Star Fire by Katie M John release day party! *GIVEAWAY*

Today is the release of Star Fire, the last book in the Knight Trilogy by Katie M John. To celebrate the release we are having an awesome online party. Twelve awesome blogs including my blog are celebrating the release with some amazing giveaways.

After you have checked out my giveaway and post, head over to the other blogs to check out there posts and giveaways (ALL GIVEAWAYS INTERNATIONAL) You can check out the blogs particpating here Don't forget to get your copy of Star Fire today!

Blurb:

Egypt changed them both in ways no one ever expected. As murder and dark arts cast a terrible shadow over both The Real World and The Realm. Mina's connection to the mysterious Star Fire Sisterhood results in her becoming The Templar's number one suspect.

Set amongst the snowy mountains of Switzerland and the ancient magical forests of France, Blake and the House of Beldevier are given just one chance to save Mina's life - the recovery of The Holy Grail.

In this epic heart-racing finale, ancient myths come alive and old scores are settled. One thing for sure ... the clock is ticking.

Katie’s Bio:

Writer of the Amazon Best-selling YA series, The Knight Trilogy, Katie is married to a handsome giant and mummy to a mud-puddle fairy. She likes to write whilst drinking tea and eating jaffa cakes. Most of the time she lives in a fairytale world but other than that she is completely and utterly normal.

Katie's debut YA fairtytale series, 'The Knight Trilogy' has become an international best-seller in several chart categories, Contemporary Fantasy, Myths and Legends, Paranormal Romance. It has also been an Amazon No 1. Best-selling Fairytale.

Her work is a blend of rich imagery and fast paced action. Before writing full length novels, Katie wrote poetry, her works being published in several anthology publications.

She is currently working on a stand alone novel called 'Beautiful Freaks' due to be published in Autumn 2012. A high Victorian, Gothic, Steampunk style detective story.

The official website

http://www.theknighttrilogy.com/

Twitter handle @KnightTrilogy https://twitter.com/#!/KnightTrilogy

Writer's blog http://katiemjohn.blogspot.com/

Amazon author page http://www.amazon.co.uk/Katie-M.-John/e/B004AVHF4E/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

To celebrate the release of Star Fire Katie has kindly offered some awesome swag and ebooks to giveaway!

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YA Feature: Rhiannon Paille

This weeks YA Feature author is Rhiannon Paille author of The Ferryman and the Flame series. Enjoy the interview and don't forget to show it some comment love below!


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

I got into writing because I got kicked out of english class in grade six because I was too smart. Every few years they do this government issues apititude test, and well I scored reading and writing levels of grade 10 and so my teacher basically kicked me and four other kids out of the class. We had to sit in the library and do "creative writing" while we waited for the next class to begin.

I'm bit of an odd one to explain. I'm psychic so a lot of the things I write about are things I can actually do or things I've actually seen other psychics do. Otherwise I'm a geek, book blogger, event organizer, business owner, author, and mom. I have a crazy life.

 

Can you tell us a little about your novel Flame of Surrender (The Ferryman and the Flame #1)?

Flame of Surrender is an epic romantic fantasy about a girl who is a weapon falling for a boy that's destined to follow death. Kaliel is a Flame, one of nine apocalyptic weapons, and Krishani is a Ferryman from greek mythology. His destiny is to help ferry souls to the other side. It's pretty much sexy and dangerous.

Where did you get the idea for the series?

It's one of those things I have trouble explaining a lot of the time. The characters came to me in dreams and for years I saw bits and pieces of their story. I finally decided it was better on paper than in my head, and so I began writing it down and never looked back. Of course, the first draft was horrendous but soon I learned how to translate my dreams into fiction, and how to bridge the gaps for readers without damaging the characters or the story line.

 

 

Flame of Surrender is YA fanstasy/parnormal. Is the genre you prefer to write in? Would you like to try any other genres? I.E contempoary, historical etc

It was ironic. I wrote the first draft of Flame of Surrender then thought "I ought to read some epic fantasy books I haven't read before." I used to love Lord of the Rings as a teen but then as an adult, trying to get into The Silmarillion was like nails on a chalkboard for me. I tried several other epic fantasy authors and the only one I really liked was Terry Goodkind for his Sword of Truth series. Shortly after that I realized that I hate epic fantasy. During rewrites that made me VERY conscious of the choices I was making in dialogue, description and characterization. I didn't write my book like every other epic fantasy out there, so while there are obviously elements of it, it can stand away from epic fantasy very easily.

The other books in the series move from historical fantasy to urban and contemporary fantasy so I mean there's only one book that's really epic and the rest aren't. I prefer contemporary fantasy the most.

I really like the cover of Flame of Surrender. Who designed it and did you have much say in the desiging of the cover?

Rachel @ Parajunkee.com did the cover and I'm so glad you like it! She's a rockstar seriously! I didn't have much say. I gave her the picture of Sam that we had taken in 2010 (yep I know the girl on the cover personally, she comes to most of my events with me) and then Rachel worked magic and all I did was tell her to change the text color from blue to purple. (we actually kept the blue one and did an exclusive 100 copy print run.) So yeah I'm very happy with the cover.

 

Flame of Surrender is book one in a series. How many books will there be in the series?

There are 6 and a half books. I think of it as two trilogies and a novella. The first trilogy exists around 7000BCE Earth time (though they're on Avristar for part of that) and then the novella is from the First Era, and then the last 3 books are from the modern world, circa 2004. Yes I realize there's a nine thousand year gap between the third and fourth books, but there's a major purpose for that.

 

Why should we read Flame of Surrender in one sentence?

Read it because sometimes it lasts in love and sometimes it hurts instead. (That's from Someone Like You by Adele btw, in case you missed the reference. Feel free to post the song it's like my themesong for the books.)

 

Final word from the author...

Cupcakes! :)

Rhiannon Paille

Author of The Ferryman and The Flame Series

Flame of Surrender on Goodreads, Amazon, Smashwords, B&N, Indigo, Kobo,

Flame of Justice release date: October 2012

Flame of the Apocalypse release date: October 2013
Follow Me: Twitter, Facebook, Blog, Website

 

 

 

Cover Reveal: Fae by Emily White

This week I have another cover reveal for your from the awesome publishers that are Spencer Hill Press. Today's cover reveal is of Fae by Emily White. Fae is sequel to Elemental that was released in May 2012! Here it is:

Fae

Not all fae'ri tales come with a happy ending.

Ella thought taking care of the ego-bloated Mamood god would be a sure way to bring peace to the galaxy and satisfy her taste for revenge.

But she was wrong.

Despite the fact their god is gone, the Mamood refuse to abandon their attack on the planet Soltak and Ella's own so-called friends start to turn against her. And with Soltak dying--its oceans drying up and its plants withering in the ground--Ella and Cailen suspect there's a new enemy at work. As more people die and more water is leached from the planet, they both prepare for something straight from a nightmare.

The fae are coming.

Title: Fae

Series: Auri #2

Author: Emily White

ISBN: 978-1-937053-26-0

Release Date: December 10, 2013

Formats: paper, e-book

Cover Design: Vic Caswell of Sketcher Girl

What do you think of the cover?

Author Interview & Giveaway: Joanne Levy

Today I am happy to have author Joanne Levy, author of upcoming novel, Small Medium at Large. Enjoy the interview and check out the giveaway below!

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

I grew up as the youngest of four kids (and the only girl) so I was often in the company of books. I’ve always loved to write and tell stories; even when I was a kid, I wrote a lot in school and creative writing was my all-time favourite class, so it was a logical progression that as an adult, I wanted to write. There came a time that I could take some courses to further my day-job career, but then when I looked at the college course book, I realized I really wanted to take a writing class, so I did. I never did take that career class, but the writing course obviously had an effect, because here I am with a published book (and a stagnant day-job, but that’s okay—writing is so much better!).

Can you tell us a little about your upcoming release Small Medium at Large?

SMALL MEDIUM AT LARGE is about twelve year old Lilah Bloom who is at her mom’s (second) wedding when she gets hit by lightning. When she wakes up in the hospital, she’s suddenly able to hear her grandmother—who’s been dead for three years! As a new medium, Lilah uses her abilities to help out the school fashion show and try to get her crush to notice her. Much hilarity ensues.

Where did you get the idea for Small Medium at Large?

I woke up with the title in my head one day and after about a year of working on other projects, figured I better get writing!

 

Would you like to have your MC's talent of being able to hear dead people?

I think so, as long as they’re all the kinds of ghosts that Lilah encounters. There are a lot of people who have passed on that I’d love to have the opportunity to talk to; maybe some celebrities, but probably more like my great grandmother and some other friends that I miss.

How are you feeling about the release of Small, medium at large?

I’m feeling great about it – the cover rocks and my publisher has been awesome from day one, so no complaints there. Also, people who have read the book (that aren’t even related to me) are reviewing it and liking it, calling it a funny book. That’s a great compliment—I love being funny!

 Why should we read Small Medium at Large in one sentence?

You should read SMALL MEDIUM AT LARGE because it’s a funny and heartwarming read with a meddling grandmother and a cute boy and if you’ve ever been 12, you’re going to totally get it.

 

You can find me at Joanne @

Joannelevy.com

https://www.facebook.com/JoanneLevyAuthor

http://twitter.com/JoanneLevy

Small Medium at Large release July 3rd in the US and September 27th in the UK:

Indie Bound

Chapters/Indigo

Powell’s

Barnes & Noble

Amazon.com

Amazon.ca

The Book Depository

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Release day interview: Dust Girl by Sarah Zettel

Today is the release day of Dust Girl by Sarah Zettel! It is the first book in the American Fairy trilogy. Enjoy an interview with author, Sarah Zettel!

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

I've always loved books and reading, and I'd always made up stories, but what tipped me over the edge was reading Ursula Le Guin's THE TOMBS OF AUTUAN when I was thirteen. I couldn't have told you why, but something in that book just grabbed me and would not let go, and I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life writing stories like this.

Can you tell us a little about your new novel Dust Girl, the first book in the American Fairy trilogy?

DUST GIRL starts out in Kansas in 1935. Callie LeRoux sets out into the Dust Bowl to find her vanished parents. On the way she finds out she's a fairy, the answer to a prophecy and in deep, deep, deep trouble.

Where did you get the idea for the trilogy?

My father was a fan of fantasy and science fiction and I grew up reading the books he had on the shelves at home; things like Tolkein, Lord Dunsany and Ray Bradbury as well as the L. Frank Baum Wizard of Oz series. I also grew up listening to Woody Guthrie's music, especially his dust bowl ballads, so magic and the dust bowl always sort of ran together in my head.

For me I love covers of books as I feel that a cover can sometimes protray so much in it. Who designed the cover of Dust Girl and did you have much say in the process?

 The cover is the work of the fabulous art department at Random House. I was shown the rough drafts and asked for input, but the work is theirs.

What genre would you class Dust Girl as, I have heard people say its historical fiction with parnormal elements or urban fantasy/sc-fi/ romance. What genre would you put it in?

This can be difficult. I'd just call it fantasy. Yes, it is also historical. Yes, part of it is set in an urban landscape. But mostly, it's fantasy.

YA Books have been big on vampires, werewolves and fairy stories over the last few years. How does your take on fairies differ from the other books out there?

These fairies are distinctly American. Their aspects and their magic are shaped by the pop culture of the thirties, and by the fairies inherent fascination with human music, art and creativity.

Why should we read Dust Girl in one sentence?

It's a story of magic, music, identity and adventure all wound up in the hard-scrabble, dangerous times on the road in the Dust Bowl.　

Hey, you didn't say it had to be a short sentance.

Dust Girl releases today, June 26th

Buy the book – includes links to buy the book on our website, Amazon, and several other stores.

Twitter: @sarah_zettel

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sarah-Zettel/173689036006158

Website: http://www.sarahzettel.com/

Guest Post & #Giveaway: Beth Balmanno author of Set in Stone

Today on Reading Away The Days I would like to welcom author Beth Balmanno. Author of Set In Stone. Enjoy the guest post from Beth on Why Writing Sequels Sucks and check out the giveaway at the end!

Why (Writing) Sequels Sucks

　

Don't let the title of this blog post fool you. I an a huge fan of sequels. Like, biggest-fan-ever kind of fan. I'm the kind of reader who falls in love with the heroes and the bad boys, who wants to be all BFF with the protagonists and move into their towns and live their lives and basically be the ultimate creepy stalker. And read about them forever.

But it's a whole different ball game when you're the one writing the sequel. Because, suddenly, there is this pressure. To make sure it lives up to the first book. To be sure to satisfy readers. And to reconnect with characters who might—just might—have taken a little hiatus from your thoughts.

When I finished writing Set in Stone, I was happy with the ending. Kind of. Well, not really at all. I mean, it ended the way it needed to end. And, without giving too much away, there really was no other way to bring the story to a conclusion...at least not without adding another 300 or so pages to the book. So I wrote the last scene and sobbed uncontrollably and hit the publish button. And I thought to myself, “Well, I can always write a little something for me. A nice little story to bring my characters back.” (And for my 13 year-old daughter. Because she is probably the biggest stalker-fan ever when it comes to my book.)

But then people started reading it. And they liked it. Some people even loved it. And very nearly all of them said the exact same thing—in emails to me, in FB comments and in reviews: When is the sequel coming out?

Gulp. I guess I'm not writing it just for me and the kid anymore...and I guess I need to get it done sooner rather than later. Because people are waiting. And that is a seriously wonderful and surreal thing to know.

So I'm in the thick of it. Writing the sequel. 15K words in, as a matter of fact. And the pressure is mounting as I try to grow my characters and flesh out scenes and create this second chapter of their story. Thankfully, Noel and Valerie are whispering in my ear. And Geoff is yelling. And new characters have appeared out of nowhere.

The trickle of ideas has turned into a steady stream. I hope it continues. So that I can give readers what they want. A sequel worthy of the original, a sequel that touches them and warms their hearts the way Set in Stone did.

Wish me luck.

Buy Set In Stone on Amazon

www.bethbalmanno.com

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I'm Not This Girl Blog Tour- Guest Post

Welcome to my tour stop on the I'm Not This Girl Blog Tour. I'm Not This Girl is an adult fiction book however I think it can cross into the older YA genre, 16+. Check out a guest post from the author Nina Marie Gardner to find out who would play the characters in her book if it was adapted into a movie!

If your novel was going to be a movie could you tell us which actors would play your characters and why you choose them?

Ha! I think maybe a lot of authors fantasize about who would play who if their book was made into a film. Well, Kristen Stewart would be amazing as Lulu. All the vampire blockbustery hype aside, she is truly an incredible actress. Someone a little goofy might work too, maybe a television actress--except I don't watch much TV these days so I can't really name anyone off the bat.




Dean would have to be someone a little tormented but teddy-bear like. A young Philip Seymour Hoffman? Maybe that guy Joshua Jackson who used to be on Dawson's Creek.

Philip Seymour Hoffman might make a good Sherm. And Max could be any classy blonde. Sienna Miller or Blake Lively...

"Gardner's writing is ridiculously addictive."

A cautionary tale of love and loss—beautiful, raw and heart-wrenchingly honest. "I'm Not This Girl" chronicles the hair-raising journey of shy outsider Lulu, who with her faithful mutt Trouble seeks for meaning, identity and redemption in a world turned upside down by her own catastrophic personality. From the hipster enclave of Hollywood's Silver Lake Hills, to Manhattan at the peak of the dot com boom and bust; through the aftermath of 9/11, to a psychiatric hospital in the Arizona desert, only when Lulu finds her way back to London, the city where she was born, does she come to terms with the truth she's been running from.

Website: http://www.ninamariegardner.com
Twitter: @ImNotThisGirl

Cover Reveal: Triangles by Kimberly Ann Miller

You may be suprised but after over a year of blogging I have never done a cover reveal! What! I hear you say. I know it is something I wish I did more of. So to break me in, here is my first cover reveal for Triangles by Kimberly Ann Miller released in June 2013 via one of my fave publishers Spencer Hill Press!

Triangles

A cruise ship. A beautiful island. Two sexy guys. What could possibly go wrong?

In the Bermuda Triangle--a lot.

Hoping to leave behind the reminders of her crappy life--her father's death years ago, her mother's medical problems, and the loser who's practically stalking her--seventeen-year-old Autumn Taylor hops on a ship with her sister for a little distraction. When she wakes up in the Bermuda Triangle, she fears she's gone nuts for more than one reason: that loser's suddenly claiming they're a happy couple... a hot guy is wrapping his arms around her and saying "Happy Anniversary"... and suddenly, she's full of bruises, losing her hair, and getting IV medication. Autumn visits the ship's doctor, hoping for a pill or a shot to make the craziness go away. Instead, she's warned that one of these "alternate realities" could become permanent.

She just has to ask herself one question--how the hell is she going to get out of this mess?

 

What do you think of the cover?

YA Feature: Jennifer Foor

This week on the YA Feature is author Jennifer Foor, author of The Somnian Series. Enjoy the interview and leave some comments for Jennifer below!

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

Well, I am Jennifer Foor....Author of The Somnian Series....Comedian....Wonder Woman. I am married to my high school sweetheart (since 1996) and have two great kids. I enjoy shooting pool, reading and writing books, camping, swimming, and laying around doing absolutely nothing whenever I have a free millisecond to do so....;) I also love TV and any series about teens. I am ticked off about the cancellation of Secret Circle. (I re-live my silly youth when I watch and read.)

As a young child I found communication to be difficult. My parents had a horrible marriage and it left for little communication time for me. I starting writing letters, keeping journals. Looking back they were more like hate letters. Whenever I was mad or angry I would write my thoughts and feelings down. The funny thing was that I would never hide them. I wanted them to see what I had written. Finally, after doing it for so long, my mother started writing me back. To my shock, it was beneficial and therapeutic. When I got older I started writing short stories, and then longer ones. In 2008 I wrote my first full novel, then let it sit on my computer for three years, before I had the nerve to publish.

Can you tell me a little about your series The Somnian Series?

The Somnian Series is about a 17 yr old boy named Jesse, who finds out that he is born from Nephilum blood, and has been chosen to close the portals to hell, by having to battle Lucifer himself. Jesse finds out that everything he ever known about his life was a lie. Even the people that he loves may not be just who they say they are. It is a story about love and ultimate sacrifice. I don't want to give the series away, but as it progresses more revelations are discovered. Death and danger surround Jesse and the people in his life. Sometimes even love can't save you.

Where did you get the idea for the series?

Dreams. I have dreamed of Jesse and his battles for many years now. I started writing book one four years ago. Since then, I have filled the same notebook with ALL THINGS JESSE. I wrote the second book in seven days after a very detailed dream, that proceeded the release of book one to Amazon. As the ideas flow, so do the next books.....

There are currently Four books released in the series. Will there be anymore?

Book Four was released on June 1st. Book Five is due to release in August 2012.

Why should we read the series in one sentence?



The Somnian Series is a story of love, deception, horror, and mystery that does not have a love triangle, or a vampire, but angels and demons in a battle to save us all, with a romantic twist.

Some fun questions:

Some of your favourite books?

I love Zombies, Vampires, Witches, Demons, Fairies, Ghosts, Wolves, or any other creature out there. Paranormal and Horror are my favorite genre. I will occasionally read a Romance novel, but I prefer stepping out of reality and into fantasy.

Book Four of the Sookie Stackhouse Series is one of my favorite books, in fact, I have read it so many times that the paper feels like fabric. If you have read them you would recognize that is the book where she and Eric get all hot and heavy.

Water for Elephants was sooo good. Someone gave it to me and it took me a year to give it a try.

Favourite series of books you have read?

I just finished reading Fifty Shades Series, in which I read the entire series in three days. Loved it! Christian Grey is just fascinating. I love him as a man, a DOM...I just love that broken, insecure, beautiful man.

I love the Celestra Series by Addison Moore and her newest release EXPEL was worth the wait. I love cliffhangers! I love Gage, and right now he seems to be the bad guy, which makes me crazy! I literally screamed out loud when I read the last page. I also tweeted Addison to tell her how fantastic her ending was, and that I couldn't wait for the next...



My Blood Approves Series, By Amanda Hocking.... All I can say is Jack...Jack...Jack! The under dog, who never seemed to have a chance to win the girl. He had my vote from the first moment. I have read the series twice and also have the audio books.



Another fav is the Bloodstone and Moonstone Sagas by Courtney Cole. I took four years of Latin in high school. I love mythology and anything that has to do with Egyptians. Her Princess series is also a great read. I read the first book in one sitting.



Of course, there is always The Mortal Instruments and Sookie Stackhouse books that I look forward to reading every year.


Favourite 2012 release?

Ha Ha I seemed to have answered this in the previous question. Every year, on the week of my birthday, the Sookie book comes out. I usually get the book on that day and read the entire thing in one sitting. It has become a tradition and it saddens me that next year will be the last in the series.

Favourite genre?

Paranormal Fiction, YA, New Adult, Paranormal Romance.

If you could have dinner with two characters from a book who would they be and why?

I would love to go to dinner with Christian Grey (before either of us were married) Hee Hee! The second would be Jack from My Blood Approves Series by Amanda Hocking. I love Jack......He dresses like a crazy 80-90's grunge skater and has the best character traits. He is such a great guy and I would totally have chased after him in high school, vampire or not.

Final word from the author.....

Thank you for having me. I really appreciate it.

The Somnian Series will continue for at least the fifth book (due out in August).

My Zombie book will be released in July sometime. It is a spin on the normal Zombie story. My hero will be a teenage boy that is a bit of a loner, who is bullied on a daily basis, but learned from playing video games how to survive the Apocalypse and save a few hot girls, of course. The character is based some on my son, who is also helping with the story.

I am also working on a book about a ghost that communicates with her relative, who may be the only thing that can help her stay alive when she is kidnapped.

http://jennyfoor.wordpress.com/

http://www.facebook.com/Somnianseries

https://twitter.com/jennyfoor

http://www.amazon.com/Jennifer-Foor

Author Interview: Chrystalla Thoma

Today on the blog we have author Chrystalla Thoma. Chrystalla is the author of Eli's Chronicles. Enjoy the interview and show some comment love below!


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

Well, I’m Greek (Greek of Cyprus, an island-country in the eastern Mediterranean close to Turkey, Israel, Lebanon and Egypt). I am married to a Costa Rican I met in Germany (true story) and work as a freelance translator and text editor here in Cyprus.


I got into writing early in my life. I started writing when I was about ten (in Greek of course, I didn’t even know English back then) and wrote my first novel at thirteen. A huge epic fantasy with knights. I still have the book! As to *how* I got into it – my father was a poet. I grew up surrounded by books and tales.

Can you tell us a little about your book, Rex Rising, the first book in Elei's Chronicles?

My novel "Rex Rising" is a dystopian science fiction novel for a mature Young Adult public (by this I mean that there is some profanity, some nudity and a scene of non-explicit sex - my protagonist comes across it, not much is seen). I'd say 16+. There is also a GLBT element in it, warning you from the start, although it's not very evident in book one.

"Rex Rising" is book 1 in the series Elei's Chronicles (book 2 is already out - it is called "Rex Cresting")

Blurb:

In a world where parasites create new human races, Elei leads a peaceful life -- until a mysterious attack on his boss sends him fleeing with a bullet in his side. Pursued for a secret he does not possess and with the fleet at his heels, he has but one thought: to stay alive. His pursuers aren't inclined to sit down and talk, although that's not the end of Elei's troubles. The two powerful parasites inhabiting his body, at a balance until now, choose this moment to bring him down, leaving Elei with no choice but to trust in people he hardly knows. It won't be long before he realizes he must find out this deadly secret - a secret that might change the fate of his world and everything he has ever known - or die trying.

Where did you get the idea for Elei's Chronicles?

I have a fascination with certain things which came together in this book.

The first one is the sea: I come from an island and the ocean is a mysterious creature, producing storms and washing out whole towns, while being a source of food and a pathway to other countries.

Then there are parasites, which are almost magical in a creepy, fascinating way. The idea basically started after reading a wonderful book called “Parasite Rex” by Carl Zimmer on all the crazy things parasites can do, how they can change our behavior, our abilities and our very nature.

Finally, I was also interested in the idea of trusting people you think you know and people you just met – how true are our perceptions of others and how much we can trust our gut instinct when it comes to important decisions.

Book two, Rex: Cresting of Elei's Chronicles is also released. Do you plan on writing anymore in the series?

I have already released Book 2 and a novelette set in this world, called “Hera”. I am currently writing book 3 (Rex: Equilibrium) and am planning some short stories and maybe even another trilogy (from Kalaes’ point of view) set in this world.

Your books are dystopian/sci fi. Is this the genre you prefer to write in or would you like to write in another genre?

I like dystopian fiction very much, be it sci-fi, fantasy or other. It’s in the settings, the post-apocalyptic feel of it. That said, I also write epic and urban fantasy.

What are some of your favourite dystopian books?

I did love the Hunger Games (the first book only, I’m afraid), and more recently I read Legend by Marie Lu. I’m currently reading Divergent by Veronica Roth.

Why should we read the Elei Chronicles in one sentence?

In a world where parasites create new human races, Elei is torn from his quiet life and sent fleeing with a bullet in his side and the fleet at his heels – wanted for a secret he does not possess.　

Final word from the author.....

Book 3 will be released in the fall. To keep up to date with the series, check my blog: http://chrystallathoma.wordpress.com/　

Also join the Rex Rising group on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/282489681801529/



Buy Rex Rising (Book One) on Amazon
Buy Rex Cresting (Book two) on Amazon 

Buy Hera (Novelette) on Amazon


Check out the authors Facebook Fanpage & follow her on twitter @chrystallathoma

Book News: FREE Downloads & an awesome new YA Steampuck series

I am excited to bring you some awesome news from Seventh Star Press which includes 2 FREE downloads, an exciting new YA Steampunk series and new anthology project, Perfect Flaw: Dystopian Stories, with editor Robin Blankenship open to all writers for submission!

Steel Roots- A new YA steampunk series

Seventh Star Press have a new addition to the author family in the form J.L. Mulvihill. J.L. Mulvihill is set to release the first book in the exciting new YA Steampunk series in the second quarter of 2013 with The Box Car Baby, with following titles at the beginning of 2014 and 2015.

The Box Car Baby sounds like a great book. I have never read a steampunk book before but I am hoping this may be my first delve into the steampunk world.

Blurb:

The Box Car Baby introduces the character of AB'Gale Steel who was born in a boxcar on a train bound for Georgia, according to what her papa told her.  Bishop Steel, a mechanical engineer for the Southern Railroad, found his adopted daughter snuggled in a basket of cotton on an otherwise empty boxcar in the train yard.  When no one came around to claim the baby, Bishop Steel, rather than relinquish the child to the State only to end up at the Workhouse someday, smuggled her home to raise as his own. The name on the boxcar he found her in read, A B Gale Logs, and so he named the baby AB'Gale.

But if the mystery of who her real parents are isn’t enough for fifteen-year -old AB'Gale, Papa Bishop goes missing. Worried for her family and afraid of having to spend her life at the Workhouse, AB'Gale goes into town to see if anyone’s seen her papa, only to find a deeper mystery.  At the train station no one seems to know who her papa is even though he’s worked for the Southern Railroad for thirty years.

An encounter with a strange Hobo-man, who claims to know her father, results in the acquisition of a leather eye-glass tube that he says belongs to her papa. Before AB'Gale can question him further the man runs away.  When she gets home, she finds the Crushers taking her grandma off to the Oldies-home, so she hides until they are gone.

AB'Gale finds that the leather tube contains a map of the United States, with markers made by various towns across the country.  By each marker is a word or a name written in her papa’s handwriting.

Alone, and with only the clues of the map to go by, AB'Gale has no choice but to set out on her own to find her papa.  

"The Steel Roots novels will be released in limited hardcover, softcover (trade paperback), and several eBook editions, including versions for Kindle, Nook, the iBookstore, and Sony-compatible devices."


For further information on J.L Mulvihill and the upcoming releases, please visit http://www.seventhstarpress.com/ or the author's site at http://www.elsielind.com/

*All information obtained from www.seventhstarpress.com , I do not claim this work as my own, this was obtained via a press release on the website above with persmission*

New anthology project, Perfect Flaw: Dystopian Stories, with editor Robin Blankenship

Seventh Star Press have announced an exiciting new anthology project, Perfect Flaw: Dystopian Stories, with editor Robin Blankenship. The anthology will allow for short stories of up to 10,000 words.

The type of story they are looking for:

"The stories must be set within a society in a repressive and controlled state, which can be under the guise of a utopian society.  The genre of the stories can be anything from Horror to Science Fiction, Fantasy, Steampunk and other forms of speculative ficiton"


"This anthology is intended to be a book that is a exploration of society gone wrong. "Utopian" societies that mask the true, underlying controlled state. Stories of people fighting back against the repression in hopes of a better place for the average person. Groups forming to fight the fatal flaw that the people in charge strive to cover up to keep the masses in line."

Submissions must be in by Midnight of January 8, 2013. Please provide a cover letter and use standard manuscript format.  They can be emailed to: Robin at seventhstarpress.com The anthology has a targeted release date for spring of 2013. OPEN TO ALL WRITERS FOR SUBMISSION

*All information obtained from www.seventhstarpress.com, I do not claim this work as my own, this was obtained via a press release on the website above with persmission*

FREE DOWNLOADS!!!

Seventh Star Press is offering FREE downloads from two of their talented authors. You can head over to the links below and download  them for FREE today (June 19th) and tomorrow (June 20th) only! What are you waiting for get downloading!

Here are the FREE ebooks you can download:

Cinema of Shadows by Michael West (horror in the Stephen King vein) Click here to download

The Exodus Gate by Stephen Zimmer (dystopian/apocalyptic urban fantasy) Click here to download

If you haven't checked out Seventh Star Press! Hope over to their website www.seventhstarpress.com They publish books in the genres fantasy, science fiction, and horror!

Author Interview & #Giveaway: Devyn Dawson

I would like to welcome Devyn Dawson back to the blog! Devyn is such a great person and I thought it would be great to have her back again to talk about her newest YA release The Light Tamer. Enjoy the interview and check out the giveaway at the end!

It's nice to have you back on the blog Devyn. Can you tell us about your new YA release The Light Tamer?



Hi Megan - it's been a while hasn't it? Your blog is coming along nicely. Well, The Light Tamer is a new and fresh paranormal romance. Jessie is a fifteen year old only child. Her father is an alcoholic and makes a decision to leave her and her mom to go to Greece to be an artist. Her mom is an unemployed nurse and can't afford to live in New York without the extra income. Jessie and her mom move to New Bern, North Carolina (where I live) to live with Jessie's grandma. Jessie has spent every summer with her grandma so she is familiar with the area and is reintroduced to a family friend. Jessie remembers the teen boy Caleb as a scrawny nerdy sickly boy, she is knocked over by how gorgeous he has turned out. Instantly the two are drawn together and nothing can tear them apart. The story will bring forth a couple of characters that many know from mythology, Fate and Erebus. You'll have to read the story to know how they fit in.

Where did you get the idea for The Light Tamer? 

From the time I was a small child, I noticed that streetlights go out when I'm around. When I first started driving, I would make a game of it and drive around and see how many would go out. I've never put too much thought into it, but it has always been a fun trick to show my kids (it happens to them too). I looked it up one day a couple of years ago and found it is Sudden Light Interference - SLI. I started kicking around the idea of making it into a book, giving it a paranormal spin. I also wanted to give it a love story, one that is instant and intense, one that makes girls say... I want a guy like that. The age I recommend is 13 to 113. 

I really like the cover of The Light Tamer. Who designed it and did you have much say in the design? 

Thank you... I love love love the cover. I found the model and knew she was Jessie. As a matter of fact, Jessie was a brunette originally, until I found the photo. The person that made it magical and beautiful has requested not to be identified as they have a lot on their plate. As for the design, I wanted purple... my favorite color. Everyone has had great things to say about the cover.

Your character Caleb is a Light Tamer, can you tell us what this is? 

Caleb and Jessie are Light Tamers and they don't have a lot of information as to what that really means. They absorb light from light sources and once they learn how to harness the light, they will have the ability to heal. Light Tamers grow up to become healers or teachers of some sort. They become members of a secret society and the next book Enlightened will shed light on what it all means. There are former Light Tamers that are known as Dark Ones, they lurk in the shadows and can steal a Tamers light and turn them into a Dark One.

The Light Tamer is a shorter book than I'm used to writing but it takes place over summer. Enlightened takes them to school and it is full of Light Tamer teachers. Here's a little trivia for readers - although my other series The Legacy of Kilkenny's book Malevolence talks about the secret society and two characters that had a very small part in the series are in The Light Tamer series. No, no werewolves, vampires, witches or demons. I wanted to cross over because of the healing aspect.

Your Legacy of Kilkenny series has paranormal aspects as does you new novel. Is this a genre you like to write in? 

I love paranormal stories. I like it when I can escape the real world and play pretend in my head. It always amuses me when people say "they fell in love in a minute" - really? Yes, they did.... I didn't want to get into the angst of falling in love, I wanted to share a story of what love can be like and the paranormal part makes it better. I'm planning that once I finish The Legacy of Kilkenny series that I might write a book that takes place 5 years in the future... maybe a story of Parker and from his POV. I'm also working on a children's book.... no paranormal, well unless a talking dog is paranormal.

Why should we read The Light Tamer? 

If you want to read a book that reminds you of that beautiful feeling of kissing for the first time and falling in love, this book is for you. I hear that it's hard to put down. You can read it in one sitting on a rainy day; or in a couple of nights before bed.... guaranteed to give you happy dreams.

Last word from the author: 

From June 18 - July 20 I am having a blog tour and will be giving away a $50.00 gift card to Amazon - the link is on my website.

Buy a copy of The Light Tamer:

Amazon.com (Ebook)

Amazon.co.uk (Ebook)

Barnes & Noble

Amazon.co.uk (Paperback)

Devyn also sells signed copies of her books on her website:

www.devyndawson.com   

Follow Devyn on :

Twitter - @Devyndawson

Facebook

Giveaway

Devyn has kindly offered one reader a Ebook copy of The Light Tamer as well as a handmade (by Devyn) book thong with some swag- open to UK, Canada & USA!

To Enter:

Answer this question: Which two characters from mythology are mentioned in The Light Tamer? (If you read the interview you will find the answer)

Comment below with your answer along with your email so I can contact you if you win.

Extra Entry:

+2 for spreading the word about the giveaway via twitter (If you spread the word, please put the link in your comment below)

-Giveaway Sponsered by Devyn Dawson

-You must be 13+ to enter

-Giveaway is open to UK, CANADA OR USA only

-Giveaway ends 1st July 2012