter. If it’s where readers can find it, you’re helping. The more times a book shows up on the internet, the more people hear about it.

You can click the “like” button at the top of the book’s Amazon page, or the “Tags People Associate with This Product” at the bottom of the page. These help the book come up in search results and the “Readers Who Bought...” section.

You can also tweet about the book, mention it on facebook or Google+, or request the book at your local library or bookstore (if it’s in paperback).
The Good Stuff
The Boost a Book authors have some great fans and we know you all do some of these things already. So as a thank you, we’d like to offer some free ebooks. And, as an added bonus, we think it’d be fun to offer more books and more contest entries for each book you boost.
So grab your free entry below (starting June 1) for a chance to win a free ebook from one of our Boost a Book authors. And if you want to discover even more new authors (by winning free ebooks) you can let us know how you've boosted a book and get extra entries.
Good luck!
More Information can be found at Author's Emily Casey's Blog. http://emilycaseysmusings.blogspot.com/ a Rafflecopter giveaway //

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Time Spirit Trilogy by Melissa Pearl



Author Melissa Pearl of the Time Spirit Trilogy is here to tell us what she does when she's not writing.


When You're Not Writing What Do You Do?

I spend time with my family. Play with my little boys, watch movies with my husband. When I'm on my own I love to play the piano and sing my little heart out. I also love to watch movies and do some cross-stitching - the massive ones that look like paintings when you're finished.

I adore spending time with my bestie. She is the coolest person to hang out with. We could talk for hours.

I also love getting stuck into a really good book.

Check out Melissa Pearl's author page on Amazon

The last day of the tour is upon us.
Here is the blog links for some of the authors in the Taste Test Blog Tour. Don't miss your chance to get to know some fantastic new authors and win some very cool stuff.

Join in the contest before it's too late

PARTICIPATING BLOGS:

http://can-duu.blogspot.com/ - CJ Duggan's Blog

http://www.michelleahansen.com/ - Michelle A. Hansen's Blog

http://heather.bishoffs.com/ - Nolia McCarty's Blog

http://yalicious.blogspot.com/ - Brenda Howson's Blog

http://lmpreston.blogspot.com/ - LM Preston's Blog

http://melissapearl.blogspot.com/ - Melissa Pearl's Blog

Each author will be featured on all six blogs on a particular day with different guest posts and interviews - all of them are short, sweet and a ton of fun to read.


PRIZE PACKS:

CJ Duggan
Summer Pack - Beach bag, lip balm, bookmark, autographed The Boys of Summer print

Michelle A. Hansen
A printed copy of Painted Blind, a signed Painted Blind 8x12 cover enlargement, a Painted Blind promo pack containing bookmark, postcard, hand made soap and lip balm

Nolia McCarty
Digital copies of Heaven Below and Eternal Youth

Brenda Howson
The same type of necklace worn by Mica and Lexy in Forbidden Territory, a bookmark and a digital ARC of Forbidden Territory

LM Preston
A keychain, a magnet and paperback ARC of The Pack-Retribution

Melissa Pearl
The same type of necklace worn by Mica and Lexy in Forbidden Territory, a bookmark and a digital ARC of Forbidden Territory


A Taste Test Prize Pack
Digital copies of:
The Kiss Off by Sarah Billington
My Enchanted Life by Laura Eno
Painted Blind by Michelle A. Hansen
Eternal Youth by Julia Crane and Nolia McCarty
ARC of Forbidden Territory
ARC of The Pack: Retribution
Golden Blood by Melissa Pearl
Paperback copy of:
From Fame to Shame by Veronica Blade
Bookmark and lip balm from CJ Duggan

http://www.rafflecopter.com/" id="rc-cf76663">a Rafflecopter giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, May 28, 2012

WHAT DO I LOVE ABOUT WRITING


WHAT DO I LOVE ABOUT WRITING


Writing.
It is an escape of my own creation. When I first started writing, I believe I was around 11yrs old. The same age as my daughter. But before then, I used to play with my dolls and pretend to be someone different - someone who had the life I thought I wanted. When I didn’t have dolls with me to pretend with, I would ‘act’ out scenes in my head and even imitate characters. It was my way of entertaining myself when I was alone.
 


Now writing has even more of a powerful pull on my life. My day job is hectic and challenging - although I love it and do amazing things that I couldn’t have dream of being a part of - but in my head, the creative process doesn’t stop there. Writing allows me to be someone else, to recapture my youth, to become a villain, to be a superhero, to live in places that are out of this world, to get the guy I always wanted in high school and to just have a place that’s under my complete control.
 

It is a passion that pushes me beyond the boundaries of the world I live in and allows me to explore the unimaginable.

The Pack-Retribution is available in Kindle Only until Sept. 28th, it's full release. Click Here to order.


Here is the schedule and giveaway information for the Taste Test Blog Tour. Don't miss your chance to get to know some fantastic new authors and win some very cool stuff.

Happy touring everyone!

PARTICIPATING BLOGS:

http://can-duu.blogspot.com/ - CJ Duggan's Blog

http://www.michelleahansen.com/ - Michelle A. Hansen's Blog

http://heather.bishoffs.com/ - Nolia McCarty's Blog

http://yalicious.blogspot.com/ - Brenda Howson's Blog

http://lmpreston.blogspot.com/ - LM Preston's Blog

http://melissapearl.blogspot.com/ - Melissa Pearl's Blog

Each author will be featured on all six blogs on a particular day with different guest posts and interviews - all of them are short, sweet and a ton of fun to read.

TOUR SCHEDULE:

Monday 21st - CJ Duggan
Tuesday 22nd - Michelle A. Hansen
Wednesday 23rd - Nolia McCarty (aka Heather Marie Adkins)
Thursday 24th - Brenda Howson
Friday 25th - Facebook Celebration Party -  https://www.facebook.com/bookreleasepartypage

Monday 28th - LM Preston
Tuesday 29th - Melissa Pearl

PRIZE PACKS:

CJ Duggan
Summer Pack - Beach bag, lip balm, bookmark, autographed The Boys of Summer print

Michelle A. Hansen
A printed copy of Painted Blind, a signed Painted Blind 8x12 cover enlargement, a Painted Blind promo pack containing bookmark, postcard, hand made soap and lip balm

Nolia McCarty
Digital copies of Heaven Below and Eternal Youth

Brenda Howson
The same type of necklace worn by Mica and Lexy in Forbidden Territory, a bookmark and a digital ARC of Forbidden Territory

LM Preston
A keychain, a magnet and paperback ARC of The Pack-Retribution

Melissa Pearl
The same type of necklace worn by Mica and Lexy in Forbidden Territory, a bookmark and a digital ARC of Forbidden Territory


A Taste Test Prize Pack
Digital copies of:
The Kiss Off by Sarah Billington
My Enchanted Life by Laura Eno
Painted Blind by Michelle A. Hansen
Eternal Youth by Julia Crane and Nolia McCarty
ARC of Forbidden Territory
ARC of The Pack: Retribution
Golden Blood by Melissa Pearl
Paperback copy of:
From Fame to Shame by Veronica Blade
Bookmark and lip balm from CJ Duggan

http://www.rafflecopter.com/" id="rc-cf76663">a Rafflecopter giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, May 24, 2012

YA TASTE TEST FACEBOOK PARTY FRIDAY!


FACEBOOK PARTY TODAY!!! WOOT! 2pm EST til 8pm EST featuring YA TASTE TEST Authors, Willow Cross and Kymberlee Burks-Miller

Facebook Celebration Party -  https://www.facebook.com/bookreleasepartypage

Here is the schedule and giveaway information for the Taste Test Blog Tour. Don't miss your chance to get to know some fantastic new authors and win some very cool stuff.

Happy touring everyone!

PARTICIPATING BLOGS:

http://can-duu.blogspot.com/ - CJ Duggan's Blog

http://www.michelleahansen.com/ - Michelle A. Hansen's Blog

http://heather.bishoffs.com/ - Nolia McCarty's Blog

http://yalicious.blogspot.com/ - Brenda Howson's Blog

http://lmpreston.blogspot.com/ - LM Preston's Blog

http://melissapearl.blogspot.com/ - Melissa Pearl's Blog

Each author will be featured on all six blogs on a particular day with different guest posts and interviews - all of them are short, sweet and a ton of fun to read.

TOUR SCHEDULE:

Monday 21st - CJ Duggan
Tuesday 22nd - Michelle A. Hansen
Wednesday 23rd - Nolia McCarty (aka Heather Marie Adkins)
Thursday 24th - Brenda Howson
Friday 25th - Facebook Celebration Party -  https://www.facebook.com/bookreleasepartypage

Monday 28th - LM Preston
Tuesday 29th - Melissa Pearl

HUGE Facebook Celebration Party-Friday May 25th, from 2pm EST til 8pm EST right here, https://www.facebook.com/bookreleasepartypage - just 'Like' the page for more prizes, more fun, dancers, star bands and MORE!

PRIZE PACKS:

CJ Duggan
Summer Pack - Beach bag, lip balm, bookmark, autographed The Boys of Summer print

Michelle A. Hansen
A printed copy of Painted Blind, a signed Painted Blind 8x12 cover enlargement, a Painted Blind promo pack containing bookmark, postcard, hand made soap and lip balm

Nolia McCarty
Digital copies of Heaven Below and Eternal Youth

Brenda Howson
The same type of necklace worn by Mica and Lexy in Forbidden Territory, a bookmark and a digital ARC of Forbidden Territory

LM Preston
A keychain, a magnet and paperback ARC of The Pack-Retribution

Melissa Pearl
The same type of necklace worn by Mica and Lexy in Forbidden Territory, a bookmark and a digital ARC of Forbidden Territory


A Taste Test Prize Pack
Digital copies of:
The Kiss Off by Sarah Billington
My Enchanted Life by Laura Eno
Painted Blind by Michelle A. Hansen
Eternal Youth by Julia Crane and Nolia McCarty
ARC of Forbidden Territory
ARC of The Pack: Retribution
Golden Blood by Melissa Pearl
Paperback copy of:
From Fame to Shame by Veronica Blade
Bookmark and lip balm from CJ Duggan

http://www.rafflecopter.com/" id="rc-cf76663">a Rafflecopter giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Forbidden Territory by Brenda Howson


Brenda Howson co-author of Forbidden Territory Read about it here: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13499423-forbidden-territory

Blurb of the First Story You Ever Started Writing
Okay this is the start of a totally lame story that I wrote when I was a young teen…. How embarrassing…

A long time ago when the earth was green, there lived a lonely young man in a very big and nosey community. He lived alone, working at nights for a top-secret business. He wasn’t allowed to talk to people about it, so he didn’t talk to a living soul in case it slipped out one day. Anyway every morning around 5 when he arrived home, he would… sit on his balcony and watch the stars fade and the sun rise. Being a loner he was lonely. Given to quiet, moody contemplation of the sea (which pounded on the sandy beach below his home.)
For long hours he would silently stare over the blue water or watch the whispering trees in the bush below. He was lonely but that changed when he saw her…

I started writing this when I didn’t have a plan of where the story was going and it kinda jumped all over the place. Told ya. Lame J



Here is the schedule and giveaway information for the Taste Test Blog Tour. Don't miss your chance to get to know some fantastic new authors and win some very cool stuff.

Happy touring everyone!

PARTICIPATING BLOGS:

http://can-duu.blogspot.com/ - CJ Duggan's Blog

http://www.michelleahansen.com/ - Michelle A. Hansen's Blog

http://heather.bishoffs.com/ - Nolia McCarty's Blog

http://yalicious.blogspot.com/ - Brenda Howson's Blog

http://lmpreston.blogspot.com/ - LM Preston's Blog

http://melissapearl.blogspot.com/ - Melissa Pearl's Blog

Each author will be featured on all six blogs on a particular day with different guest posts and interviews - all of them are short, sweet and a ton of fun to read.

TOUR SCHEDULE:

Monday 21st - CJ Duggan
Tuesday 22nd - Michelle A. Hansen
Wednesday 23rd - Nolia McCarty (aka Heather Marie Adkins)
Thursday 24th - Brenda Howson
Friday 25th - Facebook Celebration Party -  https://www.facebook.com/bookreleasepartypage

Monday 28th - LM Preston
Tuesday 29th - Melissa Pearl

HUGE Facebook Celebration Party-Friday May 25th, from 2pm EST til 8pm EST right here, https://www.facebook.com/bookreleasepartypage - just 'Like' the page for more prizes, more fun, dancers, star bands and MORE!

PRIZE PACKS:

CJ Duggan
Summer Pack - Beach bag, lip balm, bookmark, autographed The Boys of Summer print

Michelle A. Hansen
A printed copy of Painted Blind, a signed Painted Blind 8x12 cover enlargement, a Painted Blind promo pack containing bookmark, postcard, hand made soap and lip balm

Nolia McCarty
Digital copies of Heaven Below and Eternal Youth

Brenda Howson
The same type of necklace worn by Mica and Lexy in Forbidden Territory, a bookmark and a digital ARC of Forbidden Territory

LM Preston
A keychain, a magnet and paperback ARC of The Pack-Retribution

Melissa Pearl
The same type of necklace worn by Mica and Lexy in Forbidden Territory, a bookmark and a digital ARC of Forbidden Territory


A Taste Test Prize Pack
Digital copies of:
The Kiss Off by Sarah Billington
My Enchanted Life by Laura Eno
Painted Blind by Michelle A. Hansen
Eternal Youth by Julia Crane and Nolia McCarty
ARC of Forbidden Territory
ARC of The Pack: Retribution
Golden Blood by Melissa Pearl
Paperback copy of:
From Fame to Shame by Veronica Blade
Bookmark and lip balm from CJ Duggan

http://www.rafflecopter.com/" id="rc-cf76663">a Rafflecopter giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

WICCAN WARS by Nolia McCarty


her coming release, WICCAN WARS can only be previewed in our TASTE TEST SAMPLER, click here, for FREE!~

Nolia McCarty's other books


4 Questions from interview with author Nolia McMarty:

If you could have an psychic power, what would it be?

Telekinesis, because I would love to be able to do things without getting up. I am LAZY.

What is your favorite "mythical" creature?

I hate to use a stereotype, but I really do love shapeshifters. There's something that touches me about a creature who lives half-in and half-out of the human world--not quite human, not quite beast... I think that speaks to people, because a lot of us also feel that way from time to time. Where do we fit in?

Do you believe in ghosts? Why or why not?

Yes, I absolutely believe in ghosts. There is so much about this world and universe that we don't know or understand. I doubt we will ever know it all. I think anything is possible. I also think my house is haunted, so it's definitely helping me to stay a believer ;)

If you could move anywhere in the world, where would you move and why?

Ireland. I spent a month there in 2009 and wish I never had to leave. I would have packed my stuff and stayed had I the means to do so. It is the most beautiful country in the world--the people are simply wonderful, the culture is fun, and my soul felt a strange kind of kinship there.


Here is the schedule and giveaway information for the Taste Test Blog Tour. Don't miss your chance to get to know some fantastic new authors and win some very cool stuff.

Happy touring everyone!

PARTICIPATING BLOGS:

http://can-duu.blogspot.com/ - CJ Duggan's Blog

http://www.michelleahansen.com/ - Michelle A. Hansen's Blog

http://heather.bishoffs.com/ - Nolia McCarty's Blog

http://yalicious.blogspot.com/ - Brenda Howson's Blog

http://lmpreston.blogspot.com/ - LM Preston's Blog

http://melissapearl.blogspot.com/ - Melissa Pearl's Blog

Each author will be featured on all six blogs on a particular day with different guest posts and interviews - all of them are short, sweet and a ton of fun to read.

TOUR SCHEDULE:

Monday 21st - CJ Duggan
Tuesday 22nd - Michelle A. Hansen
Wednesday 23rd - Nolia McCarty (aka Heather Marie Adkins)
Thursday 24th - Brenda Howson
Friday 25th - Facebook Celebration Party -  https://www.facebook.com/bookreleasepartypage

Monday 28th - LM Preston
Tuesday 29th - Melissa Pearl

HUGE Facebook Celebration Party-Friday May 25th, from 2pm EST til 8pm EST right here, https://www.facebook.com/bookreleasepartypage - just 'Like' the page for more prizes, more fun, dancers, star bands and MORE!

PRIZE PACKS:

CJ Duggan
Summer Pack - Beach bag, lip balm, bookmark, autographed The Boys of Summer print

Michelle A. Hansen
A printed copy of Painted Blind, a signed Painted Blind 8x12 cover enlargement, a Painted Blind promo pack containing bookmark, postcard, hand made soap and lip balm

Nolia McCarty
Digital copies of Heaven Below and Eternal Youth

Brenda Howson
The same type of necklace worn by Mica and Lexy in Forbidden Territory, a bookmark and a digital ARC of Forbidden Territory

LM Preston
A keychain, a magnet and paperback ARC of The Pack-Retribution

Melissa Pearl
The same type of necklace worn by Mica and Lexy in Forbidden Territory, a bookmark and a digital ARC of Forbidden Territory


A Taste Test Prize Pack
Digital copies of:
The Kiss Off by Sarah Billington
My Enchanted Life by Laura Eno
Painted Blind by Michelle A. Hansen
Eternal Youth by Julia Crane and Nolia McCarty
ARC of Forbidden Territory
ARC of The Pack: Retribution
Golden Blood by Melissa Pearl
Paperback copy of:
From Fame to Shame by Veronica Blade
Bookmark and lip balm from CJ Duggan

http://www.rafflecopter.com/" id="rc-cf76663">a Rafflecopter giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Painted Blind by Michelle Hansen


INTRODUCING....Author, Michelle Hansen
Purchase here: CLICK
Her book PAINTED BLIND
Seventeen years old and agoraphobic, Psyche Middleton vows her dad will never see the risque photos she took during a summer modeling stint abroad, but one of them ends up on a billboard in her Montana hometown. Suddenly, she is a hometown celebrity.

At a street carnival she is rescued from a mob by a guy who has the ability to make himself invisible. He takes her to a palace in an idyllic kingdom, and she is swept into the beauty and culture of his world, but his affection has one condition: she may not see him.

Psyche must decide if she is brave enough to love him blindly, and if she's not, will she lose him forever?

Interview with author, Michelle Hansen
Favorite Character you’ve ever written and why
Much as love Erik, Titus is my favorite character from Painted Blind because he dropped onto my keyboard like dew from heaven. I was writing the scene of Psyche at the airport with Aeas, where he hands her a bag and tells her, “Titus will fill you in on the plane.” Then I described Titus stepping into the doorway of the plane and Psyche recognizing him. I literally screamed aloud, “OH! I know who he is!” Just like that, his entire back story dropped into my lap. I couldn’t write fast enough. In my opinion, he saved the end of the novel, and he felt like a gift from God to me.

Here is the schedule and giveaway information for the Taste Test Blog Tour. Don't miss your chance to get to know some fantastic new authors and win some very cool stuff.

Happy touring everyone!

PARTICIPATING BLOGS:

http://can-duu.blogspot.com/ - CJ Duggan's Blog

http://www.michelleahansen.com/ - Michelle A. Hansen's Blog

http://heather.bishoffs.com/ - Nolia McCarty's Blog

http://yalicious.blogspot.com/ - Brenda Howson's Blog

http://lmpreston.blogspot.com/ - LM Preston's Blog

http://melissapearl.blogspot.com/ - Melissa Pearl's Blog

Each author will be featured on all six blogs on a particular day with different guest posts and interviews - all of them are short, sweet and a ton of fun to read.

TOUR SCHEDULE:

Monday 21st - CJ Duggan
Tuesday 22nd - Michelle A. Hansen
Wednesday 23rd - Nolia McCarty (aka Heather Marie Adkins)
Thursday 24th - Brenda Howson
Friday 25th - Facebook Celebration Party -  https://www.facebook.com/bookreleasepartypage

Monday 28th - LM Preston
Tuesday 29th - Melissa Pearl

HUGE Facebook Celebration Party-Friday May 25th, from 2pm EST til 8pm EST right here, https://www.facebook.com/bookreleasepartypage - just 'Like' the page for more prizes, more fun, dancers, star bands and MORE!

PRIZE PACKS:

CJ Duggan
Summer Pack - Beach bag, lip balm, bookmark, autographed The Boys of Summer print

Michelle A. Hansen
A printed copy of Painted Blind, a signed Painted Blind 8x12 cover enlargement, a Painted Blind promo pack containing bookmark, postcard, hand made soap and lip balm

Nolia McCarty
Digital copies of Heaven Below and Eternal Youth

Brenda Howson
The same type of necklace worn by Mica and Lexy in Forbidden Territory, a bookmark and a digital ARC of Forbidden Territory

LM Preston
A keychain, a magnet and paperback ARC of The Pack-Retribution

Melissa Pearl
The same type of necklace worn by Mica and Lexy in Forbidden Territory, a bookmark and a digital ARC of Forbidden Territory


A Taste Test Prize Pack
Digital copies of:
The Kiss Off by Sarah Billington
My Enchanted Life by Laura Eno
Painted Blind by Michelle A. Hansen
Eternal Youth by Julia Crane and Nolia McCarty
ARC of Forbidden Territory
ARC of The Pack: Retribution
Golden Blood by Melissa Pearl
Paperback copy of:
From Fame to Shame by Veronica Blade
Bookmark and lip balm from CJ Duggan

http://www.rafflecopter.com/" id="rc-cf76663">a Rafflecopter giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, May 21, 2012

The Boys Of Summer by C.J.Duggan



C.J. Duggan is my spotlight author today.

The Boy's of Summer is her upcoming book! Check it out here - Click

Her Top 10 Favorite Things are:
Top 10

1 Dogs or Cats?

Dogs (Don’t tell my Cats)

2 MM’s or Skittles?

MM’s

3. Favorite T.V show?

M*A*S*H

4. What books are currently on your nightstand?

Kindle, The Sky is Everywhere.

5. Favorite kind of date?

Dinner and a movie

6. Guilty Pleasure?

Phil Collin’s power ballads.

7. First book you remember devouring.

Charlotte’s Web. Cried my eyes out!

8. Boot’s, Sneakers, Stiletto’s?

Boots of course!

9. The last song you sang along to?

Brucey Springsteen of course!!! Baby We Were Born to Ruuuuuun.

10. Where do you like to sit in a movie theatre?

Four rows from the front, dead center.
Here is the schedule and giveaway information for the Taste Test Blog Tour. Don't miss your chance to get to know some fantastic new authors and win some very cool stuff.

Happy touring everyone!

PARTICIPATING BLOGS:

http://can-duu.blogspot.com - CJ Duggan's Blog

http://www.michelleahansen.com - Michelle A. Hansen's Blog

http://heather.bishoffs.com - Nolia McCarty's Blog

http://yalicious.blogspot.com - Brenda Howson's Blog

http://lmpreston.blogspot.com - LM Preston's Blog

http://melissapearl.blogspot.com - Melissa Pearl's Blog

Each author will be featured on all six blogs on a particular day with different guest posts and interviews - all of them are short, sweet and a ton of fun to read.

TOUR SCHEDULE:

Monday 21st - CJ Duggan
Tuesday 22nd - Michelle A. Hansen
Wednesday 23rd - Nolia McCarty (aka Heather Marie Adkins)
Thursday 24th - Brenda Howson
Friday 25th - Facebook Celebration Party -  https://www.facebook.com/bookreleasepartypage

Monday 28th - LM Preston
Tuesday 29th - Melissa Pearl

HUGE Facebook Celebration Party-Friday May 25th, from 2pm EST til 8pm EST right here, https://www.facebook.com/bookreleasepartypage - just 'Like' the page for more prizes, more fun, dancers, star bands and MORE!

PRIZE PACKS:

CJ Duggan
Summer Pack - Beach bag, lip balm, bookmark, autographed The Boys of Summer print

Michelle A. Hansen
A printed copy of Painted Blind, a signed Painted Blind 8x12 cover enlargement, a Painted Blind promo pack containing bookmark, postcard, hand made soap and lip balm

Nolia McCarty
Digital copies of Heaven Below and Eternal Youth

Brenda Howson
The same type of necklace worn by Mica and Lexy in Forbidden Territory, a bookmark and a digital ARC of Forbidden Territory

LM Preston
A keychain, a magnet and paperback ARC of The Pack-Retribution

Melissa Pearl
The same type of necklace worn by Mica and Lexy in Forbidden Territory, a bookmark and a digital ARC of Forbidden Territory


A Taste Test Prize Pack
Digital copies of:
The Kiss Off by Sarah Billington
My Enchanted Life by Laura Eno
Painted Blind by Michelle A. Hansen
Eternal Youth by Julia Crane and Nolia McCarty
ARC of Forbidden Territory
ARC of The Pack: Retribution
Golden Blood by Melissa Pearl
Paperback copy of:
From Fame to Shame by Veronica Blade
Bookmark and lip balm from CJ Duggan

http://www.rafflecopter.com/" id="rc-cf76663">a Rafflecopter giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Saturday, May 19, 2012

A Taste Test Blog Tour



Here is the schedule and giveaway information for the Taste Test Blog Tour. Don't miss your chance to get to know some fantastic new authors and win some very cool stuff.

Happy touring everyone!

PARTICIPATING BLOGS:

http://can-duu.blogspot.com - CJ Duggan's Blog

http://www.michelleahansen.com - Michelle A. Hansen's Blog

http://heather.bishoffs.com - Nolia McCarty's Blog

http://yalicious.blogspot.com - Brenda Howson's Blog

http://lmpreston.blogspot.com - LM Preston's Blog

http://melissapearl.blogspot.com - Melissa Pearl's Blog

Each author will be featured on all six blogs on a particular day with different guest posts and interviews - all of them are short, sweet and a ton of fun to read.

TOUR SCHEDULE:

Monday 21st - CJ Duggan
Tuesday 22nd - Michelle A. Hansen
Wednesday 23rd - Nolia McCarty (aka Heather Marie Adkins)
Thursday 24th - Brenda Howson

Monday 28th - LM Preston
Tuesday 29th - Melissa Pearl

PRIZE PACKS:

CJ Duggan
Summer Pack - Beach bag, lip balm, bookmark, autographed The Boys of Summer print

Michelle A. Hansen
A printed copy of Painted Blind, a signed Painted Blind 8x12 cover enlargement, a Painted Blind promo pack containing bookmark, postcard, hand made soap and lip balm

Nolia McCarty
Digital copies of Heaven Below and Eternal Youth

Brenda Howson
The same type of necklace worn by Mica and Lexy in Forbidden Territory, a bookmark and a digital ARC of Forbidden Territory

LM Preston
A keychain, a magnet and paperback ARC of The Pack-Retribution

Melissa Pearl
The same type of necklace worn by Mica and Lexy in Forbidden Territory, a bookmark and a digital ARC of Forbidden Territory


A Taste Test Prize Pack
Digital copies of:
The Kiss Off by Sarah Billington
My Enchanted Life by Laura Eno
Painted Blind by Michelle A. Hansen
Eternal Youth by Julia Crane and Nolia McCarty
ARC of Forbidden Territory
ARC of The Pack: Retribution
Golden Blood by Melissa Pearl
Paperback copy of:
From Fame to Shame by Veronica Blade
Bookmark and lip balm from CJ Duggan

http://www.rafflecopter.com/" id="rc-cf76663">a Rafflecopter giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

FABRIC by Jessica Bell (Poetry)

FabricToday I'm celebrating the release of Jessica Bell's new poetry collection, Fabric ... Wait! Please don't close the tab at the the mention of poetry! Trust me, just read a little note from the author herself before deciding to disappear ...

Jessica says:
My poetry will not baffle you with phrasing that scholars award for academic genius and that can only be understood by those who wrote it. My poetry is for the everyday reader. In fact, it is even for those who don’t like to read poetry at all. Because it is real, stark and simple.

The poems in Fabric are no different. They explore specific moments in different people’s lives that are significant to whom they have become, the choices they’ve made. It’s about how they perceive the world around them, and how each and every one of their thoughts and actions contributes to the fabric of society. Perhaps you will even learn something new about yourself.

So, even if you do not usually read poetry, I urge you to give this one a go. Not because I want sales (though, they are fun!), but because I want more people to understand that not all poetry is scary and complex. Not all poetry is going to take you back to high school English, and not all poetry is going make you feel “stupid”.

You can still say to people that you don’t read poetry … I really don’t mind. Because if you read Fabric, you’re not reading poetry, you’re reading about people. And that’s what reading is about, yes? Living the lives of others?
Are you still here? I hope so!

Please support the life of poetry today by spreading the news about Fabric. Hey, perhaps you might even like to purchase a copy for yourself? The e-book is only $1.99 and the paperback $5.50.

Here are the links:

Let's keep poetry alive! Because not all poetry is "dead" boring ...

About Jessica Bell:

If Jessica Bell could choose only one creative mentor, she’d give the role to Euterpe, the Greek muse of music and lyrics. And not because she currently lives in Greece, either. The Australian-native author, poet and singer/songwriter/guitarist has her roots firmly planted in music, and admits inspiration often stems from lyrics she’s written.

She is the Co-Publishing Editor of Vine Leaves Literary Journal, and co-hosts the Homeric Writers' Retreat & Workshop on the Greek Isle of Ithaca, with Chuck Sambuchino of Writer’s Digest.

For more information about Jessica Bell, please visit:

Website:

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Flutter Of Luv - Teaser

Please join in the Fun with BLOG Tour, Twitter Appetizer and FACEBOOK Release Party!

TWITTER Party Appetizer - Friday - July 27th, 5pm-6pm use hashtags #FlutterOfLuv and #FlutterOfLuvParty use www.tweetchat.com to participate easily

Facebook Release Party! More Prizes and Fun! CLICK HERE!
This short story ebook comes out in July so stay tuned.  Check out the Facebook Release Party HERE!

It's my first time ever writing in first person or a simple romance.


Book Description: Dawn, the neighborhood tomboy is happy to be her best friend’s shadow. Acceptance comes from playing football after school with the guys on the block while hiding safely behind her glasses, braces and boyish ways. But Tony moves in, becomes the star quarterback on her school’s team and changes her world and her view of herself forever.

This is a short story told in ten episodes similar to an anthology of short stories over the course of Dawn’s and Tony’s realization of how much they mean to one another. 

Excerpt:


   Nothing much happened on my block in the summer in the morning, but on this first day of summer there were moving trucks outside. I was rocking back and forth on the metal chair my Nana kept on the porch of our row house in the city when they first drove up. There was no houses across the street from us, but the huge hill topped off with a fence had grass littered with daisies. It was beautiful to me, since the city didn’t offer much in the way of grass or flowers.
   Not many people moved into our neighborhood. I guess it’s because when you were able to live in a place close to the train station you had convenience – so why leave it? At least that’s what my great-grandma Nana told me was the reason she’d lived there for over 20 years.
  It was early in the morning, much earlier than my friends came out. But I loved the morning, it was the time I got to just sit outside and not hear a thing. No fire engines, ambulances, kids fighting, cars honking—well I always hear those, but it’s quieter than most times. And the time I got to spend staring at the high school I hated going too. It set on top of the hill as an ugly reminder that I’d have to go back at the end of the summer.
   Ninth grade stunk, and I had all summer to figure out how I was going to get through the tenth grade without getting into cat fights with stupid girls who liked to pick out the fact that my boobs hadn’t grown in, my teeth protrude a bit, and my braces were ugly on me. Oh, and let me not forget, I wore thick welfare glasses. You know, the kind with the plastic brown trim. Not even the boys let me forget that. But contact lenses weren’t something I was ever going to get. My mother could barely afford the braces. No way could I get contacts, the eye doctor told us, because I had some type of irritation that caused little bumps to pop up under my eyelids. Just my rotten luck—as always.
  Everyone else in ninth grade had seemed to go through their beauty makeover stage, but me; my stupid luck kept me grounded with the appearance of a middle schooler with my short height and ‘kiddy’ figure my best friend Poochie liked to point out.
   I stood up and walked down the first five steps of my cement porch. Our row house was squeezed between two others, but our porches were separated by large bushes that came just under the rail framing. Why my Nana insisted on painting the porch and stairs blue I’d never know. It doesn’t match the red brick house, but whatever makes her happy, I guess. I don’t have a choice but to like it since it’s the only home I’ve got—at least until my mom can afford her own place.
  A blue sedan pulled up behind the u-haul moving truck. And I stood up on my toes in my high-top tennis shoes wondering who the new kid or new ‘blood’ was that was moving in. The kids on the block loved getting to know if the new blood would be easily bullied or not. Lately though, no one had moved in for them to torment.
  Rodney came down his steps. His house was next to mine which made it easy for him to spy on me in the morning. It usually didn’t take him long to come out after I did – which made me wonder if he had a permanent eye attached to his bedroom window. “Hey Dawn! Whatcha doing? Checkin’ out the new blood?” His unkempt curly bush seemed to shrink in the early morning dew. It resembled a hat atop his pale face and bushy black eyebrows.
   I rolled my eyes at him. “No…well maybe.” Rodney was my next door neighbor and got a kick out of teasing me as much as possible. Maybe because with him being rather chunky, he got his fair share of being the butt of the other kid’s jokes and he just needed to torment someone else to feel better.
   “We could get a closer look before Poochie comes out.” Rodney stuffed the rest of a jelly doughnut in his mouth. His chubby fingers oozed with the goo and he loudly sucked off the red excess.       
  Rodney would point out that Poochie was going to be snooping around the new kids soon. Everyone knew he was in love with her and she considered him her pet. Anything Poochie wanted from a boy she got, and Rodney gave her everything. Money from his lunch, food from his dinner table, and clothes from his sister. Poochie never outright asked for the stuff, but she made it known to Rodney that she needed it.
   Absently, I tilted my face toward the hill. Right across from my house was the big oak tree that hid the corner side of the high school. The huge tree set on a hill I liked to climb everyday. Didn’t get to climb the hill much since my Nana always yelled at me to get down and embarrassed me to no end about it. But this year I’ll be running to the High School with my cousins who’d be starting ninth grade. Doubtful they’d like it anymore than I do.
   My hearing perked up at the sounds of kids. New kids.
   And then my eyes landed on him. The boy who got out of the car had to be the most...gosh, gorgeous boy I’d ever seen. He had a football in his hand and kept tossing it up in the air and catching it. He was tall and slightly muscular. Tight, curly cropped hair framed his dark brown face, and large dimples cut deeply in his cheeks. His husky laugh added to his jock—bad boy hotness—as Poochie would say. Some younger kid bumped into him, causing him to drop the ball. At that moment, that very moment, our eyes met.
   I shivered inside. A huge smile broke out on his face and he waved at me. I froze. Couldn’t move, speak, or respond.
   “Dufas! Dawn. Are you coming with me to say hello to him or not?” Rodney asked.
   Still, nothing on me would move. I stood there like some dumb statue. The boy’s eyebrows pitched down like he thought something was wrong with me—like I was a mute or something.
   Rodney laughed at me. Something I knew he’d never let me forget. But now I was just too embarrassed to move after my moment of paralysis. So I relaxed a bit, but still stayed planted where I was.
   “Hey kid! Throw me the ball!” Rodney jumped down his bottom steps.
   Then gorgeous, the boy who’d just moved into my neighborhood and changed my life, spun away from me to toss the football over his head to Rodney.
   I watched them for hours. Rodney and the new boy played tag football with some of the other kids in the neighborhood in the middle of our street. There weren’t many cars that came up our one way city block which made it safe for the kids to play the day away without interruption.
   Rodney took a break and came over to the bottom of my stairs. “You playin’ or what? We need a quarterback.”
   Still tongue-tied and in no way ready to play football with the new guy on the block I shook my head.
   “What you can talk now? Tony’s pretty good. I think he might try out for the school team. I told him about how the coach plays favorites and that I’m the team ‘manager’ until I make it on the field.”
   I rolled my eyes, there was no way Rodney was ever going to make it on the field. And he wasn’t a ‘manager’ he was the water boy. “Yeah, you told him all that?”
   Rodney frowned. “What ya mean?” He looked hurt, then accusatory like he knew what I was thinking.
   “I meant with all the playing you guys were doing, it didn’t look like you had time for talking.” Okay, I didn’t want to lie outright but all of us on the block had an unwritten rule not to snub Rodney’s lack of football skills. The kid was a bit full of himself but he had a big heart and he fed us after our street games. His mom was so happy somebody was playing with him that she put a cooler of food and drinks on her porch after our games. And we would sit out on the grass in his lawn to eat and punch each other while Rodney told the latest dirty joke he heard from his uncle.
   The new kid, Tony, threw the ball at Rodney’s chest, and it bounced off.
   “Hey Tony! Come over here and help me get Dawn to be our quarterback!” Rodney yelled.
   Oh, that was dirty and Rodney knew it. I could tell when he winked at me as Tony came up beside him, that Rodney was about to set me up.
   Confusion sprung out on Tony’s face, “Quarterback?” He looked up at me, frowned like he didn’t know what to say. Then he pointed in my direction, “She’s ya’lls quarterback?”
  “Yeah, and she’s good too! We play on the field in back of the school every Friday after dinner.” Rodney winked at me again. I’m gonna punch him. Really, like as soon as Tony leaves I’m going to punch him.
  Tony whispered to Rodney, “Is she okay? Does she talk?”
  No way did he just ask Rodney if I was normal? Shoot me now. My eyes started to water I was so humiliated. Thank God for my glasses that hid my girly shame. And the truth was, I still couldn’t form two words around this guy.
   Rodney answered for me. “Yeah, she must think you’re cute or something. You know how girls get all shy and stuff when a new guy’s around. She acted the same way when I moved it.”
  My jaw dropped. That liar, “I did not!” I ground out clearly and delivered him the ‘death’ glare.
  Rodney burst out laughing so hard he held his stomach.
  Tony appeared shocked that I could actually speak.
  And I was just plain angry at Rodney. At least now I could form some words. But all that came out was a hoarse, “Hi.”
  Tony still looking doubtful of my sanity gave me a hesitant wave.
  “So you comin’ to play or not?” Rodney asked totally entertained at my humiliation.
  I shook my head, and managed a, “I can’t.”
  Tony just stared at me a moment, as if he wasn’t quite sure I was mentally right or not, then he tapped Rodney lightly with his fist and said, “Maybe she’ll do it another time. Let’s go before my dad changes his mind and makes me help them unpack.”
   The sad thing was, even though Tony thought I was a complete wierdo, I couldn’t help staring at his back, all the way until they climbed the hill and out of sight, and felt completely happy to just watch him without restraint.

Sunday, May 13, 2012

AfterLife by Willow Cross

Since I've been addicted to ebooks, one of the things I like most is the fact that I can find short stories - good ones, on Amazon and B&N

Here's a good short for you, a sweet love story between a ghost and a vampire :-D


Amazon Blurb: Two hundred years before the battle of the fortress, a young man named William Townsend had to die.

William had big plans. He would become a valiant soldier, fall in love, have a family, and die. In fact, he was certain it would happen in that exact order. But fate is a fickle taskmaster and things almost never go as planned. And sometimes, just sometimes, your true destiny will greet you after life



My Review:
My daughter who hasn't read "Birthright" started reading this on her kindle. We both read it, I as someone who's read the Dark Gifts first 2 books and she who'd only read Inheritance and Afterlife. We both loved the story of Angie, a vampire turned at age 17yrs old but was trapped in a girls body for over 100 yrs and William a misguided ghost who became not just her friend, but someone who'd come to love her, be devoted to her from afar. I loved William and I connected with him. An innocent frustration at being a ghost, but who was happy with what little he had - a friendship with Angie. My daughter, however, connected with Angie who seemed immature at times, but who's heart was in the right place. The dialogue and interaction between the two was sweet. But the adventure that shed light on some aspects of Birthright (Willow Cross's first book in the Dark Gifts Series) made both of us want more. Take a peak at this enjoyable read and you won't want to put it down. 


BUY IT for 99cents - Buy Afterlife

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Author Palooza and SWAG Giveaway! Friday May 11th!

Just want to let you all know where to get your party on this Friday - especially if you can't leave the house but want to have fun!

This weekend is going to be EPIC over on the Book Release Party Page (http://www.facebook.com/bookreleasepartypage) May 11th from 6-10pm central there will be an "Authors of the Party Page Showcase" where you can get info to find author pag...es and play games and win some goodies. On May 13th from 6-10pm central there will be a release party for Angela Yuriko Smith (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Angela-Yuriko-Smith-author/191532050896373) book End of Mae, games and goodies to be won as well. And of coarse some of the best host that will keep you entertained to no end. Be sure to mark your calendar and tell your friends, you don't want to miss out on all the fun!

I'm going to be featured during that time so I hope you all drop in, get some prizes, play some games and have a blast!

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

What Seduces You Into Buying A Book - The Back Cover?

I have to admit to purchasing tons of books the last few weeks via my Ipad. Both on Kindle and the Nook. Since I have a few books coming out this year myself, I am a bit more critical when assessing what makes me buy. What are the first things that make me decide to pick up a book.

STEPS To FALLING IN LOVE WITH A BOOK

(1) My Genre - I find that the first place I search online or in a bookstore for what I want is in my favorite genres (I personally like YA, Romance, Scifi and Horror) and these are the sections I go to first when I'm looking for a book.

(2) The Cover - Oh come on, you and the cover connect, the stars align and you are in serious like. You pick up the book and that book baby is half way to sold.

(3) The Back Cover (or Book Description) - This is where you have to grab me, make me want this book over any other book in my hands. So don't hold back. (I'll discuss this more)

(4) Price - it's got to be priced right either for me to buy it outright or add as a backup read to other books that I favored more.

THE BACK COVER WHAMMY!

So you're in love with the genre, the cover and the price isn't bad. Many of books have been tossed aside because of the back cover blurb.

Remember that query letter you had to write where you grabbed the Lit Agent with your 2 sentence hook? Well I wished the people that wrote back-covers or book descriptions did that more. I seriously think that publishers could use the query letter from the author to enhance the back covers / descriptions I've read lately.

(1) Grab reader in first 2 sentences
(2) Don't hold back juicy parts of the book - they may be the parts that the reader is attracted to. (Like: in my coming book Purgatory Reign - I wanted to hold back the fact that Angel (one of the characters) was really a girl. But if I didn't put that in the back cover blurb then the reader wouldn't know that there was a girl in the book that becomes a love interest.
(3) Give Some Away, but not all away - this is the hard part, figuring out what to tease the reader with but not give it all away.
(4) Make sure key elements for the genre are delivered. (If your book is a romance - make sure you make it appear like one on the book description, if its a horror - make sure it shows that. Know your market and the buzz words for it.)

SO WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A BACK COVER?

Friday, May 4, 2012

Avengers - Movie Review







The Avengers (2012)

IMDb: 
Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. brings together a team of super humans to form The Avengers to help save the Earth from Loki and his army.



My Review:
All my comic book heroes come to life. I've been waiting for this movie for a long time and I'm telling you - I-Was-Not-Disappointed. It was a girls dream movie. And I got to tell you the ladies (Black Widow) in this movie kicked major butt. It was almost beautiful. Loki, the villain was one of the best I've seen in awhile, I felt sympathetic for him - but I knew there was no hope for him. The Hulk was SOOOO true to form! Just like the comic books and not to mention I loved the hero humor. The crowd cheered around me, they clapped, they laughed and we all had a blasted good old time. I give this 4.5 heroes out of 5 simply because it could have had more depth in the storyline, but I sure enjoyed the ride.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Seven Deadly Sins - Anthology Review


By:  Michelle Anderson Picarella , A.T. Russell , Stephen Penner , Dawn Kirby , Vickie Adair , Diana Ilinca , Tymothy Longoria , Braxton A. Cosby



SEVEN SINS. SEVEN AUTHORS. SEVEN LESSONS. In this Novel Collaboration, seven authors join forces to explore the nature and consequences of sin. Envy. Gluttony. Greed. Lust. Pride. Sloth. Wrath. The greatest of stories inspired by the gravest of sins. Whether you like fantasy, paranormal, or good, old-fashioned, straight fiction, this collection is sure to lead you into temptation. Features illustrations by Stephen Penner and a foreword by Braxton Cosby.





Buy the paperback for $9.99