Guest Post: By Devri Walls author of soon to be released Wings of Arian

Check out this awesome guest post from author Devri Walls!

Writing a book is such a piece of cake! Writing? Easy. Editing? Walk in the park. Covers? Could do them in my sleep. Tantalizing excerpts? Don’t even break a sweat. Lying through my teeth? Apparently I am pretty darn good at that too. Truth is, Wings of Arian has been one of the hardest things I have ever done. I learned a lot of things the hard way. But that was then. And now.... I am almost there! Which means it’s almost time for YOU, to read what I have in store for you. ( You will right? Read it? I mean that is what this was all for in the first place.) Wings of Arian is a ... well. I will tell you what; since I am long winded, hence why I write novels, I place writing catchy excerpts right up there with gouging my eyes out with a spoon. Neck and neck really. We can’t let this excerpt go to waste! So, without further adieu, here it is (cue dramatic music):

Kiora thought she had never heard a lie until she was sixteen. But she was wrong. Her entire existence was based on nothing but. She thought that evil did not exist. Lie. That magic was not real. Lie. And that the land of Meros was all there was. One more lie.

With Aleric telling her that evil is knocking on the door and that she is the only one who can stop them she has a choice to make. Refuse, or start the wildest most painful ride of her life.

She reluctantly dips her toe into her new existence of magic and threads, dragons and shapeshifters, and the person who wants to take control of it all: the evil Dralazar.

However, this journey was never meant to be hers alone. She will be accompanied by a Protector. To her disbelief, and utter irritation they name the hotheaded, stubborn, non -magical, (albeit gorgeous) Prince Emane. They will have to trust each other with their lives, but right now Kiora would settle for a non hostile conversation.

And now it comes down to this, If you had never heard a lie, would you know one when you heard one? Is knowing good from evil innate? Kiora finds herself having to decide who lives and who dies on those very questions.

Wings of Arian, set to be released in May of 2012, is the first in my YA fantasy trilogy. And just wait until you see the cover! Claudia at Phatpuppy Art did an amazing job and frankly, I think she really could do it in her sleep. Which is great, because I sure can’t!

If it looks interesting pop on over to goodreads and stick it on your shelf. Or you could just put it there as artwork and stare at it all day. I may or may not be printing a poster size... who knows. Thanks to Megan for having me today and thanks to you guys for reading! Let me know what you think, I would love to chat with you! You can also find me on twitter under Devri Walls as well as my blog at www.writingmyfuture.com.

Charity Hopping around the world! (International)

Hey! Welcome to Charity Hopping around the world hosted by my blog Reading Away The Days, my sisters blog Reading A Little Bit of Everything and Kathy over at I am a reader not a writer. I want to thank Kathy for helping me and my sister put this awesome hop together and also all you wonderful bloggers taking part!

The charity I want to let you all know about is Make-A-Wish. Make-A-Wish's main aim to grant magical wishes to children and young people aged 3-17 fighting life-threatening conditions!
I love working with children as my daytime job and to think that there are many children in the world every day fighting life threatening illnesses is terrible! But to have that one wish granted is an amazing thing. In my opinion I think positive thinking and happeiness helps when your unwell, imagine what making a child with a life threatening condition's wish come true, that little bit of joy that might help them though one of the many bad days they go though. Make-A-Wish is an international charity and one that I think is worth while. If you would like to donate, you can find more info here!



Giveaway

For my giveaway I am giving away TWO awesome The Childe by C.A.Kunz swag packs that include bookmarks, badges and stickers along with a few other swag bits I have. So there will be TWO lucky winners.

To Enter:

Be a GFC follower of my blog (Leave GFC follower name)
Comment below: If you could grant anyone you know a wish, what would it be?
Leave email address so I can contact you if you win!

-International
-Ends April 4th
-Thank you to C.A.Kunz for the swag

Check out all the other awesome blogs taking part

Transfer Student by Laura Elliot releases TODAY & Give@way

TRANSFER STUDENT EBOOK RELEASE DAY!

Two Worlds, Two Teens, One Wish

Rhoe and Ashley would never be friends.

Even if they lived on the same planet.




But, they’ll become so much more.


They’ll transfer.

Earthling Ashley’s world revolves around winning daily popularity contests at Beverly Hills High School and surfing competitions with sweet scholarship prizes that will finally help her break free of her control-freak mother. Ashley never loses. Ashley never wishes on stars. But that changes when her senior class takes a field trip to the Griffith Observatory where conflicting feelings about her predatory best frenemy Tiffany causes Ashley to throw away her own carefully-crafted Queen of B.H.H.S. title under the bus.

Meanwhile on planet Retha, Rhoe misses his dad, loves his mom’s home-cooked Glechy crag with a side of ory sauce, is desperate to heal his sick brother and wants more than anything to win The Retha New Invention Competition. He and his best friend Yuke have worked for the past two years constructing the teleporting telescope Rhoe started building with his dad before he died in an airboarding accident. Rhoe’s never kissed a girl. Rhoe’s hero is the eccentric physicist, Ramay. But that changes when the telescope teleports Rhoe across the universe with an unintended side effect, Ashley and Rhoe transfer. They swap lives when they make the same wish at the same time.

Popular-surfer-turned-boy-geek alien Ashley must handle life on Retha as Rhoe complete with webbed feet, low-gravity, and an obsession with Yuke, all the while being hunted by Rethan spies and resenting her hairy, flat chest. Boy-geek-turned-popular-surfer Rhoe must fit in at Beverly Hills High School as Ashley, compete in The Laguna Beach Invitational without becoming shark food, dodge boys’ affections, cool his preoccupation with Tiffany and his new body, on his quest to find the healing rocks he believes will save his brother’s life.

If only it were that simple. Some wishes can’t come true. Some have to.

EXCERPT:

Yuke catches up to me. We walk side-by-side in silence through the Golden Meadow. The airboard launch, a sort of gigantic upside-down slide, peeks over a row of Truffula Trees.

“Listen, there are three things you have to remember about soaring. You’ll never soar if your mind is on the ground. Put it up on The Ridge,” Yuke says, pointing to a purple-blue mountain ahead of us. “Rhoe taught me that.”

The way he says Rhoe I know it’s happened. He knows. He really knows I’m not Rhoe, I’m…Ashley. It’s sunk in. Finally. I stop walking and can hardly breathe. It’s the first time he’s ever seen the real me, and his gaze warms me down to my frog feet. Yuke spots the question in my eyes.

“The Ridge of No Return,” he says with a small smile, “It’s the prime place to catch air. But beware The Devil’s Grip. Soar too high and you’ll be caught in The Grip and lost to The Other Side. Forever.”

He misreads the question in my eyes. Again. I shiver thinking about The Grip and dying in the mythic ice and snow of The Other Side. I stare at my hideous frog feet, my peds. I don’t care about The Ridge. There’s only one person I care about. One boy I’ll never have. Yuke.

“What else?” I ask, peering deeper into Yuke’s alien eyes.

“You’ve got to feel the beat of the wind in your peds. Surrender to the air. And know, deep in your hearts, no one is its master.”

I hear and don’t hear every word Yuke says. For the first time in my life I can’t speak. I can’t take my eyes off Yuke, now that he knows I’m not Rhoe. He wouldn’t be telling his best friend, an Astral, how to airboard unless he knows I’m Ashley, someone who doesn’t know much about soaring

“Your catchers will always stop you if you fall,” Yuke says, filling the silence between us. He raises his arms above his head. Delicate wings expand out from under his arms. Thin pinkish-purple skin stretches over delicate, long bones. No feathers at all. Just smooth, glimmering skin. And it’s crazy. A week ago I wouldn’t even look twice at a guy with a big nose, but now, I’m hot for an alien. With wings.

I have to touch him. It’s beyond wanting to. The way Yuke spreads his wings makes his pecs flare and his biceps seize. He’s beyond gorgeous. The way his sheer wings take to the breeze makes Yuke more unreal than he already is to me. He’s everything I never wanted and everything I can’t live without. It feels like we’re the only souls in the universe. The look in his golden exotic eyes melts my ability to stay away from him.

“You can’t be real,” I say taking a few steps closer to him, holding my hand out to touch his wing. Waiting for him to let me. To know it’s OK. He flexes and lets his head fall back a little inviting my touch. I lay my alien fingers on his smooth taught skin, and run them over his wing’s thin hollow bones. My eyes fill with tears. His wings flutter in a breeze. He’s beautiful.

Yuke sticks his chest out and when he drops his arms his catchers vanish back into his biceps. “I can’t let you soar. Not now,” he says, the crowd cheers just beyond the trees.

Only then do I remember where we are. What we’re here to do. A band begins to play a set of songs. The crowd beyond the row of trees cheers again and again.

“I have to. I’m doing this for Rhoe,” I say.

Yuke puts his hand on my shoulder. I shudder.

“And for me,” I say.

Yuke’s golden eyes focus only on mine, on the Earthling inside of this alien body.

“And for you,” I say, feeling the beat of my hearts in my throat. “We’re going to win this damn thing.”



Buy Transfer Student NOW!
KINDLE: http://goo.gl/7Gn2W
NOOK: http://goo.gl/f67z5

Transfer Student is an enhanced ebook! It’s my first one. What does enhanced mean? Well, if you’ve been following the tour I’ve let readers in on some of the behind-the-scenes inspirations for the story––places, stories, music and images. So if you haven’t been on the tour and you are reading TRANSFER STUDENT, you can click on the underlined text in the story if you want to get the scoop on the behind-the-scenes inspirations. Listen to music. Watch videos. See pictures or read stories. I’m really excited about this. Some of these links will work better on some reading devices than on others. I’d love to know what you think of the links if you are a reader who is interested in them. Of course you don’t have to click on anything at all to discover Ashley & Rhoe’s story:) It’s just a regular ebook, but the links are there for those who can/want to go deeper. Cheri Lasota is one of the people who’ve helped me get acquainted with enhanced ebooks and she knows a great deal more about them than I do. If you are interested in enhance ebooks, you should spend some time on her incredible blog to keep up to date on all the latest ebook developments!

GIVEAWAY: Here’s how to enter to win a TRANSFER STUDENT BEACH BAG filled with a signed paperback copy of WINNEMUCCA & 13 ON HALLOWEEN, and signed TRANSFER STUDENT bookmarks:

1. follow @Laurawriting and
2. tweet:

Two Worlds-Two Teens-One Wish #TRANSFERSTUDENT #ebook bday get ur copy 2day! #ya #scifi #romance http://goo.gl/7Gn2W

8 winners, open Internationally until 3/24!
To find out more about Laura & her books visit Laurasmagicday.

Blog Party: Flash Fiction from author Elizabeth Issacs

Thanks to author Elizabeth Issacs for this flash fiction for the blog party. Her celebration topic was easter. Enjoy!

This is Nora's first Easter on Edna's mountain from Elizabeth's Issacs books The light of Asteria & The Secret of the Keepers!

It was a tradition at Edna’s church to hide plastic eggs filled with everything from candy, to scripture quotes, to coupons for free ice cream at the local Baskin Robbins. But a few years ago Mr. Vernor made things more interesting by creating the golden egg, which held a grand prize.

Every spring, the children now spent hours making strategies to find the best eggs. Holly, a new friend of mine, wanted candy (her mother never let her eat sweets). She figured that since Mrs. Vernor always wore yellow and loved anything chocolate, Mr. Vernor would hide the best candy in the yellow colored eggs. Holly’s best friend Kate took a more scholarly approach. Everyone knew that most kids thought the eggs that were harder to find held the best stuff, and Kate was sure the deacons would use reverse psychology and hide the best things in plain sight. Kate wasn’t after sweets, like Hol, she wanted the discount coupons to the book store. Me, I didn’t care about candy or coupons. Edna’s birthday was next month and I didn’t have two nickels to rub together. Her winter coat was old as the hills and thread bare. She deserved a new coat. One that didn’t need mending, and this was my one chance to get it for her.

The morning light gleamed off the old church windows. Kate and Hol were waiting at front of the line, motioning me to join them.

“Now remember,” Kate whispered, “as soon as we get to the back of the church, I’ll get all the eggs in the middle of the field, Holly, you look for the ones by the hedges closest to the church, and Nora you go to the edge of the forest. We’ll meet back here and divvy up the bounty.”

Holly whispered back. “Just like we agreed. I get all the chocolate, you get all the coupons, and all the money goes to Nora.”

I tried not to grin. The way Kate and Holly acted, you’d thought we were getting ready to rob the candy store.
Mrs. Brown’s voice bellowed over the old megaphone. “Boys and girls, listen up. No pushing or shoving, once someone touches the egg it’s theirs, and remember, when your basket is full you are to come to the picnic area before opening the eggs.”

“Yeah, right,” Kate muttered.

Holly bolted past the line just as the whistle blew, followed closely by a group of boys. Kate grinned and headed to the center of the field, where she leisurely picked up all the eggs in plain sight. Kate was right. Most of the others ran left, across the field where the forest butted against the church’s picnic area. I started to follow, but a distant flicker of light made me stop. Off to the right, on the other end of the field, a lone elm tree stood. Sunlight angled through the trees, hitting where the bough branched from the trunk, causing something to glimmer.

One of the children pointed and laughed when I ran the opposite direction, but I didn’t care. The elm’s husk crunched under my feet as I picked up a few eggs along the way. I jumped onto the massive slumbering bough and carefully walked to spot that held whatever it was that reflected the suns’ rays. Stuck just out of sight was an egg made of burnished gold, and my hand shook as I plucked it from an abandoned squirrel’s nest. Neatly folded and hidden inside was a fifty dollar bill.

I hopped off the tree and headed toward the picnic area.

Looked like Edna would get that coat after all.

Check out Elizabeth:

Website
Blog
Facebook
Twitter

Blog Party: Flash Fiction from author Bill Talcott & Give@way

Thanks to Bill for this great flash fiction for the blog party. Bill's celebration topic was a life changing moment/improving moment.

David and Mary by Bill Talcott

I remember the first time I saw her. She stepped into the alley and a breeze caught her long brown hair. I was 14 at the time and so alone. I thought my life was over but she reached out to me and offered me hope.

Over the years she offered me her friendship and eventually, when I was much older I could tell that she had fallen in love with me. She gave me every chance she could, hoping that I felt the same way. Little did she know that I fell in love with her the first time I saw her in the alley. But because of who I am, I had to keep my distance.

The times that she tried to get close were very difficult for me. If she for one moment thought that I didn’t see the look in her eyes or noticed the way she would touch my hand, she was wrong. I noticed it all, the smile on her face and the way she moved when she wanted me to notice. But I had to remain strong.

There were times when I thought I would break. I wanted to tell her who I was. I wanted to tell her everything. I wanted to tell her I loved her and my heart ached with sorrow at the thought that I would never be able to do so. Then came the day I had to leave. It was because of my love for her that I was willing to sacrifice everything. Irony was a poor word to describe the situation. Cruel would not even suffice. I had no choice other than to leave Mary behind on Valdorion.

Months have passed since my return to the Home World and not a day has gone by that I haven’t thought about Mary. There are times when I would give the Solar Empire to have her here at my side Only my closest friend could see the loneliness in my heart. I thought I was doomed to an existence without her. It was only in my hopes and dreams that she would be standing here before me. Yet here she is. Because she swore that she would one day tell me she loved me, Mary has traveled great distances to be here. Once again, she has reached out and saved me. My heart and all that I am is hers.



Thank you. David Brentell and Mary Evans are two characters from Bill's story, The Mission. You can find my story and myself by following the links below.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004S7AHCM
https://www.createspace.com/3739499
http://billtalcottsblog.wordpress.com
https://sites.google.com/site/billtalcottssite/
https://www.facebook.com/remnantsofthepastthemission
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002165445923

And you can find Bill onTwitter @BillTalcott

Giveaway:

Bill has kindly offered two of my followers the chance to get their hands on an Ebook of The Misson. To Enter all you have to do is be a GFC follower and comment below with a moment that was life changing for you. Please leave your email address so I can contact you if you win.

-Giveaway is sponsered by Bill Talcott
-Giveaway is International
-Giveaway ends 20th March 2012 (Giveaway extended to 30th March)

Blog Party: Flash Fiction from author Lakisha Spletzer

Thanks to author Lakisha Spletzer for this awesome piece of flash fiction. Lakisha's celebration topic was graduation.

Lakisha Spletzer is an Indie Cross-Genre writer of science fiction/fantasy. She started writing stories and poetry at the age of 8 and hasn't stopped yet. She loves diving into writing and giving readers the stories that swirl around in her head.

This graduation post excerpt is taken from book 2, Midnight Revelations, in Lakisha Spletzer's Werelove series.

Citrus Academy Stadium

Saturday,12:30pm

The forecast for Graduation Day had been for clear skies and sunny, yet Laylah could find no solace in such a beautiful day. All rays of hope in her life had been extinguished and nothing but darkness surrounded her as she moved closer to her wedding day. While her classmates basked in the glow of a job well done, her soul was screaming in agony at the impending loss of freedom. The trap her father had set was almost completely closed around her.

She forced herself to listen to Principal Hubbard speaking. Before long it would be her turn as one of the co- Salutatorians to speak. While the others had decided on speeches, she chose a poem that she had written for Literature class. At the time she'd written it ,it had been a heartfelt send-off for herself and the other graduating Seniors. Now the words were bitter to her but she would not fail in her duty to deliver them with all the pomp and emotion it was worth.

Principal Hubbard finished speaking and the Valedictorian took the stage. He was a popular guy who was not only intelligent, but athletic. After his part, she would be next. A flutter of nervousness filled her ,but repeated practices in front of her classmates and Miss Lipps, had assured her that she would be fine. She really hoped that she wouldn't ever have to get up in front of this many people again and talk. Unlike the Valedictorian and her fellow Salutatorians , she did not relish the limelight.

“...Now, LaylahLeCroix will read poetry that we, the Senior class, believe sums up our feelings about our academic journey,” the Valedictorian stated proudly.

There was polite applause as she stood and made her way to the podium. None of it was from her family. Neither Father nor Grand- mère had come. Only Jacques was with her on what was supposed to be one of the happiest days of her life. Not that she cared any more. She didn't need to see her father's scowling face or Grand-mère's disapproving glare. She was happy without that added anxiety. Not that she had inner peace, but at least today was bearable.

She took a steadying breath. She would make it through this reading without any problems. She plastered a smile on her face and began reading the poem:

The Last Good-Bye

Our youth that we so highly prized-

Has at last slipped away.

We stand poised at the brink of adulthood-

Scared, unsure ,yet hopeful

Thinking back upon the memories we've shared-

Some we've laughed; some we've cried.

Wishing now that we could go back to those-

Care free days of happiness and joy.

Longing for those wild ,crazy ,exuberant years-

Of youth which has gone away.

We hear it still-

Beckoning us back but yet pushing us ever forward.

Looking back we see the world was ours-

And ours ,alone to do as we pleased.

So we reigned and ruled as queens and kings-

Without protest from those around us.

But now we must look ahead-

And follow the shining stars.

They call for us to come-

And join them on their courses

Too ur parents we givethanks-

For without their support we wouldn't be.

To the teachers and school staff-

Who had faith enough to believe in you and me.

This is for those whose lives we touched-

Maybe changing them for the better.

This is the world-

Who is about to meet us on our own terms.

For all those who see us and meet us-

Watch out guys!

We're coming in full force-

Like a hurricane at midday.

We say thanks and good journey-

Live and prove yourself true.

Live up to your beliefs-

And forever remember this last good-bye.

The thunderous applause ,as she finished reading, surprised her into a real smile. She went back to her seat and spent the rest of the ceremony thinking about her future. When her turn came, she accepted her diploma to moderate applause. Finally, it was over and everyone filed off the field.

She craned about , trying to spot Britta in the crowd. Just when she was about to give up, she saw her best friend near the exit. She hurried toward her and stopped. They stared at each other for a long moment. Laylah took a deep breath and let it out slowly before peaking. “Hi, Britta.”

“Hello, Laylah.”

She flinched at the coldness in her friend's tone. She deserved it. “I wanted to talk to you and...,”

“I don't want to talk with you. You see, I realized something. True friends don't behave the way you did. They don't let something small rip them apart. But that's what you did. I'm sorry that you didn't know he was Were. I thought you knew. You really hurt my feelings and then refusing to take my calls was rude. So, you know what? I'm moving on. I don't have time for someone who is willing to throw everything away for no reason. That's not the kind of friend I want or need.”

“Britta, I'm sorry! I was so confused and everything was being dumped on me at once. It wasn't right, I know that. I was hurt because I felt betrayed. It seemed like I was the butt of this big joke that everyone else was in on except me.”

Britta shook her head. “You and I being best friends wasn't a joke. But, whatever. You're going to be a married woman soon and I have University to go to. I wish you a good life, Laylah.”

“Britta! Wait!” Laylah reached for her but her friend walked away. She couldn't believe it. A painful ache filled her heart then and she swooned.

“Laylah! It's all right, I'm here.”

She felt Jacques' arms wrap around her and he pulled her close as he walked her back to the limo. She didn't know when the tears began tof all. Not that it mattered. She had now lost everything and the carefully laid trap planted by her father had completely engulfed her.

Read this dark paranormal romance YA series in order:

Book #1: Dusk Conspiracy

Book #2: Midnight Revelations

Book #3: Night Betrayals (coming May 31, 2012)

Genres: YA/Paranormal Romance/Science Fiction

Both books are available in paperback and ebook at the following locations:

Amazon/Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Lakisha-Spletzer/e/B0039SXOE4

Barnes & Noble/Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/lakisha-spletzer

Smashwords (Ebook formats): http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/kishazworld

Today Reading Away The Days Turns One! *GIVEAWAY*

Hey! Today the 2nd of March 2012 is a great day. Today Reading Away The Days Blog offically turns one!

I can't believe it has only been one year, it has felt like I have been blogging forever! I want to thank everyone who has commented on on of my blog posts, follows my blog, follows me on twitter & facebook and just everyone who even just read one of my posts. Thank you! Without you guys I wouldn't have such a great blog. I also want to thank all the authors who have guest posted or been interviewed on my blog thoughout the year, I love all you guys!

How about an awesome swag pack giveaway?

Here is what is in the swag pack:

*The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges bookmark
*A signed Pyxis by K.C.Neal bookmark
*A signed The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton bookmark
*A signed The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe bookmark
*The Childe bookmark by C.A.Kunz
*A signed The Willows: Haven by Hope Collier bookmark
*A signed shade/shift by Jeri Smith Ready bookmark
*Paranormal plumes card
*Signed Karen Mahoney Iron Witch sticker
*The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe fridge magnet
*The Childe by C.A.Kunz card
*Dark Days by C.A. Kunz sticker
*Signed Shade by Jeri Smith Ready sticker
*Dearly departed postcard
*Fairy Bad Day postcard (signed)
*Dark Day Postcard
*The Childe by C.A.Kunz badge
*A Between by Mary Ting key ring
*A taster of The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

To Enter:

You must be a GFC follower and comment below with you fave YA author. Please leave your email address so I can contact you if you win!

Extra Entries:

+2 tweet about the giveaway (leave link below)
+2 follow me on twitter (@Teamwolf1988) Leave twitter name
+2 Like my facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Reading-Away-the-Days/246705252037557 (Leave a comment on the fb page) Leave FB name below
+4 if you subscribe by email (Subsribe button top right hand cornor just enter your email address and follow the instructions)

-Giveaway is International
-Giveaway is sponsered by me with thanks to all the authors who provided the swag
-Giveaway ends March 20th 2012 (Giveaway extended to March 30th)