Monday, March 31, 2014

Meet Four Fantasy Authors At The Blog Hop


I was invited to join this blog hop by Maer Wilson. Thanks Maer.


Maer Author   
After a successful career being other people, and later teaching others the many tricks of that trade, Maer Wilson has decided to be herself for a while. Turns out she’s a writer. She’s always loved stories, especially fantasy, mystery and sci fi. She has a dragon-themed room in her home, but sadly no dragons in the back yard. When she’s not writing, Maer plays online video games, teaches college and reads.
Maer has a BA from CSU Fullerton, where she majored in Theatre Arts. As a former professional stage actor in Southern California, she gave over three thousand performances in an eight-year span.  This helped tremendously with creating the characters in Relics, Book 1 of The Thulukan Chronicles.
While Maer writes mostly urban fantasy, she also dips into horror and paranormal mysteries. An avid gamer, her current games of choice are Star Wars: The Old Republic and Guild Wars 2.
Maer is also a co-producer and co-host for the literary podcast, MythBehaving. She enjoys interviewing guests from the publishing world and takes the great advice her guests give and applies it to her own career.
Portals, Book 2 of The Thulukan Chronicles is in submission. She’s currently in revisions for Magics, Book 3 of The Thulukan Chronicles. Other Works in Progress include another fantasy novel, a Biography/Memoir and a new Sci Fi series.
Relics was released by Crescent Moon Press on May 1. 2013 and is available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.








Kyra Dune, fantasy fiction author  http://kyradune.weebly.com/



Bio:




Kyra Dune was born in Oklahoma, but spent most of her life travelling with her family. She is the author of more than a dozen fantasy novels, including: Shadow of the Dragon, Elfblood, and Firebrand. As a child, her favorite stories were those that told of ordinary children being whisked away to magical lands. She has yet to find her own secret wardrobe or rabbit hole, but she hasn’t given up the search. You never know what might be waiting over the next rainbow.
Website: http://kyradune.weebly.com/


Blog: http://theshadowportal.blogspot.com/


Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00A5WOHGQ




Current Projects: Higher Power & Oracle (Books 1 & 2 Prophecy of the Cataclysm Trilogy) (epic fantasy), Chasing The Whirlwind (Dragon Within Series Book 2) (YA Urban Fantasy), The Watchtower War (Time of Shadows Series Book 5) (High Fantasy), Trey (working title) (Fantasy).


All my books are very character oriented and tend to feature dragons. I've always loved to read fantasy books, ever since I was a kid, so I guess it was only natural I should grow up to write them. I rewrite each book three times, then do three edits, and I'm done. Three seems to be my magic number :).











YOU DON'T READ A JACQUELINE PATRICKS STORY, YOU EXPERIENCE IT!

As a teen, writing became my passion, and like most aspiring writers, my work was terrible, immature, clichéd drivel. I attended college for my creative writing degree, enlisted in the Army, then ended up a paramedic. Throughout my life, I've explored far and pushed myself hard.

I write like I live. Come and explore my imagination.





I just finished the second book in The Brajj Trilogy, Nightmares of the Queen, which is science fiction. It's publishing date is March 30, 2014. I'm also finishing the first book of my new fantasy trilogy The Verge, Fairytale Apocalypse, which I'm hoping to have published this spring, and I'm getting ready to start the third and final book of The Brajj Trilogy, Destiny of the Queen.




My work tends to be more mash-up of science fiction or fantasy. I love incorporating bits and pieces of mystery, romance, thrillers, suspense, whatever works for the plot and characters of each story.




I love writing the stories that I do because they tend to be based on my dreams. And then expand them through improvisational writing techniques. I just dive in!




I'm the ultimate pantser. I don't use notes or write out scenes. My best work is all improvisational. I set my imagination free and great things happen.





















Bio: Kirstin Pulioff is a storyteller at heart.  Born and raised in Southern California, she moved to the Pacific Northwest to follow her dreams and graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Forest Management.  Happily married and a mother of two, she lives in the foothills of Colorado, and enjoys being a stay at home mom.  When she’s not writing an adventure, she is busy living one. Her published works include a middle grade fantasy series, and a dystopian short story.


 


Links:


Facebook:  KirstinPulioffAuthor
Twitter: 
@KirstinPulioff
Amazon: 
Author & Book Page
Goodreads: 
Kirstin Pulioff


 


1) What are you working on?


I am currently working on a YA Fantasy tentatively titled, Dreamscape: Saving Alex. I am working on the first draft at the moment, but I can promise a lot of action, adventure, fantasy fun, and of course a little romance. I anticipate it's release Fall 2014.



2) How does your work differ from others of its genre? 


That is a good question, and a tough one. I write the stories that speak to me, so they are not always contained to one specific genre... or follow all the rules. I don't know that they are necessarily different than others in the genre, but they are written with my voice.




My middle grade fantasy series revolves around Princess Madeline, a strong willed princess determined to live her life on her terms. This creates all sorts of havoc, adventure, and conflict. In this series I wanted to portray a traditional story, with a modern twist.



The Ivory Tower is a dark dystopian, that makes a statement about government control and protection. In writing this, I learned that not every story can have a happy ending.




3) Why do you write what you do?


The stories that I write just come to me. It will happen when I least expect it, that burst of inspiration that confines me to my computer until the words run dry. Part of my creative expression is through writing, and sharing the stories. I write to entertain, to make statements, and also to explore different philosophical ideas.



4) How does your writing process work?


I wish I had a good process. ;)


The ideas come, and from there I start. I always begin with a general outline. I need to have an idea of where my story is going, what idea I want to cover, and how the characters will get me there. From that point, I begin writing. I write the first draft until complete, and then begin the editing process. I will edit once or twice through myself before sending off to my trusted beta team for comments or concerns. From there, I make re-writes, and off to my final editor to polish the edges. Each step has a different joy attached to it. This seems straight forward, but considering it takes place either all late at night or early in the mornings, it is a stretch to fit it all in. But it is worth every hour of lost sleep and extra pot of coffee.















Saturday, March 29, 2014

Book Review: False Memory by Dean Koontz




BLURB

It’s a fear more paralyzing than falling. More terrifying than absolute darkness. More horrifying than anything you can imagine. It’s the one fear you cannot escape no matter where you run . . . no matter where you hide.

It’s the fear of yourself. It’s real. It can happen to you. And facing it can be deadly.

False Memory . . . Fear for your mind.


FOUR STARS

My Review


False Memory is a strange, thrilling, and pulse pounding roller coaster ride in true Koontz fashion. Each scene draws you in and holds you on the edge of your seat waiting to see what new twist is just around the bend.


Dusty and Martine Rhodes are a normal couple living a normal life, until Martine is struck by a rare and mysterious psychological condition called autophobia. Made all the stranger by the fact that her best friend, Susan, has been suffering from agoraphobia for the past several months. What are the odds of two friends being struck down by debilitating phobia within months of each other? Then Martine's brother-in-law attempts suicide and Dusty begins to find himself missing bits and pieces of time with no explanation as to what he was doing during them.


Coincidence? Strange cosmic forces at work? Or something worse? As Dusty and Martine try to unravel the mystery, they find themselves drawn ever deeper into a depraved game that can end in only one way. Death.


This suspenseful tale of depravity and desperation will chill you to the bone.


Amazon




Friday, March 28, 2014

The Elfblood Trilogy

Elfblood Trilogy by Kyra Dune




Elfblood by Kyra Dune  
http://www.amazon.com/Elfblood-Kyra-Dune-ebook/dp/B008GHMQVU/ref=la_B00A5WOHGQ_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1395928559&sr=1-5


"I stayed up late to read it in one go and was sorry when it ended." louise3anne (Amazon Review)


The Silver Catacombs by Kyra Dune


http://www.amazon.com/Silver-Catacombs-Kyra-Dune-ebook/dp/B00BAH3V5I/ref=la_B00A5WOHGQ_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1395928559&sr=1-6


"Ms. Dune captures the excitement of a story with extraordinary hurdles and nearly unbelievable odds. I found it difficult to put this book down and in fact, I read it in one sitting as I couldn't stop until I found out how it would all end." Long & Short Reviews


City Of Magic by Kyra Dune


http://www.amazon.com/City-Magic-Elfblood-Kyra-Dune-ebook/dp/B00ECFGBDE/ref=la_B00A5WOHGQ_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1395928559&sr=1-11


"City of Magic is the story of a heroic quest and also coming of age for several of the characters. It is a fun book, filled with action, but also a book which raises some important themes of loyalty, honesty, and of course, good and evil. Anyone who enjoys fantasy will certainly enjoy reading City of Magic." Long & Short Reviews

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Feature: Brina Courtney, author of Discovery


Discoveries can be dangerous. Discoveries can be deadly. 

Nine months ago, Teagan Matthews' boyfriend disappeared and took her sense of stability with him. But when the opportunity to live with her aging grandmother in Salem arises, she decides it's time to get on with her life. A new home, new job, and new friends are adding up to a beautiful summer...

...until a young girl's body shows up one night in town, wearing a pentagram necklace exactly like Teagan's.

  Now a guy looking remarkably like her missing boyfriend has arrived in Salem along with a mysterious stranger who may have some answers that Teagan has desperately been searching for. Teagan must now decide who to trust. It's a matter of life... and her death.


About The Author
Brina Courtney is a young adult author obsessed with chocolate, crime shows, and fantasy movies. She's spent the last few years as an elementary teacher and a high school cheering coach. She lives in a small town in Pennsylvania with her husband and two very loud, small dogs. 





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Wednesday, March 26, 2014

The Magic Of Books

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I was about thirteen when I first started reading the Dragonlance Series. I bought the early books, the ones by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, for ten cents apiece at a flea market. I already loved fantasy novels, had ever since I was a kid reading books like Alice In Wonderland, Wizard Of Oz, and The Chronicles of Narnia. I adored portal books. And I had also already written lots of short stories, poems, and a couple of terrible novels. So these books didn't get me started in any sense, but they did change the course of my life.


Something about these books hit me in a very special way. It's hard to explain, but anybody who has been impacted by a book in this way will understand what I'm trying to say. This is where my love of dragons really blossomed into what some people might call an obsession, but I prefer to think of as a passion. I already thought dragons were cool, but before this series they were just lumped in my mind with other cool mythical animals.


These novels changed the way I wrote my own stories. They turned me down a path which led me to become a published author with twenty fantasy novels under her belt (only fifteen have been published to date) and plenty more on the way.


In these first books in the series, I met my favorite character of all time, Raistlin Majere. At the time, he was the most interesting and complex character I had ever encountered in a book. And he remains, in my mind, one of the finest characters every written. His influence continues to shade my writing all these years later and his shadow can be found lurking in a number of my own characters.


These books didn't make me a writer, I already was one, but they did make me into the writer I am today. They fostered in me a love of character above all else and thus my own stories are very character oriented as these were. They also built within me a deep desire to write a story so epic, so fascinating, that it could span the test of time and draw others in so deep as to make then want to add their stories to my world.


Sometimes a story really can change your life. And that is the magic of books.



Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Win Free YA Fantasy Books

Enter to win three YA fantasy books by me, Kyra Dune. I'll choose three winners and each will get one copy of Elfblood, Web Of Light, and Firebrand. Good luck.






March 25, 2014 twelve noon - March 26, 2014 twelve noon, enter to win free books


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Monday, March 24, 2014

Feature: Abigail Owen, author of the Shadowcat Nation Series



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Title: Andromeda's Fall


Series: Shadowcat Nation #1


Publication Date: February 25, 2014


Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance (18+)




Synopsis


Andie Reynolds is being hunted. After witnessing her mother's violent death at the hands of a pack of wolf shifters, Andie has devoted her life to protecting her community of cougar shifters from a similar fate. But now, a greater threat lies within her own dare, and she must run. If she stays, Kyle Carstairs will try to force their Mating, seeking the added power their union would provide.

Andie would rather chew off her own foot than end up with Kyle. Though, knowing him, she won't live long either way. Andie's only hope of survival is to Mate the Alpha of the Keller Dare with which she is seeking asylum. But before she can get to him, Andie must first go through A.J., one of the Alpha's Protectors. The incredibly frustrating shifter insists on challenging her story, her skills, her trust… and her heart.

Andie is running out of options and out of time. But risking the life of someone she loves - just to save herself - goes against every instinct she has.


 


Buy Links








Author Interview




 


What inspired you to write this book?


A: I tend to think in scenes. My books frequently start with an image of one scene and then I build from there. For Andromeda’s Fall I had a mental image of a mountain lioness high on a rock overlooking wooded mountain terrain. She is a sentry of some sort. But above her is an Alpha male mountain lion who is watching her. Once I had that in my mind, I had to figure out the why, who, how’d they get there, and what happens next.


 


How did you choose your title?


A: When I do series, with the first book I try to come up with a title that will translate well into future titles. I decided I wanted to do two word titles with the name of the character and then an action-y noun or verb. For consistency I listed out all sorts of words to see if a common letter popped out. It ended up being Fs (Fate, Fall, Fury, Fortune, Failing, Faith – there’s a ton.). I debated having the name be the female lead’s first name, or the male lead’s last name. For example, the short story which kicked this off – Hannah’s Fate – was almost Jensen’s Fate.  For Andromeda’s Fall, I knew that Fall would work because of the characters “fall from grace” that sort of kicks off the story. I picked Andromeda because I’ve always loved that name – and when do you ever get a chance to use it. J  Oops that was a long answer. Lol.


 


Did you self-publish or publish traditionally and why?


A: I self-publish, though I am pursuing traditional. I got started with self-publishing when I finished my first book – Blue Violet – but I honestly wasn’t sure it was any good. I thought I’d give it a test run – although when I decided to do that, I went all in with it. The feedback was so positive, that I decided to keep going, and then I got a little addicted to the process. I actually love owning every part of publishing. The writing is my focus, but the other aspects are fun too.


 


What is your writing process?


Ever-evolving! I usually start with a basic outline – just the key plot and character arcs. Then I start writing. First draft is ALWAYS my worst. And always very, very basic. It’s the bare-bones of the story line. Then I go back and start filling it in. I’ll run through it multiple times looking at a different focus each time – dialogue, character evolution, sanity gaps/plot holes, etc. Then I send to Wendy – my awesome editor and the process really gets started. Usually a round with her and then off to beta readers. Another few rounds with Wendy. And then my last personal rounds for final tiny grammar cleanup.


 


Are you a plotter or a pantser?


A: I’m mostly a pantser. I have done really complicated outlines, but I find that I change things enough as I go that those specific outlines feel like a straightjacket, and I just end up re-writing them 100 times. I do still outline a little bit. I use a program called Scrivener to help me – it looks like note cards on a cork board. But it’s more concepts and where I want the timing in the novel – not the specifics of getting from point A to point B.


 


What part of the writing process is the hardest for you?


The first draft! Lol. This story is just exploding from my brain and getting the basic structure onto paper is so stressful. I do much better in later drafts when I can relax and really make it good.


 


What tips can you give on how to get through writers block?


A: Keep writing. I have a personal rule that I write at least three pages a night. I picked that number because 3 pages is not a ton – it’s doable and not that intimidating. But it also adds up faster than you’d think. That’s ~20 pages a week and a 200 page first-draft in ~2 months. There are nights when three pages is painful and I only get one. There are nights when I bust through twenty and only stop because I have to work in the morning. If I stop writing due to writer’s block, I won’t finish that book.


 


What kind of music do you like to listen to while you write?


A: Pitbull radio on Pandora. Lol. I love the beats.


 


Read anything good lately?


A: I’ve been on a Harlequin jag lately. Lucy Monroe is one of my fav authors along those lines. I tend to reread her stuff. I am re-reading “Unbroken” by Laura Hillenbrand – all the press on the upcoming movie made me want to be inspired again. One of my fav books of all time. I also just finished Four Weddings and a Werewolf by Kristin Miller. Loved it.


 


What do you like to do when you're not writing?


I spend a lot of time with my family. The kids have lots of school/activity stuff that keeps us busy. We try to do lots of outdoors stuff – hiking, running, etc. I live in Northern Cali, so for non-family fun, we like to go wine tasting. I’m also an organizing phenom (or OCD). Lol. I actually enjoy organizing my house in new, fancy ways.


 


What advice would you give an author just starting out?


A: Own your voice. There are so many tutorials and opinions and methods out there for writers. And absolutely take advantage of those resources to help you grow as a write. Do use editors and beta readers and critique groups. Feedback helps you grow. But, in the end, believe in your voice – who you are as a writer. Write what you would like to read. At least then you’re guaranteed one fan. J


 


What's your next project?


A: I have self-published 3 books from a different series – the Svatura series. Blue Violet – the first in the series – was my first self-published book that got me started. The fourth and final book of that series – Black Orchid - comes out in May!


Right now I’m in editing for Black Orchid. In addition I’m starting writing on both the next Shadowcat Nation book as well as a stand-alone contemporary romance involving skydiving. I’m very excited about both.


 


 


 


 


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Author Bio


Award-winning author, Abigail Owen was born in Greeley, Colorado and raised in Austin, Texas. She now resides in Northern California with her husband and two adorable children who are the center of her universe.

Abigail grew up consuming books and exploring the world through her writing. A fourth generation graduate of Texas A&M University, she attempted to find a practical career related to her favorite pastime by obtaining a degree in English Rhetoric/Technical Writing. However, she swiftly discovered that writing without imagination is not nearly as fun as writing with it.


 


Social Media Links


Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads  |  Pinterest




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Sunday, March 23, 2014

Fantasy Novels by Kyra Dune




All Books Available From Amazon http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=la_B00A5WOHGQ_pg_1?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_82%3AB00A5WOHGQ&ie=UTF8&qid=1395577756
Product Details
Title: Crossfire (Crossfire Duology #1)
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Spy Thriller
Price: $2.99
Product Details
Title: Dragonstar (Dragonstar Duology #1)
Genre: YA Epic Fantasy
Price: $5.59


Product Details

Title: Elfblood (Elfblood Trilogy #1)
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy
Price: $3.83




Product Details

Title: The Silver Catacombs (Elfblood Trilogy #2)
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy
Price: $3.75


Product Details

Title: City Of Magic (Elfblood Trilogy #3)
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy
Price: $2.99


Product Details

Title: Firebrand (Firebrand Trilogy #1)
Genre: YA Sword & Sorcery
Price: $4.99


Product Details

Title: Ten Kingdoms (Firebrand Trilogy #2)
Genre: YA Sword & Sorcery
Price: $4.99


Product Details

Title: Shadow Of The Dragon
Genre: YA Fantasy
Price: $4.99
Product Details

Title: Flight Of Dragons
Genre: Fantasy/Adventure
Price: $2.99


Product Details

Title: 10 Weird Tales Of Magic And Wonder (Short Story Collection)
Genre: Fantasy
Price: .99 cents
Product Details

Title: Shadow Born (Time Of Shadows Series #1)
Genre: High Fantasy
Price: $4.99


Product Details

Title: Shadow Prince (Time Of Shadows Series #2)
Genre: High Fantasy
Price: $5.59
Product Details

Title: Shadow King (Time of Shadows Series #3)
Genre: High Fantasy
Price: $4.99
Product Details

Title: Web Of Light (Web Of Light Duology)
Genre: YA Fantasy
Price: $2.99
Product Details

Title: Dark Light (Web Of Light Duology #2)
Genre: YA Fantasy
Price: 2.99




FUTURE TITLES


Title: Firestorm (Crossfire Duology #2)
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Spy Thriller
Price: $2.99
Release Date: April 16, 2014


Title: The Bkack Mountain (Dragonstar Duology #2)
Genre: YA Epic Fantasy


Title: Dragons Of War (Firebrand Trilogy #3)
Genre: YA Sword & Sorcery


Title: Rise Of The Watchtower (Time Of Shadows Series #4)
Genre: High Fantasy


Title: The Watchtower War (Time Of Shadows Series #5)
Genre: High Fantasy


Dragon Within (Dragon Within Series #1)
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy


Chasing The Whirlwind (Dragon Within Series #2)
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy


Riding The Wave (Dragon Within Series #3)
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy


Rock Bottom (Dragon Within Series #4)
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy


Inferno (Dragon Within Series #5)
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy


Higher Power (Prophecy Of The Cataclysm Trilogy #1)
Genre: Epic Fantasy


Oracle (Prophecy Of The Cataclysm Trilogy #2)
Genre: Epic Fantasy


Cataclysm (Prophecy Of The Cataclysm Trilogy #3)
Genre: Epic Fantasy









Saturday, March 22, 2014

Feature: Brina Courtney, author of the Cryptid Tales Series


Title: Reveal (Cryptid Tales #1)
Author: Brina Courtney
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
You think seeing ghosts is weird? Tell me something I don't know.
Shay Tafford's childhood has been fatherless, filled instead with memories of speaking to the dead. She is forced to hide her unique ability from those living around her. That's why it's been comforting to have Jeremy, a child ghost, as her confidante. But recently he's been absent, perhaps lost as her father is. When Shay meets Hugh, the guy she's had a crush on for weeks, and finds he can speak to ghosts too, she's just starting to find a normalcy in her life. But as Hugh reveals the truth to Shay, about who she really is and about what it is she can do, he erases all chances she had at a normal existence. Turns out talking to ghosts is just scratching the surface of her genetically engineered gifts. Shay learns she may be part of an age old prophecy that could save the entire race of cryptids. But can she?
Quotes
"So here I am with a dead girl in my car, in a super creepy forest, stalking a potentially dead father…yeah, not one of my brightest moments."
"She sighs, “Shay you can’t live your life in fear. If you do there’s just no point in living."
"He turns and leaves, heading towards the math building and though I hate to see him leave, I do love to watch him walk away."
About Brina Courtney
5295520
Brina Courtney is a young adult author obsessed with chocolate, crime shows, and fantasy movies. She's spent the last few years as an elementary teacher and a high school cheering coach. She lives in a small town in Pennsylvania with her husband and two very loud, small dogs.
Links

Friday, March 21, 2014

Feature: Michael Cash, author of The Battle For Darracia Series





What inspired you to write this book?

  
          I have always been a huge fan of fantasy since I was a young boy. Star Wars, The Legend of Zelda and Lord of the Rings have been an integral part of my life by their stories.  I have always wanted to create my own fantasy realm with my own set of characters.

 

Can you give us an interesting fact about your book that isn't in the blurb?

 
           Everyone’s name in the book are inverted letters of a name that stands for who they are.  For instance, the planet of Darracia is a form of Arcadia, a region offering rural simplicity and contentment.

 

How did you choose your title?

  
          See above.

Tell us about the cover and how it came to be.

    
        The first book Schism is all about division so I had a sword going through the planet of Darracia.  The second book I wanted a big comet zipping through the sky that would be the portent of doom.

 

Did you self-publish or publish traditionally and why?

     
       Self-publish. Always.  I’m a control-freak. I want to be able to have total control over my books from inception to print to cover to pricing.  The self-publishing revolution is just starting.

 

 

What is your writing process?

    
        I like mapping out my stories before I begin, although some stories I dive head first.  If you map it out and use certain beats (like from Blake Snyder’s classic – Save the Cat) you will have a direction you want your story to go.


How long have you been writing?

      
      Since I’m 5, I’ve been writing stories.  Started writing screenplays at 14. Started writing novels at 27.


What part of the writing process is the hardest for you?

 
           Not being able to write fast enough. I have so many ideas rolling around my head I want to write 24/7, but I still need to sleep, eat and play with my wife and kids.

 

What kind of music do you like to listen to while you write?

 
           I don’t listen to music but I generally leave the Food Network or Travel Channel on mute in the background. I’m a big Ghost Adventures fan and it gives me tons of inspiration.

 

Who is your favorite author?

 
           Wallace Wattles and Napoleon Hill. I’m a self-help junkie.

 

Who is your favorite character from a book?

 
           The young shepherd boy named Santiago from The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo.


What is your favorite book?

   
         The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles.

 

Read anything good lately?

  
          Writing Screenplays that Sell by Michael Hauge

           

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

    
        I love hanging out with my wife and kids. We live in New York so on any given day we will go to the Bronx Zoo, Museum of Natural History or White Post Farms on Long Island.  We are also big suckers for video games and play constantly at Dave & Busters. We also love to cook and shop at local Italian groceries and Whole Foods for fresh, local ingredients.

 

What advice would you give an author just starting out?

     
           Read Save the Cat and learn how to map out your book

 

Have you had anything else published?

    
        Yes!  My other pen name is Michael Samuels and I have two best-selling self-help books called Just Ask the Universe and The Universe-ity.  My other novels under the Michael Phillip Cash name is Stillwell: A Haunting on Long Island, The Hanging Tree, Brood X: A Firsthand Account of the Great Cicada Invasion and Schism: The Battle for Darracia (Book 1).

 

What's your next project?

   
         I’m finishing up another ghost/paranormal novel under the “Haunting on Long Island” banner. There will be a few cameos in this story from characters in my other books.  I just started mapping out Risen: The Battle for Darracia (Book 3).  I also have a few other stories in the works.  I’m also finishing up another self-help book.

 

All of my books can be purchased on Amazon.com, Kindle, and Barnes & Noble.  My website is www.michaelphillipcash.com and I’m on Facebook and Twitter too!  My blog is Blog.michaelphillipcash.com.

 

 

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Feature: Melissa Pearl, author of I Know Lucy


Releases on April 20, 2014


Genre: YA Romantic Suspense

Lucy Tate is on the run. After witnessing the brutal murder of her parents, she's spent five years in hiding -- taking on different personas and faking her way through life. The authorities can't be trusted, so she remains in the shadows, always one beat ahead of the man who is forever hunting her. That is, until she meets Zach Schultz, a senior at Monte Vista High and the one guy she can’t bear to leave. Suddenly her natural instincts to lie, steal, and run are overshadowed by something else...the desire to stay. It’s her one shot at a normal life.
Curious by nature, Zach is immediately drawn to the new girl at school. How can a person look both confident and vulnerable all in the same moment? Determined to learn more about her, he tries to get close, but is thrown into a world of lies and confusion. The only thing that becomes apparent is that discovering the truth may get him killed.

ZACH...
"This is different, you guys." I shook my head. "I mean yes, she is gorgeous. And yes, I'm attracted to her, but it's not just her looks. There's something about her. She's intriguing. It's like she's not all she appears to be or something."
"You can tell that after two minutes of interacting with her? Give me a break." Elliot balled up his napkin and threw it on the table.
"I know I don't know her at all yet, but I can tell there's something more there." I rubbed my bottom lip.
"She looks normal to me." AJ shrugged.
"I think she's pretty. She looks sweet, but..." Liesl turned to spy her quickly. "AJ's right. She looks like any other transfer student. What makes her so different?"
"It's something about her eyes. There's a story in them. I can't even explain why I think that. I just feel like she's got a lot of layers and I want to peel back every single one of them."
"I bet you do." Elliot raised his eyebrows.
"Not like that." I threw him a droll look. "I just want to solve the mystery that is Danielle Harrison."
"Dude, there is no mystery." Elliot slapped his hand lightly on the table.
"Yes there is. I can feel it."
"Careful, Zachy, your Nancy Drew is showing." Jaeda's green eyes were large and round as she gave me a playful look.
"I don't care." I shrugged, confident in the truth that I really didn't. "That girl over there has secrets and I'm gonna figure out what they are."
Giveaway
Author Bio
Melissa Pearl was born in Auckland, New Zealand, but has spent much of her life abroad, living in countries such as Jordan, Cyprus and Pakistan... not to mention a nine month road trip around North America with her husband. "Best. Year. Ever!!" She now lives in China with her husband and two sons. She is a trained elementary teacher, but writing is her passion. Since becoming a full time mother she has had the opportunity to pursue this dream and her debut novel hit the internet in November 2011. Since then she has continued to produce a steady stream of books. Recently she signed with Evatopia Press and her first Evatopia book is coming out in February 2014 - True Colors, The Masks Series #1. She is very excited to be trying out new things this year while continuing to publish under her own name as well. She has six books planned for 2014 and is excited about writing each and every one of them.
"I am passionate about writing. It stirs a fire in my soul that I never knew I had. I want to be the best writer I can possibly be and transport my readers into another world where they can laugh, cry and fall in love."
http://www.melissapearlauthor.com
Social Links:
Amazon Author Page: amazon.com/author/melissapearl
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Other Titles by Melissa Pearl:
The Time Spirit Trilogy
Golden Blood - Black Blood - Pure Blood
The Betwixt Series
Betwixt - Before - Beyond
The Mica & Lexy Series
Forbidden Territory
Forbidden Waters (due for release: 2014)
The Masks Series
True Colors
Book 2 (due for release: 2014)
Book 3 (due for release: 2014)
Book 4 (due for release: 2015)
The Fugitive Series
I Know Lucy (Releasing: April 20th, 2014)
Set Me Free (Releasing: May 18th, 2014)
The Song Bird Series
Fever (Releasing: June 15th, 2014)