IMMORTAL ALIENS: DAWN OF THE VIE Cover Reveal!

Dawn of the Vie
Laura Diamond
(Immortal Aliens, #1)
Published by: Curiosity Quills Press
Publication date: October 3rd 2016
Genres: Dystopian, Science Fiction, Young Adult

Since their Arrival less than 30 years ago, immortal Vie rule the planet like the super-predators they are. Enslaved humans are their servants…their entertainment…and their food. Anemies—humans with various types of anemia—are simply exterminated. Their nutritionally deficient blood is useless to the Vie.

Or so it’s thought…

_________

Alex, an Elite Vie, is a bit of a Renaissance Alien. Part scientist, part Raid Specialist, part drug addict, he knows Anemie blood is valuable. Rather than blindly carrying out his boss’s kill order, he convinces some colleagues to spare a few Anemies, not only for study, but also to reserve a secret stock.

The more Anemie blood Alex drinks, the more he slips into delusion, and the more his double life threatens to crumble. But quitting Anemie blood is not an option. Every Anemie has their own personal flavor. Each gives a unique high.

When Alex takes a hit of Justin’s blood, his hallucinations bleed into reality…

_________

Anemie Justin knows his little sister, Sammie, and he are living past their expiration dates. It becomes a guarantee when they’re bitten by a Vie named Alex during a raid. (The bite is fatal, thanks to a toxin carried in Vie saliva.) Alex adds insult to injury by promising Justin a second chance—an antidote in exchange for agreeing to be a lab rat.

And a mule…of his own blood.

When Justin says no, Alex takes off with Sammie.

All Justin has to do is find them, beat Alex, and cure himself and Sammie. All he has is a stake and serious lack of self-preservation.

No problem.

_________

Alex wants Justin’s blood.

Justin wants his sister back.

GAME ON.

Add to Goodreads

Author Bio:

Laura Diamond is a board certified psychiatrist currently specializing in emergency psychiatry. She is also an author of all things young adult—both contemporary and paranormal. An avid fan of sci-fi, fantasy, and anything magical, she thrives on quirk, her lucid dreams, and coffee. When she’s not working or writing, she can be found sniffing books and drinking a latte at the bookstore or at home pondering renovations on her 225 year old fixer upper, all while obeying her feline overlords, of course.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

SNOW FRIGHT COVER REVEAL (And a Signing!)

OMGosh, I *super* excited to share the cover to Amie and Bethanie Borst’s final installment of the Scarily Ever Laughter series. From Cinderskella to Little Dead Riding Hood, and now to Snow Fright, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed these books, the characters, the challenges they face, and oh man those covers. So without further ado, take it away Amie!!!

PS: CONGRATS!!!!

PPS: If you’re in the Kingston, NY area on Saturday, June 25, come see Amie, Bethanie, MYSELF, and a host of other local authors at the Barnes and Noble for a panel, reading, and signing at NOON!!! (I’ll be reading from The Zodiac Collector, yay!!!)

OK, for real now, Amie you’re up! 😉

Amie: The final installment of the Scarily Ever Laughter Series is here! Or, well it’s on its way. October 4th is its big debut.  But no need to wait until October for all the excitement! You can see the cover now! (And be sure to check out the first two books in the series, Cinderskella and Little Dead Riding Hood!)

Snow Fright Book Blurb

Sarah White is gorgeous even if she is a little bit rotten. A mirror arrives on her twelfth birthday and she thinks it’s the perfect gift. But when an innocent game of laser tag gets out of hand, the mirror swallows her whole!

Sarah finds herself dead center of the Underworld. As if repeated run-ins with Mr. Death weren’t bad enough, Sarah now has to deal with her decaying flesh and sudden craving for brains. Not to mention she keeps having brain freezes, all due to the seven worms living in her head.

Of corpse, by the time Sarah escapes the Underworld, she finds her new zombie life less than appetizing. Even worse, she needs to return to the Underworld to save her friends, Cindy and Scarlet.  With a poisoned apple, a crow named Raven, and a glowing necklace, Sarah’s pretty sure that if she doesn’t rescue her friends, she’ll be a brain craving zombie forever. And that’s more dead-ication than she’s willing to accept.

And now the cover! Ain’t it fab???

Want your own copy?

Add Snow Fright to your Goodreads account or pre-order your copy at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Indiebound!

About the authors

Amie Borst loves glitter, unicorns, and chocolate. But not at the same time. That would be weird. She’s a PAL member of the SCBWI as well as a founding and contributing member of The Mixed-Up Files…of Middle-Grade Authors, a group blog dedicated to middle-grade books. Amie lives in Virginia with her three beautiful daughters, her handsome husband, and two cute dogs named Lily and Maggie. She wishes she could travel the country in a hot pink elevator but for now, her minivan will have to do.

Bethanie Borst is 16 and the author of three books but she was only 10 years old when she wrote her first one. She enjoys reading, writing, and archery. She’s also interested in paleontology and astronomy. Bethanie is fluent in both sarcasm and humor and is prepared for the zombie apocalypse and/or spontaneous combustion of the world. Because, let’s face it, both of those things are totally realistic.

You can find the authors on Facebook, as well as their website

About the cover artist

Rachael Caringella is an artist, illustrator, intuitive reader, and healer. And deep down, she is just like you; a rebel and truth seeker. Her days are spent in a little cabin as she paints, dances, sips delicious coffee, reads tarot cards, and, of course, illustrates! When she’s not in her studio, she can often be found wandering the woods, honoring her wild nature in the great outdoors searching for beauty adventure and inspiration.

You can find the illustrator on Facebook and her website

Oh and there’s a giveaway!

Click HERE to go to Amie’s website where there’s a link to sign up for an ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of Snow Fright.

UNDER MY SKIN Book Blitz and Review Tour

I can’t believe UNDER MY SKIN has been out for THREE WEEKS already! I want to thank everyone for tweeting, sharing on Facebook, blogging, and supporting my first YA contemporary’s release!

It’s a scary thing putting your work out there and it sounds like folks are liking Adam and Darby’s story so far. Some reviewers are comparing UNDER MY SKIN to The Fault In Our Stars–how awesome is that?

To keep the momentum going, YA Bound Book Tours is hosting a book blitz (with prizes!) the week of May 23-27. I’d love for you to sign up and take part.

***There will also be signups to do a review! Please consider taking part–I will mail swag from my books to anyone who reviews the book. Just send an email to authorlauradiamond@gmail.com with a link to your review and your address and voila! you’ll receive personalized book swag!***

Click HERE to sign up for the book blitz!

Here’s what reviewers are saying so far about UNDER MY SKIN:

Suze says: “Under My Skin is a beautiful romantic story. Adam has a tough time and can hardly do anything because of his heart problems. Laura Diamond describes his condition with accuracy and compassion. She’s perfectly captured what it feels like to be gravely ill. She knows feelings through and through and it shows. Her book is all about emotions and what happens when things suddenly become too much. I love the way she tells her story and think it’s amazing.

Under My Skin is a moving book about a difficult topic. The writing has a nice flow which makes it easy to read and that gives the reader more time to process what the story is all about. I think Laura Diamond found the exact right tone of voice for her story. It’s sensitive, honest and real. There are plenty of unexpected twists and turns as well. The ending is surprising and gripping and it made my head spin. I think Under My Skin is a fantastic book with impressive main characters.”

Ronald says: “Under My Skin by Laura Diamond is not the typical book I read. My reading taste veer somewhere between fantasy/SCFI and Literary mysteries, however after I started to read Under My Skin I immediately became immersed in the rhythm . Each rhythm is unique, distinct to Adam and Darby the two main characters of the book. The author’s use of this technique pulls you through the book and enriches characters who are wholly believable and heartbreakingly flawed. It is being compared in some circles to The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, another book that was recommended I read. I can see the similarities between the two books, but what makes Under My Skin a better book is the authors ability to make the main characters talk and act in a more realistic manner than in John Green’s book. I purposely have not given any plot details because I believe the reader should experience this wonderful book as I did and be surprised and moved the way it surprised and moved me. I highly recommend Under My Skin.”

Poulami says: “This book was intense. I mean, it had a lot of elements. It’s about guilt, self blame, accepting reality and finally moving on- all of these facts were executed neatly and pretty well…I haven’t read anything like this before, so it was fresh and intriguing.”

Serenity says: “No matter what happens, its that split second that will always be remembered. The day with the car on the icy roads. Now this is where the story got really interesting and the tables turned in a way. I so didn’t expect what happened. It was a perfect twist. The details and feels just got stronger and by this point I was already glued to the seat until the last page was read.”

Christine says: “This is my first read from Laura Diamond and let’s say it will not be the last. This is a beautifully written story about two teenagers who are stuck in the worst circumstances. Both characters who feel misunderstood by the people who surround them daily.”

Lynda says: “…the book does contain some beautiful descriptive passages, both of images and inner turmoil. The author also deals with a difficult subject matter and handles it with great sensitivity. Probably the most poignant moment for me was Adam’s sad analogy of comparing himself with Frankenstein’s monster.”

Susan says: “Downloaded this, and could not put it down! What an excellent read, chores were ignored, dinner was not served! I lost myself in the characters who were so well developed that I really felt they were people that I knew. The psyche behind people dealing with a heart transplant, and the people who lost a loved one were very well written. I am a 48 year old mom, and while this book is geared towards the YA set, I still very much enjoyed it, I would recommend this read to any age.”

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IF YOU’VE READ UNDER MY SKIN, PLEASE POST AN HONEST REVIEW ON AMAZON.

I WILL SEND SWAG FROM MY BOOKS TO ANYONE WHO REVIEWS UNDER MY SKIN. JUST EMAIL ME AT authorlauradiamond@gmail.com WITH A LINK TO YOUR REVIEW AND YOUR ADDRESS! 

********

Purchase UNDER MY SKIN on Amazon (ebook is only $2.99 and a paperback is also available)

Purchase UNDER MY SKIN on Barnes & Noble

Purchase UNDER MY SKIN on iTunes

Purchase UNDER MY SKIN on Kobo

UNDER MY SKIN Cover Reveal Sign-ups

  
 
My upcoming YA contemporary, UNDER MY SKIN, is coming April 12 from Swoon Romance and the cover reveal is set for March 18. 

I. Cannot. Wait.

I’m so excited for all y’all to meet Adam & Darby. 

If you’d like to sign up to help share the cover, click HERE for Chapter By Chapter’s list.

And here’s the blurb for UNDER MY SKIN:

Bookish Brit Adam Gibson is one wonky heartbeat away from a fatal arrhythmia. But staying alive requires Adam to become keenly focused on both his pulse and the many different daily medications he must take in exactly the right dosages. Adam’s torn between wanting to live and knowing that someone else must die in order for him to do so. He needs a new heart.
The pressure is getting to him. Adam stops talking to his friends back home, refuses to meet kids at his new school, and shuts his parents out entirely. His days are spent wondering if can cope with having a dead man’s heart beating inside his chest, or if he should surrender to the thoughts of suicide swirling around in his head.
And then a donor is found…
Outspoken artist Darby Fox rarely lets anything stand in her way of achieving her goals . Whether it’s painting, ignoring her homework (dyslexia makes a mess out of words anyway), kissing a hot boy she doesn’t even know, or taking the head cheerleader down a peg , no one has ever accused Darby of being a shy. She also happens to be the twin sister to a perfect brother with good looks, good grades, manners, and the approval of their parents – something Darby has never had.
Darby’s always had bad timing . She picks the worst time to argue with her brother Daniel. In a car with bald tires, on an icy road in the freezing cold, the unthinkable happens. In a split-second, everything changes forever.

Add UNDER MY SKIN to your Goodreads list.

Preorder the E-book HERE on Amazon.

See you March 18! 😉

😘📚❤️ 

Author Life Month–Week One

FB has been all atwitter with #AuthorLifeMonth and I’ve had a blast sharing with all y’all. 

  
Here’s a run down of the first week:

Day 1: your books

This photo captures all the works I’ve had published since Nov 2012, including short stories and novellas (stand alone and in anthologies) and fill-length novels. Some are no longer available and some will be republished. I’ll be adding a YA contemporary to this list in April!  

  
Day two: your author photo

For this one, I decided to include my original author photo and my newest one.

  
Day three: your last 5 star read

There are so many! But I picked Bats of the Republic. A totally unique read.

  
Day four: your WIP

I included an except from a YA contemporary I’ve been working on about a drug-addicted girl and a religiously preoccupied, abused boy.

  
Day five: comp covers

I don’thave before and after cover shots, by I do have FAB cover artists, Lisa Amowitz and Danielle Fine.

   
   
Day six: fan art

A lovely fan decided to select Jamberrys that matched The Zodiac Collector’s cover. How fun!

  
Day seven: writing music

I totally had a favorite song that embodied Justin’s plight in Endure (new title coming soon!).

The Kill by 30 Seconds To Mars.

Check back next week for more Author Life Month fun! Or, you can catch me on FB & Twitter! 

How about you? Any factoids you’d like to share? 

Book Fair Debriefing

I can’t believe over a week has passed since the Glens Falls Chronicle Book Fair. As always, I had pre-fair jitters, but those quickly settled once I started chatting with other authors and book people. 

  
My banner worked out–thanks to Momma! I wouldn’t have figured out how to put it together on the banner stand otherwise.

Julian (the creature on my shoulder; a drabbit) oversaw everything. Thank goodness; he has a sharp eye. 

Some of the highlights included seeing Meryl Day again. We met at the Barnes & Noble Local Author Day in September. Her book, Jordy the Jaguar, is a super sweet picture book about a kitty who gets himself in trouble, just because he’s the “new kid in town.” PS: It’s based on a true story! 😉

  
Check it out HERE.
My table-mate at the book fair, Susan Andrea Sickles, has an adorable chapter book about the adventures of a rat named Meatball. (Meatball’s a real rat, too, just like Jordy’s a real kitty.)

  
Check it out HERE.

Last, but certainly not least, I found out just how small a world it is. A friend from med school (also named Laura, ha!) saw my post about the book fair and saw a post from another friend–who was at the same book fair! She told her friend to find me, and she did. Yay! JD Spero has a YA speculative fiction book, Forte, that’s just plain awesome. She also did a reading at Skene Manor & it was in the paper! How cool is that?

  
Check it out HERE.

For more info on Skene Manor, click HERE.

  
Super gorg, right?
I definitely enjoyed the event. Thanks to everyone–hope to see you all soon! 

Fun Times

Hi all!

How’s fall treating you so far? (Or spring for those of you from the Southern Hemisphere.)

The book signing at Barnes & Noble’s Local Author Day went spectacularly well. Lots of folks showed up, much to my delight! *big squishy hugs*

I got to meet a writer friend whom I’ve known online for years but never met in person. What a nice treat! 

  
(There are some autographed copies available at Colonie Center’s B&N.)

My birthday was also fab. Got lots of books–YAY! AND I had a lovely time visiting the Adirondacks with Mom. 

   
   
  
Even more exciting is I’ve been working on a couple of writing projects. One is a YA contemporary with dueling POVs (point of views). Lana and Mason’s stories are raw and dark, but their perseverence is striking. And when they meet, sparks fly. The other, still in outline form, is a YA historical fantasy about a female privateer forced to fight the king of France in order to save her family. Work is slow on both projects, but it’s nice to be actively creating worlds and words again.

  
So what’s next? Well, in a couple of weeks I’ll be heading to Glens Falls for the Chronicle Book Fair. It’s on SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2015 from 11am-3pm.

   
 
I’ll be selling copies of The Zodiac Collector and Lore (a YA/NA anthology of folklore retellings). 

  
I’ll also have a fun “game” with prizes, as well as giveaways (limited quantity), and plenty of swag & chocolate. 

   
   
(Magic Star Dust) ⬆️

If you’re in the area, I’d love to see you! 

Hopefully my new banner will help you see me (I’ve got a stand for it; fingers crossed I’ll know how to use it, lol!).

  

Author Event on Sat June 27, B&N Kingston, NY!

 

If you’re anywhere near Kingston, NY on Saturday, June 27, please stop by the Barnes & Noble (1177 Ulster Ave, Kingston, NY 12401) to see me and two other semi-local, middle grade authors. 

I’ll be signing copies of my YA, The Zodiac Collector (it can cross over to middle grade), Amie & Bethanie Borst will be signing copies of Little Dead Riding Hood (Book Two in their Scarily Ever Laughter series), & Andrea Pyros will be signing copies of My Year of Epic Rock.

The signing goes from 1-3pm. There will be time for Q&A, signings, and chats. And there will definitely be some swag (including bookmarks, stickers, and magic star dust!!!!) and yummy goodies (can you say chocolate?)! 

We would love to see you! 

Here’s some more info about our books:

*** The event on Facebook ***

The Zodiac Collector

  

Little Dead Riding Hood

  

My Year of Epic Rock 

  

Hope to see you there! 🙂

Make Mistakes

“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re doing something.” ~ Neil Gaiman

I tend to be an anxious person and as a result, trying new things can be terrifying. Why? I can’t predict the outcome and it makes me feel out of control. (Lack of control is like jet fuel for anxiety.)

At the same time, both my professions (psychiatry and writing) DEMAND I try new things. 

All. The. Time.

What’s a girl to do?

At some point along the way (I don’t remember when, but it must’ve been in med school), I realized I had to learn how to go with the flow. Perhaps being constantly thrown into new situations had something to do with it…the whole sink or swim thing is pretty dang powerful.  Plus, worrying about something doesn’t change the outcome, but it sure makes the journey a lot more stressful. With that in mind, I try to embrace new things and roll with change. 

I’m not always successful. Hence the making mistakes. And sometimes anxiety gets the better of me (usually in the form of avoidance). So when I come across quotes like the one above, I pay special attention to it. It’s a reminder. A form of cheerleading, if you will. An excuse to put myself out there.

Because really, mistakes aren’t necessarily bad. I’ve survived all my mistakes. And while it’s not fun to make them, I’ve learned something from them. 

How about you? Do you make mistakes? Do you embrace them? Are they valuable to you?

It’s The Little Things

I came across a writer tip the other day that bears repeating.

  

As I face edits for three books, I’m going to keep this in mind and apply it when I can.

How about you? What tip(s) have you come across lately that you want to incorporate in your writing?