Book Blitz & Giveaway - Love and Leftovers by Sarah Tregay

Love and Leftovers

by Sarah Tregay 

Paperback Re-Release: 05/13/14

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Summary from Goodreads:

My wish
is to fall

cranium over Converse

in dizzy, daydream-worthy 
love.

(If only it were that easy.)

When her parents split, Marcie is dragged from Idaho to a family summerhouse in New Hampshire. She leaves behind her friends, a group of freaks and geeks called the Leftovers, including her emo-rocker boyfriend, and her father. By the time Labor Day rolls around, Marcie suspects this "vacation" has become permanent. She starts at a new school where a cute boy brings her breakfast and a new romance heats up.

But understanding love, especially when you've watched your parents' affections end, is elusive. What does it feel like, really? Can you even know it until you've lost it?

Buy Links:
Amazon ¦ Barnes & Noble ¦ Kobo ¦ Book Depository

Excerpt from Love and Leftovers

When My Mother Takes an Ambien

I have eight hours to devote to whatever I choose.

Some nights, I take her laptop down to the end of the lane

to pick up a Wi-Fi signal from the neighbors,

IM Katie, and watch Linus’s music videos,

while I perch on the rock wall.

Other nights, I sit facing the glowing coals

and read steamy romance novels that Aunt Greta has left behind.

Without Mom to tell me 

to get off the computer, 

or to come inside unless I want West Nile

I can hang out with my friends (online).

Without Mom to tell me 

that weak female characters

are the result of an unimaginative author,

I can read about women who go weak in the knees

at the sight of a cowboy in Levis 

and nothing else.

But most of the time

I write poems in this blue notebook

because

I feel free 

when Mom is out cold.

About the Author

Raised without television, Sarah Tregay started writing her own middle grade novels after she had read all of the ones in the library. She later discovered YA books, but never did make it to the adult section. When she's not jotting down poems at stoplights, she can be found hanging out with her "little sister" from Big Brothers Big Sisters. Sarah lives in Eagle, Idaho with her husband, two Boston Terriers, and an appaloosa named Mr. Pots. Her next book, Fan Art, will be released in June.

Author Links:

   

***GIVEAWAY***

Win a signed paperback copy of Love and Leftovers and a guitar-pick necklace (USA and Canada).

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Book Blitz Organized by:

Blog Tour: Molly's Diary Reveal & Giveaway - Fields of Elysium by A.B. Whelan

Day 14: The Motley Sisters

Tessa: She is twenty years old, an orphan, a Motley (half Arkanian and half Terrakan), a Sentinel Apprentice, the nicest of the Motley sisters, but don’t let her cute face mislead you. When it comes to battle she’s as tough as my grandmother’s steak. Leena: she is twenty-three years old, a bitter, mean war machine, a strong Sentinel Apprentice and guardian of Sesmars.

EXCERPT

Fields of Elysium

A YA romantic fantasy 

“I don’t feel comfortable with this,” I whispered to Victor, but obviously not quietly enough because it was Ulka de Tino who responded.

“Come here, girl. Don’t be scared. I have just the right dress for you here. I wore it on my wedding day,” she said, taking me by my arm. I looked back at Victor, panic disfiguring my face.

How am I ever gonna get out of this?

Victor just shrugged, his face expressing his amusement.

I frowned at him.

Ulka de Tino pulled aside the heavy dark drapes that hung from the ceiling next to the bed, revealing a doorway. As we entered the next room, a strong, perfumed draft struck me.

 “Leena. Tessa.” She pointed at two girls, who could easily pass for Amazons, standing next to a giant tub filled with bathwater.

Leena and Tessa? Kamm’s Motley sisters?

Leena’s eyes met mine first.

She seemed to be in her twenties, her body slim yet strong, but I couldn’t be sure because her smoky eyes and bright red lips made her look ageless. Her smooth black hair was combed back, exposing a porcelain face. Her one-piece black leather outfit was sleeveless with a deep V-cut that gashed all the way down to her navel. That she wasn’t wearing a bra was more than obvious. The part of her outfit that could be called a skirt went down below her knees, but was slit on both sides of her thighs, putting her sexy legs on display. Red tattoos decorated her muscular arms and black leather bands sat tight around her wrists. A thick red belt held her dress together, ending in a circular golden buckle with a carved eagle in the middle.

Tessa had the same black, smoky eyes, but her crimson hair was cropped short and high on her nape while her long, side-swept bangs washed in front of her eyes. Her lips were black, just like her nails. She had on tight, shiny pants in the color of a cherry, and a black tube-top. A spiked silver collar circled her neck, covering her collarbone. She was unhealthily skinny looking, and couldn’t be much older than I was.

In these girls’ presence, I felt intimidated at once but I also wondered how they would be able to make me look suitable for a masquerade party. I was sure to get an old, moth-worn dress and a vampire make-up.

Written and illustrated by A.B. Whelan

Thank you for reading,

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SPECIAL OFFERS AT ONLINE BOOKSTORES (ends on May 13, 2014)

Find the series on Barnes&Noble and Smashwords

Paperback on Amazon
424 pages (book 1)
Fields of Elysium
List Price: $14.99
Price: $9.99

Kindle Edition on Amazon:
Fields of Elysium (a romantic fantasy, book 1)

List Price: $2.99

Price: $0.99

Paperback on Amazon
438 pages (book 2)

Valley of Darkness (Fields of Elysium, #2) (Volume 2)

List Price: $14.99

Price: $10.99

Kindle Edition on Amazon:

Valley of Darkness Part 1 (Fields of Elysium, #2)

Valley of Darkness Part 2 (Fields of Elysium, #2)

List Price: $1.99

Price: $0.99

Paperback on Amazon
146 pages (Novella)
List Price: $8.99
Price: $5.99

Kindle Edition on Amazon:
Safe and Sound (A Fields of Elysium Novella)
List Price: $1.99
Price: $0.99

Fields of Elysium Book Trailer

***GIVEAWAY***

Ends 5/18/14

Open only to those who can legally enter and have a US postal address. 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 fromI Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. INTERNATIONAL WINNER will receive a Fields of Elysium eBook, Valley of Darkness Part 1 and Part 2 eBooks and a Safe and Sound eBook.

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From the Author 

I'm a Hungarian born American writer, who was lucky enough to travel Europe, Africa, and The Middle East and live in Ecuador, Crete and Italy. I graduated as a computer engineer, thus if anybody tells you math and literature can't walk hand in hand, don't believe them. *smile* I'm the author of the Fields of Elysium saga, which I like to call a young adult romantic fantasy. The first book of the series was inspired by amazing movies like Dirty Dancing, Avatar, and Twilight and earned praise from prestigious review companies and readers. I'm currently working on book three and four, and planning to write one more novella to finish the series, dedicated to another very interesting character in my story, The Prophet, the mysterious leader of the Arkanians. Find me on Social sites. Friend me. Follow me. Message me. I love to connect.

       Blog            Pinterest          Goodreads         Twitter          Facebook

One Year Blogoversary & Giveaway

ONE TODAY

WOO HOO!!!

Wow. I can't believe it's been one year since I've officially been blogging. I didn't know how I was going to juggle writing and blogging on a regular basis, but, surprisingly, I still have hair on my head.

When the blog started, I had already recruited a few members from Wattpad for my book club, so I was never really ever alone on this journey, which was great. To be honest, I didn't think the blog would still be around for a year much less have this many followers. I'm flattered.

It has been a great experience so far and I look forward to continue sharing my love of books with you all. I've formed some great friendships because of the CBY Book Club, and I hope the blog continues to flourish. Thank you to all who pop by each day to read the posts and help to spread the awareness of CBY across the web. It has been an amazing year. Here's to the next one!

What, no presents?

I couldn't do that to you. Here's a little giveaway for you wonderful folks.

***Giveaway***

My giveaway is for a $20 Amazon Gift Card or a Book of Choice (up to $20) from The Book Depository.

Ends June 12th (midnight GMT).

Open internationally.

Contest is void where prohibited. Entrants must be 13 or else have parent or guardian’s permission to enter. Winners will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be selected. The winner will be posted on this page after the winner responds. Winning entries will be verified for authenticity.

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Book Blitz & Giveaway: Kissed (The Thorn Chronicles #1) by Kimberly Loth

Kissed (The Thorn Chronicles #1)

by Kimberly Loth

Release Date: 05/01/14

Summary from Goodreads:

Trapped in a dark cult, sixteen-year-old Naomi Aren has lived a quiet, albeit unhappy, life nestled deep in the hills of the Ozarks. With uncut hair, denim skirts, and only roses for friends, Naomi seldom questions why her life is different from other kids at school. Until the day her abusive father, who is also the cult’s leader, announces her wedding. Naomi must marry Dwayne Yerdin, a bully who reeks of sweat and manure and is the only one person who scares her worse than her father.

Then she meets Kai, the mysterious boy who brings her exotic new roses and stolen midnight kisses. Kisses that bring her a supernatural strength she never knew she had. As the big day approaches, Naomi unearths more secrets of about her father’s cult. She learns she has power of her own and while Kai may have awakened that power, Naomi must find a way to use it to escape Dwayne and her father—without destroying herself.

On sale right now for only $.99:

Excerpt from Kissed

Seven roses contain the name of the day of rest. My favorite is Sunday Lemonade. Its pale pink blooms give off a scent of lazy summer nights visiting with friends. Just the opposite of the many Sabbaths I spend with my father. His Sundays smell like famine and pestilence.

Birds sang to announce the new day. Perhaps I could stay in bed a little longer. My eyelids fluttered and I rolled to my side, the crisp sheets scratching my skin. The cheap alarm clock glowed red in the darkness. 8:30. I had an hour until the apocalypse began. For a minute I debated staying in bed, replaying various kisses from my mystery savior, but I still needed to shower and plant myself on the couch before Father was ready to go. My stomach growled and I sighed. No food today. Sundays were days of fasting. My ankle-length nightgown twisted around my knees and I struggled to free my legs. My breath came in rapid bursts, the claustrophobia setting in. Consciously, I slowed my breath and untwisted my nightgown. If I ever escaped, I promised myself the first thing I would do is sleep naked. 

I sat up and flicked on the cracked floral lamp that sat on my nightstand. My gaze settled on my dresser. Last night I left deep red Oklahoma Roses. Next to them sat a monster blueberry muffin and a banana. I was grateful, but flabbergasted that today of all days he knew to leave food with the flowers. Today, I wouldn’t be allowed to eat.

I scrambled to the dresser and inhaled the muffin and banana. Only when I was half way through did the thought occur to me that Father might notice the smell on my breath. I would have to take extra care brushing my teeth. Full and feeling that today might not be so awful after all, I set to the task of getting ready for church. 

After my shower, I scrubbed my teeth and braided my hair. Guilt swam across my insides. 

This week, I disobeyed my parents, flipped off Dwayne, ate breakfast on the Sabbath and I was kissing a boy every night. If I confessed before the Master I would have a fingernail ripped out, my middle finger would be burned, I would have to drink a glass of scalding water, and I didn’t know what my punishment would be for kissing the boy. No one had ever committed that sin before or at least confessed to it. 

Perhaps it was cowardly, but I didn’t want to bear the punishment. Perhaps given enough time, I’d just forget about it. As long as the Master never asked me, I wouldn’t have to confess. I tried once, to not confess, but one look into those evil red eyes and the words tumbled off my lips. I couldn’t help it.

About the Author

Kimberly Loth can’t decide where she wants to settle down. She’s lived in Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, Utah, California, Oregon, and South Carolina. She finally decided to make the leap and leave the U.S. behind for a few years. Currently, she lives in Cairo, Egypt with her husband and two kids.

She is a high school math teacher by day (please don’t hold that against her) and YA author by night. She loves romantic movies, chocolate, roses, and crazy adventures. Kissed is her first novel.

Author Links:

  

***GIVEAWAY***

Fifty gorgeous roses up for grabs.

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Book Blitz Organized by:

BOTW - WEEK 52 {Wattpad}

Perception
Author: EvilGhost
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Wattpad Book Blurb:
It wasn't her demon, but soul, searching for freedom within.

It wasn't in her hands.

It was his lust that turned into love.

It was his promise that he broke.

And it was her turn to avenge the death that the broken promise brought.

Click here to read the book.

Shut Up And Drive
Author: DiceFab
Genre: Adventure / Romance

Wattpad Book Blurb:
"I'm a criminal do I care nope I steal car part's and fix them but the best part of my job I drive them. I been arrested for steeling cars and other stuff but I could give a crap"

Flame Crúz well she's a speeder she drives for attention, but as well to make money who wouldn't want to be that, right? Flame has no idea what she's getting herself into after she meets a guy name Vance Mac.

Click here to read the book.

First Kiss & Broken Promises
Author: Neerunni
Genre: Teen 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.

Click here to read the book.

Category X
Author: CT_Hill
Genre: Sci-fi / Mystery / Thriller

Wattpad Book Blurb:
Evan and Alexander make a disastrous discovery, but instead of using the compound for the benefit of the world, they move to release the pathogen; the very pathogen to which they have the only cure.

When Special Agent Olivia Frey is given the case of her career, it does not take long for her to realize that what she is investigating is no ordinary murder, but something that will be forever etched in history.

The world takes a breath as it realizes its greatest catastrophe, as the gift of reproduction is snatched right from humanity's hands.

Category X means that the world will change.

Will you survive?

Click here to read the book.

Every Day In May
Author: Amberkbryant
Genre: Teen Fantasy

Wattpad Book Blurb:
"You are a secret kept from the world, but not from me." So begins the peculiar message found slipped under a bedroom door on the morning of May first.

Theo is the heir to a powerful dictatorship.  The number of people allowed to know he exists is few.  He has spent his entire life walled up in the Tower, the looming stone monolith from which his father rules over the Land.

Merryn is the daughter of political prisoners.  She’s known who Theo is longer than he would think possible, and she is taking a great risk contacting him via handwritten notes in order to convince him he deserves more than the fate his father has designed for him.

She has one month to exchange daily messages with him, to answer his questions and open his eyes to the realities of a world he has never been allowed to see.  A transformation is coming to the Land at the end of the month, and if Merryn’s notes fail to get their point across, Theo may never live to see the sunrise on June first.

Author’s note: During the month of May, you will have the opportunity to read the notes Merryn leaves for Theo.  Theo is allowed to write down a question for her each evening, but you, the reader, won’t see these (at least not right away).  It may or may not be obvious from Merryn’s response what Theo’s question is, so if you’re still curious, I will post a list of everything Theo has asked her in an afterword the day after their story concludes.

This project is called Every Day in May.  With that said, it probably won’t be too big of a surprise to hear that updates will occur daily from May 1st to May 31st so that you can follow “in real time” as the events in the story play out.

Now, without further ado—I believe a young heir is about to unfold a slip of paper found on the tile floor near his door… Let’s see what it says!

Click here to read the book.

Blog Tour Interview & Giveaway - Scents and Senses by Loren Secretts

Tour Schedule

Scents and Senses: Supernatural Friends. What the fairy tales didn’t tell you

Playing the role of a knight in shining armor is more complicated than it seems in the storybooks, as sixteen-year-old Joy discovers when she repeatedly comes to the rescue of a fifteen-year-old human. But when she meddles in the girl’s social life, Starra sends her packing.

Starra is determined to completely dissociate herself from the subterranean creature that has manipulated her life and cast her into the limelight. However, her resolve is soon tested when she becomes involved in a critical situation where supernatural assistance can enable her to carry out a daring plot.

Eventually, Starra’s involvement with her new other-wordly friends extracts a heavy price when she is beset by challenges that range from the down- to-earth struggles of a typical teenage student, to the realm of the fantastic. Nothing prepares her, however, for the ultimate challenge.

Author Links:

Amazon ¦ Smashwords ¦ Barnes & Noble ¦ Kobo

Author Interview

1. What inspired you to want to become a writer?

It’s a cliché, but when I was a child I truly aspired to become an author, and create more of the magic that enchanted me so. However, in high school, I was a confidant to many friends, and that’s how I became infatuated with psychology. As it turned out, I did indeed study the field in college and graduate school.  When I was finishing up my graduate work five years ago, I realized that my satisfaction with delving into the human psyche to write psychological reports could be channeled into my early passion of creating fictional stories.

2. Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.

My book has just been released this month, so I’m still a debutant in this gratifying newly published state.  But I can say that what I found most rewarding in the whole writing process was to read a manuscript I toiled over for years and finally feel it was ready for publication.

3. If you could have a signed copy of any novel what would it be and why?

My mind separates the author from the work, so I’m not particularly desperate to have any signed copy. Yet I wouldn’t mind one of either Pride and Prejudice or The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes -- if you happen to have either of these lying around. They’re both old favorites of mine, and it would be extraordinary to hold such historical literary items.

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

Ever since I was little, I have dreamt of levitating off the ground, drifting around like a ghost. In my conscious state, I’d pick drawing. To me it seems like magic when an artist captures life on canvas.

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

Scents and Senses will educate you on the thrills and dangers of befriending supernatural creatures ;)

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

The manuscript for the second book in the Scents and Senses trilogy is in the process of being edited for submission. The manuscript for the third book has gone through several drafts, but hasn’t been edited yet.

7. Do you write as you go or do you have the book planned before you start the first draft?

Scents and Senses is the first book in its series, and the story led me.  By the time I got to the first draft for the third, the plot was basically outlined, but I still left myself room to be surprised. Suspense is one of the biggest motivators that pushes me to write.

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

Winter (The Lunar Chronicles) by Marissa Meyer. I’m hoping for a "happily-ever-after" conclusion because I’ve been reading too many depressing dystopian trilogies lately.

9. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?

After the tough winter we’ve had here in Canada, anywhere sunny and green. If I can push my luck, may I ask for a house with large bay windows overlooking the ocean?

10. Can you see yourself in any of your characters?

Most definitely.  Defining attributes of Starra, the protagonist, were inspired by those of a close friend from high school, but her core personality was heavily influenced by my own.

Thank you for hosting me!


Excerpt from Scents and Senses

Last night, in Senior Elder’s weekly address, he said it had come to his attention that many of our teens were planning to pop in to the fivetoe gala event. While he admitted there was nothing wrong, per se, in hanging around, he advised staying away from the action, as we might be tempted to join in.

He reminded us that ever since a deviant group of our ancestors wreaked too much mischief two thousand years ago, we’ve been banned from communicating or associating with fivetoes.

Tag kicked me under the table. But I don’t carry a speck of guilt. If I hadn’t sidestepped some bans, my sister would be lonesome, and a fivetoe girl would have been shamed on the playing field, knocked senseless by an attacker, and fallen off a cliff.

The same fivetoe high school freshman wouldn’t have landed the lead role in our island’s biggest production of the decade if not for my intervention.

In approximately ninety minutes I know Starra will receive a standing ovation from the audience now filling every available seat. The bleachers are packed, and latecomers are taking the seats set up on the high school’s athletics' field. It looks like the majority of the islanders are here, and then there all the hundreds of mainlanders who came in to support this fundraising event tonight. Starra’s talent will be publicly acknowledged at last. I see fame in her future. All thanks to me.

Not that I expect any thanks from her.

No, the star of the show wouldn’t even want me here tonight, but tough luck. I’m not about to miss out on the vicarious pleasure of basking in her spotlight.

I’ve squeezed myself into a spot suited for a VIP. I’ll be almost right under Starra’s nose — whoops, that’s a problem; she’ll pick up my scent and know I’m here. The girl is a bloodhound. She’s the only fivetoe that can sense my presence. What the faulty

fivetoe sense of sight can’t do, her uncanny sense of smell makes up for.

Okay, the trick is to get a seat close enough to the stage to sense the emotions of those on stage, but not close enough for her to smell me. That spot a couple rows down will do it. As I settle in between two fighting brothers, I catch sight of some of my schoolmates hanging around. It’s already dark out, but still it’s early for our community to be up and around. Looks like the island’s teenagers from down below are willing to forego some snooze time just to see for themselves what the big fuss above us these past few months has been all about.

There’s still time till the curtain goes up. Meanwhile, the school band entertains the audience as they get settled. I catch some of the girls in my high school clamping their hands to their ears. Yeah, I get it. Even our kindergarteners banging on rocks produce finer music than fivetoe amateur musicians. But it doesn’t bother me as much as them since lately I’ve spent so much time hanging around fivetoe teens.

Two seniors to my far left are communicating in sign language, which is the safest way to talk around fivetoes. I’m eavesdropping on their gossip, and they’ve just reached a juicy climax, when out of nowhere a particularly tall fivetoe blocks my view. He turns around and takes his seat. My view is not obstructed anymore, but I lose interest in the gossip as soon as I catch sight of the intruder’s face. What’s Luc doing here? True, he’s a native islander, but he hardly has shown his face around here since he started college. And the last time we saw him, he was trouble. Then again, I have him to thank for getting me addicted to playing fairy godmother. His face is a trigger to my memory, and my mind replays my history with Starra.

Yeah, we’ve had our rough spots, but tonight makes up for it all. I’m positive in a few minutes she’s going to knock the socks off her fellow islanders fivetoed feet.

The curtains are going up.

This is it, people. Meet the real Starra Hart.


About the Author

Loren Secretts was raised in a book-filled home, in a sleepy east coast suburb of the US. These factors are undoubtedly responsible for her early design of a number of exciting imaginary worlds that she could escape to from time to time during her childhood. In her teen years, between schoolwork and lending an ear to her friends, Loren had less opportunity to go AWOL. Instead, her experience as a confidant to others inspired her to major in psychology in college and earn her M.A. in the field on the west coast. As an adult, Loren has found fulfillment in her work with children and families for more than a decade. Her passion for writing was revived when she discovered that she enjoyed delving into the human psyche to write psychological reports. But clients' reports are safe with Loren, who guards secrets fastidiously. Indeed, one of her aspirations is to work as a psychotherapist for the CIA, but since she now lives with her family in Canada, that dream will have to await its turn…

Author Links:

Website ¦ Twitter ¦ Facebook ¦ Pinterest

***GIVEAWAY***

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash.

Ends 6/1/14

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 Guest Post & Giveaway - LARP: The Battle for Verona by Justin Calderone

Tour Schedule

LARP: The Battle for Verona

by Justin Calderone

UNDERDOG TALE DIVES INTO THE ADVENTUROUS WORLD OF LIVE ACTION ROLE PLAYING

Author Justin Calderone introduces his newest book, LARP: The Battle for Verona

VERONA, Penn. – February 2013 – Even geeks can be heroes in Justin Calderone’s latest novel LARP: The Battle for Verona, a fantasy adventure tale of true friendship and the disastrous consequences of social pressure.

Dennis, the main character in LARP: The Battle for Verona, is a 20-something live action role player, or LARPer, who is seriously considering giving up the game for good. He’s tired of dealing with his overzealous friend, Mark; he’s tired of his older brother’s constant put-downs; and he’s tired that he doesn’t have a girlfriend – particularly Alyssa, the one woman he’s been pining over for years.

Dennis and his fellow LARPers have never been considered cool, but there’s a chance to change that when a rogue terrorist group of Mongolians in medieval garb invades their hometown of Verona, a fictional island located off the coast of Washington State. With the US military out of options to save the island, the friends decide to do what any dedicated LARPer would do – put on armor, strap on swords and fight for their home.

“The message is that anyone can be a hero at any time,” said Calderone, of the fantasy novel. “Social classification is meaningless. If you believe in yourself, you can overcome any obstacle.”

One of Calderone’s main goals in creating LARP: The Battle for Verona was to write a novel that is appropriate for any audience. “Many Christian parents don’t want their kids reading contemporary young adult, or fantasy novels, because of the controversial themes in those novels,” Calderone said, adding, “So, I wrote a book that is thrilling, engrossing and suitable for everyone.”

Additionally, LARP: The Battle for Verona is a novel with a broad age appeal, much like The Hunger Games, Twilight and Harry Potter.

New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Maberry calls Calderone’s novel “a witty, action-packed adventure that will leave you breathless.”

Fantascize.com raves about LARP: The Battle for Verona calling it a “Geek Gem…a fair balance of action, adventure, cynicism, and romance. I would recommend this book for adults and teens.”

Calderone is a high school English teacher and author of Revolutions, a collection of poems published in 2004. A graduate of La Roche College and Gannon University, Calderone is expected to earn his second master’s degree from Edinboro University in 2014.

Buy Links:

Amazon US ¦ Amazon UK ¦ Amazon IN ¦ Amazon JP

Amazon CA ¦ Amazon MX ¦ Amazon AU

GUEST POST

Life is a big high school cafeteria, and society (you and me!) has labeled everyone. But, the message of LARP: The Battle for Verona is that the peer pressure we face in our teen years isn’t important, and it doesn’t last forever.

LARP is an acronym, which stands for Live Action Role Play. These are the folks who dress up in period garb and reenact battles, and, sometimes, entire historical villages. LARPers fall under the “geek” umbrella, which also houses Star Wars/Star Trek fans, sci-fi fans, and gamers.

I wrote LARP: The Battle for Verona with the idea that we’re all geeks, and we just don’t know it. Who’s to say that the aging football jock is any cooler than a LARPer? Maybe the geek chick in your 11^th grade math class would be a better option than the head cheerleader, because the cheerleader isn’t gonna look like that forever. She might not even look like that next month!

Dennis, the main character in LARP: The Battle for Verona, is in his early ‘20s, and he faces these issues. Brad, his ultra-jock older brother, still harasses Dennis about being a LARPer, and still loves to tell his “greatest hits” of high school football stories. Dennis’ friends, Freddy and Mark, still enjoy LARPing, and haven’t changed, socially, since high school.

What if Dennis had followed in Brad’s footsteps, and joined the football team, instead of becoming a LARPer? What if he would have pursued Alyssa, his dream girl, instead of spending time with his “geek” friends?

Who hasn’t wondered “what if?” I know I have, and, maybe, LARP: The Battle for Verona is my way of answering that question for myself.

About the Author

Justin Calderone started creating books when he was old enough to hold a pencil and crayons. He pursued writing professionally after reading Jack Kerouac's Desolation Angels. His first book, the poetry novel Revolutions, was published in 2004.

You can follow Justin Calderon on Twitter via @justincalderone.

Author Links:

Website ¦ Twitter ¦ Goodreads

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Ends May 30th (midnight GMT).

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