Book Blitz & Giveaway - The Arrival by C.M. Doporto

The Arrival (The Eslite Chronicles #1)

by C.M. Doporto 

Release Date: 11/15/13

Summary from Goodreads:

Can Miranda save the human race?

An elegant, sophisticated alien species on the verge of extinction has invaded Earth and confined an entire generation of young women, after negotiating a treaty with the world’s governments. Eager to help the aliens reproduce, but frightened by her imprisonment at Nidus, the Eslite medical compound, sixteen-year-old Miranda Mays endures callous scientific experiments in the Eslite’s quest for survival.

When Miranda discovers the ultimate consequences of her egg donations, she organizes a rebellion, enlisting fellow donors in her cause. But soon she realizes the mysterious headmaster, Dimas, knows of her plot. And there’s something about him that bothers Miranda, though she can’t describe it. The fate of humanity hangs in the balance, so she can’t back down. But will Dimas expose her defiance?

Teen Sci-Fi/Dystopian ages 12 and up.

The Arrival Excerpt

“Then allow me to do the honors,” Dimas said, easing my backpack from my grip. 

What? Was he going to search me? My pulse quickened, and I managed to speak regardless of the tightness in my throat. “Sure.” I closed my mouth after I realized that I had just agreed to allow him to touch me. What the hell was wrong with me? He’d find the tracker. There was no way I could hide it. 

“Yes, sir,” Karpos said, returning to the command station. 

My legs tensed as I extended my arms, assuming the search position. 

“Relax,” Dimas spoke softly into my ear. “I am not going to hurt you.” 

Every muscle weakened, turning me into bowl of Jell-O. It would take all of my inner strength to keep me upright for his interrogation. “You promise?” 

He didn’t speak but chuckled deep in his throat. His laughter made me cringe, but it was his touch that had me flinching when he rested his palms on my back. In a slow, gentle movement, he glided his hands along my curves, kneading my muscles with a surprisingly tender touch. I hated that it felt so good, because I wasn’t supposed to enjoy it. 

He moved his hands in front of me, drawing me closer to his body. For a moment, I wanted to flee, but something kept me frozen in place. In a fast movement, he swept his fingers above my breasts, over my shoulders, and then down my arms. He rested his palms on my stomach, and the sheer warmth of his skin seeped through my thin scrubs, searing my frigid flesh to a sizzling one hundred and ten degrees. 

His fingers spread across my abdomen and along my sides, stopping at my waist. My heart beat wildly, and I had trouble determining if it was from the fear of being caught with the tracker or from the body search. He lingered inches from my pocket, where I secretly hid the device. 

“Turn around,” he ordered, as he pivoted my body between his stout arms. 

“Yes, sir.” I rotated like a ballerina in a jewelry box, twirling at her master’s command. Our eyes met once again, igniting a spark that I knew spelled trouble. Anticipation mixed with fear, reducing my mind to a poisonous cocktail. And then I recognized it. That same mind-numbing sensation I experienced when I visited in his quarters. I wanted to stop it, but it was too late. I had already tasted our strange but exciting connection, and now I wanted more. 

Because he made me feel alive. 

The proximity of his body to mine was overwhelming, and my heart raced as I longed for him to finish. With his gaze fixed on mine, his hands glided over my scrubs, tracing the outline of my curves. I nearly collapsed when his fingers worked their way up my inner calves to my thighs, and I recoiled when he paused briefly on the tracker in my pocket. I braced myself, preparing for the worst, but relaxed when a smile played at the edge of his lips. Instead of demanding that I remove the device, he simply did nothing. 

“You can lower your arms,” Dimas said, handing me my backpack. 

“Oh, okay.” I stammered, still shocked that he ignored the tracker. He had me totally confused. Did he want me to have it? Maybe he didn’t feel it. No, he did. I know he did. Or did he want me out of there so bad that he was willing to overlook what I had taken? Thoughts ran rampant, making me a hot mess, once again.

About the author C.M. Doporto

CM Doporto lives in the great state of Texas with her husband and son enjoying life with their extensive family along with their Chihuahua, Mexican Redhead Parrot, and several fish.

She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from The University of Texas at Arlington. She briefly worked in the area of Public Relations and Advertising and then pursued a career in the field of Human Resources. CM considers herself a life-long learner and returned to school and earned her Master of Art’s Degree in Organizational Development from Dallas Baptist University.

She writes Young Adult and New Adult Sci-Fi/Urban Fantasy stories about ordinary women who do extraordinary things, become a heroine, and find love along the way.

Author Links:

   

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BOTM - First Kiss & Broken Promises {Wattpad}

First Kiss & Broken Promises

Author: Neerunni

Genre: YA Romance

Wattpad Book Blurb:

First Kiss can be earth-shattering and so can ‘broken promises’, especially when both are sealed and delivered by the one who has held your heart in the palms of his hands since the day you turned a teen. 

Seventeen year old Divya Narayan is a high-spirited young girl with an adventurous streak in her, who doesn’t think twice before taking a risk. She learns very early in life that broken promises by ones you love equals a broken heart. So she makes two promises – Never to fall in love and never to break a promise. 

One fateful night four years ago, Aryan Diaz not only broke Divya's heart but also her trust and their unique bond of friendship. When the charming heart-breaker returns next door to Divya, he holds more than a key to her locked heart; he has answers that can set her free to break the promises she made.

Author Links:

Wattpad ¦ Facebook ¦ Twitter ¦ Ask.fm

Interview

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

I love mysteries so going into the future would spoil the greatest suspense of my life. So back to the past it is, just to knock a few people on their heads including my own for some wrong choices that could have been avoided.

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

I would love to invite PG Wodehouse, Alfred Hitchcock, Marilyn Monroe, Hitler, and Gandhiji to dinner, put on some rock & roll, serve them some spicy Indian food, sit back and observe. Who knows, we might have some great tales coming out of this dinner. Probably even re-create part of the History (in a good way).

3. If you could have any superpower what would you choose?

I have an inherent problem moving anywhere. I like my chair in front of my comp way too much so teleportation would be a handy superpower to have :D

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

I’ll do five better – I redirected this question to readers (wattpaders) of FKBP who had this to say about the book:

@ashutoshmoru – First Kiss and Broken Promises is a book that perfectly encapsulates the whole journey that is a romance novel, it is perfectly written, with each character playing an important role in the story, the romance is very real and passionate and will make your heart sing. It is a book that will take you on a journey of passion and the urge to find true love.

@Juvi_Black - Not being a typical High School Teen-Fiction drama, this book can win any reader's heart by its unique characters and obstacles :)

@RoseSunshine - FKBP is a sparkling novel that makes me laugh, cry, pull my hair as I feel myself in it, feel the emotions the characters do.

@Shruthii - You can relate to Divi's character most of the time bcoz she really is like normal teenager. I loved the book and recommend it because it's worth your time!

@voyageavecmoi - First Kiss and Broken Promises is a great story that delves into the depths of the mind of a girl who is confronted with the man she vowed never to love. The stakes are high, the emotions are strong, and you'll be rooting for Divi's happiness by the end.

5. Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects?

I am currently focusing on completing First Kiss & Broken Promises before my month long Summer vacation in May. FKBP on wattpad is only the first draft, my first attempt at fiction. Rest of the year, my main focus would be to polish it up to make it publish-worthy.

Besides FKBP, which consumes my writing time, a couple of ideas are in the concept stage; all I have is the blurb and prologue. The first chapter of the sequel to FKBP is ready, which will be much lighter and sexier (hopefully). I want to write something fun after the intensity in FKBP. You know, just cool off a bit before I jump into the deep end again with something more serious.

6. Is there a song you could list as the theme song for your book or any of your characters?

There are two to three songs that encapsulate different moods of FKBP including Clarity by Zedd and First Kiss by Faith Hill, but one which is close to my heart is ‘Set fire to the rain’ by Adele. I can’t stop listening to it :-)

7. Who are your favorite authors of all time?

The list is long so I am going to try and keep it short here – Jane Austen, John Grisham, Jeffery Archer, Robert Ludlum, P G Wodehouse, and Robin Cook.

8. What’s the best advice anyone has ever given you?

There are tons of best ones I have received. Some I follow, some I try to, but fail miserably. Right now, I am focusing on – You have one life to live, live it your way.

9. Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

It has been six months since I started writing fiction, so I would consider myself a beginner who still finds almost everything about writing, bit of a challenge. If I have to be specific it would be – laying out the plot. The ‘show not tell’ part of writing especially in the overall story arc is something I need to consciously work on.

10. What is your favorite Quote?

“Do unto others as you would want them to do unto you” – I was in my teens when I came upon this quote as my sister and I were searching for something to make a birthday gift for my mom, and it has stuck with me since.

First Kiss & Broken Promises Scavenger Hunt

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BOTW - List #43 {Wattpad}

BOTW WEEK 43:

Guest Post & Giveaway - The Copper Witch by Jessica Dall

About the author Jessica Dall

Jessica Dall finished her first novel at age 15 and been writing ever since. She is the author of such novels as Grey Areas and The Bleeding Crowd, the Broken Line Series, and a number of short stories which have appeared in both literary magazines and anthologies. When not writing, she works as a freelance editor and creative writing teacher in Washington, DC.

Author Links:

Website ¦ Facebook ¦ Twitter ¦ Goodreads

Guest Post: Themes of The Copper Witch

While I’ve always been a character-strong writer (a lot of the time I spend prep-time just character building and then throw them into a fishbowl and see what happens) The Copper Witch was a bit of a change for me—namely, it’s the first time I have ever based a story around an anti-heroine. 

The Copper Witch’s main protagonist, Adela, was never especially made to be a likable character—I certainly didn’t write the story because I thought she was someone I would want to be friends with—but I found myself entirely interested in her life. She knew what she wanted and woe on those who got in her way. 

As a woman willing to always go for what she wants, however, I have been asked once or twice if the book is meant to be feminist literature. I can honestly say that was never my intent writing it—perhaps namely because I never saw Adela as someone any reader should naturally want to emulate. In all honesty, it is more a story about the dangers of unbridled ambition and how that manifests itself when power is entirely based on family and inheritance. Adela doesn’t have a way to change her lot in life other than trying to manipulate others—and so that is what she has become very adept at doing. 

Is Adela a “strong female character”? I suppose you could make that argument, but so is her daughter (the protagonist of Book 2: The Porcelain Child, which is currently heading into edits) and they are certainly nothing alike. They are both important players dealing with the world they have been thrown into, but it is rather than attempting to make them “strong women” they are really just characters who are reacting to be given both a privileged and disadvantaged station in life—and that’s what makes them interesting. 

And so, rather than focusing on the fact that the characters are women, I think the true themes of The Copper Witch are ones based around family and politics, and how people fit into it all when the two are undeniably linked. 

The inherent instability of such a system starts coming much more into play with Book 2.

The Copper Witch

Author: Jessica Dall
Genre: Historical Fiction, Alternate History, Romance
Series: Broken Line
Publisher: 5 Prince Publishing
Pages: 374
Language: English
Format: Print and eBook
Release Date: March 13th, 2014

Book Description:
Adela Tilden has always been more ambitious than her station in life might allow. A minor nobleman’s daughter on a failing barony, Adela’s prospects seem dire outside of marrying well-off. When Adela catches the eye of the crown prince, Edward, however, well-off doesn’t seem to be a problem. Thrown into a world of politics and intrigue, Adela might have found all the excitement she ever wanted—if she can manage to leave her past behind.

Buy Links:

Amazon ¦ B&N ¦ Smashwords ¦ All Romances

***Giveaway***

$20 Amazon Gift Card up for grabs!

Ends March 27th (23:59 p.m. GMT).

International contest. Open to anyone who can receive amazon.com gift cards.

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Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Realm Of Deceit by Briana Gaitan and Brooke Kennedy

Realm Of Deceit

by Briana Gaitan and Brooke Kennedy

Release Date: 2014

Summary from Goodreads:

She thought that her Elders would welcome her back home with open arms…

He thought that she would stay by his side forever…

Now a friend is missing….

They thought the seer’s words were just that…words

But not all is as it seems….

Months later, Ash and Annalise have both returned to their separate lives after their adventure in the forbidden layer of Cabalin, Both of them are struggling to move on with their lives. Fighting has kept Ash busy for the most part, but it allows him to release his frustrations and earn some gems to survive. He thought renouncing the keepers would free him, but he ended up losing his way. Annalise is plagued by nightmares and emotions that are even more out of control than before. She is desperate for an answer, desperate for a way out, until the Elders offer her exactly what she needs: a way to break the bond with Ash in return for her compliance with their own mission.

Book One in this series:
(cover linked to Goodreads)

About the authors Briana Gaitan and Brooke Kennedy

Brooke Kennedy and Briana Gaitan are southern natives, self-proclaimed geeks, and have been writing together for over 10 years! They have written short stories, fan-fictions, novels, and plays both together and separately. They are avid fans and writers of supernatural, sci-fi, fantasy, and romance novels.  One of their goals is to write stories where there are no limits to the imagination, giving you something new and fresh each time.

Briana enjoys books, shopping, fashion, adventures and has spent countless hours dreaming of a life in space. She finds time to write in between hanging out with her three children and her husband, as well as finishing up a degree in marketing.

Brooke enjoys music, books, family & friends, and spending time with her husband and incredibly entertaining guinea pig.  She has obtained a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s in mental health counseling from Tennessee Technological University.

Author Links:

   

***Giveaway***

2 ecopies of Ethereal Underground (Book One) up for grabs.

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Cover Reveal & Giveaway - Garden of Ashes by Kate Cowan

Garden of Ashes (The Legend of Eden #2)

by Kate Cowan

Release Date: April 2014

Book Description:

After four years as a prisoner in her parents' attic, hidden away from the Catchers, Eden never dreamt the very people she was hiding from would be the beginning of such impossible things. She's found freedom on the island like she never imagined. 

Eden is a sorcerer, with the power of the world in her fingertips. She is determined to never be helpless like she once was, and spends every minute of her spare time training to fight back. As she discovers more of her own power, she and her friends continue to uncover the secrets of the Council. Deadly secrets, hinting at something far larger than the island and the Catchers. Before they can find out exactly what the Council is hiding, Eden's magic begins to spiral out of control, and she loses it for just a second. Just half of a second, and it's enough to change everything. 

Suddenly, lives are put at stake, and Eden and her friends must do something no one else has ever dared. They have to escape the island, or they have to die trying.

About the author Kate Cowan

Kate Cowan is a lifelong Canadian, with more unfinished stories on her iPad than she can count. In between sketching and drinking too much coffee, she writes young adult fiction and fantasy - sometimes in the same book.

Garden of Eden, her debut novel, was written four years ago at age sixteen, and since, she had completed three and a half other novels, which are currently waiting to be edited and published.

Author Links:

Website ¦ Twitter ¦ Facebook ¦ Pinterest

Cover Reveal Organised By:

***Giveaway***

2 ecopies of Garden of Ashes up for grabs.

International contest.

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Book Blast & Giveaway - The Brotherhood of Dwarves by D.A. Adams

The Brotherhood of Dwarves

The dwarven saga begins… Roskin, heir to the throne of a remote, peaceful kingdom of dwarves, craves excitement and adventure. Outside his own kingdom, in search of fortune and glory, he finds a much different world, one divided by racial strife and overrun by war. The orcs to the south want to conquer all dwarves and sell them as slaves. The humans to the east want to control the world's resources.

Caught in the middle, Roskin finds himself chased by slave traders and soldiers alike as he discovers that friendship is the best fortune of all. Just when he thinks he has triumphed, an act of betrayal sends him into bondage. His only hope of escape is the faltering courage of a disgraced warrior whose best days are behind him...

Buy Links:

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo

Praise for The Brotherhood of the Dwarves

“D.A. Adams puts together a story that I found myself reading from start to finish in less than a day”- Watch Play Read 

“This story of self discovery is a fine read and I very much appreciate that the character focus is on dwarves. No cookie cutter, young, perfect characters. Real, genuine and unique.” – Jess Resides Here 

“If you love intricate world-building, I'm sure you'll enjoy this book. If you like action and adventure, swords and arrows and more, you'll love it too. And if you're eager to see those working-class dwarves take a stand, this has to be the series for you.” – Sheila Deeth Blog

Buy Links:

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo

Excerpt from The Brotherhood of Dwarves

On his twenty second birthday, Roskin was summoned to his father’s private study, a room high in the palace where the king would spend his evening hours with a book or a pen. Roskin had rarely been inside the study, but he had always been fond of the dark mahogany desk that faced the Hall of Gronwheil and the gray marble bookshelves that were lined with volumes of history, lore, and poetry. Roskin’sfavorite was the oil canvas of his mother that hung with the other family portraits.

He had a similar painting in his bedroom but preferred this one because the artist had more fiercely captured the wildness of her eyes. As he entered the study, Roskin stopped beside the painting and stared.

“She was magnificent,” his father said, standing from behind the desk and moving toward his son. “But she wasn’t happy here.”

“I know,” Roskin said, looking away from the painting. He often wondered why she had never attempted to visit him, and each year on his birthday he would hope all day that she would remember him and arrive at the palace.

“You also have trouble with our ways.”

“I’m sorry, sir. I try to do better.”

King Kraganere laughed and hugged his son. “Do not apologize for who you are. You can’t help your feelings. A person should be measured by their actions.”

“Yes sir.”

The two sat by the window, staring into the perpetual night of the underground city, darkness bbroken only by torches and the faint glow on the fields outside of town. As they watched people move towards the bentrance to the symphony hall, on their way for the evening concert, Roskin wanted to reassure his father that he loved the city and the people, subjects who would one day bind themselves to him without question.

He did love them, but the love was drowning in a fear he could not place.

“I want you to update the maps of our kingdom,” the king spoke after a long silence. “They are old and missing information.”

“I will start tomorrow morning at the Hall, beforelecture.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

“Sir?”

“To be accurate, you must see what you are mapping.”

“We have good maps of Dorkhun.”

“Yes, we do, but the rest of the kingdom is poorly recorded. I think you can do better.”

“But I’m supposed to study the Fifth Kingdom from Master Hinkroh this session and finish my songs for the festival.”

“You need a change, something to help you relax. A little travel helps me.”

“I have never complained about my duty, sir,” Roskin said, suddenly afraid that this was a test.

“This is your assignment. Map the whole kingdom from the River of Fire to Erycke’s Tomb to the Kireghegon Halls of the great peak. There is no argument. The maps must be complete before you take your place on the council.” 

“I cannot join the council until I finish school, at least five more years.”

“Do not question my orders. You have your duty. I expect not to see you in the morning.”

After that, the king returned to business, and Roskin went to his room, packed for the journey, and then said goodbye to his friends, siblings, and stepmother.

About the author D.A. Adams

D.A. Adams was born in Florida but was raised in East Tennessee. He received a Master of Arts in Writing from the University of Memphis in 1999 and has taught college English for over a decade. His first novel, The Brotherhood of Dwarves, was released in 2005 and has been described as a solid, honest work about camaraderie, bravery, and sacrifice, a very personal journey, more interested in the ways that a person is changed by life's events than in epic battles and high magic. In 2008, the sequel, Red Sky at Dawn, was released to the exaltation that this novel thunders along, at times with dizzying speed. The action is visceral and imaginative without being gratuitous. Book three, The Fall of Dorkhun, came out in 2011, followed by book four, Between Dark and Light, in 2012.

In terms of writing style, Adams exhibits an effortless narrative voice and a masterful balance between richly detailed descriptions and tightly worded minimalism. The pacing of his stories is breathtaking, with relentless action and captivating plot twists that keep readers riveted page after page. But his true talent as a writer lies in character development. Readers find themselves empathizing with, fearing for, and cheering on the characters as they overcome their personal shortcomings and grow as fully rendered individuals.

Adams is also the father of two wonderful sons and, despite his professional accomplishments, maintains that they are his greatest achievement in life. He resides in East Tennessee.

Author Links:

Website * Facebook * Twitter

***Giveaway***

$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash.

Ends 3/31/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. 

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Blog Tour Book Spotlight - They Call Me Superman by Michael Goffinet

About the author Michael Goffinet

Michael Goffinet was born and raised in Southern California. After earning his Masters of Health Administration degree, he worked in the health care industry for the last two decades.  He currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada with his wife of twenty years and his teenage son. He is an avid golfer and when he’s not reading or writing he can be found on the golf course.

Author Links:

Website ¦ Twitter ¦ Goodreads

They Call Me Superman
by Michael Goffinet

Publisher: Barringer Publishing
Genre: Action/Thriller
Pages: 334
Language: English
Format: Paperback & eBook

Book Description:
Marcus Evans is a new kind of super hero.  Born with superhuman strength, he is compelled to join the Army Rangers, where his abilities create an unique assassin against the war on terror.  After his stent with the Rangers, he joins forces with reclusive billionaire, Robert Sinclair, who has been his mentor and father-figure since the age of sixteen.  A whirlwind of action-packed adventures lead Marcus to the discovery of an alien spaceship that unlock secrets about his life, which will shock him to his very core, secrets that Robert has been hiding his entire life.  

Buy Links:

Amazon

Discuss this book in PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads by clicking HERE.

Author Interview & Giveaway - Say That To My Face by Bernard Maestas

Say That To My Face

Author: Bernard Maestas

Genre: Young adult / Thriller

Publisher: Rebel ePublishers

Pages: 180 pages (eBook), 222 pages (Paperback)

Language: English

Format: Paperback, eBook

Book Description:

Alex is a throwaway teenager in New York, pitfighting for scraps. Ted is a bored suburban high schooler in Illinois making a profit on changing grades and pirating movies. Together they become international mercenaries, battling for their own profit, occasionally stumbling on doing the right thing, and taking sarcastic jabs at each other along the way.

Using their collective talents, they rob a crooked bank president, rescue the kidnapped daughter of an oil tycoon and hunt high value insurgents in Iraq for the bounties on their head. They train government troops in one African country to crush the tribal government of a neighboring country and then train the tribal militia opponents of the adjacent country. In Russia they hunt down a wanted war criminal on the run from the UN, exposing a human trafficking operation. Realizing that they are at their best together, they go into business for themselves, picking the jobs they want, when they want, and reaping all the profits.

Buy Links:

Amazon ¦ B&N ¦ Rebel ePublishers ¦ Smashwords

About the author Bernard Maestas

Bernard Maestas lives in paradise.  A police officer patrolling the mean streets of Hawaii, he has a background in contract security and military and civilian law enforcement.  When not saving the world, one speeding ticket at a time, and not distracted by video games or the internet, he is usually hard at work on his next book.

Author Links:

Facebook ¦ Goodreads

Author Interview

1. Tell us a bit about your writing background. How did you get started writing for teens?

For as long as I can remember, down to my earliest memories, I've always loved creating stories.  I can remember playing with my toys and action figures, mixing and matching them and creating whole new worlds and tales that had nothing to do with their original stories.  I think I took my first cracks at my own writing when I was in second or third grade.  I had a comic book series that ran through junior high and another that got me through high school.  Writing persisted as a hobby throughout my life, but I really honed it as a teenager.  I made a corps group of close friends who were all writers and we collaborated on stories throughout high school.

Despite this, I had never actually finished anything, even a short story, before "Say That to My Face".  At the end of 2012, something happened and I took the bones of a story that I'd occasionally worked on for several years and before I knew it, it was finished!  I went on to write four complete books in 2013, plus parts of several others.  I still haven't figured out what made me so prolific but I'm grateful for whatever it was!

I don't think I set out writing for teens.  I don't think I really set out writing for an audience at all.  I just wanted to write, to get my stories down on the page.  I had no plan for what I would do with them afterwards.  However, once I found my "voice" (and, oh, isn't that so cliche to say?) I found that it was best directed at teen readers.

2. Who/What were your earliest influences?

I definitely read above my station as a kid.  I read "The Hobbit" and "Ender's Game" in second or third grade (instead, I'm sure, of the assigned Judy Blume or Roald Dahl books).  "Ender's Game" was a big deal for me, so I think I'd chalk alot of it up to Orson Scott Card.  I'd always been a fan of science fiction and fantasy and that was a great book.

Comic books and anime came into play when I was in junior high.  I lost myself in them and every story made me think "I want to do this!"  Some of my favorites were X-Men 2099, The Punisher, The Guyver, Tekkaman Blade, and The Maxx.

3. Did you face any early challenges to finding success in writing?

Wow... Absolutely!  Writing seems to be one challenge after another.  Just finishing a project was the first one.  Before "Say That to My Face" I'd never finished anything before, though I think I'd gotten close a time or two.  As huge a hurdle as finishing it was, getting published was more so.  I faced so much rejection and negative criticism and, while it was expected, I don't think you can ever really prepare for the sort of disappointment that went along with being an unknown and trying to get a book out there.  Unless you're Stephanie Meyer and manage to get a six-figure deal on your first try!

4. What are your favorite books as a reader today? What qualities in them appeal to you?

I read a pretty eclectic mix of books but I think my staples are urban fantasy and all manner of young adult novels.  My favorite author, by far, is an amazingly talented lady named Rob Thurman.  Her humor really speaks to me and the imaginative stories she creates have had me hooked since her debut.

5. What do you do outside your writing life?

I try to stay as busy as possible with my writing because I'm sort of afraid I'll lose whatever it was that suddenly allowed me to become so prolific after a lifetime of nothing.  I work full time (and dream of the day when I can retire to write for a living) as a police officer.  Beyond that, the internet is a huge time suck in my life.  I play sports in my spare time.  I also watch a lot of TV (especially anime) and movies and I read as much as I can, always trying to keep the inspiration flowing.  

6. What encouragement helped you along the way?

I think all the credit here has to go to one of my best and oldest friends, David.  He has been my muse, my sounding board, my support structure and a constant source of encouragement.  He's one of the only people that has always believed in me as a writer and often was the only positive voice I had.  Even my family never thought I'd have any success writing, but David has always managed to make me feel like I could.  He lets me bug him with my every new story idea, gripe to him about the woes of rejection and he shares in the joy of my success.

7. What advice do you have for beginning writers?

Write!  Write, write, write!  Write until your eyes burn and your fingers bleed, then write some more!  The only way to become a writer is to write and the only way to become a better writer is to write more.

That said, never give up!  You can try your best to prepare yourself for the critics and the rejections, but the most important thing is to never give up on it.  

8. What's up next for your fans?

"Godwin's Law", the exciting sequel to "Say That to My Face" is in the pipeline and presently in my editor's hands.  The third installment is sure to be hot on its heels.  I'm hard at work on a number of other projects as well so expect to see some different stuff in the near future... maybe (teaser) even some sci-fi/fantasy!

9. What has been your biggest compliment?

I consider every single person who reads my book to be the biggest compliment I could ever ask for.

10. Is there anything you'd like to say to your fans and readers?

Thank you so much for your support and for reading!  Stay tuned, I promise Alex and Ted's adventures are just getting started!  Like my Facebook page for the latest updates, teasers and more!

Discounted Offer - 75% off at Smashword

Coupon Code - REW75

Expires: March 8th

***Giveaway***

10 ecopies of Say That To My Face up for grabs (winners choose the edition they want).

Ends March 25th (midnight GMT).

International.

There is an error with the rafflecopter, so I have listed the names of the winners below.

Winners:

Stephanie
Grace
Shamara
Hellen
Venera
Chiara
Edgar
Solange
Melodi
Gracie

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Cover Reveal & Giveaway - Drawing Amanda by Stephanie Feuer

Today I'm excited to bring you the cover reveal for the YA novel, Drawing Amanda by Stephanie Feuer.  This novel is scheduled to release by Hipso Media in June 2014.

Inky draws his crush for a game–and paints her into real danger.

DRAWING AMANDA is set in the under-parented, high-expectation world of a Manhattan international prep school. Fourteen-year-old budding artist Inky Kahn is still smarting from the death of his father. He thinks he’s found his big break when he bonds with the developer of a new computer game and snags a coveted drawing assignment, for which he uses his secret crush–Amanda–as a model. 

But unbeknownst to Inky, the developer has a dangerous past, and is using his computer game to lure and stalk teenage girls. And Inky has inadvertently led Amanda right into his path. Blinded by his own ambition and sulking from his father’s death, Inky hides from the truth. Will Inky, with the help of Rungs, his cybergeek pal, discover the treachery in time and save Amanda before the creep ensnares her–or anyone else?

Goodreads

About the author Stephanie Feuer

Stephanie Feuer’s articles and essays have appeared in The New York Times, The Boston Herald, on bettyconfidential.com and in numerous anthologies and literary magazines. She serves as creative nonfiction editor of Conclave, a Journal of Character.

DRAWING AMANDA is her first published book of fiction.

Stephanie earned her Master’s in Journalism and Communication from Boston University, and her B.A. in sociology from Hamilton (Kirkland) College.

She lives in New York City with her husband, teenage son, Tibetan Terrier and an out of control collection of books and CDs.

About the illustrator S.Y. Lee

S.Y. Lee received her BFA in Illustration from Syracuse University. Her work has been featured in children’s books, textbooks, magazines, and on iPad® apps. She currently lives in New York with her two goldfish, One Fish and Two Fish. You can see more of her work on her online portfolio: http://callmelee.com

***Giveaway***

An illustration of your face in the style of Drawing Amanda by the acclaimed artist S.Y. Lee.

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Cover Reveal Organised By:
 

Book Blast & Giveaway - The Boxcar Baby by J.L. Mulvihill

The Boxcar Baby by J.L. Mulvihill

Born in a boxcar on a train bound for Georgia. At least that is what Papa Steel always told AB'Gale. But now, fifteen years later, the man who adopted and raised her as his own is missing and it's up to AB'Gale to find him. Aided only by a motley gang of friends, AB'Gale train hops her way across the United States in a desperate attempt to find her papa and put her life and family back the way it was. Her only guide is a map given to her by a mysterious hobo, with hand written clues she found hidden in her papa's spyglass. Here is the Great American Adventure in an alternate steampunk dystopian world, where fifteen-year-old AB'Gale Steel learns that nothing is as it seems, but instead is shrouded in secrets and mysteries ... and that monsters come in all shapes and forms. The Boxcar Baby is the first book of the Steel Roots series.

Praise for The Boxcar Baby

“Miss AB’Gale Steel, is a pure spitfire girl, full of strong-minded grit, who draws strength out of adversity, and endures hardship by bracing herself against self-pity.” – Jorie Loves a Story

“One thing I really loved about this one was it was fast paced and moved quickly. Mulvihill did an amazing job making realistic characters.” – Bee’s Knees Reviews

“J.L. Mulvihill is quite a talented writer and I think she has such a creative mind to come up with this Steampunk Southern American Adventure.” – Book and Movie Dimension

Buy Links:

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo

The Boxcar Baby Excerpt

I have always loved the sound of the train whistle, especially when I hear it from far away; the moaning echo across the valley gives it a sorrowful sound like a Piper bird calling for its mate. Sometimes I can imagine the sound is a mournful spirit seeking its long lost love. Sad as it may sound, it calms me when I hear it at night and lulls me to sleep, or wakes me peacefully in the early morning. Every two weeks when I hear the train, I know it’s time for Papa to come home. But one morning about five weeks ago, Papa didn’t come home.

I’m pretty sure my Granny is going to ask me to go to New Joplan to look for Papa. I don’t really mind going to New Joplan, the city is way jigin’, but I’ve never gone to the city alone before, and I’m sure there’s creepers there. Of course Granny will have it all worked out for me to stay with a friend of hers, but I will still have to go it alone. I need to go, though, because I have to find out what happened to my Papa. We ain’t heard from him or the railroad since Papa left for work last; he usually works a few weeks on and a couple weeks off, but this time he’s been gone longer than ever.

If Papa doesn’t come back, I can’t say what will happen to Granny and me. Granny and I waited four weeks for Papa but when he still hadn’t come home we got worried. Granny decided maybe we should go on into Jasper and sell the eggs and milk like we usually do when Papa comes home. So we hitched up the ponies and loaded the cart up and head into town.

About the author J.L. Mulvihill

Born in Hollywood and raised in San Diego, CA, J.L. Mulvihill has made Mississippi her home for the past fifteen years. Her debut novel was the young adult title The Lost Daughter of Easa, an engaing fantasy novel bordering on science-fiction with a dash of steampunk, published through Kerlak Publishing. The Boxcar Baby, the first novel of her Steel Roots Series, was released by Seventh Star Press in the summer of 2013.

J.L. also has several short fiction pieces in publication, among them "Chilled Meat", a steampunk thriller found in the Dreams of Steam II-Of Bolts and Brass, anthology (Kerlak Publishing) and "The Leprechaun’s Story", a steampunk urban Fantasy found in the anthology, Clockwork, Spells, & Magical Bells (Kerlak Publishing).

J.L. is very active with the writing community, and is the events coordinator for the Mississippi Chapter of Imagicopter known as the Magnolia-Tower. She is also a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), Gulf Coast Writers Association (GCWA), The Mississippi Writers Guild (MWG), as well as the Arts Council of Clinton, and the Clinton Ink-Slingers Writing Group.

Author Links:

Website * Blog * Facebook * Twitter

***Giveaway***

$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 3/31/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.  

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