SHIFTING PRIDE Blog Tour Day 11, End of the World Book Blast, and The Hobbit Blogfest!

Today Tanya at Speedy Readers–All Things Books is interviewing me. Click the link to check it out!

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Did you guys know pub sista Theresa McClinton is hosting an “End of the World” giveaway blast for her novel, The Stone Guardian? It starts TODAY and runs through 12/20–yep, you guessed it, ONE day before the world ends…erm, if the Mayans were right, LOL!

I particularly love this book bash because Theresa’s book includes FAB folklore about Mayans–apropros, right???

Anyway, I’ll stop gabbing and get to it.

Here’s the cover:

Pretty girl, hot guy–what more could you ask for???

Click here to see a list of all the bloggers who are participating!

Theresa’s bio:

A long time enthusiast of things that go bump in the night, Theresa started her writing career as a journalism intern—possibly the least creative writing field out there. After her first semester at a local newspaper, she washed her hands of press releases and features articles to delve into the whimsical world of young adult paranormal romance.

Since then, Theresa has gotten married, had three terrific kids, moved to central Ohio, and was repeatedly guilt tripped into adopting a menagerie of animals that are now members of the family. But don’t be fooled by her domesticated appearance. Her greatest love is travel. Having stepped foot on the soil of over a dozen countries, traveled to sixteen U.S. states—including an extended seven-year stay in Kodiak, Alaska—she is anything but settled down. But wherever life brings her, she will continue to weave tales of adventure and love with the hope her stories will bring joy and inspiration to her readers.

CONGRATS, THERESA!!!!

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M. Pax, author of The Backworlds, and Tyrean Martinson have teamed up to bring us The Hobbit Blogfest! 

I also couldn’t resist participating in this blogfest. I’m a HUGE LoTR fan and CAN’T WAIT to see The Hobbit!

What is your favorite hobbit characteristic/or the one that you think closely resembles you . . .?

FOOD!!!!! LOL!

Also, I may be a direct descendent of a hobbit. Seriously, my great aunt Edith looks like one, God bless her! She’s shorter than most (less than 5 feet), has a mop brown, curly hair, and giggles at every opportunity—DEFINITELY a hobbit!

If you could choose between a scrumptious second breakfast and a perilous unexpected journey – which would you prefer?

Second breakfast, please! I’m not an adventurous hobbit…though I do like to write about adventures!

Have you ever left behind something on a journey (expected or unexpected) and wished you could have it over and over again? (a pocket handkerchief?)

I’ve never left anything behind, but I’ve certainly returned with a valuable possession to two!

What is your Favorite part or quote from the book that you hope will be in the movie?

I absolutely adore the scene where Bilbo makes a deal with Gollum. I wish I could be so good at riddles!

Do you enjoy Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit? What do you think of The Hobbit being made into a TRILOGY???

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Indie-Giving Blogfest

November is a time of reflection and giving thanks to our blessings and fortunes. The Indelibles have decided to highlight that tradition by hosting a blogfest to celebrate thanks.

Right now, I’m thankful for being a published author, LOL! Time and again, I hear that while writing is a solitary endeavor, publishing is NOT. It takes a metropolitan-sized group of people to 1) identify your work as something worthy of being pubbed, 2) actually offering to publish it, 3) scrub and polish it into a glorific version of itself, 4) develop cover art, blurbs, etc, 5) help spread the word via the social networks, 6) post reviews, and 7) purchase it!

Each step has its own hurdles and learning curves and without the help of EVERY SINGLE PERSON I’ve met on the blogosphere, writing forums, social networking sites, etc, I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish ANYTHING.

For that, I am THANKFUL.

To spread the Thanksgiving cheer, I will GIVE AWAY to TWO lucky commenters, an EBOOK of YOUR CHOICE! All you have to do is comment here about what makes you thankful.

YAY!

Be sure to come back on WEDNESDAY wherein I take part in the cover reveal for Jennifer L. Armentrout’s OPAL and on FRIDAY, wherein I help with a cover reveal for another fellow author. Then, next TUESDAY, November 27, I host Colin F. Barnes. He’ll be sharing info about his novel, The Techxorcist. Colin also developed Anachron Press, where several short story anthologies–ranging from horror to cyberpunk–call their home. A new Pulp Line is actively taking submissions–check it out!

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Thanksgiving Mega Giveaway!!!

Hey gang! Author Krista Walsh is hosting me on her blog, The Raven’s Quill, today. I talk about how NEW PRIDE and SHIFTING PRIDE came to be and I offer a deep thought.

Krista and I have short stories in the Day of Demons anthology by Anachron Press–her story is my FAV!

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Author of SOUL SISTERS, Janiera Eldridge, coordinated a Thanksgiving Mega Giveaway blowout that’ll knock your ereader right out of your hands–that’s how FAB it is!

Check out SOUL SISTERS here. I’ve read it and I like the TOTALLY UNIQUE TAKE ON VAMPS. Seriously people, I wish I’d come up with this one myself, LOL!

Here’s Janiera’s blog, Beauty and Books–lots of great info here, folks!

Ok, take it away, Janiera!!!

Welcome to the Thanksgiving Mega Giveaway!! This giveaway was put together solely to say thank goodness for books and to celebrate them!

It was also put together to give back to readers and try to give as many people as possible some reading material for the holidays! There tons of ways to enter so everyone has a good chance of winning something.

A huge thank you to the authors who donated their awesome books  & swag and to the bloggers who also hosted and donated material!

Here are some simple rules to remember when entering.

• paperback and swag will be mailed to the U.S. only
• ecopies are international
•  You get to pick your prize if you’re one of the winners of the contest!! You will only have 24 hours to pick your prize and return your choice in an email or another winner will be chosen.

Good luck to everyone and enjoy the holidays!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Just click on the Rafflecopter links above and enter for whichever prize you’d like–NEW PRIDE is in there, SQUEE! Seriously, though, there are LOTS of FAB prizes–you don’t want to miss out on this, so get clicking!

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Superhero Social Disorders ~and~ Violet Midnight Blog Blitz

SO excited to have Patrick here today. He’s guesting on my blog, sharing his insights on Superhero Social Disorders. 

Welcome Patrick!

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First of all, thanks to Laura for having me on her blog today!

Have you ever noticed superheroes are never normal, well-adjusted people?  They’re always outsiders whether it’s because they’re aliens, nerds, or just loners.  Most have at least one skeleton in the closet, whether it’s the death of their parents, child abuse, a drinking problem, or something else that helps explain why most of these people adopt a secret identity.  I’m sure Dr. Diamond could spend a long time analyzing the likes of Superman, Batman, Wolverine, or Spider-Man.  There’s just something about putting on a cape and tights and beating up criminals that appeals to people who are not very well-adjusted.

The protagonist of my novel A Hero’s Journey is no different.  When she was just eight years old, Emma Earl’s parents died violently at the hands of a couple of criminals.  Even before then it was no picnic for Emma as her off-the-charts IQ made it difficult to fit in with her classmates.

After Emma’s parents died, she turned inward and focused on her education and her only remaining dream of someday becoming a scientist.  Between her natural intelligence and a lot of determination born out of adversity, Emma earned her doctorate at nineteen and landed her dream job at the Plaine Museum of Natural History.

When she moves back home to share an apartment with her childhood friend Becky, Emma hopes to make a fresh start.  Of course things almost immediately begin to go wrong.  People start to die and the museum is nearly blown to smithereens.  Any hope of a “normal” life goes out the window when Emma finds a suit of magic plate armor that turns her into the superhero known as the Scarlet Knight.

Like any superhero, Emma’s got plenty of problems.  She struggles to cope with the death of her parents.  Her aunt has severe dementia that forces her to stay in a nursing home.  And she has to go out every night and risk being killed, which also doesn’t leave much time for beauty sleep.  That’s only the first book!  As a little spoiler, in the rest of the series the weight keeps piling on Emma’s shoulders.

There are times when even I think, “Can’t I give the poor girl a break?”  But the thing is, we readers don’t really want the pressure to ease up on our heroes.  We want them to have to deal with crisis after crisis, whether it’s an external threat like a villain or an internal threat like a traumatic past.  The way any superhero series continues for years or even decades is to keep the pressure up on the hero.  If you think about it, how boring would it be if these people were normal and well-adjusted?

A lot of it is probably catharsis in that we want our superheroes to have inner demons so we can feel better about our own little problems.  I mean sure Superman can fly and he has heat vision and all that stuff, but he still can’t keep Lois Lane.  Take that!  I think part of why these characters have endured so long is that they can continue to grow and change as writers throw new problems at them.

What I enjoyed most in writing my series is growing Emma from the shy teenager she is in A Hero’s Journey to the mature young woman she eventually becomes.  It is a long and bumpy road, but that’s why it’s a hero’s journey, right?

If you’re ready to take that journey, you can buy my book from Solstice Publishing here.  The book is also available from other retailers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble.  To find out more about A Hero’s Journey including character bios, deleted scenes, and a visitor’s guide to Rampart City visit my blog at http://www.ptdilloway.com

Thanks again to Laura for allowing me to take up space on her blog!

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Can’t wait to read about Emma’s journey!

Patrick is offering a PDF copy of the book to one lucky commenter! Sa-weet! 

Part Two of this exiting post features Lynn Rush and VIOLET MIDNIGHT…

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It’s a Blog Blitz Release Event!

Lynn Rush, author of the Wasteland series, has a new New Adult Paranormal Romance series launching and she’s celebrating by hosting a SUPER AWESOME GIVEAWAY! If you enter, you could win a Kindle Fire!

To quote Penny from The Big Bang Theory: Holy crap on a cracker!

VIOLET MIDNIGHT BLURB:

Let the Hunt begin…

Blending in with her college co-eds proves difficult for vampire Hunter, Emma Martin, considering the mystical tattoo on her wrist glows whenever Vamps are near. And after three months of silence, the glow is back with a vengeance.

Jake Cunningham witnesses Emma, a violet-eyed beauty, using unimaginable powers to fight off a fanged creature. Finally, after two years of searching, he may have found out what he’s become—a Hunter, like Emma.

Thankful for an ally in the fight against the Vamps, Emma finds hope and comfort in Jake’s arms. As she learns more about her new love’s family and its dark heritage, she may be forced not only to hunt them but to sacrifice her life to save Jake’s soul.

READY TO BUY? GO HERE:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Violet-Midnight-Lynn-Rush/dp/193725481X

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/violet-midnight-lynn-rush/1112747880

 

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT LYNN RUSH? GO HERE:

Catch the Rush™: www.LynnRush.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/LynnRushWrites

Twitter: www.twitter.com/LynnRush

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13548020-violet-midnight

 

TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ONLINE LAUNCH PARTY, GO HERE:

https://www.facebook.com/LynnRushWrites.

I’ve never been to a Facebook party before, but I’m totally going to this one! It’s  7-9pm EDT. There will be tons of prizes and lots of authors participating. You don’t want to miss it!

 

WANT TO SIGN UP FOR THE RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY, GO HERE:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

CONGRATS, LYNN!!!!!

 

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Genre Favorites Blogfest

Alex J. Cavanaugh is hosting his SEVENTH blog fest today and it’s all about–you guessed it–genre favs!

Participating bloggers are asked to share their favorite genres for movies, books, and music.

Gotta say, my tastes are pretty simple.

My favorite movies are action blockbusters (usually with a sci fi, fantasy, paranormal, or magical twist)

THE LORD OF THE RINGS Trilogy and the HARRY POTTER series are my ALL TIME favs!

My favorite book genres include paranormal and scifi–either YA or adult. I also enjoy urban fantasy.

My favorite music includes alternative rock (a la Bush, Five Finger Death Punch, Alice in Chains, Breaking Benjamin, Pearl Jam, etc), classical, and I LOVE movie soundtracks (LoTR, Harry Potter, Batman (a la Dark Knight), etc).

How about you? What are your fav genres?

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Need a character “shrink-wrapped?” Ask me! I’ll feature your question on Mental Health Monday!

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INDIEpendence Day Is Coming Up!

The Indelibles are hosting an INDIEpendence Day blog hop (July 2-5) celebrating Indie authors. Lots of bloggers have signed up, so be sure to see who they’re highlighting as their favorite indie author.

I’ve got THREE indie authors that I look up to…mainly because of their great writing AND their perseverence to keep going NO MATTER WHAT!

Kendall Gray

She is the author of the JUST BREATHE series. It’s FAB!!!!!! The characters are hot, the scenes are hot, the action is…well, it’s hot. Seriously though, Kendall weaves together an intricate plot flawlessly while developing unique, fallible, and breathtaking characters. (Pun INtended.)

February Grace

She is the author of GODSPEED, a steampunk romance. I love the tone of Bru’s writing. It really creates an irresistible “mood.” I could totally picture myself being THERE with the characters. Actually, I’d kind of like to hang out with them sometime.

Christine Fonseca

She is the author of the Requiem series. I “met” Christine a while back and she’s helped me improve my writing by leaps and bounds. I love the TENSION Christine creates in her writing. She just doesn’t LET IT GO! Makes me literally feel what the characters feel.

NICE JOB, LADIES!!!!!!!

Who’s your favorite indie author?

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Poetry Pact Blog Hop Continues

Hey gang! Remember today continues the Poetry Pact Blog Hop. If you haven’t seen everyone’s posts about secret clubs they’ve been in, be sure to check ‘em out today. HERE’s the linky link.

The proceeds to purchasing the anthology goes to Direct Relief International, a non-profit organization committed to helping those suffering from poverty, civil unrest, and disasters. The paperback is available at Amazon for $4.50 and the Kindle version for $2.99.

SO, do you guys write poetry? What do you like or dislike about it?

Source

Have a great weekend, everyone!

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Poetry Pact Blog Hop

Today starts the Poetry Pact Bloghop where participants share a story or anecdote of a secret pact they participated in.

You can read posts today and Friday, June 29th. Blog hop participants HERE.

Be sure to check out the Poetry Pact collection of poems by several members of the Poetry Pact. Remember, the proceeds to purchasing the anthology goes to Direct Relief International, a non-profit organization committed to helping those suffering from poverty, civil unrest, and disasters. The paperback is available at Amazon for $4.50 and the Kindle version for $2.99. (Thanks, Lydia, for this info!)

I don’t have any exciting secret memberships to share, so I’m going to let Nickie, the MC of my YA shapeshifter novel, SHIFTING PRIDE, share her secret.

Hi gang!

Laura asked me to help her out today by sharing a secret. It’s kind of strange to put this out there, because I’ve had to keep it quiet for so long, but here goes.

*deep breath*

Okay, my secret:

I can transform into a panther. Yup. Freaky, right? I know. The crappy thing is, I didn’t find out I could shapeshift until I was 16. As if figuring out school, and boys, and studying lines for Drama Club wasn’t hard enough. Geez.

Anyway, there it is. My secret.

How about you? What kind of secret clubs have you been in?

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Alex Cavanaugh’s Blog Party!

Today is the Catch Fire Blog Party, celebrating the release of CassaFire by Alex J. Cavanaugh! The goal is to help CassaFire “catch fire” on the best seller charts and achieve the success of the first book, CassaStar. There’s also a special package of prizes being given away at the author’s blog (copies of CassaFire, CassaStar, tote bag, mug, and bookmarks) as well as book giveaways during his two-week blog tour. See Alex’s site for details: http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/

The blog tour for CassaFire is already in swing and continues through March 9th. Anyone who comments on Alex’s blog posts during that time can win the following from Alex’s publisher: A copy of CassaFire and CassaStar, a large tote bag, and a mug.

The Twitter hashtag for the party is: #CatchFire

 

CassaFire

by Alex J. Cavanaugh

CassaStar was just the beginning…

The Vindicarn War is a distant memory and Byron’s days of piloting Cosbolt fighters are over. He has kept the promise he made to his fallen mentor and friend – to probe space on an exploration vessel. Shuttle work is dull, but it’s a free and solitary existence. The senior officer is content with his life aboard the Rennather.

The detection of alien ruins sends the exploration ship to the distant planet of Tgren. If their scientists can decipher the language, they can unlock the secrets of this device. Is it a key to the Tgren’s civilization or a weapon of unimaginable power? Tensions mount as their new allies are suspicious of the Cassan’s technology and strange mental abilities.

To complicate matters, the Tgrens are showing signs of mental powers themselves; the strongest of which belongs to a pilot named Athee, a woman whose skills rival Byron’s unique abilities. Forced to train her mind and further develop her flying aptitude, he finds his patience strained. Add a reluctant friendship with a young scientist, and he feels invaded on every level. All Byron wanted was his privacy…

Available today!

Science fiction – space opera/adventure

Print ISBN 978-0-9827139-4-5, $15.95, 6×9 Trade paperback, 240 pages

EBook ISBN 978-0-9827139-6-9, $4.99, available in all formats

CassaFire is the sequel to Cavanaugh’s first book, CassaStar, an Amazon Top Ten Best Seller:

“…calls to mind the youthful focus of Robert Heinlein’s early military sf, as well as the excitement of space opera epitomized by the many Star Wars novels. Fast-paced military action and a youthful protagonist make this a good choice for both young adult and adult fans of space wars.” – Library Journal

You can visit the author’s site at http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/

Book trailer available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qa6VINRGtyE.

 

Barnes and Noble - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cassafire-alex-j-cavanaugh/1034742568

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/CassaFire-Alex-J-Cavanaugh/dp/0982713940/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1329417150&sr=1-1

Amazon Kindle - http://www.amazon.com/CassaFire-ebook/dp/B007A2TSNG/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1329663355&sr=1-1

Trailer:

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First Page Contest at Shelley Watters’ Blog, Yo!

Hey gang! Author Shelley Watters is hosting an agent judged first page contest. Participants post the first 250 words of their YA or MG novel today, June 25, visit other blogs for critique on the 25th and 26th, and post the “final version” on her blog on the 27th.

The winner gets a full manuscript request from Victoria Marini of Gelfman Schneider Literary Agency!

Good luck to all the participants!

Here’s my entry:

TITLE: ENDURE

GENRE: Young Adult Dystopian

WORD COUNT: 75,000

FIRST 250 WORDS:

I hated afternoons the most. Why? Because darkness followed—the time when death could literally snatch you out of bed and drain all the blood from your body. Amazing that any of us survived with all the raids and extermination campaigns to rid the world of us red blood cell deficient freaks.

I rubbed my shoulder as we walked, still sore from the last fight. Some dude tried to scrimp on my fair share of the rations we snatched from the distribution truck. I wished Sammie didn’t have to watch me pummel the guy, but he started it. If I hadn’t ended it, he would’ve left us starving.

“Justin, I’m hungry.” Sammie tugged at my shirttail, her small voice squeaky.

“Me too.” I was always hungry. Whoever came up with the idea of food pellets and water tablets must have enjoyed making people suffer. Really, how could eating a sawdust-flavored pill make you feel full? But the Vie didn’t need food, only blood. So, the pellets kept their prey alive. We did the same with chickens…when we lived in the forest.

That was before. Before Dad blew it and got us kicked out of the community. Everybody told him peace with the Vie was impossible. But he didn’t listen. Now he was dead and Sammie and I were on our own.

 

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