Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Cover Reveal: Thizz, A Love Story by Nicole Loufas



Thizz, A Love Story
Genre- Contemporary YA with mature content
By- Nicole Loufas
Expected Publication Date- November 1st

In 2006, while the San Francisco Bay Area was immersed in the Hyphy Movement – Dani was fleeing the city for the small coastal town of Eureka. With a past she wants to forget and a future that may be out of reach – Dani finds Thizz and her world turns inside out.
Dani has a plan.  Get into CAL Berkeley.  All she has to do is survive six months in Eureka, California.  Her plan seems to be working until Matt, the boy she’s secretly crushing on, sets her up with his best friend.
Nick Marino is the star of the basketball team, grandson to the wealthiest woman in the county, and the town drug dealer. Nick introduces Dani to Thizz on their first date and suddenly smiling becomes easy, conversations are comfortable. Now if she can just figure out if the tingles she’s feeling are caused by Nick or Thizz. After a few weeks of both – she doesn’t care.
With Nick by her side, thizz flowing through her veins, and Matt keeping all her secrets – Dani settles into her new life; forgetting about the tragedy that drove her there, and the plan she had to escape.
Matt fell in love with Dani the first time he saw her.   He also knew whatever drove her from San Francisco to Eureka in her last semester of high school wasn’t something she wanted to share.  When she finally started to open up, Matt hesitated just long enough for his best friend Nick to swoop in. Forced to sit and watch their relationship grow, Matt also learns of Dani’s obsession with Thizz.  He secretly feeds her addiction in a desperate attempt to win her heart.

Pressured into joining Nick’s crew, Matt finds himself in the middle of Eureka’s own hyphy movement and the hit list of a local biker gang. When a school project uncovers a disturbing link between Dani’s parents and Nick’s uncle, Matt is torn between his loyalty to Nick and his feelings for Dani as he tries to convince Dani that her life is in real danger; while persuading Nick to turn on his uncle to save the girl they love.

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

New Release: Macyn's Decision by S.L. Stacker



Macyn’s Decision
Macyn McIntyre # 3
Genre-  Romantic Suspense
By- S.L. Stacker
Publication Date- September 29th 

A wedding day explosion, a family reunited, and a hunt for a killer are only a few of the things Macyn and her husband, Devon, will face after spending several long months being tortured by their nemesis, Frederick. After Macyn and her partners step up their game and form a plan to find the elusive man, it's then that she is faced with the realization the future of her family and loved ones is dependent upon the decision she makes. Will she continue and follow through with their plans to end this man’s life, knowing the reality of failure is a possibility? Or will she make the ultimate sacrifice and give herself willingly in order to ensure the safety of those she loves? The answer awaits in Macyn’s Decision, the final installment in the Macyn McIntyre Series.




 

Cover Reveal: Ghost by Nicole James

Synopsis
Ghost has been living his life under one rule...never fall in love, never get too close, never get tied down to just one woman. Focusing solely on his club, he is able to remain unattached and free.... until a girl from his past is dropped in his lap. She was a line he swore he’d never cross. And now, in order to obtain an alliance his club needs, he’s forced to use her in ways he’d never imagined.
She needs his protection, and she’s the one woman he can’t refuse.
When Ghost finds himself unable to keep his distance from her, will he be able to push his feelings aside and use her as a pawn for the attainment of his club’s goals?  Or will he put the club and their lives at risk to follow his heart?
When lies and secrets come between them, can they overcome everything to find their own piece of heaven?
About the Author
Nicole James grew up in the suburbs of Chicago. As a child, she wrote her first book, Charlie the Firefly, at the age of eight. Her mother knew long before she did that she would someday become an author. Growing up, she spent many happy weekends and summers in Michigan at a cabin on a lake. Winters, she loved to ski. As an adult, Nicole has traveled all over the West and South. She has lived in Illinois, Arizona, Georgia and Alabama. She has a love of motorcycles, writing, reading and the beach. Her favorite city is New Orleans. She loves music of all kinds, but especially the blues. She has two wonderful sisters, two fabulous kids, one awesome son-in-law, and an adorable granddaughter

Monday, September 28, 2015

Cover Reveal: Jane Blond, International Spy by Stan & Brianna Schatt




Jane Blond International Spy
By- Brianna Schatt & Stan Schatt
Genre- Middle Grade
Expected Publication Date- October 19th

Fourteen year old Jane thought getting through high school was difficult enough with her dad in prison and her mother dating. Throw in being bullied by the popular girl who has everything- it’s completely unbearable. But when terrorists kidnap a boy she cares about, she knows she is the only one who can save him. International Spy, Jane Blond, must prevent terrorists from blowing up her school during the President’s visit. She’ll need all of her courage along with the help of a teen with CIA secrets, a friend with Asperger’s and a parrot with an attitude.

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Book Review: Candy and the Cankersaur by Jason Sandberg


A bedtime story Picture Book aimed for children ages 3-6.
A read-alone Picture Book appropriate for children ages 6-9.

5 Stars

This book is simply adorable. It's a short, sweet little story accompanied by lovely drawings. The story of a young girl and her pet dinosaur is sure to appeal to both boys and girls. Its message of friendship teaches youngsters an important lesson while still being entertaining. This will make an excellent bedtime story for the little ones too young to read, a great read alone for the bigger kids. 
  

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Saturday, September 26, 2015

Writing Fictional Characters (Who Happen To Be Gay)



Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net


Hypothetical question: How do I write gay characters?
Simple hypothetical response: Don't write gay characters. Write characters who happen to be gay. Because there is a difference.

You aren't writing a sexual orientation. You're writing a person. "But," you might say, "I'm not gay and I don't know any gay people." To which I would reply: "I'm not, nor do I know, a dragon, or a mind reading mage, or a girl who can create and control fire, and yet I have written all these characters without the slightest bit of trouble because they all have one very important thing in common. They're all people."

It can be daunting to write what you don't know, especially when it's something that exists in the real world. After all, you don't have to worry about offending dragons, or mind reading mages, or other nonexistent beings by portraying them incorrectly.

You can do research if it makes you feel better. But it's not like researching firearms, or medieval medicines, or race cars. You won't find any right or wrong information, because people are people and we're all different from one another.

Don't sit down and say to yourself, "What would a gay character do in this situation?", instead ask, "What would this particular character do in this situation?" Because whether your character is human, elf, alien, or sentient toaster, whether they like the opposite sex, the same sex, or any other kind of sex, they have to be a person first, otherwise nobody is going to care. And if the reader doesn't care, then the writer isn't doing their job.



Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Friday, September 25, 2015

Book Review: Steam by Stacey Rourke


5 STARS


Stacey Rourke does it again. As in the previous two installments in the series, Steam is a tale of the paranormal perfectly interwoven with classical literature and history. It's a fantastical, breathtaking, and heart wrenching story of love, loss, and ultimate sacrifice that will have you on the edge of your seat holding your breath with the turn of every page. You will root for each character as they struggle with their own personal demons, and weep when some of them fall short. This wonderfully penned, beautifully tragic tale, is a must have for any fan of paranormal literature.

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Cover Reveal: Ignited by Liz Long

Ignited CR.jpg


IgnitedCoverKindle.jpg

Synopsis

Lucy might’ve beaten Alex the Chameleon, but the cost of his defeat was too much to bear. After losing a beloved member, Sheffield Donovan temporarily disbands the show. Abandoned by the ringmaster and her friends, Lucy is left to pick up the pieces of their ruined circus – and defend it against those waiting for the opportunity to strike.
During one of these attempts, Lucy learns of Augustus Rivers, the leader of his so-called gifted mafia. When Lucy is offered a chance to infiltrate the Rivers’ household, she jumps at the opportunity to seek vengeance on the mastermind. Augustus instead surprises everyone by proposing that the powerful female Firestarter work for him. It’s everything the Donovan Circus isn’t, an offer Lucy finds more enticing than she ever expected.
With the Donovan Circus in shambles and the gifted world on the cusp of war, can Lucy Sullivan figure out who she’s meant to be? Or will her fire destroy everything they’ve built?

About the Author

AuthorPhoto.jpg


Liz Long is a ridiculously proud graduate of Longwood University with a BA in English. Her inspiration comes from action and thriller genres and she spends entirely too much time watching superhero movies. Her fabulous day job as a social media editor includes writing for a publishing company in Roanoke, VA.

Her first book, Gifted, is the first book in the Donovan Circus series, where superpowers meets the circus. Burned is the second adventure. Her standalone book Witch Hearts, is a story about a serial killer hunting witches for their powers. Her newest book A Reaper Made is an NA Paranormal tale of a Reaper using magic to save her family from demons. All titles are available at Amazon on Kindle and paperback, Barnes & Noble for Nook, and iBooks.

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Book Tour: Harmony Run Series by Sarah Elle Emm



ALL BOOKS 1.99
For duration of tour. 



About the Books:



Rare glimpses of birds are the only reminder of the freedoms Rain Hawkins once had. Now segregated into a mixed-race zone within the United Zones of the Authority, under tyrannical rule of President Nicks, Rain is forced to endure the bleak conditions set upon her. The possibility of a way out arises when Rain discovers an organized resistance called The Freedom Front, and learns that she, along with many other multi-racial people, has special abilities. Determined to overcome her situation, Rain sets out on a mission with the resistance that will fill her life with wonder, romance, and the undying hope for a better world.


Goodreads I Amazon




 Still enslaved in a mixed-race zone within the United Zones of the Authority, Rain Hawkins is part of a secret resistance preparing to take on the tyrannical President Nicks before plans to kill the mixed zones across UZTA are executed. When unsettling dreams and a mysterious voice begin to haunt the dark nights, Rain fears someone more powerful than she has discovered the resistance and their secret abilities. With a known Authority spy on her heels, and her boyfriend, Jabari, suddenly acting strange, Rain doesn't know who to trust and if the voices calling to her are friend or foe. As conditions across all of the zones get worse and the stakes rise, Rain embarks on a quest for answers that will put the people she cares about most in more danger or take them one step closer to the truth and their eventual freedom.




In the wake of an interrogation led by the UZTA's dictator, President Nicks, Rain Hawkins and her friends must deal with the consequences of their defiance as the countdown continues towards the execution of the mixed-zone citizens across the United Zones of The Authority. The Freedom Front faces new challenges as Rain's cousin, Calista, prepares for her impending relocation to the pure zone, and Rain sets out to solve the mystery surrounding her mother's torment while being followed by an officer of the Elizabeth Guard. As she uses her abilities to dodge The Authority and follows the strange clues from her dreams, Rain is determined to persevere, to secure the future she and Jabari have been fighting for, and to earn The Freedom Front's ultimate goal of liberation.




After two members of The Freedom Front are arrested and interrogated by the UZTA’s tyrannical President Nicks, Rain Hawkins and her friends face the alarming reality that their plans to liberate the mixed zones across the United Zones of The Authority might not come to fruition. While the resistance movement is growing outside the walls of the zones, the president’s forces are strengthening and putting citizens everywhere in more peril than ever. When Rain receives warnings that her cousin, Calista, has agreed to support plans to kill the mixed zones, and that her life could be on the line at the upcoming pure zone initiation ceremony, she must decide where her loyalties lie and if all of her allies can be trusted. As The Freedom Front use their abilities to unravel the mystery of the ceremony, The Authority captures some of their friends, forcing TFF to either go into hiding, or plan a rescue mission that could jeopardize everything they’ve been fighting for.


Buy now at Amazon Paperback I Kindle




About the Author:






Sarah Elle Emm is the author of the HARMONY RUN SERIES, a young-adult fantasy and dystopian series, released in May 2012 by Winter Goose Publishing. (PRISMATIC, May 2012, OPALESCENT, February 2013, CHATOYANT, September 2014, NACREOUS, August 2015) Her debut fiction novel, MARRYING MISSY, was published by Bird Brain Publishing in October 2011. Sarah is a graduate of The University of Evansville, she has lived and worked in Mexico, Germany, England, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and has traveled extensively beyond. Sarah lives in Naples, Florida with her family. When she’s not walking the plank of her daughters’ imaginary pirate ship or snapping photos of Southwest Florida scenery, she is writing.

Stalk the Author:
Website I Facebook I Twitter I Goodreads I Amazon Author Page

Giveaway:
-          1 Winner will get a $10 Amazon GC
-          1 Winner will get Signed Copies of all the 4 Books in the Harmony Run Series
-          3 Winners will get One Signed Copy of a book of their choice from the Harmony Run Series



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Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Book Tour: Milan by Simi K. Rao





 ‘Behind the scenes at an Indian Wedding’

Indians in general are deeply rooted in tradition. Our culture gives us our identity. Most of us (especially those living away from the homeland) cling to it, even though several aspects in these particularly modern times, make no sense at all. Why do we do so? Perhaps because it brings us together as a community and provides us comfort in a foreign environment. The same I think applies to immigrants from all over the globe.
Marriages in India, in particular Hindu marriages are long drawn intricate affairs fraught with age old tradition. Little has changed over the centuries except for certain embellishments due to modernization. To non-Indians these ceremonies appear just that—elaborate colorful rituals flavored with plenty of pomp and show.
In the following story I take my readers on a ‘behind the scenes' tour at a traditional Indian wedding. I’ve tried to illustrate the proceedings from engagement to the wedding ceremony with “generalized” Indians---my characters, and have also made an attempt to expound on the emotional upheavals that occur in the background and often aren’t spoken out loud. Milan is more of a ‘short story’ concept where it shows the before/during and after of an event than it is a ‘long novel’ about characters with hopes and dreams and goals. And its purpose is exactly that, to show the emotions Indian couples go through during the process of a wedding. This story may help the reader get a better insight into the culture of marriage in India.

The Setting of MILAN:

Whenever I travel back to my homeland, I prepare for a culture shock. The crowds, the noise, the pollution have all increased several fold as the country races forward at breakneck speed to catch up with the rest of the world. There are very places left where it still seems like life goes on as it did a few decades ago, where people are laid back and nature is not at war with mankind.
MILAN is set in one such place; Coonoor-- a hill town located in the Nilgiri Hills, about 56 kms from the Coimbatore Airport, in the southern Indian State of Tamil Nadu. It is part way from its more well-known cousin Ooty. I spent some time there during my last trip and was so enchanted that I chose to use it as a setting for my story. Known for its tea plantations, Coonoor is a lovely, rustic little town. With its abundance of greenery and quaint architecture it is a throwback to India as it used to be. The temperate climate and serene environment help the restless soul to relax and take a few breaths of peace. When you are there, don't forget to take a ride on the Nilgiris meter gauge train, as well as a personalized tour of the tea estates.
I want to thank Debdatta for giving me this opportunity to express myself and for hosting this blog tour. I also want to thank all the bloggers who are participating in this tour and have made space for my book on their blog. Your time and generosity is much appreciated.
Please visit my website http://simikrao.com/ for more info on me and my work. You can also connect with me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/simikrao and twitter https://twitter.com/simikrao
Happy Reading!

Simi K. Rao







Simi K. Rao

Press Kit
Simi K. Rao Press Kit 2
About the Author
You can connect with the author and read more of her work at:
www.SimiKRao.com
@SimiKRao
Simi K. Rao was born in India and has been living in the United States for several years. Milan (A Wedding Story) is her third novel. Her previous novels are titled: Inconvenient Relations and The Accidental Wife.
The inspiration for this book, and her other projects, comes from her own experience with cross-cultural traditions, lifestyles and familial relationships, as well as stories and anecdotes collected from friends, family and acquaintances within the immigrant community.
Rao enjoys exploring the dynamics of contemporary American culture blended with Indian customs and heritage to reflect the challenges and opportunities many Indian-American women face in real life.
Much of Rao’s down time is devoted to creative pursuits, including writing fiction, poetry and photography. She is an avid traveler and has visited many locations around the world.
A practicing physician, Rao lives in Denver. with her family.
Simi K. Rao Press Kit 3
Inconvenient Relations
Shaan Ahuja found himself bowing to tradition and agreeing to an arranged marriage to the beautiful Ruhi Sharma. He went through the motions but had no intention of carrying through on his vows. His last foray into matters of the heart with an American girl had left him scarred and unwilling to try again. Thoroughly disillusioned and disgruntled he wasted no time in making his intentions clear to Ruhi on their wedding night. But, he was completely unprepared for what his new wife had in mind.
Publication date: December 23, 2014
Formats: Paperback, Digital Ebook
ISBN-13: 978-1505694581
Inconvenient Relations, Kando Books, is found at your favorite book retailers:
Amazon.com
Barnes & Noble Booksellers
Kobo
Smashwords
Simi K. Rao Press Kit 4
The Accidental Wife
Dr. Rihaan Mehta is a brilliant young neurosurgeon who has no inclination for love or marriage. According to him wives and girlfriends are annoying accessories that one can do without. But when his mother dangles the sword over his head in classic Bollywood style, he succumbs, and sets in search of a bride who would fit his ‘requirements’. But he could never have prepared himself for what awaits him.
Publication date: March 5, 2015
Formats: Paperback, Digital Ebook
ISBN-13: 978-1508757054
The Accidental Wife, Kando Books, is found at your favorite book retailers:
Amazon.com
Barnes & Noble Booksellers
Kobo
Smashwords
Simi K. Rao Press Kit 5
Milan (A Wedding Story)
When a daughter turns marriageable age, what should a responsible father do? Easy—wed her to the most suitable boy who comes knocking on the door. Jai Bharadwaj, Mili’s father and owner of The Serenity Tea Estate in the idyllic Nilgiris would’ve probably liked to do the same, but being who he was, he had to ask her first. What would she say?
Publication date: August 31, 2015
Formats: Paperback, Digital Ebook
ISBN-13: 978-1517142865
Milan (A Wedding Story), Kando Books, is found at your favorite book retailers:
Amazon.com
Coming soon to:
Barnes & Noble Booksellers
Kobo
Smashwords
Simi K. Rao Press Kit 6
Praise for Inconvenient Relations
“In Rao’s debut novel, an arranged Indian marriage sets the stage for an intimate look at the exasperating madness of love.... An often intoxicating...will-they-or-won’t-they tale.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Sassy desi romance—5 stars!”
—Rachelle Ayala, bestselling author of Michal’s window
“A mixture of contemporary romance, coming of age tale and multicultural fiction, Simi K. Rao’s An Incurable Insanity is a wonderful debut novel.”
—Maria of Queen of All She Reads
“As a whole this was a brilliant novel. Rao walks the line between traditional Indian culture and all that is Hollywood to create a tale that will pull at your heartstrings and keep you captivated throughout.”
—Jonel Boyko
“To read An Incurable Insanity is to be completely immersed in another world, a culture that originates in deep roots and clashes with the world I’m familiar with. It’s fascinating.” —Laura of Prism Book Tours
“A well balanced novel that I thoroughly enjoyed reading.” —Debdatta Sahay of Book Reviews
Simi K. Rao Press Kit 7
Praise for The Accidental Wife
“The Accidental Wife is an intriguing tale of the best-laid plans gone awry but set straight by the humbling hand of destiny. A delightful novel.”
—Shobhan Bantwal, best-selling author of The Dowry Bride and other books
“A traditional love story in a non-traditional setting. I loved it. It had all the markings of a romance…boy meets girl, boy does something stupid and loses girl, boy comes to his senses, problems happen, boy gets girl. But nothing else follows pattern. The story takes a nationality that often has arranged marriages and turns it on its head. The Indian culture is fascinating and this story takes all that is best and mixes it in. It is the perfect read for romance. I give this story 5 out of 5 clouds.”
—Dreamer2229 (Amazon Reviewer)
“Another amazing book by Simi. I love her books and the Indian culture in them. Being a nurse, it was fun with the medical aspect of it too. I can’t wait for her next book!”
—D S (Amazon Reviewer)
“This a great read for anyone who wants a small insight into the Indian life. It’s a story of two very unlikely people who would have never crossed path had it not been for fate. It’s a story about the best laid plans that get turned upside down because it involves the matter of hearts. It’s a story of infallible human spirit that will fight to return to the arms of a loved one. It’s a story about the power of love and its power to heal. It’s a great story that grips your heart as you take the journey with Rihaan and Naina.”
—Reshma Dave (Amazon Reviewer)
Simi K. Rao Press Kit 8
Praise for Milan (A Wedding Story)
“A captivating look into the developing relationship of a young couple falling in love for the first time while honoring family traditions. Throughout the wedding planning, the bride-to-be is in a constant state of nervous excitement and total confusion that will keep you guessing until the very end. An absolute joy to read.”
—Yvette Klobuchar, bridal dress designer and author of Brides Unveiled
“Milan is an interesting combination of today and yesterday in India, ultimately bringing Mili, twenty-four but innocent and immature for her age, together with Ahaan, a bit older but more in tune with the customs of their country. This story of their arranged marriage, (still practiced in their country), goes through the accepted steps of bringing their union to fruition. The story follows through the Roka (unofficial engagement), the Sagai (formal engagement ceremony) and other preparations for the magnificent wedding which her father insists on, taking the reader along for all the rituals and experiencing all Mili’s continuing uncertainties as she leaves her childhood home to make her new life with her husband’s family.”
—Nancy Sweetland, author of The House On the Dunes
“In Milan, Simi K. Rao has created a delightful story and a glimpse into of an enduring part of Indian culture. Mili’s family wants her to marry Ahaan, an old acquaintance, but as a modern young woman, Mili is reluctant, fearing that she’ll be forced to abandon her career in music. But fortunately, Mili isn’t the only modern person in the pair, and the two embark on a journey that includes old traditions and a promise from the groom that guarantees Mili her own passions in life. But the best part of the story is the realization for Mili that Ahaan appears to be much more than a husband chosen for her. Despite her initial resistance, she might fall in love. Rao writes with flair and includes the colors and scents and sounds that many of us associate with modern India. Without being the slightest bit didactic, Rao educates us, too, about Hindu traditions and the beauty of language describing the bonds and promises of love and marriage.”
—Virginia McCullough, award-winning author of Amber Light and The Jacks of Her Heart