Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Birthday Celebration for TASTE by Kate Evangelista! And prizes!!


It's certainly the week for celebrating! Today I'm taking part in a Birthday Blog Hop to celebrate the first birthday of TASTE, by Kate Evangelista. One year ago today, TASTE was released into the world. *yea*

To add a little personal reminiscing into this celebration, I remember finding Kate's blog  in early 2012, when she did her first cover reveal for TASTE. I remember going, WOW! What an awesome cover!

...And immediately going to check out Crescent Moon Press and all the great paranormal books they publish. I remember saying to myself, "Boy, I can't wait to read this book," at the same time I was thinking, "I wonder if they would like my mermaid book?"


A year later, I'm helping Kate celebrate her novel's first birthday, and eagerly anticipating the "birth" of my own Crescent Moon Press novel. It's been a wonderful year for me, and getting to know Kate and all the other wonderful CMP authors has been a great part of it all.

To celebrate her novel's birthday, Kate is giving away prizes: first prize is a $30 Amazon gift card, $20 for second, and $10 for third. All the details are on Kate's blog at www.kateevangelista.com

How do you enter? Take a picture of the most interesting place where you read TASTE, either paperback or on your ereader. Questions? Full details on how to submit your entries are on Kate's blog. She'll announce winners on May 11th - so you have a few days to get creative and enter to win! Good luck!!!

And... this is a blog hop. Make sure to visit and celebrate with other bloggers on the tour!


About the book:
At Barinkoff Academy, there’s only one rule: no students on campus after curfew. Phoenix McKay soon finds out why when she is left behind at sunset. A group calling themselves night students threaten to taste her flesh until she is saved by a mysterious, alluring boy. With his pale skin, dark eyes, and mesmerizing voice, Demitri is both irresistible and impenetrable. He warns her to stay away from his dangerous world of flesh eaters. Unfortunately, the gorgeous and playful Luka has other plans.

When Phoenix is caught between her physical and her emotional attraction, she becomes the keeper of a deadly secret that will rock the foundations of an ancient civilization living beneath Barinkoff Academy. Phoenix doesn’t realize until it is too late that the closer she gets to both Demitri and Luka the more she is plunging them all into a centuries old feud.

About the Author:

When Kate Evangelista was told she had a knack for writing stories, she did the next best thing: entered medical school. After realizing she wasn’t going to be the next Doogie Howser, M.D., Kate wandered into the Literature department of her university and never looked back. Today, she is in possession of a piece of paper that says to the world she owns a Literature degree. To make matters worse, she took Master’s courses in creative writing. In the end, she realized to be a writer, none of what she had mattered. What really mattered? Writing. Plain and simple, honest to God, sitting in front of her computer, writing. Today, she has four completed Young Adult novels.

Author Website: www.kateevangelista.com
Twitter: @KateEvangelista
Crescent Moon Press page for Taste: http://crescentmoonpress.com/books/Taste.html

Buy TASTE on Amazon:





Monday, April 29, 2013

MEDUSA's Birthday Bash Blog Hop! (and there are Prizes!)



Today I'm excited to welcome Sasha Summer, author of the Loves of Olympus series. She's on a blog tour to celebrate the first birthday of MEDUSA, A LOVE STORY, a book I absolutely lo-o-o-ved! And giving away prizes... check out this list of cool giveaways (and make sure to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway at the end of this post!)


·      Autographed copy of “Medusa, A Love Story (Loves of Olympus Series, Bk #1)”
·      Autographed copy of “For the Love of Hades (Loves of Olympus Series, Bk #2)”
·      Thea (owl) Necklace
·      “Medusa” car charm
·      Series Swag

Okay, without further ado, I hand over this post to Sasha....

Ten Must Have for Medusa’s First Birthday Bash!

Medusa, A Love Story was this kind of intense, frenetic writing experience for me. I was overwhelmed by the story and the characters, very there in my head. I’m not sure what was more difficult, writing the scene where Ariston finds Medusa in the cave or finishing the book - I love these characters and their story. *sniff* And I’m very proud and thankful that readers have connected with it.
Okay, if i could have ANY sort of party for Medusa’s birthday - this is what I’d want... Disclaimer - I’m going way overboard and I know it but hey, we’re talking fantasy birthday party, right?

10. *Deep breath* Since this is a dream world, must-have sort of birthday - I’d love to unveil Medusa’s movie. No, it’s not a movie - but I think it would be a powerful movie... I don’t know if I’d use my perfect cast (check my pinterest page) or if I’d let the fans pick it. Either way, the cast would be there to enjoy the party with us.
Since I ‘saw’ this when I wrote the book this would be an extraordinary ending to the Best birthday EVER! :)

9. Whatever the FANS, READERS, etc want - I’m all ears here.

8. A falconer with owls - lots of owls. :)

7. Swimming on the coast with some pearl hunting

6. A skit competition - readers/fans acting out their favorite scenes - and since this is my dream party - props, accessories, you name it - would ROCK

5.The Parthenon - or better yet a weekend, week, month long tour of the sites of Greece... *SIGH*

4. Music - like this:
OR this...
Oh, heck, here’s the playlist link... :)

3. Period appropriate food and drink - wine, fruit, nuts, olives, possibly roast lamb

2. Costume party - all traditional ancient Greek tunics, chitons, etc

1. The readers & fans of Medusa’s story - lots of talking and reading favorite excerpts, that sort of thing. :) Think Comic-Con centered around Medusa! I know, I know, I think small - lol!!!

* * *

Wow, Sasha! Sounds like an awesome party! And the best part? The presents go to the guests! Make sure to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for the great Medusa giveaways!!! And I totally recommend buying both MEDUSA, A LOVE STORY and FOR THE LOVE OF HADES, the first two books in the Loves of Olympus series. They are both well worth reading!!!

It's said love can change a person. Medusa wasn't always a monster...

Medusa is ruled by duty, to her Titan father and the Goddess Athena. She's no room for the tenderness her warrior guard, Ariston, stirs. When Olympus frees her from service, her heart leads her into the arms of the guard she loves... and curses her as the creature with serpent locks.

Ariston goes to war with a full heart... and dreadful foreboding. He learns too late of the danger Medusa faces, alone, and a Persian blade sends him into the Underworld. But death, curses, nor the wrath of the Gods will keep him from returning to her.

Poseidon will use Greece's war to get what he wants: Medusa. He does not care that she belongs to another. He does not care that she will be damned. He is a God, an Olympian, and she will be his.
About the author...
Sasha is part gypsy. Born June 9, 1974, stories have always played an important role in her life. Her passions have always been storytelling, Hollywood, history, and travel. It’s no surprise that her books include a little of each. Her first play, ‘Greek Gods and Goddesses’ was written for her Girl Scout troupe. She’s been writing ever since. She loves getting lost in the worlds and characters she creates; even if she frequently forgets to run the dishwasher or wash socks when she’s doing so. Luckily, her four brilliant children and hero-inspiring hubby are super understanding and supportive.

Find Sasha online in the following spots:

Website/Blog:  http://sashasummers.com/
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sashasummers/
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/user/SashaWrites

You can get your own copy of MEDUSA, A LOVE STORY at:

...And put it on your TBR list on Goodreads!
 
 * * * 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Planning a Blog Tour and You Are Invited!

My fabulous daughter created this fabulous badge for my upcoming new release and blog tour - I'm so excited about the font she found, and how well it goes with the book and the whole "splash" theme! So cool, right?! I am so lucky to have family who can create such wonderful things!

Speaking of family, I've got lots of my fellow authors at Crescent Moon Press all signed up to host me on their blogs and pimp me out on their Facebook pages, and will be posting a full list soon of where and when and what I will be doing on this blog tour - as well as prizes that I'll be giving away. And yes, I will be attempting to finally master the Rafflecopter genie.

What about you? Do you need more guests this spring? Do you want to be a part of my Splash Into Summer tour?

AWESOME!!! Leave me a message in the comments, or Facebook me, or send me an email - I'll be happy to add you to the Official Splash Into Summer Tour - and you get to post this fabulous badge on your blog, too!!

Winter was really really long this year - and Spring has been a mixed bag of weather for sure. I think we're all ready to SPLASH INTO SUMMER really soon - and you're totally invited to join in the fun!

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Book Review: VIOLET DAWN by Lynn Rush


VIOLET DAWN

By Lynn Rush

Published by Crescent Moon Press, 2013


BLURB:

In the darkest place, the Light shines brightest.

Emma's love saved Jake from life as a vampire. But their happily ever after is threatened by a savage Vamp seeking retribution for destroying the Avenos Trinity of Evil.

A mysterious stranger enters the mix, coinciding with the first Vamp attack in months. Emma's new friendship, and the suspicion and deceit surrounding it, further drives a wedge between her and Jake.

To complicate things, Emma is bitten by a Vamp with abilities no one has ever seen before, and that bite has left its mark.

A mark that might tear Jake and Emma apart forever...


MY TAKE:

Lynn Rush has done it again, with fast-paced action, heart stopping revelations and kisses hot enough to melt your e-reader. I loved this second book in the trilogy and can’t wait for the final installment in the series!

But, I digress. Back to this book. We start off months after the first book, where vampire huntress Emma Martin saved Jake Cunningham from being turned into a vampire and destroyed the Avenos and their dream of world domination. Emma has been training Jake in the ways of the hunter, and falling more and more deeply in love. They are both college students, and Jake is about to graduate with a master’s degree, as well as getting ready to propose to Emma.

The narration bounces between Emma and Jake, and it’s interesting to listen to each of their inner angst-y 20-something monologues. I also love their emotions, their love for each other. When a stranger gets thrown into the mix, their relationship is thrown into turmoil. Then when the vampires amp up the volume, turmoil goes turbo.

I read this book on a recent vacation and the only downside was having to power off my e-reader when the plane was taking off. This is a fun series, and I whole-heartedly recommend it to anyone who enjoys vampire reads.

About the Author:

Driven to write, Lynn Rush often sees her characters by closing her eyes watching their story unfold in her mind. Lynn Rush is a pen name that is a combination of two sources - Lynn, the first name of her mother-in-law, who passed away and Rush - since the author is a former inline speed skater and mountain biker. All of Rush's books are dedicated to Lynn, her namesake.

Rush holds a degree in psychology from Southwest Minnesota State University and a master's degree from the University of Iowa. Originally from Minneapolis, Rush currently enjoys living in the Arizona sunshine by road biking nearly 100 miles per week with her husband of 16 years and jogging with her two loveable Shetland Sheep dogs.

**A portion of the proceeds benefits cancer research and awareness.**

Find her online:
Twitter: LynnRush
Facebook: LynnRushWrites

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Guest Author Kary Rader talks about the Light Within and her new book, QUEEN OF JASTAIN

Today I'm thrilled to have Kary Rader as my guest! You might recall that I reviewed her new book, QUEEN OF JASTAIN, last week on this blog (I loved it, btw - read the review HERE.)

I invited Kary to come talk about her book, and her inspirations. The topic she chose feels timely to me, with the recent events in Boston. That Light will always overcome Darkness. My heart goes out to all those still affected by the marathon tragedy. But let's not dwell on darkness - we're here to listen to Kary talk about The Light!
 * * * * * 

The Light Within
By Kary Rader


The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

In the elemental battle between Light and Dark, Light always wins. There is no darkness known to us that can swallow light. The Light must be snuffed out before darkness can reign.

If you have any form of lighted technology in a dark room you know how true this is. The little blinking light on your phone or your digital alarm clock can provide enough illumination to see the entire room.

This is how it is in the world of Jastain, the setting for my current release, Queen of Jastain.

Many years before the story began, Light in the hearts of men was snuffed out and the darkness took over. All that was good in the world began to fade. Famine, wars, sickness, disease took hold. Even the skies clouded and the sun was blotted out.

But the Light, as it always does in life and stories, sends a savior, one who can bring back the former glory—The Chosen One. Except this savior is an unlikely college student who knows more about current trends in nail polish than how to save the world.

Abby Randall, my heroine, finds herself, her destiny, and a way to save the world. During the course of the story she has to change her way of thinking, and do things differently than she’s  ever done them before. Fortunately for her, there is a little magic that comes with a title like The Chosen One.

In the end, Abby realizes that the same Light inside her that helps her accomplish her goals and win her battles, is the same Light that resides in all people. It’s the same Light in you and I, and, just as the Light helps Abby accomplish her purpose, it will do the same for us.

Light always does one thing—it shines.

Let the Light within you shine today. Go and accomplish your dreams. Let it dispel darkness and reveal your purpose.

* * * * * 

Queen of Jastain, by Kary Rader
 
About the Book:
The Light brought her to him, but does he have the faith to make her his queen?

For twenty years, Avant plotted revenge against the dark king, but when a mysterious woman suddenly appears, everything changes. Although his prophetic Gift reveals she's the Seed of Light chosen to restore the Crown, his overwhelming attraction to the women threatens his long-held plan for revenge and two decades of fidelity.

Abby Randall is inexplicably transported from Dallas to the medieval land of Jastain. There she meets Avant, who claims she's the foretold champion of his people. While the hot guy has her hormones pumping, his crazy talk of defeating an evil king leaves questions to his sanity. Through his supernatural Gift, Avant transplants his memories into her, but neither are prepared for how their hearts intertwine.
 
Together they embark on their quest, but when Abby and Avant come face to face with destiny, will they sacrifice what matters most to provide a happily-ever-after for the people of Jastain?


Excerpt:
When Avant climbed back to the cave, his hair was wet. He'd slicked it back from his face and tied it into a little ponytail with a leather string. The sexy shadow of a light beard softened his angular jaw, and the thick waves of his hair shined with chestnut highlights in the morning sun. It was a good look for him, but then again, what wasn’t? Abby ran her fingers through her own tangled tresses and pulled her hair back. What she wouldn't give for a hairclip.

Would you like a thong for your hair?”

She giggled at the word thong, certain that what she pictured was not what he referenced. “Do you have an extra one? I’d like to get it out of my face, and I don’t have anything.” Actually she had her own thong, but she sure as hell wasn't putting it in her hair.

He immediately unlaced the tie at the neck of his shirt and handed it to her.

She gasped and put a hand to her face to hide the heat in her cheeks as his shirt fell open below his breast bone. “You don’t have to do that.”

Her blood coursed wildly at the sight of the smooth muscles of his chest. A soft sprinkling of dark hair beckoned her fingers. She swallowed hard.

 “It’s all right. Please use it. It will be a hard day’s journey with hair in your face.” His words rang in her mind so sincerely she forgot her embarrassment, but her eyes kept flitting to his heavenly chest.

Thank you, Avant, and not only for the lace but for everything you're doing to help me.

Holding her gaze, he nodded once, and her heart fluttered. Was it getting warm in the cave? She wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead.

"It is time to be off if we are to make it to the next shelter before nightfall.” He picked up his pack and walked to the mouth of the cave. She grabbed her bag and followed.

Climbing down proved to be more difficult than going up. The muscles required to lower herself from one level to the next worked her thighs and butt like no gym equipment she'd ever experienced. It was like doing hours of squats. She trudged down the mountain with the previous day's tumult weighting her down like the “freshman ten.” Avant helped her along on the steeper steps, but, for the most part, she made them on her own, clippity-clopping in those damned Docinis all the way.

When he reached the bottom, he disappeared around an outcropping. Abby took the last little step to the base and hurried after him. As she turned the corner, Avant grabbed her arm and spun her around. Driving her back against the rock, he pressed the length of his rigid body against her. His face, barely three inches from hers, clenched in thin lines of stress. Her heart raced…with fear.

She was pretty sure it was fear.
* * * * * 
About the Author:

Kary Rader is a part-time Twitter sage, stay-at-home mother of three, and slave to the characters and worlds inside her head. Always creative, she's drawn to stories with fantastical worlds and creatures. With a little bit of magic and divine guidance, there isn't anything that can't be accomplished with words. It's the power of words that creates and destroys. Vanquishing evil and injustice while finding eternal love in the process is all in a day's work. With the help of her critique partners and master cartographer imaginary places come to life.

You can find her at: 









Friday, April 19, 2013

Puppy Tales Friday: Keep Calm and Carry On, Boston

In light of today's extraordinary events, I'm updating my Puppy Tales Friday.

We used to live in the neighborhood where last night's shooting took place. Watertown is a real small town kinda place, despite being right on Boston's doorstep. We knew all teh shop owners by name, and they knew us. It's unbelievable to me to watch the media reports and realize this is America on lockdown. Crazy.

All my thoughts and good wishes are with the officers doing their jobs, as well as with all the residents who are following orders and staying indoors, out of harm's way. Everyone is together on this - following directions and helping however they can. Even if that just means staying indoors to let the police find this guy.

And they will find him. And anyone who has helped him. And they will be brought to justice.

The bottom line here is don't mess with Boston. Evah.

Puppy Tales Friday: The Pros and Cons of Stink

All things being equal, Puppy would much prefer to smell as "doggy" as possible. Some dogs do. She is one. They find an intriguing odor (preferably something long dead) and can't resist rolling in it.

The stinkier the better.

At our last house, before we moved to the Cape, there was a horse farm around the corner from us. Our old dog was not a  "doggy" dog, but if she was mad at me, you could guarantee she'd sneak out of the yard and come home with fresh horse manure rubbed deeply into her collar ruff.

No horses in this neighborhood, but Puppy does her best. Stinky seaweed, dead seagull parts... the beach is an endless supply of interesting aromas. Our yard, not so much. But... If she gets annoyed at me, she goes out of her way to dig up a good stink.

Last week, I took both dogs to the dog wash in preparation for my parents staying here and watching the kids. I finally found a dog wash she will tolerate - and return to. (Most of the time, if she's been somewhere and hated it, there's no way to get her back in that door. No way.)



In this place - Hot Diggity Dog Wash and Boutique, in Dennisport on Main Street - the tubs are roomy enough for my big-boned girl, the people that work there are friendly and "dog" people, and best of all - they clean up after we've gone! I don't have to hose down my bathroom afterward, I can walk way from the leftover hairy mess in the tub. Bonus!

Hot Diggity! No kidding!

So both dogs were clean, fluffy and smelled of lemon verbena and lavender. Sounds weird, but so much more pleasant than seaweed, and not too flowery so as causing embarrassment if they ran into any dog friends. (You know how they tease each other over those bows some groomers like to put in, or about smelling like strawberry shampoo. Dogs like to eat strawberry bushes, not smell like them!)

When we returned from our trip... Puppy had rolled in something in the yard. Dug up something foul and black and rubbed it into her scruff. My mom apparently tried to get it all out, and then gave up and doused her with corn starch.

Corn starch? Yeah, not too sure on the reasoning there. Kinda turned what was left into cement...

I understand that Puppy was protesting my prolonged absence. And the fact that Grandma didn't take her for a single walk (which I told her not to - if Puppy sees a rabbit she can pull you right over, leash be damned.) But I feel like those hours at Hot Diggity should have lasted just a wee bit longer...

Maybe it was just Puppy's way of saying "Welcome Home. This is How Life Really Smells."
* * *

Do your dogs prefer natural stink or the smell of shampoo? Be honest. What's your dog's favorite way to get back at you when she/he is upset?

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Writing Wednesday: Why do Cover Reveals?

It's Writing Wednesday and I'm doing everything except writing today... so thought I'd take a break from the madness and at least write a blog post.

Why the chaos? Many reasons, the first of which is Mexico. My husband and I had a lovely vacation last week, and my wonderful parents stayed with the kids... and now I have a ton of laundry and housework to catch up on. And work on our new addition begins soon, so need to clear out the part of the house being demolished. And it's school vacation week, time to go check out colleges with #1 son... am I complaining too much? I don't mean to complain. Sorry.

ON to today's topic.

Cover Reveals. What are they and Why do them?

Cover Reveals serve one main purpose: they "generate buzz" about an upcoming release.

On the flip side, when a cover reveal is spreading around the blogosphere or Facebook, the book usually isn't available yet. It's usually still weeks away. Or a month. So... some people think you shouldn't be putting your book out there too early, because with today's short term attention spans, people will forget that they thought your book looked cool, and forget to buy it.

 But... cover reveals are about more than mere buzz. Yes, that's the promo part that's important for sales, but in a way it's also a self-affirmation for the author.

After an author has poured so much of his or her soul into writing the book in the first place, it's nerve wracking to wait to see what the cover artist will come up with and see if it *fits* your vision for your book. And cover art is the first tangible "evidence" you can show others that yes, in fact, your book is REALLY coming out soon. So when an author finally receives the proposed artwork and approves it (or in my case is head over heels in love with it) ...it's a big deal to be able to share it with friends, colleagues and the world.

And you want others to share in your joy, and help spread it to the world.

So you ask your fellow bloggers and Facebook friends to participate in "cover reveals" - sometimes highly organized for a one-day blitz, sometimes less formal and scattered over the course of a week.

And you want to include a little blurb about the book itself, so when people see your pretty cover, they can also read what the book is about.  And maybe have people add a link to the author's own website, in case anyone wants to know more. You want people to get talking about your book, and by extension you as the author.

This week, my friend Maer Wilson received her long-awaited cover art and was super excited to share it. Her book, Relics, will be released on May1st from Crescent Moon Press (2 weeks before my book makes its splash) and she received her final artwork at the beginning of this week.

I'm reading an ARC of her book right now, so I know the dagger on the cover is one of the "relics" being searched for. The blurb for her book reads like this:


Most of Thulu and La Fi's clients are dead. Which is perfect since their detective agency caters to the supernatural. So, a job finding relics for an ancient daemon should be simple.
The daemon needs the relics to keep a dangerous portal closed. His enemy, Gabriel, wants the relics to open the portal and give his people access to a new feeding ground – Earth.
Stunning humanity with their existence, portals to other worlds begin to open and the creatures of magic return to Earth.
When Gabriel threatens their family, Thulu and La Fi's search becomes personal. The couple will need powerful allies in the race to find the relics before Gabriel does. But maybe that's what grateful dead, magical allies and daemonic clients are for. 
When the creatures of myth and magic return to Earth, they're nothing like your mother's fairy tales.

Maer’s Bio

After a successful career being other people, and later teaching others the many tricks of that trade, Maer Wilson has decided to be herself for a while. Turns out she's a writer. She's always loved stories, especially fantasy, mystery and sci fi. Maer was born in the Year of the Dragon and has a dragon-themed room in her home, but sadly no dragons in the back yard. 

When she's not writing, Maer plays online video games, teaches college and reads. She also co-hosts the literary podcast, “MythBehaving” and writes for two gaming fansites. She lives in the high desert of Southern Nevada with her two dogs, a chihuahua and a poodle. Relics is her first novel and will be released by Crescent Moon Press on May 1, 2013. You can visit her website at maerwilson.com.

Links
Maer’s Website: http://maerwilson.com/
Maer’s Twitter:  https://twitter.com/MaerWilson

What do you think? Are cover reveals important for buzz generation? Or do you prefer it when a book is already available?


Monday, April 15, 2013

New Release AND Book Review: QUEEN OF JASTAIN by Kary Rader

HAPPY BOOK RELEASE DAY TO MY FRIEND KARY RADER!
*YEA*

I had the pleasure of reading an ARC of this book, and have been waiting to post my review... I'll cut to the chase and tell you up front I LOVED this story. Time travel. Sarcastic, strong heroine. Really hot medieval dude. What's not to love?!

Big Congrats to Kary - she'll be visiting my blog next week on her grand tour, but in the meantime here's my review....

QUEEN OF JASTAIN

By Kary Rader

Published by Crescent Moon Press, April 2013


About the Book:

The Light brought her to him, but does he have the faith to make her his queen?

For twenty years, Avant plotted revenge against the dark king, but when a mysterious woman suddenly appears, everything changes. Although his prophetic Gift reveals she’s the Seed of Light chosen to restore the Crown, his overwhelming attraction to the women threatens his long-held plan for revenge and two decades of fidelity.

Abby Randall is inexplicably transported from Dallas to the medieval land of Jastain. There she meets Avant, who claims she’s the foretold champion of his people. While the hot guy has her hormones pumping, his crazy talk of defeating an evil king leaves questions to his sanity. Through his supernatural Gift, Avant transplants his memories into her, but neither are prepared for how their hearts intertwine.

Together they embark on their quest, but when Abby and Avant come face to face with destiny, will they sacrifice what matters most to provide a happily-ever-after for the people of Jastain?


MY TAKE:

With beautiful descriptions, sparkling dialogue, action-packed pages, and a strong heroine who grows into her power as the story progresses, QUEEN OF JASTAIN has everything a reader could ask for from a time travel romance. This well-written tale kept me reading well into the night, cheering for Abby and rooting for her happily-ever-after.

The novel starts with a bang in present-day Texas, where we meet spoiled little rich girl, Abby Randall, moments before her former best friend delivers a gut-wrenching blow with her engagement to Abby’s ex-fiance. In the ensuing maelstrom of emotions, Abby is somehow transported through time to a medieval kingdom, where her cute little car is sorely out of place and her designer mini skirt and high-heeled Dolce Gabanas are even more of a problem.

Enter the handsome knight, whom she rescues from pursuers on horseback. Avant has waited for so long to avenge his kingdom, but didn’t expect the champion of prophesy whom he was waiting for to be… a woman. Especially not a beautiful woman with whom he is so completely and utterly captivated.

The tension between Avant and Abby practically sizzles on the page, especially since Abby’s a thoroughly modern woman, and Avant a chivalrous medieval prince. Ms. Rader alternates the point of view between Abby and Avant, so the reader is privy to the sexual tensions mounting on both sides of the equation, and to the frustrating situational misunderstandings that arise and come between them.

When I was younger, I had a real thing for King Arthur and medieval-type stories. One of my all-time favorites is A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, by Mark Twain. Not that it’s a great Arthurian tale, but I love the time traveler aspects to it, and the juxtaposition of the modern guy thrust back in time to the Middle Ages. The narrator’s quirky humor provided a fresh perspective on all things medieval.

In QUEEN OF JASTAIN, Abby’s dry wit and self-deprecating humor reminded me of Twain’s narrator, and had me smiling along with her as she navigated the strange landscapes of Jastain.

Bottom line? I loved this book and totally look forward to reading more from this author.

About the Author:

Kary Rader is a stay-at-home mother of three, avid reader and slave to the characters and worlds inside her head.

Always creative, she’s drawn to stories with fantastical worlds and creatures. With a little bit of magic and divine guidance, there isn’t anything that can’t be accomplished. And it’s the power of words that creates and destroys.

Vanquishing evil and injustice while finding eternal love in the process is all in a day’s work. And with the help of her critique partners and master cartographer imaginary places come to life. Join her for an adventure and maybe you too will be claimed by passion and changed by love.

Friday, April 12, 2013

Puppy Tales: Wherein Puppy Is So Glad We're Not Doing A to Z

With too much on my plate this spring, I've reluctantly decided NOT to participate in the Annual A to Z Blogging Challenge. I had a great theme and everything picked out, but alas, it didn't work out. Next year.

The one who's happiest with my decision is Puppy. She feels I tortured her enough last year to last for a long, long time. At least through this April as well. So I thought, to honor the sacrifices she made for art in 2012, I will re-post some of her favorite letters this month as well.

Even though I'm not playing, I think we're up to "K" today. So here goes....

 (Ate it. she Actually Ate the letter A. It was the last one she Ate.)
 (Bored. By day two, she was already Bored.)
(Chagrin. the emotion that filled her when she realized I wasn't giving up.)
 (Don't Do this to me, she says. you can see it in her eyes.)
 (Everything got worse when mom made her wear the letters...)
 (Friends help make everything more bearable.)
 (Go away already, she says.)
 (Heavy sigh as she fills the Hallway with Her Huge self.)
(I, as in the letter, seems to have been lost...)
 (Just let me sleep...)
(Kan't you see I'm still sleeping?)

HAPPY A TO Z 2013!

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Writing Wednesday: Media Kits and Press Releases

So, you may have visited last week and seen that I HAVE MY NEW BOOK COVER! Let me revise that statement - I HAVE MY NEW BEAUTIFUL ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS BOOK COVER!!!

Did you miss it? Shall I post it here again? Oh, go ahead... ogle a bit...


So... now what? Now... on to the hard(er) work of promoting the book before it's released.

I'd like to think that once the book is released, word of mouth will have it flying off the shelves. But how to get those first few mouths to talk about my book?

I downloaded a simple guide to book promotion, telling me the pieces I need to have for a press kit, what to include in each piece, etc.

For those of you wondering, a simple book press kit should contain the following:

1. a cover page (a simple letter addressed to the recipient)
2. an author bio
3. an About the Book page
4. a fact sheet (info about the book that a bookseller uses to look up the book thru distribution channels)
5. book reviews (if available)
6. events calendar (if available)
7. a press release (if appropriate)

Some people put the actual book into the press kit. Or a link/code for the reader to get a copy of the ebook for free. (Especially if you're looking for reviews. Give them the book.)

I would add (and plan to add) that if you have color postcards of your book cover, or even book marks, you might want to include one of those. (My mother in law, a former PR guru, suggested printing the event listings onto book marks, and to change them as appropriate.)

Photos are also always good for local press coverage. Many local papers are itching to have more images to add interest to their pages, especially if you're a local author and are flexible with timing. Good human interest story for a slow news day.

Another caveat is that many places are all electronic now, even some local papers prefer to get everything via email so that it's easier to cut and paste. My girl scout troop had a lot of success getting their press releases and photos in the local papers when the girls emailed them. Made it so easy for the editor to drop them right onto the page.

But wait. I should know this stuff. I used to actually work in advertising. I did public relations as, you know, a real job for a while. So... Why is this different?

Trust me. It is. Not that it's hard to promote a good product - and I do think this book will be a great product - but the whole self-promotion thing gives me the willies.Tooting my own horn doesn't come naturally to me. So I'm trying to pretend it's a product. That this Katie O'Sullivan person is just a client. Otherwise, my mind goes blank and I hear crickets chirping in the recesses of my (empty) head.

Any advice? Words of wisdom? Sample press releases you wish to share?

What do you find to be the hardest part of promotion and marketing? And how did you do it? Or how do you plan to do it in the future?

Monday, April 8, 2013

Book Review: TIME TRAP by Micah Caida


 
TIME TRAP
By Micah Caida

Published by Silver Hawk Press, January 2013


BLURB:

Time Trap, book one in the Red Moon series

Her memory is blank.
Her future's in question.
Her power is dangerous.

Waking up in an unknown world, Rayen learns only that she's seventeen and is hunted by a sentient beast. Terrified that she may never learn who she really is or find her way back to her home, she's captured in a land that is at times familiar even if the people and the structures seem alien. When local law enforcement delivers her to a private school, she's labeled as a Native American runaway, and Rayen discovers a secret with deadly repercussions.

Forced into an unlikely alliance with a computer savvy street punk and a gifted oddball girl to save their world - and the future - Rayen finds the key to an identity that no person would want.

MY TAKE:

What a fun, fast-paced read!

Part time travel, part sci fi, part coming of age adventure, this book was well-written and well plotted, with richly drawn worlds and characters.

Okay, the blurb isn’t the greatest. If I had read that first, I’m not sure I would’ve tried this book, but I saw it recommended somewhere else and decided to take a chance. And the Kindle version was free for the day on Amazon. Who am I to pass up a free read? Right?

I’m so very glad I took the chance – this was a really fun book! I look forward to reading more in this series and can’t wait to see what happens next. And will totally pay for the next book in the series. And probably the one after that as well.

Most of the story is from Rayen’s point of view. As the main character she is perfect to introduce us to the new worlds, as she wakes up with her memory completely wiped. She experiences and describes everything as if it is new – which it is, both to her and to the reader. Only after the other characters have been thoroughly vetted by Rayen do we get a few chapters from their points of view, which adds to the richness of the story an the complexity of the plot. I enjoyed the insight into Tony’s and Gabby’s minds, as well as the confusion we hear from hunky Callan as he fights his attraction to Rayen.

Even with over 300 pages, the book was over far too quickly. As I said, I look forward to the next installment and can’t wait to see what happens next!

About the Author:

Micah Caida is the melding of two voices, two personalities and two minds - one NYT bestseller and one Award-winner - which often turns up the strangest ideas. Micah enjoys exploring how different characters react and deal with similar situations. Life is often filled with the unexpected - both good and bad. While creating the Red Moon series, Micah hit upon a very unusual "what if" that exploded into an epic story filled with teenagers who face impossible odds, but are the only ones who can save the world from itself.
For more information, visit http://www.MicahCaida.com or Micah Caida on Facebook

 

Thursday, April 4, 2013

COVER REVEAL WEEK - MY TURN! MY NEW YA COVER!

It was a fun Easter morning, with laughing kids searching throughout the house for hidden eggs. Things had started to settle down (although there are still 2 plastic eggs missing, even as I type) and I decided to do a quick check of email.

And found a note in my inbox from my publisher,

With a draft of my cover for my approval!

Oh. My. God.

I'm in love!

 Book Blurb:


Shea MacNamara's life just got complicated.

After a freak tornado devastates his Oklahoma farm, the fifteen-year-old orphan moves to Cape Cod to live with a grandmother he's never met. Struggling to make sense of his new surroundings, he meets a girl along the shore who changes his life forever.

Kae belongs to an undersea world hidden from drylanders. The daughter of royal servants, she knows the planned marriage of her Princess to the foreign King should put an end to the war between the clans. Two things stand in the way of lasting peace: an ambitious Regent and rumors of a half-human child who will save the oceans.

Sparks fly when she meets Shea, but could the cute drylander really be the Son of a Mermaid?


I'm getting so excited about this!!!!! Look, multiple exclamation points and everything!!!!

The book should be available May 15th, and I'm planning a big Twitter party with a few of my fellow Crescent Moon Press authors for May 21st. And some in-person events for Memorial Day weekend, as well as the rest of the summer season here on Cape Cod.

So...

What do you think? Worth the wait?

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

COVER REVEAL WEEK: QUEEN OF JASTAIN by Kary Rader

Today I'm featuring another gorgeous new cover for a fabulous new book, coming from Crescent Moon Press on April 15th! I had the good fortune to read an ARC of this book last month and I can so totally recommend it - I'm waiting to post my review until after it releases, but I can honestly say the hot guy on this cover is just how I pictured Avant, the hero of the story. Love it when that happens!

And Kary will be back on my blog later this month for an interview - can't wait to chat about where she gets her inspiration from!

Without further ado, here's Kary and her awesome cover...

 
I'm not April fooling you. This really is my gorgeous cover for the soon-to-be released Queen of Jastain. Isn't it beautiful? Thank you to my talented graphic artist, Jeannie Ruesch, who can be found at her design website Will Design For Chocolate and thanks to my wonderful publishers, Steph and Marlene of Crescent Moon Press. I couldn't love it more.

Queen of Jastain, Book One in The Reign of Light Series releases on April 15, 2013

The Light brought her to him, but does he have the faith to make her his queen?

For twenty years, Avant plotted revenge against the dark king, but when a mysterious woman suddenly appears, everything changes. Although his prophetic Gift reveals she's the Seed of Light chosen to restore the Crown, his overwhelming attraction to the women threatens his long-held plan for revenge and two decades of fidelity.

Abby Randall is inexplicably transported from Dallas to the medieval land of Jastain. There she meets Avant, who claims she's the foretold champion of his people. While the hot guy has her hormones pumping, his crazy talk of defeating an evil king leaves questions to his sanity. Through his supernatural Gift, Avant transplants his memories into her, but neither are prepared for how their hearts intertwine.

Together they embark on their quest, but when Abby and Avant come face to face with destiny, will they sacrifice what matters most to provide a happily-ever-after for the people of Jastain?

Official Excerpt:

When Avant climbed back to the cave, his hair was wet. He'd slicked it back from his face and tied it into a little ponytail with a leather string. The sexy shadow of a light beard softened his angular jaw, and the thick waves of his hair shined with chestnut highlights in the morning sun. It was a good look for him, but then again, what wasn’t? Abby ran her fingers through her own tangled tresses and pulled her hair back. What she wouldn't give for a hairclip.

Would you like a thong for your hair?”

She giggled at the word thong, certain that what she pictured was not what he referenced. “Do you have an extra one? I’d like to get it out of my face, and I don’t have anything.” Actually she had her own thong, but she sure as hell wasn't putting it in her hair.

He immediately unlaced the tie at the neck of his shirt and handed it to her.

She gasped and put a hand to her face to hide the heat in her cheeks as his shirt fell open below his breast bone. “You don’t have to do that.”

Her blood coursed wildly at the sight of the smooth muscles of his chest. A soft sprinkling of dark hair beckoned her fingers. She swallowed hard.

“It’s all right. Please use it. It will be a hard day’s journey with hair in your face.” His words rang in her mind so sincerely she forgot her embarrassment, but her eyes kept flitting to his heavenly chest.

Thank you, Avant, and not only for the lace but for everything you're doing to help me.

Holding her gaze, he nodded once, and her heart fluttered. Was it getting warm in the cave? She wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead.

“It is time to be off if we are to make it to the next shelter before nightfall.” He picked up his pack and walked to the mouth of the cave. She grabbed her bag and followed.

Climbing down proved to be more difficult than going up. The muscles required to lower herself from one level to the next worked her thighs and butt like no gym equipment she'd ever experienced. It was like doing hours of squats. She trudged down the mountain with the previous day's tumult weighting her down like the “freshman ten.” Avant helped her along on the steeper steps, but, for the most part, she made them on her own, clippity-clopping in those damned Docinis all the way.

When he reached the bottom, he disappeared around an outcropping. Abby took the last little step to the base and hurried after him. As she turned the corner, Avant grabbed her arm and spun her around. Driving her back against the rock, he pressed the length of his rigid body against her. His face, barely three inches from hers, clenched in thin lines of stress. Her heart raced…with fear.

She was pretty sure it was fear.

 

Please add Queen of Jastain to your TBR list on Goodreads.

You can also follow Kary on Facebook and Twitter, too.