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Friday, October 31, 2014

His Ph.D. is in Hypocrisy: by Tayo Oredein


Title: His Ph.D. is in Hypocrisy … and other Poems about my Crappy Ex-Boyfriend
Author: Tayo Oredein
Series: Stand Alone (Collection of Poems)
Genre: Poetry, Memoir, Romance, Humor
Publisher: Gynarchy
Release Date: Mar 2014
Edition/Formats Available In: eBook & Print
Blurb/Synopsis:
Blurb
Everyone comes into your life for a reason. And even though they may stay just long enough to break your heart, their ultimate purpose can last a lifetime.
Synopsis
They say everything happens for a reason, but try telling that to a young woman with a newly broken heart.

His PhD is in Hypocrisy…And Other Poems about My Crappy Ex-Boyfriend is a memoir of sorts; a collection of poems chronicling the ups and downs, differences and the dissolution of one of my key relationships. Despite our interracial backgrounds (I'm black, he's white & Palestinian) and inter-religious upbringings (he is Muslim to my Christian), I thought we could and would end up together. But that didn't happen. The assorted poems (some short, some funny, some angry) talk about the love, frustration, and heartbreak, and the whole reflection culminated in an unexpected life lesson that surfaced on 9/11.

Excerpt

A Rite of Passage         March ‘00
How could he share himself with so many?
His number rising exponentially
in college when he cheated on his ex
Using it as a scapegoat to deal with his feelings
and as a means to hurt her,
while pleasing himself for the moment
Perhaps there was more to his promiscuity
Maybe the notches in his belt
made up for an insecurity
by filling as many holes as he could,
somehow he was filling the one in his soul
How else could you engage in the physical act of love
with someone you hate so much
that you cringe when they speak?
That you book it out of there
the very moment after you peaked?
But maybe his intent there
was to hurt and humiliate,
To take something precious from them
and after, why not sleep with her roommate?
Being with him doesn’t mean you’re special
It doesn’t mean he likes or cares for you either
It’s not a privilege, more like a rite of passage
Making me wonder, are things really different with me
or is it just my turn to be his piece of ass

Where to find: His Ph.D is in Hypocrisy



Tayo Oredein is a model, actress and writer. Tayo (pronounced Ty~yo, and which means "Joy" in Yoruba) is from Jamaica Queens, NY though and is of African-American and Nigerian descent (her father is Nigerian). She went to Wellesley College in Wellesley, MA and returned to New York after graduation. She later received a graduate degree from Hunter College, and will soon receive another from Rutgers University
After years of flirting with it, she officially started modeling in 2011 when she was handpicked to be a model for Monica Holder’s “Beauty of the Month” project. Since then she has been featured in online promotional materials, shorts and music videos, greeting card lines, coffee-table books, fashion shows, and other projects.
As for her writing, she has long since had a collection of unpublished work, but recently published her first book, "His PhD is in Hypocrisy and Other Poems about My Crappy Ex-Boyfriend", a collection of poems about love, and love lost. It is available on Amazon.com (where it's also available for Kindle), BN.com, and other online retailers.

Where to find: Tayo Oredein


Sunday, October 26, 2014

Paper Souls: excerpt and Interview with Allie Burke



Title: Paper Souls
Author: Allie Burke
Series: Stand Alone
Genre: Dark Literary Fiction
Publisher: Booktrope
Release Date: Sept 9 2014
Edition/Formats Available In: eBook & Print
Blurb/Synopsis:
From the author of the bestselling genre-defining Enchanters series, comes a new literary tour de force about Emily, a young woman balancing two worlds between her fingertips: the one that is real to her and the one that is real to everyone else…
The question is: which one will she choose?
Never romanticizing what it means to be a twenty-something schizophrenic in a world broken by normalcy and half-baked fairytales, Allie Burke’s latest novel unites Emily and her world at large spanning from the streets of Russia, to the sheets of her bed, to the idiosyncratic comfort she gets from worlds that don’t exist at all.

Woven with angst and darkness, bursting with heartache, Paper Souls tells of the irreparably damaged and broken, and how they survive.

Excerpt
In that moment that she gazed down at him, taking in his soft features, Emily truly believed she would never see Brendan again. That their years of a practically silent friendship would be for naught, because he loved her, but the universe wouldn’t let her have him. Because the universe didn’t grant beautiful things like Brendan Tanner. Not to girls like Emily. Over time, she forgot that she ever had this thought. And once, in the many years that followed, when she remembered, she wished more than anything that she had kept it in mind. That Emily Colt wasn’t good enough for Brendan Tanner and never would be.
You’re never going to forgive me for this, she said. I’m sorry.
She kissed him. His lips were warm. His mouth on fire.
Emily was on fire.
His hand was on her neck, choking her. She had never been choked in a sexual situation, or in any situation, before. She invited the pain. Any feeling was better than the absence of it, and every day she craved the kind of physical connection laced with the chemistry that currently passed between them. This physical feeling was the best that Emily had ever had.
He rose from the ground and, with his other hand, he squeezed her hip. Emily screamed. He was on top of her; the center console dug into her spine. She unconsciously arched her back, rising to his stiffness. He groaned, tightening his grip and biting her bottom lip hard.
He pulled away and took her by the hands and pulled her out of the car. He wrapped her in his arms. Over his shoulder, the moon was full.
Beautiful night, Emily whispered.
You’re beautiful, he replied.
That was the last and only time Brendan ever told Emily she was beautiful.

Places to find: Paper Souls


When did you first realize you wanted be a writer?
I didn’t, really. I actually wrote my first book, Violet Midnight, based on my disappointment with genres and individuality within them; I hopped from paranormal to YA to general fiction, never finding an Allie-book. So I wrote one I could read. It turned into a series, so I had to finish it, which was two more books, and Paper Souls was written in an effort to express my trapped thoughts regarding a very tough time in my life that I thought was a tragedy, but actually turned out being a very valuable learning lesson about life. So I didn’t start writing because I wanted to be a writer, but, having produced these self-fulfilling projects, people have told me I’m kind of good at the writing thing, so it’s a thing I do now, not necessarily a thing I am.
What is your work schedule like when you’re writing?
I work a 9 to 5, so I’m without a writing schedule, but thankfully that works for me. I’ve continued writing to have a creative outlet that will balance out my conservative, corporate job (which I also love), so I basically write whenever I have time/want to/have something to say/am pissed off and take the opportunity to pass ranting off as writing.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I don’t know if I have one? I’ve been so shocked reading some others’ quirks when they are getting prepared for writing, like they have to have music or coffee or only one shoe on or something, but I don’t have to have anything to write. Like, it’s not a ritual to me, not to say I don’t respect all styles and processes of writing, because I do. Differences in opinions, I guess. But if I had to pick one: sometimes I speak out loud to myself in my characters’ voices to confirm that my dialogue sounds natural.
Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
I honestly don’t know. I can tell you where I get them: my car. But I don’t know where these ideas come from; it has been my experience that they manifest in my own head when music is playing, for some reason. All I know is that I’ve had this vivid imagination my entire life. I have always made up these scenarios and people in my head; I just didn’t know what to do with them until I was in my early-twenties and started reading on a regular (my parents never gave me books or introduced me to them). I learned not to share those ideas with people after I shared one of them with my ex-husband once and he looked at me like I was crazy (no, that’s not why we got divorced—that’d be an awesome story, though, maybe I should use that), but yeah, to answer your question, I have no idea—I have no idea where they come from.
What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
I like to research things. Not for books I’m writing, but I’m really into holistic and natural healing, organic foods, energy work, meditation—stuff like that. My friends call me Dr. Google. I’m a homebody, or anti-social, I guess, as well as I pretend to be social when I’m forced into it, so I enjoy reading, drawing, making jewelry, binge-watching paranormal/science-fiction shows, you know, stuff I can do with my cat.
What does your family think of your writing?
They think it’s cool, I guess? My family, as a whole, are not very supportive when it comes to my writing, but there are a few that are really there for me. My dad finally bought them because he went to a signing three years after they were published, my mother has no idea what my books are called, and the rest of the family’s general response is “yeah, hey, she writes books” kind of thing. Anyway, my grandfather did read the books the second they came out, hence the dedication to “My grandfather Bud” in Violet Midnight. My oldest brother reads all the books, and my younger brother shares what he gets wind of on his social media accounts, so, no more or no less than any other writer/author.
What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
That creating lifts a weight that I carry around. I’m not the best verbal communicator in that I struggle to communicate what I mean to say; 9 times out of 10 what I’m trying to say comes out the wrong way and 10 times out of 10 people I know are pissed off at me. It’s different when I write, though. I guess I have more pages in a book to show what I mean than I do in life.
What do you thinks makes a good story?
Individuality.
About: Allie Burke
An American novelist, book critic, and magazine editor from Burbank, California, Allie Burke writes books she can’t find in the bookstore. Having been recognized as writing a “kickass book that defies the genre it’s in”, Allie writes with a prose that has been labeled poetic and ethereal.

Her life is a beautiful disaster, flowered with the harrowing existence of inherited eccentricity, a murderous family history, a faithful literature addiction, and the intricate darkness of true love. These are the enchanting experiences that inspire Allie’s fairytales.

From some coffee shop in Los Angeles, she is working on her next novel.

Where to find: Allie Burke


Saturday, October 25, 2014

Love's Pale Road by Martin Gibbs & Interview


Title: Love’s Pale Road
Author: Martin Gibbs
Series: Stand Alone
Genre: Fantasy/Romance (A Dark Love Story)
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: July 27 2014
Edition/Formats Available In: eBook & Print
Tag Line: Love is a pale road, for Death waits at the end.
Blurb/Synopsis:

Is love blind, or a beast of convenience?
Bailey, a simple farmer, has been tasked by a dead man to murder a dangerous warlock. While he follows the guidance of this otherworldly companion, Bailey finds himself alone in a scary new world.
Only a few days into the journey, he falls in love with a stranger, which upsets the best-laid plans of the deceased. And Abigail appears to have dark plans of her own: How soon will she turn the tables upon the seemingly-innocent farm boy?
The dead man should have known that trusting the living would be a losing proposition.

Love is a pale road, for Death waits at the end.

Excerpt
“Safe? Safe? In this tunnel of Hell? Yeah, Bailey, I really don’t think so.” But she didn’t look back again. She looked at me, then ahead.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean that I’m going back. To Hell with whatever else is back there; I’ll take my chances.” She didn’t move.
No, she couldn’t leave. “Abby, I will keep you safe.”
Let her go Bailey. Let her go back. This is too dangerous for her.
“I can’t let her go! I like her, Lyn. She’s the only girl who has ever been nice to me.”
It’s a dangerous—
“Stop it!” she hissed. “Both of you. Whatever he’s saying, I can see on your face, Bailey. I—I’m very sorry. I had thought maybe this would be some sort of adventure, and I could forget…” she wiped something from her eye. “That we would go together, keep each other safe, and warm, and you’d get to help Lyn save his son.”
“We can still do that.”
“I’m afraid that won’t work out, Bailey. Demonic bats? Warlocks? The Great Temple itself under attack? My Gods Bailey, do you even realize how mixed-up all of this is? Leave the heavy work to those who can do it! Not a young farmer!”
She said a lot more, but I don’t remember all of it. But I think she was talking about duty. And who should do the duty. Fa said that you must always put others first and take care of them. I told her that. That was why Fa was going to the Great Temple.
“Yeah, but your fa left you in charge, didn’t he? He may be brave, the bravest man in the whole world, Bailey, but—”
“He is,” I said. She was starting to make me angry.
“Fine, maybe he is. Great. Then let him do this! I’m going back, so you can come back too.”
“No. Never.”
“What?”
She didn’t understand. Nobody did. Fa said that it was always their own fault if they did not understand. How could I make her understand? Lyn wanted her to go back, too; he didn’t like her—why?—and I had to tell her to keep going.
“Gods, Bailey.” She tugged at her hair. “Gods! I just—” Abby breathed loudly out her nose. Like Ugly Nose. “Don’t you get it? I don’t want to die, Bailey. I don’t. Want. To. Die!”
“You will not die with me.”
For the love of—
“You cannot die with me. I won’t let it happen.”
She smiled then, and I thought for sure she would stay. Her warm hand touched my face and I smiled back. “So sweet,” she said, still smiling, but her voice did not sound sweet. “So sweet, delusional, and crazy. Gods love ya Bailey… see you later.”

Places to find: Love's Pale Road


How did you start your writing career?

On the first day of class, my freshman high school English teacher gave our class a challenge: The first person to get published in a magazine or journal would receive an A for the quarter. I started writing poetry like a madman; it was rather quickly that I heard back from Chimera Children’s Magazine. They had agreed to publish my piece, “Don’t Patronize Me.” Mr. Poss was impressed, for he wanted to impress upon us the reality that a writer’s desk contains more rejection letters than their own material. He wasn’t wrong—it would be twenty years before a “real” publisher took any of my work!

Yet I keep writing. And reading.

Tell us about a favorite character from your book.

Bailey in Love’s Pale Road visits me from time to time. I see his innocent face, and the guitar slung across his back; he sees me but he’s talking to someone else. He’s talking to my father, who passed away several years ago: He’s talking to him, but I only get to see Bailey’s side of the conversation. Then the guitar becomes a sword—

Ah, but that would give away too much… I wonder sometimes what dreams Stephen King has. I read The Shining years ago, but still can see the Overlook hotel; I can feel the horror within; the absolute isolation.

Does travel play in the writing of your books?

Right now I don’t need to travel.

Tell us about your current release.

Love’s Pale Road is a dark love story set in a fantasy world. It has a sort-of happy ending, but things look a little bleak right up until the end.
Bailey, the main character, is slow but not stupid. He's never experienced love or the pleasures of flesh, and so when Abby talks to him, he dives right in. The problem is that Bailey is too trusting when it comes to other people; why would a young woman be hiding in a dark tunnel that is off-limits to most of society?
We are never sure of the woman's past. The story is told from the POV of the simple-minded farmer; he falls for her so swiftly--and she for him--that we're not sure about her motives until the end. She's always suspect and he's supposedly innocent.
Is love ever functional? It's often a beast of convenience, as this "love" is. They are forced together as Bailey follows along on the quest he's been given. Yes, they do love each other (well, there are doubts about whether she's just with him in order to run away from murdering her father).
It's fairly dark and perhaps a little melancholy. Bailey is lovable and sincere at the start, and there's something about Abigail that isn't quite right, or so it seems. Throughout there is a sense of: When will she drop him? When will she stab him in the back, literally?


My next book is historical fiction: A story about the three wise men and their journey to Bethlehem. It is being released this winter by Ellechor Publishing; right now I’m working through the edits.

Has someone been instrumental in inspiring you as a writer?

I look at many successful, talented authors for inspiration. I also look at the past: writers like Proust, who basically killed themselves to finish their life’s work. Proust may be an extreme example, but he stuck to his guns and wrote his novel the way he wanted it. His fame came after death, true, but isn’t it far more important to stay true to yourself, versus selling out?

Who is your favorite author?

Modern: Stephen King/Zane Grey; Classic: Alexandre Dumas/Marcel Proust

What is the hardest part of writing your books?

I have too many ideas and not enough time! If I could do this as my “real” job I think I would get a lot more accomplished; as it is, I find that there are a lot of irons in the fire. When a book comes due for edits/revisions, I sort of go into panic mode because I don’t have time to write new stuff. That’s where the thrill is, in the new and shiny!
And I write stories under a pseudonym—these are bizarre fiction... by far the most enjoyable to write, but ones with the tiniest of markets.

Where do you research for your books?

I still use the old library, especially for my historical fiction. The Internet is great, but there’s something to be said about surrounding oneself with stacks of old books.

Do you have critique partners or beta readers?

Well, a lot of this story actually comes from my first fantasy book, The Spaces Between: a Novel, but the names are changed and the outcome is totally different. That one starts a trilogy, while this one ends cleanly. That book had gone through a ton of revisions and changes based on reader feedback.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned while writing your books?

I didn’t realize I had so many ideas. Sometimes there are too many, even within a single novel, that I have to save stuff for other stories. I can see how easily Robert Jordan, George RR Martin, etc. got so carried away on their books: it’s very easy to go way off.

How do you describe your writing style?

I try to find a balance between flowing prose and verbosity. While I love long books, I’m fairly new with a lower readership, so right now I have to make things go fast and yet still tell the story. I’ve become better at letting the scene, or dialogue, or character reactions, tell more than a ton of words. I love Zane Grey’s landscape descriptions, but when I tried it in my first fantasy novel, the editor told me to cut it out: Save that for later.
Since I do read a lot, I emulate some things I find in other authors.


Martin Gibbs lives in the snow-covered paradise of Minnesota, where he writes novels, short stories, and poetry. By day he is an IT professional, though his passion for writing has led him down an intricate network of exciting roads.
Gibbs is an avid reader. He favors the classics: Dumas, Dickens, Tolstoy, Proust, Lovecraft; as well as Stephen King, Robert Jordan, George RR Martin.
He enjoys cross-country skiing, biking, and burning béarnaise sauce. He has two very active boys who share his wild imagination, and a wonderful wife who supports all the craziness.

Places to find: Martin Gibbs
Blog Accessible Chaos 



Saturday, October 18, 2014

New World: Rising by Jennifer Wilson & Interview


Title: New World: Rising
Author: Jennifer Wilson
Series: New World (Book 1)
Genre: YA/Dystopian
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: Aug 14 2014
Edition/Format Available In: eBook
Blurb/Synopsis:
Since witnessing her parents’ murders at the age of eleven, Phoenix’s only purpose in life has been to uphold her mother’s dying words- to be strong and survive. But surviving outside of The Walls- outside of The Sanctuary- is more like a drawn-out death sentence. A cruel and ruthless city, Tartarus is run by the Tribes whose motto is simple, “Join or die.”
Refusing to join and determined to live, Phoenix fights to survive in this savage world. Trusting no one, she lives as a rogue, fending only for herself. Then in a moment of rash judgment, she breaks all of her rules to save a child, and in that moment her life is turned upside down. When the rescue mission goes awry, Phoenix is captured by an underground group who claims no allegiance with neither the Tribes nor The Sanctuary. She finds herself in the most dangerous game of survival she has ever played.

In her captivity, only one person- the handsome and oddly sympathetic Triven- shows Phoenix something she has never before experienced: kindness. While warring with unfamiliar emotions and still skeptical of her captors' motives, Phoenix quickly realizes that these people may just hold the key to her lost memories. But who can she trust, when no one can be trusted? Not even herself.

Excerpt
The unfortunate part of caring about a person other than yourself, is that you become tethered to that someone. Suddenly every action you make has double the consequences, which not only affect yourself, but that other person as well.
I hated that feeling.
I have never had to think about anyone else before. Since the day my parents died, I have only had to think about my own survival. But now there were two of us to think about. I couldn’t even say what made me feel so protective of Mouse. Maybe it was that she reminded me of myself, a small child alone in the world. Not the me now, but the little girl who died that day in the alley with her parents. That little girl.
Maybe it was the way she exuded innocence, the way a child should. Maybe it was the way she looked at people with trusting eyes. The way she turned to me for protection, even though I was not the most trustworthy person. Still she looked to me for security, clung to my side when she was frightened. Mouse looked at me like I was a better person, and for her sake I wanted to be.
I just wasn’t sure I could be. 

Places to find: New World Rising


Do you listen to music while writing? If so what?
            I love listening to music when I write or when I’m brainstorming about writing. Certain songs really help get my creative juices flowing so I like to create book soundtracks. They can all be found in entirety on my website. For New World: Rising my playlist is as follows:
1.      Freight Train- by Sara Jackson-Holman
2.     Medicine- by Daughter
3.     Gold- by Wake Owl
4.     Lonely Soul- by UNKLE
5.     Love of the Loveless- by Eels
6.     What the Water Gave Me- Florence + The Machine
7.     Say You- by Imaginary Cities
8.     Hanging On- by Ellie Goulding
9.     Say Something- by A Great Big World & Christina Aguilera
10.  Haunt- by Bastille
11.   Dark Paradise- by Lana Del Rey
12.  Skin- by Zola Jesus

What books have most influenced your life?
            I am sure this is cliché, but Harry Potter. Not because of the fame or money, but this was the first series I fell in love with and because of how many lives J.K. Rowling touched with her books. To reach that many people and inspire them to dream and read… that is a true gift. So obviously, J.K. Rowling’s books are at the top of that list, but there are many other authors I look up to: J.R.R. Tolkien, Rick Yancey, Dan Brown, Suzanne Collins, Cassandra Clare and Diana Gabaldon, to name a few.

How do you develop your plots and your characters? Do you use any set formula?
            I generally get flashes of scenes­— a girl on a rooftop, an action-packed fight sequence or an impassioned kiss.  From there, my mind melds around these moments and a basic plot begins to develop. As the plot matures, so do my characters. I tend to have a really loose technique when it comes to writing.  I always have an idea of where my story is going, but often the journey getting there is just as unexpected for me as it is for my readers. I jot notes on everything and anything within reach when inspiration strikes, old receipts, paper bags, or on my hand. I find these moments of epiphany are where some of my best ideas originate—not forced but inspired.

What book are you reading now?
            In the After by Demitria Lunetta and loving it. I think Phoenix and Amy would get along quite well.

What do you do to unwind and relax?
            In all honesty relaxing for me is writing. I find some kind of peace in letting my mind wander and my fingers type freely. If for some reason I hit a roadblock or can’t seem to get inspired, I love walking and playing with my golden retriever, Duke, or rock climbing with my husband.

Do you have any suggestions for beginning writers? If so, what are they?
            Push forward. Writing can be tedious, and it is easy to get caught up in what you have already written. My best advice is to keep moving forward. The first book I wrote, I continually read and re-read chapters I had already written instead of moving the storyline forward. I constantly got stuck. For my second book, I just kept writing. If there was something I wanted to add or re-write I took a side note to go back once I was done. The whole process seemed to flow much better that way.
            Also, don’t give up. Getting your book out there is a long and drawn-out process. It can be discouraging at times and downright crushing at others. For every one person who is willing to say yes to your book, there are fifty that will say no. Remember— that’s okay! Some of the world’s most renowned authors were rejected by dozens of agents before getting a yes and some of them even self-published their first books. If writing is really what you want to do, don’t give up. Some of the best books came from authors who were too strong-minded to take no for an answer.
            Lastly, write because you love it. Not to make money or to be famous, write because you’re passionate. Because if you’re passionate, it won’t matter what anyone else says, you are doing something you love and that’s more important than a stranger’s opinion.

At what point in your life did you realize you wanted to be a writer?
            I have wanted to a write since my early twenties, but alas inspiration doesn’t always strike on command. It wasn’t until the age of 24 that I really found my voice.

How do you react to a bad review of your book?
            I take each one with a grain of salt. The beautiful part of being human is that we are all entitled to our own opinions. So I must respect that not everyone will like my work. If you get a bad review, see if anything can be learned from it and move on. You can’t please everyone.

Are the names of the characters in your novels important?  How and why?
            Names are very important to me. Your readers have to read them over and over again so I want to pick ones that stick. Oddly enough, in my book, my main characters’ names aren’t revealed until after you get to know their personalities, so it was even more important that they fit. I generally spend a lot of time on meanings, but sometimes it is also just about what feels right.

Tell us about the absolute BEST fan letter you have received.
            No official fan letters as of yet, but I can’t wait to receive my first one and share it with readers!         

Describe what it’s like to be an author in three words.
            Exhilarating. Humbling. Nerve-racking.

Do you have any special routines or rituals?
            Not really, my music really helps get the ideas flowing if I’m stuck. But I guess if I had to pick something strange, I write in the shower… a lot. My friend even got me a waterproof notepad for when inspiration strikes mid shampoo. 

As a child Jennifer loved getting lost in the stories of others, but struggled greatly with reading. A notoriously slow reader who stumbled with words and spelling, Jennifer shied away from books, leaning heavily on musical theater and movies to get her inspirational fix.
It was not until in her mid-teens, when a persistent friend convinced her to read the Harry Potter series, that Jennifer found her love for the written word. J.K. Rowling’s books opened doors not only to the fascinating world of a young wizard, but to a life filled with a multitude of literary friends and fantastical worlds. Once a timid reader, Jennifer now devours books and loves getting lost in a new series.
Jennifer had wanted to write her own novel since her early twenties, but unfortunately inspiration doesn’t always strike on command. Her first book, The Chosen, was completed in 2013. But as most first attempts go, it was a flop. While looking through a multitude of rejection letters, inspiration struck again, putting Grace’s story got on hold as Phoenix’s began.
New World: Rising began to fill Jennifer’s brain, flowing like a fully opened valve from her fingertips. What was once such a struggle in her early years suddenly became a passion.
When Jennifer is not writing, she is enjoying life in Colorado, rock climbing, camping, exploring new foods, playing with her golden retriever, Duke, and sharing her life with her handsome and wonderful husband.

Places to find: Jennifer Wilson

Other Books: by Jennifer Wilson
New World Series
New World: Ashes Coming Soon
The Chosen Series
The Chosen  Coming Soon
The Lost Coming Soon


Saturday, October 11, 2014

Mirrored Time: by J.D. Faulkner and Guest Post


Title: Mirrored Time
Author: J.D. Faulkner
Series: A Time Archivist Novel (Book 1)
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: May 7 2014
Edition/Formats Available In: eBook & Print
Blurb/Synopsis:

First it was water.

Then blood.

And finally smoke.

Gwen Conway never knew there were so many ways to die. Honestly, it was something she would have been happy not knowing.

Maybe, they really are just dreams. Nightmares. But they won't stop. And dreaming of her death is getting old. Then there's the sleepwalking. She'd like to pass on that too.

Gwen's pretty sure the dreams have something to do with her new job. Which of course, is definitely not just a 'job.'

Don't get her wrong, working for the Archiver of the Time Streams has its perks. Having the power to travel to any past or future time is fantastic. Plus, there's Rafe, the ex-gladiator from the future. She'd like to keep him around too. Not that she would tell him that. It'd go straight to his head.

But she's less than pleased to find herself in the middle of a time travelers' war. Especially against a crazed half-god who has the power to obliterate the existence of any time or place. And the Guardians, her so called allies? All the help they offer are strict rules and smug superiority. Plus, they seem convinced she's already lost, that she's already died.

Gwen is starting to wonder whether she should have read her employment contract more carefully.

Borrowing themes from Greek and Roman legends such as Pandora and the war between the Titans and Olympians, lovers of mythology and fantasy alike will enjoy this mind-bending romp through different times and universes. Well-grounded in the world of today, this urban fantasy stands out from the pack with its complex theories on time travel and unique brand of quirky humor.

Places to find: Mirrored Time

Excerpt
Time crept by, and her one accomplishment was listening to the steady ticking of her clock. With a huff, she shoved away the legal files and rubbed her temples. She peeked at Alistair’s desk from underneath a curtain of hair, but he still hadn’t magically appeared. The main office was empty. Just like it had been a few seconds ago.
Going home would be better than sitting here and obsessing. She slipped on her coat, planning to leave. Her feet stayed rooted to the floor. Honestly. It couldn’t hurt to check the mirror before bringing it up to Alistair. She could figure out how Rafe had tricked her. Then she would have an answer. So I can stop obsessing.
 “Sorry, Alistair,” she whispered to his desk before stepping into the dark hallway of the Archives. Pausing outside the room, her thumb ran over the cool metal of the door handle. Whatever happened, it would be the end of the mystery—maybe the end of her hope. Her aunt’s words echoed in her mind. I would live, my girl, live.
This time there was no glowing light. With more effort than she would care to admit, she stepped into the darkened room. She needed to know the truth. And whatever happened, she would never forgive herself for running away. Lying to herself was no longer an option. As crazy as it was, she wanted the possibility to be real. What if everything she knew about life was a lie? What if magic did exist?
The room was silent as she stared at her reflection, her eyes wide but determined. She raised her hand, watching her reflection reach up to meet her. Her fingers encountered the cool, and solid, surface of the mirror.
The stab of disappointment was sharp. So, the world was as she always had imagined it. It didn’t hide any secrets involving magic mirrors. Mirror, mirror, on the wall, you’re not so special after all.
Her fingers ran over the glass. She didn’t know how Rafe had done it, but she would figure it out. At the very least, she had revenge. She smiled at the idea of paying Rafe back. Her reflection’s smile widened with her own, fingers following the opposite path. There would be hell to pay, that’s for sure. Didn’t they always say ‘hell hath no fury like a woman scorned?’ She laughed, palm pushed flat against the mirror. Magic mirror, indeed. Now she needed to find Rafe.
With her thoughts so centered on Rafe and her revenge, it took a moment for her to notice the light. When her palm sank into the mirror, she stared as liquid silver lapped up her arm. She tried to jerk back but the mirror wouldn’t let her. It continued to pull her in. Gravity lurched with a dizzying shift, and she fell into the mirror with a scream.
It echoed in the empty room.

Saturday, October 4, 2014

Book Blitz: The Duel for Consuelo by Claudia H. Long

Title: The Duel for Consuelo
Author: Claudia H Long
Series: Josefina's Sin, The Next Generation
Genre: Historical Fiction/Historical Romance
Publisher: Booktrope
Release Date: June 15 2014
Edition/Formats Available In: eBook & Print
Blurb/Synopsis:
Travel back in time to 1711 in colonial Mexico, where the terrors of the Inquisition are slowly receding before the tide of the Enlightenment. Not receding fast enough, though, for Consuelo. She's caught between two men, two religions, and two ruthless inquisitors who are hanging on to their lasts shreds of power.
THE DUEL FOR CONSUELO brings us to 1711 in colonial Mexico. Consuelo, an accomplished herbalist and daughter of a mayor, is privy to the darkest family secret possible while the Inquisition still holds fast to its waning dominance. Her ailing mother is a practicing "Secret Jew", descendent of Conversos, or Jews who converted in Spain at the point of a sword. Her father is desperate to prevent the discovery of this secret as it will mean certain torture and possible death of his family.
Juan Carlos Castillo, the white-blond son of wealthy landowners, has a few secrets of his own. His love for Consuelo has moved into forbidden territory, and he watches as his friend and rival, Leandro Almidon of Spain, woos Consuelo with his sharp wit and promises of social and financial security.
The times are turbulent. The Enlightenment is slowly penetrating the darkness of Spain and its colony, and new thinkers are questioning everything, from religion to science, to the mingling of the castes and races. With new thinking secrets are bared and the Inquisition makes a final grasp at power.  Consuelo finds herself fighting for her mother's life, her own future, and her right to love.



Claudia H. Long grew up in Mexico City and moved to the United States when she was eleven. She wrote her senior thesis at Harvard University on the feminism of Sor Juana INS De La Cruz, and revived her passion for her when she wrote Josefina's Sin. She lives and practices law in Northern California with her husband. They have two grown children. She is currently at work on her next novel, set in eighteenth century Mexico.

Places to find Claudia H Long 
Blog 

Places to find The Duel for Consuelo 





Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Black Moon by F.M Sherrill & Becca C. Smith: Review


Title: Black Moon
Author/Authors: F.M. Sherrill & Becca C Smith
Series: Black Moon Saga
Genre: Dark Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Red Frog Publishing
Edition/Formats Available In: eBook & Print
Blurb/Synopsis:

Shea Harper is forced to stay in boring, hot and dry Phoenix, Arizona for college. But once she meets the enigmatic yet positively egocentric Lucian, Shea’s life changes forever.
She finds out that she comes from a long line of descendants called Vessels. In her soul is the key to destroying an ancient prison protecting the world from darkness itself: Lucian’s father.
Up until now, Lucian has captured every descendant except Shea. With her powers awakening, all vampires want to drag her down to the pit. But Lucian is territorial. She’s the first female Vessel… and he’s convinced she belongs to him.

Saucy and tauntingly surprising, Black Moon captures the struggle between burning alive with desire and castrating the heart. This is a love story that will drain you dry.

Places to find: Black Moon


Review
Really enjoying the multiple POV perspectives with a cast of wonderful characters, and how these two wonderful authors put them into their own words as well as love the storyline. Hope to see more from these authors in the near future.


Giveaway
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About the Author's
                                                                                                                                                                    Aren't author's bios boring? I always wanted to read one that went something like this:  

F.M. Sherrill: recent citizen of earth. Plans on ruling the planet once she gets over the common cold. Or, F.M. Sherrill: time traveler. Decided to alter the space-time continuum by writing a novel, thus changing history slightly, which will eventually lead to the rise of a new human species.

But here it is. F.M. Sherrill is a novelist, A.K.A. an avid bullshitter; that's why she lives in L.A. She's been writing for as long as her ancient mind can remember, devouring tales like an anemic vampire roaming the streets in hot pink heels, always thirsty for more. When she's not writing, she's making steampunk weapons, sewing giant plant-eater Mario plushes, making costumes for some film bloke or cosplayer, and sculpting/casting movie prop replicas while gardening in her urban apartment. Her favorite tools? A soldering iron, a blowtorch, a band saw, a sonic screwdriver, a replicator and an active imagination.


Places to find: F.M Sherrill

Becca C. Smith received her Film degree from Full Sail University and has worked in the Film and Television industry for most of her adult life. In 2010 Becca published her first novel, Riser followed by the sequel, Reaper, in 2011, and the finale, Ripper in 2013. In 2012 Becca wrote the children’s novel Alexis Tappendorf and the Search for Beale’s Treasure. She is also the co-author of the teen graphic novel Ghost Whisperer: The Haunted. Most recently Becca released Atlas, the first book in a new urban fantasy series. She currently lives in Los Angeles, CA with her husband, Stephan and their two cats Jack and Duke.

Places to find: Becca C. Smith