Angel Eyes release day: Interview with author Shannon Dittemore

Today is the release of Shannon Dittemore's debut novel, Angel Eyes. Check out my interview with the author and leave her a comment below :)

Can you tell me a little about yourself and how you got into writing?
Sure! I could say I've always written--and that's true--but I've had times when my creativity was primarily unleashed elsewhere. When I was a teenager, our church had a performing arts team and we traveled around, performing and competing a bit. We danced and did skits. We did mime and puppetry. That's right, I said it: puppets. Later, I ventured into community theatre, but, in all of it we were telling stories. I owe a lot to our director, Sherry, and to those years. They helped shape who I am as a storyteller. When it came to noveling, Angel Eyes was really my first whole-hearted endeavor. At the time, I was doing bookkeeping for a consulting company, which is a laugh because math and I do not get along. One day I realized that if I wanted to do something else--if I wanted storytelling to be my job--then I needed to get back to telling stories. So I did. I sat down and wrote what I knew.

Can you tell us a little about your debut novel Angel Eyes?

Angel Eyes is about a girl who had plans and potential and she lost it all the minute her best friend was killed. She feels scared and guilty and very much alone. And she thinks she deserves to feel those things. But, with the help of the boy next door and a very strange gift, she begins to see fear for what it is. She realizes she's not alone in her despair, but that's not entirely comforting. Good and evil. Angels and demons. And a world that isn't what it seems. That's Angel Eyes in a nutshell.

Where did you get the idea for Angel Eyes?

My husband and I serve as youth pastors at our church and when I was drafting the story, I was surrounded by tons and tons of kids with more potential than they knew what to do with. Still, so many of them seemed unfocused. A bit lost, even. And the more I thought about why, the clearer Brielle's journey became. As for the angelic stuff, angels and demons have always been on the backdrop of my storytelling experience. I've played Satan in more dramas and puppet productions than I can even remember. Once, early on, we used the wrong kind of face makeup and my neck was demon-red for days. It's much funner now than it was then, I assure you. Anyway, when it came time to sit down and tell a story, it's the one I had in me.

I love the cover of Angel Eyes. Who designed it and did you have much say in the designing process?

I love the cover too! And I can say that because I had absolutely nothing to do with it. Dual Identity is the design team hired by my publisher. They've done a ton of fantastic stuff and I'm elated they're on board. Thomas Nelson, my publisher, was great to include me and ask for feedback, but mostly I just gushed and told them how fabulous it all was. We did make one substantial change. Originally the model on the cover was a redhead, but Brielle's blond. So, they brought in another model and re-shot the cover. I'm so grateful because she's perfect.

How does it feel to be releasing your first novel?

It's like... 60% awesome and 40% terrifying. Some days those numbers are flopped. I'm so blessed to be in this position and so overwhelmed to be working with the team at Thomas Nelson Fiction. On the days when my nerves take over, I try to remember that.

Why should we read Angel Eyes in one sentence?

Because, like Brielle, you're not alone, and everybody needs to know that.

Stalk Shannon:

http://shannondittemore.com/

https://twitter.com/#!/ShanDitty

https://www.facebook.com/ShannonDittemore

Buy Angel Eyes:

Amazon.com

Barnes & Noble

Author Interview: Katherine Longshore

Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you got into writing?

I think I started writing as soon as I started reading. I can remember sitting underneath the bar that separated our kitchen from our dining room, asking my dad how to spell words. I've always loved the sound of words, and the unique and beautiful ways they can be put together. I think that's why I fell in love with theater - because each word means something, and so much rests on interpretation. Writing fiction, I can dive into a character just like I did when I was acting, and breathe the words right into her.

Can you tell us a little about your new novel Gilt?

Imagine a world where people will do anything to be in the popular crowd. Where friendship means little if betrayal can be the means to an end. Where who you love doesn’t matter as much as who you’re with. And imagine it costumed in damask gowns, bedecked in gold and diamonds and set in the luxury of Henry VIII’s court.

Where did you get the idea for Gilt?

From history, and from experience. I'd spent years reading about Henry VIII and his six wives, and wondering what they were really like. My imagination took over. But I also wanted to create a story that was relevant to modern readers, and that's where experience comes in.

Gilt is YA historical fiction. Is this a genre you prefer to write in or is there any others you would like to try?

It's funny, because my reading pile is almost equally divided between contemporary YA and historical non-fiction. I love learning the history, following the characters, immersing myself in the images and attitudes. But I love stories that feel emotionally resonant in a modern way. I think that's why I try so hard to write a contemporary story within a historical context. One day I’d love to write something set in today’s world, but for now the drama of history keeps pulling me in.

The cover for Gilt is great. For some reason it reminds me a little bit like the Need series covers by Carrie Jones. I don't know why though, LOL. Who designed in and did you have much say in the designing of the cover?

I love the gold lipstick on the cover of Need! GILT’s cover was designed by Irene Vandervoort. I had no idea what it might look like until the image popped into my inbox one afternoon. My only input was to squeal and write back in all caps, “I LOVE IT!” It's so different from what I expected, but much more eye-catching than anything I could've come up with myself. Thank goodness for great designers!

Gilt is the first book in a series. Do you know how many books will be in the series?

There'll be three books in this series, all set in the court of Henry VIII, and each one featuring a different girl. There will be some characters who turn up in all three books in one way or another, but the narrators will be very different. The second book is currently titled TARNISH and is set twenty years before GILT.

Why should we read Gilt in one sentence?

Because it's not your mother's historical fiction.

You can buy Gilt at these websites:

IndieBound

Barnes & Noble

Amazon


Follow Katherine:

website

Blog

Group Blog

Twitter

Facebook

Goodreads

YA Feature: Quinn Loftis

This weeks YA author is Quinn Loftis author of The Grey Wolves Series. Enjoy the interview and leave a nice comment for Quinn below :)

Can you tell me a little about yourself and how you got into writing?

Well I'm a mother and wife. I had been a nurse for the past 6 years but now I have the opportunity to write full time so that is what I do.

I have always love to write. I use to strictly write poetry, but decided after reading several self published books that I would give it a go. I decided on paranormal because it's what I really like to read and it's so fun to write about.

Can you tell us a little about your series The Grey Wolves Series?

The Grey Wolves Series is about the Romanian Grey Wolves and their mates. The first book, Prince of Wolves (POW) introduces us to this world with Fane (the Romanian Grey Wolves Prince) and Jacque an all American girl who has no clue what mixture is running through her veins. She has two best friends who are beyond entertaining, and loyal to a fault. They themselves play a part in the Grey Wolves and we get to see their stories unfold in the books to follow. It's a world where dominant wolves are faithful, possessive and loyal and love their mates beyond all else. It's a world full of magic, darkness, good and evil, action and romance laced with humor that at times probably throws readers for a loop. I have fallen in love with these characters and I hope others feel that way when they read the books as well.

Where did you get the idea for The Grey Wolves Series?

I decided to do YA paranormal and on the tail end of that I decided were-wolves because they are just, frankly, bad @#%. They are so intense and loyal, easily angered yet so very redeemable. I knew that I wanted there to be some different twists than what is already out there although there are similarities as it is virtually impossible to eliminate all elements of what makes were-wolves, well, were-wolves. Truth be told, POW evolved as I wrote it. I didn't really have a plan, I just sat down, picked the names of the main characters and looked for a small town in Texas for my setting and then off I went.


The cover of The Grey Wolves Series are awesome. Who designed them and did you have much say in the designing process?

My cover artist for the first 3 books is also a good friend. We went back and forth on the designs. I looked photos and she did as well. She would play with it and send me a proof until we both felt she had hit the nail on the head. She isn't doing covers right now because she has so many other things going on so I don’t want to put her name out there until she is ready.

The fourth book on The Grey Wolves Series releases June 7th. Will this be the final book in the series or will there be any more?

There will be 7 books total in this series. I am really enjoying writing it and will be sad when it ends.

Why should we read The Grey Wolves Series in one sentence?

Step out of your life, put your worries on hold for thirty minutes and join my characters for an unforgettable ride.

　

Anything else you would like to add.

Just a thank you to everyone who has taken a chance on my books. Who have given their time and money to support me. You all mean the world to me.





Buy Quinn's Books:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Smashwords

Stalk Quinn:

www.quinnloftisbooks.com

Facebook: Quinn Loftis Books fan page

@AuthQuinnLoftis (twitter)

e-mail : lovetoread@quinnloftisbooks.com

Author Interview: J.Anderson Coats

Can you tell me a little about yourself and how you got into writing?

I own over two hundred books about the middle ages. I’m a Cancer, I lived in Australia as a child, and I earned two master’s degrees before the age of thirty. I’m married to a math teacher, my teenage son has read every book on programming in the public library, and my cat has thumbs. I make rag quilts with more enthusiasm than skill, and my attempts to keep a garden alive have been successful to date.

I don’t think I’ve ever not been a writer. I wrote my first book before I lost my first tooth. My second-grade teacher shepherded twenty-nine seven-year-olds through the publication process, from idea to editing to cover design. The result was twelve pages, handwritten, meticulously illustrated, complete with a copyright date and a colophon. I was hooked!

Can you tell me a little about your debut novel The Wicked and the Just?

The Wicked and the Just takes place in 1293-1294 in north Wales, ten years into English rule. Cecily is an unwilling transplant to the English walled town of Caernarvon, and she’d like nothing better than to go home. Gwenhwyfar, a Welsh servant in Cecily’s new house, would like nothing better than to see all the English go home. The ruling English impose harsh restrictions and taxation on the Welsh, and conditions in the countryside are growing desperate. The rumors of rebellion might be Gwenhwyfar’s only salvation – and the last thing Cecily ever hears. 

Where did you get the idea from The Wicked and the Just?

Medieval Wales doesn’t get a lot of attention despite the fact that it was a complicated, dynamic place. The native rulers managed to resist outright conquest by their English neighbors until 1282-3, but then the victorious English fast-tracked a series of castles and walled towns to maintain control of the area and the people.

What interested me was this question: Even when granted a lot of special privileges - including significant tax breaks - how did English settlers live in a place where they were outnumbered twenty to one by a hostile, recently-subjugated population, and how did the Welsh live so close to people who’d done the subjugating, especially given the burdens placed on them by their new masters?

How does it feel to have you book out in the world for people to read?

It’s a bit like sending a kid to kindergarten. You spend those early years nurturing and guiding and carefully cultivating the book so it says please and thank-you and looks both ways before crossing. More often than not, you get to pick and choose its friends and influences. But then? You walk your book to the school doors and it walks inside itself. You have to trust that all those things you did to make it ready really did make it ready, and you have to accept that it’s going to live in the same harsh world you do. Some people will love it. Some will hate it. Some won’t care about it at all. But you have to let it go and let it be what you’ve made it. And that? Is difficult and terrifying and exciting all at once.

I love the cover of The Wicked and the Just. Who designed it and did you have much say in the designing process?

The cover was designed by Christine Kettner, and the title was hand-lettered by Leah Palmer Preiss. The basic design was more or less finalized when I first saw it, but I gave some suggestions on tweaking different aspects. For instance, the castle in the original design was smaller and situated in a forest. The designer was able to accommodate an image of the real Caernarvon castle and situate it near water, which allowed the art department to do all that lovely work with color and light and shadows.

The Wicked and the Just in historical fiction. Is this the genre your prefer to write in?

I write books I think should exist in the world. I let the experts decide where to shelve them.

Why should we read The Wicked and the Just in one sentence?

Medieval teenagers behaving badly are interesting in ways that might surprise you.

Thank you to Jillian for this awesome interview. The Wicked and the Just is available to buy now!
Website: http://www.jandersoncoats.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jandersoncoats

Twitter: @jandersoncoats

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12180253-the-wicked-and-the-just

Elements: The Beginning Blog Tour: Author Interview

This week is the Elements: The Beginning Blog Tour for author Kate Fuentes. Enjoy my stop on the tour with an interview with the author. Stop by Tales of Books and Bands tomorrow for a review of Elements!


Can you tell me a little about yourself and how you got into writing?


Since I was a little girl, I have had a vivid imagination and a strong sense for the whimsical. I began writing short stories and skits as a child and later began to write the small scenarios while I was journaling. I didn't fully grasp the concept of writing novels as a career until just recently and I still haven't taken the plunge entirely, since I still have a day job. I find writing to be therapeutic and an escape from the realism that surrounds us all daily. It's intriguing to immerse yourself into a book and get lost inside the pages. A great book can pass the hours as if they were minutes and saturate your brain with wonderous images. If I am reading an amazing book, I find myself dreaming about it and waking up reaching for the novel. That's what I want for my readers and that's what I strive for... to have the readers of ELEMENTS grasping for the pages and wanting more!

Can you tell us a little about Element: The Beginning?

The ELEMENTS series follows the lives of fraternal twins Talon and Gage Thorn, brothers born from an ancient prophecy and gifted with extraordinary elemental abilities. They are hunted by an evil emperor from the underworld and plagued with the threats of his nefarious creatures. Their family has been torn apart by tragedy and they must learn to harness their great gifts before it is too late. The Thorn brothers have been chosen by destiny to be the protectors of man, but the naivety of their youth and lack of experience may hinder them from completing the most important task in history... keeping mankind alive.

Where did you get the idea for Elements: The Beginning?

My children asked me to write them a bedtime story and so I began to write the main characters after my real life sons so they would stay interested. I added the supernatural aspect and a scary villian to further enrapture their minds with the sensation of wanting more. I am a BIG Greek Mythology fan and so some of my ideas are based on the outlandish abilities of Immortal beings with their wonderous powers. My children are also fans of Matel superheroes and this element was added as well. Some of the supernatural abilities exceed even my fantastical standards, but I wanted to be original and stand apart from other novels and story lines. By the time I had gotten half way completed, I decided to turn the project into an actual book and give it to them as a Christmas gift. I never dreamed I would actually publish the work! I did so as a demonstration to my children that no matter how old or young a person may be, always follow your dreams!

Who designed the cover of Elements: The Beginning and did you have much say in the designing process?

I designed the first book myself. I wanted the two elements of fire and water to be the main focus. I have always been drawn to books that have a basic black background and a visually stimulating image. I don't like covers to be gaudy or overdone. In my opinion, this distracts the potential reader. Simplicity is what I think works.

Book two, Veil of Darkness and book three, Kingdom of Aqueous were designed by Devan Edwards of Nimbi Designs. I wanted to go deeper into the story and have the image portray an actual character in the book and so I went with a character image with a particular element. Devan is an amazing graphic artist and is one of a kind! I explained to Devan what my imagination had conjured up for the covers and she designed the exact image I had dreamed! I find a basic picture and she morphs the image into what you see on the covers. It's amazing and I am grateful to have found her!

Why should we read Elements: The Beginning?

Of course I am partial to my series, ELEMENTS, but I think it has originality. I have two characters for readers to fall in love with or choose their favorite. I have also created a cross roads between fantasy and reality by going from the earth realm to various worlds filled with an array of characters both good and evil. Elements depicts the harsh reality of tragedy, the strength of family, the bond between brothers, the visciousness of wicked characters, and the extraordinary powers most people dream of having.

Elements: The Beginning

AMAZON BARNES&NOBLE GOODREADS SMASHWORDS

Check out Kate's Social Media sites:

http://katefuentes.com

http://twitter.com/fuentes_kate1

http://facebook.com/elements.series

http://siredscribblings.blogspot.com

http://pinterest.com/dreamscribbling

Cicada Blog Tour: T-Shirt contest

Check out the video below and see how you can enter the t-shirt contest which is international!

The rules are:
It must be Cicada-themed
You can't use any part of the book cover art
It's open to international contestants
The deadline is June 30th, so you'll have time to read Cicada and have an idea of what the book's about

The winner will receive the t-shirt you've designed, and your design will be made available in the online store that I'll be opening up later this summer.

Send your designs to cicadatshirt@ymail.com

Good luck and have fun!

bellewhittington.com

YA Feature: Susan Quinn author of the Mindjack Trilogy

This week on my YA Feature is author Susan Quinn. Susan is the author of the Mindjack Trilogy with the second book in the series, Closed hearts releasing May 23rd. Check out my interview with the author below and please leave a comment for the author :)

Can you tell me a little about yourself and how you got into writing?

I’m an ex-scientist and engineer (Ph.D. Environmental Engineering) that left engineering to raise my kids, then managed to get bit by the writing bug before I could go back to work. Now my business card says “Author and Rocket Scientist” and I love writing novels for teens and kids. I had always loved writing, but it took reading amazing kidlit stories with my children to tug me back into it. I plan to die at the keyboard with a nearly finished novel – preferably many years in the future!

Can you tell us a little about book one in the Mindjack Trilogy, Open Minds?

Open Minds is about a girl (Kira) who can’t read minds in a telepathic world. She soon discovers that she can control people’s minds instead, and quickly gets tangled in a hidden underground of mindjackers.

Closed Hearts, the second book in the Mindjack Trilogy releases May 23rd, can you tell is a little about it?

If you’ve read Open Minds, you know that Kira’s story is just getting started, and there is more to tell about how mindjackers and mindreaders can co-exist. The title of the first novel is a play on words, not just because it’s a story about mindreaders, but because the world that Kira lives in is so intolerant of people like her (first a zero who can’t read minds, then a mindjacker that controls them). The second novel is a similar play on words, with hearts both open and closed playing a big part in the story.

Where did you get the idea for the Mindjack Trilogy?

I was inspired by an online contest to create a 1^st paragraph for a novel that hadn’t been written yet! I had been playing around with the idea of a boy who was a touch-empath, but hadn’t turned it into a story yet. Then, while I was drifting off to sleep and wondering what in the world I was going to write for this contest, the image of a girl sitting in a classroom of mindreaders popped into my head. She was painfully isolated (like the touch-empath would have been in his story), because she couldn’t read minds. Her world was filled with an aching silence. And loneliness. I had to write her story.

Are you working on any other projects at the moment?

Right now I’m working on the third book in the trilogy. In between drafts of that, I plan to cook up a few short stories in the Mindjack universe, just for fun (and to release as singles).

Why should we read the Mindjack Trilogy in one sentence?

I’ll quote a reviewer for this one: “Being a fan of dystopian and sci-fi in young adult books this was exactly the type of book I was hoping to fall in love with and absolutely did.” – Danielle Smith, book blogger for There’s A Book

Buy the books:

Open Minds: $2.99 on Amazon, Barnes&Noble (also available in print)

Closed Hearts: Available May 23^rd, add to Goodreads

Mind Games : A Short Story available now!

Places to find Susan: website, twitter, facebook, subscribe to her newsletter (for upcoming releases)

One Day Blog Tour for Michael by Aaron Patterson & Chris White & #Giveaway

ONE DAY BLOG TOUR! 
MAY 17th!

Michael, book two in the Airel Saga, is live on Amazon TODAY ONLY for a discounted price!!

To promote Michael I’m hosting a contest where you can win a FREE copy of Airel and win a free Kindle Fire.

To take advantage of this awesome deal, head to Amazon and check out the eBook version of MICHAEL at its promotional price, then see below to enter the contest. Also, leave me a comment on this post. The blogger with the most comments will win the Kindle Fire! If I win, I’ll also get the chance to be part of a special giveaway in the next few months.

Praise for Michael


"Move over Twilight! Here comes Aaron Patterson!" --Joshua Graham, bestselling author of Beyond Justice and Darkroom


"I was surprised by how much I really, really liked this book. I have not jumped on the whole "fallen angel" bandwagon, just as I didn't jump on all of the vampire stories that came out after Twilight. This is not your typical fallen angel story. It is one that has left me breathlessly waiting for the next one in the series. Hurry up please!!!" --Sandra Stiles

Description of Michael


Michael did the unthinkable to save Airel from death, but now he must live with the choices he has made--both good and evil. Tortured by his past and haunted by what he believes might be his future, Michael seeks redemption--but will the past prove to be too strong? How can he break free of it and be the man he longs to be for Airel? If only he had never...

Airel. Michael's one true love. He had forced her to drink in new life only to find that old wounds and deep scars do not heal overnight. Can she truly forgive Michael, can she truly love him? And can he accept that forgiveness? Or is it all for nothing, and has he gone too far already? As the darkness of past choices closes in on them, chases them, intercepts them, coming at them from everywhere at once, how can their love possibly survive?

Aaron Patterson is the author of the best-selling WJA series, as well as two Digital Shorts: 19 and The Craigslist Killer. He was home-schooled and grew up in the west. Aaron loved to read as a small child and would often be found behind a book, reading one to three a day on average. This love drove him to want to write, but he never thought he had the talent. His wife Karissa prodded him to try it, and with this encouragement, he wrote Sweet Dreams, the first book in the WJA series, in 2008. Airel is his first teen series, and plans for more to come are already in the works. He lives in Boise, Idaho with his family, Soleil, Kale and Klayton. His daughter had an imaginary friend named She.


Chris White has an award for reading 750 books in one school year — from the 3rd grade. So yes, he’s more of a nerd than Aaron. Chris loves history, Sherlock Holmes, and anything that’s not virtual, like old motorcycles and mechanical typewriters. He also doesn’t get why we have these things called “smart phones” when all they do is make people dumber. Chris recently celebrated 10 years of marriage with his wife, April, and has two boys: Noah, age 8, and Jaden, age 3, who inspired the Great Jammy Adventure series; the OK-to-color-in picture books. Chris is working on a short story called The Marsburg Diary that will further explore the prologue to Airel, and he is finishing up his first novel, entitled K: phantasmagoria, due out in 2011. Chris has a major crush on Audrey Hepburn, who is now dead. His wife is okay with all of this.

I also had a mini interview with one of the authors of the Ariel Saga, Aaron Patterson. Check it out:

Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you got into writing. I always wanted to write a book, it was kind of a bucket list thing. So in 2008 I did, wrote the first one in 30 days.

Micheal is the second book in the Ariel Saga. Can you tell us a little about Micheal? Michael is Airel's boyfriend. He and her have this connection that is a little crazy but it will become more clear as to why she is so drawn to him in Michael.

The Cover for Micheal is beautiful. Who designed it? And did you have much say in the designing process? I have a great cover artist. Phatpuppy Art, they are amazing and I got to work with her through the whole thing.

What is it like to work with your co-writer Chris White? Fun, we bounce ideas, sip coffee and plot world domination! =)

Why should we read Micheal? If you have to ask you shouldn't read it! lol It is a non-stop crazy fun EPIC read...prepare to have your mind blown!

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: The Things We Did For Love by Natasha Farrant

Book: The Things We Did For Love
Author: Natasha Farrant
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Released: March 2012
Pages: 224 pages
Obtained a copy from the library

"Resistance. Heartbreak. Betrayal" The Things We Did For Love has all this and more!

The Things We Did For Love is Natasha Farrant's first YA novel, and its a great read. I couldn't put it down, I needed to know what happened next.

The novel is set in 1944 France, in a small village in the countryside as war is raging throughout Europe. There lives Arianne and Luc who fall passionately in love. However, jealousy, greed, simply being scared of going against the emney , means heartbreak and tragedy for the young couple and the result is the devastation of a whole village.

We are told the story though the eyes of one of the characters. I though it was a totally different character that it was, so I won't tell you who but the story starts of so beautiful. Two young people falling in love during hard times. But this quickly turns to tragedy.

The author has done a great job of making us feel the characters and the places are very real. You can feel the heartache though the authors words. The book also makes you stop and think of the devastation war has on people, relationships and the effects it can even have on a small, quiet village.

Overall I loved the characters in the book and the village it was set in. The book shows you a real side of war and what it can do to a person. I can't wait for more YA books from author Natasha.

5/5 Stars

Check out my interview with Natasha Farrant!

BookBlast: THE ROCK OF IVANORE by Laurisa White Reyes: Win a $50 Amazon Gift Card.

THE ROCK OF IVANORE by Laurisa White Reyes

The Rock of Ivanore is Laurisa White Reyes first novel which releases today May 15th by Tanglewood Press

Blurb:

The annual Great Quest is about to be announced in Quendel, a task that will determine the future of Marcus and the other boys from the village who are coming of age. The wizard Zyll commands them to find the Rock of Ivanore, but he doesn't tell them what the Rock is exactly or where it can be found. Marcus must reach deep within himself to develop new powers of magic and find the strength to survive the wild lands and fierce enemies he encounters as he searches for the illusive Rock. If he succeeds, he will live a life of honor; if he fails, he will live a life of menial labor in shame. With more twists and turns than a labyrinth, and a story in which nothing is as it seems, this tale of deception and discovery keeps readers in suspense until the end.



Middle readers will find that The Rock of Ivanore fits nicely among the traditional fantasies they so enjoy. They will also appreciate its fresh and inventive take on the genre.

Praise for The Rock of Ivanore:

"This is a swift and compelling epic that readers of high fantasy will love!"
— Tony Abbott, author of The Secrets of Droon

“Magic! Swords! Mysterious cloaked figures! A good choice for middle-grade fantasy lovers.”
Marissa Burt, author of Storybound


“Fast paced and very engaging.” –  

So Simply Sara

“Elementary school libraries and middle school libraries can confidently add this book to their collections.” –

Cerulean Librarian

Author Website:
http://www.laurisawhitereyes.com

Author Blog: http://1000wrongs.blogspot.com

Tanglewood Press: 
www.tanglewoodbooks.com

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Rock-Ivanore-Celestine-Chronicles/dp/1933718609/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328595780&sr=8-1

Barnes & Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-rock-of-ivanore-laurisa-white-reyes/1106587884

Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5244611.Laurisa_White_Reyes

To celebrate the release the author is giving a $50 Amazon Giftcard away. Click  here to enter!

Author Interview: D.A.Adams

Can you tell me a little about yourself and how you got into writing.
I’m a walking paradox. I’m equal parts responsible father and mischievous rascal. I’m equally happy sitting on a panel at a con as digging in the dirt on the farm. I’m stubborn and prideful but compassionate and humble. Life has toughened me up, but I’m still sensitive enough to cry. I’ve faced a lot of adversity and been knocked down more times than I can count, but somehow I always get back on my feet and keep fighting for what I believe in. I’m a simple man with simple tastes who loves to write stories.

In 1989, I had a traumatic head injury from a freak accident during track practice. Until that point, most of my focus had been on athletics, and my goal was to become an officer in the United States Marine Corps. The accident ended those dreams and forced me to focus more on my intellectual development. Fortunately, I didn’t suffer any serious long-term effects from the injury, and through the process of working through my grief, I discovered writing as an outlet for my emotions. I also realized that I had always enjoyed creating stories, so I made the decision to become a writer and have been working in this industry, on some level, for 22 years.

Can you tell is a little about your series of novels, The Brotherhood of Dwarves Series?
The central plot revolves around a young dwarf named Roskin who leaves his peaceful kingdom to seek adventure and the ordeals he faces in a world torn apart by racial strife and war. However, I’m trying to allow each main character to grow and mature as unique individuals, so they often take the story off in unexpected tangents. There’s also a sub-context of the importance of interpersonal relationships over materialism, but I try not to be too heavy-handed with it.


Where did you get the idea for The Brotherhood of Dwarves Series?
When I first started thinking about the concept for the series, I remembered a character I first wrote as a teenager named Crushaw, but the character I had created back then was very flat and two-dimensional, so I knew he’d have to be re-imagined . I also thought about writing about my favorite Dungeons and Dragons character, Roskin, but similarly, he needed to have more depth. As I mulled over which one I would like to pursue, I had a moment of inspiration in which I saw them together, Crushaw old and destitute, Roskin young and ambitious, and from that moment, the series was born.

The Brotherhood of Dwarves, of course has Dwarves in it. What other sort of creatures are there in it?
The primary creatures are the standard fantasy tropes: ogres, orcs, trolls, elves, and humans, but I’ve added a few that are fairly unique to this series. There are the Marshwoggs, who were inspired by the Marshwiggles in The Chronicles of Narnia, but I’ve completely re-imagined them as a new culture. There are also several monsters that I’ve thought up.

Why should we read The Brotherhood of Dwarves series in one sentence?
If you like fast-paced, adventure-packed stories about courage, camaraderie, perseverance, and redemption, this is the series for you.

YA Feature: Lisa Rogers author of Angelina's Secret

Hi! This week on my YA Feature I want to introduce to you all author Lisa Rogers. Lisa is the author of YA Paranormal novel, Angelina's Secret. You can check out my review of Angelina's Secret here! I hope you enjoy the interview with Lisa and check out Angelina's Secret.

Can you tell me a little about yourself and how you got into writing?

I’ve always wanted to be an author, but between raising kids and taking care of a husband (which BTW is harder than raising kids) I just never found the time. When my youngest child started his senior year of high school, I decided it was now or never, so I sat down and wrote and wrote and wrote. Now, five years and two books later, I’m still writing and wondering why I didn’t do this sooner.


Can you tell us a little about your YA novel Angelina's Secret?

Well for starters, it’s a really good book and everyone should buy it. J Other than that, Angelina was your typical high school cheerleader—that is until her “imaginary” friend from her childhood showed back up. Now at age seventeen, she has to face the fact that either she can see ghosts or she’s going crazy. Wanting to believe in her sanity, she decides she can see them, while her parents decide she’s crazy. Not only does Angelina have to deal with her new ability, she also has to figure out a way to make her parents believe in her.

　

Where did you get the idea for Angelina's Secret?

My husband and I went out to dinner to celebrate me signing my nonfiction book with an agent. Since this book dealt with the paranormal, we began toying with the idea of what it would be like for someone to discover that they had the ability to see ghosts. Somewhere between the chips and salsa, Angelina’s story unfolded itself right there on the table.



What has the response been from readers do far?

For the most part, the responses have been very positive. Most people say they love Josie and she reminds them of their grandma. The character Josie was modeled after my own grandma so that just makes me all kinds of happy.

In Angelina's Secret, Angelina can see ghosts. Do you believe in ghosts?

Yes, I definitely believe in ghosts. The non-fiction book I mentioned earlier contains true stories about my families experiences of living in a haunted house. You can learn more about On Haunted Ground here http://www.llewellyn.com/product.php?ean=9780738732367


Are you currently working on any other projects at the moment?

Yes. As it turns out, the characters in Angelina’s Secret weren’t quite done telling their story so I am working on a sequel tentatively titled Angelina’s Promise.




Why should we read Angelina's Secret in one sentence?

I’ve been told it’s unputdownable and unlike anything else on the market.



Anything else you would like to add?

I love connecting with readers so please visit me at http://talkingaboutghost.blogspot.com/

Buy Angelina's Secret:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble 

Spencer Hill


Stalk Lisa:

Website:
http://talkingaboutghost.blogspot.com/
Facebook
Goodreads

Review: Angelina's Secret by Lisa Rogers

Book: Angelina's Secret
Author: Lisa Rogers
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Released: February 2012
Pages: 186 pages
Received copy from publisher for review

"Angelina's Secret was a book I couldn't put down!"

Angelina, a high school cheerleader, spent many childhood years in counselling sessions being taught that her imaginary friend Josie was just that, imaginary. However what happens when Josie re-appears years later. Does she accept that she's crazy or can see really see ghosts?

At the start of the book Angelina is having premonitions of things that are going to happen. She tells her parents but they are scared of believing that she may be telling the truth, especially her mum Patty, who I have to admit sounds like she has alot of issues herself. Of course she is telling the truth and a little boy Angelina looks after gets hurt. When she visits him in hospital he mentions his imaginary friend Josie and everything kicks off. Now Angelina can see Josie again!

She has to decide is she crazy or is she "gifted" and can see ghosts. Her parents go for crazy and place her in a psychiatric hospital, they really don't want to, but what would you do if your daughter/son/friend etc starting talking to something you can't see.

Angelina then goes on a journey to convince her parents she can in fact see ghosts and isn't crazy. However what is great about Angelina's Secret is right to the end you are thinking could she really just be crazy and isn't seeing ghosts.

Overall Angelina's Secret is a great read, well written and paced. The characters are intriguing, fun and believable. It shows you the strength a person has to prove what they are saying is true, no matter how crazy it is or how much trouble it can bring you. I can't wait to read more from author Lisa Rogers!

5/5 Stars- A great read!

Check out my interview with author of Angelina's Secret, Lisa Rogers!