#Interview: Helena Aman author of Shiloh


The author: Helena Aman
 
 
 
 
I grew up in a town called Fort Lonesome, in a little wooden house in the middle of an orange grove in central Florida. I didn't like to read much when I was very young. I preferred, instead, to go on "adventures." I didn't really fall in love with books until I read The Chronicles of Narnia. As I grew up, I became lost in Louisa May Alcott and Margaret Mitchell and Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters. I dabbled in poetry and, later, songwriting. I studied music in college, and went on to teach music and world history and English. I was just living my life, trying to figure out what on earth I was supposed to do with my unquenchable desire to create something beautiful. Then, unexpectedly, I found out that I was expecting a baby, and my husband and I moved to Nashville for a fresh start. It was after my son was born, when I was physically exhausted but very much in need of mental stimulation, that an old scrap of a manuscript showed up, and the setting and characters for SHILOH started to capture me. It wouldn't let me go, and it was such a wonderful creative outlet that I persevered through draft after draft until I was happy with the finished product.

 
The book: SHILOH
 
 
 
Blurb
 
The story of the world is the story of things forgotten, of desperate people cowering in the dark, blind to who they truly are. In Shiloh it is no different, except there, the darkness is tangible. And it has a name. The Shadow.

Amos was born a thousand years after Evander led his clan in search of the legendary Sun and disappeared from all knowledge. Evander was called a madman for seeking a world beyond the Shadow, but there are some who still believe, Amos among them. He has special power over fire, and he seems to fear nothing. But when his world falls apart, the fear takes hold, and Amos becomes a pawn in the hand of darkness. It takes Orin, the master blacksmith, Simeon, the Dreamer, and Isolde, the fiery woman with the mighty destiny, to draw Amos back. Together, they set out to find the path of escape from the Shadow.

SHILOH The novel is set in a world of darkness, a world obscured by the Shadow. The story centers around Amos, who is born with special power over fire, and his family. They're considered mad because they tell stories about a time before the Shadow fell and a world beyond the darkness. But Amos is confident, fearless, until tragedy strikes and he is left with questions he cannot answer. SHILOH tells the story of Amos's crisis of belief, of his betrayal, and of the people who draw him back.
 
Why should we pick up SHILOH?

You should pick up Shiloh because you will fall in love with the characters, and because the world of Shiloh is alive and rich, full of songs and legends and wolves and dragons, and beautiful and terrible creatures. You should pick up Shiloh because the struggles of the characters, their fear and despair and hope, will resonate with you regardless of your system of beliefs or your current circumstances. And you should pick up Shiloh because it's published by a tiny little independent press, and it's rather fun to stick it to the big, bad mega-publishers. ;)

Bookie questions:



Fave:
 
YA author?

Megan Whalen Turner -If you have not read the Queen's Thief series, please stop whatever you're doing and get right on that. Do NOT pause until you've finished The King of Attolia and fallen madly in love with Eugenides. Trust me on this.-

2013 release?

Hmm...I'm looking forward to Sarah J. Maas's Crown of Midnight.

Fave book series?

I've mentioned several already, but I'll throw in the Harry Potter series, because, for pity's sake...how can you not love it?

Debut YA author we should check out?

My friend Kelly Lynne just published a MG/YA novel called Celestina Silvenfare. It's your classic fantasy, with witches and castles and giants and such, and it's a lot of fun.




Cover Reveal: The Switch by Dawn Pendleton & Andrea Heltsley

All the following information was provided via Dilly Dally PR.

About the book:

Honor and Faith haven’t switched places since they were kids. When Honor begs her twin sister to go on a date with her boyfriend, Cameron, Faith reluctantly agrees. The problem is that she lets things go too far. Now Honor and Cameron have broken up and he won’t stop calling Faith, claiming he felt something more for her than he ever felt for Honor. The scary thing is, Faith felt it too. She struggles to come to terms with her feelings for Cameron. There is one rule that sisters and best friends abide by, don’t date their ex’s.

Honor has her own problems. Breaking it off with Cameron was the right thing to do, she knows that. His best friend, Parker, won’t leave her alone and forces her to talk about her feelings about the break-up. They spend a lot of time together and Honor starts to heal. Suddenly, Honor sees Parker as more than just a friend who cares. She wants more.

Neither sister wants to complicate things further and cross those boundaries. They can’t stop their emotions for the guys in their lives. Turns out, the switch is the one thing that has changed them forever.

Release date will be at the end of August!!!!

About the Authors:



 


 

 
Dawn Pendleton is a New Adult & Young Adult author living in Maine with her husband and pup. When she's not writing angsty stories of love, she can usually be found with her nose in a book or her eye behind the lens of a camera.
 
Twitter: @DawnWritesNA
 
Andrea Heltsley
 
Andrea Heltsley is a biology nerd who decided it was more fun writing than dissecting. She has written three novels and four more will be out in 2013. Living on coffee and reading like a robot. Her husband and two italian greyhounds usually have to tear her away from the computer...imagine that. :)






 

What do you think of the cover?

#Interview: Demitria Lunetta author of In The After

The Author: Demitria Lunetta
 
 

I'm a Chicago native, which I use as my initial setting for IN THE AFTER. My name is a little strange, Demitria is Greek while Lunetta is Italian (and means little moon.) Other than that, I hold a BA in Human Ecology and have spent countless hours studying the many ways in which people are capable of bringing about their own destruction. In case the end is near, I always carry a good book and a chocolate bar—the two items essential for post-apocalyptic survival.

Writing

I've always loved to read; books were a way to visit other places, gain knowledge, and experience amazing adventures. From a very young age I knew that I wanted to create my own stories, share my own imagination with the world. I studied writing in college and went on to become a receptionist, a job that allowed me plenty of time to think up books and free time to write. I'm now a full time writer and love every minute of it.

 The Book: In The After
 
 
 
Blurb:
 

They hear the most silent of footsteps.
They are faster than anything you've ever seen.

And They won't stop chasing you...until you are dead.


Amy is watching TV when it happens, when the world is attacked by Them. These vile creatures are rapidly devouring mankind. Most of the population is overtaken, but Amy manages to escape—and even rescue “Baby,” a toddler left behind in the chaos. Marooned in Amy’s house, the girls do everything they can to survive—and avoid Them at all costs.


After years of hiding, they are miraculously rescued and taken to New Hope, a colony of survivors living in a former government research compound. While at first the colony seems like a dream with plenty of food, safety, and shelter, New Hope slowly reveals that it is far from ideal. And Amy soon realizes that unless things change, she’ll lose Baby—and much more.
 
 
I love horror books & movies, especially those that feature scary creatures. Most of these creatures stick to the shadows and use night as a cover…and I thought about taking these norms and flipping them. These creatures (referred to as They) are ravenous, flesh-eating monsters, but they have poor eyesight, making them more active during the day when it’s light out. They also hunt by sound. This means that my MC, Amy, lives in a world of silent darkness. She only goes out at night, making the usual world of frightening shadows her comfort zone. The day becomes a time of terror, when They own the world.

 
Why should we pick up In The After?

 
IN THE AFTER is like three books in one. It's Dystopian, Post-apocalyptic, and classic Sci-fi, all mixed up into a scary/exciting/action-adventure story. I think all these elements make it a unique read...it's not like anything that's out there now!
 
 
Bookie questions: 

Fave:

2013 new release?

I really loved IN THE SHADOW OF BLACKBIRDS by Cat Winters, a YA historical with a paranormal twist...and ACID by Emma Pass, a big-brother type dystopian with a kick-ass MC.

2013 debut author?
 
My favorite books are sci-fi/dystopian and I really enjoyed reading THE MADMAN'S DAUGHTER by Megan Shepard. It's an update on THE ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU which is one of the original dystopian novels. It's a fantastic retelling that is hard to put down!

 
A book series you love?

I love THE ABHORSEN TRILOGY by Garth Nix, and the BARTEMAES BOOKS by Jonathan Stroud. Both are amazing.
 

A perfect summer read?

Can I say IN THE AFTER? No...well, I think anything with a lot of action, because who doesn't want an exciting summer? I think DIVERGENT is a great one, as well as Rae Carson's THE FIRE AND THORNS books.






 

Review: Sophies Dance Class by Angela McAllister & Margaret Chamberlain

Book: Sophies Dance Class
Author: Angela McAllister
Illustrated: Margaret Chamberlain
Pages: 74
 
Orion Early Reader book- Early readers are stepping stones from picture books to reading books
 
Sophies Dance Class is a blue early reader perfect for sharing and reading together
 
Recieved for honest review via Orion Children's Books
 
4* Review

Sophies Dance Class is a beautiful book from author Angela McAllister and illustrator Margaret Chamberlain. Sophie loves to dance and wants to be a proper dancer in a show. Sophie gets her chance when her mum takes her for ballet lessons and Sophie dances in a real show with a curtsey and clapping at the end, everything she always wanted.
 
Sophies Dance Class is a great book for little girls. What more could a little girl want than to be a ballerina and wear pink, glitterly outfits. The story was a cute read and will have your little girls wanting to be a ballerina just like Sophie. The illustrations are clear and colourful and go along with the story perfectly. A must read for all little girls!

Interview: Jordan Link

The author: Jordan Link 

 



I played club volleyball for a couple years, and played in my freshman year of high school. I quickly lost interest. There were too many people who were better than me just because. I love to read, and my second group of friends were incredibly supportive of my writing. I did have a terrible friend experience in the eighth grade, but I wont elaborate for the sake of my sanity. During that time, I was especially enamored with reading, and used it as an escape.

I wont bore you to death with my contest wins, but I won first place in the Jack L. Chalker Young Writers' Contest in 2012 for my short story "The Bubble". It really verified, for me, that I could write.

Facebook   Twitter: JordanLink3

Writing

The way I got into writing was not unlike other authors. I read a plethora of novels, usually fantasy, but sometimes I would branch out into science fiction. I was completely obsessed, and I would gather a number of books from the library every time I went, searching for a new favorite. I began to realize that I could write when I won my first short story contest. I was nervous about reading it aloud in front of so many people, but I drew a few laughs from the audience.

About the book: The Sacrificed by Jordan Link





 
 
Blurb:
 
Emerald Hayden lives in the City of Centsia, a half-winged among the other walkers. She has no family, friends, or food: only a grim future filled with tiresome labor in the upper levels factories. But everything changes when she meets Dusk, a winged from the place that she previously scorned. He opens her eyes to a new possibility: the possibility of the unity of winged and walkers, of freedom, and of love. Together, they decide to challenge the upper levels supreme, winged council. But when a friend betrays them, they must choose whether to sacrifice their beliefs and save their own lives, or to remain along the thin line that divides the city in two. Success could mean liberty; failure, death.
 
 
Buy Links:

The Sacrificed follows Emerald Hayden, a 16-year old wingless girl who is residing in the City of Centsia. In the city, the winged are held above the walkers. The walkers are often Accused, sacrificed to them for the sake of superiority. The unwavering boundaries of the city are tested when Emerald meets Dusk, a winged boy who changes her entire perspective.

Why should we pick up The Sacrificed?


You should pick up The Sacrificed for a good dose of romance, a fast-moving dystopian plot, and a bold female heroine who fights for herself and others.

 

Bookie questions:

 
Fave:

 
Im pretty sure I put a different novel every time this is asked, so Ill include all of them! My top five are, in no particular order:

1) The Naming by Alison Croggon
2) The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
3) The Percy Jackson Series by Rick Riordan
4) The Selection by Kiera Cass
5) The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima
6) Honorable mention: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (I had to!)
  

YA author?

If I had to pick one, it would be J.K. Rowling. I went to midnight book releases, attended a red-carpet event in New York City, went to a Harry Potter summer camp, went to a Harry Potter muggle bus event, etc. I even have a movie poster from The Goblet of Fire on my bedroom wall. J.K. Rowling literally epitomized my childhood.


2013 release?

I admit, Ive been slacking when it comes to reading this year. That being said, The Elite by Kiera Cass is my definite favorite from 2013.


Fave book series?

The Harry Potter Series.


Debut YA author we should check out?

As I mentioned previously, I havent been reading much this year. You should definitely check out the other YA authors from Entranced Publishing. They are all very talented.
 


 

Review: Nanny Fox by Georgie Adams and Selina Young

Book: Nanny Fox- The Fox who loved chickens-not to eat- just as friends
Author: Georgie Adams
Illustrator: Selina Young
Pages: 24

Received via Orion Childrens Books for an honest review

5* review

*Nanny Fox was first published in 1996 by Orion Publishing and has just been reissued*

Nanny Fox by Georgie Adams and Selina Young is a great read for both boys and girls aged 6-8 years. Arnold is a young fox who doesn't like eating chickens. He just wants to be friends with them and not follow tradition like his mother and father, he would rather eat peanut butter sandwiches than a chicken leg. Arnold decides to leave home and gets a job as nanny to Mrs Buff Orpington's six little chickens.

Nanny Fox is a great book for kids. Its good to see Arnold the Fox being friends with the chickens rather than eating them! Arnold does what he thinks is best and that's a good thing for Mrs Buff Orpington and her chicks as they don't have to worry about being eaten from at least one fox! The illustrations are great, very detailed and colourful and kids will like looking at the pictures as they read along.

A fun read!

Breathless Novelette by S.R. Johannes Book Blast- Win a $50 Amazon Giftcard

 
  Suffocate
 
suffocate
 

Suffocate is the first novelette in THE BREATHLESS series. It is a 15,000 word young adult thriller that combines the dystopic and science fiction genres. For centuries, the world outside the Biome has been unlivable. Today, marks the first time anyone will attempt to leave the suffocating ecosphere. Eria is not worried because her scientist father has successfully tested the new Bio-Suit many times. It's a celebratory day until something goes horribly wrong. In the midst of tragedy, Eria uncovers a deep conspiracy in her perfect bubble. If those responsible find out what she knows, they won't stop hunting her until she takes her last breath.  
 
 
 
 Choke


Choke
 
 
When Eria escapes her home in the Biome, she uncovers more about her features and specifications as a HumaNot. Following her father's instructions, Eria embarks on a journey into a dangerous and unpredictable world. Along the way, she encounters a young rebel, Dirk, who explains he's from the Anarchy, an underground human resistance rising up against the BOTs--advanced man-made robots gone wild. Together, Dirk and Eria battle underground serpents, desert dingos, sand storms, and advanced Bots that are always hot on their trail. As they become closer, Dirk reveals his hatred of machines, forcing Eria to hide the secret of what and who she really is. When the truth of her identity comes out, Eria is forced to become the very thing she hates the most. This novelette is about 20,000 words and is the 2nd in the YA Breathless novelette series. Exhale (#3) is scheduled for Nov 2013.  

 
 
srAuthor S.R. Johannes

S.R. Johannes is the award-winning author of the Amazon bestselling thriller series, The Nature of Grace (Untraceable and Uncontrollable). Unstoppable (book 3) is scheduled for September 2013.
S.R. Johannes is the YA advisor of ALLi and a winner of the 2012 IndieReader Discovery Awards (Young Adult category) as well as a Silver medalist (2nd place) in the IPPY awards for YA Fiction. She was also nominated for 2012 Georgia Author of the Year (Young Adult category), a Finalist in The Kindle Book Review's Best Young Adult of 2012, and a YA Finalist in the US Book News Best Book of 2012.
After earning an MBA and working in corporate America doing marketing for over 15 years, S.R. Johannes traded in her expensive suits, high heels, and corporate lingo for a family, flip-flops, and her love of writing. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her dog, English-accented husband, and the huge imaginations of their little prince and princess, which she hopes- someday- will change the world.
 
 
BookBlast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 28/7/13

Interview: Robert Beck author of Dawn of the Knight

Author: Robert Beck

 

Im 54 years old and I am originally from Montreal, Canada. I came down to the United States in 1981 to go to school (Cairn University) , met my future wife there, and decided to stay after I got married. I have been married 28 years and I have four children, two boys and two girls. I am currently residing in Honey Brook, Pennsylvania, which is approximately 30 miles west of Philadelphia.


Writing


I never, ever, thought Id be a writer. I never had any desire for it. I actually had a desire to be an artist/illustrator, but my life didnt turn out the way I thought it would. My oldest son was a communications major in college. I thought that he would be the one to take up writing. I did an Amazon.com search and bought three of the most highly recommended books on how to write fiction that I could find, and then gave them to him. He chose not to pursue a writing career, however. Three years ago I became extremely discouraged with my job and my life. I decided I would try to write a story as a means of escaping the boredom. But first, I read the three books I had purchased for him. They were so helpful that Ive actually credited them in the acknowledgment section of my book!


The book: Dawn Of The Knight 


 

Blurb

I"n this thrilling and suspenseful action/romance novel, a fatherless Canadian high school boy, Lance Rock, has been raised and trained by the United States governments former top operative. For his senior year, Lance decides to travel to California in the hope of finding a girlfriend as well as freedom from his regimented life. Once there, he inadvertently ends up in the home of a mother and her two teenage daughters. He is forced to use his skills to defend them and himself from the womans ex-husbanda crime lord who has been terrorizing the family for over a decade!



Im a huge fan of cool, operative/secret agent type characters having grown up watching James Bond, Derek Flint, The Wild, Wild West, The Avengers, The Man from Uncle, and more recently, Jason Bourne and Alex Rider. When I was younger, I had read a 1960s young adult teen spy series titled, Chris Cool/Teen Agent, by Jack Lancer, and I loved it. That series only lasted six books and I decided that if I would ever write a book/series it would involve an operative type teenage character. Since Im originally from Canada, I made the protagonist Canadian as well. Being a romantic at heart, I also knew I wanted the book to contain a romantic element as a major part of the storyline. Finally, I didnt want my protagonist working for a government agency. I thought, what would happen if you put a teenage boy with operative type skills in a high school setting? The result is this story.


Why should we pick up Dawn of the Knight?

 

I read fiction to escape the world I live in with all its ups and downs and to be entertained. I think entertaining should be the most important quality a fiction book possesses. I can honestly say that my story, Dawn of the Knight is pure escapist entertainment, if nothing else.


Your fave;
 

Series you love.


The Stainless Steel Rat series by Harry Harrison. This sci-fi series had a tremendous influence upon me so much so that I incorporated the first person POV that Harrison uses into my own writing.


A perfect summer read



“Robinson Crusoe” by Daniel DeFoe, or “King Solomon’ s Mines by H. Rider Haggard. You simply cant beat the classical works and both books are packed with adventure!

 


 



Ixeos Rebellion by Jennings Wright Book Blast: Win a $50 Amazon Giftcard

 
 

Ixeos
 
The McClellands are enjoying a lazy summer vacation at the beach when they are lured from our world into Ixeos, an alternate Earth. Finding themselves lost in a maze of tunnels under Paris and surrounded by strangers, they discover that they have been brought to Ixeos for one purpose: to take the planet back from humanoid aliens who have claimed it. With the aid of the tunnels and a mysterious man named Landon, the teens travel the world seeking the key that will allow them to free Darian, the long-imprisoned rebel leader. But the aliens aren't the only problem on Ixeos -- the McClellands have to deal with brutal gangs, desperate junkies, and a world without power, where all the technology is owned by the aliens, and where most of the population has been killed or enslaved. The worst part? There's no way home.







ixeos rebIxeos Rebellion

With rebel leader Darian free at last, the humans and outsiders on Ixeos must find a way to join forces and defeat the Firsts. The problem? All slaves are tracked with GPS, the Firsts are the only ones with power, and roving gangs hate the rebels just as much as they hate the aliens. As Darian and the outsiders from Earth travel the globe through the mysterious tunnels in Paris, they learn that the Firsts are preparing to launch another wave of biological warfare. With a transporter that will allow the aliens to target any city, anywhere on the planet, the rebels know they must stop them at all costs. As things get more dangerous on Ixeos, the outsiders find that they're pushed to their limit. Will they fight for freedom, no matter the price?  

 
 
Author Jennings Wright

Born and raised in Florida, Jennings spent her early years reading anything she could get her hands on, when she wasn't spending time in and on the water. She won a prize in the 6th grade for her science fiction stories. Jennings attended the University of Tampa, graduating with a B.A. in Political Science, and almost enough credits for B.A.s in both English and History. She attended graduate school at the University of West Florida, studying Psychology. She spent time over the years doing various kinds of business writing, editing, and teaching writing, but mostly having and raising her family, homeschooling her children, owning and running a business with her husband, and starting a non-profit. Thanks to a crazy idea called NaNoWriMo Jennings got back into creative writing in 2011 and hasn't stopped since. She currently lives in North Carolina with her husband, also a business owner and writer, and two children, and travels extensively with her family, and her non-profit in Uganda.

iXEOS R copy
 
 
Book Blast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 28/713

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.  


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Review: Last Chance Angel by Alex Gutteridge

Last Chance AngelBook: Last Chance Angel
Author: Alex Gutteridge
Pages: 367
Publisher: Templar Publishing
Recieved ARC via Templar Publishing for an honest review

4* Review

Last Chance Angel is a beautiful story of friendship, family and last chances. Fifteen year old protangnist, Jess is involved in a road traffic accident and finds her way to the gates of heaven before her destined death date. An angel of Death called Darren makes a deal with her. He gives her a few days left on earth, invisible to say her goodbyes to family and friends before she must return to the gates of heaven.

Jess is a relatable teenage protangnist. She has a great group of friends, she hates maths (don't we all ) and is in love with her brothers best friend. But everything is not all sweetness and light in Jess's life which I liked as it made her more real, she is also dealing with family problems with alot of anger toward her father who had an affair. Thoughout Last Chance Angel I was rooting for Jess to find some way to escape death!

Jess's journey to say goodbye to her friends and family is an emotional one where discoveries are made that changes her view on the lifes she thought her friends and family where lending. Natasha, Sara, Kelly and Yasmin are Jess's best friends and are a close group but by visiting each of them, Jess discovers secrets and betrayals.

Natasha has an eating disorder that Jess and her friends tried to sweep under the carpet and when Jess see's the extent of it she feels gulity she didn't try harder to get Natasha help.

Kelly looks after her brothers and dad since her mother walked out on them and Jess see's the hard work she is putting in and feels guilty for not helping more. Jess also discovers something she never expected while visiting Kelly.

Yasmin is a wonderful artist and Jess see's the amount of pressure Yasmin's father is putting on her to become a doctor and get good grades instead of following her dreams. And finally with Sara, Jess discovers the ultimate betrayal that has her questioning her years of friendship with Sara. I liked seeing Jess on this jorney of discovery and questioning the world around her, her perspective of the lives of her friends does a 360!

Overall I really liked Last Chance Angel. The concept of the story was interesting and it felt real and relatable. Last Chance Angel had a message- to love your family and friends, forgive and live in the here and now as you only have one life!

Interview: W.A. Fulkerson

The author- W. A. Fulkerson


 


 


Hey, Megan! Thanks for having me on your blog!


I was born in San Diego, California, where I grew up on the mountains behind my best friend's house. Every available moment was dedicated to either hiking, rock-climbing, or reading whatever I could get my hands on. In high school I started wrestling and studying Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and I continued to read as much as I possibly could. My crazy friend (and I mean that in the best possible sense), whose mountain I practically grew up on, dragged me on all sorts of adventures, providing me with a lot of the experiences that I draw on as an author. We've been backpacking, ice-climbing, trail-running, and he's currently trying to get me into paragliding. I taught him how to fight, and he taught me how to make my way through the wilderness. My childhood was a great time.


I started getting serious about writing during college. I attended USC, and despite my business major, I began to write short stories, and I just got hooked. I love weaving plots together, molding characters and watching how they change beneath my pen; every aspect of writing is just such an adventure. My first book, Starfall, was published in February of 2013, and my second, Star-crossed, is set to come out in September of this year.


Writing


I got into writing by reading. I've done the 100 books in a year challenge, and I continue to absorb fiction whenever I can. I also like to read the classics, poetry, and all sorts of nonfiction. I got into writing because of all of the innumerable examples of excellent, moving writing that I had experienced all throughout my life. It taught me how to write, and it made me want to write. So, one day during a particularly boring lecture in college, I began to write short stories. I'd had the idea for the Starfall trilogy in my mind for a while, but I wanted to hone my skills first, which is what I did.


About the book: Starfall


 
 
 
 
Blurb:
 
 
The day an Ungifted witnesses his star fall from the heavens is a moment that shapes the rest of his life. Finding one’s star means choosing a gift, and having a gift means a better life- especially for Ducasus and Malleus. Born into slavery on a Flare’s plantation, the twin brothers spent their youth watching the sky, waiting, wishing, hoping for the day when their ticket to freedom might come. When it does, it is nothing like either of them ever expected.

 

Starfall is an exciting, adventure-filled journey inside a world filled with giants, monsters, and races not yet known. A new mythology begins now.


Starfall takes place in the world of Pontus- a beautiful and mysterious land in which something rather peculiar happens: whenever someone is born, a star appears in the sky at the same time. Everyone grows up knowing which star is theirs, because at some point during adolescence, they don't know when, it's going to fall. When it does, those who are vigilant enough to see it and track it down are given a gift, and they are never the same. The world is a panoply of these different gifted peoples- the Flares, the Nebulae, and the Lux Sidorum, as well as the Ungifteds- those who did not retrieve their star.



The books follow Ducasus and Malleus, who are born into slavery, watching for the day their stars might fall. The world of Pontus is large, old, and full of strange creatures, monsters, and giants. Benjamin of Tomes recently did a great synopsis/review of the book on his vlog, so check out this link if you want a little more of a glimpse into the world of Starfall: here


 

Why should we pick up starfall?



You should pick up Starfall because it's a delightful escape into something new and different. On the back of the book it says, "A new mythology begins now", and that has been my aim with this entire series. There are many secrets and much history revealed in these books, but there is so much more that isn't, because the world is a deep one. Pontus is an intriguing place, and I'd wager that you would enjoy spending time in it.


Bookie questions:


Fave:


Book?


Such a difficult question, but I have to go with The Return of The King by J.R.R. Tolkien. My friends and I read his books when we were in the fourth grade back before the movies and before they were cool (forgive my hipster moment there). I adore his work.



YA author?


I'm going to say Ted Dekker because of his Circle Series. He writes in a few different genres, but I really like his YA stuff.



2013 release?


This might be cheating, because I haven't actually read it yet, but Earth Afire by Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston. I've been looking forward to these prequels.


Fave book series?


On the heels of my last response, Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card- specifically the Shadow series, which is contained in the larger Ender series.


Debut YA author we should check out?


Levi Stack. He just published his first novel, The Silent Deal, and it's a lot of fun. He's the kind of writer who very obviously has a tremendous love for the English language, something that I think a lot of books are missing. I really like fresh ideas, and I feel like his book was full of them, taking place during an era and a location generally not written about in the YA genre (Russia in the 1800's) Levi Stack. Check him out.




Review: Double Click by Lisa Becker ( A perfect summer read)

Double Click*Note: Adult book*

Book: Double Click
Author: Lisa Becker
Sequel to Click: An Online Love Story
Pages: 303
Received for honest review via author, Lisa Becker

5* review

I loved Click: An online love story (check out my 5* review here ) so was excited to read the sequel, Double Click, and I wasn't disappointed! I couldn't put Double Click down and read it within a few hours.

I love books that are written in diary entries, letters and emails etc, they are so quick to read and your glimpsing into someones private thoughts which is fun to do! Double Click is written in emails between five friends, Renee, Shelly, Ashley, Mark and Ethan and visits them six months after Click: An online love story ended. The emails between the friends spans over eight months and are fun to read from Ashley's dramas to Shelly's sex antics.

Shelly is still her usual funny and rude self however you can feel her character maturing, even just a little! :) Shelly has a secret in Double Click and Lisa Becker had me guessing what it was right along with Renee and Co.

Mark finally finds love with quirky Cassidy and she brings a whole lot of fun with her obsession with cats and bubbly personality. Shelly's emails about Cassidy are funny and made me laugh out loud numerous times.

Ashely goes thought alot of changes in Double Click, a marriage and a baby! One thing I love about Double Click is even though its a funny, fun read its about real life as well. You can have fun with your friends but your a real friend if your there for the person though highs and lows and in Double Click it touches a little on post natal depression and other health issues.

Renee and Ethan are still happily loved up. I love Ethan he's such a great guy and when Renee goes on a road trip the care package he makes her is so sweet.

Overall I really liked Double Click. It was a fun, quick read with great characters. and I couldnt put it down! A perfect summer read!

Win Hello Kitty and Friends just in time for summer!

Hello Kitty and Friends for your summer holiday!
In case you hadn’t heard Hello Kitty and her friends are starring in this summer’s most fabulous series.
With no more school until September here is everyone’s chance to catch up with World Star, Hello Kitty in her new series of books, Hello Kitty and Friends. There are six to read so what are you waiting for? Join the Friendship Club and hear about Hello Kitty’s adventures from the Summer Fair to the Beach.


Collect the six books in the series and the six passwords in each of the book and reveal your SECRET MESSAGE from Hello Kitty. Enter the password on the website harpercollins.co.uk/HelloKittyandFriends and win some goodies!

Hello Kitty and Friends available now via Amazon

*Press release direct from www.harpercollins.co.uk *
 
GIVEAWAY
I have a one set of all six books that will go to one lucky winner in the UK!
All you have to do to enter is simply comment below. Leave me a comment with what your doing this summer and leave an email address so I can contact you if you win, its as simple as that!
Giveaway Ends 19th July
Giveaway sponsered by Harper Collins UK!